Chapter 7 Zera #3
The silence that followed was electric. Zera could almost feel Maverick’s wolf senses sharpening, his body preparing for the inevitable confrontation.
“Zera, take the keys,” Maverick whispered without moving his gaze from the dragon shifter, whose eyes flashed with fire. “And when I say run, you run straight to the car, got it?”
“I will, but next time I’m joining you,” she muttered, hating that he had to fight her battles for her. She wasn’t used to men doing that, but she wasn’t used to life-threatening fights either.
“Stubborn pixie,” he murmured, a trace of admiration in his voice.
“Bloody arrogant faeboy,” she shot back, and she could’ve sworn she saw the hint of a smile.
Maverick’s stance shifted imperceptibly, and Zera knew it was about to happen. Time seemed to slow down as the dragon shifter took a menacing step forward, scales rippling down his arms. He opened his mouth, the faintest hint of flames dancing at the edges of his graying lips.
“Run!” Maverick barked, and Zera’s body responded before her mind could argue. She darted toward the car, her minimal flight powers giving her speed an extra boost.
Behind her, the sounds of violence erupted—a snarl, a roar, the unmistakable sound of flesh hitting flesh. She reached the car, the door unlocking the moment she was close, and she slid into the driver’s seat and locked the doors behind her.
She tossed her backpack in the rear seat, sparing a glance at Maverick, who landed a solid hit, but the dragon shifter wasn’t going down without a fight.
The thought to leave, to head south for Pixie Hollow sprang to mind, and her fear made it tempting.
But she couldn’t leave Maverick, not when he was fighting for their lives and definitely not with a bounty on her head. She would never survive.
“Come on, Maverick!” she yelled, but he couldn’t hear her.
She watched in horror as the dragon shifter’s powers increased, spraying fire at Maverick.
Smoke plumed in the air from the heat. Maverick dodged the fire at the last second, trying to find a way to defeat him.
Movement behind Maverick caught her eye, and she suddenly realized the dragon shifter wasn’t alone. Maverick was caged in.
“Drive!” she heard Maverick shout, his voice strained.
She hesitated, torn between the urge to flee and the desire to aid him. But as the brawl grew more vicious, she knew what she had to do.
With a deep breath, she reached for her pixie dust. Only a glimmer was left, but maybe, just maybe it would buy him enough time. She let the trickle of power swirl up her spine, and she fluttered her fingers at the figures standing behind him.
Purple sparkled at their ankles as invisible bands tied their feet together, immobilizing them as they were about to launch themselves at Maverick.
He didn’t even look when they all toppled behind him as he dodged another burst of fire.
The dragon lashed out with flame after flame.
Maverick dodged each attempt, getting closer to the dragon shifter with each lunge.
Scaly wings slid from the shifter’s back as he prepared to shift into full-on dragon form.
The dragon shifter lashed out in one last attempt.
Maverick propelled himself into the air, shifting into wolf form in the blink of an eye. His jaw clamped down on the dragon shifter’s scaly neck, a growl reverberating through his chest.
The dragon shifter shrieked in agony, its fiery breath dissipating into feeble wisps of smoke. Maverick’s grip tightened, teeth sinking deeper into the thick flesh as he refused to let go until victory was secured.
Zera blinked. The dragon shifter stopped moving, but his posse still writhed against her trap, trying to get a swipe at Maverick. His bloodied wolf face shadowed over the dying beast as he howled a triumphant cry before sliding back into his human form.
She started the engine and unlocked the door for Maverick.
The commotion from the other fae in the street reached a fever pitch, and she knew her bindings were wearing off.
They screamed for his death, swearing to slit their throats.
Her heart lodged in her throat as she noticed him limp toward her, dodging a lightning whip that lashed out from the darkness.
“Go!” Maverick’s voice cut through the stillness, his form still partially shifted, fur bristling with aggression.
He all but collapsed into the passenger seat, sweat dripping down his broad chest, which peeked out from his shredded clothes.
There was no sign of his backpack, but perhaps it didn’t matter.
At least they had their lives. And her home science lab.
She longed for a quiet moment to unpack her home lab and actually try to create the controlled conditions for the everfrost blossom, which would prove difficult, but it would be a welcome change from everything she’d experienced in the last twenty-four hours.
“Drive,” he growled, his stormy eyes still swirling with wolf rage, and he slammed the door shut.
Zera didn’t need another word. She pushed the pedal to the floor, the car’s tires screeching as they peeled away from the alley and the defeated dragon shifter and his posse behind them.
“Are you okay?” she asked, glancing at Maverick’s rugged profile, looking for signs of injury.
“I’ll heal,” he grunted, shifting back into his fully human form. It was true—he would. But as Zera drove through the night, the tightness in her chest eased a little because they were both still alive. Alive and together, despite everything.