Page 30 of Draco's Fire

"Dosage is very important. Too little, it won't be effective enough to save her. She still dies, just slower. Too much, and then you neutralize the iron in her blood that carries oxygen, and you get to watch as hypoxemia kills her even more slowly."

"How do I know you won't get me the wrong dosage?" Tyson asked.

"Kill him!" Shayla screamed before another wracking cough stole all her breath.

"You don't. But let's just say it's in my best interests to keep her alive. You'll know it's working once color returns to her skin. If that doesn't happen, then you're welcome to hunt me down and kill me."

Whoever this man was, he was enjoying this far too much. If he had any fear Tyson might immolate him or tear him to pieces, he wasn't showing it. His heart rate was even steady.

"Tyson. Don't!" Shayla half yelled, half gasped. Then she cried out unintelligibly when another wave of pain hit her.

"Iron particulates are working their way deeper and deeper into her lungs now. You better choose soon, dragon, or she'll be beyond saving in the next minute or so."

"Don't, Tyson. He'll just k—" Shayla had no breath left in her as she collapsed to the ground.

There wasn't anything left in Tyson to resist. Even if the man was lying, he had to take that chance to save her. He'd just found her. He couldn't lose her now.

Tyson backed away from the man and said, "Alright. Tell me."

"For her, it's 30 milligrams," he said, placing a bottle of pills on top of a tree stump. "That's three of them. You're going to want to give them to her soon before her throat closes up and she can't manage to swallow them."

Tyson would have to transform back into human form to do something that would require that much finesse. He'd be vulnerable.

If the attacker had anything else up his sleeve, Tyson would be dead, and so would Shayla.

Shayla was gasping for air, her skin looking ashen. If he hesitated, he didn't know how much longer she'd have. The shooter kept backing away slowly.

Tyson transformed back into human form, and the would-be assassin ran away. Tyson raced up and picked up the pill bottle. It was like anything you'd pick up at the pharmacy, the translucent orange plastic and cap instructing him to push down and turn. But it had no label of any kind.

He poured three pills into his hand. They were pale pink gel capsules that should save Shayla's life if a man who tried to kill them both could be trusted. It could just have easily been poison, but he was taking a risk either way. Maybe the other PEACE agents could reach him in time. But then what would they do?

Tyson decided he'd just have to trust the guy who had tried to kill him. He put the pills in her mouth, and she swallowed them down.

He could have left her there, let the medicine do its work while he pursued the shooter. If he left now, he might even catch him and still be able to make him pay. But the battle lust had passed for Tyson. He needed to make sure someone was there for her when her eyes opened. And it had to be when. The possibility of if was too much to contemplate.

Then Shayla's breathing steadied, and color started to return to her face. Her eyes were still closed, and her body was tense from the pain, but with each breath, her chest rose more, and the rasping sound in her throat dissipated.

Their attacker was gone now. Tyson didn't care, though. He'd saved her.

Then he heard vehicles pull up. The PEACE agents swarmed in. It was an easy path of destruction for them to follow.

"No fae should touch her. She's been hit with some kind of iron fog or something. It's all over her skin. We need to get her to the house and showered."

Agents helped her into the car, and then they sped across the field.

Shayla opened her eyes and looked up at him.

"Tyson." Her voice is barely above a whisper.

"Yes, I'm here, Shayla."

"You should have fucking killed him."

"No, I had to—"

"Why did you let him get away?" With each word, her voice was stronger but also harsher, still tinged with the pain she felt.

She sat up and asked, "Why did you let him get away? Answer me!"

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