Out of the Frying Pan

I sprinted through the hallways hunting for an exit. Down the stairs and through more corridors.

The rooms I passed were blurs of color as I put one foot in front of the other, going faster and faster.

With the dragons asleep, it was a hundred times easier to navigate the mansion. There was no pulsating power to stop my forward movement. No urge to run back to them and submit.

It was like their power over me had weakened.

Down another set of stairs. Through another hallway.

I knew I should take a weapon, something to defend myself with in case they woke up, but I wasn’t thinking clearly. I only wanted to get out of there.

There. Ahead.

A doorway beckoned.

Through the glass, I could see a gravel path that led to the forest.

I could practically taste my freedom.

I burst through the door, greedily inhaling the cool spring air. I’d been the Dobrzyckas’ prisoner for only a day and a half, but it’d felt like centuries.

I felt energized as my power shifted back to me. I had to capitalize on it. The brand on my shoulder was quietly urging me to be an obedient mate and stay with Loch and Hael. But it was a weak pulsation, and I was strong enough to fight it.

I could consider being their mate. But I would ~never~ be their slave. No matter what the prophecy said.

I took one last look at the mansion, guiltily wondering if I should go back for Darren. He’d said he loved it there, but after my time in the dungeon, I knew how confused his feelings must be.

No, I couldn’t go back, not even to save a friend. I had to save myself first. And who knew how long the Dobrzyckas would be out for.

I dragged my eyes away and hurried down the steps to a long cobblestone driveway that ended in a circle surrounding a huge, jade statue of a fire-breathing dragon.

~Subtle, guys.~

The driveway connected to a road in the distance, maybe half a mile through the trees. But who knew how far we were from civilization. If I was going to outrun two angry Dragon Lords, I was going to need some wheels.

An enormous garage stood just off the driveway, connected to the mansion. I ran over and looked through the windows. Inside was a veritable parking lot of shiny foreign sports cars, including a rack of keys. Jackpot!

I tried lifting the garage door. Locked. I tried another. Also locked.

Getting frantic, I ran around the side of the garage and found another door. I twisted the handle…

Locked. ~Damn it!~

I glanced back at the mansion. There was probably another entrance to the garage from inside. But going back was a huge risk. Not one I was willing to take, despite what my brand was telling me.

I considered the driveway and the road beyond.

What about the gravel path to the forest? But no, Hael and Loch would know the forest too well, and I would truly be a mouse trapped in their maze if I went that route.

The road was the better option. Sure, I’d be hoofing it in bare feet and silk pajamas, but there was always the possibility that I would come across a sympathetic driver who would take me away from this place.

I hurried along the driveway, shivering in the morning air. Once again, a small part of me considered going back. I could slip back into bed before Loch and Hael even knew I was gone.

Who knew how they’d react when they found out I’d escaped? They flipped out over some back talk and a case of blue balls. They were dragons. They could fucking eat me!

Loch’s and Hael’s handsome faces and ripped torsos floated into my mind, but I banished the thoughts and focused on the road ahead. It was just this awful brand telling me to stay.

Wasn’t it?

I made my way to the end of the driveway where I was met by a metal gate. I tugged on the gate, but just like the garage doors, it was locked.

The gate was connected to a stone wall, and I traveled along it, looking for a good place to climb over it.

My fingers traced over the cold stone as I ran farther away from the locked gate. My heartbeat increased as I worried I’d never find a way out of this place.

But…there, just ahead. The stone was older, more worn down. I tested it, and I could get my fingers in the spaces between the stones.

I looked back toward the mansion, but all was quiet. I didn’t know if the dragons were still asleep, but I knew I couldn’t wait any longer to find out.

I inserted my fingers in the available spaces, then heaved myself up and placed my toes on top of a jutting rock. Then more spaces for my fingers, and more jutting rock for my toes.

The top of the wall was within reach, and I made my final push until I was sitting on its flat surface.

This was it. My moment of freedom. The drop was far, at least ten feet, but the ground was covered by bushes and foliage, which would hopefully make for a soft landing.

I took a final breath, then jumped, making sure to tuck my body and roll as I landed.

The ground was hard—the foliage not as cushioned as I’d hoped—but I survived.

There was a searing pain in my shoulder, and my brand burned like never before.

But I couldn’t stay; I needed to move. I went left, going down the mountain instead of up it. I ran until the bottoms of my feet bled, then ran some more. I couldn’t stop, not now.

Suddenly, a loud roar tore through the mountainside.

That could only mean one thing. They were awake.

I ran faster, and my ears perked up at another sound, this time it sounded like a car. My heart swelled with hope.

I picked up the pace as the sound came closer and closer. Finally, I could see it in the distance, a black sedan. I waved my arms, desperate for the driver to see me.

The sedan abruptly turned and stopped, its brakes squealing, so it was blocking both lanes of traffic.

I approached cautiously, ready to flee into the forest in case the occupants turned out to be working for the Dobrzyckas.

Two young men got out of the car. They walked toward me with their hands raised in peace. I couldn’t make out their faces under the shadows of the trees.

“Who are you?” I demanded, holding my ground.

One of them stepped into a patch of light. I recognized the tall man’s cheeky eyes and annoying smirk. His slicked blue hair. I’d met him at that Req Enterprise party a year ago. The college kid in the limo. ~Nautica~.

“Nautica?” I asked.

His shit-eating smirk widened. “You remember?”

“I remember how annoying you are,” I said with relief, starting for the car. “But I’m hoping that won’t get in the way.”

Another roar filled the air, and Nautica’s grin widened like he’d won some prize.

I continued on, needing to get away more than I needed to worry about what that grin meant. “I need to get out of here. Loch and Hael Dobrzycka are Dragon Lords—”

“We know,” Nautica said, cutting me off. “That’s why we’ve come.”

I looked at him strangely. That stupid smirk was unreadable. I suddenly got the feeling I shouldn’t have been so happy to see him after all…

“I think, um…now…is good,” mumbled Nautica’s companion, a redheaded fellow with a face full of freckles.

“I know it’s a good time!” Nautica shouted petulantly. “Just let me do it!”

“What are you talking about?” I asked with growing nervousness.

Nautica reached to the small of his back and pulled out a handgun, aiming it directly at me. My hands automatically flew into the air. ~What the fuck was going on?~

“Nautica, I’m not the bad guy!” I shouted. “Hael and Loch are.”

The handgun didn’t waver. Nautica narrowed his eyes.

“Yes, but killing a dragon’s mate is much easier than killing a dragon. It’s a slower death, but in the end, the Dobrzyckas still die.”

My body tensed. How did he know I was their mate?

“It’s our lucky day, finding you out here,” Nautica continued. “Mason and I were scouting. But here you are. Xander won’t believe it.”

“It does seem…a bit drastic…to kill a mortal,” Mason interjected, clearly losing some nerve.

“If we kill the dragons,” snapped Nautica, “she’ll die from heartbreak anyway.”

“Doubt it,” I quipped. Mason chuckled.

“Unfortunately, it’s not up to you,” Nautica snarled. “You’re branded. That’s how it works.”

“How do you know that?” I asked, trying to buy some time. I couldn’t believe it’d come to this, but in that moment, I hoped Loch and Hael would rescue me. I didn’t see another way out.

Nautica flashed his trademark smirk again.

“We’re dragon slayers, Madeline.”

“Nautica, please,” I said. “I know Loch and Hael are bad people, but what could they have done to make you resort to this?”

Nautica cocked the hammer with a loud click, amplified in the silent forest. “We don’t have time for this.”

I shut my eyes. On the bright side, at least I wasn’t dying in a dragon sex dungeon…

“~Don’t you fucking move~,” Loch’s voice echoed in my head.

“~Loch~,” I started, but I felt the cold barrel of Nautica’s pistol press against my temple. My fright instantly severed my connection with Loch. This was the end. I was sure of it.

I held my breath…

Seconds passed…

When nothing happened, I opened my eyes. My would-be executioner was studying me like a bug collector would a rare butterfly, the smirk gone from his face.

“I’m reconsidering this turn of events,” Nautica muttered, more to himself than me. “I think I’ll let you live instead. There’s a lot we can learn from you.”

Keeping the gun to my head, he pulled me to the sedan.

“~Where are you, Madeline?~” Hael snarled in my head. I could feel his anger and disappointment. I suddenly felt like a traitor.

“Mason,” Nautica shouted. “Put the mint bracelet on her. Stop her from communicating with the dragons.”

Mason fished a shiny hoop out of his pocket and clamped it around my wrist before I could protest. It seemed to be made of silver and clear crystal. A green liquid moved around inside.

Nautica then slapped a pair of handcuffs around my wrists before shoving me inside the car like a combative prisoner, even though I wasn’t struggling. Mason sat in the driver seat, staring straight ahead.

“Where the hell are you taking me?” I demanded. He didn’t answer.

Nautica walked a short distance from the car. I heard his muffled yells through the window.

“Listen here, you scaly pieces of shit! If you try to follow us, I’m going to blow your mate’s brains out. I’m only delaying her death because you’re going to do me a few favors first!”

I looked toward the mansion, hoping for signs of Loch or Hael. But there was nothing. I tried to reach out through my mind, but it was like their phone was off the hook. I knew they were there, but I couldn’t reach them.

Nautica opened the door and sat in the passenger seat. “Drive,” he commanded.

“Where are we going?” I asked again. I got the same response. Silence.

Mason righted the car and sped down the forest road. I stared helplessly out the window as the trees became a green blur.

If this was what freedom was, it fucking sucked.