Frostbite (The Dragonian, #3) - Adrienne Woods Page 0,93

served her purpose. We have to get back to Dragonia before it’s too late.”

I nodded even though I didn’t want to. How on earth was I going to be able to claim any dragon without Cara? How was I going to claim Blake when I felt so defeated, so weak?

He opened his backpack and took out a pair of jeans and t-shirt with a hoody. I only then realized that I was shaking from the cold.

We were stranded on a couple of rocks and the only light came from the full moon emerging slightly from a blanket of clouds.

Cheng helped me into the clothes that were way too big for me as I struggled to breathe. I didn’t know if it was the effect of losing Cara or finally being exposed to Mother Nature’s wrath.

When I was properly clothed Cheng rubbed his hands hard on my back trying to bring a little more heat into my frozen body.

“I’m fine, feeling much better, thank you.”

He gave me a soft smile. “It’s times like these I wish I was a freaking fire breather.”

I managed to give a small chuckle but the feeling of losing my best friend was still gripping me hard.

“Okay, let’s go,” he said as he changed back into his dragon and picked me up with his front paw. He pulled me closer to his torso and I could hear the beating of his heart. He smelled like the forest and ocean mixed in one. His soft leathery skin warmed my body until I didn’t feel the cold anymore.

My eyes felt itchy and heavy but for some reason my mind refused to let me sleep. I couldn’t get over the horrible act I’d just committed, on someone I actually loved. I was wrong about this time being different. I’d lost another friend. I’d lost a part of myself I would never get back. I felt exactly the same as the day Lucian had died. He stayed in my mind as I didn’t want to think about Cara anymore. It hurt more than thinking about Lucian.

How many more people am I going to lose like this?

The flight felt like hours, but the minute the legs that held me against his torso opened up I knew we were close to where he wanted to be.

He opened his paw for me to climb out and I saw Lucian’s Range Rover.

My body was drained and my knees gave in the minute I got up. Cheng changed in seconds and I could feel his warm hands grabbing me around the waist and underneath my legs. He carried me to the SUV and the hot air that crept through the venting system immediately started to warm my body. I fell into an exhausted doze as he drove us away at speed.

I woke as he picked me up and walked with me into the tavern and this time I didn’t protest. I was too tired to say anything.

He knocked on the door and the man who was on night duty finally opened up. “Is she okay?”

“She’s fine. Can you please make her something to eat and bring it up to her room? I’ll pay extra.”

I didn’t hear what he said as I buried my face in Cheng’s chest but the fast departure of his footsteps told me that he would do what Cheng asked.

By the rhythm of Cheng’s walk and the sound of the wood creaking I knew more or less where I was. I heard a key slide into a lock and the soft bed against my skin felt amazing. I would have given anything to just close my eyes and sleep, but my demons weren’t going to let me this time.

Cheng ran around in my room like a mouse looking for an escape route. I could see a faint light behind my eyelids, and the crackling of a new fire filled the room before the heat from the flames followed. His weight dented my bed and he pulled the covers over me. After I was tucked in he rubbed my body again.

“You feeling warm yet?” he asked, concern lacing his tone.

I didn’t answer, I couldn’t and I tried really hard not to cry but when my body started to shake I knew there was no way to make it stop.

“Elena, it wasn’t your fault. She had to go.”

Cheng stayed with me until I was calm. When the food came he begged me to eat, but the nauseous feeling inside the pit of my stomach made