Diamond Dragon (Awakened Dragons Book 4) Read Free Page A

raped and sitting here arguing with me while your would-be rapist lies on the ground over there.”
    She frowned. It was true; he had saved her. But then he’d showed his brutal nature. Could she trust him? She got the feeling he did what he wanted when he wanted and didn’t care about anyone but himself.
    So yes, he’d saved her, but only so she could still help him in the future.
    “I have to find the head scientist,” he said. “Get him to tell me how to take off the collar.”
    “How will you do that?” she asked, following him as he crept up the stairs. “You don’t have your powers.”
    “I’m still strong,” he said. “There’s a reason they keep me chained.”
    He heard a little mew, and they both realized Scrangey was following them. He groaned. “Fine. Okay, do you know a safe place to hide?”
    She nodded.
    “Go there, take the cat, and if I don’t find you in a few minutes, leave without me.”
    She nodded again, and he raised an eyebrow at her apparent willingness to leave him behind.
    She just shrugged. There was one person in the world who meant more than anything to her, and she had to make it out of here so she could see her again.
    He stared at her. “Interesting. A friend. So is that why you didn’t want to leave this place?”
    She nodded. “And now it’s all ruined. You ruined it.”
    “Galen ruined it,” he said, shaking his head. “Now go.”
    She grabbed Scrangey in her arms, and when she peeked out and saw the coast was clear, she made a run for it.
    She heard the dragon creep off toward the northwest staircase.

    * * *
    A listair was completely baffled by the direction events had taken.
    He still didn’t understand the utter fury he’d felt when the wolf laid hands on Bridget. It was none of his business. Nothing he could do anyway.
    But as he paced, thinking of all the injustices done to him since he’d been imprisoned, it occurred to him this was the thing that made him angriest of all. This was the turning point, the thing he couldn’t stand. The breaking moment.
    And then it was like all his rage had empowered him, and he’d saved her.
    Which was odd. He was nobody’s hero.
    He cared about his own creature comforts, and that was that.
    He didn’t know why he was even bringing Scrangey with them, except he couldn’t allow himself to leave him behind.
    For a bright, shining moment, it had seemed he would just be able to fly out of there, drop Bridget somewhere safe, and soar off to find other dragons.
    But despite him still feeling homicidal rage toward the people who had imprisoned him, his powers had faded, locked behind that blasted collar.
    As he took the stairs two at a time, he cursed whoever had made the thing.
    He knew where the head scientist slept, scenting him. It was a scent he knew well, whenever they came to get him for a blood draw. The evil bastard seemed to enjoy taking his blood, where the others just appeared to be doing their jobs.
    Well, Alistair would get info on the collar from him, and then he’d make sure the last thing the scientist saw was his eyes.
    He threw open the door to the scientist’s bedroom, which was in the top tower, and saw the man jolt up in bed as Alistair strode across the room angrily.
    He was on the man before he could make a sound, his claws pressing down threateningly, making it clear just how easily he could kill him if he wanted to.
    The man stared up, cowardly eyes white and wide in the darkness.
    “How did you get out?” he squeaked.
    “I’ll ask the questions.” Alistair didn’t know how exactly he could still access small parts of his dragon self, but he was grateful for it at this moment, knowing with his strength and the blade-like talons on his fingers, he could end the man a dozen different ways without even getting winded.
    Yet, while he should have been enjoying himself, he felt an annoying sense of worry for Bridget and the mangy cat, who were waiting for him.
    Well, he could get his info and kill