Page 88 of Marked Dragon

I didn’t react because you were there as my voice of reason.He focused forward.But you’re right. We’ll deal with him on our return.

For forty-five minutes, Thorn and I enjoyed our flight. We hadn’t ventured far from the barn, so traveling faster and farther away was amazing.

All too soon, Theron began a descent into a thick section of trees. We’d reached our destination.

Using my dragon senses, I searched the area. I detected rabbits hopping below, a few elk roaming, and other woodland creatures enjoying the wilderness.

Two human forms waited as well.

That had to be Sol and Theron’s mate.

Not sensing anything threatening, our group swooped down. Thorn and Vlad did their own assessment.

Stay close to me,Thorn connected.Though I think he’s trustworthy, we can’t be too careful.

I have no intention of wandering away from you,I assured him. My time of trying to sneak away and act on my own was over. Drake had cured me of that.

We landed where the two people stood waiting. Theron’s mate was shorter than six feet tall, with shoulder-length ash-blonde hair and forest-green eyes. She looked to be in her forties, though there was no telling how old she truly was.

A man in his mid-twenties stood next to her. If he had a dragon injury, I never would have guessed. He was close to six and a half feet tall and looked strong, like his father, with dark blond hair, chestnut eyes, and a light brown goatee that was neatly trimmed.

I’d expected Theron’s son to be closer to Vlad’s age than mine, but Theron’s wife was younger than her mate, so maybe that explained it.

“Here are your clothes,” Theron’s mate said, gesturing to the four outfits laid out in front of us. “Go shift. People in our thunder saw Sol and me head this way alone after searching for Theron all morning.”

Great, now there was even more urgency around our plans.

After carefully grabbing the clothes, we dispersed into the trees. Thorn and I stayed together and shifted into our human forms. We dressed quickly and headed back out to join the others.

When they saw Thorn, neither of them flinched. Theron must have warned them.

Theron’s mate took an eager step toward Thorn and asked, “Is what you told Theron true? Can you heal Sol?”

My skin itched from the nervousness swirling through my bond with Thorn.

“I’ll try,” Thorn replied as he took my hand. “I healed someone in a similar situation a few days ago, but there is one thing I have to prepare you for.”

“What?” Theron scowled. “You didn’t imply there was anything my son had to worry about.”

Vlad lifted a hand. “Hear him out, please.”

My mouth went dry, but I needed to contribute. “It’ll make sense if you do.”

“Honey, they’re right.” Theron’s mate touched his arm. “We can always decide not to let him do it.”

Theron sighed and leaned into his mate. “You’re right, Hydra. I just worry.”

“Please, tell me everything.” Sol leaned forward, his eyes wide.

Fidgeting, Thorn launched into what we’d learned from Tyson about his dragon changing slightly.

When he was done, Sol nodded. “I’m in.”

Unease prickled through our bond, and I squeezed Thorn’s hand tighter, silently telling him I was right there. I connected,You’ve already done this once, and I’ll be right here beside you.

That’s the only reason I can go on,he replied, and my heart missed a beat.

“Are you two okay with it?” Vlad added as he moved to Thorn’s other side. “We don’t want anyone to get upset over whatever happens.”

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