Free 1303 The Dragonslayer (The 13th Floor) by Christine Rains

girl.”
    “I’ll take care of both of you.” Lois slammed the door shut and ran to the driver’s side. She slid in behind the wheel and shut the door. “You just have to trust me.”
    He glanced over at her, ready to protest, but then nodded. His eyes slid shut as she shifted the gears and sped down the road.
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CHAPTER 10
     
    The rest of the night was a blur. Xan nearly panicked and ran when Lois pulled up to the hospital, but she had everything planned out. She told the nurses that she’d come across Xan attempting to rescue Alyssa from a gang of men, and since she had a gun, she scared them off with a few shots in the air.
    The girl was rushed off to be treated. Her family was called and excitement erupted at the hospital. Lois convinced the nurses to stash Xan in the back of the hospital and out of the spotlight while he was seen to. Nothing was broken. He was given painkillers and told to rest.
    While all the focus was upon Alyssa, Lois crept out a rear entrance with Xan. After a bit of sleep in the car and once the pills had kicked in, he was feeling better.
    “I think Whittaker went to Carmine and took out his frustrations there.” Lois glanced nervously at him.
    “Why? What’s going on?” Xan gave his head a shake to clear out some of the cotton that seemed packed in his brain. Whittaker didn’t know he lived in Carmine. Surely he wouldn’t randomly attack a city? He was Governor of the state. He had to make it look good for his presidential bid in a few years.
    “I’ve been listening to the news. It’s like the apocalypse happened. Fires, explosions. People are fleeing the city. The military has been sent in. Most people are screaming terrorists, but I think it’s too much of a coincidence.” Lois tapped the steering wheel. “Even with the news the Governor’s house has been bombed, Carmine has been getting more air time. And dedicated as he is, Whittaker is going to be in Carmine today to show his support for the people.”
    This was his chance. Security was going to be tight, but if Xan could strike while the dragon was still recovering from last night, he might have a chance. All it would take is one shot.
    Shots he kept missing. It wasn’t for lack of skill on his part. The Governor couldn’t have known he was on that building last week during the charity event. And down in the lair he missed again. Perhaps the first time was bad luck, but the second time?
    “Here’s something that will make you laugh. The emergency crews searched through the Governor’s home for survivors and found no one. Whittaker being safe at a colleague’s house, of course.” She snorted. “Yet in their search, the crews found several chests under the house full of coins. Not gold or silver or anything. Those stupid coins with Whittaker on them. They were handing them out at the charity event. The ego on the bastard! Hoarding coins with his own face on them.” Her laughter was harsh.
    “Fuck.” It all made sense now. Why didn’t Xan see it before now? He was an idiot.
    “Wow. I didn’t know you could swear. Isn’t that against the dragonslayer’s code or something? And it was funny. A little.” Lois pulled off the highway on the exit to Carmine.
    Lazy streams of black smoke mingled with the clouds from all points in the city. Even from a distance, the city looked dark, as if night still enshrouded it. The sun had risen an hour ago, but it didn’t chase away whatever nightmare Carmine had experienced.
    This was destruction a dragon could wreak.
    The Governor needed to be slain today. No more waiting and planning.
    There was one thing to take care of first. Xan turned his head to Lois. “Do you still have that coin?”
    “What? Yes, I think so. Somewhere. I don’t know. Why?” Lois sped along the traffic-free road. No one was going into Carmine, but many were coming out.
    “Mine is in my apartment. I need to stop there and get it. Then we’re going to a church.”
    “I don’t even remember the