Page 1 of Red Marked

1

Flint

For a few seconds, I glide, feeling fucking amazing.

I forget, for just a moment, why I’m here and all my responsibilities.

Holy shit!

It’s awesome.

The jungle looks black from up here. It’s still holding on to the night, even though the sky behind us is a light gray with the coming dawn.

I love this time of day.

Everything feels fresh and clean. There’s a feeling of possibility.

We’re a large group of twenty-five dragon shifters, flying together. I’m toward the front.

It’s our first expedition. We’re on a feral hunt, and it’s my job to make sure we get back to the Rehabilitation Clinic without any incident.

We’ve trained hard for this.

We’re ready.

I’m buzzing.

I turn to the right, loving the feel of the breeze on my scales. I’m still getting used to my newfound freedom. It’s fucking awesome not having to rely on a rider to keep my beast in check. I keep scanning the area as I go. I note that Atlas is doing the same.

Below us, the canopy breaks into a wide clearing where the river bends, and Rift drops back level with my wing. She glides for a while before flapping her wings.

A few minutes later, the sun is high enough to bring the first morning light. It’s quite beautiful, giving a false sense of peace.

I give a rumble to remind my team to stay on their guard.

We fly like this for a while, then Rift gives a single screech and banks hard south, wing dipping toward the water before I’ve even leveled out to follow.

She’s found something.

My heart starts beating a little faster. This could be it.

Rift circles the spot twice in tight, fast loops instead of her usual lazy hold, and the second pass comes with a longer call, rougher at the edges.

There’s something there.

I turn us south. Behind me, the formation reorders itself. Atlas pulls his flight wide to cover the flank. The ground crew starts its descent through a gap in the canopy half a mile out, where they can land easily. Cindy and Brian ride harnessed to Ash and Dane’s backs for the drop, a rifle case and medical kit already in hand by the time their boots hit solid ground.

It’s time to see if all the planning and training will pay off.

Saber holds station over the sandbar, wings set stiff and still, head angled down at a single point near the water.

I ease lower, keeping the rising sun at my back. The male is copper-scaled and freaking huge.

Yes!

It’s go time!

A low rumble rolls up out of the canopy below in three short pulses. It’s Atlas letting us know that the ground crew is in place.