The fragile rational calm I’d maintained so far shattered.
I opened my mouth and started screaming like an insane person, pulling violently at the cuffs and jackknifing on the bed, trying to dislodge his touch.
“Stop her before she hurts herself,” Hestian ordered, stepping back.
Javier moved fast, grabbing my head and pressing a cloth to my mouth.
Reality started to blur within seconds.
I screamed my terror into the growing void.
I screamed for the mate who was supposed to be protecting me.
And I screamed at what would happen to me once I was unconscious.
The achein my head was back, times ten.However, even as I swam toward awareness, I had the sense not to move.The fear had stayed with me.
I took a moment to assess what else hurt.Other than my head, everything was fine.
And my ankles were still tied.
A single tear escaped and tracked down my cheek.
The low murmur of conversation penetrated the flood of relief that I hadn’t been violated.
“…the fires in the East Village development have been contained, and nearby evacuated residents have been warned not to return to their homes.Authorities are warning residents to avoid contact and watch the skies.Anyone with any information regarding the current location of Sophia Elmantas should call the number at the bottom of the screen.It’s imperative she is located as soon as possible.”
The sirens…they were because of Konni.
He was looking for me.
I opened my eyes and laughed, the low, hoarse laugh sounding nothing like me.
Hestian, who was sitting beside me, looked up from the news he was watching on the tablet he held.
“This amuses you?”he asked, a hint of anger in his voice.“That beast has burned three of my properties already.”
“That’s what dragons do when someone takes their mate—they burn the village.But that’s just the start.”
I sat up suddenly, leaning toward Hestian as far as my chained wrists would allow.
Javier, who’d been a step behind Hestian, moved equally fast and slapped me across the face.
I tasted blood.
Outside, an unholy roar rattled the windows.
Hestian bolted to his feet and swore.
“Idiot.I said not to hurt her.”
Understanding flooded me.Konni had felt my pain.If he hadn’t known where I was, he would now.
I laughed harder as Hestian hurried from the room, Javier on his heels.
“Dragons don’t forgive, you fucker!You’d better hope he finds you before he finds me!”
Alone in the room, I started pulling violently at the cuffs.It hurt.
