Alpha's Fire (Shifter Ops 4)

“Okay.” I snap into serious mode.

“The guys are checking with Kylie to hack her phone to see if they can find her that way. But they asked a favor of you.” He hesitates.

“They want me to try to get a reading on her.”

“Yeah.” My mate looks reluctant to continue, and I know why.

“It’s okay.” I don't typically volunteer to use my psychic gifts, but I don’t try to suppress them like I used to. With Garrett’s help, I’ve realized my visions are a gift, not a curse. So I might as well use them. “I want to help.”

“I figured you would. They're mailing a box of her stuff. But Rafe sent over something he had on hand. Tabitha made this by hand.” He pulls out a plastic sleeve and hands it to me.

Inside is a cream-colored scarf.

I swing my legs down and scoot around, so I’m no longer touching Garrett. His arms are out by his side like he wants to touch me, but he holds off.

I inhale and tip the sleeve and let the scarf flutter into my hand.

Redfireheatlongingexplosionflame!

I cry out.

“Amber! Baby, talk to me.” Garrett kneels next to me. His big hands wrap around mine. Each of his fingers are tattooed with a different stage of the waxing and waning moon. I often trace them when I'm upset. They ground me.

I touch the crescent moon. “I'm okay.”

He fumbles with my bottle of water as he hands it to me. I'm trying to stay hydrated.

“Are you sure you’re okay?”

I nod. The baby kicks me hard in the spleen. “Oof.” I press on my stomach until the natal Can-Can subsides.

Garret’s eyes are wild. “Is the baby okay?”

“She's fine,” I say quickly.

He shakes his head. “Knew it was a girl.”

I try to smile but can only blow out a shaky breath.

He wraps a big hand around the back of my neck and tips his forehead to touch mine. For a second, we stay like that, breathing together.

“I’m good.” I lift my head. “It just caught me by surprise.” I cough a little as Garrett rubs my back. It feels like I've inhaled soot. It’s scratching the back of my throat.

“Baby.” The scarf has fallen to my feet. He picks it up and tosses it away. “You don't have to go through that again.”

“It’s okay. I want to help. It was just that the vision came on so strong.”

What did you see? He doesn't ask, but the question is reflected in his eyes.

I take a shaky breath. “I saw fire. Nothing but fire.”

Tabitha

I fall into the dream like it's been waiting for me. I'm back in the warm darkness, the pleasing smell of smoky incense surrounding me. A lamp glows over my head. Piles of ancient coins shimmer in the distance like a desert mirage. A shadow moves and becomes the dragon. The huge neck curves around, and his head appears high above me.

Hello there, I say.

The huge wedge head descends. The dragon chuffs his own hello. The hot breath blows back the robe I’m wearing, making the fabric swirl around my ankles. I smooth down folds. The brocade is red and gold. You like these colors don't you? And you like seeing me in them.

The robe bears the pattern–rows and rows of Borromean rings. Each of the dragon’s scales bears their own set of interlocking circles. Three rings that can never be broken.

Is this your sigil? I stretch a fold between my hands to show the dragon. Your crest?

A fallen scale glimmers at my feet. I pick up the scale and hug it to my chest.

What are we going to do about Gabriel? I ask sadly.

The dragon doesn’t answer.

He says I shouldn't talk to you. He's mad about the escape, but you just wanted to help me, right? I lean against the dragon’s arm, tracing the symbol on the scale I hold. I want to help you. It’s not fair that he took both our freedom.

Even in the dream, I feel the constricting grip of Gabriel’s control. He won’t let me get close to him. He won’t let me in. Not like you.

I let the scale fall. I wish I could carry it from my dream, keep a piece of the dragon with me. I’m closer to you than I am to him, I admit to the dragon.

The dragon huffs. A warm puff of air stirs my hair.

What happens if I decide Gabriel can’t claim me? If I say no?

The dragon rears back its head. There’s a rush of heat. Death. Doom. The cave around us rumbles. I thrash, trying to break free of the dream, but my limbs turn to concrete. I cannot escape the vision–the blinding red of a dragon’s rage, the breath-stealing heat. The cave disappears, and so does the castle, the village, the world. Screams echo and die, leaving no sound but crackling flame. The world disappears. There’s nothing but heat and ash and pain.