by Julia Mills
Talk about having your thumb up your ass!
He listened to the Guardsmen searching the mountainside, felt their anger and irritation at once again turning up empty-handed. Every lead was a dead end. Every scent trail led nowhere. The dragons shared no mind-to-mind communication with Max and his Pride, but their anger at Andrew’s games was filling the air around the mountain as well.
The fact that his dickhead little brother had spent so much time laying false trails proved to Aaron that Andrew had been on that mountainside and was continuing to protect it. The little bastard was doing everything possible to hide in plain sight.
I have to do something besides stand here and watch Kyra play witch.
No sooner had the thought crossed his mind than Aidan and Rian turned in his direction, nodding their heads. Rian was the first to speak. “Kyra will be safe inside the circle. Royce agrees. Let’s get the hell outta here.”
As one unit, the Guardsmen moved from the protection of their mini circle into the massive shielding spell. Their enhanced hearing told them the location of everyone systematically searching the mountainside. They chose the trails to the east.
Rian took the lead, giving military hand signals as they combed the terrain. The Guardsmen combined their enhanced senses and connection to the traitor, building the strongest tracking net Aaron had ever seen. As they moved across the mountain there were spikes in recognition, but with their collective powers it was easy to spot what was old, new, and fake. Unfortunately, everything new was a trick. Fortunately, it was mostly dragon mixed with earthen magic and only a touch of black magic. Apparently, the loss of his wizards had cut off Andrew’s supply of the dirty shit which should make catching the traitor a hell of a lot easier.
“Feel that?” Rian asked, his fist in the air, stopping their forward motion.
Aaron changed his focus and felt Aidan follow suit. There was a disturbance outside the magic shield. The mountain filled the air with hate, anger, and determination. It grew in intensity as the pounding of footsteps shook the earth.
Royce spoke from high above, “Hunters. Looks like an entire pack converging from three sides. Three sets of thirty and they know we’re here.”
“Wanna blow the cover and take ‘em on, Commander, or stay hidden and leave. It’s your call,” Rian called to Rayne.
There was a moment of silence while Aaron imagined Rayne contemplating their next move, the rest of the dragons awaiting his answer.
“Max and the panthers are good with whatever you decide,” Devon interjected.
“Kyra, can you feel the hunters?” Rayne questioned.
“Yep, sure can. It’ll be less than half a mile until they reach the outer border of our spell.”
“Hold out until they are within twenty-five feet. If possible, let them in, and then close the door behind them. We’ll handle the rest.”
“Aye, aye, Captain,” Kyra answered.
Aaron heard several snorts from his brethren and couldn’t stop his smile. The tension level within their shield lowered. Kyra was a great witch and a huge smart-ass.
Perfect combination.
Ignoring the laughter, Rayne continued, “The rest of you split up and get ready. We need to take the hunters out as quickly as possible. Royce, Rory, and Lennox, be ready to bring the fire if needed. You’ll also need to burn the bodies.”
“We’re ready,” the Guardsmen in dragon form answered in unison.
Their minute long wait seemed to last for hours. No one said a word. Aaron was sure everyone held their breath. The sound of Kyra’s voice brought them all to attention. “One…Two…Three…and it’s up.”
“Ready. They’ll be here in five…four…three…two…and NOW!” Rory shouted the command.
“Let me know when to close the door,” Kyra yelled over the sounds of Guardsmen engaging in battle.
The clanging of swords echoed through their enclosure. The whish of the hunter’s arrows as they missed their targets, along with the sounds of battle, joined the skirmish. Out of the corner his eye, Aaron saw the giant cats getting into position just as a broadsword narrowly missed his head. The hunters fighting tactics were evolving; they added swords to their repertoire.
Hell yeah! Now for some fun.
Narrowing his focus to only the black hooded figure before him, Aaron steadied his stance and loosened his grip on the leather handle of his katana. Fear flashed in the eyes of his opponent. He noted the slight shiver that shook his enemy’s body and had to grin.
Scared, huh? Good for you, but it won’t save your ass tonight.
Desperation and fear leaked from every pore as the hunter lunged forward, swinging his blade at Aaron’s neck. The Guardsman lifted his left hand, effectively blocking the strike with his forearm while slashing his opponent’s neck in one swift motion. Blood spurted from the hunter’s neck as he fell to the ground.
Unable to care, Aaron prepared for the next. They came one right after the other, all unprepared for a fight with the century-old Guardsmen. He hated the loss of life, but they had attacked and he had to defend. They were brainwashed fanatics and therefore, unable to be reformed.
The black figures were running in all directions. Some fought, most sought cover. Whatever battle plans they’d come into the fight with had once again been blown to hell by the dragons.
Still the fight continued. Hunters’ screams bounced off the walls of their magical containment. Bodies dropped. Blood soaked the ground as dead hunters littered the ground.
Aaron made his way up the mountain, exterminating all threats that came his way. He had no idea how long they fought, only the sound of Royce’s voice in his head slowed his siege.
“Less than a dozen remain on the ground and they’re pounding against the containment to be let out. I count ten on the mountain, all in Aaron and Aidan’s vicinity.”
Glancing to the side, Aaron saw his twin fighting two hunters at once. His style was finesse where Aaron’s was brute force. They truly were mirror images of each other. His musings were cut short when the battle cry of one fearless, or stupid, hunter cut through the air. The hunter’s blade made contact with Aaron’s upper arm, leaving a bloody trail in its wake.
Ignoring the fire that tore through his arm, Aaron countered with an upswing, barely missing his enemy, who spun before thrusting forward. His bravado was his undoing. A slight misstep caused the hunter to lean to his left; Aaron capitalized on the other’s misfortune and swung with purpose. His blade cut through his opponent’s midsection like it was no more than hot butter. A barely audible groan were the hunter’s only dying words as he crumpled to the ground in a heap of blood and entrails.
“Nice work,” Aidan called out before turning to engage with one of the last hunters left standing.
“You, too,” Aaron responded, using his enhanced speed to tackle a hunter aiming his bow at the back of Kellan’s head.
Spinning as if he had eyes in the back of his head, Kellan nodded his thanks and took off after the last armed assailant. Just as the hunter fell, Rory called out the all clear. Rayne’s command quickly followed, “Kyra, keep up the shielding until all the bodies have been burned and removed. The rest of you help with the cleanup.”
An hour later all remnants of their fight with the hunters had been eliminated, and thanks to Kyra’s magic, even the grass and foliage had been returned to their original luster. Aaron and Aidan approached the original circle. The panthers and dragons had returned to human form and the other Guardsmen stood in groups discussing what had just happened.
Rian was the first to address the entire group with Max at his side. “It’s obvious this was an ambush. We haven’t seen hunter activity in this area for quite some time. It’s also obvious who set us up. I know the traitor was here. Some of the clues were real, but the majority was bogus. The good thing is we took out an entire pack of hunters and Kyra and I now have a good taste of his dragon magic. Tracking him will be much easier.”
Rayne picked up where Rian le
ft off, “Good job everyone. Thank you to Max and his panthers, we couldn’t have done it without you. See you all this evening at seven in the Great Hall.”
It was almost daybreak as the loud ‘POP’, followed by what sounded like air escaping a balloon, signaled Kyra’s release of the shielding spell. Aaron listened as Rory and Lance gave blow-by-blow accounts of their battles. His thoughts drifted to Charlie. He reached through their growing mating bond and found his mate blissfully asleep.
She’s dreaming of me…of us.
He was so lost to the beautiful dream Charlie was having of them together, Aaron ran right into Lance’s back. The other Guardsman spun in his heels, took one look at Aaron, and burst out laughing. Aaron prepared for what he knew was about to come.
“This is better than soccer on Sunday with a case of beer and no commercials. Smartass is in love.”
“I must say it’s refreshing to see you joining the ranks of the fallen,” Royce added, sliding to the right to avoid Aaron’s fist.
“How the mighty have fallen. Thank the Heavens it’s not me,” Rory added, slapping Aaron on the back.
Aaron was just about to respond when a voice he had hoped never to hear again blasted through his mind. He spun towards Aidan, whose facial expression mirrored his own. “Laugh it up. Enjoy your fun. It’s only a matter of time, Brothers. Soon there will be nothing left of you or your pitiful excuse of a life.”
CHAPTER FIVE
Andrew sat on the highest ledge, using the little bit of earthen magic he’d been able to gather, combined with his dragon magic, to stay hidden while he sent his useless brothers a message. He knew it was impetuous, but the idiots and their brethren had invaded his sanctuary. Caused him to abandon the only safe place he could make it to with all his injuries. Injuries that weren’t healing no matter how much power he forced into them.
Kyra would track him if he stayed out in the open much longer; he just had to see the looks on their pathetic faces when he made contact. It was more than worth the risk to see their dumbfounded looks. He had always been the smartest of the brothers. The wonder twins had all their special powers, but he was the thinker of the family, the one able to see the whole picture.
His genius plan of using the hunters had worked out perfectly. Luckily, he’d kept in touch with a few of the old network. They were happy to hear from him, and even happier to come after the most elite of all the Dragon Guard Forces. Andrew had known they would fail. Hell, he’d even counted on it. It had been the distraction he needed to make them believe he’d abandoned the mountain in search of safer accommodations.
The last few years had been hard. Andrew had suffered more than anyone had a right to, and always because of others’ incompetence. John, his apprentice, had been the only one he could trust, the only one worthy–and the dragons had killed him. Living in a cave was lonely and far beneath what he deserved, but it served his purpose.
The time was at hand when he would finally be able to exact revenge on the brother that left him for dead and the pieces of shit that he’d once called brethren. His thoughts of revenge and the prophecy had been all he’d focused on during his weeks in seclusion. Using John’s notes, and what he remembered of a long forgotten dragon language, he’d translated more of the ancient texts. It was more prose and flowery writing than Andrew liked. More than once, he’d wished the writers would just get to the point, but at least it had been something to keep his mind occupied and sharp.
Clutching the old, worn volume to his chest, he pulled his remaining Concealment Amulet over his head. Creeping back to the alcove deep inside the cave he’d been inhabiting, he was careful not to dislodge the makeshift splint or tear the stitches he’d painstakingly knit into his own skin. Andrew held in the groans of pain for fear of discovery. The throbbing was debilitating as he crawled on his elbows and one knee, dragging the disabled appendage behind. The only thing that kept him moving was his promise to make every one of the useless, good for nothing dragons die… slowly and painfully.
Sweat-drenched and out of breath, Andrew leaned against the cool rocks of the cave walls. His head fell to the side merely from its weight. His mind drifted into a twilight state, something between asleep and awake, protecting as much of his body as it could from the pain. He drifted into a memory of one of his first days at the lair following his parents’ death.
Andrew walked towards the training pit looking for his brothers. He knew he had big shoes to fill and couldn’t wait until the day the giant with the shocking red hair gave him the go ahead to train with the real Guardsmen. Rounding the corner, he heard the clang of swords. The air filled with the sheer determination of the trainees trying to beat their trainer.
Cutting through the courtyard surrounding the Great Hall, the sound of crying cut through all the other noise. It was so pitiful, such anguish, such loneliness. One of the most painful things he’d ever heard. The female’s sobs reached right into his chest, squeezing his heart, making it hard for him to breathe.
Unable to move forward, Andrew changed directions. Pushing through the bushes heavy with blooms, he used the girl’s pain as a beacon. Just past the fountain, he caught sight of a royal blue sweater and one small white tennis shoe peeking out from under the grape arbor.
Paying more attention to the girl than his surroundings, Andrew stubbed his toe on a bench, knocking a small brass bell from the corner. The clang scared the girl, causing her to cry out and scramble even farther under the arbor until totally hidden from view.
He crept towards her, calling out as he neared. “It’s okay. I’ve just come to check on you.”
He reached the edge of the structure draped in vines, heavy with huge leaves and grapes. The muffled sounds from underneath let him know she was trying to silence her sobs and mask her pain. Any other time he would have turned around and left her to deal with her own problems, but something about the sounds of her grief, combined with her scent and the mere fact that he felt her anguish, kept Andrew glued to the spot and forced him to speak again.
“I promise I’m a good guy. I’m a Guardsman in training. Maybe you know my brothers. They’re the twins, Aaron and Aidan.”
Waiting to the count of ten, Andrew wondered if maybe his transformation had left him a little crazy and he’d imagined the whole thing. He’d never heard of anyone suffering lasting damage, but there was a first time for everything. Impatient with the lack of communication from the wounded creature inside, he called out for the third time.
“Okay if I come in? I’m feeling a little crazy standing out here talking to the leaves. I’m sure if anyone can see me they’re gonna report me to Mrs. Walsh and she’s going to want to check my melon.”
The giggle he heard was like the sound of the little bells on his mother’s favorite bracelet. His spirit soared and his dragon purred just to know that he had soothed her. Bending at the waist, he lifted the leaves out of the way and entered the arbor. There, in the corner, sat a tiny slip of a girl. Even in the limited light, her silky brown tresses shined as they swept across the top of her shoulders when she bowed her head. Her large brown eyes, red rimmed from tears, were so dark he could barely see her pupils. In the single glimpse he got, they sparkled like the rarest onyx. The sweet scent of daffodils invaded his senses and for just a moment, he felt lightheaded.
The female’s sobs had stopped, but there was a lingering sadness that Andrew felt compelled to soothe. Kneeling just a few feet from where she sat, he cooed, “Wanna talk about it?”
The silence stretched between them until Andrew was sure his question would go unanswered. Just as he was about to speak again, she lifted her head and looked him right in the eye. Shaking her head, she whispered in a defeated voice, “Wouldn’t do any good anyway.”
“Why don’t you give me a try? If nothing else, I‘m a good listener.”
He knew he was pleading and hoped it didn’t scare her, but something in the very depth of his soul told him this one girl was important to his future. No sooner ha
d the thought crossed his mind than his dragon chuffed in agreement. The girl sat back, stretched her legs in front of her, and simply stared.
Wanting…no needing, to hear her voice again, Andrew asked, “Can I at least know your name?”
She shrugged. “What’s yours?”
“Andrew.”
“Nice name.”
“Thanks.” He waited as patiently as possible, hoping and praying that she would talk again, but all she did was sit as still as a statue, taking in his every movement.
Before he could think of anything witty to say, she spoke. Her voice was a little higher than before, but still clear as a bell. It reminded him of the violin his uncle played during their clan celebrations.
“Would you believe me if I told you I don’t remember my name?”
“Darlin’, I’d believe anything you want me to.” He grinned.
“Really?”
“Swear to it.” She smiled and he swore his heart skipped a beat. “Now, you wanna tell me why you’re so sad?”
Andrew shook himself awake, unable to endure remembering one of the best days of his life. He cursed himself, sick to his stomach that he’d become sappy enough to think about a time when he believed everything was great and that he’d be a big, bad Dragon Guardsman. He’d actually entertained the thought that the sweet girl in the grape arbor might have been his mate.
He’d seen her on and off during his time with the clan, always promising himself that he would get to know her better, but it seemed that something always stopped him, something always got in the way. Then his world had gone to hell and she’d been all but forgotten until his brief trip down memory lane.
His entire life, he’d listened to stories of how great dragon kin was and how all they wanted to do was make the world a better, safer place for all kinds. Of course, Fate had shown him that it was all propaganda. A complete and total load of bullshit. Bullshit that he and he alone was going to expose and burn to the ground.