He’s got unkempt ebony hair that’s long enough to pool on the ground around his head. I dare to brush my fingers over him and move several strands from his face. My fingers flutter over his horns—there are four—but drop soon after.
My eyes dip.
Lo and behold, he does have two tails. They’re lax at his side next to my knees, but they’re under him and lifting his hips off the floor. That can’t be comfortable. But there’s nothing I can do about it right now. I won’t move him until I know what’s wrong with him.
Setting my torch on the far side of him, I sit back and straighten.
“I can see now,” I tell him. “I’m going to touch you again to see what’s wrong.”
I check his face for a response, but there isn’t one, not even a groan. His eyes are closed, but I could have sworn they were open earlier, when my fingers traced his face. I shake my head.
“I’ll try not to hurt you,” I add.
Carefully, I shift my hands under his head, sliding my fingers through his hair. It’s silken and so fine that I’m temporarily distracted by the feel of it. I suck in my stomach and force myself to move on.
Pressing into his skull, I feel for a wound like mine but find none. I remove my hands.
I was certain he hit his head. It had to be his head, right? If he’s unconscious?
He’s warm to the touch, and his chest rises and falls, so I know he’s alive, just not responding.
“Dragon?” I ask hesitantly.
Again, he doesn’t respond.
He’s unconscious. Has to be. Which doesn’t bode well for us if he remains this way for long. There’s nothing wanting to eat us right now, but that doesn’t mean it’ll stay that way. I look around.
We’ll have to spend the night here… Assuming it’s night. I turn back around, facing where I believe the ledge once was. I need to see if the opening still exists.
I can’t put it off forever.
Turning back to the dragon, I reach over and take hold of my torch. “I need to leave again, scout for a way out and make sure we’re safe. I’ll be back soon.” I don’t want to leave him, but I rise anyway.
He groans.
I frown. So he is awake? Is he faking? Something tells me he’s not…
“I promise I’ll be right back,” I whisper. “I won’t leave you. I won’t be going far.”
When I step away, no groan stops me.
Brandishing my torch, I head into the cavern and make my way toward the nearest wall. It’s different than before—which I already knew—with dust and dirt everywhere. When I come across the larger boulders, I’m thankful none of them hit Haime or me… or the male now in my care.
What am I going to do about him?
We can’t stay here. I don’t have the strength to move him. It’s dangerous beyond measure, staying here. The naga boy is gone, but where did he go and who was he with? Besides, I hate being confined in enclosed spaces. If I need to run, I don’t like worrying about not having an exit.
I can’t leave him. Not while he’s so defenseless. He’s a male, a humanoid male now, which makes him extremely precious—incredibly rare. And not only that, he’s mine now. We’re linked. Even now, the bond between us is growing stronger, and I sense… My brow creases. I sense a heaviness inside me. It wants me to stop moving. My muscles are stiff when my mind lingers on it.
There’s something inside him that shouldn’t be there.
I don’t know how I know it, but I do. I clench my fingers then loosen them, fighting off the stiffness.
I need to find Haime, I realize with an uncomfortable jolt. Need to know if she needs me, if she’s safe. A fresh wave of tiredness washes me and a niggling of fear threatens to worm its way in. She’s safe. I have to believe it. She made it out, and the way is clear…
She’s probably already back at the tribe, and help is on the way.
I come to the wall, and this time it doesn’t take me long to find the ledge. Placing my torch on top of it, I grip it and jump, using my momentum to haul myself up. Stars shoot over my vision as I drop onto my back and rest for a moment. I press my hand to the back of my head and wince.
The next second, I’m back on my feet and searching for the entrance. I find it quickly. Thank the waters. Ducking into the crevasse, I make my way down the path.
I reach the fork and find my shells still on the ground. There’s some dirt on them but I leave them for later. Turning toward the exit, I move slowly, knowing the walls will close in. Tree roots gnarl around me.
Then it occurs to me… Why Haime hasn’t come back to check on me? Has she waited or gone to the tribe like I hoped? Fear takes hold.
The dirt loosens under my sandals, and the walls narrow even more. I stop, staring at them. The pathway’s gone, vanished under rocks and roots. My mind blanks, my heart races. I take a deep breath to stop my rising panic.
Lowering my torch, I press both hands against the obstruction and gently push. Nothing gives but for some loose dirt that crumbles to the ground. I press again, same result.
My nails bite into the dirt.
Don’t panic, Milaye. Don’t. But my throat tightens anyway. Haime’s made it to the other side, I know she has. She’s a stubborn little dragon girl, she wouldn’t let some cave-in beat her.
“Okay, there has to be another way out,” I tell myself. “There’s another path.” Taking one last look at
