Page 28 of Pierce

“We’re dragons,” I announced, cutting the wheel hard to the left as I turned onto the road leading to the mountains.

A dark road, little traveled, perfect for me to tear down at breakneck speed. I heard Alina and Smoke grunt as they crashed together behind me.

“You’re what?” she shrieked. “And slow down a little! You’ll kill us before we get there!”

“Dragon shifters,” I clarified. “And I didn’t know your sister was fae before I tried to heal her with my blood.”

“You what?” Her voice pierced my ears, just like the accusation in it pierced my soul. “I thought you said you saved her!”

“I did, but she had a gaping shoulder wound. You’ll see what I mean when you get there. I was afraid of infection. I didn’t know she wasn’t human—you didn’t know what we were when you first saw us, did you?”

“Dragon blood. No wonder she’s dying. Go faster!”

“I thought you wanted him to slow down!” Smoke shouted over the roar of the engine.

“That was before I knew what you did to her! Go! Go!”

I went.

It took the better part of two hours for Smoke and I to get to the mansion. It only took me forty-five minutes to get back up the mountain and into the cave.

Smoke led a still-blindfolded Alina while I ran ahead.

Please be alive please be alive please be alive.

The dragon in me was silent for the first time in forever while my own silent prayer ran on repeat.

Miles was in there, and he didn’t look hopeful. But he didn’t try to stop me from rushing in, either, which told me she was still alive.

And she was. Barely, but she was. Her chest rose up and down slowly, so slowly. But she was breathing.

“We’re back,” I whispered, stroking the side of her face before I could stop myself. “Jasmine, I brought Alina to you. She’ll help you.”

“She’s been muttering to herself for hours,” Miles murmured from the doorway. “Dripping sweat, too. But I don’t think she was ever conscious.”

“Maybe that’s not a bad thing,” I whispered, still touching her face.

She was hot as the hood of my truck on an August afternoon. I could only hope she wasn’t already too far gone.

“Here she is.” Smoke guided Alina into the cell before removing her blindfold.

She blinked hard as her eyes adjusted, then looked around. When she saw Jasmine, she let out a cry of dismay and fell to her knees, going through her bag to pull out the potions.

“I can’t believe you did this to her,” she spat, glancing at me with hate in her eyes.

“Do you think you can heal her?”

“I’ll do my very best. But I’ll need you to help me.”

“I’ll do anything.”

She nodded. “You’re damn right, you’ll do anything. You nearly killed my sister—and you still might have, at that.”

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