“It doesn’t sound like that’s going to work,” the captain says and shakes his head slowly, pressing the gun harder against my temple. “I’m sorry, but the safety of the entire fort depends on this. You need to make him leave. Right now.”

I realize I’m not going to have a rescuer in this moment. Or, rather, I do, but he’s a vicious dragon and I’m not entirely sure he’s a good guy. Either I get shot by the guards and never see Amy again, or I get kidnapped by a dragon and never see Amy again. I’m screwed either way.

He…he says he’ll kill me if you don’t back off, Kael. My thoughts seem to tremble nearly as much as my body does. Please don’t hurt anyone.

Kael’s return thoughts are so dark and furious that I wince as they blast into my mind. You are my mate! He is holding you from me. If he hurts you, I will tear him limb from limb and let the crows devour his bones!

Well, that’s…creative. I swallow hard and look the captain in the eye. “He’s not happy that you’re scaring me.”

“I’m not happy that he’s flying over the city,” the captain says in a tight voice.

Yes, but if he leaves, I’m not sure what’ll happen to me. I try to mentally play out what will happen if Kael leaves me behind, and I realize with a sick sensation that I’m trapped. Every dragon attack, the mayor and the captain are going to trot me out and try to use me as a hostage. I’m not getting free of this, ever again.

My only path lies with Kael, he of the hot kisses and terrifying bites. I try to compose myself. Be calm, Claudia. If this is my path, find a way forward. So I decide to make things sound pretty grim. If they want to threaten me, I’ll threaten right back. “He’s not leaving me here. He says if you hurt me, it’s going to be ugly.”

“I don’t plan on hurting you,” the captain says. “You and I, we’re going to bargain. If he leaves the city alone, I’ll give you to him. Tell him that.”

“He says you need to give me my sister.”

“You think she’s safe with him?” As if to punctuate this, Kael roars again, and the captain tilts his head as if to say, see?

I hate that he’s right. I hate that I don’t know that answer. “I don’t think she’s safe with you, either.”

“He’s not attacking, sir,” one of the men calls over the radio. “He’s settled on the roof of the building and is waiting for something. Your orders?”

The captain glances at the radio at his waist, then at me.

“My sister,” I warn him. “Now.”

The captain exchanges a look with the mayor. Then he hits a button on the radio. “We’re going to be giving the prisoner to the dragon. Stand by.”

“Not without my sister—”

“We’re not waiting for your sister to be brought to the barracks. Get that dragon out of here now. The life of one does not outweigh the needs of many.”

“If you send me off with him, there’s nothing that’s stopping me from telling him to come back and burn this place to the ground. He listens to me. If I tell him I want you dead, he’ll kill you.”

“Which is why I need to keep your sister as leverage. You go with him and he gets what he wants. Your sister stays with us as incentive for him to leave us alone.” The look on his face is almost one of regret. Almost.

That bastard. Everyone gets what they want but me and Amy? “You think I won’t come back to get her? With an army of dragons?”

The captain’s look of regret turns to one of anger. “You’d murder every last person here?”

I say nothing. I wouldn’t destroy Fort Dallas, no, but I won’t take back the threat, either.

“All the more reason for us to keep your sister.”

I hesitate, then open my mind to Kael again. They’re going to give me to you if you promise to leave the city alone.

I will not harm them if they have not harmed you. I just want my mate. Are you well?

I’m fine, I tell him. For now. But I feel as if my heart is breaking. Oh, Amy. “He just wants me. As long as I’m safe, he’ll leave.”

The captain nods. “I’m very sorry, Miss Jones. I know you don’t like this, but we’re left with very little choice here. My advice for you is to see what you can do to tame that dragon and get him to leave this area entirely.”

Fat chance of that happening. I’m not leaving, not with Amy and Sasha here. And Kael’s not going anywhere without me, I suspect. “Let me tell him that we’re coming up.”

20

CLAUDIA

A triad of soldiers walks me to the roof, guns trained on my back as if they expect me to suddenly turn into a dragon myself. As if I’m super dangerous. It’s ridiculous, but they’re scared. I get that. Hell, I’m scared and I know Kael better than all of them. I can feel his thoughts weighing on my mind, pressing in as if trying to decipher what is going on from my silence. He’s worried. I know that much. And his calm is ebbing with every minute that this takes.

I need to make sure he’s good. The last thing I want is for him to fry everyone the moment we show up on the roof, because then I don’t know what they’re going to do with Amy. They’re bringing me up the stairs, I tell him. Don’t hurt anyone. They’re going to release me.

Have you been harmed? Alarm tinges his thoughts, followed by a quick flash of rage. Shall I destroy them?

No, I say, and force myself to remain calm. No destroying. They’re just going to release me to you.

I sense unhappiness in your thoughts. Why does that make you sad? You are my mate. I will care for you.

I say nothing. I’m frustrated at the world. Amy’s still captive. Kael’s still keeping me captive. I don’t get any control over the situation, and it’s frustrating as hell. Worst of all, I’m not even sure my thoughts are safe. What if Kael picks up that I’m upset and gets angry and kills me, too? Even as I say it to myself, I know that’s not the case. Sure, he might rip the throat out of other rival dragons and threaten to torch all of Fort Dallas to get me back, but he wants me safe and sound.

But it doesn’t mean I can’t be pissy about it.

We take the emergency stairs to the roof, and at the top of the stairs we pause at the heavy metal door that leads to the rooftop. Once this is opened, there’s no turning back. I glance at the soldiers at my side, noting hard fear on each face. I feel bad for them. This isn’t how they want things to go, either. They’re terrified that they’re walking up here to be roasted. And they should be terrified. That’s all we’ve ever known, ever since the rip in the stars opened up. I don’t blame them for being worried.