Dragon's Isolation - Miranda Martin Page 0,63

run. I need to make it far enough that Calista and Jolie’s yells won’t be enough to pull them off. I’m sorry Shidan, tell Malcolm how much I love him.

My heart breaks, and tears stream down my face, but this is the right thing to do, and I’m going to go through with it. The screeches ring in my ears. They’re closing in. I don’t have long until I’ll feel their claws and teeth tearing into my flesh.

I hope it doesn’t hurt too much.

I can’t see where I’m running because of the tears. Everything is blurred by the tears, but I slam into something hard. It roars. A deep, reverberating sound that shakes my guts with its depth. It sounds angry.

“AHHHH!” I scream in terror. I stumble back and trip over my feet before I land on my ass.

A flash of orange, then heat washes over my body. The roar sounds again, and this time the screeching seems different. Afraid almost.

I roll to the side and throw an arm over my face, trying to clear the tears away so I can see what new threat has emerged. When I come to a stop and get onto my hands and knees, my heart leaps into my throat.

“MOMMY!” Malcolm yells, racing across the sand towards me.

“Baby!” I scream, half-rising and running for my baby.

I scoop him up into my arms and curl my body protectively around him. Only then do I see Shidan. Shidan belches fire into a massive ball of flame that explodes in the middle of the swarm of sismis. He swings his lochaber in wide, wild arcs. The sharp blade whistles as it slices through the air. Then it hits a sismis, making a meaty sound followed by a scream of pain, which is cut off when the beast drops to the ground.

Shidan roars, opening his arms and wings wide, calling all the world to him. He belches a fresh bout of flame, the red-orange fire making a ball in the air, singeing the sismis. The cloud of creatures disperses around the fire and then they retreat, moving on in search of easier prey.

Shidan watches from a few feet away. His eyes are bloodshot, his muscles bulging, blood covering his bare chest. I’m frozen in place, unable to move. My heart pounds, blood rushing to my head and I’m light-headed, clinging to Malcolm.

“It’s okay, Mommy,” Malcolm whispers in my ear.

Malcolm wraps his arms so tight around my neck it’s choking me. He kisses my cheek then eases his grip.

“Shidan,” I force his name past the lump blocking my throat.

He doesn’t answer, chest heaving, he swings the lochaber up. My heart stops, stomach clenching, but he continues the motion and puts it away on his back. Our staring contest resumes. I hear Jolie and Calista approaching, but I’m too scared to even glance at them. I can’t take my eyes off him. I’m not sure if he sees me, our son, or if he’s a completely wild animal.

No. This is Shidan. He’s there, this disease may have made him regress, but he’s still him. He’s my man, my treasure, and he loves me.

“Go to him,” Malcolm encourages.

Hesitantly, I take a step forward. My limbs tremble, and I don’t dare breathe. My foot touches down, and I slowly commit my weight to it, never taking my eyes off of his. His eyes dart past me, then back. A tremor moves through his wings, and his tail twitches. I start another step, toes touching down, keeping my weight back, ready to run.

Run where?

“Shidan,” I repeat. “It’s me. I love you.”

Still, he doesn’t move. His eyes bore into me, but behind his eyes I see something flash. The corners of his lips twitch. His hands unclench and some of the tension in his body eases out of it. His breathing is still rapid but after the fight that’s to be expected.

Another step. I’m within his arms’ reach. Malcolm shifts, wrapping his legs around my waist, turning to face his father.

“Daddy!” Malcolm exclaims. “See! I told you Mommy wasn’t being mean. It only seemed like it.”

“No honey, Mommy wasn’t being mean. Mommy only wanted to help, to do the right thing.”

Talking eases my nerves as I keep moving closer. Shidan doesn’t move, watching, and then I’m so close we could touch. I hesitate. We’re inches apart, but I don’t touch him. If he’s going to do something, if he wants to hurt me for my perceived betrayal, this is going to be it. Craning