Carissa peeked around him.
“Let her go, Duncan.” The clean-cut, black man held his gun level with Michael’s heart.
“I don’t want any trouble.” Michael raised his hands up, away from Carissa.
Demarco shifted his head, checking to make sure Carissa was free. “Please step away from him, Lady Carissa.” Demarco’s eyes switched between Carissa and Michael.
Movement off to the right drew Michael’s attention. Another gun leveled at his heart. His eyes shifted to the left. Two more of his fellow Elites had beads trained on him. Good to know they were taking him as a serious threat.
Carissa slipped her hand out of Michael’s pocket and stepped around in front of him. To his utmost amazement, she pressed her back into his front, shielding him from potential bullets.
Demarco reached out his hand for Carissa. “Come on, My Lady,” he said, trying to coax her away from him.
She just shook her head and leaned into Michael.
“Go on.” Michael nudged her with his hip, trying to get her to go. The sound of guns cocking filled the air. Great, he hadn’t even lowered his hands, and they were ready to take him out.
Carissa stood her ground and shook her head.
“Is there a problem, Pendarvis?”
Michael’s teeth clench upon hearing his partner’s voice. Of course Jareth would be here for this. They expected that, but the sound of his voice still raked against Michael’s nerves.
“She won’t come away from him,” Demarco answered.
“Then get in there and get her out,” Jareth ordered.
Demarco looked off to the right, where the team leader was poised, ready for action.
“Look.” Michael lifted his hands up a little and watched the taut soldiers track his movements. “There’s no need for this; I’ll come quietly.” Relief passed a few of their eyes. They had all worked with Michael before and knew what he was capable of.
“Yeah right,” Jareth called, “then release her from whatever spell you have on her, and let her go.”
“Jareth,” Michael said, shifting his head to better look at his partner, “you should know that I don’t do magic.”
“Then explain your hair.”
Good point. Michael should have realized that could have caused some issues. Heavy magic use could leach the pigment out of a human. Of course they would think he had Carissa under some spell. There was no way they would believe it if he told them Carissa had turned him into a dragon.
“Go on,” Michael urged her, but Carissa just stood her ground, glaring at Jareth. “I don’t have a spell on her,” he called to the men surrounding them. “She’s just stubborn.” That earned him a quick glare from Carissa.
In that moment of inattention, Demarco leaped at his chance and grabbed Carissa’s hand to yank her out. Movement caught Carissa’s eye, and she twisted away from Demarco, slamming into Michael as the loud pop of a gun went off. Pain ripped across Carissa’s face as blood bloomed on her back, right above the part that covered Michael’s heart.
The circle of Elites froze as Michael caught her. A roar rattled the park as magic rippled across Michael’s skin.
Someone was going to pay dearly for hurting Mine!.
19
Screams rang out through the park as gunfire barked from several of Eternity’s Elites. The bullets bounced off the iridescent scales of the white dragon that had been one of their numbers. Michael crouched protectively over Mine!. These men had hurt her and were going to pay for it.
Letting out a great roar, Michael swung his tail, taking out three of the men behind him. He placed one clawed foot over Mine! so she was protected but wouldn’t be crushed as he fought. Turning his attention to the man in front of him, Michael snapped him up and tossed him into one of the bushes. He really didn’t want to hurt these men; they had been his friends. Well, he didn’t want to hurt most of them. One was most definitely going to be hurting.
The sting of bullets on his left side had Michael turning to face his attacker. Balling up his claws, Michael swiped at the man, knocking him back. A few quick flaps of his great wings knocked the rest of the Elites off their feet. A few more shots hit Michael’s back, but a swing of his tail took care of that attacker. They should know better than this. They were going to need something much bigger than the handguns they were trying to hit him with.
Looking around, Michael saw the one person he really wanted, hunkered down and taking aim. Michael roared in rage at his partner. He lunged at him, snapping his teeth but missing the man. He was just out of Michael’s reach. He would have to relinquish his protective hold on Mine! to get to him. An answering roar came from the bushes where he had tossed Demarco. Michael snarled and pulled himself over Mine! as a green dragon shot into the air. Michael let go with another echoing roar, warning the new dragon off.
A bark of gunfire from Jareth brought Michael’s attention back to the ground.
Demarco took the opportunity to dive-bomb Michael. Michael was nearly twice his size, but the unexpected impact sent Michael teetering forwards.
“Mine!” Michael roared as he stumbled forwards, trying not to crush Carissa. Dropping to his belly next to her, he tucked his wing around her. No matter what, he had to protect her. Michael turned his attention to her to make sure he hadn’t injured her more. Mine! lay motionless under his wing. Rage turned his vision red, and he whipped his head back around to that son of a bitch who’d shot her.
Roaring, Michael dropped his wings loose so they scraped across the ground. Mine! would be safe under that shield. A great swing of his tail brought the fringy end around to smack Jareth off his feet. Lunging forwards, Michael snapped the fallen man up in his massive jaws.
Jareth screamed in terror as his gun jammed up.
“Michael!” Daniel’s voice boomed across the chaos.
Michael whipped his head around to look as his boss, racing towards him. Kyle was only a step behind him. Michael closed his mouth and sucked on his partner, worrying him with his teeth. One good bite, and the man was toast. Smoke bubbled out of Michael’s nostrils, startling him. Oh my, he could make flames! Maybe he should just roast him instead.
“Don’t do it!” Daniel loped up to stand in front of Michael. “Killing him won’t do you any good.”
A growl rumbled up from Michael’s chest. He lifted his wing, showing Mine!’s crumpled form, and then dropped it over her again, protectively.
The blood drained from Kyle’s face, but he stayed where he was.
Smart man.
Demarco landed behind Daniel, watching Michael closely.
Michael’s jaws clenched, making Jareth scream again.
“You will never clear your name if he’s dead,” Daniel yelled up at him.
The desire to crunch down on the man that hurt Mine! and the need to clear his name warred inside of him. His instincts demanded that he end what had hurt Mine!, but he couldn’t be with Mine! if he killed the pathetic thing wiggling in his mouth.
Michael sucked on him, rolling him around in his mouth, considering his options. Crunch or spit him out? Crunch or spit him out? Crunch or spit him out? A tingle against his side drew his attention from the whimpering mouthful. Mine! sat up under his wing, rubbing his side. Mine! was alive! Her eyes held a note of begging that made his decision for him.