Wicked Burn (Realm Enforcers #3)(69)

“No problem,” Bear said clearly.

“This wasn’t the plan,” Nick couldn’t help muttering.

Bear lost altitude, and Simone screamed.

Nick tightened his hold on her hand as whitecaps flew by below. Water sprayed across his face. Bear flapped, and they rose into the air again. “Jesus.”

“I had to go with a new plan because you killed Desmond,” Bear intoned in his dragon voice. “The soldiers saw, and I’m not sure Flynn will be able to keep them from coming for your head. You need to go somewhere safe until I figure out what to do next.”

Nick wanted to struggle, but that would just end up with him in the ocean freezing his ass off. “I don’t need your help.”

“We’re family, dude,” Bear said cheerfully.

“No, we are not.” Why in the world did everyone suddenly want to be his family? If Bear tried to cut him and create a blood bond, Nick would have to shoot him. For now, he had to worry about his woman. He eyed a very pale Simone. “You okay?”

She shook her head, and her skin turned a light green. “I don’t like flying.”

“It’s all right.” He tried to reassure her, but her color got worse.

She gagged.

“No,” Bear muttered. “Do not puke.”

Simone breathed in. “I’m trying. Stop being so bumpy.”

“Do you have any idea how hard it is to fly the two of you?” Bear asked, sounding wounded. “I’m doing my best.” They dropped again.

“I’m going to kick your ass when you feel better,” Simone hissed. “I told you not to shift like this ever again.”

“God, you’re bossy,” Bear muttered.

The air chilled and blew into them. Simone’s hair billowed all around and plastered to Bear’s dragon belly. She shut her eyes and visibly drew in several deep breaths.

Dark clouds rolled around, right at them.

“Ah, hell,” Bear muttered. “They’re too thick to go above them.” Rain slashed them.

A small dot came into view surrounded by tumultuous waves crashing against rock walls. Bear changed his angle of flight to straight down.

“Oh God,” Simone moaned, her free hand going to her belly.

“It’s okay,” Nick whispered. “Slow the hell down, Bear.”

“I’m getting wet,” the shifter complained.

The island appeared to be about a kilometer across, surrounded by jagged rocks. Trees dotted most of the landmass. They approached the island at breakneck speed. Nick slid his arm between Simone and Bear, so he could wrap himself around her if they landed hard. “Get ready for impact,” he whispered to her.

She gave a strangled sound.

Bear landed and flipped over onto his back, tossing Simone and Nick into the air. Nick tucked her close and rolled through rain, getting them in the right position before landing on his feet and falling to his knees in sopping wet sand.

The dragon slid along the sand and impacted a pine tree. It cracked with a loud protest.

“Duck!” Nick yelled, holding Simone tight and throwing them both out of the way. The tree fell and bounced twice, right where they’d been a second ago.

Bear rolled over, his reptilian eyes blinking. White sand covered his scales and his nose. “Sorry.” He sneezed.

“Jesus Christ, Bear.” Nick set a trembling Simone on her feet, and she sank in the sand. Wind smashed sand and pine needles into them, while the waves crashed higher as the storm gained force. Nick looked around to see a stone cabin set just beyond the odd beach. “What in the world?”

Bear’s dragon ears twitched. “I can’t fly you guys through that storm, and I need to go back up Flynn in case he needs help.”

“No,” Simone snapped. “You need to change back to yourself and let us help you to heal.”

“Nope.”

“What is this place?” Simone asked. “Are there medical supplies? Will any help you?”

Bear shrugged. “My island. Sometimes when I wanted to see either you or Flynn, I’d sneak here and try to get glimpses, you know.” A sadness filled the dragon’s voice that he failed to mask. “I have to take a boat and not fly, obviously. Right now, nothing can help me but sleep and protein, so stop hovering.”

Nick winced as thunder rolled across the sea. “Is this place safe?”

“Pretty much, unless there’s a huge storm surge, and then it might flood. There’s a generator behind the cabin full of gas, and there’s food in the pantry. Stay here, and I’ll be back as soon as I can.” Bear squinted toward the dark clouds.

“No—” Nick started, but Bear bunched his legs and shot into the sky, doing a funny flip as he rose.

“I am so going to kick his butt when he gets back,” Simone murmured, her gaze on the rapidly disappearing dragon. “If he gets back.”

If not, they were screwed. “Tell me you have a phone.” He’d lost his in the fight.

She shook her head. “They took my phone away when I landed in dragon land.”

“Fire Island,” Nick said absently, scanning the area for threats. Nothing. They were alone in the middle of the ocean with nothing but a storm coming their way. “Let’s check out the cabin.”