Page 36 of The Dragon's Surprise
Lexi quickly dialed the number for MirrorPeak’s Protector building, one she’d also made Ethan memorize. A male voice picked up and answered after the second ring. “Who is this?”
“Lexi Sakamoto. Listen—I’m in some sort of abandoned town in the desert where I think they’re holding an illegal dragon auction. Please send someone here to help. Can you trace this phone?”
After a split second, the voice replied, “I’m already doing that. Tell me everything you’ve seen, to help us with the rescue.”
Even though she wanted to ask questions, Lexi focused on giving as many details as possible. Because, as soon as someone discovered she was gone, her odds weren’t good.
She’d just finished filling in the dragonman with details when something crashed against the back of her head, and pain exploded before the world went black.
Kyle and his two nurses flew a few miles behind the rest of the dragons heading toward Duncan Parrish’s property. A scout had gone ahead and confirmed there were a lot of people there, allfollowing rules and patterns they thought were typical of the black-market dragon auctions.
He was wondering if the others in front had arrived yet when he heard screams.
His dragon spoke up.That must be them.
Kyle’s instinct was to fly faster. However, he’d promised to give the Protectors time to get control of the property and tie up any humans they knocked unconscious.
And yet, every second seemed like an hour. Eventually, there were a series of whistles that signaled it was safe for the medical team to land.
He wasted no time pumping his wings, and soon the small town in the middle of nowhere came into view. The buildings were mostly old and tiny, except for a large one in the center. However, he barely gave them a second glance, searching for the flares marking where he could land.
There.Not far from a lot of parked cars—some of which were motionless on the dirt road out of the place, as if people had been trying to escape—was a cleared section, with a dragon on the ground, standing guard. There were also a few Protectors in human form walking among females and children.
No doubt the ones who’d been about to be sold.
Pushing down his anger, Kyle landed and imagined his wings shrinking into his back, his limbs growing smaller, and his snout returning to his nose and face. Once he was in human form, he quickly tugged on some clothes—for hygiene reasons, as being naked didn’t bother him—and walked toward Daniel, who crouched next to a female.
Kyle was about to ask for a status update when he noticed Lexi’s still form on the ground.
With a roar, he rushed to her side, knelt down, and checked her pulse. It was there, but faint.
And a quick exam revealed blood on the back of her head, as well as welts around her wrists.
Daniel spoke. “She won’t wake up. I think she was hit on the head from behind.”
Which meant she might be bleeding into her brain.
Gently cupping her cheek, Kyle wanted to tell her it would be okay, that he could save her right then and there.
But he couldn’t. She needed to be scanned and possibly have surgery.
Normally, he’d already be barking orders to prepare the carrying trays used for rescues. It was one of the few times they could legally fly humans—when they needed to be moved to safety and for medical attention.
And yet, as he stroked her overly warm cheek, all he could do was imagine the worst.
Despite the fear roiling around in his belly, he managed to ask, “And what about Ethan?”
Daniel replied, “He was here, but we haven’t found him yet. We’re looking, though, and won’t give up. And I can see you’re torn, Kyle. But take her back to MirrorPeak and get her help. Dr. Alvaro might need you. We’ll find Ethan, I vow it.”
He finally tore his gaze from Lexi’s still form and met his friend’s eyes.
His dragon spoke up.We’d trust Daniel with our life. Let him find Ethan. Right now, Lexi needs more help, or she might die.
Even though his beast was right, he hesitated. Ethan was his son. It felt wrong abandoning him after just finding him.
Daniel said, “Go with her. None of the Protectors will allow you outside of the medical area here, anyway. We’ll find Ethan, no matter what. Trust me, Kyle. I won’t abandon your son.”
Even a month ago, Kyle might’ve balked at trusting others to help him. He’d kept himself apart, and he’d grown distant.
