Page 37 of Red Dragon’s Heart

Chapter 17

He should have known not to let go of her.

As the purple dragon started their way, Zakerek threw a binding spell around his feet, watching with satisfaction as he tripped and face-planted on the pavement.

It wouldn’t hold him long, but it would buy them a minute or two.

Unfortunately, while he was busy doing that, Madeleine grabbed the car keys off the chain on his belt and took off, sliding through the crowd like an eel.

Cursing, he ran after her. The truck wasn’t fast enough; he needed to grab her and fly.

Too late. By the time he got there, she’d revved up the truck, turned it around with a squeal of tires, and was driving away.

Zakerek put on a burst of dragon speed, augmented by a touch of magic, and leaped for the truck bed. He grabbed the edge and vaulted himself in, squashing a couple of cartons and a bag of groceries.

He looked back just in time to see the purple dragon run out into the parking area, cloak himself and Change.

Immediately, the monster surged inside him.

Not now, he growled internally. We have to protect Madeleine!

A strange, harsh mental voice said, The one who sings?

The fuck? Was that the monster? Talking? A distorted image came into his mind—lying on the cell floor, in pain, her singing washing over him like a healing balm.

Oh, hell. He didn’t have time for monster memories. The horrific vision of the truck—and Madeleine—being hit by the other dragon’s acid was taking up all his mental space.

That desperate, clawing, needy feeling rose up inside him again, and he couldn’t stand it. Whatever had happened between them in his monster dream state—whatever naked thing had happened between them—it had done something to him.

And now he fucking had feelings for her.

Want her for mate, said the harsh voice.

Fuuuuck.

For a second Zak completely froze—brain, body, everything. The monster wanted a mate?

Protect her, the monster added.

Zak unfroze. That he could do. Trying to, he said. And I may need to cast spells to do it, so you can’t take over. Back off.

To his shock, the beast receded to the back of his mind.

Zakerek had lost sight of the purple dragon, but he could sense him flying overhead, following them. He might be able to fix that, but first he had to get inside the damn truck and find out where the hell Madeleine thought she was going.

He crawled over the boxes and bags and banged on the window between the bed and the cab, gesturing for her to pull over. She gave him one ‘are you crazy?’ look, and accelerated.

She was getting on the highway, dammit. If he—or his monster—had to have feelings for a captive female, at least Fate should have given them a subservient one. This was getting annoying.

He punched his hand straight through the window, knocking it out of its frame. Startled, Madeleine swerved, missing the car next to them by inches and earning an angry honk, accompanied by a one-finger salute.

Planting his palms on the roof of the cab, he heaved himself up and shoved his feet through the window, slithering through and down into the passenger seat. At the last second Madeleine grabbed the cardboard box from under his butt, yelling at him.

Shit. He’d forgotten about the kittens.

Madeleine swerved again, trying to juggle the box and the steering wheel. Kittens exploded in all directions, scratching and spitting. There were multiple angry honks this time, and tires squealed all around them; Zakerek grabbed the wheel just in time to keep them from taking out a motorcycle.

“What the actual hell?” Madeleine yelled. “Are you trying to kill us?”