Chapter 5
FIVE
PYRO
“Your granddaughter lost quite a large amount of blood. Honestly, I’m surprised she made it out of the accident alive.
Because her legs were pinned under the steering column, she sustained some damage to them.
One was broken, and the other, she was lucky not to have, but it took enough damage.
Both were cut up. We’ve wrapped the one, casted the other.
” The doctor takes a breath and continues explaining to Clay and his mate the injuries Carina has.
“Right now, we have to worry about the swelling in her brain. We’re keeping her sedated at this time while we monitor her to see if the swelling goes down. ”
She’s alive, though. That’s all that matters. My dragon is still on edge, but hearing that she was still alive calms him marginally.
“When can we see her?” Inferno asks, bringing me out of my thoughts.
I shift slightly, backing away from Carina’s family. Now that I know she’s good, I don’t need to be here anymore.
Clay takes note of what I’m doing and shakes his head, whether it’s disappointment or something else, I don’t know, but I’m not gonna think on it.
“We have her in the ICU right now. So, only two people will be allowed back at this time,” the doctor says, looking to Clay and his mate. “I will warn you, she doesn’t look good.”
“We want to see her,” Clay growls, pulling his mate even closer to him.
The doctor nods and instructs them on how to get to the ICU. “There’s a waiting room by there for those who want to wait, but visiting hours are nearly up.”
All of my brothers and I end up following Inferno and his family up to the ICU floor. I don’t know why I’m sticking around. It’s not like she’s mine. I don’t give a fuck that Clay claims she’s got my dragon tattooed on her. Or that she has the dragon mark.
I’m an unmated male dragon, not related to her in any way, I’m gonna feel a pull to her. It’s the mark on her that calls to me. Doesn’t mean she’s my damn mate.
She’s ours. My dragon snarls in my head. Mine.
Inwardly, I shake off the thoughts of my dragon. I’ve let him have too much control in the last few hours. Hell, since seeing her in the sky.
Sure, she’s beautiful. The most remarkable beauty I’ve ever seen. Even better than the gold I have hidden away.
“She’s going to be okay,” I hear Francie murmuring to Inferno. “She’s strong. You’ve said that more than once.”
Heat comes up next to me and cocks a brow. “You good?”
“Yeah, why wouldn’t I be?” This isn’t something I want to talk about. I’m not one for talking feelings or shit like that.
“Just seem off,” he shrugs and jerks his chin to Inferno, “was good of you to fly with him. Make sure he got here.”
“He’s a brother. I’m a brother.” I grunt. “Club does what it needs to for its members. He needed someone in the sky with him. I was able to do that. You guys followed behind as fast as you could.” I don’t like making shit into a big deal.
“Yeah.” Heat seems to take the hint and drops it, though he doesn’t leave my side. “Boot called, said he might have a lead to where Kinley is.”
“You gonna go check it out?” He’s been a man on a mission when it comes to trying to find Kinley.
Not because she’s his woman. Kinley is family to the club, and he’s pissed at himself for not protecting her.
I get it, but it’s not just on him. It’s on all of us.
We knew the threat that was out there, and we didn’t think about the fact that Kinley was Evelin’s best friend, and her ass was out there swinging in the air.
“Brimstone is going to check it out with Flash and Boot. Boot wanted to go, so if anything changes, they can track the intel from where they end up.”
“Think it’ll work?” I should be the one going. It’s my job as the Enforcer to go and help. Instead, I’m here. Waiting to hear about a woman my dragon won’t let me walk away from.
“Don’t know but can’t just let this go. Kinley’s one of ours.”
“I know.” I nod and glance around the room.
Clay and his mate were in the back. Inferno was waiting to go back. My dragon was clawing at my insides, demanding I go back there . . . see her . . . know for myself that she’s alive and breathing.
I shake my head and let out a breath as Clay and Marina step into the waiting room. Marina’s eyes are filled with unshed tears, her breathing is hitched, and she looks paler than I’ve ever seen her.
“How is she?” Inferno asks, stepping toward them.
Both Clay and Marina shake their heads, but Clay answers, “She doesn’t look like herself.”
Marina looks to me and takes a step closer. “You have to see her. Let the dragon free and see for himself. He can heal her. Make her whole. Please, Pyro, heal my baby. I can’t lose her as we lost my son and his mate.”
I blink at her, my dragon urging me to agree.
“You realize what that would do,” I tell her. I didn’t want to say it, but the words fell from my lips far too easily.
“I know exactly what it will do. What it entails. You are her mate. Fight it if you will. You’re both stubborn, but in the end, she’s meant to be yours.
Just as you’re meant to be hers. The dragon over her mark proves it.
” Marina’s pleading eyes shred through my barriers faster than any other dragon could ever claw through my scales.
“Brother, she’s your mate?” Fire cocks a brow, looking surprised.
“She carries the dragon mark. She can be the mate to any dragon,” I tell him, releasing a heavy breath.
“But she’s your mate,” Marina remarks, making sure to point at me.
“You know the words that have carried on through eons with those who are born with the mark.” She takes a step toward me.
“It’s said the one with the mate mark of the dragon is meant for one but can choose any.
She will not be able to resist her mate or any other except of her own free will.
The pull of which will be nearly as powerful to the one true, nearly as much as it will be of her decision.
‘Tis up to the dragon, who is meant to be her fated above all others, to prove to her that he wants her. That she’ll be beloved over any other. ”
Of course, the woman would speak the words of the long legend for everyone to hear.
“Pyro, you don’t have to, but she’s my sister. Saving her would mean everything. I’d owe you more than you’ll know,” Inferno mutters, eyes hollow and haunted, his mate holds him tight.
Fuck me.
“Fine,” I clip out. I know what I’m about to do goes against every grain in my body.
It’s fucked up and taking the choice out of her hand.
Then again, it seems that’s the way of things when it comes to mates, doesn’t it?
Especially when it comes to dragons. We’re known for plundering.
Stealing. Killing and taking what we want for ourselves.
I have more gold than I know what to do with, and it’s all tucked away not to be touched.
“I’ll save her, but don’t be pissed at me when she screams.”
Before anyone could speak anything else, I stalked past them all to go save the woman who my dragon sees as his.
It’s just the dragon mark calling to us, that’s it.
I don’t care what Marina said. I don’t have a mate fated to me.
I was told a long time ago that I’d never have a fated mate, and so I put that part of life behind me.
Or I thought I did.
My dragon doesn’t believe it. He seems to think this woman is ours.
Well, doing what I’m about to do will surely make her that. There’s no going back once I do this. Saving her means bonding her to me, which is fucked up because no one should be bonded to me. Not with the blood I have on my hands.
Stepping into the cubicle room they have Carina in, my eyes go straight to her.
She’s all I see. That and the bandages, along with the tubes and wires sticking out of her.
The scent of antiseptics fills the room, but I can still smell her.
All shifters have a keen sense of smell.
Dragons even stronger. They’ve got her lying in the middle of the hospital bed, one leg up slightly in a sling looking thing with a cast on it.
The other is beneath a blanket. The nurses had put her in a hospital gown that doesn’t look at that flattering, regardless, it does nothing to change the fact she’s beautiful. Neither do the bruises already forming.
Moving to her side, I reach out and stroke her cheek ever so gently. “Don’t hate me for what I’m about to do. It’s to save you. Make you whole. Heal you faster. Bring you home.”
She doesn’t respond. Not that she could. The sedatives have her out cold, but I can feel her in there.
With a heavy sigh, I pick up her arm that has an IV in it and see the tattoo. I stroke my fingers along the tattoo. It’s uncanny how it resembles my dragon when he’s out.
“My granddaughter is like her grandmother, sees things in her dreams. Knows the truth before she realizes it. She’s human, yet special. Makes her the perfect dragon mate.” Clay’s words ring in my ears from earlier.
Shaking the thought off, I close my eyes and will the dragon forward, letting him soar through my veins, come to the forefront of my mind, becoming one.
Casting a barrier around us to keep others from seeing as I touch her this way, I lean forward, smelling her delicate scent as I dip down to the crease of her shoulder.
It’s not the ideal spot for where I would want to mark her, but it’ll have to do.
Speaking in the language of the dragons, I murmur the words all dragons are taught at a young age. They flow off my tongue easily. With each word that leaves my mouth, my lips brush against her skin, warming her. The fire spreading inside her.
Finishing the words, I sink my teeth into her, drawing her blood into my mouth, savoring the sweet taste of her. She’s unlike any other, and tasting her, I feel the connection start, but it’s not done
I pull back and lap at the broken skin, feeling the magic swarming around us, sealing where I’d punctured through.
Lifting a hand to my mouth, I bite down, drawing blood and place to her lips, letting the droplets slide over them.
Her lips part marginally so I make sure the droplets make it into her mouth.
“Swallow, my sweet. Swallow and heal. We’re mates now, whether we like it or not. Swallow so you can heal. For your family.”
My dragon speaks to her in the language only dragons know. No one will be able keep us away from her. Not even me. And that alone can’t be good. Because I know I’ll end up making her hate me . . . just as my mother despised my father.