by Mina Carter
“That’s not possible, is it?”
“Anything is possible. Look at what these tainted vampires we’re fighting are capable of doing.”
“Zack’s blood has made them nearly as powerful as your kind, and there are dozens of them. Oh, fuck. It’s a trap. Demetri watched us jumped from the falls, but he didn’t pursue us. He wanted you guys to come after Mia. Take her and get out of here,” Caleb said. “While Nikolas is dealing with Demetri, I will do my best to hold the vampires back for as long as possible so you have a chance of getting away.”
“We all stick together,” Haden said.
“I’m too weak,” Caleb explained. “I would only slow you down. Just get her the hell out of here.”
“We leave together. I will carry you.” Haden gestured toward the sky. “I will go and scout the area before we leave, but I’m certain taking the sky will be our safest route.” Flames started at his feet and slowly moved to his head. In a matter of seconds Haden’s body was engulfed in black flames, and he disappeared.
Caleb smiled at Mia as he rubbed the back of his head. “My head is throbbing like a son of a bitch. I can’t believe you knocked me out after I saved you.” He looked at Joseph. “By the way, good luck with her. She’s stubborn as hell.” He shifted his gaze back to Mia. “And mean. Really, really mean.”
“I saved you first. And I wouldn’t have had to hit your head if you hadn’t tried to use mind control on me to get your way.” She smiled at him. “It doesn’t work on me.”
Caleb nodded once. “Trust me—I’ve taken note of it.”
Joseph saw something in Caleb he’d never seen before. Quite possibly the oldest vampire in existence, he was generally moody and quiet. Now, with trouble all around, he was joking. He was laughing. Caleb didn’t joke and sure as hell didn’t laugh.
Joseph turned to Mia. “How hard did you hit him?”
“Pretty hard.”
“It’s true.” Caleb said. “For being so small, she packs a punch. Unfortunately, I didn’t know she wasn’t very susceptible to my charms until my back was turned.”
“I faked you out,” Mia said.
“And you did a damn good job of it.”
Joseph looked at Mia. “You know I’m proud of you, right?”
Caleb lowered his brow. “You deserve each other.”
* * *
Mia turned to face Joseph. “I agree.” His eyes were black but glowing with red, flame-like flecks. He looked ferocious. Beautiful. Perfect in every way. He was her man. The air left her lungs in a rush as he grabbed her and crushed her body against his.
He framed her face in his hands. “I love you, Mia.”
Tears burning behind her eyes, she stared into her warrior’s eyes. She couldn’t find her voice.
“You are and will always be my true, my only mate.”
She felt twisted in every way possible. What was he saying? Did he know there was no hope? “Joseph, are we going to die today?”
“No. I know you’re strong. I know you aren’t afraid of fighting. But I’m afraid. I need you to stay merged with me and close to me at all times so I can aid you.”
Mia nodded. “I promise.” There was no way she would deny him. She held out her hands. “I could use my knife and gun if you could conjure them up for me.”
“I have much better weapons for you to use. Do you remember when I told you that the elements, the powers of the universe, are a part of me?”
“I do.”
“Do you want them? Do you trust me enough to use them?”
“Yes.”
He turned her back to him and lifted her arms to the sky. “Reach for it. Take it from me.”
She glanced over her shoulder. “Are you screwing around with me?”
“No.” He turned her around and framed her face in his hands. “All that I have, all that I am, belongs to you. You have to believe in me, trust me. Can you do that?”
She nodded. “I do, Joseph.”
He lifted her arms. “Reach for what is mine. Command it to come to you.”
“Oh fuck. What the hell are you doing, Joseph?” Caleb took a few steps back. “You can’t give a woman that kind of power.”
Mia looked at Caleb. “Why?”
“Estrogen.” Caleb smiled.
“Huh?”
He pointed at his head. “You know it makes a woman unbalanced.”
“Are you serious?”
“Crazy. Wacko Nutty.”
Mia looked up at Joseph. “He’s an asshole.”
Joseph nodded. “I agree.” He turned her around and lifted her arms. “Just believe.” He bent his head so that she felt his breath on her ear. “All you need to do is believe that what is mine is yours. It’s going to be intense, but it would never hurt you because I would never hurt you. Believe that my heart and soul belong to you just as yours belong to me.”
“What the fuck, Joseph. She’s going to fucking kill everyone. Including us.”
Mia closed her eyes. She went to the secret place in her mind where his presence was always the strongest. She felt the power growing around her. It was building into something incredible. It was like when they were making love. Her body, soul, and spirit united with his. They were one.
She opened her eyes. They were surrounded by fire. It was a cocoon of power. She turned to face Caleb and smiled.
“Aww, fuck. Call her off.”
“We need him to fight,” Joseph teased.
“A li’l bit won’t hurt him too badly, right?”
“Nah. Not if he’s fast enough to be any good to us when we need him. And it’s probably a good idea for you to try it out before the real bad guys get here. Go ahead.”
“Joseph, I’m going to kick your mother fucking … aww, fuck.” Caleb dodged a burst of power, got up, and got slammed by another.
Haden came down fast and landed hard in the form of his dragon. The ground shook beneath his massive weight. “If we stay low, we can get them out of here by way of the sky.”
Joseph turned to Mia and just stared at her. He’d never been so afraid. He knew Haden intended for them to muscle their way through the vampires and ghouls in the sky. Normally, he would’ve considered it entertainment. But doing something so dangerous with her scared the hell out of him. He didn’t know what to do. Normally he was in control, and his powers and abilities were nearly limitless. His mind worked more efficiently than any supercomputer. But at that moment, he didn’t know what to do.
Smiling, Mia took the collar of his shirt and pulled him down to her level. “Don’t look worried. We both know my time on earth is nearing an end. No matter what happens tonight I’m at peace. You’ve given me more love and happiness than I’ve ever known.”
“I love you, Mia.” Joseph rested his forehead on hers. “You’re the one.” He kissed her. “No matter what fate has dictated, there’s no other love for me.”
Standing on the tips of her toes, she wrapped her arms around his neck. “I love you, too, Joseph.”
He picked her up off her feet and kissed her. “We will survive this night together.”
“If we head toward the east, there’s a good chance we will be able to get them out of here without harm. The numbers are far less. Nikolas and Demetri are fighting near the river.”
Joseph nodded. He set Mia down, and then he walked several feet away and took the form of the dragon.
Joseph walked back to Mia and lowered his body. “Caleb, help her get onto my back. And be gentle.”
Caleb caught her around the waist from behind and, easily taking her with him, jumped onto the dragon’s back. Once she had her balance, he jumped off and then made his way onto Haden’s back.
“There’s nothing to hold onto, Joseph.”
“Lay flat,” he said. “I promise you won’t fall. I can hold you to me.”
She did as he said. “I hope you’re right.”
“I would never do this if you could fall. Test it out. Try to roll off.”
He felt
her mind struggle to force her body to move. “I can’t move at all.”
Joseph laughed within himself because rather than relieved she was frustrated. And mad. She was most definitely mad. She liked to be in control, and as long as she couldn’t move she didn’t have any at all.
“You go first, and I will follow. Remember to stay low,” Haden cautioned. “They’re using powerful web spells. If you get too far above the treetops you’ll fall like a brick.”
“That sounds painful,” Mia said.
“We won’t fall. Close your eyes, Mia.” Joseph stretched his wings. “Take slow and steady breaths. It will not be easy. The speed we will be traveling will make you feel as if you’re choking if you panic. Don’t be afraid. Merge with me, and allow me to regulate your breathing.”
“I’m not closing my eyes. I want to see everything. And I won’t panic because I trust you. Don’t worry about my breathing—just get us out of this. I have another problem that needs your attention.” She opened her mind fully to share an erotic image of their bodies tangled together, making love, in her mind.
“Now that is a problem I will enjoy finding ways to solve.” He made sure she felt the heat of his breath on the back of her neck. He made sure she felt his arms surrounding her, holding her close.
He was so deeply merged with her that he knew Mia felt him gathering strength. He knew she could feel his huge muscles rippling beneath the dragon’s hot scales. Tears were in her eyes, but they had nothing to do with fear. He felt her take a deep breath and hold it. He felt strange emotions in her, but she was shielding them.
“I wasn’t purposely shielding anything from you. I was trying to work out the details of a memory. I’ve been here with you before. I think it was a childhood dream.”
“You dreamed of me?” Since he wasn’t her mate, it was odd that she would dream of him before they’d met. It would’ve been expected if she’d been his mate.
“No, not you. I dreamed of having my very own dragon. He was much better trained than you. And even better, the only time he opened his mouth was to breathe fire.”
“If you want fire, I’ll give you fire.” Joseph lifted his head and shot out fire as he roared.
~ Twenty ~
IN THE FORM of the dragon, Joseph crouched down. He extended and moved his massive wings to launch them into the air. He moved quickly, at incredible, unbelievable speeds in and out of the trees, but he never once broke through the canopy of trees.
Everything around her was a blur. Mia wasn’t sure how fast they were moving. All she knew was that she’d never moved that fast. Not even on her motorcycle.
The warmth of his body seeped into her front side as cool air moved over her backside. She couldn’t believe anything could move at such an incredible speed and see where it was going. She knew she couldn’t see very well. You can see where you’re going, right?
What do you mean? I prefer to close my eyes and hope for the best. His teasing laughter filled her mind as he swooped down and turned sideways, tucking his wings to his side to maneuver between two huge trees.
Mia laughed out loud. You’d better not have your eyes closed. No matter which way he moved, she never felt as if she might be at any risk of falling off his back. She never felt any sense of being in danger at all. The only thing she felt was perfectly safe. And wonder. Lots and lots of wonder for the way he was able to travel at such remarkable speeds without hitting even a branch in the dense forest.
The faster he moved, though, the more breathing started to become a challenge for her. Each time she tried to catch her breath, the wind slammed into her and caused her to gasp.
The more you struggle to catch your breath, the harder it will become. Let go of the struggle and give it to me. Allow me to regulate your breathing before you pass out.
I never pass out. But she did what he said. At once she was breathing easier, but she started to feel the brush of leaves touching her. Don’t you think we are getting a little too close to the trees?
Actually I was just thinking that I’m not moving fast enough to accidentally get close enough to make this flight very exciting. I’m playing safe since you’re with me. Normally I would’ve crashed a few times by now.
As Joseph maneuvered his massive body through the dense forest, Mia nearly forgot the danger, the threat surrounding them. But then, lifting his head and upper body, he stopped abruptly in mid-air.
They were entirely surrounded by the most hideous-looking winged creatures she’d ever seen. He’d positioned his body as if he were standing on his hind legs and released a roar that rumbled and echoed all around while spaying the ghouls with fire.
A group of ghouls came from above. He flipped back, exposing his belly, shielding her, and incinerated the ghouls. .
Joseph maneuvered again, shooting straight up like a rocket. He broke the treetops. Then, tucking his wings, he dove. He was moving at an impossible speed. The ground was coming too fast.
At the last possible second, he pulled up.
Unable to perform the maneuver, many of the ghouls giving chase smashed into the ground. Haden came down fast and crashed his massive body into several of the remaining ghouls, knocking them out of the sky. As they tumbled to the ground he sprayed them with fire.
Are you okay? Joseph asked.
You’re kidding, right? This is amazing. You’re amazing. I’m addicted. I wish we could do this forever.
* * *
Deep within the dragon Joseph was grinning like a fool. Any other woman would be fainting in fear. In truth it had scared the hell out of him. Not nearly amazing as you.
Shit. Here we go again.
He turned sideways and moved between two trees.
Together, Joseph and Haden had destroyed hundreds of ghouls, but so many more were in the sky that it seemed impossible to kill them all.
Go up, Joseph! Go up! Haden shouted in Joseph’s mind. Demetri and Nikolas are headed straight for you!
Joseph shot straight up but not soon enough. Haden moved to take the initial impact, but Demetri hit Joseph head on. The impact knocked Mia off his back. Joseph instantly changed direction. Tucking his wings close to his body, he raced toward her, but Demetri did the same and was closer to her. Joseph tried to put a spell of protection around her, but it didn’t work. His power was inaccessible. He knew Demetri would finish her off if he failed to get to her first. He reached for her mentally, but there was nothing. The impact had knocked her unconscious.
Free falling out of the sky, Mia was surrounded and being attacked by ghouls. He could feel their claws and teeth ripping and slashing her flesh, but he was unable to create a shield around her. She hit the forest floor hard. Completely merged with her, he felt her body hit the ground.
Joseph knew the moment Mia opened her eyes, scrambled to her feet, and realized she was face to face with a vampire. He looked hideous. Her mind was working, trying to process all that had happened, when she sensed a greater threat from behind. She turned to face it.
Transforming from his dragon to his human form midstride, Demetri, arms raised as he summonsed power to him, took a step toward her. Joseph knew he wasn’t going to make it to her before Demetri. The seconds passed with agonizing slowness. A split second before Demetri reached her, Haden swooped down in the form of his dragon and sent Demetri hurtling back several hundred feet.
The instant Mia turned to face the vampire a knife pierced her belly.
Joseph reached the vampire and wrenched its head to the side. With a wave of his hand he created flames to incinerate the vampire’s remains. He took Mia in his arms.
Still in his dragon form, Nikolas was at Joseph’s side. Haden is injured. He won’t be able to hold Demetri back much longer. Move with me past the treetops. As soon as we break through the spells, shift the hell out of here.
You know I can’t take her through them. She’ll be destroyed.
Trust me. This is Demetri’s magic. I know it very well. He used this same spell on me thousands of
years ago when we were adolescents. You don’t recognize it because we’ve never used it in actual battles since there’re so many major flaws in it. I know how to get you and Mia through the spell safely. It’s simple but it’s tricky. We don’t have time for you to learn it. We need to hurry. But keep in mind you won’t be able to shift more than a few hundred yards from here.
Regardless of their recent disagreements, Joseph knew Nikolas wouldn’t cause him to do anything to actually kill Mia. Let’s do it. Side by side they moved quickly up to and through the treetops. They kept moving higher and higher until they were past the spells.
Shift now!
* * *
Sensing Joseph’s distress, Mia opened her eyes. Cradling her in his arms, he slowly went down to his knees and lowered her onto the ground. “Joseph.” As she stared up at him, excruciating pain gripped her body. Gasping, she drew in a sharp breath and reached for the knife sticking in her belly.
Joseph took her hands to stop her from ripping the knife out. “Leave it. I’ll take it out.”
She could tell by the fear and sadness in his eyes that she was dying. She smiled up at him. Her warrior. Her lover. He was alive. Her heart would always live on with him. Long after her death, the love she shared with him would go on and on. That was all that mattered. She could die in peace.
“No. I told you I would follow wherever you go in this life or the next. I could never live without you.” He could hear the sounds of battle all around him. Nikolas and Haden were in the sky fighting, buying him time. “If you die, I have nothing.”
“Joseph, I …” She coughed, choking on her blood. She was terrified but forced a smile on her face. “It’s okay.”
“Shh. Don’t try to talk out loud, Mia.” Pouring his power and his healing energy into her, he bent his head and kissed her brow. “I need you to relax. Don’t fight it. Don’t struggle at all. Let me breathe for you.”
Joseph. She had so much she wanted to tell him and so much living to do with him, but it was over. She had to convince him to continue without her. It took more strength than she thought possible, but she reached up to touch his jaw, the strong, perfectly chiseled jaw she adored. She traced his frown with the tip of her index finger. I’m okay. Let me go. I will always love you, Joseph.