Page 21 of Red Fury

I nearly swerve into the next lane.

Three fucking weeks?

“Jesus Christ,” I breathe, gripping the wheel tighter. “No wonder you’re struggling so badly.”

She stiffens. “I’m not struggling. I’m fine.”

“Bullshit. I can practically feel your dragon trying to claw its way out of your skin from here.” I shake my head, genuinely shocked. “How are you so controlled? I’ve never gone that long before. I’m not sure I’d be capable.”

Her laugh is quick. “That’s because you’re a Red. I’m fine. I swear.”

I study her face at the next red light. Her skin has a pale, almost translucent quality, and there are dark circles under her eyes that weren’t there yesterday.

She’s fine?

I think not.

She looks at me. “There is something that has crossed my mind a few times since meeting you.” She narrows her eyes on me. “I thought Reds were more feral,” she says quietly, turning to face me fully. “I mean, we knew based on recent information that you were more in control than we initially realized, but still… You’re not what I expected. That’s all. It’s messing with my mind.”

The light turns green, and I press the accelerator. “Reds are far more in control than Draigers could ever be. We don’t need dragon riders to control our beasts. We have full control even when we’re in our scales.”

She stares at me like I’ve just told her the sky is purple. “That’s impossible.” She snorts.

“Is it?”

“Yes!” Her voice rises. “The Draigers have been tasked with keeping the Reds in line. It’s how it’s been for centuries. We make sure you stay on Mistveil. We keep you from crossing the mist around the island and getting to the Mainland to wreak havoc. Why would that be the case if you were in control? Why would the Mainland send us Tributes every year to make it happen? Why? What you are saying makes no sense.”

“That’s the million-dollar question, isn’t it? And it’s one of the reasons why Reds hate Draigers so much. We’re being suppressed by people who are far inferior to us.”

“Inferior?” she growls the word, looking flabbergasted. “Are you being serious right now?”

“You believe yourselves to be superior to us? Don’t you? Don’t even try to deny it.”

“I won’t because we are.”

I choke out a humorless laugh.

“Well, forgive us for feeling the same way. Except the only difference is…” I pull into a parking space and switch off thevehicle, “…wearesuperior, because we’re more controlled than you are. That’s the bottom line.”

“Inwood Hill Park,” Shadow reads the sign. “What is this? What are we doing here?” She looks around. “We’re in the middle of nowhere.”

“Inwood Hill Park is as far north as you can get in Manhattan while still being in the city.”

“That doesn’t answer my question,” she says.

The park stretches out before us, dense with trees and rocky outcroppings that should provide enough cover for what I have in mind. It’s not perfect, but it’s the best option we have without driving for hours.

“What are we doing here?” Shadow asks again, but I’m already getting out of the SUV.

She follows me as I start walking toward the tree line, her footsteps quick behind me. “Fury, answer me. What the hell are we doing out here?”

I push a button to lock the vehicle. “I thought you would have guessed.”

“The only explanation is too crazy for words, so I’ll ask you again, what are we doing here?”

“We’re going to shift,” I say without slowing down.

She stops dead in her tracks. “Are you insane?”