Page 5 of Marked Dragon

No,he answered, but his displeasure weighed on me.But I wish I were. I’m several miles south of the dragon territory. Fifty warriors are patrolling the area. If you hadn’t asked me to be careful, I wouldn’t have noticed them. It’s hard knowing he has you.

The world righted itself. Thorn wasn’t being reckless. I pushed the warmth of my love and approval toward him.That’s why I told you I needed you to stay focused. Drake is hoping you will do something reckless so he can capture you. Then there’d be no way you could help us.

His dragon hissed, and he replied,I know. I have to get you out of there. I’m flying around to see what sections are less guarded and how often the warriors change shifts.

Static filled the air, startling me. Footsteps hurried past our door as if they were heading toward the other wing of the chateau.

My gaze landed on a walkie-talkie on Falkor’s hip. Something was going on.

The walkie-talkie came to life, and Ladon slurred, “Falk…or. We’ve…got…a lil…

prob—”

Slipping the walkie-talkie from its holder, Falkor pressed the button. “Spit it out already.”

“Don’t waste time.” Drake gestured to the door. “Everyone but Falkor, go! Ladon’s with our prisoners. The abomination could behere.”

My heart raced. Maybe they’d found a way out? Then my blood turned to ice. I linked,Thorn, you’d tell me if you were here, right?I hated to ask him, especially since I’d snuck out on him while he’d slept, but I hadn’tliedto him, and I was certain he wouldn’t do that to me. Still, I had to ask. Maybe he would if he thought it would keep me calm.

Of course, I’m not. I wouldn’t tell you that and then show up a moment later.Hurt wafted from him.

In less than three hours, I’d hidden something from him and snuck out on him, and now I’d accused him of lying to me. I hada lotto learn about being in a relationship.I honestly believed that, but something is going on here. Ladon was with your parents and Saphira, and he just reached out to Falkor, sounding odd.

“We need to get them into the master bedroom.” Falkor pointed toward the hallway past the living room. “We’ll be more secure there.”

My attention flicked to the door as my body tingled. Falkor was now the only guard here and he had the collar. If we were going to attempt to escape, this was our chance. I’d have to signal Eva, somehow, when the time came.

Drake rushed past me toward the hallway. He wasn’t concerned about making sure Eva and I were safe; he was just desperate to save his own ass.

Figured.

“Don’t try anything stupid,” Falkor breathed. “Drake might have scolded me for the way I talked to you, but I swear to you, he would rather I be forceful than let you escape.”

I wiggled my fingers at my side. I wasn’t surprised he knew what I was contemplating. He was one of the top warriors for a reason.

Needing a plan that might catch him off guard, I dutifully turned around. I steadied my breathing, remembering the tips from all the yoga classes I’d taken. That was the only type of exercise I could tolerate, preferring to work on limbering my muscles instead of running outside or touching other people’s sweat smears in a gym.

Eva scurried over to me and looped one arm through mine. She was shaking, and sweat had beaded on her upper lip.

My jaw popped from how hard I was gritting my teeth, but I had to do something to control my anger. The measured breathing wasn’t cutting it. Eva shouldn’t even be here. She was supposed to be safe. Thiswas meant to bemyfuture, not hers.

“It’s going to be okay,” I whispered loud enough for her to hear, which meant Drake could probably hear me from wherever he was.

Falkor snorted as if I’d told her a joke.

I clenched my hands, my nails digging into my palms and stinging the tender flesh. The pain centered me.

Eva glanced over her shoulder at the guard and murmured, “I wouldn’t be so sure.”

Not wanting to say more, I nodded. “Watch where you’re going.” Giving her something to focus on would make her feel better…or it had worked when she was younger.

Her head bobbed, and she jerked forward, the area around her eyes tightening. We were approaching the hallway, and a doorway to our left led into a ginormous kitchen. The same hardwood theme continued throughout the kitchen with a dark cherry island in the center of the room. A huge door in the middle of the cabinets matched, and I suspected it was an oversized refrigerator. The rest of the cabinets were light gray, and gray marble countertops completed the space. The island contained a sink and a dishwasher, and several ovens and stoves were set around the perimeter.

At the end of the room was a dark cherry wood kitchen table that could seat twelve with a gigantic chandelier hung overhead.

The space was beautiful and regal, everything a chateaushould be. Even though I’d grown up without hurting for money, I didn’t feel like I belonged here.

“You’ll have the rest of your life to get familiar with the house,” Falkor said. “Hurry up.”

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