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  Branches and vines snatched her hair and scratched her legs but she raced after Kohl. His hand never leaving hers. How dense was this stupid forest? Glancing behind her, spots of black short fur or leather wings peeked out behind a cluster of trees and bushes. So many. They weren't going to make it. Her heart hammered in her chest. She and Kohl were going to die on this planet and no one back on Earth would know what had happened to them. Her sisters would be heartbroken. Julia would fret that she could've done more to help.

  A vine snagged her foot and her ankle twisted. She cartwheeled her arms forward to stop her fall.

  Kohl's hands grasped her and hauled her to his chest. Her breath froze as she stared into his bright turquoise eyes. “You okay? Can you walk?”

  A full second passed before her brain registered what he was saying.

  She took a step and jagged pain stole her breath. “Ah, no. I turned my ankle I think.” Even without putting pressure on her foot, her injury throbbed.

  He smiled and her heart sped up. “Then I'll have to carry you.”

  “But you're injured.” Blood ran in rivets down his chest and back. She honestly didn't know how it was he was still standing.

  “I’ve been in worse shape.” He lifted her into his arms and marched ahead.

  She squirmed against his hold.

  “Of course,” he winked down at her as though they didn't have a horde of demons chasing them, “this would be a lot easier if you didn't move around so much.”

  “Sorry.” She shifted into a better position and forced herself still. Noticing the bite marks on his body, she shivered. “Those bites look infected.”

  “Poison...venom Dena called it, is toxic.”

  Isabelle shoved a hand against his shoulder. “Then what are you doing carrying me? We need to get you to a hospital. Is Dena your doctor?”

  “No, she's a vet on Earth.”

  “You see a veterinarian instead of a doctor?” Was that because he was a dragon? Or half or shifter? Could anyone else change into a human? “Why not see a physician here? Wouldn't they be better able to treat you?”

  His mouth firmed in a thin line. “All our doctors are dead. After the Tryns took out our weapons, the physicians were targeted next.”

  Thunder boomed overhead and Isabelle jumped. Looking over Kohl's shoulder, the demons had vanished. Why? Unease sank into her middle. She turned back to let Kohl know the demons were gone when a branch shot out of nowhere and careened Kohl on the side of his face, barely missing her. He toppled backward, but kept his grip on her cushioning her from the fall.

  The demon from the spaceship strolled into view. “Did you think it would be that easy to escape me?” He laughed as Kohl and Isabelle untangled from each other and stood.

  When her foot hit the ground, she bit back a curse. Her ankle was sprained...possibly broken. Kohl rose, but blood covered the lesion on his cheek.

  “Thank you for giving the directions to your family's hideout to the human.” The demon whacked the thick branch against its three-fingered palm. “But with her as bait, I no longer need you.”

  Chapter Twenty

  The side of Kohl's face pulsed with each heartbeat. His vision blurred as the Tryn stepped closer with the thick branch in his hand. Why did the beast want Isabelle? Or was this a trick to torment him? And shit, had the creature heard his comment about the silver mountain range? His breath lodged in his throat. All of his family, what was left of them, would be there. Taken unaware and slaughtered. Panic wedged underneath his breastbone and nothing except eliminating the enemy would dislodge it.

  “You know nothing, Tryn. Take your minions…your foot soldiers who have plagued our land and be gone before I rip you to shreds.”

  The Tryn bellowed a laugh that rang through the valley. “This is why we haven't crushed your planet. Spunk. Humans have it too. But until recently, we didn't know their worth in bringing our species into a new age. Procreation and gaining dragon abilities of fight and shifting. We’ll be unstoppable.”

  Procreate? Did that mean the demons couldn't reproduce on their own? And would Isabelle become a baby machine for them? Rage snapped through Kohl's veins. No one…no Tryn would touch her. Even if it cost him his life. “As I said, Tryn, leave while you still can.”

  Kohl shook his head and glanced over at Isabelle who leaned against a tree for balance with her left foot lifted off the ground. No way would she get far with her injury or outrun a Tryn. Especially not one bigger than Kohl in his human form. The monster must be nine or ten feet tall and swung a mean stick. Kohl's jaw still ached despite his quick healing ability.

  Kohl's glanced to Isabelle and he hoped she got the message. She couldn't save him, but he could buy her some time…if she would take the opportunity and not refuse again. Kohl wouldn’t be able to transform without risking blacking out. Already his legs threatened to buckle. Don’t let the enemy know how wiped out he was. If it did, it would take Isabelle now and leave Kohl for the smaller Tryns to munch on his bones.

  “I will leave…with your woman…and stroll right into the middle of your family’s hideout and destroy them all.” The huge Tryn straightened.

  “My family will rip you apart.” Kohl had to warn them. If the demon took his blood again, it could alter its appearance and become Kohl. His family wouldn't expect the illusion, not until it was too late.

  It chuckled. “Doubtful.” He waved to the smaller Tryns who swarmed forward. Their black bodies and teeth rushing at Kohl.

  He kicked aside one, then flung another. But there were too many. Soon, Kohl was covered up to his neck in the swarming beasts. Their heaviness and vile fur irritating him and making his gut churn.

  “Let him go.” Isabelle raised her fists.

  The giant Tryn squeezed Kohl's cheeks, then leaned down and licked blood from his forehead. Kohl jerked to move away, but the fiend already transformed into a mirror image of him.

  “Shall we go?” It turned to Isabelle and held out a hand.

  “Stop this,” Isabelle backed away. “Surely we can negotiate…forge a peace treaty. Everyone can work together for the benefit of all.”

  “After I wipe this planet of the Renjerian scum, I'll take you home, human.”

  Her eyes narrowed. “Really?”

  “Don't believe him!” Kohl tried to wiggle free of the dozens of Tryns attached to him. Several bit into his limbs, the poison shooting through him and his knees buckled. Dizziness slammed into him. His eyes growing heavy.

  It laid a hand on its chest and said, “I will take you back to Earth once the rivers overflow with their blood.”

  No! Kohl shifted to dislodge the vermin squirming on him. Would Isabelle trust the Tryn? She had no real reason to believe anything Kohl said after he hadn't told her the truth about himself. Still, he had to do something to save her…save his family. The damn Tryns knew his family’s hideout was in the silver mountains. It would only take them a short time to discover the underground caves.

  Darkness pressed along the edges of his vision. He fought to keep his eyes open. Fought to remain conscious. Using the fragments of his reserves, he poured everything he had into his dragon breath. He had no idea of this would work in his human form, but he had to do something. He pulled the image of the beasts going after Isabelle…of her being hurt or worse…and the fire shot out his mouth. It scalded a path up his throat and singed his mouth. The flames exploded the Tryns covering him. Without their weight holding him in place, Kohl fell. His gaze tunneling to Isabelle. She smacked a rock against the back of the Tryn's head. The giant's disguise vanished as its eyes rolled up and it sank to the ground.

  Kohl grinned as his eyelids closed and he sank into the abyss. He never expected anything less of the girl who stole his heart. He just wished he could tell her how he missed her and how she was in his thoughts daily before he died.

  * * *

  Isabelle’s entire arm vibrated with pain like her bone would shatter. She dropped the rock covered in black blood that
she had smashed into the demon’s head. Fire churned around Kohl, but all the remaining little monsters had backed off that weren’t burned away. She dashed forward to Kohl, the flames heating her. Had to get him out of there. She grabbed ahold of Kohl's shoulders and dragged him less than a foot away. The giant demon lay motionless near them, but how long before he woke up?

  Fear clogged her throat along with the smoke. She ignored the terror festering in her gut and tugged Kohl another two feet. Her arms screamed as she sat back, panting. At this rate, either the demon would rouse or the flames would burn them. Or the lesser demons bobbing up and down behind the flames would come after them once the fire dwindled. She had to get help, but she didn't want to leave Kohl behind. Bite marks marred his flesh and his breathing was shallow. He had told her the demons’ had venom. When she was little, she thought the cowboy movies of sucking and spitting out the poison was real and true. Later, she discovered it didn't work during one of her school's pet shows. And even if it did, she doubted she could get all the toxin out.

  She just needed a way to carry him so they could cover ground quickly. Wait, Native Americans used a travois when someone was injured or ill, she could do the same here. Long sticks, vines, and cloth to stretch over it. The trees here were too high for her to reach the branches. She picked up the stick that the demon had hit Kohl with. It was about four feet long and thicker than her arm. Now she needed more. She scanned the area and found two more sticks. Vines hung on a nearby date looking tree and they were stretchy. Quickly, she aligned the sticks then tied them together beside Kohl.

  Kneeling and using her weight, she rolled Kohl over twice until his body was on the travois, her ankle shooting searing pain when she pushed. She wiped her forehead and picked up the top of the carrier. It was slow going and her legs threatened to give out every step, but she plowed ahead. A river careened through the forest and its current led away from the direction Kohl had told her to take. But she could wade in and push Kohl easier with most of his body floating. The pull of the water wasn’t too strong that she wouldn’t be able to walk upstream.

  Barking growls echoed in the woods behind them. She had to move faster or those creatures would be here soon. Holding onto the travois, she slid down the riverbank, dragging the travois behind her. The water hit her chest, but she could reach the bottom. She dragged carrier with Kohl on top of it into the water. The contraption floated past her and she grasped it. Her steps trudging against the flow of the river toward the silver mountains in the distance capped with white snow.

  Her arms and legs were cold and tiring. Since her ankle was sprained, she had to hop along. But the cool water eased some of her pain.

  Several times, she slipped under the water, but kept going. The sun above them dipped low in the horizon. How much farther to the mountains? Seemed like she’d wandered for hours yet they didn’t get any closer. Ahead, the river snaked up the path losing more and more of the yellow redwood-style trees and the land growing hillier with less vegetation. All this time, Kohl hadn’t stirred once. She checked on his breathing again and let out a sigh that his chest still rose and fell, but it was shallower breaths and his skin was pale and grey.

  A rustle sounded in the bushes ahead and Isabelle froze in the river. Had the demons caught up with them? She’d hoped the water would also cloak hers and Kohl’s scents though she didn’t know if that’s how demons hunted or not. A shiver raced down her back as she strained in the dim light to make out what creature made the noise.

  Then a whoosh blew her hair into her face, and she gasped. The travois and Kohl broke free of her hold and she swam toward them. No, she couldn’t lose him. Not now. Not when it was growing late and she didn’t know where she was or what horrible beasts would come out at night.

  She nearly grasped the wood beam, when another blast of air sent her tumbling under the water. Her hands flailing for purchase and to break free of the churning water stirred from the gust of wind. She hit the surface and gasped, pulling in as much air as she could. Her heart straining against her chest as she spun in a circle. Where was Kohl?

  Chapter Twenty-One

  “Kohl?” Isabelle waded in a circle in the river. No response. Even the travois was gone. Her breath hitched as fear crashed against her insides. Had a river monster taken him? Unconscious, he wouldn't be able to fight back. Along the riverbank, bushes sprouted bright violet flowers. A flock of birds with long necks and a brownish color flew overhead. A goat-like beast with three horns dipped its head to drink, but bounded off when it spotted her. She swam downstream in hopes of finding him. A shadow darkened the sky for a moment. What was that?

  Ahead of her, a massive emerald dragon swooped low. Its wings spanning as wide as the river's edge. Her heart hammered, and she couldn’t breathe. The creature looked twice the size of Kohl in his dragon form. And its tail was different with spikes on the end and longer. Did that mean it wasn’t part of his species…family?

  Wings that spanned the edge of either side of the river stirred up the water and gusts of air had her falling backward and fighting a current that pulled her under several times before it settled its body in the middle of the river. The water only covering its feet.

  Once the water returned to its natural state, she caught her breath and stared at the massive creature who could kill her so easily. Her heart hammered in her chest so hard she felt every beat.

  Its jaws snapped at her, and she yelped, dipping under the water again and her injured ankle striking a rock. Bubbles burst from her lips as she fought to reach the surface. She gasped in air while the dragon watched her as if it liked its food washed before devouring the meal.

  “What have you done?” It's gravelly voice rumbled and it was hard to make out his words.

  “P-Pardon?” She struggled to keep afloat and resist the current tugging at her straight for the dragon.

  “My brother, human.” It narrowed its eyes. “Even this water couldn't wash your stench from his body.” It inhaled deeply. “Are you working with the Tryns? You smell of their vile scent as well.”

  She swallowed and opened her mouth to protest that she'd tried to save Kohl when the dragon lowered its head as if to ram into her.

  “How did you get here? Are you a spy?” it snarled. “I scented Kohl’s blood and the enemy.”

  “No, I-I was kidnapped by a demo-Tryn.” Isn’t that what Kohl had called the aliens? “It brought me here on a spaceship against my will.” She folded her arms across her stomach and her shoulders hunched. Her body trembling from being out of the cold water and dripping wet. “I just want to make s-sure Kohl’s okay…and to get back home to Earth.”

  “How do I know you speak the truth? That I just happened upon you with my brother while I was scouting for the enemy? There’s enough of their foul stench to choke a rumix.”

  She lifted her chin against the petrified thought of dying here on this alien planet. “And I have to trust you not to fry me and eat me.”

  As if surprised by her gumption, it shook its head, but said, “If he dies then so do you.”

  “Where is he?” Even though she wasn't a doctor, she knew Kohl’s wounds would need tending soon. “The poison must be extracted from him...he’ll need a blood transfusion as well is my guess. He's weak and lost a lot of blood.”

  The dragon held out its talon, but his facial expression of her being worse than a slug never wavered. “Come, I will take you to him. But any trickery, human, and I will suck the marrow from your bones.”

  “No tricks.” She placed a hand over her abdomen and limped forward. “I just want him safe.”

  It raised a scaled eyebrow, but said nothing. Next to it, she felt tiny like a bug. Her insides frozen and she trembled as she slowly scooted forward. The scent wafting from him was reptilian and burnt smoke. If he sneezed, would fire shot out and turn her to a blacken crisp? His scales were shiny. It made the giant demon from the spaceship look like a minuscule clown. She swallowed and stopped inches away from it. She had to d
o this to reach Kohl. Grasping its talon, she allowed the dragon to tuck her against its chest, but she didn’t feel comforted and protected like she did when she was with Kohl like this. They soared through the air and she gulped at how high and fast they flew. With Kohl, she’d been terrified yet thrilled. She’d felt protected…cherished even. But that was ridiculous, wasn’t it? She and Kohl had only spent one night together on Earth and here on his planet was less than a day. How could someone love that quickly? She pushed aside the notion. No, it had to be he was curious about her kind or too much alcohol had caused him to sleep with her.

  Wind tore at her hair and she shivered with being wet and cold. When the dragon landed, her stomach lurched.

  “Come, human,” it spat and squeezed through a mountain gap, then into a dark cave.

  Her steps slowed as images of finding animal and human bones littered across its den assaulted her. How did she even know this beast knew Kohl? These were the silver mountains he spoke of, but how could she trust that this wasn’t a trap? But the dragon said it had, Kohl. And not as if she had any other options. Her hand trailed along the wall to keep her balance as she shuffled forward. Due to the cool water of the river, the swelling had gone down some and she was able to put slow, light pressure on the ball of her foot as she walked.

  “Where is Kohl?”

  It snorted. “How vulgar that you use his third name when addressing him and a mispronunciation at that.” His spiked tail zigzagged across the darkened dirt path before her. The cave continuing down and it took the second tunnel on the left. “Kohlxchijr is his name, not Kohl.”

  “Fine.” She squared her shoulders despite her stomach threatening to rebel every second. “Where is Kohlxchijr?”

  For several turns, the dragon didn’t speak, then it pressed through an opening she was certain it would get stuck in. The area opened up to a chamber with glowing lights along the walls and ceiling providing her just enough light to see Kohl, in his human form, laying on a straw mat with a copper-colored dragon hovering over him.