Page 43 of Feathers and Scales

The truth of that statement sat heavily on her chest. She’d outlived too many people and didn’t have an end in sight.

As the vehicle drove uphill, the trees flanking the road on either side opened to a high, picturesque view of snowy mountains like rugged hills in the distance with clouds hanging low. Rocks pebbled the short foliage on the other side of the road. With winding curves up the steep hill, one wrong turn could send them down the mountainside. She scooted closer to the door, imagining herself soaring alongside the car, feeling the misty clouds. Elation tickled her lips into a small grin.

She touched the window as the rising sun’s rays brought orange between two hilly peaks in the distance. These mountains differed from the ones in Tennessee: more alpine-like, with jagged peaks and unobstructed views that contrasted with the Smokies’ dense woodiness. Worry tugged at her mind about her Coheart, and she pulled out her phone to prepare a text.

I am in their territory. How are things at the house?

Her phone vibrated in her hand—Simon with a fast reply.

Still working on the laptop. All blood tests came back normal.

She frowned. There must be some anomalies or biological clues about how dragons lived longer. As a lightning idea struck her, she flew through her responding message.

Test it for radioactive properties. Try the same equipment we used to detect my spirit.

Will do. Hope you have fun learning about them.

Simon followed the sarcastic response with a GIF of an animated girl pulling down her eyelid and sticking out her tongue. Why those things amused him, she didn’t understand.

As they rounded another curve, Daxton stiffened. His voice sounded like a peculiar mixture of breathy surprise and hesitant worry as he asked, “Why are you going this way?”

“Izzy, do you remember my name?” The driver turned toward her briefly.

She arched a brow at him. “Of course…”

Her mind blanked.His name is…

She remembered such details easily. But when she tried to recall his name, fog clouded the memory. She pictured herself getting off the plane and visualized the man standing next to the Jeep, but then she sat in the truck driving down a random road. A band tightened around her throat. Where were they? Where did her memory go? She’d conversed with him, right?

“Actually, no, I don’t.” She nibbled her bottom lip as suspicion tapped on her shoulder. “Daxton, did you introduce us?”

“Yeah, Daxton.” The male leaned over, grinning at Daxton mischievously. “Did you introduce us?”

She couldn’t see Daxton’s face, but tension pressurized the car. The link thundered with sizzling power and anger. As she stared at the passing jagged mountainside, a tingling sensation crept through her like someone outside watched her with crude, calculating eyes. Her skin crawled. The driver accelerated and continued looking at Daxton, his gaze nowhere near the road. Izzy pitched forward to look out the front window.

“What are you doing? Pay attention,” she shouted as the tires skidded off the asphalt. The vehicle barreled toward the cliff’s edge, the rocky abyss looming closer with each passing second.

“Stop,” she shrieked.

The cliff edge loomed ahead, the yellow guardrail a warning. Izzy couldn’t move. The lunatic was going to kill them.

“Prepare yourself,”Fotios said from behind her.“Jump out and grab your body midflight.”

As the Jeep flew over the edge, she released her seat belt, yanked the door handle, and—

Darkness blinded her. They weren’t falling?

The vehicle traveled over something solid, and she loosened her hands from the useless locked handle. Izzy released a shuddering breath. The rhythm of overhead lights passing reduced the tension in her arms. They rode through an underground passageway.

Bile rose to her throat, the acrid taste filling her mouth. She held her stomach, forcing nausea back as she tried to puzzle through what had happened.Dots crowded her sight as she struggled to breathe. Shaking, she focused on bringing air into her lungs.

“Izzy?” Concern laced Daxton’s voice. His face appeared soft around the edges, but his eyes blazed with fire. He delivered her waves of reassurance through the link, but it felt like he fed her emotional food when she was full.

“Stop th-the car.” Her words vibrated through her clenched teeth.

“No can do, sweetheart. You’ll be fine.” The driver took a glance at her and continued driving.

She didn’t have as much confidence. The backlash of adrenaline and stomach acid made her nauseous. She wanted to break into a sobbing mess or run away. Her hands shook as she unlocked the door.