by Hannah Lin
as many people as possible through.
We had ruined Carter’s mission. Now, it was about saving
face. I was counting on Carter realizing that so that he’d let
the last couriers through with no problem.
“Kate,” Carter called, stepping in front of the six men he
brought with him. “I knew there was something fishy about
you.”
I smiled. Carter was in a chatty mood. This was perfect.
“What gave it away?”
“You showed up on our radar with the perfect background
at the perfect time.”
I smiled sweetly. “Don’t thank me, thank Maddie.”
“Where is that little brat?” Carter asked, peering around
me.
“Long gone. To Testea too. Right through that portal.
Would you like to follow her?”
Carter scoffed. “I know what’s waiting on the other side of
that portal. The girl’s been nothing but a pain. But don’t
worry. My contacts in Testea will get her back. Then I can kill
her myself.”
Rage pulsed through my veins. How dare Carter threaten
my mate? I clenched my fists behind my back and breathed
deeply.
“We both know that will never happen,” I said. “Maddie’s
going to share all your little secrets.”
Carter laughed. “She knows nothing.”
“You’ll be shocked what kind of information Testea will find
interesting. Maddie’s a bright woman. You think she didn’t
note who you were talking to at all your little parties? You
think she won’t remember the names on the documents she
saw on your desk? How about the names and faces of
everyone in your cell? I bet Testea will find that kind of
information interesting.”
Carter’s dark brown eyes darkened, and he froze. I could
sense the tension coiled up in his muscles. He wanted
nothing more than to pounce.
I looked at the men Carter had brought with him. Taylor
and the rest of them were missing. They must have seen Kai
run by and gone after him. I wasn’t worried. Kai would
probably half shift, keeping his human form but sprouting
his wings, and fly to evade them, returning the children
once it was safe to do so. The most important thing was that
I had the attention of Carter and his men.
I took a step forward and looked each man in the eye. “Do
you want to stand by Carter at a time like this? Maddie is
telling Testean officials your names as we speak. I bet they’ll
hold a press conference that will go universe wide. Your
faces and your names will be on every screen. Think about
your families. Is this the story you want them to hear about
you? That you kidnap and murder little children?”
“Shut up,” Carter spat, his voice practically a growl.
I continued. “You could surrender, step through that portal
and hand yourselves over to Testea in exchange for serving
as a witness against Carter and Zov. Isn’t that better than
dying out here, and having your names and faces exposed
right beside this asshole’s?”
Silence reigned for a good three seconds, and I took my
opening. I’d been stoking the fire within me while I spoke,
and now it was as hot as it would get. I opened my mouth
and loosed a stream of fire, turning to make sure I got most
of Carter’s men.
Carter himself jumped out of the way with his freakishly
fast reflexes, but I got four of the men. They tried to roll
around on the ground as the flames consumed them, but
dragon’s fire was nothing like natural fire.
Before I could celebrate a brief victory, Carter pounced on
me in his bear form. I was ready for it, and I kicked out my
legs against the bear in anticipation. Sweat broke out over
my forehead as I strained against the giant beast above me.
Carter’s black eyes, combined with his black fur, made
him more intimidating. His animal looked like one who had
no soul, and I knew that to be true, so I pushed with all my
might. A regular human’s bones would have cracked under
the pressure, but I was a shifter, so I held on, but I quickly
felt my strength waning.
I turned to the side, hoping to find a dagger or something
else to help. Instead, I saw Simon fighting two of Carter’s
men alone. The older bear moved fast, dodging the blades
being swiped at him and getting punches in where he could.
I grunted but smiled inwardly. I was proud of Simon.
Pleased to see him finally break free of the mental chains
Carter had put on him. Simon had done the right thing and
stuck by it. From what I could see, he’d gotten all the
couriers through.
A paw swiped across my cheek, and I howled in pain.
Blood dripped down my face, but I pushed my legs further.
I’d gotten distracted and paid the price for it. Carter kept
advancing, lunging for my face with his massive paws. With
each lunge, my knees buckled. One more inch and he could
slit my throat with his claws.
I shut my eyes and focused on pushing while calling to the
magic in me. I found that the well within me was empty. I’d
used most of my magic up earlier and what was left couldn’t
start even a whimper of a fire.
Think, I told myself. This can’t be the end.
I could try to roll away from Carter, but the black bear had
fast reflexes. I’d be dead in less than a second. I thought of
shifting, but that would lead to the same result. I took a
deep breath, as I felt my legs quiver, ready to give out.
I knew I’d done my best. I’d done what any honorable
dragon would do. If this was the end, then so be it. I just
hated that I’d have to break my promise to Maddie. Poor
Maddie. She’d be all alone. That thought sent a sharp pain
into my chest, but there was nothing I could do.
I opened my eyes and looked into Carter’s. I would not go
down with my eyes closed.
“You’ll get what’s coming to—”
I couldn't finish the sentence. A second later, Carter was
shoved off me, and a group of Testean academy students,
dressed in orange and brown camouflage, chased after the
black bear. I turned toward the portal and saw more men
streaming from it. I scrambled to my feet and stopped one
of them.
“You can’t be here,” I said. “You’ll get in trouble.”
The young man grinned. “It’s worth it. We finally want to
know what it’s like to kick some Zovite ass.”
I shook my head and laughed. They were young and
crazy, and the promise of battle called to them. I stumbled
on weak legs toward Simon, who lay against the wall of the
warehouse with a hand over his belly.
“Your friends distracted me when they came through, and
he got a good swipe,” he said.
I placed an arm around the older bear and helped him
walk toward the portal. “Thank you for all your help. I
couldn’t have done it without you.”
Simon scoffed, then winced. “Please. I’ve seen no one
hol
d Carter off like that. He weighs a ton.”
“Are you complimenting my ability to do a leg press?”
Simon chuckled, then moaned. “Please don’t make me
laugh.”
“Alright. Come on, you old bear. We need to get you
patched up. That laugh sounded like you got more of a
gutting than an innocent swipe.”
I pushed Simon through the portal, before waiting my
turn. I didn’t want to step through and bump into Simon,
shoving him to the ground. As I stood there and waited, the
sound of a bear’s roar filled the night.
The young recruits didn’t have a fair shot at killing Carter.
They weren’t ready for this type of enemy. But their
numbers would keep them safe until one of them managed
to shoot a tranquilizer at Carter and drag him to Testea.
I turned around and stepped through the portal. As soon
as I was on Testean soil, Maddie launched herself at me. I
grunted as I absorbed the shock of her embrace, then pulled
her to me, kissing her neck.
“I’m fine,” I whispered, over and over, but Maddie shook
her head and cried.
I grinned as I directed the little magic I had toward my leg
and thigh muscles. I picked Maddie up, shocking her. She
quickly wrapped her legs around my waist and peered down
at me.
“Never leave me like that,” she said. “I was worried sick.”
“I won’t,” I promised, looking deep into her warm brown
eyes. “From now on, you come first. I won’t be taking
missions like this.”
Maddie’s eyes widened. “I didn’t mean you had to quit
your career! I just meant—”
I silenced her with a fiery kiss. We both panted when we
came up for air. “All I want is a life with you. Whatever job I
have do take to make that happen won’t matter. I want to
be with you and have a child with you.”
“That’s beautiful,” Maddie said, hugging me once more.
“I mean it.” I placed her on the ground gently. “Have you
debriefed anyone?”
“I spoke to one teacher here. A colonel, I think. Anyway, I
told him I’d talk to him properly later. I wanted you safe and
sound first.”
I smiled. “I think later sounds about right. Right now, I
want to show my mate just how glad I am to be alive and
back in her arms.”
Maddie's brows furrowed. “Are you sure you're okay? You
don't look hurt, but I'm sure you're tired. What about
debriefing? I'm sure there are people who need to speak to
you. And Kai? Where is he?”
I placed a finger against Maddie's lips, silencing her. “I
almost died, and all I want to do is celebrate living with you.
Kai is fine, and all the higher-ups can wait.” I lowered my
head to nibble on Maddie's ear before I whispered. “You've
been teasing me for days. I finally want to taste what I've
been craving. I want to show you how much I care about
you.”
Maddie groaned, then grabbed my hand, dragging me
along with her. “You've convinced me.”
I laughed. “Where are you going? You don't know where
anything on Testea is.”
“I see a copse of trees over there. That'll have to do for
the first time. Then later tonight, I want you to take me to a
nice hotel so we can take our time with each other.”
I scooped Maddie up into my arms and carried her the rest
of the way. “I'm so lucky you're my mate. I love you.”
“I love you too.”
THE END
Document Outline
Title Page
Copyright
CHAPTER 1
CHAPTER 2
CHAPTER 3
CHAPTER 4
CHAPTER 5
CHAPTER 6
CHAPTER 7
CHAPTER 8
CHAPTER 9
