Page 69 of Born in Fire

“What’s happening?”

“I don’t know, but we need to—”

The world explodes.

Something crashes through the ceiling above the lobby—something massive and moving fast. A shockwave of force ripples outward, shattering the massive glass windows that form the building’s facade. Debris rains down—concrete, steel, glass—accompanied by screams and the wail of automatically triggered alarms.

Instinct takes over. I yank Lisa down behind the counter as glass shards fly through the air like deadly confetti. The espresso machine beside us explodes in a hiss of steam and metal as something strikes it. Hot water sprays across the floor, mixing with broken ceramic and spilled coffee.

“Stay down!” I shout, though I can barely hear my own voice above the cacophony.

Through the chaos, I glimpse movement in the center of the destroyed lobby—large shapes moving with unnatural speed.

The security guard fires his weapon—once, twice, three times—before something sends him flying across the lobby. His body strikes a pillar with sickening force and crumples to the floor, motionless.

People run in all directions, screaming, stumbling over debris. Blood streaks across the once-pristine marble floor. The scent of smoke and something else—something acrid and alien—fills the air.

A roar echoes through the space—not the sound of collapsing infrastructure but something alive, something furious. It reverberates through my bones, primordial and terrifying. I know that sound, even though I’ve never heard it before. I know it because I’ve felt that same electrical crackle in the air, that same inexplicable heat wave. I felt it just hours ago, and I know what this is.

Dragon.

Chapter 20

Dorian

I’m not made for tunnels. My shoulders scrape the damp walls as we wind deeper beneath Seattle’s streets, following Daniel through this rat maze of passageways. He claims they’ll lead us to Malakai—and Elena. The air grows thicker with each step, heavy with the scent of mineral and old magic.

Caleb’s ahead of me, his back rigid with tension. I’ve never seen my brother like this—raw, exposed, vulnerable. The woman has done a number on him. Twenty-four hours ago, I’d have mocked him mercilessly for it.

Now, with Juno’s scent still lingering on my skin, I’m not so eager to throw stones.

“How much further?” Luke growls behind me, his patience wearing thin.

Daniel glances back, his face pale in the dim light of our phones. “Almost there. The main chamber is just beyond the next turn.”

I scan the walls, taking in the ancient carvings that pulse with a faint red glow. Dragon script. Old magic. This place has been here for generations, hidden beneath the human world. Another secret in a life built on them.

“Something’s wrong,” Caleb mutters, his voice barely audible. “She’s scared. I can feel it.”

I’ve never fully understood the bond between mates, although I’ve heard of it—how it forges a connection between two souls that transcends physical distance. But I’ve seen it in action enough times to know its power. Dragons mate for life. And we feel each other’s essence.

“We’ll find her,” I assure him, clapping a hand on his shoulder.

A roar echoes through the tunnels, followed by the sound of wings. The air shifts—hot, electric.

“Fuck,” I breathe as Caleb turns in a slow circle, his expression darkening. Before I can say more, the ground beneath us shudders violently. Dust rains from the ceiling as a deep, rolling boom echoes through the chamber.

The sound brings a sudden flood of fear that sends a shiver through my skin that doesn’t feel like… mine.Fuck!It leaves me feeling lightheaded for a minute. I shake it off, turning to the source of the sound.

“What the—” Luke starts, but another explosion drowns him out, this one closer.

I feel another surge of panic, unfamiliar to me. Apprehension, I understand. Anxiety too. But terror? No. I don’t fucking like it.

“We need to get topside,” Caleb orders, already moving toward the exit. “Now!”

I’m hot on his heels as he reaches the door to the outside world and shoves it open, letting light stream in. I crash into his back as he stops dead in the doorway.

God help us!

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