Total pages in book: 49
Estimated words: 46156 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 231(@200wpm)___ 185(@250wpm)___ 154(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 46156 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 231(@200wpm)___ 185(@250wpm)___ 154(@300wpm)
Creeping forward, she noticed the men focused intently on the skies above. That confirmed her suspicion they were targeting Ardon and Oldrik. Quietly, she filled each hand with two rocks. Maybe that would double her chances of hitting something.
The men still sported protective gear over their mouths. Skye pulled her T-shirt up over her nose. If they were concerned about breathing whatever was in those tubes, she wouldn’t risk inhaling that substance either. The cotton material wouldn’t help her much, but this wasn’t the time to worry about herself.
A twig snapped under her shoe, drawing their attention.
Skye tossed the two rocks in her right hand at one of the rockets and missed. CRAP! The men ran toward her, cursing. Throwing the ones in her left hand wildly, Skye knocked over the farthest tube.
Everything inside her told her to flee, but Skye needed to take out the other rockets. Struggling to pull more rocks from her pockets, she kept dashing forward. Reaching the closest tube, she kicked over the threat before throwing all the stones she had left at the final target. Success!
“Bitch! You’ll pay for messing with us.” A dark-haired man grabbed her and twisted her arm painfully behind her.
Crying out, Skye felt her Daddies’ presences. She warned her attackers. “They’re almost here. You don’t want to be around when they arrive.”
Daddies! It’s safe!
Suddenly, she was free. Skye turned to see the men racing toward the fence. A swoop of black wings and a massive dragon bulk blocked her view. Anguished shouts filled the air. Keres shot straight up into the sky, taking her attackers with him. Shocked, Skye swallowed hard when she noticed her attackers stopped moving quickly.
Warm arms wrapped around her shaking body and pulled her close. A second pair encircled her from the side. Thankful her mates had arrived, Skye dropped her forehead to Ardon’s shoulder. Their scent and heat surrounding her reassured her on a visceral level.
“I couldn’t let them hurt you,” she whispered, needing to use words to stress how important protecting them was to her.
“Your bottom is going to be so red,” Oldrik promised.
“Okay,” she said, nodding. Skye didn’t care what consequence they doled out. They were unharmed. She’d do it again.
“Should you be this close to whatever that is?” Skye asked.
“We’re fine,” Ardon reassured her. “It’s only when the mixture is ignited. The smoke is dangerous to dragons.”
What does it do? Skye lapsed back into mind-talk.
“I was caught by it and became dizzy immediately. I lost my sense of up and down. Ardon pushed me out of the haze and into clean air,” Oldrik shared.
You saved him. Skye rewarded Ardon with a kiss.
And you, Oldrik. You need to stay away from danger. She softened her rebuke with a kiss to the blue dragon as well.
Her mates squeezed her tight. Their love for her streamed through their connection. It reassured her and lessened the trauma from the encounter.
Was that Keres?
“Yes, Blueberry. We’d called to see if anyone was closer than we were. Keres responded,” Ardon explained.
I think he killed those guys.
“Keres won’t stand for anyone messing with mates. They’re too special,” Oldrik stated firmly. “He needs to find his soon.”
Or what?
“We’ll deal with those problems in the future. For now, we have more samples of this dragon attack substance. There’s a scientific team already working on it,” Ardon said. “First, we’re going to take you home and make sure you are free of any residue from the powder. It can’t be good for you.”
Oldrik picked her up and carried her a far distance away. He shifted and lowered his neck for her to climb onto his back.
I have to grab my sketch pad.
Ardon will retrieve it. Come on, Blueberry. Let’s get you home.
Thank goodness they were close. Almost immediately, she knew something was wrong. Struggling to hide her sudden dizziness from Oldrik, Skye tried to think calm thoughts. By the time Oldrik landed in the front yard, Skye could barely hold on. She half-slid, half-fell to the ground, landing on her knees, no longer able to hide the weakness growing inside her.
Blueberry!
Oldrik scooped her up in his arms and ran for the mansion. Pelting up the stairs, he called for Ardon. Come quickly. Our mate is in bad shape.
“Skye? Can you tell me what’s happening? How do you feel?”
She tried to answer, but her brain whirled in her skull like a kaleidoscope. Everything jumbled together. Worst of all, the edges of her vision were turning black.
A blast of cold water made her jerk. It pushed away some of the darkness from her mind. She tightened her fingers around Oldrik’s shirt.
“What’s happening?” Ardon said quietly.
His calmness frightened Skye more than if he’d yelled. She struggled to talk, but the jumble of her brain made it impossible.
“Help me get her clothes off. There must be some dust on her. We’ll have to wash as well,” Oldrik ordered.