Page 57 of Marked Dragon

Vlad backed up the white, beat-up pickup truck and rolled down the window. “Follow me. I have an idea where we can go.”

Nodding, Thorn rushed to my Audi and tossed Peter in the back driver’s side seat. Eva resettled in the center as I hurried to the front passenger door. I was all for Thorn driving, especially if the dragons arrived before we got away. I didn’t want to try to outmaneuver them, and I suspected Thorn was more than capable of doing it.

As soon as I shut the door, Vlad pulled out, and Brenton followed right behind him.

Thorn slid behind the wheel and started the engine.

When he put on his seat belt, he winced, reminding me of the cut on his arm.

My shoulders drooped.I can drive if it’s uncomfortable for you.

I’m fine.He put the car in reverse.

Vlad and Brenton took off, driving faster than normal, and unease settled over me. In one swoop, Thorn had put the car in drive and caught up.

The dirt road jarred us as we ran over branches and pebbles.

Eva sighed. “Did you have to knock him out?”

I glanced over my shoulder to see Peter slumped against her.

“He stabbed me, so be thankful that’s the worst he got.” Thorn tightened his hands on the wheel. “No promises if he’s rude to Everly again. I don’t care if it’s just a scowl. I will do more than knock his ass out.”

My dragon purred, and my heart skipped a beat.

“Uh…is that noise coming from Everly?” Elliott asked from behind me. “Because I’m certain there’s no cat in here.”

My face flamed. Thank goodness Saphira wasn’t here, or she’d start in on the cat jokes again.

Do not be ashamed.Thorn reached over and took my hand.A dragon purring means they are happy and feel loved. The sound is dead sexy.

I bit my lower lip, and some of my spirits dampened—I’d never heard Thorn purr when he was with me. But now, while we were trying to get away from impending warriors, wasn’t the time to discuss that.

Glancing at the sky, I exhaled when I didn’t see any dragons. The woods thickened around us as the three vehicles hurried down the dirt road. We were still in danger because we hadn’t passed another house, and if the dragons got close, they’d know it was us.

“Seriously.” Elliott cleared his throat. “Is that a dragon thing? Purring?”

He wouldn’t let it go.

“No clue.” Eva groaned. “She never did it back at the prison.” Something thumped in the back seat, and I assumed it was Peter hitting the door, but I didn’t care enough to look.

“Wait!” Elliott squeaked. “Drake put you two inprison? No fucking way.”

Thorn fisted his hands.You didn’t tell me that. I thought you were in the guest house.

“She meant it metaphorically. Neither of us wanted to be there, and warriors were watching us constantly.”

“Everly even had to pretend she had stomach issues to try to talk to one of the warriors alone,” Eva snorted.

Every rash decision I’d made would haunt me for the rest of my life. Even if I managed to forget for a while, Eva and Saphira would constantly remind me of every ridiculous thing I’d done. I was surprised the twins hadn’t brought up the time when I was sixteen and Mom had asked me to mail her and Peter’s tax returns, and I’d bought a penny stamp to send it. I’d been so confused about why anyone would buy more expensive stamps when they sold some for a penny. When Mom had explained, she’d exclaimed that, for someone so smart, I did some pretty silly things. Not that I would dare bring up that story to any of them.

“Oh.” Elliott leaned forward. “What kind of stomach issues? Like the explosive kind, the cramping kind, or the scent-alone-could-kill-everyone-who-came-into-contact kind?”

I sighed. My siblings had never been interested in what was going on in my life…until now.

The corners of Thorn’s mouth tipped up, and he glanced at me. “That’s a valid question.”

Traitor.I squinched my nose at him.

---