Adrenaline shot through Soleis as he and Flev waited in the shadows of campus. They were on high alert for coeds out for a late night, but the quad was eerily empty and still. Arabesque treelike sculptures reached for the sky, and potted sea flora turned the court into a beautiful park near student housing at the north end of the gated school.

Unfortunately, Soleis couldn’t appreciate the grandeur. He was on edge. His eyes darted left to right, searching for any sign they had been detected. Too much was at stake for anything to go wrong. Not for the first time, he cursed the invention of the firearms the people of this world used. The protective sphere of the Heart of the Dragon only extended so far.

Flev laid a hand on his wrist. She’ll be okay. The rebel will take care of her. He needs her, he channeled.

Needs her or wants her? At Flev’s surprised look, Soleis forced himself to exhale and relax. I know she’ll be alright. I’m just tense.

Lola’s sandals clacked faintly on the stone walkway as she hurried after Thol to a side door of the dorm. From where Soleis hid, he watched the resourceful sneak produce a plastic card from his pack and swipe a card reader. The door opened with a hiss. He realized he was holding his breath and let it out when the two of them were inside.

Fate had put him in the right place at the right time to clash with Thol of the Resistance. Lola’s remarkable transformation to Healer had not only saved the rebel’s life, but engendered Thol’s goodwill. The man was keeping close because of her power. But, it deeply bothered Soleis that the rebel wanted to keep Lola. Over my dead body, he thought.

Time crept with aching slowness, and Soleis willed his lover to find the Healers and get back outside. His stomach churned. Would her ring shield her the same as his stone?

“Come on, Lola,” he whispered urgently.

“Over there,” Flev murmured, pointing. “They’re moving to the other dorm.”

“How many of these things are there?”

“I don’t know, but I hope we can shift and get to them in time when they give the signal. If they get too much further away, they’ll have to wait for us.”

Another agony of minutes passed. Soleis thought he heard footsteps, and his heart beat faster. Shadows moved across the quad. He was drawing his weapon when he spotted a flash of light near the top of the dormitory where Thol and Lola had disappeared. He quickly tapped Flev’s shoulder.

“That’s the signal. They’re ready for us. Let’s go.”

“I’m right behind you.”

“Yep, and, so are they.”

He hiked a thumb behind them as a guard yelled halt. The night lit up with the explosive light of Soleis and Flev’s transformations, one after the other. Dual shockwaves swept the landscape as gunshots rang out. Soleis spread his wings and effortlessly caught an updraft, grabbing the rope for his gondola and taking off with Flev. Below them, the quad came alive with activity—the noise and flashing bang of firearms, men shouting and running.

A klaxon blared loudly, raising Soleis’ hackles. He let loose a stream of intimidating flames—enough to make the guards fall back, but not enough to set anything on fire. Using the minor obstacle, Flev and Soleis made a break for the dormitory and lowered the gondolas.

“They spotted us,” Thol announced. He leaned out the window and grabbed a boat to steady it.

“I know. They saw us too and sounded the alarms. We have to move quickly,” Soleis replied. Flying closer to the open window, he grunted as the gondola grew heavier with the harried group of young people flooding into the makeshift basket. Lola climbed in and peered up at him with a grin.

“We barricaded the door. It’ll take them a moment to blast through. They’ll never catch up with us in time. We did it,” she said triumphantly.

“I’m proud of you, but let’s celebrate afterward, shall we? We’re still in the middle of doing it,” he chuckled.

Thol hefted a child no older than ten into the last empty space. “Keep moving, little ones!” he urged.

Soleis suddenly noticed, “They’re hardly teens.”

“The president doesn’t let many of the gifted make it to adulthood,” Thol replied grimly. A sense of regret washed over Soleis that he hadn’t recognized President Belzaan’s dark intent sooner. He was grateful to be able to rescue the children before it was too late.

He quickly moved aside to let Flev take the remainder of the passengers. The entire escape took minutes, and the two dragons shot off as guards spilled into the room they had vacated. A bullet whizzed past, but Lola instinctively raised her hand. The radiant red diamond in her ring flared to life, and she gasped as another bullet ricocheted away harmlessly.

Well, that answers that, Soleis thought. The ring was as protective as the Heart.

With enough elevation, they were beyond the reach of the guard’s weapons. He flew in search of the dry tunnel that Thol promised would lead to the rebel camp. Soleis finally let go of the anxiety that had gnawed at him. Another mission accomplished, if by the skin of his teeth.

In the gondola below, his charges talked excitedly about the escape, but his attention was on one person. Lola. She stood at the head of the boat with a fearless smile as she watched the sun rising over the glimmering green sea. He spared a glance at the rebel, who was watching her intently, too. Soleis knew that look…the look of a man who was half in love.

* * *

They flew through the night and into the morning to reach Resistance Island on the other side of the world. Built of rocks covered with soil transported from the ocean floor, the artificial island was at least five hundred acres and could hold a thousand people comfortably.

At a glance, it looked like it had been there forever. There was tropical plant life. Ferns and palms provided cover. Swaying coconut trees clung to what little soil covered the manmade stone slab, and thatched houses nestled in their branches, connected by rope bridges.

Naked children played on the beach while older teens fished in raft-like boats. Smoke spiraled up from a firepit where elders sat around, sharing a pipe. Nearby, young men turned a spit, barbecuing something that smelled delicious. High-breasted women in wetsuit pants laughed and chatted while washing clothes. It looked quaint and inviting.

Soleis helped the last of the Healers from the gondola and turned to Thol. “Don’t you worry about being under surveillance?” he asked.

“We hide in plain sight. We will always see them before they see us, and then it’s just a simple matter of slipping beneath the waves. We haven’t abandoned our culture like the people in the city; a quick dive doesn’t bother us. They never get this close anyway. Come. Let me take you to meet my generals.”

Soleis thoughtlessly reached for Lola’s hand, and she let him. Her fingers were soft and warm in his. Her thumb stroked the center of his palm. The potency of his arousal at the simple touch stunned him. Just a touch. He suppressed a sigh, turning his focus back to the rebel.

“Is anyone affected by the virus here?” Soleis asked.

“No.”

Thol led the way across the beach and took a path that meandered beneath the shady green trees. It provided respite from the beaming white sun. A clean breeze stirred the flowers and lifted perfume.

“We’re far enough from the capital here. We don’t get travelers. In fact, the Makers who remain with us ensure anyone who stumbles near enough is disoriented by the elements and turns away. So, we have some level of protection.” The man stopped and eyed them. “That’s why I was skeptical of bringing you to the camp, but the children needed to come home.”

“The Healers,” Lola murmured. “They live here?”

“They do now,” Thol replied.

“So that’s why we had such a hard time finding them,” said Flev.

“All people of magic find their way to the rebel camp eventually. However, the Healers were living in the cities and villages to get formal education. That’s how they were captured. As soon as they disappeared, their family members came to us.

“We had hoped that by preparing the children to assimilate into the mainstream, we could give them normal lives. Now, we realize we can’t trust the goodness of our own people. Belzaan has managed to corrupt them,” Thol sighed.

Someone was singing. It sounded like angels. Soleis tilted his head to follow the sound. They passed a group of young women harmonizing while picking plump yellow berries from thorny bushes. Naked, save for swimsuit bottoms. He was mesmerized by their graceful movements. They were so unlike the people of the cities and villages. They weren’t afraid. The townspeople had never looked him or Flev in the eyes.

“When this is the alternative, normal life is overrated,” he remarked. Thol agreed with a hearty laugh, and the sound sent a flock of vibrant red birds bursting from the underbrush. Their large orange and blue feathers enchanted Lola.

“Yes, I can see why people love it here. This place is stunning!” she said.

Thol offered, “There’s plenty more to see. I’d be happy to show you the island.”

“We’re not here to sightsee.” Soleis absently tightened his grip on her. Lola swatted his shoulder.

“Says who? I’d love to sightsee with you, Thol. While Soleis enjoys the singing natives, you can show me the beautiful natural landscape,” she said cheekily.

It took a second to register she was teasing him. Flev smiled knowingly as he walked past, and Soleis squared his jaw. Of course, she was free to roam. He had no right to stake a claim. It wasn’t Lola he was worried about. It was Thol. Although he shouldn’t have been worried aobut either of them. They were both adults.

He sighed and continued following the rebel leader.

There was a round hut up ahead. Soleis assumed it was their destination. The trees parted to reveal a wide-open field where men toiled rows of plants. In the distance, a massive wheel attached to a stone building was turned by water from a sparkling brook. It was a mill of some sort.

Thol noticed him staring and explained, “We grow our own food and make our own clothes. The only thing we barter for is firearms, which is why you’ll find so few in the camp. But, the black market is thriving in this world. There are still some who don’t trust the government. The Mad King is not natural. No man lives for centuries like him.”

“He’s using some arcane magic to extend his life. I gathered that much from the history book Lola showed me. Do you know how the absorptions work?”

“I’ve seen one.” Thol went silent.

The door to the hut was open. Incense smoke that smelled of sage and sandalwood eased out like a river on air. Soleis saw men within the darkened room, moving slowly through skillful poses of martial arts. At the sight of their leader, a shout went up and Thol’s comment got lost in the flurry of excitement as the rebels poured out of the building. He was caught up in a hug and clapped on the shoulders.

“We thought you were dead!”

“Captured! The Mad King has stepped up patrols.”

A tall, muscular youth pushed his way to the front of the crowd and bowed low with his hands clasped before him. When he rose to his full height, he smiled. “Master, you return. It’s good to see you back.”

“It’s good to be back, Brother,” said Thol. “I bring guests. I’d like for you all to meet Soleis and Flev of the Fire Realm and Dr. Lola Cambridge of the Blue Sky. She’s a Healer. She saved my life.” A soft light lit his eyes as he briefly clutched her shoulder, and Soleis bristled.

But, Lola didn’t notice.