Total pages in book: 61
Estimated words: 62488 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 312(@200wpm)___ 250(@250wpm)___ 208(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 62488 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 312(@200wpm)___ 250(@250wpm)___ 208(@300wpm)
“I’m thinking of not just you, but my whole sanctuary. We can’t bring them into Dragon Rider territory. We can’t vouch for any of them.”
“Then we’ll stay here. You take him. We will keep,” Desi pleaded, her voice filled with desperation.
Keifer gritted his teeth, his mind working a hundred miles an hour.
I knew his dilemma. He had more than just us to think about.
He had a mate at home that was pregnant. A threat that he knew nothing about. And four unknowns that could possibly kill all that he loved.
He was just being protective.
And I didn’t know who to side with.
Turns out, though, that Brooklyn could take care of herself, which she proved in the next instant.
One second Merrick and Brooklyn were there, and the next second, they weren’t.
My vision blurred, and then I was privy to the same thing that Brooklyn was. She’d weaved her own illusion to help get Merrick help.
Good girl.
“Help me,” she whispered. “Help me now.”
I looked into her eyes, studied her face, and then nodded.
This was the time.
I would either choose her or Keifer.
I picked Merrick up, cradling him like an over large newborn, and walked out the door.
***
I witnessed magic that night.
Saw the amazingness of it before my eyes.
Merrick’s dragon, a shiny pale bronze dragon, the size of a small tractor, used to mow acres upon acres of hay, stood proudly by Merrick’s side.
It was then that I realized that the dragon was taking in just as much healing power as Merrick himself.
I hadn’t realized that the ride was as far away as it was, but the longer I watched Merrick and the dragon, Sascha, heal, the more I realized that we must’ve been further than was safe for even Perdita to go.
“You need to tell your brother where, exactly, you are or he’ll keep hounding us until he finds us. And I don’t really want to deal with the fight that I can see coming. Tell him and be done with it,” Brooklyn growled for the fourth time.
I narrowed my eyes.
“If he comes here, he’s going to try to stop you and me,” I informed her.
She shrugged.
“It’s already done,” she said.
I looked from her to Merrick and back again.
“You think he’s going to be okay?” I asked, leaning forward slightly to study the other man.
He isn’t bleeding anymore, so that was a good thing, right?
Yes, Perdita said telepathically. Your brother has found you.
I looked up just in time to see Declan and Keifer land on the soft forest floor beside us.
Keifer didn’t attack like I thought he would, though.
Instead, he calmly slid off the dragon’s back, and crossed his arms as he watched whatever healing was happening with Merrick, and his dragon, happen.
“I took the others to the sanctuary,” he said. “And I would’ve brought Skylar with me, but you never answered.”
Brooklyn snorted.
I sent a glare in her direction.
“What exactly are you thinking I’m going to do here?” Keifer asked my mate.
Brooklyn looked up, and her eyes narrowed.
“What do I think is going to happen?” she asked. “How the hell would I know? Everything that I’ve wanted since you’ve gotten back has taken a backseat to what you wanted. My best friend, my mate, they all deferred to you. And I’m tired of coming second best to the people that used to put me first before you showed up.”
As Brooklyn spoke, she leaned forward and poked Keifer in the chest, pronouncing each word with more and more force until her finger was sinking into the soft jacket Keifer was wearing.
“You done?” Keifer asked.
Brooklyn hissed at him.
Keifer’s frown cracked, and suddenly a smile overtook his face.
“You’re good for this family, you know,” he said. “I’m sorry.”
“Sorry for what?” Brooklyn asked in confusion.
“Sorry that I haven’t tried harder to get along with you. You’re one of mine now, and I’ll do my best in the future to listen to you before I choose what I think is best for you,” he promised.
I threw one arm around Brooklyn’s shoulder.
“You’ll excuse us for a moment?” I asked my brother.
I didn’t wait for him to tell me yes or no; instead, I just walked away with Brooklyn as she dragged her feet.
We were about thirty feet away, and out of hearing distance, of at least my brother, when I turned Brooklyn to me and stared at her, studying her tired face.
“You’re okay?” I asked her worriedly.
She held up her hand.
“I think it’s healed,” she answered. “Are you okay?”
I looked at my own hand.
The flash of pain I’d felt earlier when Brooklyn had broken her arm was a distant memory now, but it still hurt to think that she’d been in pain and I’d had no way of preventing that hurt.
“Yes,” I said. “I’m fine.”
She nodded.
“I’m still mad at you,” she promised.
I nodded this time.
“I’m sorry,” I said. “I shouldn’t have chosen my brother over you. I’ll offer no excuse.”