Dragon Blood

by Shay Roberts

  It feels weird, knowing that all this is about to end and I'll be heading on to the Time Academy. At least I won't be stepping over Ayana's dead body on the way out.

  My mentors lead me to the bare room with the hole in the floor that houses the vault.

  Lagashan lowers the candleholder on the chain, revealing the bottom of the hole. I see the elaborate carving in the stone floor, surrounding the triangular mouth of a dragon.

  Gammachu points into the hole. "Go down inside. Place your amulet in the carving."

  I nod and hop into the hole. As a dracoform, a drop of only eight feet isn't going to twist an ankle.

  I take off the amulet, and it fits perfectly into the center of the carving, as if drawn there by a magnet. Suddenly, all the gems in the amulet go dim.

  Did I break it? Am I not worthy?

  Then a panel in the carving slides open, revealing a secret compartment. Inside I find a pair of crystal claws.

  I don't understand. I thought Gammachu said they were brittle and bad for fighting.

  Gammachu speaks, as if reading my thoughts. "Those are not the crystal claws that the Guardians wear. Those are the claws of Aido-Hwedo himself."

  I can't believe what I'm hearing. "You mean, the actual claws, taken from his dead body?"

  Gammachu nods solemnly.

  I find my heart pounding as I put on the claws. They feel light as a feather.

  I try to remove the amulet, but it's stuck in the carving. Fenfang tells me to leave it.

  I crouch, preparing to jump back out of the hole.

  Gammachu stops me. "Wait, don't jump. Climb."

  What does he mean by that? There are no handholds. The walls of the vault are smooth stone.

  Then I understand. I swing a claw into the wall, and it sinks two inches into the stone! I climb up the wall, claw over claw, leaving dragon tracks in the stone. Amazing!

  As I emerge from the hole, I stare at the claws. I bet these things would have been able to kill Argyros. I still haven't told my mentors about that. I probably should.

  I give them an account of my fight, and Gammachu translates for Lagashan. All of them agree that my opponents were soldiers from the Knights of Rome, a group that has hunted paranormals for centuries.

  But Gammachu is puzzled that my steel claws couldn't strike Argyros. "That doesn't make any sense. Yes, there are rare magics that protect against dragons, but a Knight of Rome would never use supernatural protection, that's contrary to their very nature."

  Fenfang nods in agreement. "We should investigate this Argyros fellow. He isn't what he appears to be."

  I nod. "And I'll ask Specta Aeternal if he's on their radar."

  At the mention of SA, an awkward silence falls over the room.

  Fenfang gives me a big hug. "I wish you great success with Specta Aeternal."

  "Are they going to be pissed about what I did, changing the timeline to save the temple?"

  She shakes her head. "I doubt it very much. The attackers were the ones changing the timeline. You just tried to set it right."

  I nod, thinking. "In this version of the timeline, the soldiers entered the temple and no one was there. So, I actually never had a fight with them. That means the one I killed, Snedeker, is still alive. What if they come back?"

  "While that is possible, it's unlikely. I'll see to it there are no records made of our presence in this time period. For someone to find us here would be the wildest stroke of luck."

  "Good, that makes me feel better about leaving you here. Thanks again, everyone, for all your hard work training me. I'm gonna miss you all."

  Lagashan and Gammachu also collect hugs.

  My fight mentor smiles. "I hope you will visit us when you can. We have more lessons to teach."

  "I'd like that."

  For the first time in their presence, I don't feel like a hopeless noob. I almost feel like one of the group.

  I stand alone in the room where it all began.

  This is the place where I was transformed. I stand beside the stone table where I was injected with dragon blood and look at the human heads on the mantel. The dragon sculpture, covered with a rainbow of gemstones, sits in the niche above the mantel. When the Hwedoists fled 542 CE to come here to 749 CE, they brought along all their relics.

  This was a frightening display when I first saw it. I thought I would die here. I nearly did. These people, without my consent, risked my life to create another servant of Aido-Hwedo.

  I care about these people. I understand them. But I'm still upset about what they did to me. Ayana complained that I didn't let her choose her fate. Well, she didn't let me choose mine either.

  I reach into my pouch and remove the beacon stick. When I break it, Ms. Luvalle will come and take me to a new life at the Time Academy. I'm really grateful to SA for protecting my mom, but how do I know they won't be as careless with my life as the Hwedoists?

  I guess I don't know. Maybe it's better that way.

  As I prepare to break the stick, I catch movement in the corner of my eye. I look up and see Ayana.

  I clench inside. I had hoped to escape without another fight with her.

  I take a step back. "Did you come to yell at me again?"

  She shakes her head, her face composed. "I do not agree with your actions, but I understand them. That will have to be enough."

  "So, we can part as friends?"

  She nods.

  I step over and give her a careful hug. "Good-bye, Ayana."

  She returns the hug with a serious look on her face.

  "Tyler, I must tell you something important before you go."

  What is this about?

  She leans close, whispering. "I care for you very much, Tyler. I could have easily fallen in love if you had not been destined for another."

  Fallen in love? "What other? Who are you talking about?"

  "Rosemarie."

  "The woman in your dreams. Did you finally figure out who she is?"

  "I know now that it was Aido-Hwedo himself who spoke her name. He told me that Rosemarie is destined to be your mate."

  "Okay, but who is she?"

  "I have no idea. But I hope you find her."

  She kisses me softly on the lips and walks out of the room.

  Goose bumps rise on my arms as I reel from this new information. Ayana could have loved me? Rosemarie is my destined mate?

  I want some answers about Rosemarie. But something tells me I won't find them here.

  Ms. Luvalle, I'm ready. Take me away to the Time Academy.

  I break the beacon stick.

  Bonuses

  Respected Reader,

  This is your author, Shay Roberts. You have reached the end of the book. I hope you enjoyed it. If you want more of Tyler, he also appears in Ash's Saga.

  As a thank-you for reading Dragon Blood, please go to http://shayroberts.com/dragon to receive the following …

  Dragon Blood jigsaw and slider puzzles.

  Information about the next book in this series. Here you will meet Rosemarie and experience the wonders of the Time Academy!

  A free adult coloring book page depicting a scene from Dragon Blood. Unleash your creativity!

  You will also receive updates, a newsletter, and notices about reader discounts and giveaways!

  Please accept these gifts with no obligation by visiting:

  http://shayroberts.com/dragon

  Happiness is a good book!

  Your personal scribe,

  ~ Shay ~

  Acknowledgments

  It takes a lot of great people to make a great book. Thank you, one and all.

  Afiya, Alisa D. Combs, Andrew Burleson, Anna B., Bonnie Callahan, Cathy Pontious, Christine Woinich, Damian Southam, Eliza Dee, Elizabeth M. Meadows, Isabella Le Roux, Jessica Ching, Joyce E.S. Kelly, Katherine Tomlinson, Kathie Middlemiss, Kathy Knuckles, Kim Pettit, Kristyna Phillips, Leila Roberts, Loralei, Lyla Roberts, Margaret Cambridge, Marina Elez, Monique Godin, Paul Kilpatrick, Rebecca Brown
, Renata Gill, Ryan W. Schukei, Silvia Pascale, Susan Reeve, Terasa Ferrier, and Veronica McIntyre.