Taming their Tailfins: Howls Romance

by Marianne Morea

  Adrian nodded. “Same.”

  “Maybe my mother’s blood finally kicked in,” Zale offered. “It’s worth a shot. Every moment we waste debating is a moment less Valerie could have alive.”

  Soren clasped Zale’s shoulder. “I’m in. Hannah will kill me if I don’t help save her best friend.” He shrugged. “Besides, after this is all over we’re going to be family.”

  “Can you two recreate what it was that drove your dragon’s blood to the surface? It won’t work otherwise.” Rylan was serious. All swagger gone.

  Soren eyed both Gemini. “Picture Malus hurting Valerie. She’s your mate and just the thought of her in pain will make your blood rise. Nature should take it from there.”

  The each sucked in a breath, linking hands. They closed their eyes to channel their inner dragons, Draakki and Gemini alike.

  Zale’s body coiled in rage as visions of Valerie crying, her body bent in pain, played in his head. Images spilled through the alpha/omega bond, and a roar ripped from Adrian’s lips.

  Fire boiled in their bellies, and without pain or injury, they opened their mouths and flames blew across the surface.

  The water steamed and condensation formed as the green surface bubbled and churned. Their eyes snapped open at the sound of cracks and splits in the rock, only to see the cave walls widened as the liquid expanded. Water levels dropped, and beyond the far edge of the cave they saw a previously submerged cove.

  “Natural barriers. Isn’t that what our tracker said earlier? They mind the perimeter for you,” Soren said, awed. “Only if Malus didn’t see this coming.”

  Zale nodded. “We can’t worry about that now. Let’s go get our girl.”

  “Anyone for a dip in a hot spring?” Adrian dove into the water, a sharp yelp on his lips before breaking the surface with a grin. “Thank God for a bit of dragon’s blood, because this water is hotter than a wet pussy. Feels good after being so cold, though.” He backstroked, his tail kicking a splash their way. “Coming, ladies?”

  Chapter Fifteen

  “Not much longer!” Zale yelled, chuckling how the dragon dragged ass in the water. They finally broke the surface, making it to the previously submerged cove by following a path carved by eons of erosion.

  The crystals were sparse at first, but then grew in number. They glowed as they passed, as if the presence of the Gemini alpha and omega released an inner power.

  Zale closed his eyes, and when he opened them again they were more yellow than green. Soren looked at him and then at Adrian. “Your eyes,” he said, gesturing with his hand.

  “What about them?” Zale asked.

  Soren looked at Rylan, unsure. “They’re yellowish. I don’t know what that means for a Gemini. Draakki eyes are only gold when aroused.”

  Rylan took a step back.

  “Oh, dude. You wish.” Adrian snorted. “It must mean we’re close, and that Valerie is nearby.”

  Zale nodded. “I feel her.” He touched Adrian’s arm. “Don’t you?”

  He nodded.

  “How? You two haven’t claimed her yet,” Rylan asked.

  Shrugging, Adrian shook his head. “I don’t know. She’s destined to be ours, so maybe that’s it.”

  “I shouldn’t be telling you two this, but Hannah got her to admit her feelings for you two.”

  Zale and Adrian shared a look and the crystals glowed even brighter. “Val told us she was falling for us, but even when she agreed to complete out triad, she never said the words. It’s why we haven’t claimed her, yet. She’s ours. She just has to admit it to herself.”

  “From what Hannah told me, Valerie is pretty hard-headed and snarky, so for what it’s worth, the fact she admitted she loves you to her best friend says a lot.” He shrugged. “Maybe she needed Hannah to help her admit it.”

  “C’mon,” Zale said, breaking a crystal off the wall. “I think I know where to go from here, and personally, I want to hear our woman say the words. Out loud.”

  The passageway was a maze of twists and turns, each one dripping with water and covered with a moss that seemed to crawl along with them. The crystal glowed in Zale’s hand, and he seemed to take on a luminescence of his own, holding it.

  “Are you sure you should have taken that from the mountain?” Rylan asked. “We have superstitions about that.”

  Adrian nodded. “The Gemini Mountain is part of us. If it wasn’t permitted or we broke a compact with the living energy in the crystals, they would have dimmed completely, leaving us trapped in total darkness.”

  The path widened, big enough for a dragon’s wings and another cave mouth opened at its end. They followed Zale and the aperture led to a huge inner cavern alight with crystals of every color, shape and size. Another underground lake, smaller than the one they evaporated, lay at the center one hundred yards below.

  Rylan inhaled. “Other shifters have been here.”

  “I know.” Zale nodded. “This isn’t our sacred grotto, but it is close. I feel it.”

  Laughter echoed from below, and the four glanced down. Valerie was tied to an X-shaped post like something out of an S&M movie. Her arms and legs were spread, but at least she was clothed.

  Zale’s body tensed and his back hunched, ready to shift. Adrian grabbed his shoulders and shook him. “Zale, no! That’s what he wants. Don’t give it to him.” He leaned over the edge. “And speaking of giving—hey, asshole! The medallions aren’t here. Your plan failed.”

  Malus lifted the staff and pointed it at Valerie. With an evil smile, he brought the shaft down in single sweep. The shaft didn’t touch her, but a welt formed across her face and chest, nonetheless. He laughed again. “You see, I don’t have to lift a finger to hurt her, and I’ll keep hurting her until you willingly give me those medallions.”

  “Fuck Castor! I’ll kill this son of a bitch with my bare hands!” Zale growled, jerking from Adrian’s grip.

  He grabbed his arm again. “Right. Malus is one hundred yards down. Val will be dead before we even get to her.”

  “Okay, then what?” he asked. “Any bright ideas of your own or you just going shoot mine down?”

  Rylan angled his head with a thought. “We have to bargain with him. Let him think he’s won so we can get him off guard.”

  “I didn’t mean what I said about Castor. He’d know what to do,” Zale muttered.

  Adrian’s head popped up. “That’s it. Like the message in the lake.” He whirled around to Rylan. “Your elder had a connection to Castor that Malus didn’t know about. Is there any way you could contact him? Do the Draakki have telepathy?”

  Rylan shook his head. “Not outside our mates—” His eyes lit up. “Serena. I could get her to speak to Pollux.”

  “Hannah, too. She’ll throttle the old bastard if he refuses.” Soren nodded, as well.

  Rylan moved to the wall and squatted down, closing his eyes.

  “What are you doing? Taking a nap?” Zale asked.

  Soren did the same, but on the opposite wall. “We need calm and quiet. This kind of connection isn’t easy, so shut up.” He closed his eyes. “Why don’t you two keep the happy Houdini talking? Preferably from one level down. If Rylan can’t reach Serena, then I need to be ready to jump in with Hannah.”

  “Stay here in case they need help or answers or something. I’ll backtrack and find a way down.” Adrian leaned over the chasm edge. “We’re coming down, Malus. We need to talk.”

  “You can talk all you want,” the sorcerer laughed. “It won’t do you any good. You’re fate is sealed.”

  With his eyes closed, Rylan shook his head. “That’s the asshole’s fatal flaw. Hubris. Foolish overconfidence.” He cracked one eye open to look at Zale. “This will work. Just give us a sec.”

  Serena…babe, it’s me. I need you.

  Rylan, now is not the time for telepathic phone sex.

  I wish. No, we need you and Hannah to find Pollux. We need him and his secret connection to his brother.

  Why?


  Woman! For once, please do what I ask. You’ll understand soon enough.

  Jeez Loueez, okay.

  Rylan took deep breaths, his focus solely on keeping his mental link with Serena clear and free of distraction. His thighs burned, but it was too late to rethink his wall sit position.

  Rylan…I’m in the elders’ sanctuary. Pollux is very weak.

  Panic sluiced through his thighs. This was the only way to make it right with the Gemini for losing Valerie in the first place. Pollux had to help make this happen.

  Why? What happened?

  He must have had the same thought as you. He’s traded his mind for Castor’s.

  What? No! I won’t allow it.

  The acolytes say he wouldn’t take no for an answer.

  Listen to me, love. This is very important.

  What?

  Tell the acolytes they have to break the bond Pollux has with Malus at the moment I say. Not a moment before or after. If we time this right, we might be able to save both elders.

  But Castor is already free of Malus. Pollux completed the link just minutes ago.

  Minutes?

  Yes.

  Okay, love. Stay there and when I link with you again, have them break his connection with Malus. Even if it means bashing the poor old guy over the head.

  Rylan severed the link with Serena. He straightened, wincing at the burn in his thighs. “I gotta get more exercise. Married life is making me soft.”

  “What happened?” Zale asked.

  He filled the two of them in, and the three went to find Adrian.

  It was go-time.

  Chapter Sixteen

  The four of them wound their way down a side tunnel, wading through waist-high standing water before exiting straight into the outer crystal cavern.

  Soren and Rylan stayed back, if everything went south it was their job to rescue Valerie and get her back to Drakkylon. Rylan knelt in the wet dirt.

  Serena, you still there?

  I’m here.

  How’s he doing?

  Holding his own. The acolytes are on board. Just say when.

  Good.

  I’m going to have such a headache after this. You owe me.

  He felt her laughter cross his mind and he smiled.

  You got it, babe. Whatever you want.

  I’m gonna hold you to it.

  I wouldn’t want it any other way.

  He broke their connection again and listened.

  ***

  “Malus!” Firelight flickered ahead, and Zale narrowed his gaze in the great expanse. His voice echoed off the walls. No wonder the asshole was able to hear and be heard earlier.

  “Did you spot him?” he whispered to Adrian, but his partner shook his head.

  A small bonfire burned at the center of the massive space. It was easier to spot Malus and Valerie from above, but from their vantage point on the ground it was hard.

  “So, unless you’ve come to tell me where the medallions are, you’ve wasted your time. Of course, you could always claim your mate. I’m always up for a peep show.” He grabbed his crotch and squeezed. “She’s quite a piece of ass. I’ve even thought about keeping her around for my own entertainment.” He winked. “Afterward, of course.”

  Zale growled, but he didn’t take the bait. He circled the sorcerer slowly, while Adrian took the opposite side. They flanked him, cutting off any chance of escape.

  “Do you really think you can out magic us, old man?” Adrian asked, watching the man’s head swivel to find him.

  “You think we don’t know what you’re about?” Zale taunted, and the man’s head pivoted in the other direction.

  He lifted the staff and pointed it toward the ceiling, but nothing happened. His eyes went wide for a split second, but he recouped.

  “Clever mask,” Adrian said, “but fear is something you can’t hide from a shifter.”

  Malus’s face froze for a moment, but he gripped the staff with both hands and swung, aiming for Valerie’s head. She screamed, but Adrian caught the orb in his hand, crushing the ball in his fist. He jerked the worthless stick from his hand and tossed it to the ground.

  “Your tricks are useless, old man. You are nothing more than a fraud. A magician playing with light and shadow.”

  Malus stood panting. His eyes narrowed and he seemed to grow in stature. His link with Castor was broken, that was certain, but he was pulling strength and magic from somewhere else. Probably the Draakki elder.

  He lunged, hands out like claws. “I’ll kill your stupid surface bitch!”

  The crystals inside the cavern dimmed as he attacked, but Adrian backhanded the man, sending him crashing into a stalagmite column. His head jerked back, and he crumpled to the ground.

  With a snarl, a single talon erupted from the end of Adrian’s finger, and with a single stroke he cut Valerie’s bonds. Her legs gave out and he caught her, scooping her into his arms.

  “You have to get to your feet, love. Rylan and Soren are in the cavern tunnel. They’re waiting to take you to Drakkylon.” He kissed the welts on her face and chest from Malus’s phantom strike. “I’ll kill him twice just for that.”

  She shook her head, watching over Adrian’s shoulder as Malus shook off the crash and climbed to his feet.

  “I’m not leaving you or Zale.” She brushed his lips with hers. “We’re Team Triad, and I want a piece of that vile shitass as much as you.”

  He chuckled, all the while keeping an eye on Zale as he circled the sorcerer. “You’re not a Gemini or a dragon yet, love. We haven’t even claimed you.”

  “Yeah, about that,” she nipped his bottom lip. “Will it hurt much when you do?”

  Her words sent his inner animals clawing for release. The urge to put the triad mark on her forever nearly overwhelmed him, and he growled low.

  “Only as much as you want.” Putting her down, he smacked her ass. “Let Zale and I kill this son of a bitch, so we can find out.”

  A shower of calcium quartz rained down as Malus went flying into another column. Adrian’s eyes jerked to where Zale stood. “Stop playing with that piece of shit. We have a woman to claim!”

  Valerie took a step toward the mouth of the cave where Soren and Rylan waited, but she spotted the broken staff on the ground. Her nostrils flared, and she bent to pick it up. Whirling on her heel, she stalked to where both Gemini stood.

  “Is that fear in your eyes, Malus?” Her voice was deadly calm as she held what was left of the elder staff. “I never told you two, I used to take karate. Got pretty good, too.”

  She twirled the carved stick in her hand like a Japanese bo staff, getting closer and closer to Malus as both men flanked her advance.

  With a practiced hand, she brought the staff down in a plunging swipe, the same way Malus had earlier. He screamed as the wood’s jagged edge sliced through his flesh. “That’s for being a coward.”

  She raised the staff again, bringing the sharp edge down in the opposite direction. He screamed even louder as the broken spike sliced another stroke, making a perfect X across face and chest. “—and that’s for tying me up against my will!”

  “Valerie, you need to go. NOW!” Zale’s body shook, bone and muscle ripping and reshaping before her eyes. Adrian snarled and he fell to all fours, his body arching as his form writhed and reformed as well.

  “Go!” they both ground out, not knowing what would happen next.

  Black and gold scales replaced skin and hair. Their arms reshaped and talons grew from their fingers, but each creature’s hind quarters merged, lengthening, and spread into vicious, sharp-finned tails.

  A spiked frill crowned each leviathans’ head, and razor-edged teeth broke through heavily-scaled snouts.

  The walls cracked. Icy sea water rushed in, filling the chamber. “Valerie! We have to get to higher ground! NOW!” Soren threw her over his shoulder, and ran with Rylan toward the upper galleries, praying it was high enough ground.

  The two leviathans thrashed, crushing st
alagmites and stalactites, sending crushing waves throughout, shaking the mountain.

  Rylan exchanged a look with Soren. “Maybe we’d better get out of here before the Oloris dome comes crashing down.”

  “They’ll be all right. They’re making a point.”

  Water crashed in violent swells as Zale’s mighty tail flung the sorcerer ragdoll-like against the ceiling. His body hit with a loud crack, and as he tumbled toward the water, Adrian caught him in his claws. Razor sharp talons, pulled him limb from limb, staining the azure water red.

  Valerie stood both mesmerized and horrified at the spectacle. Soren slipped his arm around her stunned shoulders, steadying her on weak knees.

  “It’s okay, Val. Shifters don’t do this on a regular basis. Only when someone threatens those we love.”

  Rylan cupped his mouth, hoping the water didn’t affect the acoustics. “Hey, Adrian! Like Hannah told me. Don’t eat him. You’ll have indigestion for the next millennium!”

  Adrian’s leviathan lips pulled back in a scaly chuckle, even as Malus’s limp form hung in pieces in their razor sharp claws. Both Geminis shook loose what was left, but before the pieces hit the water, a dual billow of red flame blackened them to a crisp. The charred remains crumbled to nothing, dissolving in the ocean water.

  Both creatures lifted their massive heads and roared. The cavern walls shook, but the water receded, flowing out the same way it came until the cave was as dry as when they arrived. New crystals formed, sealing the cracks, and they glowed with infused life, their colors flickering over a brand new underwater lake.

  With a dull thud, the twin leviathans landed, careful of the remaining stalagmites and stalactites. In a flash of electricity and magic, they shifted back to human, exhausted. With a cry, Valerie raced ahead of Rylan and Soren, until she threw her arms around both Geminis necks.

  “I knew you’d come for me.” She kissed them over and over. “I’m just happy I got my own licks in before you shredded the son of a bitch!”

  Zale chuckled, dodging more kisses. “Where’d you learn to fight like that?”