“I know what you are,” I blurt. “And Gabriel’s a dragon, and I think you’ve hurt him.”
He steps on the gas. “He’s not hurt. He’s contained. But Tabitha, he’s very, very dangerous. Intel reports that he incinerated one of the towers last night. Were you in it?”
Tears sting my eyes. “Yes, I was in it. But it was an accident. We were in bed together and he–” My voice hitches.
Lance takes one hand off the wheel to squeeze my shoulder. “It’s okay, sweetheart. We’re here now. We’ll get you home.”
“No,” I dash my hand at my face, brushing away tears. “Gabriel is my home. The dragon. I belong to him. I’m his mate. The fire was because…I think his dragon needs to claim me.”
Lance whistles. “Fuck. That’s a problem. No wonder he’s out of control.” He gives me a sidelong glance. “Are you going to let him?”
“Yes!” I realize the truth of the word as I shout it. I’ve been holding back because I could. Because Gabriel gave me forty days and forty nights to make up my mind. But I don’t need more time. I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life. Gabriel Dieter is my mate. Of course I’m going to let him claim me.
“Got it,” Lance says, nodding. He catches up to speed quickly. “Then let’s get you to the dragon. Maybe it’s not too late.”
“What do you mean too late?”
Lance keeps his eyes on the road, like he’s considering his words. “If a wolf doesn’t claim his mate, he can go mad. Moon mad. It means he goes feral. His animal takes over and he can no longer change back to human form. When that happens, he has to be put down.”
No.
No, no, no, no, no.
It suddenly all makes sense. This inner struggle Gabriel, the man, has had with Gabriel, the dragon. I can’t let anything happen to either of them. I have to save him.
Dust rises behind us on the rocky road as we ride the base of the mountain. I brace myself when Lance takes the Jeep off-road, bumping through a field. A helicopter whirs overhead. In the distance is a plume of smoke and many more military vehicles in a ring around a great form.
“Is that him?” I gasp. “What did you do to him?”
“He’s in a silver net to immobilize him. We gave him a tranquilizer, but it’s wearing off quickly.” Lance’s brows snap together. “I don’t want you to get too close. He’s dangerous in this state, Tabitha.”
“Not to me.” I say, even though last night’s fire did nearly burn me in the bed where I slept. That was an accident. The dragon didn’t mean to hurt me. There’s a solution to this. Gabriel’s given up, but I haven’t.
It’s up to me.
I close my eyes and try to communicate with Gabriel again. I’m coming, I tell him.
The closer we get, the warmer the air. The dragon’s fire turned the winter day balmy. The helicopter has landed close by, its blades continuing to swing in lazy rotation.
A blast of fire shoots into the sky, and artillery fire booms.
“Tabitha, you might just make this worse,” Lance says as he pulls up at the outer ring of vehicles. “If Gabriel thinks we’re keeping you from him, his dragon may go wild. If this is the version of moon madness for dragons, he’s out of control.”
I ignore Lance’s warning and scramble out of the Jeep. The snow has melted in this part of the field. My slippers slap over mushy grass as I weave through the parked vehicles, heading for the trapped dragon. The brilliant red and gold form is hunched on its side, trapped by the tight silver net. My chest gets tight.
“Gabriel,” I cry, running for him.
Deke steps out from behind a green tank and catches me in his arms. “Tabitha, calm down. We–”
The dragon’s head jerks up, and then he bellows as if in pain.
“That net is hurting him!” I scream, fighting Deke. “Take it off!”
But Lance was right. The sight of me makes the dragon go wild. I don’t hear any words in my head, but I can feel the fierce protectiveness. My agitation enrages the dragon further.
He roars and bursts out of the silver net.
His wings unfurl, fire flares out. The blast of heat roasts my face like I’ve stuck it in an oven. Smoke billows where the dead grasses of winter have caught fire under the melted snow.
Soldiers shout, scrambling.
“Fuck,” Deke mutters.
I twist and break free as the dragon’s wedge head rears up, it’s maw opening wide.
“No!” I scream. Deke slams into me, pushing me behind a tank as a fireball detonates close by. Grasses crackle and the air shimmers.
The fleeing soldiers are dark shapes against the yellow flame. Across the way, Rafe grabs a silver-haired man in a US Army uniform, and they both leap behind a row of metal barrels. Another flash of fire and the equipment explodes.