Her Dragon To Slay(7)

Without a thought of his surroundings or who might see a 1000 pound dragon, he dove from the sky shifting back to his human form as he descended. His only thought was for the safety of the woman that haunted his thoughts every hour of every day and night. He hit the ground running on silent feet, launched himself onto the back of her would be attacker snapping his neck in one swift move. He pulled the body into the shadows and turned, looking for his woman to make sure she was unharmed and unaware. It was then a searing pain tore through his shoulder at the same time he heard the whoosh of an arrow zing past his ear. There was only one group that could be responsible, his kin’s oldest and most deadly enemies, the hunters. He had been so awestruck with the thought of finding his mate and then focused on saving her that he had abandoned all his training and the protocol of the Dragon Guard. He had not scented the area or opened his senses to any other danger that might be present and now had been caught in a trap. There was no time to worry about the mistakes he had made and he knew he wouldn’t act any differently if he had it to do again. From the burn ripping through his body he knew they were using silver tipped arrows. Of course, this group of misguided zealots had perfected 101 ways to kill dragon shifters with silver, knowing it was the one true way aside from taking the shifter’s head to assure a forever death.

He stumbled and fell into the brick wall that seconds before had been his cover. The brick abraded his skin and his head hit so hard he saw stars. Ignoring his wounds, his only thoughts of keeping his woman safe from the hunters, he pushed off the wall. He had to make sure that those that sought to kill him did not make the connection between the beautiful redhead on the sidewalk and him. If they knew she was important to him or heavens forbid figured out that she was his mate, her life would be in danger, as well. They posed so much more of a threat than her would be rapist had ever thought of being. These fanatics did not play games. They killed efficiently and without remorse, leaving no evidence. Their entire purpose for living was to take out any and all shifters, along with any of the associates in an effort to rid the world of their magic and to keep anything otherworldly a secret. He had spent his life fighting against hunters, protecting the dragon shifter way of life and he would fight them again to protect the woman made for him.

He ran across the wet grass as his enemies were closing in on the beautiful woman, no doubt trying to determine if she posed a threat. Dressed in black from head to toe, hiding their faces under masks like the cowards they were, made them almost invisible. If not for the red scythe monogram in the middle of their shoulder blades, they would be completely undetectable to the human eye. Thank the Universe for his enhanced vision. Hunching closer to the ground, his pain and weakness forgotten, he prepared for battle. No one could be allowed to hurt his mate. His belief that she was the one for him sprang from the depths of his soul, she was his future and there was no way he would allow anyone to take her from him.

With his last thoughts of protecting the most important person in his life, Rayne launched himself onto the back of the hunter closest to him delivering a quick chop to his throat. The waste of skin and bones was neutralized but not before he was able to call out to his compatriots. Rayne found himself surrounded by three hunters, all highly trained to exterminate his kind. As they sized each other up, he sent out a silent call to his brethren. They needed to know the hunters were in the area. It was their job as the drakes, male dragons, as well as members of the elite Dragon Guard to protect the vibria and dragonettes, women and children. They also needed to scout the area to make sure none of these vermin had gotten anywhere near their clan’s lair. This had been their home for centuries. They had sworn to protect it and those within with their very lives. He also needed the most trusted of his Force to clean up the mess he was leaving in his wake while he tended to the lovely creature he had every intention of claiming as his own.

As he studied his opponents, it became evident that the one on his left stood taller than the rest, had a slight limp and the others continually glanced in his direction, as if looking for direction. He thanked the Universe for a weakness he could exploit, an opportunity too good to waste. Rayne knew they would protect the leader of their pack at all costs and even though theirs was hurt, they were still taking their cues from him. In the blink of an eye, Rayne threw himself at the wounded hunter and just as he suspected, the others rushed to his aid. He used the momentum of his jump to throw himself and his opponent to the ground. With one jerk of the leader’s neck, Rayne left him paralyzed and gasping for breath. Normally he would have made his a death quick, leaving an opponent suffering and slowly dying was not their way but he had little time to prepare before the other two were at his back. He spun, kicking the third assailant in the chest with such force he heard a wet crack as the black clad assailant crashed into the trunk of a large oak tree. The last hunter was creeping to his left while trying to get an arrow from the quiver strapped across his back. Rayne’s strength waning, he knew he had to dispatch the last hunter and get to that sexy redhead before she got away.