He landed in the street, shifting as he ran across the lawn to his front door.
“Stella,” he screamed the moment he had the door open. He tore through the house, only slowing long enough to glance in every room. “Stella, answer me, damn it!” When he found each room empty, a note in the kitchen with something illegible on it, and her dress still draped over the chair in his room, he roared.
“Shit. Where are you?” He grabbed the dress and brought it to his nose, inhaling her sweet scent. He didn’t need the reminder of how delicious she smelled. He would be able to track her anywhere, but it made him feel better, so he sniffed again.
“Brycen! Jesus, fuck, man, you’re going to kill yourself flying like that,” Luke yelled.
Luke and Jace would help him find her. Luke was a damned fine tracker. They all were, but Luke was the best of the best. Between them, there was no way they’d lose her trail. He grabbed some clothes and headed back to the front of the house.
Chapter 10
Blood soured the sweetness of Stella’s scent, making Brycen’s throat constrict. Small bloodied footsteps started a few blocks away, leading from the village center toward the outskirts. “She’s hurt.” Jace and Luke shared a glance, but neither said a word as they ran along with him. The footprints led to a small cottage. He didn’t bother looking for a key when he found the door locked, choosing to batter it down with his sore shoulder instead.
“Stella!” He waited for her answer, but the house was silent. He was about to yell again when Jace rushed in.
“Neighbor says she left yesterday. Says she walked toward the mountains. The woman tried talking to her, but Stella just kept walking. She hasn’t come back.”
“Fuck.” As pretty as the mountains behind her cottage were, they were treacherous to climb. He grabbed two shirts from her dresser and threw them at the men so they would have her scent. “I’m flying. Keep tracking from below. I have a feeling the dragon took her up high.”
Brycen stripped and knotted his clothes, hanging them from his neck as he ran out the door, shifting before he even reached her front lawn. He couldn’t care less if her neighbors saw him. He had to get to her, and fast. He left Luke and Jace to track on the ground, just in case his suspicion was wrong, and she had ended up in the forest instead of the mountain.
He’d searched three caves already, each one higher than the last, and hoped that he had finally found the right one.
“Stella,” Brycen yelled as he shifted and ran into the cave. His heart hammered hard against his ribs. He had caught her scent about twenty feet down below. It was strong, maybe a little too strong. If she hadn’t shifted yet, it wouldn’t be long. Damn it. He couldn’t be too late.
He rushed forward, not caring about the darkness. Once his eyes had adjusted, he’d be able to see as though it were the day. He listened for any sound to guide him to where she might be. “Stella! Answer me.” It was so faint, he almost missed it, but a soft panting sound came from deep inside the cavern. Either he’d cornered a frightened animal, or Stella was still there.
Already he saw in shades of red. In another moment, he’d be able to make his way around with ease, but he couldn’t wait. Stella needed him. He should never have left her alone. Had he let Luke and Jace take care of the conniving bitch, he and Stella would have finished their mating, and she wouldn’t be in danger. Never again would he let anything or anyone get between them. That was if it wasn’t already too late.
The scent of dragon filled the chamber. His jaw ached as he suppressed the need to shift—to go faster—but he held on to his control. He scanned the area, going from one side to the other, but she wasn’t there. He was about to turn back when he heard the small whimper coming from a dark alcove against the cave wall. He was next to her in seconds. She lay there with her clothing neatly stacked to the side as though even the touch of material was too much for her tender skin to tolerate. Her chest heaved with her small pants. She was still in human form. There was still hope.
Falling to his knees beside her, Brycen brushed his fingers against her wet cheek. “I’m here. Please open your eyes for me, Stella.” He pushed her long hair from where it partially covered her face, exposing her neck. Dark purple scales shimmered just beneath her skin, ready to explode to the surface.
She didn’t respond, didn’t acknowledge him at all.
“Open your eyes,” he ordered. “Now.” He hated being so harsh with her, but Stella wasn’t in control anymore, the dragon was, and it wouldn’t respond to sweet words and soft caresses.