Tony lifted to his feet, his expression a tad less cocky. “I wasn’t completely warmed up yet.”
Aiden gave a low bow. “Whenever you’re ready.”
His mouth tightening, Tony gripped the hilt of his sword and took position. “I’m going to enjoy killing you. Immensely.”
“Likewise.”
The pair crouched in a combative pose, their nimble footwork an intricate dance as they countered the other’s strike. Tony circled to the left, keeping a safe distance from the wicked threat of Aiden’s tail. His sword swooped, glancing off the plate of scales covering Aiden’s forearm. “All hunters are going to envy me, even while they praise my name. I’ll go down in the history books as the only one of us brave enough to start the war between slayers and dragons.”
“Don’t mistake courage for stupidity.” Aiden’s front right talon scratched the earth. “Perhaps you need a lesson to remind you of the dangers of tangling with an opponent capable of flame-broiling your hide.” A warning blast of steam erupted from Aiden’s nostrils before he let loose a torrential flame. Tony ducked and rolled, grabbing for the small shield that lay discarded by the crate. He raised it in front of his face, deflecting the fire’s fury.
The flame receded and Tony lurched to his feet, charging forward with a triumphant battle cry. Aiden dove to the side to avoid the oncoming blow but miscalculated the trajectory of the sword. Its tip sank into the meat of his shoulder.
A scream rent the air. Dana didn’t realize she’d produced the sound until five pairs of dragons’ eyes swept in her direction. Ignoring the heat of their gazes, she stared at Aiden, willing him to be okay. With an eardrum-blasting roar, he swung his head, dislodging the sword and knocking Tony onto his ass. Dana’s breath gushed free, her heart descending from her throat.
Tony scrabbled in the dirt, trying to gain his footing, but Aiden’s talon slammed into the chain mail, pinning him in place. The torchlight ringing the field reflected a million times over in Aiden’s eyes, mirroring the fierce fire of his expression.
“I’ve grown tired of this bullshit.” Aiden’s gaze swept the other dragons scattered around the field. “Who’s in the mood for a crunchy, late-night snack?”
Tony’s face went ghostly white. If Aiden’s threat had been delivered with the intent of making Tony crap his pants, he’d more than likely succeeded. “I-if you kill me, you’ll only reveal yourself as the evil beast you are. Do you really want her to witness your true savagery?”
Dana could see the moment the doubt housed itself in Aiden’s mind. She started to cry out to him that she would never look upon him that way, but he released Tony and stepped back.
Aiden grabbed the sword and planted its tip beneath Tony’s chin. “Only for her will I let you live. But if you ever come near my loved ones again, you’ll discover precisely how savage I am.”
Retracting the sword, Aiden effortlessly bent the blade into an L shape before flinging it to the ground. He began walking away and Tony leapt to his feet, the rifle clutched in his fist. In slow motion, Dana stared in horror, another scream welling in her chest as the weapon’s muzzle arced in Aiden’s direction.
A blur of motion came from the sidelines when five dragons swooped from their posts simultaneously. Jace reached their quarry first, the impact of his collision sending Tony flailing for purchase. For a split second Tony was airborne, the next he was rammed back to earth, the force of his own weight impaling him on the upturned section of the sword. A rattling groan shook through him before he slumped in a dead sprawl. Literally. Apparently his chain mail wasn’t sword retardant.
Leaving the others to gape at the now-lifeless Tony, Aiden shifted into his human form and ran to her. He clasped her tight, his arms trembling around her. “I thought I’d lost you. Don’t ever fucking do that to me again.”
She kissed him, pressing her mouth against the frantic pulse beating in his neck. “I won’t.” The coppery scent of blood drifted to her nose and she panicked. “He hurt you.”
“I’m fine. It’s just a scrape.”
“Bullshit. Let me out of these shackles.”
“Why? So you can kiss and make it better?”
“No, so I can club you over the head for being such a blockhead.”
Grinning, he ripped the shackle from the post just as Jace came galloping up. “Perfect timing.” He extended her manacled wrists toward Jace. “Mind springing my woman?”
“Your woman?” She sniffed. “Isn’t that rather sexist?”
“Better get used to it.”
Jace inserted the tip of his talon into the hinge and the shackle sprang open. Next he sliced through the ropes binding her wrists. The second she was free, she threw her arms around Aiden and kissed the daylights out of him. In between desperate nips, licks and nibbles, she poured out the words she’d kept locked away. “I love you. God, I love you so much.”
Resting his forehead against hers, he cupped her cheeks. “I think I’ve waited my entire life to hear you say that.” Pressing a soft kiss to her lips, he pulled back. “I can’t give you normal. But my heart is yours. Always.”
“I don’t need normal. Just you.”
The sound of a throat clearing drew Dana away from Aiden. She turned and discovered two more dragons had joined them. One was definitely larger—close to the same size as Jace—with dark green scales. The more petite one had scales as white as alabaster. Both dragons eyed her with unabashed curiosity.
“Mom, Dad, I’d like you to meet Dana—my mate.”
Dana gasped and ran her palms over her severely rumpled blouse.
A soft chuckle floated from Aiden’s mom. “It’s okay, dear. We all look a little worse for wear.” She shifted her attention to Aiden. “The council members will be arriving soon at Emmaline’s restaurant. We don’t want to leave the poor woman alone and at the mercy of that tedious bunch.”
“Emmaline!” Dana’s hand flew to her mouth. “How is—”
“She’s fine,” Aiden said, stroking the nape of her neck. “I promised her I’d get you over to La Luna’s safe and sound, so once we get rid of the evidence of what happened here, we better hit the sky. We don’t need Emmaline sending a search party after us.”
Dana shuffled her feet. “Uh, in case you didn’t notice, I’m not equipped for flight like the rest of you.”
“Sweetheart, who needs wings when you can ride a dragon?”
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Never in a million years did she think she’d be straddling the back of a dragon while the wind ripped through her hair. Hugging Aiden’s neck like her life depended on it—which quite frankly it did—she slammed her eyelids shut and tried not to think about the endless expanse of empty space between her and the ground.
“Everything okay back there?”
“F-fine.” Her teeth chattered spastically.
With a smooth glide, Aiden began descending. Dana didn’t risk opening her eyes until she no longer felt the wind’s insistent tug. They’d arrived in La Luna’s empty parking lot. She extended her leg and toppled off Aiden’s back. Far as graceful dismounts went it rated about a minus two.
Emmaline came running from the entrance and swept Dana into a hug. “Oh Lord, do you have any idea how crazy worried I’ve been?”
“Crazy seems to be the theme of the day.” Dana stared at the dried blood congealed on her aunt’s forehead. Hit all over again by how close she’d come to losing her loved ones, she started to cry. Emmaline joined in and they both stumbled into La Luna’s entryway, blubbering.
“Oh shoot.” Wiping her tear-stained cheeks, Emmaline broke away. “I forgot to let them know their clothes are waiting for them in the Navigator. We don’t need a bunch of naked dragons loitering outside.”