Ran nodded. “All right, let’s head in.”
They made their way quickly across the grass. He could feel Melissa’s warm hand on his arm. He wished he knew what she was thinking right now. Did she hate them for keeping secrets? He wished they’d had a moment to talk instead of having to run off to save Quill.
But saving a dragon was a top priority. He hoped after this, Quill would learn to stay on a shorter leash. Just because he had an obsession with healing, it didn’t give him an excuse to ditch his partner and get into dangerous situations.
Looking over at Drake, who was silent and focused on rescuing his partner, he had to admit the pair had worked out better than anyone would have thought after all.
The two most stubborn dragons to push against each other.
When they reached the warehouse, Drake tested the handle to the sliding door. “Locked,” he said. He ran around the side to a door with a small window and looked in. “Shit.”
He yanked the door open before Drake could ask what was wrong, and Ran charged after him, long legs covering the distance in an instance to disappear into the warehouse right after Drake. Draven looked at Melissa, heart pounding.
“Ready?” he asked.
She nodded, biting her lip. Her long hair was pulled into a messy knot that would keep the wild curls off her face.
He put a hand up to her face. “Don’t worry. I’ll protect you. For the rest of my life, no matter what you choose.”
She nodded.
He focused and let his dragon shield emanate from him, a warm golden glow that covered both of them. Then he relaxed and made sure she was covered in the glow. It was like a slight halo of light around her. No matter what happened, Ran wouldn’t forgive him if he let their mate get hurt.
This would keep her safe for a few minutes at least.
“All right, I’m going in. Watch from here and join me if needed. That shield will take care of you for now. I have to look for Quill.”
She nodded.
Draven ran through the door and skidded to a stop in the room. Ran and Drake were surrounded by a huge circle of the mangiest-looking werewolves he’d ever seen.
And they all looked angry.
On a table in a corner, he saw Quill chained down, unconscious, his dark-blue hair partially covering his face, his long body splayed.
One wrist cut, leaking dark blood.
Shit!
A wolf who seemed to be the leader pushed through the others to stand in front of Ran and Drake, who looked down at him imperiously.
“It’s too late,” he said. “We’ve taken his blood.”
Draven’s teeth clenched. It wasn’t enough that they single-handedly dealt with every evil thing in the shifter world. They had to be hunted for their blood too.
The wolf was tall in human form, with a breadth bespeaking alpha status, though probably lesser alpha. He had graying hair and a scruffy face and wore a brown leather jacket with honey jeans.
The more powerful alpha wolves didn’t usually resort to things like this.
Ran’s face was tight with anger as the wolf approached, reaching for Ran’s chin.
“Such a pretty one,” the wolf growled. “Are you a dragon too?”
Ran grinned, flashing dragon fangs, and snapped at the wolf’s hand. “What do you think? Want to find out?”
The wolf smirked and stepped back, gesturing to his friends. “I’ve heard of the black dragon. But I think in this case, we might have the advantage.”
Ran raised an eyebrow and studied his nails. “If you have one of my friends, you never have any advantage.” He locked eyes with the wolf. “Bitch.”
The wolf snarled angrily and charged forward, only to be sent flying by Drake, who punched him and sent him twenty feet away to dent the metal sliding warehouse door on the other side.
The wolves looked at each other for a split second and then all charged in on the dragons as one.
“Get Quill!” Ran shouted as he and Drake began to fight off the wolves. Draven pushed his way past the wolves, vaulting a few as needed, socking a few out of the way, until he reached Quill at the table.
He looked over his shoulder to make sure Melissa was staying in safety. He just had to get back to her before the shield wore off.
He ran to Quill’s table and easily broke his chains. Then he lifted his wrist, checking his pulse. Weak but fine. He would live, especially because of the healing blood in his veins. But his healing powers would be weak until he recovered.
Draven breathed deeply, summoning the dragon trying to break out of his body, and then blew dragon fire over Quill, creating a shield. Then he picked Quill up in his arms and kicked his way through the crowd, sending an enraged glare at any wolf that dared approach.
He made it to the door and saw Melissa waiting nervously.