No, I wasn’t, and I still didn’t know where we were or how I’d gotten here. This couldn’t be real. I’d escaped the dragon. Rust and I had made it home safely, and the den was protected six ways to Sunday. I couldn’t feel my pack, couldn’t hear, smell, or sense them anywhere near me…
Hold on.
Only one answer made sense.
“I’m dreaming.”
The realization must have escaped past my lips, since something that looked a lot like panic flashed across the dragon’s eyes before he doubled down on his menacing glare.
But it was too late. The remaining clues of this warped riddle clicked together, forming a revelation I clung to with every ounce of hope I had.
The dragon’s growl vibrated through my entire body.You cannot hide from me. I know your face, your name, your dreams. I will find you, Ziara, and when I do?—
“You can’t do jack to me. This is just a dream.”
Shall I tear you asunder to prove the reality of my presence?
“Right. Not a dream, then. More like a nightmare.” I backed up, covertly measuring the distance to the narrow gap where his tail didn’t quite reach his torso. “Nothing but my overactive imagination conjuring up the most terrifying thing I can think of after a super stressful experience.”
I bolted.
He shifted, closing the gap, but not before I sprinted through it and into the darkness. Air rushed. Sensing his movement, I put on a burst of speed, but it wasn’t enough. A massive weight slammed into my side, launching me sideways. I flew through the air, crashed into something solid—a wall that hadn’t existed seconds before—and crumpled to the ground. Pain exploded through my ribs.
Not real. None of this was real.
The stars bursting behind my eyelids said differently. Before I could roll over and find my feet, a massive claw pinned me to the floor, pressing hard enough to force the air from my lungs. The dragon’s face filled my vision, fangs bared.
I shall reclaim what is mine by blood and birthright, and I will annihilate every wretched soul who dares to attempt to stand in my way.
My pack. He was threatening my pack.
Rage cut through the terror. I shoved against his talon with all my might, knowing I couldn’t budge it but needing to fight anyway.
“Touch any of our people, and my father will mount your head on the top of the Space Needle.”
Empty threats from a thief who stabs the merciful in the back.
“Front of the chest, actually. Twice.”
He shifted more weight onto me, increasing the pressure against my internal organs. Black spots danced across my vision.
I needed out. Now.
If I could feel pain, maybe I could create enough of it to wake myself up.
I bit down on my tongue, hard enough to taste copper. The dragon’s face wavered. I chomped harder, grinding my teeth until blood filled my mouth and tears streamed down my face.
Finally, the void shattered with one last warning from the dragon.
You will beg for mercy before I end you.
THIS LITTLE NUTJOB
Ziara
Ijerked awake.
Flinging myself out of bed, I landed in a crouch with my daggers drawn. Their weight was comforting because I knew I’d slept with them sheathed at my thighs last night. Learning you’ve stolen from a dragon understandably freaks a person out, and I felt just shy of paranoid. That bastard had promised to come for me, and I was determined to be as prepared as possible.
