Page 23 of Red Dragon’s Flame

The winged creature ducked to the side, and dropped out of sight.

Brock broke away from his battle and the soldiers scrambled for the door, falling over each other in their panic at being confronted with a fire-breathing dragon.

Mikah turned and scooped Shadow off the ground as gently as he could in one great taloned forefoot, and then held both forefeet cupped together. Jump in! he said to Brock and Michelangela.

Michelangela leaped in, still furry, but Brock took a second to Change back to human and grab up his gun and his jeans before climbing aboard. Enforcer training at its best, Mikah thought. The gun had fingerprints, and the jeans probably held his wallet and phone. He was leaving no clues that could tie this whole mess back to them.

Holding them all carefully so they wouldn’t fall, Mikah unfurled his wings and leaped into the air.

Activating his cloak, he made a circuit of the building, looking out for the winged creature, but he saw nothing.

He banked around, rose higher into the air, and headed into the night.

Chapter 12

Mikah flew straight across the city, heading for Cazbek’s downtown penthouse near the water. He kept his hand-like forefeet carefully cupped, one below the other, making sure all three of his precious passengers were safe and protected.

Brock, still human, had scrambled into his pants, and Mikah could feel him kneeling beside Shadowfire.

How is she doing? he asked.

Okay for now, came the reply. No worse, anyway. Her breathing is steady, and her pulse is okay.

Relief arrowed through him, feeling like it was piercing his chest. Shadowfire had to be okay. He had to have gotten there in time.

He didn’t know when he had gone from worry about an online friend to this soul-wrenching fear. All he knew was that if anything he could do would make her okay, he had to do it.

Take care of her, he said to Brock.

Of course. But I could use some more clothes. It’s cold up here. So could she, for that matter. Her shirt is in tatters.

Of course. He should have thought of that. And since he was touching them, he could conjure clothes right onto their bodies. In a moment, they were both wearing warm jackets.

Mikey? he asked. You need anything?

I’m staying wolf, not squishing up naked against my brother, thank you very much. Anyway, I’m keeping Shadow warm.

Mikah could feel her wolf snuggled up next to Shadowfire.

Thanks, he said, and got a casual mental shrug in return, which didn’t fool him. Michelangela pretended to be tough—which she was—but underneath she was as warm and loving and loyal as her dad.

As they spiraled in towards the penthouse, Mikah called out mentally to Cazbek. Hey, bro, incoming! It’s kind of an emergency. Hope you don’t have any parties going on up on the roof…

There was a pause, and then Cazbek’s mental voice came back, with a tinge of resigned frustration. Of course not, he said. I’m just having a hot starlight boink with my mate. Don’t mind about our orgasms or anything.

Sorry. He really wasn’t, though—Caz and Lucinda went at it like bunnies. One orgasm more or less was probably immaterial in the grand scheme of things.

And Shadow needed someplace safe to land.

He added, A friend of mine was attacked, and she’s unconscious. This was the closest place.

Oh my god, this is really Zak, isn’t it? You’re just pretending to be Mikah. Because Mikah in no way shows up in the middle of the night with unconscious people and enemies behind them.

Fuck me, Mikah thought privately. To Cazbek he said irritably, Yeah, just kidding, I am Zak. Just clear the fucking rooftop, okay?

Moments later he was landing on the roof. By that time Cazbek and Lucinda had moved the big double chaise longue out of the way and were, thank the Draken gods, no longer naked.

As soon as Mikah’s back feet settled on the roof he lowered his forefeet to ground level, and Michelangela’s wolf leaped out. Brock stepped down more slowly, carrying Shadow, and went over and laid her on the chaise.