Rogue Dragon by Kassanna

and she patted the floor for the handle.
    She was yanked up. She snatched at her attacker’s hand and twisted it as she spun out of his grip. Dropping down she grabbed the first thing her fingers touched. Synda came up swinging and heard a crunch. Her makeshift weapon crumbled in her hand.
    The stranger lifted her off her feet and flung her backward. Her head snapped back when it connected with the wall. She shook it to clear the rainbow of colors that swam before her eyes. A sharp pain exploded through her chest when she took a breath. She slid to the floor and, getting to her knees, she fell forward on her palms, rocking to absorb the pain. The sound of hurried footsteps urged her to get to her feet, and she grunted as the ache made her stomach roil.
    Synda wobbled as she fought to stay upright, and formed a fist. Moonlight seeped through the window and she huffed, waiting for the dark figure to move closer.
    Her attacker moved into the shaft of light and the window shattered, spraying glass throughout the room. Tiny fragments sliced across her face. The thud of bodies hitting the floor made her squint. She heard the grunts and growls. Synda reached out and rested a palm on the wall, moving forward to follow the partition. Her fingers grazed the light switch, and she prayed the electricity still worked. She flipped the toggle and dull yellow light flooded the room.
    The men momentarily stopped delivering blows and stared at each other. She sucked in a breath and grabbed her ribs. Kirill’s skin rippled where his armor shifted under it. The other man had his fists in front of him, prepared for another attack. She studied him. Kirill pounced and threw his head back. She could see his dragon emerging. His jaw jutted forward, and teeth appeared from beneath top lip. The stranger beneath him continued punching him in the gut. A fierce determination was on the intruders face. She leaned forward and took in the dirty blond hair, the goatee around his mouth. Kiril’s jaw popped and she could see his lips spreading.
    Oh shit . “Wait!” Synda screamed.
    Too late, white-hot flame flowed from Kirill’s mouth. The stranger pushed off his chest sliding back on a throw rug. The tail-end of the mat beneath him caught fire, and he jumped up. Patting at both his pants legs and the rug, briefly he met her gaze, and she saw recognition in his eyes before he moved to escape the stream of fire that followed him. She moved forward, catching Assan by the biceps and swinging in front of him. The flames abruptly stopped short at her feet. Kirill stood, a scowl on his lips.
    He took a few steps forward and rumbled. “Synda, move now… say chaas !”
    “Kirill, wait.” She placed her palms up facing him. “I know him. This is Assan. I grew up with him.” She glanced back and saw him toss his hair back from his face as he nodded.
    “Nobody, friend or foe, puts their hands on you. He will die.” Kirill moved closer.
    “No, Kirill, I really don’t want to have to explain to his father how stupid he was getting into a fist fight with a dragon.”
    Assan snorted behind her. “Good luck with that, since he was the one that sent me up here to check things out.”
    Synda swung around and stabbed a finger into Assan’s chest. “Shut up, dumbass, I’m trying to save your life.”
    “I had the beast right where I wanted him,” Assan snapped.
    “Yeah, I suppose you wanted to be barbecued.” Synda turned her attention back to Kirill. She kept herself between the two men and sauntered up to her mate to place both her hands on his face. “Please don’t kill Assan. We grew up together, and other than being a little slow, he is a good guy.”
    Kirill’s gaze darted between her face and Assan’s. Slowly the brightness of his eyes dimmed and his breathing evened out. He covered her hand with his and held her stare while he spoke. “Count your blessings that my Synda speaks up for you. It’s been some time since I’ve eaten roasted