I stared as they clashed, knowing I should do something to help but not knowing what. They moved so fast, jaws snapping and talons raking, that I couldn’t follow the battle. One of their tails bashed against a tank, and it toppled as if it weighed nothing and hadn’t been secured by steel and cement. If I tried to get close, they would knock me over—or kill me—without even noticing.
“Sindari,” I whispered, holding my charm.
Maybe he would have better luck helping.
But as Sindari formed at my side, I realized something. Zav was larger than Dob and just as fast and agile. He kept coming out on top in their skirmishes. Blood flowed from a dozen gashes in Dob’s silver scales, whereas Zav only had one significant cut.
Zav maneuvered atop his foe and pinned him, sinking his teeth into Dob’s shoulder. He snarled, shaking his head like a massive Rottweiler killing a rabbit. He snapped his jaws with lightning speed, changing his grip and biting into the onyx gem embedded in Dob’s chest. Snarling savagely, he tore it out, along with a huge chunk of scale and flesh.
Dob screeched and flailed, growing more desperate. His wild, pained eyes glanced my way, and I saw the threat an instant too late.
I ran, diving behind the remains of the walkway. I expected him to hurl a fireball or a wave of pure energy, but he attacked my mind, his power lancing into it like a dagger to my brain.
A scream escaped my lips before I could bite down and stop it. I curled into a ball, almost dropping my weapons, but at the last second, I tightened my grip. Chopper had always helped me repel magical attacks before, and I needed its help now.
Agony stabbed behind my eyes, but I willed myself to push it away, to build an impenetrable wall around my mind.
A roar penetrated the haze of pain, Sindari running away from my side to attack Dob. Another roar came from the dragons. Was that Zav?
I sensed part of his power wrapping protectively around my mind. The mental attack disappeared, and the pain left so abruptly that the cessation almost made me pass out. I growled, pushing back the darkness encroaching at the edges of my eyes. Weapons in hand, I shoved myself to my feet.
I was in time to see Zav go flying backward into two tanks. Dob pushed off, wings flapping madly. He hurled another attack, not at Zav but at the back wall of the building. It blew outward as if he’d ignited explosives.
He was escaping.
“No, you don’t.” I raced toward the new exit, hoping to cut him off. I jammed Fezzik in my holster as I ran—the bullets had done no good—but I kept Chopper.
Dob banked right in front of me, struggling to navigate in a facility that was cavernous to humans but cramped to the great dragons. I leaped and slashed at his foot, lamenting that I couldn’t reach a more vital target.
The blade glowed a fierce blue as it cut through one of the dragon’s toes. Dob screeched and glared back as he flew. I dropped flat to my belly as angry power blasted toward me, crackling over my skin like wildfire. It didn’t strike me full on, but the force was enough to send me skidding ten feet and rolling onto my back.
The next time we meet, Dob’s words thundered in my mind, you will die.
“So much for him wanting to screw me,” I muttered.
Black wings flapped past above me. Zav was giving chase.
“Get the bastard,” I yelled after him and sat up.
Don’t get in the way again, Sindari warned me, coming to my side. Or maybe to stand on me if I got up. He was distracted when you screamed and the silver knocked him back.
It wasn’t my fault Dob attacked me.
You were shooting at him.
Yeah, ineffectively. Zav asked me to help if I could. It’s not like coming with him was my idea. He—
I halted and gaped as green lightning streaked up from the pavement outside the exit hole Dob had blown. Dob had already escaped, flying out of my sight, but the lightning caught Zav, wrapping around him and crackling with power that held the sun’s intensity. Even from a hundred feet away, I felt it, like a swarm of wasps attacking from all sides.
Zav crashed down, hitting the pavement like a wrecked airplane. The pain assailing me faded, and I pushed myself to my feet.
Outside, Zav lay crumpled on the ground. I swore. If it had felt like wasps from a hundred feet away, what had it been like to be right in the middle of it? And what if Dob came back to press his advantage now that his trap had sprung?
I ran for the exit, my body aching from my harsh ride across the hard floor. With Chopper in hand, I envisioned protecting Zav from an attack. As if cutting off the tip of Dob’s toe had actually done anything.
When I reached Zav’s side, my blade raised as I scanned the gray sky, a soft mist fell on my warm cheeks but nothing more. I didn’t see the silver dragon. But I kept my sword up. Dob could be above the low cloud cover, preparing to swoop down.
He is fleeing to the south, Zav spoke wearily into my mind. I can sense him now.
He spat weakly and the black onyx oval—and a chunk of Dob’s chest—tumbled out onto the pavement.
“Gross,” I said, though I was relieved that he—and I—would be able to sense Dob’s aura now. “Uhm, will you be all right?”
Concerned that Zav wasn’t making an attempt to get up from the pavement, I stepped close enough to rest a hand on his cool side. Guilt crept into me. He was only injured because Dob had attacked me and Zav had paused his own attack to protect me.
I hated that I’d been used as a pawn in this, hated that I’d been someone’s weakness to exploit. Not once but twice that bastard had used me.
It didn’t matter that me coming along had been Zav’s idea, not mine. He’d probably expected me to be able to take care of myself or at least do enough to be useful. I remembered him asking what powers I had beyond my charms and weapons and having to admit that I had nothing. Only a sword that was death to dragon toes. Maybe it could hurt more than a toe if I could ever reach anything higher. How did the knights that slew dragons in stories do it? Trampolines?
I knew there would be traps, Zav admitted, not answering my question. He had days to work on them. But in the bloodlust of the hunt, I wasn’t thinking. I should not have charged out recklessly.
Self-reproach was going around. “Are you going to be all right? Is there anyone I can get to help?”
In this forsaken world?
“Maybe Zoltan the vampire alchemist has a nice potion.”
Zav pushed himself into a sitting position, his wings drooping at his sides. I am in pain, but I still have my power. I will create a portal and go see someone who can heal me more efficiently than I would naturally. I have no wish to crawl into a dank cave in these woods and spend weeks regenerating.
I almost said that if he could regenerate in human form, he could stay in my apartment, but I couldn’t think of anything more awkward after that weird compulsory kiss that had ended up far too real, at least for me, than I could have imagined. Besides, if he could go home and get healed by another dragon, that would be best.
“Do you think that’s what Dob will do?” I didn’t like the idea of him hanging out in the area when Zav was gone, especially now that he wanted to kill me instead of simply using me.
Possibly. I hope he returns to that cave where I set a trap. Zav clacked his jaws together in what sounded like appreciation—or delight. Either way, he should not be strong enough to bother you for a few days. With luck, I will return by then. He killed goblins and humans cruelly and for no point other than to vex me.
“Will you try to hunt him down and kill him for that?”
It is against our laws to kill dragons and dragon-kin. It will be my duty to capture him for punishment and rehabilitation.
“Will that be as difficult as it sounds?”
Yes. Not because I can’t capture him but because his family has powerful allies on the Dragon Justice Court and in prominent positions throughout the Cosmic Realms. It is likely they will, through political maneuvering, be able to have him set free without pun
ishment.
I didn’t like the sound of that.
Zav turned his gaze toward me. You will be able to make your way home safely?
My cheeks flushed at the insinuation that I’d be helpless without my dragon bodyguard. But after my performance today, how could I expect him to think anything else?
“Yeah.” I jerked a thumb toward the parking lot on the other side of the building where my Jeep waited. “No problem.”
I didn’t ask him if he would come back and help with my problem, not when we hadn’t accomplished what I’d said I would help him with first. As I’d feared all along, I would have to figure out a way to deal with the shifter brothers on my own.
“Sorry I wasn’t more help,” I added. “And that you got hurt because of me.”
Zav continued to gaze down at me. I was still standing there, holding Chopper. He probably thought it was silly that I’d run out, thinking I could actually do something to protect him.
I asked you to come. It was my mistake.
That made me feel worse instead of better. Pathetically useless.
He opened a portal, a great shimmering silver puddle of energy in the air. But he paused before stepping through it. He transformed into his human form, and it was a startling reflection of the injuries he’d received as a dragon.
His eyes held pain, his dark hair was tousled, and blood dripped from a gouge in his temple. Even his robe was shredded, hinting of wounds to his body.
But he still radiated power, and seeing him in human form again rekindled memories of that kiss. More than memories. Even bruised and battered, and with Dob’s influence fading, I wanted to step closer to him, to bask in his power. In that stupid alluring aura of his that I couldn’t wash off. It was definitely for the best that he was leaving for a while. As it was, I feared my dreams would be distressingly erotic for the next few nights.
Zav stepped close and lifted a hand to the side of my face. I froze, afraid he was going to leave me with some new compulsion. But all he did was send his healing power through me, stealing the aches and pains throughout my body, and mending the tiny cut Dob had left on my face.
Tears welled in my eyes. Why was he wasting his energy on me when he should use it for healing himself? Did he feel guilty because I’d been hurt trying to help him with his foe? Could a haughty, arrogant dragon even feel guilt?
He rubbed my cheek with his thumb and gazed into my eyes as the healing energy faded, but my awareness of him and his touch didn’t fade. The urge to kiss him returned to me. But that would be a bad idea. He would snort and remind me that he wasn’t attracted to me. There would be no reason for him to play along a second time.
He leaned his face toward mine, and for a startled moment, I thought he would kiss me, but he pressed his forehead against mine instead and murmured two words. “Aryoshanti sharyo.”
Was I supposed to say that back? Would it kill the moment to ask what it meant? More importantly, was he looking at my lips and thinking how sexy they were, or was that my imagination? Definitely my imagination. He was probably disgusted that he’d pretended to be into me back in there. Though he didn’t look disgusted. He looked… contemplative.
Zav shook his head slightly, as if he’d reached some decision, then lowered his hand and stepped back. Without another word, he walked into the portal and disappeared.
I bit my lip, afraid my reaction—or non-reaction—had been the wrong one. I should have closed my eyes, leaned into him, and let myself appreciate his gesture. It had seemed meaningful. But my irreverent mind had been too busy yammering for me to realize it.
Now, with Zav gone and sweat drying on my skin in the damp air, I felt cold and alone. The moment seemed a representation of my life. Always alone. Never with someone to go home to, or go home with. I’d picked that life, but it didn’t mean I didn’t regret it. It didn’t mean I didn’t sometimes long for companionship.
I rubbed my face, trying to push aside the funk. It wasn’t as if I was missing Zav. The epitome of infuriating arrogance. I’d have to be nuts to want that in my life.
“You’re losing it, girl,” I muttered and headed inside to fetch my duster.
I didn’t need any more dragon distractions. I had a friend to help.
25
Hammering noises came from the inside of Nin’s no-longer-charred food truck. It was still parked in the same spot in the commissary compound, but I’d heard she’d successfully driven it around the block and nothing had fallen off. With Crying Tiger freshly painted in bright blue letters on the side, the truck was starting to look like it had before the fire.
I knocked on the door, and Nin came out with a paint-stained rag. She smiled warmly at me, then waved at a security camera mounted under the awning.
“Is that a new one or did it survive the fire?” I asked.
“It is the old one, and it did survive the fire. Once I was able to get the footage downloaded, I learned that it caught the face of the person who started the fire.” She pulled out a folded piece of paper and showed me a color printout.
“That’s the leopard shifter I pummeled. Too bad it wasn’t one of the Pardus brothers themselves. I’d have an easier time getting backup if they were being blatant about their illegal activities.”
“Do you need backup? You had mentioned that the dragon might assist you with negotiations.”
“I know, but he got injured and is back in his world recuperating.”
Nin’s eyes widened. “What could injure a dragon?”
“Another dragon. Specifically, a magical trap set by one.” I waved in dismissal, not wanting to think about Zav or Dob. It was time to focus and complete this mission. “I need to handle this without him. I shouldn’t have been relying on some outsider anyway. I’m capable of dealing with shifters by myself… though I do acknowledge that I’ll need a few distractions, things going on outside while I’m sneaking in. Why, you ask? Because when I drove by this morning, there were even more of those cat shifters loitering at the Pardus house. I’m honestly flummoxed. What could possibly be there that’s so interesting?”
“Sex, drugs, and rock and roll?” Nin seemed earnest about the suggestion.
“Probably, but that can’t be all of it.” I shrugged. “I don’t care what they’re doing. I just want to solve your problem. So, as I said, I’ll need distractions. That’s why I called this meeting. Let’s wait until Dimitri and his phone get here before I explain things.”
“His phone?”
“Zoltan has agreed to be on a call with us.” I glanced at the time. “In fourteen minutes. He was unwilling to wake up before his regular evening rising hour.”
“I will assist you in any way I can,” Nin said.
“Thank you. I’ve already made some arrangements, but you can definitely help by providing some weapons for—”
My phone buzzed with a text message, and I nodded.
“Good, one of my distractions has been confirmed. Someone from Willard’s office is making arrangements for the police to visit the Northern Pride’s headquarters tomorrow at nine p.m. They’ve got a warehouse near the freeway at the north end of Woodinville. It seems that people have been complaining about them operating a meth lab out of it, so a warrant is being issued for a search.” I tapped the file Willard had sent about the Northern Pride. I’d finally had time to read everything about them and brainstorm ideas.
“I have not heard of a shifter-operated meth lab,” Nin said.
“Me either—Willard’s research says the shifters meet at their headquarters regularly to socialize and play with boxes and that’s about it—but it’s amazing how rumors can catch on and spread like wildfire. I’m hoping that a strategically timed visit from the police will prompt a number of shifters to be called back north and leave fewer for me to deal with at the brothers’ house.”
“Play with boxes?” Dimitri said, rounding the corner of the truck and joining us.
“I may have filled in that detail myself. The report only menti
ons pool tables. But workers in the neighboring buildings have reported suspicious activity at their headquarters at night before, so it wasn’t hard to get a couple of them to snitch to the police.”
Willard was also going to send a couple of subtle plainclothes agents to the mobile-home park tomorrow to clear out the houses around the Pardus house—an unfortunate gas leak would require the homeowners to stay in a hotel for the night. I hoped to take care of the brothers without causing collateral damage or hurting anyone nearby, but it was better to be safe than sorry.
It had taken me some time, and a reminder of past favors done, to convince Willard to do any of this, since this wasn’t an assignment she’d given me or even wanted me on, but I’d promised I’d be back on the dragon problem sooner once I knew Nin was safe.
I pointed at Dimitri. “Is it late enough to get Zoltan on the line?”
“I’ll check.” Dimitri tapped his phone screen.
“Thanks. Nin, got anything we can use to sit on? Let’s get this party started.”
While she brought out coolers to serve as chairs, explaining that she would have to use them for food storage until she could get her refrigerator repaired, I answered a text regarding one of my other distractions and summoned Sindari. Since I would need his help, it made sense to include him in the planning.
I perched on the edge of a blue Coleman cooler while Nin and Dimitri sat opposite me on some knockoff brand called the Insulation Sensation.
“I am here,” Zoltan’s Hungarian accent came from the phone.
Dimitri held up the screen, the vampire’s infrared lights glowing red behind him, so we could see each other.
“Zoltan, I’m going to infiltrate a compound of panther, lion, and tiger shifters up in Bothell. One-on-one, I can usually handle these guys, but there have been at least ten hanging out there every time I’ve gone by.”
Battle Bond: An Urban Fantasy Dragon Series (Death Before Dragons Book 2) Page 22