by JD Monroe
Erevan grabbed the phone back from her. “Lilya? Lilya!”
There was only white noise, and a distant cry receding into disturbing silence. His stomach churned as he imagined Lilya being dragged away. The woman who’d tried to help him. “Fuck,” he swore.
“What was that?” Valella asked.
“One of Thosrin’s Flock,” he said. “I think she’s in danger.” He displayed the phone. “We have a location. It may be where they’re keeping the Kadirai.”
“And now they know that we know,” Ruana said quietly.
“Which means we have to go now before they try to clean everything up like they did to Beale,” Natalie said.
“We’re not ready to mount an attack,” Valella said. “Not if they have this weapon Sohan spoke of. I will not send my best soldiers into a situation in which they are doomed.”
“You can’t leave them all to die,” Ruana said.
Erevan exchanged a look with Natalie. He raised his eyebrows at her. She nodded. “We’ll go. Sohan’s been training Natalie. She can protect me from the weapon.”
“One Skywatch agent and an untrained hybrid.” Rosak’s voice dripped with disdain. “This is ridiculous. I should be the one to go.”
“You’ll do no such thing,” Valella said. “You’re needed here.”
And Erevan was not. Losing Erevan was much more tolerable than losing Rosak. He tried not to let the dismissal and the clear implication of his expendable status sting too badly.
“Erevan will go,” Sohan said.
“And if you fail?” Valella said.
“Then they both die horribly, and you’re no worse off than you are now. Su’ud redahn, we cannot afford to wait long. Even without the call, they have to know that they’ve been detected,” Sohan said. “If they are smart – and they are – they will disappear before we can close in. It must be soon, or we will lose our chance.”
The queen was quiet for a long stretch, her eyes searching Erevan. With her amber gaze locked on him, he gave a tiny nod. “Very well. If you wish to go, I will allow it.”
“You will look for the Elegy,” Sohan said. “Disable it, and we can bring in a large enough force to overwhelm them.”
“Okay,” Erevan said. No big deal. Just find the weapon that decimated his people and hope he survived by virtue of a tenuous psychic connection with an untrained hybrid who’d thought she was human two days ago. He couldn’t stop hearing die horribly roll off Sohan’s tongue like it was nothing. It was one thing to let his ego do the talking, claiming he and Natalie could stop the horror show north of the city. It was quite another to actually face it, with no solid proof that the two of them would survive it. For all his resolve, he didn’t want to die, and he didn’t want to drag Natalie into a situation she wouldn’t survive. The only thing that frightened him more than being helpless to the Elegy was the idea of Natalie in the hands of the Raspolin.
Valella brushed a stray hair back into the elaborate style. “You will not speak of this to anyone. Tonight is the final night of festival.”
“I would hate to disturb your expensive party,” Sohan said.
The queen scowled at Sohan. “Must you always be the spiteful cynic? I will not stir my people into a panic over something they cannot control on a holy day. When will you go?”
“Right away,” Erevan said. “Tonight, I suppose.”
Ruana shook her head. “We both fought Tahin. I’m exhausted, and I know you are too.”
“I’m fine,” he said.
“I know you, and you need to rest.”
“Do not tell me what I need.”
She grasped his arm. “You’re an idiot if you go into this half-rested and without a plan. Get some rest, then leave before the sunrise.”
“She’s right,” Natalie said. “Just a few hours.”
He nodded to her. “We should train before we rest. You’ll need a chance to get on my back and let us both get comfortable with the connection in my dragon form.”
“Keep this quiet,” the queen reminded them as she stood. “Rosak and Sohan, you will confer with Erevan to establish a strategy. You will keep me informed with all changes.”
“Of course,” Rosak said, shooting Erevan a glare.
“Go on to the training center,” he told Natalie. “I’ll join you soon.”
One of the queen’s guards escorted her out of the imposing throne room and into the main hall of the palace. From there, Natalie assured her she could find her way, and walked alone to the training center. With evening approaching, glowing lanterns were lit along the stone paths. The pounding rhythm of drums and a reedy instrument echoed off the stone walls of the palace as the evening festivities began. The vibrant, festive atmosphere was at odds with the cold dread weighing her down.
One guard remained at the heavy door on the underground level of the training center. He greeted Natalie and let her into the empty facility. With nerves making her jittery and nauseous, she paced the rubber floor, curling her toes against the textured surface to ground herself. To release some of the nervous energy, she stretched with a yoga flow that Thea had taught her. When the knot in her belly finally loosened, she tried to summon the lightning.
Now that she’d awakened the ability, she realized that it was always there, not something she turned on or off. Like a dull headache, it passed from awareness but returned when she thought about it. It manifested as a crackle in her solar plexus, and a gentle tingle in her fingers like they’d fallen asleep. She held out one hand and concentrated on bringing the power out, but nothing happened.
Frowning, she tried to channel the same powerful anger that had accompanied the spark before. When Sohan shouted at her as she was helpless against Teliv, and again when she’d listened to Beale describing the captive dragons like cargo, something hot and all-consuming had swept over her. Thea. Her best friend, her beautiful friend, bound and entangled in wires like those poor dragons in Beale’s lab.
Still nothing but that subtle crackle.
A bright light flashed by the door, accompanied by a loud chime. Natalie looked up and stormed toward the door, taking out her frustration on the floor with each pounding step. Mimicking what she’d seen Teliv do the day before, she put her hand on the smooth silver panel. The metal warmed against her palm, and the door unlocked.
She opened the door to find Erevan on the other side, looking solemn. Her heart fluttered, and she scolded the hapless organ to mind its business, even if he had reawakened a desperate longing in every cell of her body. It wasn’t fair for him to look so good.
“May I come in?”
“I don’t think I can say no.” Her tone fell flat, and he didn’t smile in response.
He slid the door closed behind them. It sealed with a subtle puff of air. “Sohan told me what to look for. If I can take it out quick, then I can send a signal back to the others to attack.”
“We.”
He cocked his head. “Huh?”
“What we need to look for. We can send a signal,” she said. “Unless you’re planning to do what you did earlier.”
“Which is…?”
“When you took off after Tahin and left me to chase you down like an idiot.”
He folded his arms, circling her. “I knew he wasn’t going to use the Elegy.”
“I wasn’t aware your dragon form made you psychic. I’ll add that to the list.”
His eyes narrowed. “He’s a dragon, Natalie. He wouldn’t use a weapon that would weaken him that way.”
“Right, and how did you know that he didn’t have his own defense? Sohan figured out that I could protect you. His people invented the damn thing. I’d imagine they could figure out another way to protect themselves.”
“There’s not, and—”
“And who’s to say he wasn’t luring you deeper to a whole army of people with spears, or I don’t know, automatic weapons to shred you like tissue paper?”
He put his hand on her shoulder. “Why are you so angry?”
“I’m angry because you keep diving into danger and you’re going to get hurt. How do I know you won’t do it again? If you get yourself killed, we don’t have a chance of saving Thea. I’m trying to help you and you won’t let me.”
“And how would you have helped if he was luring us into a trap? Does your newfound ability to produce a handful of sparks make you bulletproof in addition to dangerously arrogant?” She scowled at him, but he shook his head. “I would rather you were angry and alive than the alternative. Forgive me for caring enough that I wanted to keep you safe.”
“Don’t turn it back to me so I sound like a jerk,” she said. “This is about your ego. You don’t want to accept help.”
“You don’t know me well enough to make proclamations about my ego,” he said. His nostrils flared, and she could feel heat pouring off him as he got angrier. Good. Maybe she was getting through. “I made a decision in the moment. I didn’t think I was at risk from the weapon. Carrying you into the battle would have put you in unnecessary danger, so I didn’t do it. Be angry if you want, but if you’re holding out for an apology, you’re wasting your time.”
She let out a growl. “You’re frustrating as hell, do you know that? Maybe I care about you, and I don’t want you to end up like those others.” She didn’t realize how heated she’d gotten until she heard the sharp echo of her anger bouncing off the stone walls.
He froze. “You do?”
“For God’s sake,” she muttered. “Yes. Yes, I do. And you’re driving me nuts.”
He softened and touched her arm lightly. Despite the tension, his touch sent a shiver through her. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry I worried you.”
“I thought you weren’t going to apologize.”
“Not for leaving you,” he said. “But I’m sorry my actions caused you to worry. Natalie, I know you think I’m being stubborn, but I don’t want you to go. Not because I think you’re weak, but because I don’t want to risk you getting hurt.”
“But it’s the best chance you have.”
“I know. And I hate it.”
She touched his forearm. The red dragon’s fire burned beneath his skin, awakening a fire in her. “I’m not afraid.”
He raised his eyebrows. “You should be. Why are you so adamant about this?”
“Thea’s my best friend,” she said. A lump swelled in her throat. Do not cry. “Everyone in my life leaves. My dad disappeared before I was born. My mom died. My brother lives on the opposite side of the world. My last boyfriend left. I was all alone until I met Thea, and I can’t lose her, too. I won’t.” She took a deep breath as her chest trembled, willing herself to be calm. “My mother was sick for a long time. I researched and talked to every doctor who would see me. Anything that would help her, I would do it. If someone had told me I could save her by riding a dragon into a fortress full of evil dragon-slayers, then I wouldn’t have hesitated. Not even for a second. I couldn’t save her, but maybe I can save Thea. And if there’s even a chance, then I’m doing it. Whether you like it or not. If you refuse me, I’ll get Sohan to find someone else. No offense, buddy, but I get the impression I’m more important to this than you are.”
His jaw dropped. Had she gone too far? “You are unbelievable.” His voice was warm and gentle. Grasping her face, he leaned down to kiss her forehead. With his warm hands burning against her cheeks, she was overcome with the irresistible urge to grab his face and pull him down for a kiss. But there was no time for such silliness now. He released her. “All right. Let’s figure this out for real.”
“You’ll take me?”
“You’ve made it very clear that’s not my decision.”
Her heart fluttered as he crossed the room to the pair of wide double doors across from the entrance. He activated a metal plate on the wall, issuing a red glow around his large hand. The doors swung outward, revealing a dark tunnel.
She wasn’t sure what there was to figure out, and things got even more confusing as he tugged his shirt over his head and kicked off his loose-fitting pants, revealing his notable lack of underwear. “Oh, geez.”
He put his hands on his hips. “I’m sorry. My people are very comfortable with this,” he said, turning to the side, which didn’t help. It hid the full-frontal view, which was already seared into her memory, and granted her an unobstructed view of the glorious sweep from his shoulder down to a perfectly sculpted ass. “I get tired of replacing my clothes. Get used to it if you plan to be involved with dragons for any length of time.”
She wasn’t complaining. That was a sight she could get used to. With a blush heating her cheeks, she asked, “Does it hurt?”
He knelt, looking up at her with a curious expression. “What?”
“When you change?”
“Yes. But it passes quickly, and I’m used to it now.” He tilted his head. “If it frightens you, you don’t have to watch.”
“I was just curious.”
He planted his hands on the ground, like a sprinter ready to burst from the blocks at the sound of the starting gun. Then a shockwave exploded from him, buffeting her with a wave of heat. He was engulfed in hazy red-orange light, like flames licking over him. Tan skin split down his spine, bisecting the intricate tattoo down his back. The transformation was quick and graceful.
A few seconds later, a massive red dragon stood in front of her. She hadn’t seen him so close before. With a growl that sounded like a deep purr, he stretched his wings, nearly brushing opposite walls with the massive wingspan.
Her heart pounded as she approached him. His body was the size of a large vehicle. Her head barely reached his shoulder. How was such a magnificent creature confined within a human shell? A warm, dry breeze swirled around him as his wings undulated. Reptilian eyes, amber with snake-like pupils, followed her movements.
“Do you still understand me?” she asked.
He let out a growling noise and nodded. His horned head dipped low. She flinched. Though she knew it was Erevan, it was hard to not be afraid in front of such a strange, powerful creature.
“Can you speak?”
“A bit.” The rumbling words were slow and disjointed, like it took a great effort.
“It sounds difficult.”
He nodded. “Yes.”
With his head lowered, he took several large steps toward her. Her heart thumped, and she stepped back. But he bowed his head further, nudging it toward her with his jaw nearly brushing the ground. With a trembling hand, she reached out to touch his ridged brow. The scales were hard and bladed, like rough rock. As soon as she touched him, energy thrummed up her arm. The spark in her chest swelled, and she felt that sense of grasping for him that she’d felt before. Heat tickled along the base of her skull.
“Trust me,” she murmured, stroking the row of scales between his eyes. His spined limbs folded beneath him as he tucked his wings tight to his body. He flicked his long tail, cocking his head as he maintained eye contact.
“Do you want me on your back?”
He growled again.
She carefully crossed to his side, then appraised him. “I’m afraid I’ll hurt you.”
He made a rhythmic, chuffing noise that might have been a laugh. “I am fine.”
Gingerly, she put her hands on his side. He crouched even lower, allowing her to climb up with his elbow as a step. The hard plates bit into her thighs, but she noticed the spines were less pronounced closer to his head. She climbed higher until she was balanced in front of the thick joint of his wings, legs squeezing either side of his thick neck. “Is this okay?”
He chuffed again, sending a rumbling vibration through her body, then stood to his full height. Her stomach lurched as she rose into the air.
“Oh shit,” she said, gripping his scales as he lurched toward the tunnel. “Please don’t drop me.”
The tunnel emerged into an open field, covered by a canopy of midnight with silver pinprick stars glittering like diamonds. Erevan spread his wings, enough to give her warning of what he
was about to do, then leaped into the air. The world fell away beneath them, and she squealed in surprise as they soared into open space.
“Whoa!” Her legs clamped on either side of his thick neck. The heat of him surrounded her, surging down her spine and into her limbs.
His powerful wings beat in slow strokes, carrying them high into the dark expanse of the night. The rapid ascent left her dizzy and breathless. Her mind was flooded in equal parts by fear and exhilaration. Reaching past the fear, she opened herself further to the connection, like grabbing his hand to keep from falling.
A shock ran through her, as if she’d run headlong into something solid. She gasped involuntarily at the sensation. Erevan growled again, shaking her entire body. Warmth pooled between her legs, and she struggled to catch her breath. The wall between them crumbled as the threads of their power melded.
Two became one. Their wings beat. Their hearts pounded like festival drums.
Together they flew.
Unfettered joy consumed her as she looked down at the blur of trees below, rushing up to meet them. She knew—because he knew—which way to lean for perfect balance. With a deep breath, she released her death grip on his neck, letting her hands fall by her sides. The wind whipped through her hair, tangling it behind her. As he swooped up sharply, he rumbled and let out a long tongue of brilliant flame.
What was this insane dream?
He continued his maneuvers, getting more and more daring. Gravity couldn’t touch them. She could feel his joy at being in the air, his growing comfort with her upon his back. Her legs shook with the effort of holding on when he finally began to descend, returning through the dark tunnel. He hit the ground hard, jolting her, then ran at a blistering speed toward the light. When he skidded to a halt, she slid off his back. His massive tail swished, reminding her of an excited cat. Then his wings curled around him, and he was surrounded in a blinding shimmer.