by Zoe Chant
Steele was unconscious, utterly powerless.
Braeden had won. His mind was finally free again—and Alyx was safe.
Now all he had to do was to drag the unconscious Steele back to Sky Home, so the chimera could figure out what the hell was going on—and then he and Alyx were going to take a vacation.
She deserved to meet her friend again, to apologize for scaring her. She deserved long shopping trips, days on the beach, and as much ice cream as two grown adults could eat in a week.
And as much as he'd dreamed about showering her with riches and building a home for her, right now all he wanted was to hold her in his arms again.
At long last, she was safe. Steele would never, ever be able to harm her again.
At the thought of her long captivity, Braeden's lips pulled back, and his dragon growled. He lowered his head to take a good look at Steele, who still hadn't so much as twitched.
And then, out of nowhere, wisps of shadow appeared.
Surprised, Braeden took a hasty step back. But the darkness didn't even seem to notice him. It swirled around Steele's unconscious body like mist, growing and growing until a huge cloud of shadow surrounded Steele so completely that Braeden could no longer see him.
A second later, the darkness was gone as if it had never been there.
And the body of Steele was gone with it.
All that remained was a handful of blood-red gemstones scattered across the ground, bright as flame.
***
Braeden flew as quickly as he could, ignoring the soreness of his wings.
There was only one thing on his mind now—and that was the need to wrap his arms tightly around Alyx and make sure that she hadn't been harmed.
Even now, he could feel a warm amusement trickling in through the mate bond that told him that she was perfectly fine. Still. Right now he needed to feel her in his arms, skin to skin. It was the only thing that mattered.
By the time he made it to Sky Home, he was utterly out of breath. Still, he didn't waste a single second.
Shifting before his claws had even touched the rock, he raced into the giant council chamber—and there she was, Alyx, gorgeous and unharmed. Her silky black hair fluttered in the wind like a flag as she came running towards him, laughing.
And then, finally, she was in his arms.
“I felt you,” he said hoarsely, hugging her as tightly as he could. “When I was fighting—I could feel you. I don't know what you did, but you drove him out of my mind.”
“I could feel you too,” she said, laughing even as she grabbed hold of his face and pulled him down.
He groaned as their lips met, desire racing through his body once more. He wanted her—even now, after their mating, his body felt as if it was on fire with need. He needed to feel her, skin to skin, hear her cry out his name...
From the darkness before them, there came an echoing chuckle. Chagrined, Braeden pulled back a little.
“Congratulations, dragon of fire,” the chimera boomed. “I could feel the power of darkness flare—and then die.”
Braeden kept his arm wrapped tightly around Alyx. “I defeated Steele. But I don't think the darkness is defeated. There was a cloud that appeared once Steele was down. A moment later, it vanished, and he was gone.”
“Yes,” the chimera murmured from the shadows. “I did not expect you would succeed in driving out all darkness from the world. Still, with Steele down, a dangerous enemy is gone.”
“But it's not over yet. Whatever this darkness was he allied himself with, it'll return.”
“Yes,” the chimera growled. “But that was not your task. Your task was to defeat Steele—and you did.”
“So now what?” Alyx asked. “Will we be safe for now?”
“For the moment,” the chimera said. “The darkness will gather its strength before it strikes again.”
From somewhere to their right, Jared appeared. He grinned at Braeden, obviously pleased to see that he'd made it back alive.
“So how do we deal with it when it returns?” the griffin shifter then demanded. “The element of darkness—I've never heard anyone talk of it before.”
“That is because it has never before found a champion in this world,” the chimera hissed.
For a moment, Braeden could see the shadow of a serpent’s tail writhing.
“I have spent long hours poring over old books and scrolls. There is one prophecy, thousands of years old. Yet it makes no sense.”
“What does it say?” the griffin shifter asked curiously. “We need any help we can get.”
For a moment, the chimera was silent. Then his voice came echoing out of the shadows, every word pronounced with great care. “When darkness falls over the world, five must stand against one to complete the circle.”
“Five?” Braeden frowned, his eyes going to the four plinths, each glowing with the symbol of an element. “That doesn't make sense. There are four elements. There've only ever been four.”
“Earth, air, fire, and water.” Jared shook his head. “There's no other dragon powerful enough to join Braeden, Gregory, Timothy, and Damon. You'd know if there was one.”
“I know,” the chimera growled. “It makes no sense—but the prophecy leaves no other interpretation.”
“When darkness falls over the world...” Alyx repeated thoughtfully. “No, he's right. That's what's happening. I saw that darkness when I was inside Braeden's mind. It was terrible. It was all shadows and coldness, like a black hole swallowing all light.”
The chimera was silent for a moment before he continued. “There are four elemental dragons now. Four alpha dragons in their full power, each with a human mate. Braeden, dragon of fire. I set you a task, and you fulfilled it. You have proven yourself. The seat of fire is yours.”
Braeden felt a smile break out over his face. He'd never thought he'd end up here, on the council of elements.
He knew it wasn't so much a privilege as a duty. A duty that might put him in danger again.
Still, he'd come to admire the other dragons of the council. They were the closest thing to a family he'd ever known. Even if darkness wasn't defeated yet—this was a start.
As he turned to look at the plinth of fire, the dragon within him preening with pride, the symbol on the rock burst into light. Alyx's fingers entwined with his own.
“Congrats,” she said softly, smiling up at him.
“That makes you the Lady of the Fire, you know.” He grinned at her, excited and proud, remembering that glorious moment when he'd seen her in his mind, taking hold of fire itself to burn the shadow inside him.
“Not where I thought my next promotion would go—but I'm not complaining.”
She moved even closer, her relief at having him back flowing through the bond.
And then the earth beneath them began to tremble.
Immediately, Braeden took a protective step forward to shield Alyx with his body—but there was no enemy in front of them.
The symbols on all four plinths were now blazing brightly: Air, Earth, Water, Fire. Each was pulsating with light.
The ground beneath Braeden was still trembling, even though he couldn't make out any cause for it. And then, from out of nowhere, the rocks before them began to move.
For a moment, Braeden stared, too shocked to breathe as he looked at what was rising out of the ground.
A fifth plinth.
Before their eyes, the rock of the cave was transforming, a fifth column of stone rapidly rising until at last, it stood next to the four others, as solid as they.
The ground had stopped shaking. Everything was silent for a moment, as if time itself had frozen.
And then a fifth symbol burst into blazing light.
Engraved deep into the rock of the new plinth, it showed a triangle, out of which three lines were coming, pointing upward.
“What the hell,” Braeden muttered. He'd never seen anything like it before.
“But there are only four elements.” Awed, Braeden
turned towards the shadows where the chimera hid himself. “What's that symbol supposed to mean? We've already got air, earth, water, and fire.”
For a moment, the chimera was silent. Then, reluctantly, he growled, “I've never seen anything like it myself.”
“Me neither,” Alyx admitted, coming forward to stand by Braeden's side. “Can we google it?”
“It has to be a good sign,” Braeden said as he frowned at the symbol. “Five against one. Now we just have to figure out what the hell that symbol even stands for.”
“Uh huh,” Alyx said. “Let me try and google it.”
“Umm. Guys.” Jared was slowly coming forward. There was awe on the face of the griffin shifter—and confused disbelief. “I've seen this symbol before.”
“Have you?” Alyx perked up. “That's great! Where does it come from?”
“I have no idea,” Jared said slowly, reaching out as if to touch the plinth, then hesitating, as if he didn't quite dare to touch the symbol.
He took a deep breath. Braeden could see his shoulders tensing.
Then Jared turned around and gave them a small smile. He reached beneath his shirt.
And from there, he pulled a small medallion. On a chain, a circle of gold hung—and on that circle of gold, a triangle with three lines pointing upward was engraved.
“I don't know where it comes from,” Jared said and swallowed. “This was the only thing found with me when I was a baby. It's the only thing I've got left of my real parents.”
Chapter Twenty-One: Alyx
Alyx collapsed into a deck chair. The sun was blazing down on them, there was a tropical cocktail shimmering a bright pink in front of her, and her mate was right by her side, unharmed and completely hers.
They'd flown back from Sky Home to Wing Island as soon as everything had been wrapped up with the chimera. Gareth was busy with his old books once more, looking into further hints about the strange symbol, but they weren't needed for that.
Braeden had done his job. In Alyx's mind, he more than deserved a month-long beach vacation.
Meanwhile, she’d have to fix things with Sarah. But after having single-handedly defeated a creepy shadow creature inside her mate's mind, Alyx felt that she deserved at least a few hours of nothing exploding, erupting, attacking, or roaring at her.
And on Wing Island, everything was still as beautifully sunny and peaceful as it had been before.
Braeden reached out to take her hand, and Alyx sighed in pure happiness as their fingers entwined.
Who'd have thought that life could be so good. Nothing like a few weeks in a fire dragon lair to teach you to enjoy the good things in life!
“Timothy said we can stay for as long as we like,” Braeden said. “What do you think?”
Alyx stretched, enjoying the heat on her skin. She'd always loved the sun, but for some reason, it made her feel all energetic and giddy today. Almost as if something inside her was soaking up the heat like a battery.
Maybe that's what it means to be the Lady of the Fire...
She turned over so she could look at Braeden, smiling at his own blissful expression.
This time, they'd been fortunate. Timothy had given them one of the vacation homes right on the beach. Their deck was built on wooden poles right above the ocean, and they had complete privacy, copses of bushes and trees shielding their stretch of the beach from all eyes.
Maybe she could use that as an excuse to go skinny dipping at midnight. She'd always wanted to try that.
But right now...
Braeden gave her a knowing look, his eyes darkening as he stared at her. Alyx was wearing a bikini she'd bought in the bunny shifter's boutique. She stretched a little, loving the way his eyes lingered.
She didn't think it was the sparkly fabric that had him so distracted...
“I've got a present for you,” he said after a moment, his voice suspiciously rough. “Want to go inside?”
Alyx allowed her eyes to run down his body for a moment, lingering on the unmistakable shape of his arousal.
“There's only one present I'm interested in right now.” She gave him a teasing look. “It better not be a book.”
He grinned as he got up—and then she found herself unceremoniously lifted, carried inside while she giggled with laughter.
“It's not a book,” he promised earnestly.
“Mmm... A blindfold?” She arched her brow at him.
That earned her a grin. “No, but good idea.”
“Oh, is it?” She smirked at him, loving the sensation of his strong arms around her. “And what makes you think I'll let you put a blindfold on me?”
His own grin turned wicked. “Oh, you've been dropping way too many hints now.”
He set her down on the bed, which some helpful soul had strewn with rose petals. There was a cooler with a bottle of real champagne by the bed—and there, next to it, a curious little box.
A box that looked like it was made of solid gold.
“The box was a present from Gregory and Naomi,” Braeden said. “The pearls were a present from Timothy and Liana. And the gold comes from Damon and Autumn.”
He opened the box and then spilled its contents all over the bed.
Alyx gasped, her eyes going wide. There were strings of pearls, chains of gleaming gold, and a tiara. Every last bit of this treasure spilled all around her, worth more than what she made in a year.
And there were rubies.
Bright like fire, they glistened red in the light of the sun falling in through the window.
Without thinking, Alyx found herself reaching out for them.
Several of them were worked into a slender tiara of gold. Two in the shape of drops were earrings. Another gleaming pile of rubies and gold turned out to be a bracelet, the gold worked into a shape reminding her of flickering flames, decorated with the gleaming jewels.
And one, the largest of them all, hung on a simple chain of gold. It was polished in the shape of a heart, and as she stared at it, Alyx thought she could see the flickering of real, living flame, pulsing at the core in time with her own heartbeat.
“Where do the rubies come from?” she asked, awed.
“Those are the first true treasure I've earned on my own. The beginning of my hoard. When you drove out the shadow in my heart, and I used all of my power to beat Steele, these were what was left behind. A gift from the element of fire itself.”
“These are incredible,” she whispered, gently raising the heart-shaped ruby to the light. “Put them on for me?”
Alyx held out the chain to Braeden.
He gave her a teasing grin and shook his head. “Not while you're dressed...”
“Oh,” Alyx said, amused, although her hands went immediately to her bikini. “Demanding.”
“Very,” Braeden said hoarsely. “Go on.”
Alyx felt a delicious shiver of arousal run through her at the sensation of his eyes on her.
Slowly, her fingers went to unfasten her bikini top. His eyes widened when she dropped it to the floor, and she smiled. Two could play that game.
Then, just as slowly, she began to wiggle out of the bikini bottoms.
Braeden's eyes had darkened so much they appeared black, shining with the red glow of his inner fire.
Alyx stretched teasingly on the bed. She loved the way his eyes lingered on her curves. And now, for once, there were no dragons to defeat, no wars to fight.
“I think you're still wearing too much,” she purred.
With a wicked grin, Braeden reached into his pocket. Slowly, he pulled out a length of red cloth. It looked smooth and silky—and when he allowed it to tease against her bare skin, she could feel that it was real silk.
“And I think you're demanding when we've got all the time in the world.” His smile widened as he leaned over her.
She gasped as the silk trailed over her nipple, which had already stiffened, aching for his touch.
“Today we're taking our time.” Braeden wrapped the silk arou
nd her head, blindfolding her with it.
Alyx felt a shiver of need run through her at the sensation. She couldn't see him anymore—but she could still feel him, every inch of those hard muscles pressing against her.
“Today I'm getting to decorate you the way my dragon has been wanting to for a long, long time.” Braeden's voice was low, the rough desire in it making little sparks of excitement burst in her belly.
Her body was already ready for him, her folds wet with need—but instead of taking her the way they both wanted, he reached out for something again.
And a moment later, Alyx felt the cool sensation of the string of pearls draped over her belly.
“You're gorgeous,” Braeden said hungrily. His lips brushed one of her nipples, and she gasped.
Blindly, she reached out, trying to take hold of his head to keep him in place—but Braeden chuckled, taking hold of her wrists instead.
“Oh, no, you don't,” he murmured lovingly, pressing a kiss to the inside of her wrist.
Then he pushed her arms back into the pillow, holding them above her head. She moaned again at the delicious sensation of feeling like his captive, held down by that incredible, powerful body.
And then, there was the sensation of cool metal again. She could not see, but she could feel him winding chains around her wrists.
Was that the gold from his hoard?
Suddenly, the cool metal seemed to heat. Braeden released her wrists, laughing softly as his hands ran down her exposed body, unerringly finding her taut nipples.
She arched into his touch with a gasp—and only then realized that she couldn't move her wrists.
Instead of fragile chains, they'd been restrained by something that didn't give even when she tried to move her hands.
Or perhaps, he'd used his powers to use his gold to bind her...
The thought sent another powerful pulse of desire through her. Her body throbbed, her inner walls clenching as his thumb circled her nipple.
“Beautiful,” he said huskily, and then there was the musical sound of further chains of gold being draped across her body.