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“Let’s get to it.” Jori nodded, dismissing everyone.
Chapter 18
Marli waited her turn on the hangar platform, opting go last as a precaution.
She ignored the males in favor of the mountain vista as, one by one, they stripped, shifted and launched.
“Ready?” Sten called to her just before he shifted into his dragon.
She turned in time to see the magic surround his muscular human flesh, shimmer and swirl, drawing out the ancient reptilian beast that occupied part of his soul.
His mass expanded, scales erupted, coating his skin to protect the bones and organs. Finally, his tail elongated and wings bloomed from his back.
It happened in a matter of seconds, but it still took her breath away.
One of her favorite things was watching other dragons transform into their more powerful selves. The process was the same, but each differed in their own unique ways.
She held onto the feeling of marvel a little longer, noting that the anxiety that had gripped her the last few times she’d watched him change was smaller now. It didn’t fill every limb, as it had in the past, but just a spot at her nape warning that she couldn’t let her guard down.
Not yet.
Sten glanced at her before taking one powerful step forward, launching off the edge of the stone platform that jutted from the mountainside hangar.
Her gaze followed him as he angled toward the stream of other males that were part of their search squad.
It’ll be okay, Marli. They may be bigger, but you’re faster.
On her previous outings, she had noted every crevice that would fit her body, the way the winds behaved around the peaks, and where the forested terrain rolled toward open ground until it hit civilization or ocean.
Alone in the hangar, she shed her clothing, drew a deep breath and let her dragoness free.
Tipping over the edge, her wings snapped out, pushing down to raise her body upward. She breathed a little deeper, filling her lungs with fresh air to scrub out the funk of the mountain.
Even if she couldn’t see the other dragons, she’d be able to follow the stream of their scents. Marli ignored most of them, focusing on Sten’s.
She flew lower than they did, navigating close enough to see between the trees below in case the prisoners were in human form on foot.
No humans. Just bounding deer, ambling bears, and all manner of scurrying creatures and birds. A pack of wolves eyed her warily, but maintained their course.
Once she ran out of mountain range, she ascended to Sten’s height, signaling that she’d break off now. As soon as he acknowledged, she veered away, rolled, and continued her ascent.
Once over inhabited areas, she had to ensure she was high enough to be mistaken for a plane or a bird until she reached the coast.
As soon she spotted the glimmering ribbon of ocean in the distance, she breathed a little deeper.
Familiar. Home. Now to find Red out in this expanse.
Marli spotted the whale pods and adjusted her course.
Come on, come on, come on…
She blinked against the brilliance of the sun over the open water until she spotted the southern coast of Nova Scotia and adjusted again.
Her muscles cramped. Just as she started thinking about circling back to Seal Island to rest, a splotch of color on the horizon sent a thrill through her chest.
Yes!
Marli circled overhead, waiting for the signal flag that they saw her.
