Page 100 of Dream Reaper

“I suggest we get everyone away from the trees, especially during the night hours. The monster is strongest during those times,” Ava said, turning to Brynja. “Do you have enough storage rooms in the ruins where we can stay until Jerrid returns?”

Brynja frowned but nodded. “And what of Talos? Do we leave him to his fate? I won’t leave someone out there to guard him if it puts them in danger.”

“We could bring him to the ruins. At least there would be a lot of us to watch him.”

The human pursed her lips but didn’t argue. That had to be a good sign.

“Jerrid will need food and water for the trip.”

His head lifted. “I won’t need much. I don’t plan to stop.”

Ava opened her mouth to scold him but then clamped her lips tightly together. What other choice did he have if he stood a chance of bringing help in time? So, she merely nodded that she understood.

Brynja left to get him the supplies while Jerrid said goodbye to Echo. She glared at him through her glittering eyes, furious at being left behind, but in the end, she settled her head onto her folded front claws with a huff of annoyed acceptance. Ava gave her neck a gentle pat to console her.

She understood how the dragon felt.

Ava? Dragon’s voice whispered in the corner of her mind, unusually strained.

She turned toward Jerrid, but he wasn’t looking at her, absorbed in stroking Echo’s sharp cheekbones as he whispered to her.

Yes? she replied cautiously, watching to see if Jerrid reacted.

He can’t hear us. I shut him out. Dragon stirred closer to the core of her thoughts. I don’t want him to know.

Ava’s heart began to thud loudly. What don’t you want him to know?

When we shift, Dragon began in a raspy whisper, I’m going to have to leave you. I won’t be able to stay. A complete shift will require all my focus. And the distance… Do you understand what I am saying?

Ava worked hard to still her breathing, to control her thoughts, because she did understand what he was saying, and she didn’t want him to know how much it terrified her.

I understand.

Something warm and soothing flooded through her thoughts. It reached to every corner of her mind, intimate and gentle.

We’ll come back, Meat Pasty, he promised. For you. We’ll come back for you.

She faked a smile, but inside she wanted to scream.

Dragon was going to leave her thoughts, and she’d have no way to protect herself or the girls in the camp.

She’d be a sitting duck.

CHAPTER 24

JERRID

He was going to shift. On purpose.

Nerves clawed at his insides, his limbs jittery and rubbery. He’d never given Dragon the amount of control he was about to give him. This wasn’t an accidental shift, a desperate attempt to preserve life, or to escape danger. This was giving up his freedom once and for all.

And he had a feeling that he would never be the same. Would Dragon ever relinquish control once he had it?

You need to do this, Dragon said, an irritable edge to his thoughts. We need to do this for Ava.

“I know,” Jerrid snapped back, just as irritably. “I already agreed to this, so just shut up and let me do what needs to be done.”

Dragon fell into a sulky silence, but Jerrid could feel him brooding beneath the surface.