Scales and Flames

by Catherine Banks

  Mako felt pure elation at the change. This was what her body was meant for. She bowed her head, her long neck moving her shoulders with the effort to look at herself. She finally felt proud of her dragon form. Once the magical energies faded, Mako breathed a sigh of relief. She couldn’t feel another dragon coming at them, so they hadn’t drawn attention to themselves. It felt good, not to hide. Even if this was only a drink-induced vision. The thought that none of this was real intruded. In the small glow from the fires, her bronze scales took on an ethereal glow that matched the amber in her necklace.

  “Mako?” Erik asked her tentatively placing a hand on her head. Mako raised her head away from his touch.

  “It’s going to be alright. The necklace is leading the way,” he said showing her the dim amber glow that was making a tiny ray of light in the direction they were headed.

  “It is not,” she said back to him.

  Erik looked shocked for a moment and then tried to point out the tiny glow from the necklace. Erik picked up the necklace from the ground where it had dropped.

  “Look at the light,” Erik said.

  “I can’t tell,” Mako’s voice carried enough that it was reverberating off the walls.

  Erik assured her he could see it. Mako didn’t want to argue with him and wake up a dragon, so she finally agreed. They followed the amber light leading them forward. Mako knew they were about to find another dragon. She knew it in her gut. Yet she couldn’t bring herself to leave Erik. She didn’t want him dead. That required following him through this hall.

  Mako was delighted to see her impressive wingspan could fit into this hallway. Now that she was no longer human, she could feel the air flowing under and around her. This wasn’t an underground temple like the one she was raised in. There were open areas around them. Wherever Akor had sent them, maybe it wasn’t in the past.

  Erik moved slower than she did, and she wanted to fly. She was forced to follow him slowly since she couldn’t even see the beam from the necklace he was referring to. They followed it around a number of corridors and passages and she noticed they were all lit with the same braziers. The hallways with various rooms lead off into blackness. Nothing glowed here.

  “I know this design,” Erik finally piped up.

  Mako looked down where he was pointing on the floor.

  “What design?” she asked him.

  “Can you not see it?” Erik said pointing.

  “No,” she said. Dragon’s eyes were sharp, but he was definitely hallucinating. Or she didn’t know what was real. Either way, it was scary.

  “Akor must have known you would need me,” Erik said. “The light is pointing straight down through it. I’ll look for a mechanism to open a door or something. I guess we don’t have a choice now.”

  Mako used her head to shove Erik aside gently. He couldn’t go down there. She was bigger than him and faster too. She was the one who was going to go through the floor if they had to.

  Erik flipped his imaginary switch on the floor. They were both hit with a blast of hot air.

  “There’s a dragon down there. Figures it would hide underneath its own halls,” she said.

  “Mako, do you think you can protect me while I get it?” Erik asked.

  She whipped her head back to look at him. What was he talking about? Did he not know that dragon’s breath would instantly kill a human? He may be a half-breed, but he didn’t know anything about his own kind. She used her head to shove him out of the way again. She was going down there, and he was staying up here. She didn’t care what he said to that. He wouldn’t survive if he got near another dragon.

  “No.”

  “Fine, I guess I’ll ride then.”

  Mako tried to pull her head back from him, but Erik held tight and swung up on the back of her neck. Mako lifted herself up on her back feet and he linked his hands as best he could into her scales.

  “Get off,” she grumbled.

  “No. I’m not leaving you. You can’t see half of what we need to move forward. We are going home together. You can get mad at me after that.”

  “I don’t like this. Be quiet,” Mako snorted at him. Still, she didn’t want to waste her energy fighting him. If he was quiet, maybe she wouldn’t have to fight another dragon after all.

  The floor was sliding away still revealing stairs descending in a circle. It was more than big enough for a dragon to fit. She could walk down them. She couldn’t see the bottom and all of a sudden felt dizzy again. And she was sure the heat would kill Erik before they got there.

  Down they went. Further and further into the floor. Mako lifted her wings up and over Erik in an attempt to shield him from the heat. Erik must have realized what she was doing. She could feel his fear coming off him even though he was hiding it well.

  The bottom floor was completely dark. At least there was more space up here. Whatever was putting off the heat was coming from down here. Erik’s intake of breath forced her to take a better look around. In the center there was something.

  It was a dragon. This one was old. Mako wasn’t sure it could get up. Dragons were technically immortal. At some point though, their bodies got too old to do anything but sleep. The process took thousands upon thousands of years. Whoever this dragon was, he was ancient. The black scales blended into the darkness engulfing whatever else was down here. The dragon’s body was putting off the heat by itself. Maybe it was a protection mechanism. Mako had only heard of such things, but she had been a kid. They were just stories.

  Erik tapped her on the shoulder. She lifted her head and looked up at him.

  He held up the necklace and pointed directly at the other dragon. What in the world could Akor be thinking? Did he want them to pick a fight with another dragon? That was suicide.

  Erik tapped her on the shoulder again. He pointed above the dragon’s head.

  In the stones above the dragon’s head, a small orb of light glowed back at them. This one was a forest green. How come she could see this one but she couldn’t see her own glow anymore?

  “I have to fly up,” she whispered, keeping her eyes locked on the dragon in front of them.

  “I’ll hang on, I promise. Just fly up there.”

  Mako shook her head.

  “Then lift me up there. I will get it. Just protect me while I do.”

  Mako wanted to growl at him or roar, but she knew that would wake the old sleeper.

  Erik pointed to the left of the green light above them.

  Mako looked and immediately put two and two together. He wanted her help to get up to the ledge. Then he was going to climb over and get the glowing green orb.

  “Mako, please. We won’t be able to get out of here without it.”

  The black dragon on the floor sighed and both of their heads snapped up to it. Mako thanked her lucky stars it was still sleeping. She turned her head back around to pin Erik with her glowing dragon eyes. She didn’t know if she could persuade the dragon to stay asleep if it came down to that. She was practiced as a human. She didn’t know if she could do the same with an ancient dragon. This one would take off their heads before she got her claws out.

  With as much stealth as she was able, Mako moved as close to the ledge as she dared. Standing on her hind legs, she extended her head. Erik climbed up her back. He was careful to not step on her face.

  Erik apparently was nimbler than she gave him credit for. He was able to get all the way along the ledge without making a sound. Once he got close to the center of the room, he placed his hands on the ledges and put his head down. What was he doing?

  Vines sprouted off the stone. Mako couldn’t believe it. Growing something in soil or a garden was one thing. Down here it should have been impossible. The vines extended towards the green orb. Three more feet and he would have it.

  The second the vines touched the orb, Mako’s eyes were drawn back to the ground. The dragon was awake. He wasn’t moving. He was looking around. She couldn’t just jump out of the way, that would draw his att
ention. There was no light down here. She could back into the shadows, he wouldn’t see her. If the dragon didn’t look up to where Erik held the necklace, he might go back to sleep.

  Seven

  Erik stopped moving. He stopped growing the vines. She could see that his eyes were locked on the ground below him, but she didn’t think he could tell what was going on. It was too dark. His hands had closed around the green orb. He could see things she could not, so maybe he was watching something she couldn’t see.

  Erik had said something about her being his mate. The thought came unbidden to her mind. If he was her mate, he couldn’t die. Regardless of whether she accepted him or not, she needed to protect him. That dragon was not getting up. Mako stared at the dragon, focusing her power towards him. The intent to sleep came forefront to her mind. She was told persuasion powers weren’t supposed to work on other dragons. It certainly hadn’t worked on Akor. Yet Akor’s powers had worked on her. She wasn’t a time dragon, but that didn’t mean she was powerless. If she concentrated hard enough, this sleepy dragon would be back out.

  “Go to sleep,” she projected over and over to the dragon. She didn’t want to chance waking it. Mako stayed frozen there, staring at the other dragon. He was obviously aware that something else was there. He didn’t seem to be blind, it was too dark. Without breathing fire or some other show of power, there was no way he could light the place.

  After what felt like ages, his eyes drifted back down. Mako was almost sure she was hallucinating herself. The dragon’s eyes had closed to slits. She could have sworn he had a soft bronze aura enveloping him from her own dragon power. Just a little bit more and they were home free…. If she could get Erik down quietly. She didn’t dare stop telling the black dragon to go to sleep.

  Erik apparently thought he could get himself down. Mako watched in almost horror as he lowered himself down using the vines to support him. He was feet away from the black dragon when his toes touched the ground.

  That did it. The black dragon sensed something else hitting the floor. She couldn’t tell how, but his eye snapped open and Erik was the first thing he saw. There was no hiding that glow from the green necklace now.

  Mako didn’t bother pushing her power at him anymore. They were done. Before the dragon could raise his head, Mako launched off her hind legs at him. She hit him square in the face and had to use her wings to balance and keep upright. She clawed at the black dragon’s face and lowered her head. Erik was quick. He gripped her neck, loosely, but still got a hold of her. Mako didn’t waste time. If she stayed to fight, the other dragon would overpower her. He was far bigger and stronger than she was. She took off, her wings spreading out to fill the long circular tunnel. She willed the other dragon not to follow, hoping he was partially still under her spell. She could only see the top because of the braziers. Flames erupted below her, but she couldn’t hear wings.

  She felt Erik press his face against her neck to hide from the flames.

  “Where’s the pedestal?” she shouted.

  “I will guide you,” he yelled back.

  Where was the other dragon? Erik tapped her left shoulder and she flew left without question. He tapped her right shoulder and she flew right. They were moving so fast, she almost crashed into the room.

  She could hear the other dragon coming now and didn’t bother stopping. He must be slower because he was waking up if it took him that long to get up the tunnel.

  “How do we go back?” she asked.

  “Just touch the thing.”

  It couldn’t be that simple. As soon as her side hit the pedestal, she had a spinning sensation.

  They did it. Mako was still reeling at how they escaped a dragon. Or even how they were teleported back.

  They were back on the swing sitting together perfectly still. She pulled her hand from Erik’s and realized she was back in human form. She stared at her hand as if she’d never seen it before trying to put the pieces together.

  “Mako?”

  “What?” She was so tired now all she wanted to do was sleep. It could have been the drink. It could have been the transformation. It could have been her use of power against another dragon. She had no idea. All she knew was she wanted to sleep for a week.

  “Will you stay?” he asked.

  “You could have died. We don’t even know how much of that was real. What are these jewel things anyway?”

  “Yes, but you wouldn’t have let me. Will you stay?” Erik repeated.

  “I’m not promising anything, but I will stay.”

  “I’m so glad.” He hugged her.

  Mako slightly stiffened at his touch.

  “I didn’t say anything about being your mate. I’m not agreeing to any of that nonsense. Look.” She held up the yellow necklace which was glowing again. At least she could see it. Erik held the green one and the closer they were together the brighter they glowed.

  “These orbs need to stay together. I’m willing to stay while we figure it out.”

  “Don’t worry, I will grow on you,” Erik said.

  Mako laughed, then impulsively decided and kissed him on the cheek.

  ABOUT L. ALEXANDRA LONG

  L. Alexandra Long is a full-time mom. She grew up reading everything she could get her hands on. She sat down to start writing her own book after much prompting from her soul mate Kristofer.

  She lives in Oregon. When she’s not writing or chasing her kids around, she is reading or playing video games.

  She’s really involved in the indie book community on Facebook and encourages everyone to check out all of the awesome authors and their upcoming works.

  STOLEN HOARD BY J.D. MONROE

  Stolen Hoard by J.D. Monroe

  Dragon shifter Dyadra Macias has lived a quiet life in the human world for a hundred years, far removed from the wars of her people. But when an unknown enemy kidnaps her family and leaves her home a smoldering ruin, she must call upon the slumbering dragon within to track them down and rescue them.

  Hell hath no fury like a dragon wronged.

  Stolen Hoard is a standalone story in the ongoing Dragons of Ascavar series, featuring powerful dragon shifters in a rich world of magic and might. While this story does reference characters and events from the series, you can completely enjoy this story on its own! If you choose to read it as part of the series, this takes place after the second book of the series.

  Did you know dragons have their own language? While all terms used are explained in context, if you want to follow along with the language of the dragons and learn more about their culture, you can check out this link to the Kadirai glossary on my website:

  | SPEAK THE LANGUAGE |

  STOLEN HOARD © Copyright 2018 J.D. Monroe

  All rights reserved under the International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, places, characters and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, organizations, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

  Warning: the unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.

  Created with Vellum

  One

  Teaching grade-schoolers to write dragon runes properly was much harder than teaching them to wield swords. Dyadra Macias was halfway through her third lesson of the day, teaching a room full of inquisitive—and squirmy—children to write their letters. Passing on the traditions was gratifying, but it also made her wish that there was something much stronger than her
bal tea in the lovely monogrammed mug one of the parents had brought her last week. In her time, dragons drank wine with lunch, but the headmistress of the Academy had politely, but firmly, forbidden the consumption of alcohol while on duty.

  A dozen students sat on plump cushions around gleaming wooden tables, in the traditional fashion of their people. Some were full-blooded Kadirai, dragon through and through. Others were hybrids of human and dragon, like Dyadra’s daughter. While some adults looked down their noses at anything but a pureblood dragon, Dyadra counted them all among her kin. And woe be unto the parent who suggested their child be separated from those with human blood. When they had fought and bled for their people as she had, they could make the rules.

  She knelt at the nearest table and tapped Ahsara’s paper. “Two dots above the line, dear,” she said in Kadirai, the native tongue of dragonkind. “Not below.” The dark-haired girl frowned at her paper and moved the thick crayon to try again. “Much better.”

  A creak of movement caught her ear. Before turning around, Dyadra sniffed the air. The sharp hint of citrus mixed with the thick, waxy smell of crayon belonged to Tamor. The wiry platinum-haired boy had asked her no fewer than forty-two questions since walking through the door. She spun on her heel to see the boy heading for her with his paper extended.

  “Is this right?” he asked in English.

  She raised an eyebrow. He halted at the sound of her voice. “Kadirai hanaare, an’kadi.”