Shadow and Flame

by Katya Moore

  I looked away. The rebuke was well-deserved. Guilt joined the anger and frustration for the miserable emotion party in my gut. Sia kept reaching out to me, and I kept shoving her away. Now, I was using her and cursing her for having limits.

  Nice, Chase. Real nice.

  Aric pulled out his phone and clicked on an app. "There's a place on the next block. Looks like a shithole from the Yap reviews, but they have food. If taste isn't a priority, it's our closest option."

  "I'll take anything with a chair right now," Galen sighed.

  Sia started to protest, but Cass pulled her closer. "We all need a break, Sia. We'll get right back to it after we get some food into you."

  Her shoulders slumped. She looked back at me, worry and defeat turning her beautiful face into a mask of misery. I put on an encouraging expression, or tried to. She turned away. "Okay. A quick bite," she whispered.

  I ground my teeth and hated on myself as Cass half-carried Sia to the spot on Aric's GPS app. I'd been so angry when Kane had bullied her to get her to shift into her half-form. Fucking hypocrite. I was no mate. I didn't deserve this devotion, but here she was, driving herself to the brink to get my sister back.

  "We're here." Aric's voice snapped me out of my self-flagellation. "Abandon all hope."

  The whole front of the place was worn brick, covered with smatterings of graffiti. It looked like there might have once been a window, but it had long since been bricked over. A dingy, yellowed sign hung over the wall with the words Tim's Place tacked on in removable lettering. The "e" was slightly askew, adding to the ambience. It looked like a good place to get drunk and get in a fight. It did not scream fine dining.

  Sia frowned at the sign. "You're sure they have food?"

  Aric shrugged and looked at his phone. "The wings are amazing, according to stabz187. Stay away from the wings, though, they suck according to dickmove77." He pocketed the phone and grinned at Sia. "So, at least they have wings. Buyer beware."

  Sia gave a short laugh, then cast a sidelong guilty look at me and fell silent.

  Galen put on his game face. "Let's go, gang. I'm starving." He reached for the doorknob and led us into the dimly-lit bar.

  It was as welcoming as I'd imagined it. The overwhelming smell of stale beer, grease, and despair washed over us as every head in the place turned to take us in. Fortunately, there were only about a dozen of them. I glared at them. They turned back to their beers and hushed conversations.

  Galen led us to a wobbly table with four worn wooden chairs. He snagged a fifth from the table next to it and pulled it up, holding it gallantly and gesturing to Sia. She managed a small smile and sat down. I could tell she was fighting the urge to put her head down and take a nap from the way she leaned on her elbows. Galen and Cass sat on either side of her. Aric sat across from her, pouting like the spoiled child he is. I sat between him and Galen.

  My elbow grazed Aric's ribs. "Cut the jealous crap," I whispered. "She's in no shape to deal with it."

  Aric gave me an incredulous look. "Wait, whoa, what? You are going to tell me how to treat Sia? You've been an absolute bastard to her for the last two days," he hissed at me. "Straighten your own ass out before you start giving me shit."

  I opened my mouth to respond, but Sia beat me to it. "I'm right here, guys," she groaned softly into her hands. "Knock it off."

  I shut my mouth. The little shit had a point, and I hated him for it.

  I cleared my throat. "Sia, I'm..."

  "What'll it be, folks?" A world-weary older woman in a too-short black t-shirt and tight jeans swayed unsteadily next to our table, pen and paper in hand.

  Cass looked up at her. "Umm, five glasses of water and some menus, please?"

  The waitress looked annoyed. "Waters. Right. I'll get right on that." She staggered over to the bar and snatched up a handful of tattered sheets of paper with dubious stains on them. "Here's yer menus. I'll be back."

  Aric took up one of the sheets between two fingers, looking as though it might bite him. "Well, this looks promising," he sighed, pulling out his glasses to peruse the offerings. "Wings..." He snorted to himself. "Mozzarella sticks, chicken tenders, fish fry, French fries." He looked past the bar to what was most likely the kitchen. "I'm guessing they have a fryer and that's it."

  "I can feel my arteries hardening already," Galen said with a grin. "Sign me up."

  Aric sniffed. "I am not going to trust fish from this place."

  Sia gave him a tired look. "Then get the chicken tenders. It's all probably frozen anyway." She rubbed her eyes. "Do you think they have coffee? I could use some coffee. Like, all the coffee. A pot and a straw." The eye-rubbing turned into a full faceplant into her palms.

  Cass patted her shoulder. "We'll get you some caffeine. Don't worry."

  "Thnkw." Her words were muffled by her hands. For a moment, I thought she'd fallen asleep sitting upright. Cass gave her a curious poke. "Mmph?" She peeked between her fingers at him.

  "Just checking." Cass smiled at her, a loving, warm smile that I envied. I watched her slowly tip to the side and rest her head on Cass' shoulder, eyes heavy. The envy grew.

  I thought back to a couple weeks prior. Cass, Sia, and our hot tub of passion. I remembered the taste of her skin, the sound of her passionate cries, the feel of her mouth on my... I shook myself back to the present. I couldn't think about that now. Not when Lina was still out there. I looked back at Sia, and the memories fought with me. She'd begged to please me then. Guilt curled in my stomach and I cursed my half-hardened cock. Sia was begging to please me now. Only this time, there was no pleasure in it for her. Just exhaustion and pain.

  I am an utter and complete bastard.

  Sia snored softly and nuzzled into Cass' neck. Cass deserved that. Cass loved her unquestioningly, shamelessly, boundlessly. He wasn't the one making her feel like she had to stop laughing. He wasn't the one making her feel like her best wasn't good enough. He wasn't the one using her powers until she collapsed. He deserved her love. A fist wrapped around my heart and clamped down painfully hard.

  Better to keep her at a distance right now. Pain only begets pain. I can't drag her down to my level.

  "So what'll it be?" The waitress' harsh voice snapped me back to reality. Sia gave a startled snort and sat up, eyes wide with panic. Cass gave her a gentle squeeze and made calming, shushing sounds. Sia caught her breath and blushed, embarrassed at being caught sleeping.

  "Five orders of chicken tenders, fries, and a pot of coffee for the table." Aric flashed her his most charming smile. "And could you bring the coffee first, please?"

  The waitress gave a terse nod, eyed Sia judgmentally, and staggered back toward the kitchen.

  Sia flashed Aric a surprised smile. "That was the nicest I've ever heard you be to a waitress."

  Aric leaned in with a smirk. "She looks like the type that would spit in the food. Figured it pays to be safe."

  Sia rolled her eyes and slumped back in her chair. "Thought it was too good to be true."

  "Yeah, well..." Aric leaned back in his chair, fingers laced behind his head.

  The front door opened again. I sat up in my chair, taking in the newcomers. It was a large group of seven men. They wore long, dark coats and shifty looks. Instinctively, I braced myself for action. They took a look at our table and gave it a wide berth, slouching their way over to a pair of tables on the other side of the bar.

  Galen leaned over to me. "Local gang?"

  "Maybe," I muttered.

  Sia closed her eyes. I could see the strain on her face as she reached out with her mind. I could see the last remaining color draining from her face in the dim light of the bar. Her eyes popped open, and she met my gaze intently. Slowly, she nodded.

  I pushed my seat back and stood up.

  The Chosen were here.

  Chapter Eleven

  Sia

  I watched Chase stand up. His eyes were hard, his jaw set as he started to walk toward the table full of Chosen. I looked at Galen, p
anic rising in my chest. Usually, Chase was the one making the rational plans. Galen took one look at my face and stood up, flexing his fists slightly.

  Aric pushed his chair out as well. "Nerd boy, stay here and guard Sia. We'll go be all manly and stuff."

  Cass glared at him, but stayed seated.

  "I don't need a bodyguard," I protested feebly. My spinning head had other things to say about that. Scanning the newcomers undid any good that short nap had done for me. I was tapped, and I knew it.

  Fortunately, so did Cass. His arm tightened around my shoulders. "I'm not going anywhere. Just keep your head down. It's about to get messy in here." He glanced back at the boys as they advanced on the Chosen.

  The group was deep in conversation as Chase stepped up to them. One of the men looked up at his approach.

  "The fuck do you want?" he grunted.

  "Answers," Chase replied, cracking his knuckles. "And you're gonna give them to me."

  The man laughed, loud and raucous. "Y'hear that, everyone? Pretty boy here wants to have a conversation with us." He stopped laughing and fixed Chase with a dark look. "We know what you are, asshole. We're the last people you want to mess with right now."

  Chase returned the look. "You are exactly the people I want to mess up right now." He leaned in closer. "Where are they?"

  A dark-haired man snorted into his hand. "Where are who? What is your deal, scaly ass? Don't you know what we do to your kind?"

  Chase's hand was around his throat before he could flinch. He slammed his hand forward, knocking the initiate out of his seat and landing him on the floor. Chase followed him down, pinning him down by the throat. "Yes. I do. Where are the scouts?"

  The pinned man made a high-pitched keening noise. Chairs slammed back, and the rest of the Chosen rose as one.

  "Aw, shit," Cass sighed. "I mean, I knew, but... aw shit."

  One of the Chosen, a hulk of a man with greasy black hair, grabbed his chair and began to swing it at Chase's back. Galen intercepted it with both hands and jabbed the back of the chair into the man's neck. He roared in pain and fury, let go of the chair, and swung at Galen's stomach. The chair clattered to the ground as Galen doubled over.

  Chase's prey lashed out with sharpened nails across Chase's eyes. He yanked his head back barely in time, but caught a long scratch down his cheek. It was enough to distract him for a split second. The initiate slammed a knee into Chase's side, hard. Chase didn't release his hold, but he did grunt in pain. He reared back to try again, but Chase grabbed his leg and twisted hard.

  "Tell me what I want to know!" Chase roared in his face as he screamed in agony. A redheaded brute slammed a booted foot into Chase’s face, snapping his head back. Aric snarled at him and dove over the table, tackling him to the floor.

  I looked around us. The patrons were staring at the fight, but not making any movements to leave. From their apathetic stares, bar fights were commonplace here. Even the waitress was leaning against the bar, popping pretzel bits into her mouth, taking it in like it was a sporting event. There were too many people. Too many humans. I looked back at the Chosen preparing to swarm my three boys. They can’t shift. Not here. Not now. Too many witnesses. The realization hit me like a slap to the face.

  I reached into myself and felt nothing. Not even a flutter from my dragon. She was sound asleep. Fuck. Even if the place was empty, I wouldn’t be able to shift and help them. I looked at Cass’ anxious face. His fists were clenched, his body tensed to attack. "Go to them. Back them up. I have an idea."

  Cass looked unconvinced. "I’m not going to leave..."

  I tried to stand. Cass pinned me down with his arm. I snarled at him. "Go. Help them. I’ve got this."

  Cass took one look at my eyes and released me. "Okay. Just... just be careful." He pushed himself out of his chair and ran toward the brawl.

  I hauled myself out of my chair. The room swam before my eyes. I shook my head hard and staggered toward the back of the bar.

  "Bathroom’s on the right, honey," the waitress called, eyes still glued to the fracas.

  "Thanks," I called. I walked to the back of the bar and made sure no one was looking. Summoning the last of my strength, I faded into the shadows and began my journey.

  I felt like I was slogging through quicksand as I stumbled along the wall toward the bar. A particularly inebriated-looking patron leaned in my way. I could see a pack of cigarettes dangling from his back pocket, a lighter tucked into the cellophane wrap around it. I reached out and snatched it, then ducked back into the shadows. He didn’t show any sign of noticing. I looked at him, willing him to move. I thought back to my lessons with Cass.

  There’s something horrible on this wall. Something absolutely horrible. The wall is lava. I pushed as hard as I could. My knees threatened to buckle. Suddenly, the drunk stood up and lurched away from the wall, glancing back at it as though something had bitten him in the ass. I slid past him and behind the bar.

  The kitchen was slightly better-lit. I cursed under my breath. This would be harder, and I wasn’t up to harder just then. I peered around the corner and saw that the kitchen was empty. The back door to the kitchen was ajar. I could smell the faint reek of pot smoke drifting over the heavy grease of the fryer.

  I heaved a sigh of relief and lunged into the kitchen to enact my plan. I grabbed the temperature control for the fryer and cranked it all the way up, then snatched the stolen lighter and cigarettes from my pocket. I lit the cardboard of the cigarette box, stared at the flames until they caught to my liking, then tossed the packet into the fryer. The grease ignited with a whoosh that singed a few loose strands of hair as I dodged backward. Thick black smoke began to fill the kitchen.

  I waited for the scream of the smoke detector, then smacked my hand against my forehead. The batteries were probably long dead.

  Okay, plan B. I reached out to the waitress and prayed that adrenaline would carry me through. Lookee lookee! Something interesting is afoot! Seriously, stop staring at Galen’s ass and look over here!

  I heard a cough, then a scream. "Fire! Everyone out!"

  Thank god. I dove into the shadows under the bar as she snatched up a fire extinguisher and started to trundle past me. She took one look, threw the fire extinguisher, and bolted out the back door, leaving the bar and its patrons to their fates.

  To their credit, the beer-soaked patrons of the bar took one look at the smoke pouring out of the kitchen and stampeded to the back door, shoving and yelling in their haste to get out. I watched the last one file out from my seat on the floor.

  "You’re clear!" I screamed.

  Flashes of red, gold, blue, and green flared in the black mass of bodies at the front of the bar. Bodies flew as my boys reared up and began to work their magic. Chase blasted the two men in front of him with a burst of flames. Lightning crackled from Cass’s fingertips and slammed a burly blond and a heavyset bearded man into the wall. Aric sprayed a fountain of white ice into the face of the man pinning him to the table. Galen shrouded his fists in stone and began to lay into the last two.

  "Leave one alive!" Chase roared at Galen. Galen saluted, smashed an uppercut on one of his opponents, then raised a glowing green hand. The wood of the table writhed and splintered into branches. They reached out and wrapped around the last Chosen fighter’s legs, sending him toppling to the floor. The branches continued to wrap around him, immobilizing him.

  I pulled myself unsteadily from behind the bar and stumbled over to the boys. Chase was kicking the twitching body of one of his fallen foes, making sure the threat was eliminated.

  Galen came up behind him. "Got one wrapped up for you, boss," he said, clapping a taloned hand on his shoulder. Chase whirled, ready to swing, then stopped when he saw Galen’s face.

  "Right. Yeah. Thanks." Chase ran a hand over his scaled head and cracked his neck self-consciously. He shifted down to his human form and stormed over to the bound Chosen, death in his eyes.

  "Okay, here’s how it’s going to go."
Chase went down to a knee, eye-to-eye with his captive. "You are going to tell me exactly what I want to know, and then I’m going to kill you quickly. If you don’t tell me exactly what I want to know, I’ll kill you slowly. Your call, fuckface."

  "I control my own destiny," the initiate snarled. I could see him preparing to slam his jaw shut, and remembered the Chosen warrior who used a suicide pill behind McKinnett’s a few weeks prior. Before I could warn him, I saw Chase’s hand shoot forward, snatching the man’s jaw wide open. He crammed his other hand into the man’s mouth. Choking sputtering sounds filled the bar, followed by a faint crack. Chase raised his hand triumphantly, holding a black tooth.

  "I control your destiny, motherfucker," he hissed, tossing the tooth over his shoulder.

  The Chosen initiate spat blood at Chase. "Still not going to talk, scales for brains. Might as well just kill me."

  "He will." I stepped between Chase and the initiate, dropping to a knee in front of him. Chase growled softly. I raised a hand to him, gesturing for a moment’s pause. "Trust me. I’m not going to be able to stop him when he does. But I can make sure it’s a clean death. You have my word."

  The man looked at me with haunted eyes. "That’s a promise you can’t keep, lady. If I talk, the horrors of hell will be visited upon me. Apep’s will is clear."

  "A clean death," I repeated. "Your superiors will never know."

  Chase gripped my shoulder. "Enough talk. Let me at him. I’ll rip it out of him."

  I reached back and planted my hand on Chase’s chest. "Give him a chance."

  Chase pushed against my hand, murder in his eyes. "He’s got more teeth than he needs. Let me at him."

  The initiate made a piteous sound. I turned back to face him. "We need to know where you’re taking the dragon captives. Are they being kept in Winchendon, or are they being shipped somewhere?"