I glided low, following the coastline, until I finally saw what I was looking for: a tiny patch of sand, too small to be called a beach, even a private one, in the shadow of a cliff face.

The second my claws hit the sand, my strength gave out and I collapsed at the edge of the water, the waves hissing over my heated scales as they returned to the sea. Blood oozed in vivid red streams from a pair of holes right above my stomach plates, bullet wounds I’d taken just before we fled. Thankfully, it was more of a graze than a direct hit, and that part of my body was well armored, but still. Seawater foamed over me as a wave rolled onto the beach, rushing into the wounds and setting them on fire. I clenched my jaw in pain, panting through my nostrils, as Ember splashed over, wings outstretched, pupils dilated in fear and alarm. The sun glinted off her metallic crimson scales, her eyes blazed emerald, and even through the pain, the sight of her real form made my blood sizzle.

“You’re shot!”

“Yeah,” I hissed, digging my claws into the sand, wishing it was the face of the soldier with the gun. “One of the bastards got me.

It’s not as bad as it looks.”

She stepped closer, folding her wings over her back. She didn’t Shift, but gently nudged a wing aside to peer at the wound. I watched her, my body coiled around hers, fighting the desire to reach out and drag her close, wrapping us both in my wings.

“You were incredible back there, you know,” I said quietly. “Looked St. George in the eye and didn’t back down. You would’ve made an awesome Viper.”

“Yeah, well, I was terrified the whole time, so don’t think I’ll be doing that again anytime soon.” Her voice caught, and she drew back slightly, shivering. “They were really trying to kill us,” she whispered.

“Why do they hate us? We haven’t done anything to them.”

“You know the answer to that, Firebrand.” I closed my eyes as another waved flowed over us; it hurt like a mother but at least it would clean the wounds. “Talon taught you just as well as me. They hate us because we’re different, and mankind always fears what they don’t understand.” I shrugged, painfully. “Course, our ancestors might’ve started that grudge with the whole burning towns and eating villag-ers thing. Or, it might’ve started when the first slayer killed the first dragon for his treasure hoard, who knows? The point is, this war is nothing new. Humans and dragons have been fighting each other for centuries, and it’s not going to end anytime soon. Not until one of us destroys the other. And with all the humans on the planet, who do you think will go extinct first?”

Ember shook her head, nostrils flaring. “But, it’s so pointless,” she growled, baring her fangs. “Has anyone tried talking to each other?”

I snorted a laugh, wincing as it sent a stab of pain through my ribs. “You just saw what St. George is like. If you think you can get through to them, by all means, go back tonight and try to have a conversation. But I bet you won’t get within a hundred yards before they start firing.” She scowled, and I raised my head, bringing my muzzle level to hers. “You can’t reason with fanatics, Firebrand,” I told her gently. “St. George hates us because we’re dragons, and that’s the only excuse they need to wipe us out. They see us as monsters.

That’s why they want us extinct.”

She blinked, slitted green eyes gazing into my own, sending heat singing through my veins. In human form, I’d felt drawn to her, but it was nothing compared to the almost savage pull I felt now. Firmly, I shoved it back. There was no time.

Gritting my teeth, I planted my claws and pushed myself upright, hissing at the sharp lance of pain. Ember quickly stepped forward and leaned into me, bracing herself as she took some of my weight.

“Cobalt, don’t. What are you doing?”

“We can’t stay here and risk St. George finding us. I have to get to Wes and the others, but I don’t think I can fly very far.” Setting my jaw, I limped up the beach, cursing as my talons sank into the sand, slowing me down. Ember stayed with me, walking close, her shoulder touching mine to mine to steady us. “Fortunately, I come fully prepared for these kind of circumstances.”

We reached the rock face, where a pile of branches and driftwood sat against the cliff wall in the sand. At my nod, Ember stripped them away, raking it aside with her claws, until she revealed the plastic crate beneath. Inside was a single change of clothes, a new wallet with duplicate fake identities, money, a burner phone, and a small first aid kit.

I grinned at her astonishment. “Like I said, I’ve been doing this awhile, Firebrand. And the first thing you learn when you go rogue is that you always have a backup plan.” I might’ve said more, but at that moment, I shifted my weight the wrong way and my leg gave out from under me. I caught myself with a hiss, but it seemed so much easier to slump into the cool, dry sand, so I did.

Ember was beside me in an instant, eyes worried as she leaned in. Beautiful, dangerous, the other half of me. And the urges within became too strong to ignore.

My wings swept down, wrapping around us both, drawing her against my body. She reared back, startled, but I hooked my talons into her scales and pulled her close. Ember resisted for a moment, then gave a low growl and pressed forward, twining her neck with mine. Flames roared through me, a fire exploding through my core, consuming and intense. I closed my eyes, wanting her closer, wanting to twist and writhe and coil in the sand, tails and wings thrashing, until we had become one.