“What happened near the perimeter is why I can’t take a chance on Billie. It’s bad enough she’s gotten hurt!”
“But I’m still alive,” I said.
“By total fluke,” said David. “If Gavin hadn’t turned up, the dragons would have slaughtered you and left your corpse for one of us to find. You know this, Billie!”
“Then teach me how to fight, or at least what to do next time I run into dragons!”
“There won’t be a next time!” David growled and balled his fists.
The front door burst open, revealing Catrina disheveled from the darkness. Her black hair was unkempt,her clothes scuffed with mud, and a holstered handgun hung on her hip. We all glanced at her, but the one she zeroed in on was me, her white teeth glinting in a snarl.
“You think Billie can be independent? Then let her deal with Ca
