Hey, my love. Stop it. None of this is your fault. His voice offered soothing caress, but Amber couldn’t accept it. No matter how he tried to paint the picture, she knew the truth. She deserved everything she got. Chills racked her body, and unbearable numbness moved up from her extremities inward. This must be Death’s march coming for her.
Noran?
Yes, my kind Amber.
I’m so sorry for what I’ve done.
Shh, none of that. We’ll be home soon.
She didn’t try to stop the laugh of disbelief that flooded her thoughts. Death would take her soon. Amber had to make sure he knew the important stuff.
Noran, I love you with everything I am. Know that. She paused for strength to follow her conviction. He waited. Please, do me a favor?
Yes, anything, my love.
When you’re able to get up, please, kill these bastards for me. Destroy it all. Destroy my van, the laptop, all of it. That’s the only way you and your Clan will be free of my carelessness and human scum like these guys. BMEG can’t know where you are.
Noran’s voice was quick, filling their neural link with urgency. Amber, stop talking like that. BMEG already knows where we are. That’s why they sent these men. Their presence here today is to capture one or all of us Dragons. Little do they know by sending such a small unit BMEG has shown their utter ignorance of what it means to tangle with Dragons.
The man with the rifle brought her attention back to him with aggressive pecking sounds. He’d opened her laptop and was pounding the keys in a vain attempt to unlock it.
He yelled back at the van, “Tom, quit laying there like a stump and find everything that’s electronic. I got the bitch’s laptop. Let the client figure out how to unlock it. With this baby,” he said, wagging the laptop in the air, “and that dead freak I killed, no thanks to you, we’re set. We get paid fifty-fifty.” Amber strained to see as the bastard turned around to take a scan of the space. “Yeah, I don’t see either of them. You know what that means, right? We don’t have to split a damn thing with the others. Our mission is over.”
He stopped talking. Amber held her breath.
The man turned back toward the van and yelled, “Dude, can you hear me? Tom?” Sounds of his boots crushing the grass beneath were pronounced in Amber’s prone position. Still, she didn’t dare make a sound.
He took another step.
“Tom! You hear me? Get your ass up. Tom?” Silence. “Shit, dude!” Another pause as he listened for an answer. “Ah, fuck it. If I’m the last one standing, got to have some insurance.”
That’s when he dropped something on the ground. It was the dull thud of something small but heavy enough to land with a plop that had her eyes popping open. Amber closed her eyes enough to appear out of it, but not enough to lose sight of what was going on. Steel-toed boots headed toward her as evil incarnate trotted back to the van.
In the ten feet or so between her and Noran was what looked like a small grenade-like explosive. The steady red light on the ring of the lemon shaped device shone brightly in the sun. That bastard was attempting to blow them up. She had to get in gear.
Her first attempt to move was a pathetic show of twitching. Amber’s limbs were heavier than lead.
The familiar, loving brush against her conscious came swift.
Stay down. I’m not dead, but he doesn’t know that, Noran said. Amber, trust me. A few more minutes to allow my body to finish healing from the gunshots and I’ll get us out of here.
Noran, I couldn’t move if I wanted too. Just promise me you’ll do as I asked. Destroy everything. There was no need to tell him about the bomb. She had to try to save him until death won.
Her lids were heavy and her body cold.
Amber, Amber, stay with me. Hold on just a few more moments.
An invisible hand allowed her body a range of motion. Seizing the opportunity before she took her last breath, Amber twisted her body to see the man reach the back of her van.
Noran was still in his stasis. It was up to her to do something. A lightning fast prayer for help to all that was holy and true had Amber straining but successfully sitting up.
As if in slow motion, she watched as the guy climbed into the back of her van and was about to close the door. In his hand, she could see what looked like a slim remote control like the one she used for her camera.
Realization dawned.
The asshole was going to blow them up while hiding from the impact in her van. That would be a hell no.
Strength from the depths of her soul kicked Amber’s adrenaline levels to insane heights as she struggled through heavy limbs, numbness, and dizziness to stand.
On her feet, survival instincts kicked in and drowned out the pain. Agile and limber like never before, Amber swiped up the device and examined it.
As a brilliant scientist, she could figure out how to disable the device if she tried hard enough. It was lighter than she’d imagined.
The solid red light turned to bright blue before landing on a vibrant electric green.
Shit.
Time wasn’t on her side. Out the periphery of her eye, Noran still lay on the ground. Primal rage took over as Amber’s heart pumped to the beat of a kill mantra.
She wouldn’t let these bastards hide in her van as they blew shit up. Hefting the rifle up like a gladiator going into the arena, her legs found their rhythm. Amber set a quick pace toward the van.
“Hey!” the guy yelled. “Stop right there, or I blow you up where you stand.”
She ignored the guy from the back of the van. His voice had grated her nerves for the last time. This was her moment. Amber would use the element of unpredictability.
As quick as lightning, she raised the rifle and pulled the trigger never blinking. Shock and disbelief rode the man’s face in the longest second of her life to this point.
This time her aim was true. Her shot landed in the middle of his chest—just like he had with Noran.
The force of the shot blew the man farther into the van. Adrenaline-fueled anger and hatred drove her closer.
When she was close enough to smell the men’s combined body odor emanating from within, Amber eyed the remote control-like device still in the spawn of Satan’s hand.
Amber no! Noran’s voice startled her. The others are almost here.
I love you mate, but this has to happen. You’ll never know peace until it does.
Amber launched the device into the back of the van, slammed the doors and ran back to Noran. Running as fast as her stiffening legs would take her, Amber reached Noran. He was propped up on an elbow watching her with a look of desperation on his gorgeous face.
Without a shadow of a doubt, Amber knew he still wasn’t completely healed. That confirmation was the sign she needed to follow through.
She sank to the ground and cradled him in her arms. His body was heavy but perfect. When he returned her embrace, Amber pressed the button.
Behind her, what could best be described as a sonic boom went off in the short distance.
“Amber!” Noran said.
“Shh, my love. It’s over now. Rest.” She rubbed his back not needing to turn around to see the van had contained the blast of the device.
Like the snuffing out of a candle, her body gave up the ability to sustain itself. Amber collapsed into Noran’s arms as the darkness overtook her.
19
Noran
“Amber—Amber stay with me.”
Gone was the healthy honey undertone of her smooth nut brown skin. In its place was a dull paler with tinges of ashen gray-green and sickly yellow. She needed immediate medical attention. Noran had to get her injuries healed. She was slipping away.
The evil twist of fate that had their predicaments switched was beyond cruel. Noran would gladly change places with his mate right now. She’d risked her life to try to save him and his home.
His beast roared just under the surface, clawing to be unleashed. A tug on his consciousness from his team leader
went ignored. Amber was his sole focus. She would not die.
“No, no, no, mate. Stay with me.” He placed a soft kiss on her forehead. Amber’s skin was clammy, and his love didn’t stir.
His beast scratched close to the surface. Noran had to control his base nature. Now wasn’t the time to lose control. Amber had been right in one of her points, the Dragon’s Sanctuary needed to stay hidden. The situation here was contained. She’d seen to that.
His scorched Earth tirades would do nothing but bring unwanted attention. There would be no fire-breathing Dragon full of fury. Instead, he’d fight for composure to take care of his mate.
Hating to make a choice, he pulled on the power of his Dragon that he’d been siphoning to Amber back to himself. He needed a quick boost of power to finish his healing process. Noran could do Amber no good until he regained strength enough to fly her to safety.
When a large portion of his power returned, Noran felt her body wither in his arms.
“You cannot leave me, mate. I forbid it!”
The words had to mean something. Please, Goddess, they had to.
Regaining his faculties, Noran stood, never releasing his mate. Above in the distance, he felt more than saw his team’s approach. It was the sight of the gargantuan Dragon with a hide of silver and flecks of deep slate blue that held Noran’s attention for a pregnant pause.
Bladorn had come.
Assured help would be here soon, Noran moved Amber further away from the incinerated van. The air was thick with fumes and heat. Fire licked and consumed it. Fuel fumes floated on the air. As a Dragon, the conditions had little effect on him. Where his mate was concerned, Noran wouldn’t chance her safety. There was no telling when another explosion would happen. His prime directive was his mate’s safety and life. If she died, he might as well too. Life would have no meaning without his kind Amber.
Dragon wisdom pierced his musings. It was time to get her away from that van and danger. Out in this open field, too many things could happen. His body moved faster than his thoughts as Noran cleared distance with Amber in a bridal carry.
Faster, he had to move faster.
Sprinting closer to the edge of the clearing, his back was to the van as an explosion pierced the air currents. Unlike the self-contained implosion of the bomb before, this one was ugly and unbridled. Fueled by heat, fuel exhaust and whatever other incendiary weapons the men had on their person, the blast was impressive.
Noran hoped the van’s demise wasn’t strong enough to alert the locals. External and mighty, the power of the event sent pieces of the van flying. He pushed forward hugging Amber closer as he made his body a shield between her and the blast. He made it to the edge of the forest in time to escape the reach of sharp shrapnel projectiles darting about. A few more minutes and he’d have enough power to shift and get Amber back to the house and safety.
Looking down, his heart sank. More color had drained from her face. Amber lay in his arms, quiet and weak. Her life-force barely registered. There wouldn’t be enough time to get her home, let alone a human hospital. In a last-ditch attempt at saving her, Noran sent out a prayer.
Goddess, please hear my plea. I honor and worship you. Thank you for the mighty blessing of my amazing mate. I am grateful. As part of that gratitude, I ask that you transfer whatever healing our bond can offer to my mate. Take whatever you need from me for her. I offer my life in sacrifice for hers. Please, dear Mother, save my mate.
The only sign of anything was the wind disturbance he felt when his brethren landed nearby. Bladorn was the first to reach him.
A quick nod of acknowledgment to Amber in his arms was all the fuss Bladorn made over her dangling form.
“Noran, report,” was the curt command Bladorn gave.
Noran was thankful Bladorn hadn’t drilled him on what had happened to his mate. He needed all of his neural capacity to stay connected with her.
Obeying the command, he answered, “There were four hostiles, we were able to capture and displace two of them.”
“And, the other two?”
Noran looked down at his deathly ill mate and answered. “They were killed in that explosion.” He nodded to the charred black frame of the van as it continued to burn in the middle of the opening.
Bladorn followed his line of sight. “She did that?”
“Yes,” was all Noran could manage.
Bladorn took a step forward to stand close enough to touch Amber. Noran’s beast stirred.
“Easy, Noran. I only wish to offer support. Please.”
Noran nodded acceptance to Bladorn’s outstretched hand. Bladorn looked no older than him to the naked eye, but the Dragon was way older and held much more power than even Noran.
When Bladorn placed a hand on Amber’s bloodied thigh area, his mate lurched without opening her eyes. He fought back the urge to attack his leader, staying himself in logic and not primal instinct.
Bladorn eyed him seeking permission to proceed. Noran granted it, tightening his hold on Amber a little more. He watched with rapt attention as Bladorn scanned her body with his hand hovering just above her surface.
Concentration rode the air heavy between the small assembly as Bladorn continued his scan. Once he’d run his hand the length of her body, Bladorn looked Noran in the eye.
“She has a human gun bullet lodged in her thigh muscle. As a human, she’s unable to dissolve the foreign body as we can. The bullet is killing her. It must be removed now.” Bladorn’s features softened as he gave Noran a fatherly look and added, “Please, Noran, lay her down so I can access the wound to remove the bullet.”
Noran didn’t move.
“Noran, that is a command. Your mate will die if we don’t intervene now.”
“No one is to touch her but me.” He knew his look was one of defiance by the reflection in Bladorn’s eyes.
“Very well. I understand,” Bladorn said. “I will assist as you do it. That is if you allow me to talk you through what must be done.”
“Yes, thank you.”
Noran moved to get Amber on the ground.
“Tear open that side of her pant leg for better access.”
Noran partially shifted his dominant hand to grow enough of his talons to shred the fabric. He used the tip of one of his fingers to rip the cargo pant leg open gently.
Partially clotted blood covered an angry wound on Amber’s outer thigh a hand’s width below her curvaceous hip. Noran wanted to shield her body from the others but knew this to be his mating urges and not sanity at work.
Bladorn and the other three members of his team stayed back at a respectable distance. The task completed, he looked to Bladorn for the next instruction.
“Use the power of your mating bond to put her in stasis.”
“I can do that?” Noran pushed aside shame at not knowing all he needed to about his mating bond.
“Yes and a lot more. Once both of you are back to health, I’ll see to it personally that you know all about your bond.” Bladorn offered another kind smile as he added, “I’m pleased that you figured it out. Remember, the Goddess’ timing is always right. I don’t believe she blessed you with such a well-met mate only to take her away so soon.”
Noran grasped for strings of hope. “Is that your Dragon wisdom speaking?”
“Ah, I believe so, mixed with a great bit of faith in the power of your mating. I sense it is strong between you two. Now, there’s no time to waste. Put her in stasis and let’s begin. This will be equivalent to human surgery. Your team brothers and I will create a shield of covering to keep this area as sterile as possible. We can’t allow her wound to get infected.”
All Noran could muster was a nod. The situation was so far out of his league; he might as well be blind. Noran had to be strong for Amber. He tapped into the resolve he’d honed over the many years in battle situations. A calm descended as his heart and mind settled into a manageable pace.
With all his ability to connect with her through their mating link, Nor
an did a full press to send her love, strength, and assurance that he was with her. What he wanted to be able to do more than anything was take away her pain and injuries.
“Are you ready to proceed?” he heard Bladorn ask.
“Yes, we’re ready.”
Over what seemed like forever his leader talked him through locating the bullet using the most delicate movements he could muster. The process was mind-wrecking and tedious, but he prevailed. After what seemed like an eternity in a minute, Noran located the deeply lodged bullet and extracted it.
His mate remained still throughout the process, further concerning him as to her ability to survive the ordeal.
“Use your healing power to cleanse and close her wound,” Bladorn said aloud.
Noran hesitated. “She’s not responding. Shouldn’t she be aware and awake now that the bullet is out?”
“Noran, remember, you have her in stasis. Plus, to take her out of it now would be cruel torture for all the pain she’d have to endure. We don’t want to create new medical issues due to impatience. Based on what I sense, she’ll make a full recovery. Now, cauterize that area to close the wound and stop the bleeding.”
Noran did as instructed, hating the pain he knew she’d feel if Amber were conscious.
Once he had the wound closed, Noran looked up to see his leader's face wore the same emotions he felt. They all did. The Dragon's wanted to know his mate had survived the bullet's removal.
Bladorn gave a quick nod of support as Noran lifted Amber from the nethermost haze of stasis. He had to know she'd survived the ordeal.
Bladorn's gazed bore down on him like a pinpoint of light filtered through a powerful magnet as the anticipation grew. When she remained still as the dead, the lump in his throat threatened to block his airway.
He allowed the words to form and asked Bladorn, "Is this normal?"
Careful not to cause more harm, he employed patience to bring her back up to the edge just below wakeful consciousness. She needed to remain as detached as possible from the pain of her body's trauma.
Dragon's Curvy Invader Page 15
