Holly’s loud whisper drifted through the house, “Someone’s coming, Fraser.”
Fraser was already moving. “Finn, I need to go. We may have been followed.”
“Don’t hang up, Fraser. Even if you have to toss the phone to the side, keep the connection open so Ara can trace your call.”
“Fine, but just don’t speak. I need to keep it silent.”
“Just be careful.”
With that, Fraser slid his phone on top of a bookcase in the living room before joining Holly, who was peeking through a gap in the curtains. Fraser kept his voice low when he asked, “Can I have a glance, honey?”
Holly moved and he peeked outside. There was a man with his dog on a lead and the dog was taking a crap on the grass. “I’m not sure he’s a threat, lass.”
“Not just him. I swear I saw a dragon high in the sky.”
He frowned. “There aren’t any rogue dragons in this part of Scotland.”
“Do you want to chance it? Maybe we should move.”
Fraser shook his head. “No. If it was a dragon, then they’ll be able to see us move anyway. Our best bet is to stay here for the time being.”
Holly touched his arm. “So that means we’re basically sitting ducks?”
He touched Holly’s chin. “Maybe not, lass.” Fraser motioned toward the window. “Keep watch again. I have Finn on the line.” She opened her mouth, but he cut her off. “And yes, he’s trying to check on your father.”
“Thank you.”
Seeing Holly vulnerable, with fear in her eyes, did something to his heart. All he wanted to do was whisk his mate to safety and protect her.
Holly’s eyes darted to his mobile and back.
He got the message. Fraser picked up his phone and he whispered, “Did you hear all of that?”
“Aye. I have more Protectors on the way, but it’ll take some time. If there is an unidentified dragon in the sky, then lay low until the Protectors get there.”
“We’ll see.” Finn started to talk, but Fraser cut him off. “Does Ara have the trace?”
As soon as Finn said, “Aye,” Fraser cut the connection. He had no doubt Finn was about to tell Fraser not to shift and distract the dragon. But if the dragon attacked the house, Fraser would be the only one who could keep Holly safe. He hadn’t been bluffing earlier when he said he’d die to protect her.
Fraser was about to ask Holly if she’d seen anything else when something thumped on the roof a split-second before a dragon’s hind legs crashed through the ceiling. Fraser yelled, “Run, Holly, and call Finn,” before imagining his face elongating into a snout, wings growing from his back, and his nails extending into talons. Two seconds later, Fraser broke through the ceiling and stood in his black dragon form. From the corner of his eye, he spotted Holly running into the distance.
Satisfied his mate was safe for the moment, Fraser focused on the older blue dragon standing opposite him. The dragon looked familiar, yet Fraser couldn’t place him.
But then the blue dragon lunged for his thro
at and Fraser embraced his dragon’s instinct. He swerved his head to the side and slashed his right front talons. Whether out of luck or by surprising the older dragon, his talons made contact and ripped through the flesh.
However, the wound wasn’t fatal and the dragon jumped forward to pin Fraser to the ground.
With the remains of the house about him, he couldn’t move properly. Waving his tail around, he knocked down the walls as he used every iota of strength he possessed to keep the dragon’s jaws from his throat.
When the last wall fell, Fraser kicked his hind legs against the blue dragon’s belly. The blue dragon flew over him. Taking the split-second advantage, Fraser jumped into the air and beat his wings. He may not be the best fighter, but he was one of the best at tricks and maneuvers in the sky. If he could last long enough, he might be able to draw the older dragon-shifter away from Holly as well as tire him out.
With a roar, Fraser glanced over his shoulder just as the blue dragon jumped into the air and moved toward him. Turning, Fraser hovered in place. The instant the blue dragon was twenty feet away, Fraser dove down sharply toward the ground. The other dragon turned to follow. One second passed, and then five. A lesser dragon would have crashed into the ground, but thanks to years of challenging his twin, Fraser pulled up and shot straight toward the blue enemy.
The older beast’s reaction time was too slow and Fraser collided his shoulder into the dragon’s belly. A slight twinge caused pain to shoot through his wing, but Fraser ignored it. All that mattered was giving Holly enough time to flee to safety.
His opponent snarled in pain before dropping down. Not wanting to take chances, Fraser swooped down and slashed one of the dragon’s wings. The blue dragon roared and tried to flap the injured wing, but the tear in the membrane prevented him from moving upward. Fraser hovered in place as his attacker smacked to the ground with a crack.