by Aurora Reid
With that in mind, the riot at the hotel made a lot more sense.
Those rumors didn’t just start from nowhere. Jae fed them juicy morsels that the news couldn’t back away from.
The damage had been done.
“None of that is true.”
“We know.” Rich held his Sarah’s hand, cradling it dearly.
“I’ll do something to fight these ugly allegations. Sorry, this is the first time I’m hearing of it.”
Nico stood up. He remembered to push in his seat. “Thank you for having me here. I’ve got to get going, though. I’m looking forward to seeing you at the wedding, and don’t worry, once I tell her the details, I’m sure she’ll be excited to tell you all about it.”
They got up, gave him a hug, and then he was on his way.
While he should’ve been overjoyed with their embrace, he wasn’t, there was something disturbing lurking at the fringes of his mind, and once he was out on the street, it overwhelmed him.
“No!”
19
Nico spun around to see leaves shaking from a light breeze. Then he looked ahead again, the danger looming all over him, pulsing, crushing him. His dragon was very unsettled, but he didn’t know why, only when the voice screamed again.
“Get off me!”
A crisp, crystal image formed of Cass picked up by a dragon—a red dragon. The image warped again, leaving him gasping for air.
Another image came to him. This one didn’t warp into reality, though. This one was of his father, when he was younger, telling him about how him and his mother had “the link,” what he liked to call the connection between fated mates.
Cass was calling out for help.
Without knowing where to go, he transformed into his dragon and before he knew it, he was soaring away from the neighborhood street. The drum-like thrumming in his chest told him where to go.
He went west, the beating thumping him harder, the fire in his chest rolling in intensity.
They were too far away. Hours away.
“Turn, Turn,” he repeated in his head.
If Cass could turn into her dragon, she could fight for herself.
But most first timers needed to be coached. Nico hadn’t even explained very well that she had the power now.
She must be terrified, he thought, and he pushed himself harder, stressing his wings so much it hurt. His body was tight as a bullet, ripping through the sky to get to Cass.
It was the worst hour of his life.
When he passed California’s coast, fire began to seep up his throat. Breathing raggedly, flames sparked from his open maw.
It seemed that they stopped. The beating in his chest steadied.
A horrid scent like sulfur breezed past him. As he pressed on, it became more of a chemical smell like the setting off of fireworks. If he wasn’t his dragon, he would’ve been gagging.
He tried to avoid it by moving up higher from the crystal clear waters. The air was getting thicker, harder to manage. Nico swooped lower, alternating what side he favored flying, noticing how unstable it was.
He thought this might be one of Jae’s tricks. But that was crazy. This was only some turbulent weather. He was flying into a storm to stop him from tailing.
It kept getting thicker, until Nico couldn’t stand it. It wasn’t black ash, but it was a dark cloud. Combined with the chemical smell and the aqua marine color of the ocean below, Nico could only surmise one thing.
Jae was flying straight into an active volcano.
It sounded insane, but Jae was insane. That’s exactly what a crazy dragon would do.
Nico took a nose dive. That beating in his chest became one big thud that reverberated through him. Now he swore he could also feel her clawing to escape against his own scales.
It was terrible. It scared him. And Nico hadn’t been scared in a long time. That fright was crawling up him like death, his mate’s death.
With his dive, he broke his fastest speed. The ground rose up to meet him almost too fast. Flipping around, branching his wings out like a parachute, he slowed his descent, still coming down harder than intended.
The ground before him looked like the surface of Mars. It was a craggy grey rock, sharpened to points of multiple towers overlooking a crater.
Jae waited on the other side. His dragon snarled, spreading its wings, preparing for a fight.
And there, right below him, was Cass pinned by Jae’s claws. She wasn’t hurt. If she was, Nico would’ve felt it. But she was scared.
A flicker of hope rose in both their hearts as Nico flew over to meet Jae.
It was a turbulent ride as he flew over the open volcano, more of a lake below them, not spewing out lava or ash, yet it was still immensely hot, even the air disturbed by the pressure.
He landed far enough away from him at about fifteen feet because as he drew close, those claws gripped harder.
“Transform,” Jae told him. Dragons could speak to one another telepathically.
What choice did he have?
Nico transformed.
“Don’t worry, I’m not going to kill you yet.”
Now that he wasn’t a dragon, he began to cough. Nico covered his mouth. Sweat trickled down his body.
Cass looked up at him with those big, sweet eyes of hers.
“Don’t worry,” Nico sent to her. He was sure that she heard it telepathically when she smiled.
“Nico, you’re late.” Jae sounded reptilian, like a snake slithering around in his head.
“Let her go. This is between you and me.”
“Right now, that’s correct. I’ve got something to show you, and I’ve got something even better to tell you.”
“No games.”
“This isn’t a game. The games are all over now. The season is over, your career is finished. You leave a disgrace, a what-could-have been. Such a spectacular fall from grace!”
He laughed, his scales shaking. It was like thunder rattling Nico’s skull.
“Just tell me what you have to.”
“Fine, Nico, I want you to look behind me.” Jae swung his head toward the rocky outcropping like a wall behind him.
It was a little nerve-wracking to do. He had to walk, completely naked, on hot rocks past the dragon that wanted him dead. Upon rounding the rock wall, there was already the shine of gold from the volcanic white heat blinding him.
He shielded his eyes and positioned himself to avoid the reflection.
There, in that hollowed out section of rock, was his entire treasure.
Nico swung around once he heard Jae sliding across the rocks behind him.
He had Cass in his claws still, holding her above the ground. Nico’s muscles pumped with adrenaline as he thought about her in pain.
Then he looked upon his treasure.
At least it hadn’t been destroyed. The gold hadn’t even begun to melt. But if it got closer, he didn’t doubt it would.
Was that Jae’s plan? To throw his treasure into the lava pit? To throw his…no, he wouldn’t toss Cass in there too, would he?
That sick bastard, he probably would.
Nico spun back toward him. He was shaking, his face red with rage. “So?”
“Look at the front, look and see what you gave up.”
He spotted it—the Championship MVP ring—he’d been too busy to read the news about how Jae had won it, but there it was, and it was glorious. It bothered him that he was jealous for a moment.
It wasn’t meant to be worn. It was meant to be marveled at. So much gold, and rare elements, elements that some said had helped give shifters their powers, long, long ago.
An overwhelming desire was shoved aside as he looked back at Cass.
“So?” he asked Jae again.
“Still not impressed?” The red dragon laughed. “Why, you gave away the ring, the glory, for what? For Cass?”
Nico stood proud. He nodded.
“She’ll be gone shortly.”
He almost shifted right then.<
br />
But Jae said something next that gave him pause. “Your parents…”
“What about my parents?” But his voice was wavering.
He could tell that Jae was smirking. He was so proud of himself.
“I’m going to tell you a secret, a little secret that I’ve been keeping for a very long time. I’d be lying if I told you it feels good to get off my chest. It doesn’t. It feels good to tell you before I kill you.
“That night when we are all there to serve our parents…I was with you, helping you, and later that night, my parents along with yours were poisoned and died. So many years later, so many wars fought, every dragon casting their doubts on one another, all wondering who had the power and resources to kill off all of the head dragons.
It was me!”
The announcement staggered Nico, who reached for something to hold. There was nothing.
He wanted to scream; wanted to cry; wanted to pound the ground; even toss himself into that lava to rid himself of the thought. But then those confusing emotions sharpened into one focused point—he wanted to tear Jae apart.
“I hired a few other shifters to help with the raiding. Later, I killed them to keep the secret. No one thought I was capable. Just a child. And while they were looking after the children, they never thought to look after me, because after all, I was the hosts’ son. Could a child be so heartless?
“They learned the answer that day. Your parents, my parents, all of the dragons. Now there’s twelve of us left, soon to be eleven. And I will hunt the rest down.”
Nico’s hands shook, his neck hurt from straining. “You are everything wrong with our species.” Sweat poured down him. He thought the volcano was erupting again.
And that’s when he charged. He charged as a human, shocking Jae long enough so that Nico could get close. Jumping up, he transformed mid-air, mass expanding and shoving him back, his dragon’s claws slashing through Jae’s scales.
The red dragon tumbled backward. Cass was okay, knocked to the side, rolling, but okay. She rested on the rocky ground scattered with what looked like shiny marbles from the spitting lava, her head tilted upward at the battle raging.
They both fired in the other’s face, their flames mixing, causing each to be blown back. The explosion knocked the wind out of Nico as he was flung sideways through the air. With the disturbance from the volcano, he was twisting eerily toward the ground.
He landed on his claws. He leapt up at Jae, who was already calling on more fire. A torrent of flame spread in Nico’s direction. Nico swung his wings across himself as a shield, but it was too late.
The heat was too intense. It singed his scales, blasted against him until it felt like he was being cooked.
When he unwrapped himself, he began to beat his wings furiously to stay in the air. He was smoking.
And Jae was up in the sky, looking down on him, drawing in more air so that he could launch another attack.
His family, killed by this monster. His mother, his father, their only gift to him now in his possession. His one true mate, Cass, the love of his life, was at his mercy.
It was unacceptable. With all the energy he could muster, he bellowed a blue flame from deep within him. It spiraled out from his open mouth and then broke into a million flaming sparks, like a fiery snowball exploding.
Jae swatted one away, but then more pieces were upon him.
There were a million pieces, too many for him to avoid.
Nico was upon him. Like a hawk, he dove, sinking his claws into his flesh, carrying them both downward toward the lava.
Just as they were falling, Jae’s tail lashed out, knocking Cass toward the pit. As they tumbled, Nico watched Cass rolling toward the lava ahead of him.
20
Before the heat consumed her, she cried out for what she would lose.
There was so much life waiting for her.
Nico broke free from Jae and soared down into the cavern, but he was nowhere close to saving her.
In that final second, which seemed to last a lifetime, she saw what she would be missing. A life with Nico, a family, a place to settle down, time to simply enjoy life. She saw children running about her as she lay in Nico’s lap. They were on the mountain in Maine, but there were flowers in bloom all around them, it was sunny and warm and peaceful.
It was cut short by the heat.
As her body tumbled into the lava, she thought of soaring. It didn’t hurt as she splashed in.
Maybe she was already gone, and these were the remnants of her thoughts, drifting to nothing.
Then it was all white around her. She thought she could see Nico in front of her, reaching for her hand, telling her that it was all going to be okay.
And she believed him. Because he was right.
If Nico was there, she would be okay. She’d be just fine.
The bubbling, noxious lava was away from her, this air that she smelled seemed to be clean, and she seemed to be much bigger than normal.
Cass was looking down at Jae. Looking down at Nico too, who was at the foot of the pit.
This is me, drifting off to the afterlife.
But she heard flapping.
“Fly,” she heard in her head. It was Nico.
Sure, she’d fly to Heaven, why not? It was all over now.
“Your dragon is beautiful.”
It was his voice again.
This time she said, What?
Her dragon?
That’s when she realized that her wings were flapping. She seemed much bigger, because she was bigger. It was reality, not a dream. Strength surged in her as she began to twist slowly about, feeling all of her muscles, how powerful she was.
This was no dream. She’d Turned!
Looking down at Jae, she felt pity for him. But she could not spare him.
Drawing deep within her, she found her fire already waiting. It all came naturally to her. A single thought of justice sparked the barrel of explosive liquid in her gut, causing her jaw to shoot open, the inferno from deep inside her unable to be stopped.
All she saw in front of her was a bright white flame. White blanketed her eyes, but she kept spewing out the fire, knowing where it was headed, right at Jae.
The red dragon roared but Cass couldn’t be stopped.
This was for her, and for Nico, and for Nico’s parents, and the rest of the dragons that had been fooled. This was for a new age, one that would be marked by his death.
It seemed never to stop, drawing from deep within her. She could have continued, but she knew that Jae was gone. He was ashes, floating away. He was nothing now.
Her dragon settled. Cass suddenly became aware that there was another part of her that she would have to watch over. It was not an enemy, but an ally. All the same, she would need to watch over it.
She fluttered down to the craggy ground and Nico flew over to meet her. They met, staring at one another. It seemed that he wasn’t quite sure about Cass.
Then he nuzzled her. He rubbed her chin and she began to laugh.
It was good to laugh, so careless and free.
It’s all over now.
Now it’s you and me forever.
21
Open blue skies as far as she could see. The world was hers to explore. Skimming the surface, Cass twirled in the air, her orchid colored scales reflecting off the crystal clear water below. The ocean streaked behind her as she peered down at her dragon.
Slowing, Cass needed to flap her wings. With a splash, she took off higher into the air. A month ago she was terrified and confused about her place in the world.
Now the world was fun. She was alive, and looking at it from up high, where nothing could touch her.
It hadn't been easy. She'd almost lost everything—herself, the love of her life Nico, and the chance to carry the love who was growing inside her.
Cass was pregnant. She'd confirmed it with a human doctor yesterday. As far as he could tell, she thankfully wasn't going to be laying an egg, either.
<
br /> When asked more about a dragon baby, the doctor looked stumped. “Maybe...ugh, you could ask your mate about that?”
Doctors were clueless about dragons. Once this was all over with, Cass would be adding a tome about their species.
She'd become so powerful in her mind and body that she'd been able to block him from sensing it before the doctor visit. Also, it helped that Nico knew next to nothing about babies, so when she'd been throwing up one day, she'd blamed it on flying too long the day before.
She couldn't keep it inside her anymore. It might be bad timing, since this was also the day of their wedding. This past year had taught her that some things simply shouldn't wait.
Her wings were beating steady as she rode the drafts easily, lifting her higher. Then she dropped, her head light from the speed. A shadow loomed on the horizon. It was the volcanic island on which she'd almost lost her life.
She often flew here and thought. It was easy to think she'd been lucky. No doubt she had been somewhat lucky.
But there was no doubt how hard she fought.
Cass descended slowly to the small island. Its surface was covered over with cooled lava. As she waited on top of a jutting piece of rock, like one giant scary seagull, she stretched and let the sun soak her scales.
She thought about Jae, how he had tormented her, except it didn't sting like it usually did. Now she just felt pity for him and was reminded how he'd been evaporated by her fire.
Her dragon snorted when she thought about her old scars. Remember how Jae told her she'd always have them as a reminder? It hadn't been true. As soon as she transformed into her human, her skin was soft, smooth, with a glow like being re-born, and those scars had vanished.
Nico.
She sensed him like a tap on the head. Jerking to the east, she peered off into the distance. He seemed far away.
Oh, right.
Her wedding ceremony.
Cass hoped she hadn't spent too long flying. She was probably in trouble.
Flying had become a bit of an obsession. But who could blame her?
On the trip to Nico, Cass pushed herself, trying to see how fast she could meet him. He wasn't making himself known for whatever reason. By this range, he should be able to speak to her telepathically quite clearly.