The Warrior King (Inferno Rising #3) - Abigail Owen Page 0,42

as though he were a T. rex and wouldn’t see her if she did, Meira waited out the rest of his shift. An incredible process as human features broadened and lengthened, vicious spikes emerged along his back, and a tail whipped out behind him. Finally, wings unfurled thirty-five feet on either side of him.

Black dragons were sleeker than blue or gold dragons, everything about them built for stealth—wings attaching differently, spikes lying flat differently. Even their scales were smaller and layered so that they could seal up, cutting wind resistance.

Samael, in full dragon form, was the most brutally magnificent creature she’d ever beheld.

The dragon fell to his forefeet in total silence and craned his neck to size her up from a single massive eye on one side of his head.

Meira watched him closely. In theory, this was still Samael. Her mind knew he wouldn’t hurt her. The reality was a different experience. “You’re not going to use me as a human toothpick or anything, right?”

She wasn’t entirely sure the question was teasing, either.

She didn’t have time to process shock as he plucked her from the spot she stood with claws she was fully aware could rend her into tiny pieces. He gently placed her on the ground, then curled around her in a circle, going so far as to drape a single wing overhead while his snout ended up directly in front of her. Warmth cocooned her from every direction.

He’s protecting me.

Slowly, Meira reached out and ran a hand over one of the scales, fascinated by the glasslike appearance. Obsidian, yet strangely softer.

He growled at her touch, though the sound was more of a purr.

“I’m safe,” she said quietly.

At least, she hoped she was. She still wasn’t sure exactly where she’d brought them.

…

It took a while—the protectiveness his dragon side held toward Meira meant it didn’t want to cede control to the weaker human side—but Samael managed to wrest it back. That was the closest he’d ever come to losing himself to the animal. Even his first shift had gone smoother.

Meira watched in silence until he finished his shift. Then her eyebrows rose slowly. “I was worried I was about to be a snack earlier.”

“I would never hurt you.” The words left his mouth before he thought about them.

“I know.”

“How do you know that?” He could have killed her.

“Call it instinct.” She glanced away, pulling into herself and away from him.

Instinct. Right. Did she know what she was admitting? That instinct drove her to a faith in him that was beyond reason. Couldn’t she see the danger of trusting that or, worse, what that might mean?

Samael lifted one hand then dropped it back to his side before she saw. Now wasn’t the time or place to discuss it. “Where did you bring us?”

“I don’t know.” Her expression turned so rueful, if his own protective instincts weren’t screaming at him, he’d have laughed.

Instead, he glanced around, dread sinking through his bones. This was a dragon mountain, no doubt about it.

The natural caverns had been hollowed out more. Though slightly smaller, the space was like the training area in Ben Nevis and Ararat with its tall ceilings and flat floor, obviously created for the purpose of easy landings, an entrance large enough for a 747 to fly through. Or one extra-large dragon. At least one hallway no doubt led deeper into the mountain, though several doors were placed along the walls.

“Do you have a guess at least?” he asked.

“I would love to hear this myself,” a familiar male voice sounded from behind him.

Pissed his focus on Meira had allowed anyone to come close without his knowledge, Samael swung around with a snarl that he cut off midsound as soon as he saw the owner of the voice. “Rune?”

“What the hell are you doing here, Veles?”

“Rune?” Meira asked, breaking into what was already heading toward an awkward reunion as she glanced back and forth between them. “Rune Abaddon?”

Now how the fuck did she know that name?

Dark eyes not unlike his own slid to the woman at Samael’s side, glittering with a hard sort of curiosity, and Samael had to stop himself from stepping between them. “You know me?” Rune asked.

“My name is Meira Amon.”

The black dragon shifter who’d been labeled a traitor for years narrowed his eyes and said nothing.

“You helped my sister Skylar.” Meira started forward, but Samael stepped in front of her. Only to get smacked on the shoulder for the effort. “Stop that. He’s not going to hurt me. My