Dragon Awakened(90)

She kissed him fiercely, her hands gripping his face. “Don’t you dare die, Cyn. Don’t you dare.”

“No matter what happens, know that you brought me to life again.” He rubbed away tears she didn’t know she had shed.

She pressed her hand to his chest. “I want you to know something, too. You have a good heart, despite everything you’ve done. When I looked past my anger, I saw everything you really are. Not just a cold, badass Dragon warrior, but a man with integrity and a sense of right.”

He curled his fingers around her hand. “Would it make any difference to tell you not to have those feelings about me?”

“No. You don’t know the half of what I feel for you.”

His fingers pressed against her mouth. “Don’t tell me. It’ll mess with my head, make me fight under a red haze of emotion. Let’s find Purcell and finish this.”





Chapter 23



Cyn called Fernandez. “Are you at home?” He didn’t apologize for calling at one in the morning.

Ruby leaned close to his shoulder, listening in.

Fernandez’s voice was low, hard to hear. “Yes. I’m with Celia. She’s sleeping.”

“I’m in your driveway now. Does she know what’s going on?”

What you did for her? Ruby wanted to shout.

“No, I haven’t told her anything. Not until I have to. I’ll meet you outside.”

Cyn disconnected, giving Ruby a nod. She leaned on the passenger door and watched between half-closed eyes.

Cyn got out as Fernandez approached the car. “I need to get Ruby to whatever this device Purcell has. Now. She’s been feeling the effects of the fracturing, but now she’s barely hanging on.” She could hear his fear of losing her in his voice. “Purcell said to get in touch with you.”

Fernandez glanced her way, though he could only see the top of her head for the most part. He pulled out his phone and started touching buttons.

Cyn rammed his fingers back through his hair. “I understand how you felt now, when Celia almost died a long time ago. And recently. I understand why you set me up to save her.”

“I’m glad, because it was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do.” He focused on his call. “Purcell? It’s Fernandez. The woman who was with Cyntag, she’s very ill… Yes, I’ll put him on.” He handed the phone to Cyn. “He wants to talk to you.”

Cyn took the phone, looking for all the world like a man distraught. “She started out feeling lethargic but went downhill fast. She…she can hardly breathe now. She hasn’t eaten in hours. I’ve been keeping her alive by using my healing power, but I’m so weak I don’t know how much longer I can do it. You promised if we backed off, you would save us…I’ll be right there.” He shoved the phone at Fernandez. “Thank you.”

“Where is he sending you? Is it where we’re all supposed to go?” Panic punctuated Fernandez’s voice. “He won’t tell me.”

Cyn didn’t answer, running to the car.

Ruby sat up as soon as they were out of view of the house. “What if it’s a trap?”

“The vision says you have a chance to defeat the monster. The only way we’re going to do that is to get to the reactor.”

She didn’t want to think about the other part.

“I think I was pretty convincing,” he said.

“Very. You broke my heart.”

“All I had to do was remember watching you walk away from me yesterday.” He let those words settle for a moment. “Purcell wants to meet at a gas station north of here. We’re to follow him. Remember, he can reach into your mind, so you have to think ‘sick.’”

“All I have to do is remember walking away from you. As much as I wanted you to hurt…damn it, I was hurting, too.”

He looked at her, his expression softening. “Ruby…”

“Don’t say anything.” She pressed her fingers to her temples. “It’ll mess with my head.”

Fifteen minutes later, he pulled up to the Chevron. It was closed, but the lights were on. Purcell waited by a Rolls-Royce, his arms loosely crossed in front of him. He approached the Thunderbird, and Cyn got out.

Purcell glanced into the passenger window where Ruby sprawled. “She seemed fine earlier.”

“She’s been complaining about stomach pains for the last day or so. I convinced her that you were telling us the truth. That we had to look out for ourselves. It was soon after that”—he pinched the bridge of his nose—“she got so fatigued she could barely move. I think it’s hitting her hard because she’s newly Awakened. Save her, and I’ll do everything I can to help you.”