Firefighter Phoenix (Fire & Rescue Shifters 7)

“I can sense Chase,” Connie said. “He’s definitely in there. Can everyone else feel their mates too?”

A pang went through Rose as everyone—apart from herself—nodded. She would have given anything to be able to reach Ash.

Not our mate, her swan said. It arched its neck, feathers bristling. But we will still get him back.

“Any word from the decoy group?” she asked Neridia.

The sea dragon’s blue eyes went distant as she communed telepathically with her warriors. “Nothing—wait! The Knight-Commander says there are people on the beach. He’s certain he just spotted Ash.”

“It worked,” Hayley breathed, looking relieved. “Corbin took the bait.”

“Remind them not to engage the warlocks,” Rose said anxiously. “This really isn’t the time for a glorious charge.”

“Don’t worry, I picked my most sensible men for this task.” Neridia made a slight, rueful face. “Well, as sensible as honor-sworn knights can be. But in any case, none of them will do anything rash. They’re pretending they haven’t seen the warlocks. The Knight-Commander says they’ll try to draw them further away down the coast, but he fears Corbin will quickly become suspicious when they don’t land.”

“Then we’d better not waste a second.” Ivy cracked her knuckles. “I think it’s time to stop being subtle.”

There was a pause, and Rose realized they were all looking at her to give the command. She could feel their emotions—fear, yes, but mostly iron-hard determination. They were ready.

She stood up straight, lifting her chin. “Let’s get our mates.”

Ivy grinned like a shark. Without another word, she sprinted in the direction of the side gate, her green-streaked hair flying behind her.

Halfway there, she jumped. Her curvy body shimmered, lengthening and shifting. Emerald wings caught the air.

A shout of alarm rose from somewhere inside the mansion, but the wyvern was already opening its jaws. It breathed out a thick white cloud of acid. The side gate disintegrated, wood shriveling and falling away.

“Come on!” Rose yelled, hauling Neridia up.

It was probably the slowest attack in the history of warfare. Neridia and Connie did their best, but since they were carrying four babies between them—one due to make an appearance any day—it was more of a waddle than a charge.

But with a rampaging wyvern clawing down the walls, the warlocks were far too preoccupied to even notice the small group of women. The startled shouts turned into screams as Ivy disappeared through the hole she’d made.

Rose helped Connie over the smoking stones, leaving Virginia and Hayley to haul Neridia through. A sudden glare of light made her flinch. Spots danced across her vision as a searchlight beam swept across them.

The circle of light swung wildly across the courtyard, fixing on Ivy. The wyvern’s scales glittered like cut emeralds in the harsh white glare.

“Dragon!” someone yelled from on top of the walls. “It’s a dragon! Someone bind it!”

Dozens of running footsteps converged on them. Rose sensed a thick, black fog of greed and hunger.

“Ivy, get out of the light!” Rose yelled, dragging Connie forward as fast as she could.

The wyvern whirled, but with only two legs, it was clumsy on the ground. It couldn’t escape the pinning stare of the searchlight. It breathed out a blast of acid, forcing the first group of warlocks back, but more lunged out of the shadows behind it. One robed man leaped, snatching at the wyvern’s folded wing.

“Ivy, watch out!” Rose screamed.

The wyvern abruptly disappeared. The warlock’s fingers closed, not on scales, but on Ivy’s bare wrist.

“Got you,” the man crowed—and then his eyes widened. His mouth worked, soundlessly.

“Surprise, asshole.” Ivy twisted free as the warlock collapsed. She pushed up her sleeves as he collapsed. “Anyone else want to try?”

A couple more warlocks took her up on the offer. They very quickly discovered that there was a very, very big problem with binding a shifter whose skin could sweat deadly venom.

In the space of seconds, the tables were turned. Ivy’s teeth bared in a feral grin as she chased fleeing warlocks in a lethal game of tag.

“Not too fast, Ivy!” Rose hurried after her, the others at her heels. “We have to stay together—”