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Chapter 24
Gravor
Ireturned to town and coasted past the general store, seeing a shadowy figure sitting in the same car, parked across the street as if he thought we’d blithely stop by for supplies.
“Too easy,” I growled as I sped up, passing him and peeling onto a side street. A glance in the rearview mirror showed him following, remaining a few cars behind.
Did he think I’d lead him to my family?
Maybe he thought he could get me alone and capture me again. This time, he’d make sure I never escaped.
Or he’d outright kill me. He may not care about unlocking my shifter ability any longer—something they’d worked on in their underground lab for the past five years. They’d drained my blood over and over, drinking it at first, and then injecting it into their veins, hoping they’d take on my dragon shifting abilities like I was some kind of werewolf who only needed to bite them to bring about the change.
They’d made me bite them, too, though in all honesty, they hadn’t had to prod me to make me do it. I took joy in causing them pain.
Now I’d take joy in ending this once and for all.
While I’d be happy to park, shift, stalk over to him, and burn him to a crisp, I remembered the look on Mazie’s face when I told her I’d taken the law into my own hands. Yes, I’d been half out of my mind. I’d also been justified. They’d done unspeakable things to me for years. I’d let my primitive instinct loose to survive and forgot about everything else, even my past.
I’d forgotten about Mazie.
But was it right for me to outright kill this man?
Seeking revenge, my dragon said. Is not killing.
Same deal.
Not. Take it. Grim satisfaction came through in his voice. Or he take it from you.
There’s got to be a way that isn’t outright murder.
He huffed. Not murder. Vengeance.
As I drove out of town and took the road leading up to the steep cliffs where my brother lived, the word scorched through me, searing itself across my soul like a brand. I wanted it so much.
Killing him won’t erase the past, I said.
Will allow you to forget what you must. He sighed. Change. I’ll kill him.
I don’t need anyone to do this for me. For too long, I’d cringed in a cell. Now it’s time for me to fly.
In moving vehicle, no wings. No freedom.
He was right about that.
The straight road changed to switchbacks, each above the last, slowly taking me higher. Now that we were out of town, he must feel brave. He roared up behind me, bumping Mazie's SUV. I would owe her a new vehicle—assuming I made it out of this alive. I should've told Kuunik that I loved Mazie, and that Asher was mine. Would she tell him when I was gone, or would she keep the information hidden?
I wanted her to have everything that was mine. Asher too.
Don't think this, my dragon said. Focus on road. Driving. Or stop and fly. I eliminate threat.
I can handle it. I needed to handle it.
I slammed my foot on the gas pedal, gripping the steering wheel as the tires screeched on the pavement. The engine screamed, and I was grateful this was an SUV and not a tiny car. Adrenaline coursed through my veins as I navigated the treacherous switchback road, the sharp curves threatening to send us both hurtling toward the cliff on my left.
In my rearview mirror, I caught a glimpse of his headlights closing in on me. When had it gotten dark? A bead of sweat trickled down the back of my neck.
He slammed into me again, sending the back end of my vehicle careening to the right. I corrected and gave the SUV more gas. This wasn't just a chase anymore; it was life or death.
