Braxton’s gaze locked onto the magnificent vision. “You have native dragon breeds here?” He sounded both impressed and hesitant.

Couldn’t blame him for that. He more than anyone knew the danger of a dragon with no human instincts. Though I often thought human instincts could be the most dangerous of all.

Gerard took a moment to examine Braxton. “Yes, each of these territories has a different species of dragon calling it home. Dragons were hunted; we keep them safe. But they can be as ferocious as you suspect. Best to not approach them.”

Easy for him to say, because clearly red dragon didn’t know the rules and was heading in our direction. Braxton reached out and captured me under one arm and Mischa under the other. Before either of us could even blink, we were back behind him and he was stepping to the front of our group.

“Why is it approaching us?” I heard Grace whisper.

Tyson’s features tightened, a reaction to the distress in her voice. Damn Louis, forcing someone as soft and gentle as Grace out into this world. She didn’t need this fear. Although, as she cleared her throat and straightened in confidence, I wondered if I was underestimating her. There was fire beneath the gentle. I’d seen it before, but I still worried.

Gerard answered. “They will be curious of the dragon energy riding this group. You have two strong marked and a shifter. It’s a big deal.”

Wait, how did he know Mischa was marked also? Her energy and physical mark were still spelled. “How do you know there are two marked in the group?” I decided to ask.

“We are the dragon mystics,” was his reply, and judging by their closed expressions, it seemed to be the only explanation we were getting.

Our attentions were diverted to the red beast, the dragon no more than ten feet from us now. I could scent the wild magic on it. Dragons were innately connected to the magic which weaved the lines of the Earth. They were unlike any other creature to roam this world, or even the fey’s dying lands.

“Stay back,” Braxton warned us. “If I have to shift, you’re all too close.”

Murmuring amongst themselves, the mystics looked like they were going to object, but they didn’t actually say anything in protest. They had stepped into the role of a neutral party, giving no opinion on whether we should take on a dragon or not. Or it could be that they seemed to know that Braxton was a dragon shifter. The race with the best chance of dealing with the natives.

The mystics moved away in a single unit, while Jacob and Tyson dragged the other girls back. Maximus and I didn’t leave.

“What are you doing, Jess?” Maximus barked at me. “Get your ass out of the strike zone.”

I shook my head. “No, you should leave. I could possibly help.”