He hadn’t realized the storm would be so strong.The dragons definitely wouldn’t come after him now, but he wasn’t sure he could drive out of this mess.There was so much rain coming down that he was afraid he’d lose control of the car, and that wasn’t what he wanted.He couldn’t afford to crash the vehicle.His life was complicated enough as it was without adding a car crash to it.
A bolt of lightning made him jump.He tightened his hands harder around the steering wheel and peered through the windshield.That was when he noticed a dragon in the air.
He swore, wondering what they were thinking until he realized that he recognized the dragon.He’d learned who was who as he watched them from his window, so he was sure that Emory was up there, flying in the storm.
What was he trying to do?Get himself killed?That didn’t sound like him, but what did Graham know?Whatever Emory was trying to do, the result was that he was in trouble.
He was clearly attempting to land now, and Graham slowed down the car as he watched.Emory was coming down too quickly, and he was apparently aiming for the trees.Graham wasn’t sure how he planned on landing between them, but he also wasn’t sure that Emory had a plan at all.He was probably trying to get out of the wind and rain before it got even worse, but it seemed impossible.
Graham stopped the car and held his breath.He thought that Emory would manage to do it when he finally reached the trees and slowed down, but just then, a push of strong wind shook the car—and Emory.Emory only had the time to fold his wings against his body before he hit the trees with all his weight.Graham gasped and was reaching for the car door before he could think better of it.Opening it felt like battling the wind, but he won, and he rushed out, running in the direction where Emory had crashed.He couldn’t leave Emory on his own, especially since he didn’t know if Emory was okay.He would never forgive himself if he wasn’t.None of this would help him, but abandoning Emory without checking in on him wasn’t something Graham was willing to do.
It was less windy once he stepped between the trees.He went faster, thankful that he could see Emory move in the distance.There was no hiding a dragon that big, or the trees Emory had taken down when he’d landed.Broken branches had fallen to the ground, and Graham had to avoid them, which wasn’t easy when rain pelted his face and wind pushed him this way and that.
Emory wasn’t just a dragon.One second, Graham could see a massive tail move, and the next, the tail was gone.The entiredragonwas gone, and Graham panicked and ran forward.He stumbled on some roots and had to catch himself with his hand, scraping it against the rough bark of a still-standing tree, but he ignored the stinging.
When he reached Emory, the man was sitting on the forest ground, looking wet and a little dazed.There was a gash on his forehead, but from the looks of it, there was nothing broken.Graham couldn’t be sure, unfortunately, and he was careful as he knelt next to Emory.
His knees turned wet instantly.His clothes were sticking to him, and he hated it, but he hated whatever Emory had been trying to do even more.
“Are you okay?”he asked, having to yell to be heard above the wind.
Emory blinked at him.“Graham?”
“Yeah.What the fuck were you thinking?”
“I didn’t see the storm coming.I didn’t think it would be this strong.”
“Well, itisthis strong.We need to get out of it.”
“It’s fine.I’m not flying anymore.”
“You’re not flying because you crashed.”Graham hooked his hands under Emory’s armpits and attempted to haul him up.“Come on.We need to get to the car.”
Emory frowned.“What are you doing here?You should be at the castle.”
Graham swallowed.He hadn’t been planning on telling Emory what he was doing or where he was going.He hadn’t been planning on telling anyone.Unfortunately for him, his plans didn’t matter when Emory was hurt.
Graham gently touched Emory’s forehead.Emory hissed and jerked back, and Graham quickly held his hands up to let him know that he wouldn’t touch him again.“I was just checking your forehead.Come on.We need to get inside.You’re bleeding, and it’s cold.”
“I don’t understand what you’re doing here.”
“There’s no time to explain.Do you really want to stay out here longer than necessary?”
A leaf slapped Emory’s cheek, plastering itself to his skin.Emory grimaced.“Not really.”
“That’s what I thought.Let’s go back to the car.We can talk as much as you want once we’re inside.”It wouldn’t be great, but it would be drier and warmer.
Emory narrowed his eyes.“We’ll talk about why you’re here in the storm.”
“Maybe I’m in the storm for the same reason as you are.”
“I really doubt you were flying in your dragon form.”
Graham pulled on Emory’s body again, and this time, Emory finally got to his feet.He stumbled, but Graham was there, holding him up.He had to lean against the closest tree, but he managed to keep both of them on their feet, even though Emory felt heavy enough to bring both of them down.
“Wewilltalk about this,” Emory said, sounding slightly threatening.Graham wasn’t afraid, though.
“We’ll do whatever you want as long as we get out of the storm,” Graham promised.He wasn’t sure how he’d get out of the promise, but he didn’t have to worry about it now.He couldn’t afford to.