14.

 

“Norris, we have to get the women to safety.”

“I know,” Norris growled. Max and the others had already taken off toward the hideout that Gavin had tracked down. Their attack was going to be underway, and Gavin had stayed behind to help Norris take care of the Loni descendants. It had turned out that Norris had been right, beyond the shadow of a doubt, and his fated mate had absolutely been one of the sacred bloodline. That was why everybody had decided to tag along and welcome her to the clan, despite knowing she wasn’t fully able to embrace her heritage yet. But there would be time to convince her of the inevitable truth.

“Gavin, what happened to the van?”

Norris frowned to himself and looked at his friend in concern.

“Oh, I guess they already took the females to the hideout.”

“They didn’t take Lisa,” Norris pointed out.

“They didn’t,” Gavin said, gazing at Lisa. Norris had not let her out of his sight and she was clinging to his arm in fear.

“When did they take the women? What happened?”

Norris shrugged in confusion. Max had probably rounded everybody up as quickly as he could to make sure that his wife made it safely back to his children. It was a typical move to make and he had probably forgotten all about Lisa.

“Come on,” Norris said urgently. “I will take you to a safe place.”

“Okay…”

Lisa’s voice quivered in concern and fear, and Norris held her close, leading the way quickly to the underground entrance that Gavin had constructed just a few blocks away.

When he was safely concealed, he wasted no time in shapeshifting to his Dragon form. Before the transformation was entirely complete, he looked seriously at his mate.

“Climb onto my back, we will travel more quickly that way. It is important we get you to safety before anything else happens.”

Lisa nodded dumbly and stared at him as he shapeshifted into his Dragon form, her eyes growing spherical as she stared at his body as his clothes were ripped away and his broad human form was replaced by the impressive physique of a silver Dragon.

“Oh my god, you were telling the truth. I knew it…”

There was no time to lose though and he bowed his head, urging her to get on his back so he could carry her to the vault.

She did as he expected of her and soon, they were soaring down the long labyrinths, her small hands gripping him tightly as he flew through them and reached their destination.

“Be careful,” she whispered before Norris turned away from her to return to his friends. He felt confident in his system and trusted her there to remain safe. He wasn’t going to let any harm fall on her. And he was going to go help his brethren out in carrying out the plan of attack. It had ended up happening early, so they likely lost their advantage. But that was okay, it was important that they carry it out regardless and wipe the vermin from Earth as quickly as possible.

“At last we meet, shifter!”

When Norris emerged into the lair that Gavin had been surveying, his eyes widened. Inside, there was a fire raging, and as many of the enemies were wailing as existed in the place. Norris frowned, his eyes scanning the room for his comrades or the source of the voice that had spoken.

But it appeared it was a disembodied voice, and a cold chill swept through Norris’ body. A message?

“It would seem you are too late. In your haste and foolishness, you likely led us straight to your base. Those of us who remain are on the way there now to destroy that which you have so actively sought to protect. You lose, Dragon shifter scum. The universe will soon cease to exist, and you have only yourselves to blame!”

The other shifters suddenly came into view, each of them fighting valiantly against the traps that had been set up in the underground bunker. A sudden realization electrified Norris. If they were heading to the base, that meant that Lisa was no longer safe. He had to find her. He had to save her. He had to go back.

“We’re going to be fine,” Max shouted from across the room as if he could sense Norris’ hesitation to leave his friends behind. “Everything is under control, just go save your mate!”

Norris nodded sharply and turned around to head back in the direction from which he had come.

He had rigged the base with several weapons, traps that would hopefully put a stop to anybody trying to invade the space until he reached it. He had to protect Lisa. She was his primary concern now and forever after. He had to make sure she was safe, no matter what it took.

With an abnormal burst of speed, he launched himself forward, readying his breath weapon far ahead of time just in case he would need it. He heard the alarms blaring long before he reached where the underground bunker was located.

Lisa was forefront in his mind as he approached in his Dragon form, furious and seeking vengeance. Every threat to his fated mate caused him extreme rage, and the second he spotted the enemies, he unleashed his weapon upon them.

A piercing cone of frost engulfed them and soon, the area was filled with cries of anguish. Norris didn’t let up in his assault and soon, he was pushing through the bodies of injured Jornels and his eyes locked on the doorway to the bunker where he had stashed Lisa for safekeeping only minutes ago.

Standing in front of the door, breaking through every trap, piece by piece, was a tall, shadowy figure whose eyes glowed orange. The man was crouched in front of the doorway, effortlessly picking through the locks as he sought his way inside.

Norris unleashed a frightening cry of fury, but the man didn’t stop in his task. If anything, he worked more quickly, until the door opened with a shocking little click.

Norris bolted forward, barreling to the door in an effort to block the man from entering. He was suddenly sure that this was the voice he had heard in the message at the other location; it had all been a trap set by this piece of scum, and his intentions were to destroy the descendants and the artifacts that allowed them to thrive on Earth.

How was he going to defeat someone like this on his own? He was clearly born of a warrior species. Although his underlings were taken out easily, fighting this man might not be so easy.

The creature had already made it inside the bunker, where Lisa was scrambling backward to protect herself. Seeing her fear spurred Norris toward another bout of rage, and he turned quickly in the direction of the man, who was darting forward toward the machines and artifacts. No, he wasn’t going to get them.

Once inside, Norris readied another attack, but he knew he would have to get the man out of the delicate chambers before unleashing it. It would do him no good to destroy the artifacts himself. He would have to proceed with caution.

“Norris, look out!”

Norris turned sharply just as the man struck him in the head with a stunning blow. He stumbled forward, dazed and disoriented as the shadowy figure snaked between his legs and lunged for another device from Fiora.

Another low rumble began to resonate in Norris’ throat and he lashed around, grabbing the shadow man in his teeth and clamping down hard.

The man let out a strangled cry and flailed in Norris’ mouth, but he wasn’t going to let him go that easily.

With another low roar, he shook furiously, dropping the man on the ground with a thud. He thought it had been enough to knock the sense out of him, but the man stood tall, the shadows that made him up growing taller and more impressive. Norris gaped at the figure as he contemplated his next move. He had to get the man out of the chamber. It was his only option.

Norris slowly took a step back, bowing his head to ready himself for a charge. The shadow figure was launching himself toward another machine, hell-bent on breaking it, when Norris’ head struck him squarely in the chest. It took him by surprise and the man stumbled out of the room, into the hallway where his minions were sprawled out, still stunned, and many killed, by his first attack.

Without a second thought, he unleashed a second attack; this one far more powerful than the first. An agonized wail reached his ears as Kin was incinerated by the power of his weapon, and Norris sighed in relief, changing back into his human form to rush to Lisa’s side.

She was trembling and gripped him tightly when he reached her, and he did his best to smile reassuringly, his body still surging with adrenaline and power from the fight.

“Come on,” he murmured. “Let’s get you home.”