Page 8

Feeling ridiculous just watching, Rimi shifted as well. Squeezing her smaller bulk beside her enormous black mate, Rimi set her forehead against the stones and pushed. Again, nothing.

Fury filled her. She finally had a chance to live instead of hide.

At least to share her life with someone, and now those rocks kept her trapped.

This was completely unfair. She strained forward with everything inside her.

When she considered giving up, a muffled tinkling of rocks falling drifted to her ears.

That’s it, Mate. Push with me , Keres encouraged her.

Remembering how Keres dug his claws into the stone, Rimi pushed hers into the hard surface. Small stones skittered across the ground under their feet. She lined up shoulder to shoulder with her mate, and Keres’s powerful muscles strained next to hers.

I’m trying.

That’s it. The rock is moving, Keres announced.

The quiet dribble of rocks steadily increased to a torrent. How much would they have to move to create an opening? She backed up and lunged forward, hoping momentum would help clear the way.

That was it! Suddenly, Keres threw himself over her vulnerable form. The impact knocked the air from her lungs. Rimi pushed at him desperately, trying to shove him off. She struggled to breathe, pinned under Keres’s weight. What was he doing?

That thought had barely formed in her brain when enormous boulders rained down on top of Keres. He jolted into her. Keres!

She grabbed ahold of the foreleg closest to her and wiggled backward. Her muscles burned with the effort to move both of them away from the assault from above. Keres didn’t yell at her. He didn’t move.

Her heart leapt into her throat. He had to be okay.

She heaved herself backward, yanking him to what she hoped was safety.

Seconds later, a massive boulder crashed down on the space where their heads had been seconds before with a thunderous impact.

The sliver of sunlight it revealed gave her hope that an escape was possible.

A menacing rumble sounded above them, demanding her attention.

Keres! We have to move now!

His mind brushed hers, and she seized on it. Help me, damn it! She flung herself backward, dragging him with her, and felt Keres assisting her efforts. She rose as high as she could on her legs and threw herself backward with Keres’ help.

A ton of rubble cascaded from the side of the mountain.

The tumbling mass created a slanted platform, ushering the stone rock face past their location and down the slope.

From their new location, she could see their former position had become the impact zone.

As debris filled the air, Rimi hid her face against Keres’s scales and held her breath.

The glint of sunlight ricocheting off Keres’s pitch-black scales signaled it was safe to assess their situation. Motes of dust twinkled in the bright glare. Rimi dragged air into her starving lungs .

Keres? Are you okay?

Did you get bashed?

How could I? You threw yourself over me. How are you?

Ever wonder what one of those smashed hamburgers feels like?

I don’t even know what that is! I’m shifting to check you out.

No! The roof is too heavily damaged. More could come down at any time. We need to get out of here. Can you lead the way?

Scared that more rocks would rain down on them, Rimi squeezed around him and stepped carefully to scale the rubble. When Keres didn’t follow her, she glanced back at him. Both of his eyes were swollen shut. He could barely see, if at all. How could she get him out of here safely?

An idea popped into her mind. She swung her tail to brush his mouth. Grab my tail. I’ll tug you from the rubble. Navigating over the shifting stones seemed to take forever, but soon, she reached a space where she could launch herself into the air.

Flapping her wings, she rose a few feet. Keep coming, Keres. I’ll tell you when to fly.

The gusts of air from her wings shifted the rocks under his feet. Keres slid down the incline back into the cavern. Push off now, Keres. Fly toward me.

In a split second, he launched himself up into the air.

A rattling avalanche of stone gained speed, sweeping everything in its path down the mountain and filling the area where she’d existed for so long.

Rimi didn’t have time to consider what had happened.

She navigated higher, getting away from that mess, and Keres followed her.

That was probably not the best idea I’ve ever had, Keres announced wryly.

But it worked.

A blast of heat seared over Keres’s damaged scales, making him whirl around .

Fuck my life! Rimi roared her indignation at the attack. It’s the same dragon who knocked down the mountain.

Which direction, Rimi? I don’t want to hurt you.

Five o’clock and nine o’clock. I’ll stay on your right flank.

Which is larger?

Nine o’clock, she messaged.

The fiery torrent that emerged from Keres’s mouth scared her.

She knew he was powerful, but wow! Rimi automatically shied away from the heat before steeling her nerves to stay tucked in next to Keres’ side.

When the smaller dragon targeted her, Rimi reacted automatically and sent her own flames his way.

Pull a deep breath in from your abdomen, Keres instructed. Kindle your flames and count to three. Then, fire.

Frightened to the core, Rimi tried to follow his instructions. All her life she’d run and hidden. Perhaps thrown a warning shot over her shoulder as she ducked and weaved. She definitely had never learned to fight, but these dragons needed to leave them alone. How dare they bury them alive!

This time, the flames roared from her throat. Fear and fury combined. She recoiled at the ferocity of her attack. Damn! That worked. The red dragon distanced himself to stay out of range.

Careful, Keres! The bigger green dragon is changing angles. Think seven this time.

Following her instructions, Keres torched him again.

Bullseye! Rimi celebrated.

The attacking dragons hesitated. They lifted their snouts into the air. The larger one let out a roar and turned to flee. Immediately, the smaller one followed. Within seconds, they were specks on the horizon.

Tell me what’s happening, mate!

They… They’re gone. Incredulity flooded her. The dragons had sc ented her and departed. Could she actually be safe as Keres’s mate?

Good. Can you guide me to a stream or lake? I think if I wash my eyes out, I’ll be able to see.

In a short time, Rimi stood next to a creek bed as the black dragon splashed in the water.

He lifted his head from the cool liquid and turned to assess her condition.

That’s better. I can see more clearly. Come in.

Your scales are more gray than crystal. Between the two of us, we’ve brought half the mountain peak down.

Rimi stared at him, speechless. How could he be so nonchalant? Entombed. Cavern collapse. Keres hurt. Dragon attack. Her body shook as all the events of the last few hours registered. She shifted from dragon to human as she trembled.

Strong arms wrapped around her. Rimi glanced up to see Keres’s dark eyes filled with concern. The mesmerizing, dark orbs were now bloodshot and bleary.

“Sorry. It must be a reaction,” she whispered.

“You have nothing to apologize for, Snowflake. I definitely needed a hug as well. Life is definitely not boring with you, Mate.”

She tilted her head as she stared at him. Was he being serious or sarcastic? The corner of his mouth twitched, and Rimi knew he was trying not to laugh. She shook her head. “I could do with some boredom.”

“Let’s get cleaned up, go grab something to eat, and get out of here.”

Rimi nodded. “I’d love to get far away from here.”

She allowed him to scoop her up and carry her into the creek. Even though shifting had dispersed most of the dirt, Rimi felt better with her hair and skin rinsed. When he finished helping her, Keres attended to his own bath.

Rimi bit her lip. His skin was a quilt of bruises and scorch marks. She stepped toward him to help. Pressing her hand lightly to his ribs, Rimi whispered, “You could have died. Why did you cover me?”

“You’re too pretty to bruise. The colors will fade quickly. Dragons heal rapidly.”

The skin under her hand morphed to his normal skin color. Keres groaned. “That’s better. Those broken ribs were killing me.”

Moving her hand to another purple bruise, she heard him groan in relief. She tilted her hand to peek underneath. Unblemished skin. “That can’t be happening.”

“Try it again. Press your palm here. The back of my neck got sizzled.” When her cool fingers wrapped around the area, Keres smiled. “So, healing is a crystal dragon’s special talent?”

“I don’t know, Keres. I’m never sick. Let’s try more places.” She scanned his battered form. “This is going to take a while.”

“Damn, Mate. I can’t wait to have your hands around my cock.”

“Keres!” she said as her face heated with embarrassment. Thank goodness she was behind him. And that the next bruise she had to target was on his firm butt.…