Dawn of Flames (Dragons of Ember Hollow Book 3) by Tessa Hale

Author:Tessa Hale [Hale, Tessa]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-07-19T00:00:00+00:00

33

MADDOX

I watched as Knox cradled Hayden against him, and Easton cocooned her on the other side. Her pained whimpers were like a jagged blade slicing against my skin. Hal had booked it out of the parking lot because, as much as he was a psychopath, he wasn’t an idiot. He’d inflicted pain on another dragon’s mate, even if it had been her own doing, and that meant the dragons would be rabid for his blood.

Another whimper sounded as Hayden tried to move her wrist.

“Don’t,” Knox ordered softly, keeping it still.

I moved then, unable to stay away, even if the events of the past few hours were just more evidence of why I needed to stay the hell away.

Easton glared up at me, baring his teeth as I approached.

That stung, too. His willingness to attack me in an effort to protect Hayden, even just her feelings. But I didn’t begrudge him that either.

“Give me your keys,” I said, voice void of all emotion.

Easton shifted, tugging his keys from his back pocket and tossing them to me. I caught them easily and hit a button on the key fob, opening the back hatch. I crossed to the trunk and grabbed the leather bag. “Bring her over here.”

No one moved.

“I need to examine her hand,” I pressed. I could scent Hayden’s pain. It made the air around me reek with a rotten smell, and I’d do anything to get rid of it.

“No,” she said softly. “I can have Marcus examine me when we’re home. I’ll be fine until then.”

Knox sent a scowl my way that held countless silent accusations. They all hit true.

I just kept fucking things up. I set the bag down and moved back toward their huddle, meeting Hayden’s gaze. “Please. Let me examine your hand.”

Her chin jutted out in defiance. “Why?”

I knew she’d read any untruths I gave her, so I didn’t lie. “I can’t stand you being in pain.”

Uncertainty passed through Hayden’s eyes for a moment before she finally nodded.

I let out a breath I hadn’t realized had been stuck in my lungs. Easton shifted slightly so that I could have access to Hayden, but his green-gold gaze held a warning.

Hayden lifted her arm, but even that small movement made her wince.

“Can you straighten it?” I asked.

Her hand was still half-fisted—not a good sign. She tried but cried out.

Knox growled. “Enough.”

I reached out, running a gentle finger across Hayden’s knuckles, and her gaze flew to mine. But there wasn’t pain in her eyes. My finger moved lower, tracing each of her digits gently and then pressing down slightly. When I reached her pointer, she bit back another cry.

Easton shoved me back. “Enough. We’ll get Marcus to treat her, or she’ll shift.”

I shook my head. “She needs to shift. Her hand is broken. My best guess is the metacarpal bone on her pointer finger.”

“Fine,” he gritted out. “Let’s get her home so we can fucking fix it.”

“Pain meds first,” I clipped, having had enough of East’s attitude. It wasn’t like he hadn’t done his fair share of keeping Hayden at a distance.

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