Badass Dragons: The Complete Set

by Rosette Bolter

  Sophie giggled. “Don’t you fucking dare. It’s our world tonight. You’re the King. And I’m the Queen.”

  Synrith wasn’t sure anymore. He felt her against him, so soft. So pure. She was an angel of darkness, and through her he felt her blood pumping like poison around her veins. He wanted it. He lusted after it. When he was in her arms it was as though he wanted nothing else.

  Except…

  Except…

  Bang.

  Suddenly the door to the balcony flew open and bounced off the wall.

  Synrith pushed Sophie away and hurried towards it, the night’s air blowing through the room rapidly.

  Outside, he stared up into the sky.

  He could see them. Two dark figures.

  A dark blue dragon flying through the clouds.

  And a young woman sitting on his back.

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  Rafe was standing just outside the manor’s gate as Jet’s dragon carried Cheryl up into the clouds with him. Rafe watched them go. Disappear out of sight. He didn’t know what would become of them, only that Synrith would soon be on their tail. He hoped they had enough of a head start. They were truly the only ones who stood a chance of defeating the master dragon. If Rafe had any chance himself, he would have tried long ago.

  But his destiny prevented him.

  A vociferous roar echoed from within the manor. Synrith’s roar.

  Rafe stepped away from the wall and pulled his hood over his head. He quickly started on his path down the road, glancing over his shoulder every so often to make sure he wasn’t being followed.

  He honestly hadn’t an idea of where he was to go next. His mind was scrambled. At every twist and turn, he felt his fate changing. Being manipulated by an unseen shadow. It was true. She really had got the best of him. His future self had never made it back here to help him. Not like it once had. Rafe stared down the empty road in front of him, hoping, wishing. Wondering if he would suddenly appear now.

  “Rafe.”

  A voice from the side of the road. Rafe jumped back in fright.

  From the shadows a woman in a purple gown emerged. He squinted, trying to see if he could recognize her.

  “Who are you?” he asked after a moment.

  She stood in front of him, her face now lit up by the moon.

  Then it hit him.

  Of course.

  “Sophie…?”

  “I’m called Lady Glowshark these days,” Sophie’s older self replied. “Sophie is just a girl’s name.”

  “You’ve seen the future then?” Rafe stammered. “You must have. You –”

  Lady Glowshark walked towards him. She silenced his words with a finger to his lips.

  “I’ve watched you in so many states of existence,” she whispered. “But I’ve never seen you as weak as you are now.”

  Rafe pushed her hand away. “My mind isn’t weak. It’s perfectly clear.”

  “And where are you off to then?”

  “Excuse me?”

  “Where are you going?” Lady Glowshark asked.

  Rafe shook his head. “I haven’t figured it out yet.”

  “No,” she murmured. “But soon you will. Soon you’ll realize you want your power back. And you’ll find a way into the forest. Where the time portal is.”

  “And what then?”

  “I don’t know,” Lady Glowshark shook her head. “I’m not going back to my time. I’ve already destroyed the portal.”

  “But then what will you do? What am I to do?”

  “We’re both finished, my love. It ends here for us.”

  “No,” Rafe shook his head.

  “Cheryl couldn’t save me,” Sophie said. “I know that now. And I’m not going to save you.”

  “Well – what are you here for then?”

  She smiled softly. “I just wanted to hug you. For one last time.”

  Rafe sighed and before he knew it she was upon him. She embraced her arms around his, and at his neck he felt her tears.

  “What is it?” Rafe said. “Why are you –?”

  Pain.

  In his gut.

  Sophie backed away slightly and kissed his cheek.

  Then she let him fall, clutching the dagger she’d planted in his stomach.

  Rafe looked down at I, and couldn’t believe his eyes.

  “That’s – that’s Synrith’s dagger,” he gasped.

  He fell to his knees.

  “He was wrong to trust me,” Sophie whispered. “He should have given it to Cheryl.”

  “But you – you changed what happened between them –”

  Rafe slumped onto the ground. The road’s concrete bit into the side of his face.

  He knew very soon, he would be dead.

  “I changed what he did to her,” Sophie confessed as she looked back at him one last time. “I made him mine. I made him care about me.”

  Rafe closed his eyes.

  He couldn’t see anything anymore.

  “But I could never change, what was really, truly … in his heart…”

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  The sky came alive with a flash of distant purple lightning as Jet’s broad wings dived closer to the earth, their destination near. Cheryl knew where they were. She had spied the outline of his dark, rocky castle several minutes ago. What was to become of them after they landed, she didn’t know. The only thing that seemed important was to make sure they were both on the same page. That they were going to work together as a team. Cheryl wasn’t sure she could handle another betrayal…

  Once they were in the courtyard and Cheryl’s feet were safely on the ground, she turned around to see Jet shifting back to his human form. As he did so, Cheryl was very much reminded of his current condition. His clothes were still torn at his waist and the blood and dirt that stained his torso was ever present. She approached him cautiously, while he gazed back up at the flashing sky above them.

  “Are you okay?” Cheryl asked him.

  “He’s coming for us,” Jet said absently.

  “Who is coming?”

  He looked down and into her eyes. “Synrith.”

  “What can I do?” Cheryl asked.

  “Nothing, I –” Jet began, but was stopped mid-speech. His knees buckled underneath him and he fell, reaching out for Cheryl’s shoulder for support.

  “It’s okay,” she said. “Come on. Over here.”

  Cheryl guided him onto one of the stone benches, Jet breathing intensely. She put her arm around him and sat down.

  “There’s a sword and armor in the chamber upstairs,” Jet croaked. “Fetch them for me.”

  “Are you sure he’s coming?” Cheryl asked.

  “Yes,” Jet hissed back at her. “Please get them.”

  Cheryl nodded and removed her arm from him. She stood up from the bench and moved around to the back of the courtyard.

  Once there she retraced her steps to the bedroom upstairs where she and Jet had once upon a time, had an encounter. Cheryl recalled that he rejected her. He cast her out. The shame of her vampirism was too much for him to bear. At the time Cheryl hadn’t even been really interested in him – her attraction to Synrith was just starting to grow.

  It felt like a million years ago.

  Resting on top of a wardrobe against the wall, Cheryl retrieved a long silver broadsword with a golden handle. Inside the cupboard there was also a coat of chainmail which she forced underneath her free arm. She then hurried back to Jet who had fallen off the bench, slumped in the courtyard.

  “Jet!” Cheryl cried.

  She dropped the sword and armor within a few feet of him and rushed to his side. Jet grasped hold of her and tried to sit up.

  “I’m okay,” he said. “I’m just really tired.”

  Cheryl helped to drag him back to the bench. His neck rested against it.

  “I brought you a sword and some armor,” Cheryl said. “I found them by your wardrobe.”

  “Thank you,” Jet said.

  Cheryl
looked back up to the sky. There was still no sign of Synrith.

  “Are you sure he followed us?” Cheryl asked.

  “I’m sure,” Jet replied.

  “Did you see him?”

  Jet shook his head. “I felt his eyes on us as we made our escape. The air around us … I felt it move. He wanted me to know he would be coming.”

  “Then where is he?”

  “I don’t know,” Jet said, sitting back on the bench. “But he won’t be long.”

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  Synrith did not appear as soon as Jet expected him to. A few minutes later Jet was able to stand again and Cheryl help him with the chainmail and sword. Soon he was suited up and holding the weapon tensely, waiting for his enemy to appear. Cheryl wasn’t sure if she was supposed to stay with him afterward or if he’d prefer her to go elsewhere. Jet had never been much of a communicator.

  “Hey,” Cheryl said, trying to get his attention. “Hey.”

  Jet looked at her sideways. His eyebrows narrowed.

  “We had something before you know,” Cheryl murmured.

  Jet seemed uneasy. “I know.”

  “You remember going to bed with me?”

  “What of it?”

  “I just,” Cheryl trailed off. “I just…”

  “Don’t.”

  Don’t. That was it. What he had to say. Don’t.

  It sounded so final.

  “Why does it have to be that way?” she asked. “Between us?”

  Jet sighed. “I don’t know what you want from me.”

  “I don’t know,” Cheryl shrugged. “Can’t we just be friends?”

  “Fine. Whatever. Friends.”

  “That doesn’t feel like friends to me.”

  “Well that’s because I don’t trust you,” Jet said. “And why should I? You have the blood of a thousand demons running through your veins.”

  “But it’s still me,” Cheryl said. “I’m not a bad person.”

  “Soon you’ll be hungry,” Jet declared. “And then that hunger will lead to the murder of an innocent.” He inhaled sharply. “It always does.”

  “Did you lose someone? To –”

  Jet planted his sword in the soil and turned his body towards her.

  Cheryl realized she had upset him.

  “I’m sorry,” she mumbled. “I didn’t mean to –”

  “It was someone I loved,” Jet said. “More than you’ve ever loved anybody. And that’s all you need to know.”

  “What do you know about my feelings of love?” Cheryl stammered.

  Jet grimaced. “I know enough that if I were to tear at your chest and pull from it your heart – it would dead, and empty and black. Your last beat was a long time ago.”

  Cheryl inhaled. His words disturbed her. She had wanted to confide in Jet, just as they had been before. She wanted to try. To give him her all.

  But he still didn’t trust her.

  And now she was utterly alone.

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  “Something isn’t right,” Jet said breaking the silence. “He’s taking too long.”

  Jet looked anxiously around them as though one of the shadows were suddenly about to come to life. Cheryl bit her teeth together. Maybe he’s never coming, she thought.

  “Good evening.”

  Both Jet and Cheryl whirled round to the courtyard’s entrance.

  A tall figure was approaching them.

  Jet rushed to pull his sword from the earth.

  “No combat is required,” the voice said calmly.

  Cheryl put her hand on Jet’s shoulder, easing him. She realized she recognized the voice.

  “Reiko…?” she called out.

  He emerged into the half-light.

  “Please,” he said. “I mean no harm. I only wish to talk.”

  Jet growled angrily and charged in his direction.

  “Jet!” Cheryl cried.

  When he came into contact with the shadows Reiko had been, swinging his sword blindly, Jet struck only the air. Cheryl turned around to see that Reiko was standing behind them.

  “Remember who’s heart belongs to me, dragon,” he said calmly.

  “Fuck you,” Jet cursed and charged back over to him.

  Reiko quickly entered the castle from the side and Jet chased him, hot in pursuit.

  Cheryl stood her ground, unable to come to terms with what was happening.

  Tap, tap.

  She turned to see Reiko was tapping her shoulder.

  “What?” she blurted out. “What is it?”

  “It’s time for you to leave him behind,” Reiko said.

  “What?” Cheryl gasped. “I can’t do that.”

  “He doesn’t love you,” Reiko said. “The two of you together will bring only pain.”

  “How did you find us here?” Cheryl demanded. “Have you seen Synrith?”

  Reiko nodded. “I was a fool to have disobeyed him. But then, he threatened our lives. That was mostly Sophie’s doing. Thankfully the Master is seeing much clearer now.”

  “What are you talking about?” Cheryl shouted. “He’s going to run havoc on society? Is that what you want?”

  “It’s our destiny, Cheryl,” Reiko said. “You’ve chosen your side.”

  “Is she coming?” a female voice cried out.

  Cheryl turned to see Cassandra approaching from the entrance.

  “I’m talking to her,” Reiko said.

  “We don’t have time,” Cassandra said. “Are you with us or not, Cheryl?”

  “Who is ‘us’?” Cheryl asked.

  “Synrith is waiting for you just over the hill. As is Sophie. Your man and your sister. We’re your friends.” Cassandra tossed her hair back. “Or would you prefer to remain here with him?”

  Jet jumped out of one of the windows facing them, and landed in the centre of the courtyard.

  His body shook and his feet wobbled after landing.

  Reiko put his arm out to shield Cheryl from him.

  “We’re taking her,” he said. “Don’t try to stop us.”

  Jet stared at the three of them as they backed away. There was hatred in his eyes.

  “She doesn’t love you,” Cassandra said to him. “Just as I don’t love you. You’ve already lost her, and you’ve already lost me. There’s no use in trying to fight it.”

  “What’s she talking about?” Cheryl asked Reiko.

  “Nothing,” he muttered. “Cassandra used to be his girlfriend. Before…”

  Cheryl opened and closed her eyes. It was now that she understood.

  Now that she understood Jet’s hatred towards the vampire kind.

  As they back away into the shadows of the courtyard entrance, Jet still made no attempt to go after them. Reiko’s grip across her chest was loosening. Their feet were finding firmer ground.

  Cheryl glanced behind her and saw Synrith standing upon the hill before the trees.

  Behind him were the dragons, and vampires and wolves of the land.

  Behind him, was Sophie, just as Cassandra had said.

  “Cheryl,” Jet called out.

  Cheryl stopped.

  Reiko tried to move her but she wouldn’t budge.

  “Cheryl,” Jet repeated.

  She pushed Reiko away from her and walked back into the entrance.

  Their eyes locked.

  “If you choose me now,” Jet said, “then I will trust you.”

  “Don’t listen to him, Cheryl,” Cassandra hissed. “He’s lying.”

  Cheryl glanced back at the desperate vampire.

  She knew who was lying.

  He was looking at her from that distance, he was looking at her and he was offering her something.

  A final chance to be happy.

  A chance that was real.

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  “CHERYL!” Master Synrith screamed into the wind behind her. “WHAT ARE YOU DOING?”

  She pushed past Reiko and Cassandra who were trying to restrain her, and reente
red the courtyard. Her eyes never left the dragon that was facing her.

  Once she had made it out of the shadows, her vampire kin stopped pursuing her. She walked slowly across the gravel towards Jet, and once there she stood beside him, ready for whatever was going to come at them.

  Then she felt Jet’s fingers glide into her hand.

  She held them, and they both squeezed at the same time.

  She felt a feeling she’d been longing to feel.

  But just as their moment was leaving, Synrith’s dark shadow could be seen storming towards the courtyard entrance. Eventually he made it to the edge there, Cassandra and Reiko standing either side of him. Sophie was also standing behind him.

  Other than that, they were alone.

  “What are you doing, Cheryl?” Synrith called slyly. “Come back here. I want to talk to you.”

  “No,” Cheryl said, shaking her head. “You had your chance.”

  “How can you be so foolish?” Synrith said. “Jet Strongarm is no match for me. He will surely die here. Do you wish to die with him?”

  “I won’t be your slave!” Cheryl squealed.

  “I don’t want you to be my slave,” Synrith said. “I want you to be my Queen. Both you, and Sophie.”

  “Bullshit,” Cheryl said. “You’re just being disgusting.”

  Synrith shook his head. “Very well. But you’ll be sorry once this is over.”

  Cassandra and Reiko immediately began to advance towards them in the courtyard.

  “No,” Synrith called to them. “This is my fight.”

  They froze.

  Synrith walked past them, the ground crunching under his boots.

  He withdrew the magnetic green sword at his belt and pointed it in Jet’s direction.

  “Are you ready to die then, Jet?” Synrith taunted.

  “Yes,” Jet snapped back. “But it won’t be tonight.”

  Jet let go of Cheryl’s fingers and raced forward to strike Synrith’s sword.

  As soon as the forces between them collided, it was enough to send them both reeling back. And then they were at it again. Their moves against one another so quick Cheryl’s eyes were almost unable to keep up with them.