What Fire Dragons Treasure - Cristina Rayne Page 0,5

ripples of light race through the air.

Eager to see the awe and delight light up her son’s face, Amber’s eyes flickered to the rearview mirror. “I see the dragon, sweet—”

She choked on the rest of the endearment as Amber saw a silver car about a mile behind her speeding right for them.

No, no, no! This can’t be happening right now! Not when we’re so close!

Now completely panicked, Amber floored the accelerator. The county road was the only way in and out of the area. She had no doubt that whoever was in the car would either try to run her off the road or, if she managed to turn around in the visitor parking lot up ahead, follow her until the car ran out of gas.

If you ever try to leave me again, to take my son from me, I’ll make sure it’s the last thing you do. I will not be humiliated!

Garrett’s menacing voice surfaced among her frantic thoughts. Was Garrett in that silver car? Had he been following them since they had left the house, taunting her by allowing her to believe that she had managed to get away?

Amber didn’t dare take her eyes off the road to look in the rearview mirror for confirmation. She had to get to that shield no matter what!

“M-mommy?” Matty asked in a shaky, soft voice.

Her heart broke. There it was, the fear she had hoped to never hear in Matty’s voice again. Her unconscious body language had likely damned her more than her aborted reply.

“We’re going to talk to that dragon, sweetie,” Amber replied resolutely, relieved that her voice remained firm. “Mommy’s just going to drive on the grass now, so the ride might get a bit bumpy.”

All the reliable information she had been able to find about all the dragons seen from the various viewing platforms stated that that they were guards patrolling the perimeter of their kingdom. Surely the dragon she was currently careening towards would see that she was in trouble and help her, right? Or would the dragon perceive her as a threat?

A loud series of pops sounded behind them. The steering wheel lurched along with the front of the car, and for a terrifying split-second, Amber thought the car was about to flip over. By a sheer miracle, she managed to fight her first instinct to slam on the breaks and instead, take her foot off the gas pedal. She tightened her grip on the steering wheel and fought to take back control of the car as it slowed.

What the hell had happened? Had she blown a tire? Amber started to panic anew at the thought, but then the terrified sob behind her stopped her panic cold. No—she couldn’t freak out now.

“It’s okay, Matty. It’s okay,” she crooned thickly. “Mommy’s going to stop the car, and we’ll go outside to see the dragon.”

The car had slowed down enough that she felt she could safely tap the brakes now. As the car came to a stop, she caught a glimpse of the silver car still barreling towards them. Shit! She had possibly a minute, tops, to get Matty out of the car before Garrett or whoever the bastards were in the car were upon them. She wouldn’t put it past them to try to run her down before she could get Matty out of the car.

She jumped outside and tugged open the back door within seconds. Matty was crying in soft gasps, one little fist stuffed into his mouth as though he were trying to stifle the sound. His other hand gripped his dinosaur plushie so tightly that his little fist shook. Amber cursed again as she frantically undid the straps with fingers that suddenly seemed too fat and clumsy, her own breaths coming in short, panicked gasps.

Then Matty was in her arms, and she ran as fast as she could towards the energy shield before her brain fully registered the action. Another loud pop sounded behind her, then another, and it was only then that Amber finally understood what the sound was.

Someone is freaking shooting at us!

They were finally close enough to the energy shield to see that the dragon was seated on his or her haunches, head turned towards Amber and Matty as she desperately tried to make her legs run faster.

“Help me!” Amber screamed as loud as she could.

They were almost there! She was finally close enough to see the dragon’s enormous, fire-colored eyes staring intently in their direction.

Another loud pop rang out, and