by Lia Davis
It faded then disappeared. He scanned the area. Only snow, darkness, and the aurora overhead. Where was Mac?
“She’s with me… She’s mine…” The dragon hissed.
Luke ran, his heart thudding. He had to get to her. Save her. He couldn’t let her die like Jo had.
Invisible claws circled his neck and squeezed. Luke coughed and tried to wriggle free, but the grip tightened. His vision blurred, and he fell to the ground, but whatever held him wouldn’t let go.
“Join me or die,” the dragon whispered. “Mac’s already dead.”
Luke fell through space and jerked awake.
His bedroom door opened, and Courtney stuck her head in. “Are you okay?” she asked.
Luke ran his hand though his damp hair. “I am, but Mac isn’t. We have to get to her.”
Chapter Ten
Luke swallowed down the fear that rose in his throat.
“What do you mean she’s not okay?” Courtney’s voice held tension.
He set up in bed and rubbed a hand over his face, trying to shake off the nightmare. More like scrub it from his memory. His heart pounded and his dragon paced. He breathed like he’d just run a marathon uphill.
Courtney stood in his doorway, staring with her mouth open.
He blew out a breath. “I don’t know. I mean, I do. The ice dragon has somehow gotten into my mind. Like he uses the dream world to taunt me.”
It sounded crazy when he said it out loud. Then again, this ice dragon wasn’t normal. Nothing about this case was normal. His team had confirmed it.
Deep in his soul, Luke knew he had to get to Mac before the ice dragon did—if it hadn’t already.
“You had a nightmare.” Courtney stepped into the room, arms still crossed. “That’s all it was, Luke. A dream. It’s not real.”
“It was real to me. I’ve got to get to her.” Luke glanced at the clock on his bedside. “It’s already eleven? You guys didn’t wake me up?”
“We knew you needed rest.”
“I’ve got to hurry.” Jumping to his feet, he shooed Courtney out of his bedroom so he could change out of his pajamas. She rolled her eyes as she closed the door on her way out.
When Luke exited his room a few moments later, Anders and Owen sat at the small kitchen table. They glanced at him, both with raised brows. Luke gave them a slight nod, then grabbed his coat and put it on. “I have to check on Mac. I had a dream the ice dragon captured her. She could be in trouble.”
Owen nodded and went back to studying the map laid out on the table. “Stay with her. Courtney, Anders, and I will be heading out soon to try and track down the dragon. We’re starting on the mountainside where you found the girl, then we’ll go from there.”
As much as Luke wanted to join in on the hunt and put an end to the rogue’s evil ways, his own beast wanted to get to Mac and make sure she was safe. He put on his boots and headed for the door. “Keep me posted on what happens and what you find out. I’ll be in the village. I’ll let you know if the dragon is seen there.”
Owen nodded and Luke stepped outside. A blast of cold air cut right through his thick coat. The late-morning sun reflected off the new layer of freshly fallen snow, blinding him. Pulling his shades from his coat pocket, he hopped on the snowmobile and raced toward the village.
The snow was clean, almost no tracks on its new surface. If the villagers were out looking for the dragon, they must’ve gone another direction. The snowmobile hummed, and the bright blue sky domed overhead. Luke took deep breaths of the cold air, trying to slow his thundering heart.
If the dragon had hurt Mac… No, he couldn’t go there. Mac was okay. It was just a dream.
He went straight to Mac’s house and parked the snowmobile in front. With quick strides, he climbed the steps to her porch and knocked on the door. There was no answer. He knocked again—still no answer. He ran to the side of the house and looked in the window. All the lights were out. Panic rose within him and his dragon growled.
Was he too late? No, he couldn’t think that way.
Scanning the area around her house, he noticed Yutu entering his own house. Luke crossed the street then knocked on the door. When the other man answered, Luke asked, “Have you seen Mac?”
“She left first thing this morning in her plane. I think she had a few appointments in some of the villages up north.” Yutu waved him in. “I don’t think she will be much longer. You’re welcome to wait here with me.”
“Thanks.” Luke nodded and entered the home. What he really wanted was to go out and hunt her down. To see for himself that she was safe and to wrap her in his arms. To breathe in her scent…
The dream had seemed too real. It had scared the shit out of him. He’d be a live wire until he could touch her.
“Are you okay?” Yutu asked, a frown on his face.
Luke nodded. “I think this whole ice dragon thing has me on edge. I can’t shake the feeling that it’ll abduct and maybe kill another person before we’re able to stop it.”
“I know. I’m worried, too. The village has instituted a curfew. Nobody goes outside during the lights. It no longer means anything to tell them they cannot go out alone, because the dragon doesn’t care. And besides, it’s not like we can stop him from taking someone. He’s proven he’s strong and vicious. He’ll take who he wants. Mac promised to be back before dark.” Yutu paused at the entrance of the kitchen. “Would you like something to drink?”
“I’m glad. I don’t want her out flying when the beast is loose.” Luke glanced at him. There was fear in the man’s gaze. Luke nodded. “Coffee would be great.”
Yutu entered the kitchen, and Luke paced to the window to peek out. Mac’s house was diagonally across the street from where he was, and he wanted to know as soon as she got home. “The curfew is a good plan. It may save a life.” If they made it harder for the dragon to take someone, then maybe the bastard would start to make mistakes.
DSD would be there to capture him.
“I hope so.” Yutu called from the kitchen.
“Me, too.”
The rich aroma of coffee drifted into the living room. Yutu returned and handed him a cup. “Are you sure you’re okay? You seem tense, antsy.”
Luke wanted to answer the question but didn’t want to tell Yutu about the dreams and the dragon calling to him. He wouldn’t be able to explain it without telling the other man that he was also an ice dragon, and it wasn’t the right time. Besides, Luke considered Yutu a friend. He didn’t need Yutu scared of him, or worse, wanting to kill him.
“Jo died.” Silence filled the room, and Luke glanced at his friend over a shoulder. When Yutu didn’t reply right away, Luke continued. “She was kidnapped and murdered by a serial killer. We were on a case.”
Yutu frowned. “Oh, man, I’m so sorry. I know what she meant to you.”
Luke stared out the window. It was the first time he’d spoken “Jo” and “died” in one sentence without tears or wanting to destroy things. “I’m supposed to be on vacation—that’s what they called it anyway. I was too close to the case. The whole team was supposed to take time off after catching the killer, then this ice dragon showed up. Anyway, you mentioned Jo when I brought Angel home a couple days ago, and I couldn’t answer. Then I met Mac…”
Luke trailed off, not wanting to finish the statement. Saying the words out loud would mean he was planning on claiming her. The nightmare laid heavy in his mind, and the fear that he could lose her clenched his heart. He wondered if he could actually walk away from her.
He probably wouldn’t have a choice when she found out he was a dragon. She’d want nothing to do with him. A dragon had killed her mother. No way she could ever love one.
“Did your team ever arrive?”
“Yes. They got in last night. They should be up in the mountains by now searching the area where I found Elisipie. They’ll spread out from there.” Luke moved to the window on the other side of the room that looked out the back where Mac usually parked
her plane. Empty.
“They’ll find him.”
Luke gave a short nod. He stared out the window onto the pure white landscape. The question was would they find the rogue before he could kill again.
“Say ‘ah’.” Mac shined her penlight in the child’s mouth. Fever and sore throat could indicate strep, and Mac had enough antibiotics, though she’d have to order more if more kids got sick. No signs of the telltale white patches that could indicate strep. The rapid test would be more conclusive, but thank goodness, she didn’t find anything in the physical examination except some redness, which was likely viral. She looked up at the child’s mom. “Well, it doesn’t appear to be strep, and I don’t see any infections, so it could just be a cold. Make sure she gets plenty of rest and fluids.”
The little girl’s mother breathed a sigh of relief. “Thank you so much.”
Mac picked up the rapid strep test. Negative. “Looks like it’s not strep. She just needs some time to heal.”
“Thank you, Dr. Mac.” The little girl hugged her. “Can I have a lollipop?”
“If it’s okay with your mom.”
The mom nodded.
Mac tossed the strep test into the trash, disposed of her gloves, and reached into her bag for a lollipop. The kids so far in the north didn’t get a lot of candy, and Mac was always a hero for bringing candy to her appointments. She pulled out a purple, heart-shaped lollipop and handed it to the little girl.
“Thank you.” She unwrapped it and popped it into her mouth. “Mmmm.”
“You’re welcome.” Mac started packing up her bag. Although she didn’t have many appointments, they had been scattered all over the area, and she was tired. It would take her half an hour to fly home. Maybe Luke would have some news for her.
The child’s mother handed Mac a couple of dollar bills.
Mac held up her hands and shook her head. “No. I won’t accept your money. You know that. Use it for supplies you need.”
The woman’s eyes watered, and she held her daughter close. “You do so much for us and never ask for anything.”
“It’s my job.” Mac patted the woman’s hand. “Besides, you are my people, as well.”
The woman dipped her head. “Thank you again. I don’t know what we’d do without you.”
“Mama, tell her about the dragon.” The little girl popped the lollipop out of her mouth. “Tell her what you saw.”
Mac froze, her heart jumping into motion. Anxiety filled her. Had it been spotted so far north?
“I saw him. He was flying over the village.” The woman began to shake. “He soared around for about fifteen minutes then disappeared into the clouds.”
Mac reached for the woman’s hands and squeezed gently. “When was this?”
“Yesterday evening. It was still light out.”
Still light out? The beast had always come around the time of the aurora. Mac didn’t recall ever a hearing of a sighting of him during the day. Did this mean that nobody was safe at any time? She swallowed hard.
“Are you sure it was daylight?”
The woman nodded. “Several people saw it. We hid. It didn’t try to take anyone, but we assumed it was scoping out the village. We’re scared. We don’t know what to do.”
Mac blew out a breath. “Just keep everybody inside. No one goes out alone. Have a buddy with you at all times. There is a team that is working on stopping the beast so just stay inside until you hear from the authorities that everything is safe.”
“Do you think they will get the dragon before it takes someone else? We heard about that poor girl, Elisipie.” The woman ran her hands over her daughter’s hair. “Thank goodness she was found alive.”
“Yes, it was a miracle the beast didn’t kill her. But we’ll get it. For now, you need to stay inside as much as possible.” Mac moved to the door. “Promise me. I’ll keep you posted.”
The woman nodded and held her daughter tightly to her.
Mac rushed out of the house and to her plane. She had it started and in the air in record time. Her hands shook, and her chest tightened as fear raced in her veins. When she got back to her house, she was going to cancel her appointments for the week and advise everybody just to stay inside. No point in tempting fate. The dragon seemed ready to kill.
She had to find Luke and ask him if he had any new information and what his team found out.
Most of all, she needed to tell him what the woman said. She could try to call him on the sat phone, but she just wanted to get home. The beast being seen out in the day was a game changer. It was looking for prey, and time was short before it took someone else. The situation had worsened.
Everyone was at risk as long as the dragon was out there.
She tugged the plane higher and scanned the white ground below—snow, as far as she could see. From the flat tundra to the south of the village she’d just left to the mountainous terrain she had to fly over to get home, most everything was white except for the evergreen forests near the base of the mountains. In the distance, a ribbon of blue made its way across the land like a giant crack. The river flowed fast enough to keep from freezing, and in better times, the men fished for salmon there. But not right now.
It was too dangerous.
A silver dragon could blend in with the sparkling snow. It could be anywhere.
The drone of the engine filled her ears, and the vibrations shook through to her bones. She’d never been nervous while flying.
Till now.
Darkness passed over the cockpit and she gasped. Maybe it was merely a cloud shadow. She craned her neck to try to look into the sky, but she couldn’t see over the top of the plane. The shadow zoomed past again, and she slammed herself back into her seat, gripping the stick hard and pushing the plane to go faster. It lurched ahead.
Being alone, twenty-thousand feet in the air, could be terrifying if there was a dragon nearby.
Her heart fluttered and bile rose in her throat. The plane lifted softly and the peaks of the mountains passed under her. No more shadows flitted about the plane, and Mac concentrated on steering over the treacherous cliffs. The setting sun cast an orange glow over the snow and she eased out a breath.
She hoped Luke’s team could find this dragon and destroy it before it hurt anybody else. More than anything, she wanted it dead.
A bump sounded from the back of the plane. She checked her instruments. Everything was fine. Plenty of fuel, altitude was good. On course.
Another bump. She bit her lower lip and tensed. Could she have hit a bird? She rarely had a bird-strike in the Alaskan wilderness, but that didn’t mean it wasn’t possible.
Suddenly, a large, shiny object appeared in front of the plane, and then it flew off. Mac gasped.
The beast circled below her, large wings extended as it glided. Then it swooped up in front of her plane. She leaned into the steering to avoid hitting it. The beast spun and circled immediately back toward her then seemed to pause in midair, its glowing eyes staring through her, challenging her.
Mac stared back at the beast, making eye contact for a brief moment before it sailed away. Heart pounding, she watched it soar into the trees on the mountain and disappear in a shimmer. She held her chest and fought the tears that threatened.
The dragon had appeared to be mocking her—knowing she couldn’t do anything about his presence. Had he been sending her a warning? Or was he telling her that she was his next victim? She’d heard he liked people to suffer.
She sped toward home. Luke was not going to believe what she’d seen.
Chapter Eleven
“I’ve been waiting for you to get home. Yutu told me that you’d gone north to work.” Luke stepped into Mac’s house, the warmth hitting him in the face. “Are you okay?”
When she hadn’t returned after an hour, he’d decided to meet up with his team in the mountains to help search for the dragon. He’d convinced himself and his inner dragon that Mac was fine, and Yutu promised to call his satellite phone if she got b
ack before Luke did. She was with patients, plus it was daytime and the ice dragon had a history of attacking at night.
However, hearing the sound of her voice when she’d called had made him wish he’d gone looking for her.
He held his arms open.
She fell into his grasp and he held her tight. His dragon sensed her trembling and began pacing and growling. Luke pushed the door shut with his foot and breathed in her fear.
“I’m scared.” She buried her face in his chest.
“What happened?” He wiggled out of his coat while still holding on to her. Whatever had spooked her, had spooked her good. He’d never seen her this concerned—not even when Elisipie was taken.
Mac was strong. Something had really gotten to her.
She pulled away, sniffling. As if closing off her emotions, she straightened. “Want some coffee? I started a pot as soon as I walked in. Long day.”
“I want to know what’s going on.” He hung his coat on the coatrack and followed her into the kitchen. Fear still wafted off her, and his dragon wouldn’t relax.
She poured two cups of coffee and then set the carafe down. Her hands shook. “I treated a child with a sore throat today. Up north.” She stirred in milk and sugar and set the spoon in the sink.
“Okay. Surely, that isn’t what upset you.” He sipped his coffee and watched her, fighting the urge to hug her to him until she stopped trembling. Somehow, he knew she wouldn’t want that at the moment, but he did inch closer.
Worry creased her face, and she looked like she might burst into tears at any moment. Whatever had upset her was major. He gripped his warm cup a little tighter, cursing himself for not being there the moment she’d gotten home. She needed him.
When she’d called, he’d rushed back to the village and left the DSD team searching in the forest with promises he’d join them back at his cabin, but now he wasn’t so sure. Mac was too upset, and he might need to stay with her—for his and his dragon’s sanity.
Owen had told him to do what he needed—what Mac needed. Luke would stay as long as he had to. He’d keep Mac safe.
