Free Smoked by Mari Mancusi

Scarlet followed the look, then gasped as she saw it.
    â€œEmmy!” she cried, horrified. She dropped to her knees, taking Emmy’s paw in her hands. So many scales had been broken, she hadn’t noticed this one in particular. But there it was—her healing scale, ripped away. Only an ugly scar remained in its place.
    The poor dragon. The poor, poor dragon!
    â€œOh, Emmy!” she cried, looking up at the creature, her eyes blurred with tears. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t realize. If I had known, I never would have asked. I’m such an idiot. Please forgive me.” Here she thought she was going to make the dragon feel better. Instead, she’d only made things worse.
    Emmy regarded her sadly. It’s all right , she assured Scarlet. You couldn’t have known.
    Scarlet’s heart panged at the suffering she could hear clearly in Emmy’s voice. She couldn’t imagine how much pain the poor beast was going through each and every day. Not just the physical pain that would eventually heal with her wounds. But the mental anguish to know she was no longer whole.
    She stepped up to the dragon, opening her arms wide to embrace her fully. Emmy was so big now she could barely manage to get her arms around her head. For a moment, the dragon was stiff, unyielding, But as Scarlet continued to hold her and whisper in her ear, she eventually softened, snuggling her head against her chest, her soft breath tickling the hairs on Scarlet’s arms. For a moment, they just stood there, holding one another, pulling strength from one another—no words necessary.
    Finally, Emmy pulled away. Scarlet looked at her questioningly.
    â€œWhat is it?” she asked.
    While I cannot cure Caleb, there may be another way.
    Scarlet’s eyes widened. “Really?” she asked, hope rising within her. “What other way? Whatever it is, I’ll do it!”
    The dragon looked hesitant. If I help you, will you agree to help me in return?
    â€œYes, of course,” Scarlet said a little doubtfully, not sure what she was agreeing to. But if Emmy could help Caleb… “I would help you no matter what. You know that, Ems. What do you need me to do?”
    The dragon gave her a stern look. First, you must promise never to speak of this. Not to anyone. Especially not to Trinity.
    Now Scarlet’s heart was really pounding in her chest. Was she about to learn what Emmy had been hiding at long last? What had made her so estranged from her former Fire Kissed?
    â€œOf course, Emmy,” she assured the dragon. “You know you can trust me.”
    Emmy seemed to consider this for a moment, then snorted, puffs of smoke billowing from her nose. Very well , she said. Open the door and get on my back. We need to take a little ride.

Chapter Seven
    Thirty minutes later, Scarlet was high in the clouds, Emmy tearing through white mist at breakneck speed. As they dipped and wove through the atmosphere, she couldn’t help the small thrill tingling from her fingers to her toes, despite the somber circumstances. Besides the one brief flight after Emmy’s rescue from the government lab, the only other time she’d ridden a dragon was in the Nether—when Emmy’s future children, Zoe and Zavier, had taken her to Caleb. She remembered then thinking the whole thing was pretty thrilling—like some kind of crazy Six Flags Over Texas roller coaster or the like. But in real life, it was even better.
    But she forced back her enthusiasm, knowing Emmy probably wouldn’t appreciate it. After all, this wasn’t a pleasure ride. And the dragon wasn’t having any fun.
    Whatever she needs you to do , she told herself, you need to do it without question. No matter what it is. After all she’s been through, she deserves that at least.
    And maybe, as a bonus, it would lead to her getting Caleb back. Her heart warmed as she imagined his blue eyes opening, meeting her own, his trademark