by Aaron Crash
Steven took in a big, shuddery breath and ran a hand through his sweat-soaked hair. His heart burned like a furnace, and his lungs felt like they were full of soot. His arm throbbed. But he wasn’t bleeding anymore, he didn’t think. Even if he was bleeding out, though, it didn’t really matter. He’d had the best sex of his life, he’d protected Tessa, and he was riding around in a heaven of leather, wheels, and the best of German automotive engineering. There were worse ways to go.
His head seemed to be floating above his body. Was he going to pass out? He realized that Tessa had gone from laughing to crying. He reached back, and she seized his hand with both of hers.
He turned to Aria and something slid into place. “That was you. You’re the dragon. You breathed fire down the hall. You ruined my home, my life, everything.”
“That is certainly one way to look at it,” Aria murmured. “Another way is that I saved you and saved everything else in the process. He would’ve cut you in half with that sword, you know.” She paused, gaze distant. “It was magical, but where would a Skinling get a sword like that?” That last bit seemed more for her than for Steven.
“It’s not like we can ask him, right?” Steven asked. “He couldn’t have survived your fire.”
“He might’ve, depending on how far along he is in the rituals,” Aria replied. “We would be very fortunate if I killed him, since he must be connected to a Prime. If we’re lucky, it’s some foreign Prime coming to dick with us. Most likely, however, he’s one of Rhaegen Mulk’s vassals. And in three days, he’ll find you and kill whoever is with you. Except for me. He won’t kill me. He has other plans for me.”
Finally, the chaos of the night got to Steven. Tessa cried. He got pissed. “Where were you, Aria? Dammit, you kissed me, and then you took off. And here I am, trying to do my normal life like an idiot when I have fucking assassins with broadswords coming after me like it’s a Highlander sequel only with more dragon people. That guy with the dragon head, is he a Dragonsoul?”
“No, he is a Skinling, on his way to becoming a Dragonskin. Humans who want to become dragons can become Dragonskins. They can shift into a partial form, at first, but when they complete the rituals, they can transform into a full dragon, but their abilities are limited. They must serve a Prime.” Aria sighed. “A Prime like Rhaegen Mulk.”
It was a lot of information to process, and Steven was having a hard time keeping up.
“What’s a Prime?” Tessa asked in a weepy voice, wiping away her tears with the back of her hand.
He didn’t blame her for crying. The stress they’d been under would’ve made anyone emotionally unstable.
Aria stopped at a stoplight. The streets were basically deserted. It was 4:28 a.m. on a Friday morning. “A Dragonlord Prime rules a Primacy.” She faltered, lips pressed into a thin line. “Look at it this way, the world is divided up among the dragon kings, and each one jealously guards his kingdom. He has vassals—servants —who fight for him and serve him unquestioningly. Denver is part of the Great Plains Primacy, which stretches from the Rocky Mountains east to the American Farmlands Primacy, which starts in Kansas.”
Tessa put some of it together. “And this Rhaegen Mulk is the Dragonlord Prime of the Great Plains Primacy.”
“He is,” Aria said.
“So, who are you?” Steven asked.
“I’m the daughter Rhakshor Khat, the Dragonlord Prime of Maharashtra Primacy in India. But who I am is not the great mystery here. What Steven is … who he is … that is what I don’t understand. After our kiss, I read through your books, your journals, to discover more about your true identity. I left, and I’ve been making calls and studying ancient texts, trying to unlock your secret ever since. You are a Dragonsoul, clearly, but raised by humans. Such a thing has never happened. You were hidden, obviously, but why?”
“Uh, not sure,” Steven said. “My parents, though, my mom and dad, they would have to be Dragonsouls, wouldn’t they?”
“Yes, they would,” Aria said. “But if they didn’t show you your power, raise you as a Dragonsoul, perhaps they are human. Perhaps they are not your real biological parents at all. That is my best guess at this point.”
“Uh, Steven, are you pissed she went through your stuff while you were asleep?” Tessa asked.
“I think we’re beyond that now,” he answered. “My stuff is gone, and Aria can do whatever, as long as it helps me figure out who I really am.”
Aria had a question of her own. “Are you going to be angry I kissed your boyfriend?”
“No,” Tessa said with a casual chuckle. “He wasn’t my boyfriend yesterday, and I’m not sure he’s my boyfriend now. Even if he was, I don’t own him. Besides, I’m not what you would call the jealous kind anyway.”
Steven knew for a fact that Tessa was polyamorous. She liked to date lots of different types of people—men and women—at one time. For a minute, Steven thought about the possibilities in that luxury automobile. But he shook the thought off, as tantalizing as it was, since he had other things to worry about.
Now, more than ever, he wanted to talk to his mom. He fished his phone out of his pocket and called the house phone. It rang and rang and rang. No one picked up.
“Aria,” he said, “we need to get to my mom’s house. If my life is in danger, they might go after her.”
“Perhaps,” she said. “But it could be, they know nothing about her. I was drawn to you because last night you turned twenty, two decades, and that is a powerful time in a Dragonsoul’s existence. That is why the Skinling tried to kill you. If your mother isn’t a dragon, she is safe. If we drive to her house, we could accidentally lead the Skinling and other assassins to her. We should stay away.”
Steven let out a frustrated breath. “I keep calling. She doesn’t answer. And she’s not good with voicemail. Like, she can’t do it at all.”
“Can’t do voicemail? Ouch,” Tessa said with a wince.
“If I’m such a baby dragon,” Steven said, “why would anyone want me dead?”
“You are a male, and you have great power,” Aria replied. “You see, Primes must fight to keep the Primacies. Very few males are born—most Dragonsouls are women—and so any new male birth is seen as a potential rival. Dragonsoul laws are strict about murdering male dragonlings, and yet most of the Primes see themselves as above the law.”
“So this Rhaegen Mulk sent his lackeys to kill me the minute he realized I existed.” Steven shook his head. “That’s just great.”
“But not just once, twice,” Aria said. “If you were a typical male, Rhaegen Mulk might not care. He might see you as a Ronin, a Dragonsoul male without a Primacy. There have been powerful Ronins before and they went unmolested. You, though, you are different. I know it, and so does whoever wants you dead.”
“So what do we do now?” Steven asked.
“That is why I keep driving in circles,” Aria said. “I have no idea.”
“I’d like some underwear and a bra. If we have to fight again, I don’t want to be flopping all around,” Tessa said. “Why don’t we start there?”
“Sorry, Tessa,” Steven said, “but I think I know what we have to do.” He corrected himself. “No, I know exactly what we have to do.”
Steven lifted the mystic topaz pendant on his chest. As if prompted, the pendant gleamed and the map of Colorado was superimposed on the windshield. The three blinking flames flickered in the north, the west, and the south.
The pendant map was the one key Steven had to unlock his mysterious past, and he intended to use it.
EIGHT
Steven reached out and touched the flames burning to the north along the St. Vrain river. He felt himself called to the north first.
“Fuckin’ A,” Tessa cursed. “That’s like a hologram. That’s like fucking Star Wars. Or Harry Potter. Maybe Lord of the Rings. Moon letters or some Hobbit shit. That map … how does it work?”
“It’s magic,” Aria whispered. “I asked about such a pendant, and from my sour
ces, they said that it might be ancient sorcery. Such artifacts were popular a thousand years ago, but today, we have so much technology, they aren’t needed by Magicians and Dragonlords. Are you sure you don’t know where you got it?”
Steven shook his head. “You know that junk drawer in your house where odds and ends wind up? I swear, I pulled this out of a junk drawer when I was thirteen. I wore it on and off until I graduated from high school, and then I really liked it for some reason. I’ve worn it very day since.”
“I believe it is from your parents. Your real parents,” Aria said. “The man and woman who raised you —kind and loving as they may be—are not your kin.”
Steven felt his heart shrink. That was hard to take. He’d hoped his mom was blood-related because he really loved her, and he knew she really loved him. They’d been through a lot together. As for his dad? Screw that guy. He’d taken off, trying to outrun gambling debts. “Maybe I’m half Dragonsoul. Maybe because of my dad. I always knew he was such a snake, but maybe he was really a dragon. My mom, though? She’s awesome.”
“She didn’t call you on your birthday,” Tessa murmured. She’d scooted up between the seats to talk to them and to admire the map.
“Her memory is terrible,” Steven said, waving away the statement.
“Or she has been ensorcelled. Or she is dead,” Aria said. Then she caught herself. “Oh, Steven, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that out loud.”
Steven let the pendant rest against his bare chest. “It’s okay, Aria. I think she’s okay. There haven’t been any news stories about anyone missing or murdered in Thornton. I have the neighbor’s phone number. I’ll call it in a few hours, when it’s not, you know, still dark. Speaking of which, I either need sleep or breakfast. Both, preferably.”
“Steven,” Tessa said, touching his hair. “We can’t go to a diner dressed like this.” She eyed his pants, ruined and bloody, then ran a finger across his uncovered shoulders. The shirt hadn’t made it. “And I’m not sure where we can go shopping before dawn. We could always hit my apartment, I suppose.”
“No. That would be dangerous,” Aria said. “The Skinling might be alive and telling Mulk about Tessa. She was in the coffee shop with you when you were shot. They could use her to get to you.”
Tessa grimaced. “Not cool. I’m total fridge material—as in the bad guys chop up the girlfriend and stick her in a fridge. That sucks, but also kinda rules.” She shrugged. “Guess my life will never be the same either.”
“I have to call in sick tomorrow, uh, today,” Steven muttered as the full impact of Aria’s critical kiss became crystal clear. “Or maybe I should just call in dead. I won’t be getting to my jobs or my classes until we figure all this out, right?”
Aria didn’t respond. Instead, she flipped another U-turn.
“Going in circles is making me dizzy,” Tessa said. “Please, let’s chance hitting my place. I can go in the back door, grab some stuff, a hoodie for Steven, maybe find him shoes. I can steal some from my roommate’s boyfriend. He’ll be sleeping over. That guy is so loud and derpy when he has sex. He’s all like …” She deepened her voice and imitated a man. “Oh, baby. Take all my love, baby, take it.’” She rolled her eyes and let out a long breath. “I feel crazy. Sorry. I’m talking way too much. I’d be less of a chatterbox if I could get some underwear on my nether regions.”
All Steven wanted to do was eat. And he couldn’t do it shoeless and shirtless. If they could grab some clothes, they could hit the Village Inn on Mexico and Colorado Boulevard, get a bunch of food, and then figure out what to do next.
Aria gripped the wheel in both hands. “I would take you to my house, but my own apartment has been compromised. The Skinling saw me, recognized me.” Her voice faded away. Her jaw muscles clenched. Determination sparkled in her green eyes. She did another U-turn on Colorado Boulevard. “Okay, Tessa, tell me where you live. We’ll risk it.”
Fear knifed into Steven’s belly, mingling with the burning sensations in his chest. His glands sucked in a fresh dose of adrenaline at the prospect of another fight and more Animus. He could feel the power ready to be used, but he wasn’t sure how to really use it. He breathed in deeply through his nose and exhaled through his mouth, closing his eyes just as he’d done back in his room prior to the attack. Once more the shimmering, twisting, opalescent strands of light appeared in his mind.
Once more he focused on the dragon-shaped skill tree he’d envisioned before, and this time it coalesced with surprising ease, far more solid than the last time he’d glimpsed it. Even more surprising, the tree had changed:
Interesting. This time around there was both an experience bar and an Animus gauge, not to mention the glowing orb above Animus Absorption was now labeled Partial Transformation. Steven hadn’t invested any points, which meant he must’ve somehow unlocked the ability naturally during his tussle with the Skinling and his hired muscle. But he had no idea how exactly it had happened or how he was supposed to unlock the rest. Hopefully, the clues from the pendant would shed more light on the situation.
He opened his eyes, and the image disappeared in a flash. Gone as quickly as it had come.
Tessa lived in an apartment complex off Evans, close to where they were. Tessa directed Aria to drive around the back and she did, parking the Mercedes next to a dumpster. “I’ll be right back,” the barista said.
“I’m going with you,” Steven said, popping the door and sliding out.
“And if he’s going, I’m going,” Aria insisted. “I can’t let anything happen to him. I can’t … my … life …” Again, her voice faded, and she offered no further explanation.
Of course, Aria had secrets, but she wasn’t being too forward about sharing them. She wore a colorful knee-length dress with a cut that showed one knee and kept the other hidden. Steven reached in and grabbed the broadsword.
All three of them walked across the parking lot to the back door of the complex. Tessa punched a code into a bulky metal panel above the knob, then pulled the building door open with a soft squeal. Aria reached down, pulled up one side of her dress, and retrieved a small semiautomatic pistol. “I’ll go first. Stay behind me. If we have any trouble, Tessa, you run. Steven, stay by me.”
“I’m so not liking this gun thing,” Tessa whispered, eyeing the weapon.
Steven, however, felt better. He had his sword, which felt right though odd—seriously, walking around half-naked in Denver with a sword? What the hell?—but a gun was far less showy and bulky. Far more practical.
They made their way down a short hallway and walked silently up the staircase to the second floor. The building was quiet, the halls empty. Tessa walked halfway down the hall and keyed into her apartment. Again, Aria went first, pistol in her hand. Tessa went next, followed closely by Steven and his sword.
Was this really his life? After spending the night having sex, he’d found himself in a battle, and now he was on the run with not one but two beautiful women.
Inside, the apartment was messy, lived in. A bed squeaked rhythmically at the end of a short hallway on the right. A man’s muffled voice filled the air. “Oh, baby, you feel so good, baby. Take it, baby, take it.”
Yeah, he sounded so derpy.
All three moved quietly through the living room, where the TV sat in tangles of wires, Blu-Ray players, and video game components. A bottle of Jack Daniels was on a crowded coffee table next to a tottering pile of pizza boxes.
Tessa’s room was off to the left and smelled like candles and incense. Steven was relieved to see that she had her own collection of dirty laundry on the floor. Gauzy fabric covered the window, giving the space a Bohemian feel. Her bed was a heap of blankets and pillows.
Tessa opened a drawer and retrieved underwear. Instead of excusing herself, she pushed her skirt down and pulled her top off. She was naked, curvy, and beautiful. But what really stood out was Tessa’s complete and total confidence. She had no problem getting naked in front of him or the strange woman
who had a pistol in her fist and could breathe fire.
Despite the danger, seeing Tessa naked ignited Steven’s libido again.
Aria was taking in the sight as well. Her eyes were glued to the naked girl in front of them. Sexual energy filled the room for a minute, and then Aria glanced away, rubbing at the back of her neck. Yeah, it was in poor taste to stare at people while they dressed, and yet, she hadn’t been able to stop herself.
With bra and panties in place, Tessa dressed in jeans, a T-shirt, and a blouse over that. She threw Steven a gray hoodie, which he put on to cover his new muscles. She also rummaged around and found a pair of pants, which she tossed to him.
Uh, what was she doing with random denim around? Oh yeah, she had a past. Thankfully she did because he couldn’t very well walk around in blood-splattered pants. The ripped jeans covered him, though they were tight and a little short. He rolled up his old clothes into a tight ball. He’d toss them in the dumpster outside.
Tessa pulled a duffel bag out from under her bed and started to pack, but Aria stopped her. “We don’t have time for that. We can buy you new clothes, new everything. We have to go now.”
The headboard in the room next door banged into the wall.
It made them all jump. Then the loud boyfriend was at it again, spouting off, “Baby, I’m about there, baby. So close! So close!”
Steven covered his eyes with the grimy ball of denim in his free hand. That was just so embarrassing.
“Fine,” Tessa said before glancing at Steven’s bare feet. “But let’s steal Barry’s shoes while he’s going at it with Katrina.”
They snuck out of the room, through the apartment, and into the kitchen. Steven plucked a banana out of a bowl, his stomach growling in protest. At the front door, Tessa grabbed a pair of big Adidas. They’d be huge on Steven, but at least he’d be able to get into a restaurant.
They closed the door behind them with a soft click. The roommate and the boyfriend hadn’t seemed to notice their intrusion, and no one had attacked them.