wreck by scaring some innocent driver. He blended into the night sky. Someone would have to have incredible eyesight, and be looking straight at him to be able to catch a glimpse of his hide. Even so, he was careful to check each vehicle from behind, dismissing them before he surged ahead to the next one. He’d come across two other similar trucks, but had yet to locate the one he was so desperate to find.
A slight movement to his right alerted him to another dragon’s presence. The indigo scales were almost as hard to spot as his black ones, but Brycen kept high enough to evade detection. His friend had made it down the mountain in record time, and if he was there, the other men would soon follow. Jace nodded, acknowledging him, before surging ahead.
It didn’t take long before he caught sight of a truck weaving and swerving on the highway. His heart stuttered. He could face any dragon, but the thought of Charlotte getting hurt in an accident nearly had him tumbling from the sky. With another burst of speed, he caught up with the truck as it righted itself on the road. Inside, two men sat with Charlotte wedged between them. One of the men had his hands around her neck. Jace dove with Brycen right behind him. With a mighty roar, he let out a massive plume of blue-white flames, illuminating the truck and the surrounding countryside.
The truck swerved across the line, and the engine revved as the driver gave it more gas. It wouldn’t matter. Brycen was already in front of them, facing the vehicle. Too busy looking for the threat behind them, they hadn’t even noticed the dragon ahead. Brycen landed on the road ahead, his wings outstretched, and roared. His dragon’s fire came at them, and they had no choice but to brake and veer to the side. The truck skidded to the right, then to the left as the driver tried to regain control, but it was too late. They careened across two lanes, then crashed into the ditch, coming to a hard stop only a few feet from a steep ravine.
Jace landed, shifting to his human form, running toward the smoking vehicle. His whole body was numb, but he kept running. Flames from the engine licked at the bent hood. He heard another roar nearby, then another. His men—his friends—had arrived, as he knew they would.
“Charlotte!” he screamed. Right above, Brycen circled the vehicle still in his dragon form. The smell of gasoline stung Jace’s nose as he reached the passenger door. He ripped it open, not caring that his palm would blister. With a mighty growl, he tore the man who had had his mate’s neck between his hands and threw him from the truck. He landed in a heap inches from the drop-off, but he didn’t care. One of the others would make sure the bastard didn’t get back up.
Inside the truck, Charlotte moaned. He reached in, heedless of the flames coming into the cab through the vents and beneath the dash, and tried to pull her free, but her leg wouldn’t budge. The flames licked dangerously close to where it was pinned.
“She’s stuck,” he yelled loud enough for his clan mates to hear.
In an instant, great gusts of wind fanned the flames lower, and claws dug into the metal above their heads. The truck jerked, and shuddered. The sounds of metal bending and tearing filled the cab as the roof gave way to the night sky. Blood dripped from the dragon’s clawed feet as it carried the top of the truck away. Another dragon swooped low, using his massive feet to grab at the burning dash. He hissed and roared in pain, but didn’t let go, pulling harder and harder with each strong beat of its wings. The truck groaned, but then in an instant, Charlotte was free, and in his arms.
Careful not to jostle her, Jace pulled her away from the wreckage. He didn’t make it a hundred feet that the glow of the fire intensified, and its heat warmed his naked back. The male, still trapped inside, screamed in agony for what seemed like forever, until the fire consumed him and took his miserable