Dragon's Isolation - Miranda Martin Page 0,21

airlock.”

“The airlock,” he says, shaking his head. “Right…”

“Daddy, what’s wrong?” Malcolm asks.

“Nothing, son,” he says and smiles. “Daddy is fine. We should get home.”

The cold pit in my stomach drops to the ground. The look on his face is clear. He doesn’t know the way home. He was lost. Bile rises in my throat, so I swallow hard.

“Good idea,” I say, forcing my voice to remain calm. “Let’s get home. It’s past dinnertime.”

Shidan nods his agreement.

“I’m hungry,” Malcolm says.

“Of course you are,” I say. “You’re a growing boy.”

I take Shidan’s hand and lead him toward home. The fears assailing my thoughts are a storm of dark wings, but I can’t let on to it in front of Malcolm. I don’t want him to know how bad it is. Worse, I don’t know how bad it’s going to be.

6

SHIDAN

“He’s infected,” the human female in the white coat says.

She’s talking to Amara, and I don’t know if she doesn’t think I can hear her, or what. I’m right here, why is she not talking to me?

Something about this female seems familiar, but I don’t think I know her. She reminds me of someone I once knew though. That’s what it is. She’s similar to someone I used to know. Since she’s not talking to me, I pass the time studying the room.

It’s a nice space. Better than the cave I was living in. I’ve done well for…

I look at the female that says she’s my mate. I know her name. Her name is… Amara. Treasure. The way my hearts quicken, and my breath catches when I look at her, I know she’s the one. My dragon chose her, but when? I can’t recall. It stirs though, recognizing her, claiming her.

“Oh,” Amara says.

BANG! BANG!

I leap from the bed I was on and land, placing myself between Amara and the unknown source of the noise. Something is hitting something. I hold her behind me with one arm while I look for the trouble.

“It’s fine,” the white-coated female is yelling to be heard over the ongoing noise.

I bare my teeth and clench my free hand into a fist, backing away from the noise, pushing Amara behind me. There’s a soft roar, muffled but definite. This situation is far from fine. Growling under my breath I look for the source of the sound. It’s coming from the far side of the wall.

Amara places a hand on my bicep, pulling my attention to her. She smiles, shakes her head.

“It’s okay, Shidan,” she says. “It’s Ladon, nothing more.”

Ladon? A male’s name. Some male is threatening my mate? My wings rustle and my tail vibrates, ready for combat. I turn back towards the sound and stride across the room, raising my hands, ready to fight.

“Shidan, no!” the white-coated female yells.

I glance over my shoulder and bare my teeth to silence her. No male will threaten my female. Amara runs to my side, grabbing my arm and pulling until I stop and turn to face her.

“No,” she says. “Shidan, no. It’s fine, he’s not threatening me.”

The banging stops. I stare at the door that blocks me from seeing the source. Amara says its fine, and I trust her, so I relax.

“Come, sit down, please,” white-coated female says.

I follow them back to the bed and take a seat on its edge, but I’m watching the door. Nothing will come in and catch me unaware.

“Addison,” Amara says. “What can I do? He’s…”

She trails off looking at me. Moisture glistens in the corners of her eyes. I recognize this, there is a term for it. I know it, it’s… the fog in my head surges. The word is right there, on the tip of my tongue, but… nothing. I don’t recall it.

It’s bad, though. A human thing? Yes, a human reaction. Zmaj do not waste water like that. I reach out and wipe a droplet of the moisture from her cheek. A faltering smile dances across her lips. I cup my hand around the back of her head and pull her against my shoulder, holding her.

The white-coated woman watches, silent, but worry lines her face. She’s frowning and concerned. That feeling that I know her name, that I know this female flits through my head, but I can’t nail it. She is one I do know, I recognize her, but then I don’t know her at the same time.

An empty tingling sensation itches inside my head. It’s annoying, frustrating. I want to reach into my own skull and scratch it, but that, of