Dragon Chases (Dragon Breeze Book 2)

by Rinelle Grey

  Somehow, he doubted it.

  Brad turned back to Nate, staring in disbelief as his brother walked right up to the enemy dragon, and put his hands on her chest.

  And she let him.

  “Are you all right?” Nate asked, his voice just barely audible.

  Brad didn’t hear a reply.

  “Don’t do this,” Nate said. “Don’t make me pick a side.”

  She lowered her head towards him, nudging him gently.

  It was as if his brother knew the other dragon. As if… as if he cared about her.

  And she cared about him. As soon as the thought occurred to him, Brad could see it in her movements. In the way her head gently nudged him.

  In the fact that she seemed to have chosen not to attack Lyrian.

  He couldn’t help feeling a little jealous of the tenderness between them.

  Nate pulled back and looked up at the dragon. “If that’s the case, return to your human form,” he said flatly, “and I might just believe you.”

  Believe what? The other dragon hadn’t said anything.

  Not to him, anyway. But clearly there was a conversation happening in front of him that he wasn’t hearing. He glanced up at Lyrian, wondering if she could hear it.

  She stared at the other two, her face unreadable. Well, he had no idea how to interpret dragon expressions anyway.

  As Brad stared, he realised this was the first time he’d ever seen her dragon form. And it was magnificent.

  It was a shock to realise that this creature standing in front of him, sunlight glinting off her sky blue scales, her whole body almost designed to be a show of strength, was his gentle, loving Lyrian.

  He could see quite clearly now that she was a princess. It was evident in the way she held her head, the slight snarl of her mouth as she looked at the pair standing opposite her.

  A ripple flashed across the other dragon’s scales, and as Brad glanced over, she shifted into a human, the same one that had chased them back at the pub. Only this time, she was naked. And her hands and arms covered in blood.

  Brad winced and glanced back to Lyrian quickly, not wanting to stare.

  It wasn’t really his fault the other dragon… woman… was injured. If she truly hadn’t been intending to attack Lyrian, he wouldn’t have shot her as long as she kept her distance. But Nate had bumped him at exactly the wrong moment.

  She was no real danger now. He was pretty sure that his princess could handle her in human form without any concerns whatsoever.

  Lyrian wouldn’t need his help.

  That thought relieved him a little, and also made him sad. Somehow he knew it was almost time for him to leave.

  Finding Lyrian’s brothers wouldn’t take long now the other dragon was no longer after them.

  *****

  Lyrian watched the human and injured human form dragon carefully, not letting her guard down for a moment, despite the other dragon’s obvious submission.

  The Trima dragon’s injuries were surface deep. Not enough to stop her fighting. Not enough to ensure Lyrian’s victory.

  Was this all a trick, or was this fight really over?

  Had Brad’s brother actually saved the day, or did she still need to keep an eye on the Trima dragon?

  The pair turned around and walked towards her, holding hands. Nate couldn’t sense her wall of air, and would have walked straight into it, but the Trima dragon stopped him.

  He glanced over at her, then back to Lyrian.

  “Go on,” Nate urged, looking at the Trima dragon.

  She looked at him, then turned back to Lyrian. To the princess’s surprise, she inclined her head in a show of respect. “Please accept my humble apologies for any trouble I have caused you.” Her voice was stiff, uncomfortable.

  Lyrian stared at her, trying to figure out what her goal was. Could she trust the Trima dragon?

  Brad was far more forthright. “What’s going on?” he demanded, looking from his brother to the Trima dragon then back.

  Nate shrugged, a little embarrassed. “I think I might have fallen in love, bro. These dragons are far too alluring.”

  Brad’s eyes widened, and Lyrian suspected her own were doing the same thing.

  Nate was in love with the Trima dragon?

  That she had not expected.

  And from the look the Trima dragon gave Brad’s brother, she felt the same way.

  Nice for them, but how did it help her?

  Was the Trima dragon’s shift into human form enough of a surrender? Could Lyrian trust it?

  And what would it mean if the Trima dragon mated with Brad’s brother? Forcing either Brad or his brother to choose between loyalty to a mate or loyalty to a sibling would be too unfair. And too dangerous.

  Even if the Trima dragon surrendered, they were still in the middle of a war.

  While she and Brad weren’t mated, wouldn't make that commitment, they did have Anarian. That tied Brad to Rian clan as strongly as mating would.

  “So, what do we do now?” Brad looked at the Trima dragon, then up at Lyrian, as though he expected her to have an answer.

  Lyrian still didn’t know. She wanted a way to make everyone happy, but she just couldn’t see one.

  But, she was a princess. She had to say something.

  “I will not stand in the way of two people in love,” Lyrian said, projecting her voice into human and human form dragon heads alike. “But even if you have chosen not to attack me, you are still Trima. If you wish to be together, you both must leave and never return.”

  It wasn’t a good solution. It wasn’t even really an acceptable one. But it was all she had.

  The Trima dragon’s eyes widened in surprise, and she looked over at Nate, her expression uncertain.

  Nate looked uncertain too. “But…” He stared over at Brad. “Help me out here.”

  *****

  Brad immediately knew what his brother’s problem was. Lyrian wasn’t just banishing the Trima dragon, but him as well.

  “Surely there’s a way to sort this out,” he said, holding up his hands. “I mean, it’s not like you and I…” He trailed off, not quite sure how to explain it. Lyrian’s stony dragon face didn’t help.

  “You are connected to me through Anarian. I doubt there is any possibility of you giving that up.” Lyrian stared at him, as though waiting for a response.

  As if there was any doubt. “I intend to see her, of course,” Brad said firmly. “But I don’t see…”

  “Then that makes you part of Rian clan,” Lyrian interrupted, “Regardless of our relationship. If your brother mates with the Trima dragon, he is part of Trima clan. The two clans do not socialise. We are at war. Do you not understand what that means?”

  “Of course I do. But this war is between dragons, not between my brother and me. I have no intention of socialising with the Trima dragon, and Nate…” he glanced over, then heaved a sigh. “I’m sure Nate can survive without spending time with Anarian.”

  It would be sad, not being able to share his daughter’s life with his brother, but better than losing Nate altogether. Besides, it wasn’t like Brad would be living with Anarian at any point.

  Lyrian shook her head. “I’m sorry, Brad, but it’s just not possible. No matter how hard you try, information could slip through. I cannot put my clan at risk. You have to make a choice.” Brad could hear the sadness and genuine regret in her words, but also the finality. This was it. Their only choice.

  How were either of them supposed to make that choice? The very thought tore him apart. Whether they mated or not, he loved Lyrian. They had a daughter together.

  But Nate was his brother. His twin brother. They’d shared everything since they were children.

  How could he possibly choose between them?

  Of course, there was no contest. His daughter needed him.

  Nate would understand, wouldn’t he?

  “I’m sorry, Nate…”

  He could see his own sorrow reflected in his brother’s
eyes.

  “There must be some other way,” the other dragon said, her eyes sad too. “Some way Nate and I can be together without him losing his brother.” She took a deep breath, then looked from Nate to Brad. “I know how much he cares about you. He’s done nothing but search for you since he arrived.” She looked at Lyrian. “Please.”

  Lyrian regarded her for a moment, and Brad held his breath.

  “There is only one way I can see it being possible,” Lyrian said, her mind-voice hard and ominous. “Renounce your clan. Give up Trima, and return to Rian clan. Then, maybe, I can trust you.”

  The woman swallowed. She looked at Nate for a long moment. Then she squared her shoulders, and turned back to Lyrian. “Would Rian clan accept me?”

  Brad saw Lyrian’s expression falter, and he could almost feel her pain.

  “I am all that is left of Rian clan, and I will accept you,” she said, her voice more gentle this time.

  The woman’s eyes widened. “But… don’t you know? Rian clan is alive and well.”

  “What?” Lyrian demanded, her eyes whirling. “Where?”

  As though that had broken a wall around her, her huge dragon body suddenly shifted and morphed, turning back into a human.

  “Where they have always been, at the wave rock,” the Trima dragon said.

  Lyrian’s eyes hardened. “That’s not true. I’ve been there and it was empty. You lie.”

  She took a step towards the other dragon, and Brad thought she might just attack her in human form. And he didn’t blame her. Why would the other dragon raise her hopes like that? It was a cruel trick.

  “No, it’s true,” the other dragon insisted. “They returned there after Taurian woke. A few weeks ago.” The Trima dragon hesitated, then added, “Ultrima made a deal with them. He wouldn’t attack the clan if Taurian married the human woman he was with.”

  “If that’s true, then why did you attack me?” Lyrian demanded. “Did you break this deal?”

  Brad was trying to follow the story, but Lyrian was right, it didn’t make any sense.

  “Waking you and your brothers and sisters wasn’t part of the deal,” the other dragon said flatly. “Ultrima only intended to stop the fight that was costing both dragons lives, not give the Rian clan a free pass to do whatever they wanted.”

  Lyrian stared at her for a long moment. “That is possible,” she said gruffly. “I haven’t been back to the lair in nearly a year. Taurian’s Mesmer chamber was disturbed far more recently than that.”

  She stared at the Trima dragon for a long moment, and Brad found himself holding his breath. Would it be enough?

  “There is only one way to be sure,” Lyrian said firmly. “We must go there and see for ourselves.”

  She looked at the lightning dragon. “What is your name?”

  “Kyrtima, Princess.” There was a short pause. “Or I suppose it is Kyrian now?” She stared at Lyrian, waiting for her response.

  Brad stared at Lyrian too. What did the name change mean?

  Of course. KyRian. KyTrima. The second part of the name was their clan name.

  Lyrian nodded. “Kyrian, you can come with us. If all is as you say, then I welcome you back, sister.”

  Chapter 13

  Lyrian was glad Brad was driving. Her hands were shaking so hard, she wasn’t sure if she could.

  Was it really that simple? Had her clan really moved back to wave rock after Taurian had woken?

  Could she have just flown out here at any time and found them?

  More importantly, would she really find them there now?

  She’d wanted to come out here straight away, as soon as Kyrian had told her her clan was here, but Brad had insisted they wait for the other dragon to heal her injuries. Lyrian suspected he felt guilty for having inflicted them, even though it wasn’t really his fault.

  Nate had apparently been more than happy to help the former Trima dragon with that.

  Brad was silent next to her, staring out at the road ahead. Behind them, Nate and Kyrian followed in Nate’s car. Lyrian hadn’t been quite ready to have the lighting dragon in the back seat next to Anarian.

  Besides, she was glad to spend this last drive with Brad, just the three of them as a family.

  He’d said he would stay until she found her family. If they were at the lair, then there would be no more need for him to remain.

  The thought made her heart sink, even though it had been riding high with the hope of finding her family.

  Why did that happiness have to be overshadowed by the possibility of losing Brad?

  Was there any way she could convince him to stay?

  Lyrian was pretty sure she could. She was almost certain that he wouldn’t refuse if she asked him.

  But he’d always feel like he’d given up his life for her. And she didn’t want that for him anymore than he wanted it for her.

  He’d put his own life on hold to help her. He’d promised to help her find her brothers. And he’d stuck with that, even when it was hard. Even when it might cost him his brother.

  She could do no less for him.

  She had to let him go, even if it hurt.

  As the battered and scarred ute bumped across the rough dirt, the wave like rock rose out of the trees ahead.

  Home.

  Was it really? Were her family really here?

  As the ute drove forwards, she saw movement near the fold in the rock that hid the lair entrance.

  Wings.

  Dragon wings.

  As she caught sight of gold wings glinting in the sun, and purple wings following close behind, tears pricked at the back of her eyes. Taurian. Verrian. Her brothers, two of them at least, were alive.

  She’d almost given up hope of finding them. Of finding any of her clan alive. And yet somehow, Brad had helped her find them. Against all the odds.

  If he hadn’t insisted on going back to the house, if his brother hadn’t become involved with the Trima dragon, if he hadn’t been willing to listen, she might never have known that her clan was here, almost under her nose.

  She turned to Brad, trying not to let the tears fall. “Thank you,” she said softly.

  He glanced over at her. “For what?”

  He hadn’t seen them yet. But as Taurian and Verrian swooped down over the road in front of them, followed by many more dragons, he glanced back, and his eyes widened. “We found them,” he said, his voice awed.

  “Yes, we did,” Lyrian said, and as she did, her joy was marred by a tiny bit of sadness. Would this mean she would lose Brad?

  But surely not forever. He would come back to see Anarian, if nothing else. Maybe they could have a friendship because of their shared child. It would be better than never seeing him again, even if their friendship would always be bittersweet.

  Brad pulled the ute to a halt as the dragons landed in front of him. Two human women slid off their backs, piquing Lyrian’s curiosity. Kyrian had mentioned Taurian taking a human mate, and the other she recognised as Lisa.

  What had been happening here while she was away?

  Lyrian wanted to jump out of the car and rush to her family. To ask them a thousand questions. To throw her arms around her brothers. To join them in flight in dragon form.

  But she had to get Anarian.

  Or maybe not. “Can you get Anarian out?” she asked Brad.

  As soon as he nodded, she couldn’t hold herself back any longer. Lyrian jumped out of the car and ran towards her brothers.

  “Lyrian!”

  “You’re alive.”

  Her brother’s dragon voices in her head held just as much joy as her own heart did.

  Lyrian threw her arms around their necks, tears falling down her face.

  She wasn’t alone. She’d never be alone again.

  And neither would Anarian.

  She turned back to the car, where Brad stood holding the baby, his expression uncertain, and a little bit of her joy dimmed, even as her heart filled with love.

  “
I have someone I want you to meet,” she said out loud.

  Taurian glanced towards the car, then back at Lyrian, his eyes wide. “I’d say you do, yes.”

  Lyrian beckoned to Brad, who walked forwards slowly. He barely looked at the other dragons, he focused on Lyrian, walking up to her and handing the baby to her.

  Lyrian turned and held her up towards her brothers, towards her clan. “The second generation of Rian princesses has been born.”

  There was a stunned silence for a while, then all the dragons lifted their heads towards the sky and bellowed their appreciation.

  Lyrian’s head was full of their congratulations.

  This was what she had been seeking for so long. Everything should have been perfect.

  Except she could see the sadness in Brad’s eyes.

  How could her heart be so happy and so sad at the same time?

  Did finding one family mean she was going to lose another?

  She refused to believe that was the only choice.

  She had been sure that there was no other choice for Nate and Kyrian, and yet they had found a way. She hadn’t thought it possible that she would find both her brothers alive, much less her clan. Yet she had.

  It was impossible to give up hope after those sort of outcomes.

  She and Brad would find a way, somehow.

  Love always did.

  The End

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