Hidden Dragon (Dragon Rising Urban Fantasy Series Book 1) by Trudi Jaye

Author:Trudi Jaye [Jaye, Trudi]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Star Media
Published: 2016-08-17T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

I wake with pain tearing up and down my body. It feels like someone is scratching deep inside with sharp claws. It’s all over my skin, as well as deep into the muscle and bone, drawing blood and agony from inside my body.

I scream.

There is no sound, there is no light, just unending pain.

“Mei, wake up!” The voice is familiar, but I’m already awake, so it doesn’t help. I arch my body as the claws force their way into my veins.

A hand slaps my cheek and I groan, because I can’t manage anything more coherent. A dagger of pain shoves itself into my stomach and I sit bolt upright, eyes wide open and a silent scream erupting out of my mouth.

Arms curl around me, holding me close, lending me healing energy. The pain subsides, and I can breathe again. I slump into the arms and close my eyes. Time seems to stand still, and I lose track of how long I stay like that. Perhaps I doze off, perhaps I don’t. After a while, I realize it’s Seth who’s holding me. The smell of his spicy aftershave combined with that undertone of gunpowder gives him away.

I move slightly, and he lets me go, unwinding his arms. His magic is unusual, like nothing I’ve ever experienced before. His spell web is patchy, like it can’t cover him properly, but it’s not because his magic is weak, like I first thought. I frown, trying to figure it out.

“Are you feeling better?” he asks. His voice is soft and gentle. The window lets in the dark night air and the light from a half-moon. I check the clock. It’s a few hours since we drove away from the service station.

I nod, unable to speak just yet. I want his arms around me again, but I can’t ask. I just stare at him through bruised eyes, my body still trembling.

“What happened?” He looks concerned.

“I... I don’t know... I just woke up in pain. Like something was attacking me. I’ve never felt anything like it.” I focus on the clouds crossing over the moon in the sky outside the window. Anything to avoid thinking about the pain.

I paid for two rooms with my credit card, figuring the guys could sleep together. An hour after they reluctantly went to their own room, Seth arrived on my doorstep. “I can’t protect you if you’re in another room,” was all he’d said before bunking down on the floor.

And now, here he is, looking down at me like I’m some fragile flower. I’ve never been anyone’s fragile flower, and I’m not sure I want to start now. Si trained me not to rely on anyone. I glance down; he has no shirt on. I’ve just been curled up against those hard muscles and didn’t even notice. It takes me a moment to force my eyes back up to his face.

“Is it Vincent?” He’s staring hard at me, like I’m a puzzle he needs to solve.

I shake my head. “I don’t think so.

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