Wicked Burn (Realm Enforcers #3)(58)

Bear dropped several meters again, and bile shot up Nick’s throat. He swallowed it ruthlessly down. “Would you please stop doing that?”

“You weigh a f*cking ton,” Bear complained, flying high above the ocean, his hold on Nick not at all secure. Pain tingled from the scales all around Nick. They dropped again, and Bear grunted, trying to gain altitude. “I haven’t practiced flying in a long time.”

“Why the f*ck not?” Nick shut his eyes as the sea rose up to meet them again.

They lifted higher, and cool air slammed into them.

“It’s not my thing,” Bear groaned. His wings made audible flaps through the night. Bear’s hold slipped, and Nick fell into rushing air.

He bellowed, his arms and legs windmilling.

Fast and hard, Bear pummeled into him, slamming his weird arms through Nick’s and rapidly flapping his wings. Pain ripped through Nick’s abdomen.

He held perfectly still, his heart pounding against his rib cage as they rose again. He was upright, his legs catching the wind, his blood rushing through his veins. “What the hell?”

“Sorry.” Bear tucked him up against his belly again. “You shouldn’t have brought so many weapons. They’re really heavy.”

“Just don’t drop me again,” Nick ordered, his entire body already in serious pain. He took a deep breath and sent healing cells to three of his ribs, which Bear had broken when he’d caught Nick up. “How much farther?” Nick asked, gritting his teeth from the pain of healing.

“A ways.” Bear seemed to find an air current, because his body relaxed, and he began to soar better.

Clouds wafted around them, and the moon glinted off the wild ocean below. “What’s up with all the secrecy about dragons? I mean, who cares?” Nick asked.

“Dragons can counter any attack, and the smartest move for other immortals is to take us out. The witches and demons combined years ago to make it happen, and they could do so again,” Bear said.

Nick forced his eyes to remain open on not on the earth spinning by. The shifter had a point, and it was something they could figure out at a later date. For now, he had a job to do. “Are you all right with the plan?” Nick asked, aiming his question for the beast’s long neck.

“Yes. I’ll do anything for Simone,” Bear returned, his body moving as his wings went back to work. “The plan sucks.”

“I know, but at the very worst, they’ll kill me and not Simone, so you’re on board, right?”

“Yep. I don’t want to see you die, but if it comes down to you or Simone, I’m all right with you taking the sword to the throat.”

Nick coughed. “Thanks, Bear.” He meant the words.

“You’re welcome.” Bear sounded as if he was sincere, too.

Simone was all that mattered, and as long as she walked away unscathed, Nick would gladly give up his head. Of course, that was his last option. He’d be happy to fight first. “We try to battle our way out before I take the sword, right?”

Bear gave the equivalent of a dragon shrug, which felt like a whole body roll from under his massive body. “Eh.”

Hell. Not the right answer. “If I die, Simone is going to be upset.” Nick kept his voice level. Just how crazy and nonchalant was Bear? Nick had never been able to get a grasp on the shifter. “You don’t want your only sister upset.”

“I think you’re basically a hitch in her life, demon.” Bear’s voice sounded like Bear but with a raspiness that carried on the breeze. “Any alliance with you ultimately will hinder her plans.”

A bird flew into them, and Nick ducked his head, taking a mouthful of feathers. The bird flapped away, clacking in anger. He spit out feathers. “Would you watch where you’re going?” What the hell had he been thinking to work with Bear instead of working around the damn shifter?

“Sorry.” He didn’t sound sorry.

“What do you mean, I hinder her plans?”

“Geez, man. Simone is as ambitious as they get, and she wants to run the Coven Nine. You just get in the way.”

Nick sneezed out another feather. “I could make her happy.” He gingerly reached up and picked more feathers off his face.

Bear dropped a meter.

“Bear!”

“Don’t wriggle so much,” the shifter muttered.

Nick shook his head. “You’re one crazy bastard. Simone is already established in the Coven Nine, assuming they don’t order her death.” Which they wouldn’t, because he had a decent defense planned finally. Well, kind of. All right, he could still lose, and then he’d have to put her in hiding, which would be a disaster.

“No way would a witch mated to a non-witch ever lead the Council. Hell. Why do you think Viv never mated my dad? I mean, besides the fact that he was a real dick.” Bear snorted, his massive dragon body shuddering.

Nick opened his mouth but couldn’t find any words of comfort. “Simone makes her own path.”

Bear coughed. “Those witches are big on tradition, allies, and war. The demons might be allies right now, but you know that can change on a sneeze.”

True. Definitely true. Nick struggled to argue his position, even while his chest ached at the possibility of Simone choosing duty over him. “If I mate her, then her alliance will be to me.”