Undiscovered

by Sara Humphreys

  As Zed bore down on them, swooping through the sky like the angel of death, eyes blazing like flames, Rena did the one thing she knew might save them and the exact opposite of what Dominic wanted. She leaped ahead of the others and raced toward the fallen trees and rocks while fighting to connect with the mind of the man who might still reside within the beast.

  Zed! Rena scrambled on top of a pile of rocks and struggled to connect with his energy signature, so similar to Zander’s and yet so strikingly different. I’m here. I’m the one you’re looking for.

  The beast spun in the air and shrieked, immediately changing directions as its furious gaze scanned the ground below. Its wings pumped, the sound reminiscent of a jet engine, as it hovered in the air, searching.

  Searching for her.

  Zander? Rena reached out, hoping and praying that he was still alive. Please tell me you’re okay.

  When Zed pinned his gleaming eyes to hers and a low growl ricocheted through the air, Rena’s heart skipped a beat.

  Oh shit.

  MINE! The growl of the beast roared in Rena’s head as it flapped its enormous, leathery wings and nose-dived in her direction. MINE. MINE. MINE.

  But before Zed reached her, another shadow erupted from the trees to her right, and Rena watched in horror as the deadly history between the brothers began to repeat itself.

  Chapter 19

  When Zed had exploded out of the side of the mountain, rock had fallen on top of Zander, almost knocking him unconscious. He pushed himself to his knees and pressed a hand to the gash on his forehead in an attempt to stop the blood from dripping into his eyes. Through the haze, he saw Zed hovering above the earth. The sight of his wings spread wide and his tail held out proudly behind him was both terrifying and exhilarating.

  His brother was free from hibernation. Now all Zander had to do was keep the rest of them alive until sunrise. The sky was brightening, and pale purple edged the horizon, night slowly but surely giving way to day.

  Just a few more minutes…

  Dizzy and nauseous, Zander blinked and fought to clear his blurred vision, but it was the sound of Rena’s voice that snapped him out of it.

  Zander? Her voice was shaky and thick with fear. Please tell me you’re okay.

  Zander would not and could not allow history to repeat itself.

  He scanned the wreckage below and, within seconds, spotted Rena. She was in her clan form, standing on top of a pile of rocks, and he was taken aback by her regal stature. She was Amoveo through and through. How could he ever have doubted her ability to embrace what she was?

  A wild screech seared the air, snapping Zander from his thoughts, but it was the sight of Zed, spearing through the air toward Rena, that awoke the beast within.

  Rena’s red-furred body looked impossibly small compared to the hulking form of his brother as he bulleted toward her with single-minded focus.

  Zander’s protective instincts swelled as rage and fear collided to create a powerful surge of energy. His eyes shifted harshly, and a growl rumbled in his chest as he ran toward Rena with the image of his dragon squarely in his mind’s eye. His body hummed and buzzed almost to the point of pain as the shift began to take hold. Searing licks of electrical current, akin to flashes of lightning, discharged beneath his flesh as the formidable power of his dragon erupted from the deep.

  With a rage-filled scream, Zander leaped from the earth, and with every ounce of strength, he willed the change into being. In a blinding blaze of light, his human body vanished, and the dragon emerged.

  Out of practice with the size and power of his heavy, winged body, Zander tumbled through the air and slammed into Zed, sending both of them to the ground in a heap. Dirt and rock flew toward the sky as their enormous bodies tangled across the earth, leaving a wide swath of destruction in their wake.

  Zander whipped his tail as he opened his wings wide, quickly pinning his brother beneath him, but Zed’s strength matched his own. Zander opened his mouth and roared, breathing a wicked stream of fire into the air while fighting to keep his feet on Zed’s wings.

  He had to keep him out of the air.

  Zed! he screamed, striving to push through the jumbled, tangled mess of his brother’s mind. That is not Arianna. You’ve been in hibernation—

  Zed responded with a fire-breathing roar, which Zander narrowly missed by ducking to the right. It was also the opening Zed needed to leverage his body weight and throw Zander off before flipping around and landing on his feet. Zander countered, and the brothers faced off, slowly circling each other.

  Zander flicked his gaze to the left when he spotted movement in the field behind his brother. Dominic and the other Amoveo were in their clan forms and watching from the tall grasses, their eyes glowing brightly between the blades. His heart sank, because Rena was nowhere in sight. Zander returned his gaze to his brother and lifted his spike-covered tail, wanting it ready to strike but praying he wouldn’t have to.

  Liar! Zed roared and popped his wings wide. His clawed hands flexed and curled, the sharp tips flashing as he shifted his weight restlessly. Zander knew all too well what kind of damage those claws could inflict. He had three slashes across his back to prove it. She’s mine. She doesn’t love you.

  The sky grew brighter, and if Zander was right, he only had to hold out a few minutes longer.

  I know! Zander shouted vehemently. She was toying with us, Brother. Using us. Arianna was not my mate. Or yours. Please, try to remember what happened… We were cursed by the witch. After the others were killed by the slayers. Damn it, I know you’re in there somewhere! Zed, that is not Arianna!

  No! Zed shook his head and snuffled loudly, but his horned brow furrowed as he zeroed in on Zander once again. Liar!

  Rage. Jealousy. Frustration. Confusion. And it was all directed at Zander.

  Zed! Rena’s voice, strong and confident, shot into their joined minds. He’s telling you the truth!

  They both snapped their heads toward the sound of her voice and the lovely, almost-musical energy signature of Rena McHale. Still in her clan form, she stood on a massive boulder, the brisk fall wind making her dark-red fur flutter. Her glowing amber eyes were wide and fixed on Zed. To her credit, she didn’t run or flinch but instead held her ground.

  Please listen to me. Her tone was sweet and almost melodic as she sat on her haunches, her thick tail curling around her, giving her an air of serenity amid the chaos. Zander is telling you the truth. Arianna is long gone. You’ve been in hibernation for five hundred years. Fighting. Surviving. Night after night. But you’re free now…both of you.

  With a shimmery blast of static, Rena shifted into her human form, and Zed let out a roar of dissent as he made a move toward her. Zander wasted no time and body slammed his brother out of the way before carefully scooping Rena up in one clawed hand and taking to the sky.

  Hang on! He pumped his wings and kept his sights on the horizon. The sun is coming up. Just a few minutes more…

  Holy crap, she shrieked, her voice touching his mind sharply. Don’t you dare drop me, Zander Lorens.

  He swooped over the trees and headed for the top of the mountain, fully expecting Zed to take pursuit, but the sound of snarls and growls below captured his attention. Zander held Rena safely against his chest and spun in midair, pumping his wings while using his tail for balance, so they hovered safely above the ground.

  Zed was being attacked by the others from every direction, and the sun was beginning to rise. William was dive-bombing Zed’s face while Dominic had attached himself to the base of the tail. Snarling and growling, Dom was holding on like a rodeo rider trying to stay on a bull. The others surrounded him and took turns charging Zed before vanishing in thin air and reappearing on the opposite side.

  Son of a bitch, Zander whispered. I don’t believe it.

  “Distract and confuse!” Rena shouted. “Just like
Kerry said.”

  Yellow and gold sunlight crested along the horizon, and a spasm shot through Zander’s body.

  The sun is coming up… It’s working, Zander murmured and glanced at the horizon as a cramp wracked his body. On both of us. Shit. Hang on, Rena.

  Another muscle spasm rippled up his back, and Zander faltered in midair before quickly dipping into a dive. As the sun crept higher and the horizon brightened, Zander could feel his dragon slipping away. When his massive, clawed feet hit the ground, he set Rena down as gently as possible but stumbled backward as the power ebbed. His vision blurred, and his body weakened as the shift took hold. With quivering limbs and sweat covering his flesh, he collapsed onto the damp earth in his human form and glanced past Rena just in time to see his brother’s body erupt in a blinding flash of light.

  Exhausted and sweating, Zander tried to push his shaking body off the ground, but it was no use. As the darkness closed in, the last image he saw was Rena’s worried face, and in spite of his situation, a smile curved his lips.

  Zed was free. Rena was safe. He could die a happy man.

  * * *

  Zed and Zander were both out cold. The twin brothers who were identical in almost every way were both back in their human forms, but neither man moved. Zed, however, was completely nude until Dante took off his shirt and covered him.

  “Perhaps they’re dying?” William asked curtly. He stood between the two men and looked from one to the other. “Their energy patterns are faint.”

  “No!” Rena was kneeling next to Zander and held his hand in hers as she brushed his shaggy hair off his forehead. His shirt was torn away and bloodied, revealing the many scars on his chest. “But I don’t know why they aren’t waking up.”

  “They look so much alike, it’s spooky,” Kerry whispered. “The only differences are the scars on Zander. Jeez. By the look of him, he’s been through hell.”

  “I know.” Rena glanced over her shoulder at the others. “I’m sorry that I kept the truth from you. Zander said the history between the Amoveo and Dragon Clan isn’t exactly happy.”

  “Ah, don’t worry about it.” Kerry shrugged. “You’re not the first Amoveo who wanted to protect her mate. Trust me.”

  “We could have avoided a lot of this drama if we had known about the dragons to begin with, William.” Dante shot him a pointed glance. “You should have told us. We could have prepared for something like this.”

  “It’s a moot point now,” William said coolly. “We have a more pressing matter at hand.”

  “It wouldn’t have mattered,” Rena murmured. “Vito, the man I was telling you about, hired a witch to curse them because his daughter was killed when they were fighting over her. Zed was trapped in hibernation, and Zander was stuck in his human form.”

  “To live with what they had done,” Kerry murmured. “Man. That’s one tough curse.”

  “So that’s what all that stuff was about at dinner last night.” Dante settled his hands on his hips, his expression grim. “No wonder he had a chip on his shoulder.”

  “Your boy Zander is one tough cookie though,” Tatiana murmured. She squatted down next to him and inspected the marks on his torso. She ran one finger over the circular scar from the gunshot in the convenience store. “This one looks pretty fresh.”

  “It is. He was shot.” Rena sniffled. “Right before we got here, but he used—” Her heart thudded in her chest when she realized what they needed. “Oh my God! The spirit stones. That’s it.”

  Rena started rummaging through Zander’s pants pockets, and she almost wept with relief when her fingers curled around the two lumpy pieces of quartz. She pulled them out and kissed them both.

  “What’s with the rocks?” Kerry asked.

  “They’re spirit stones, red quartz from his family’s sacred land. All of the families in the Dragon Clans have a particular stone that’s of significance. Zander used it to heal the gunshot wound, and if I’m right, then we should be able to use them to wake them up. Dominic, Dante, get Zed and bring him over here, on this side of me.”

  She gestured to her right and looked at the stones in her palms as the two men laid Zed out next to her. Rena took the stones and placed them in the hands of the brothers before clasping her own on top, sealing the bond.

  “Here goes nothing.”

  She closed her eyes and sent her energy signature in search of theirs. Within seconds, the connections were made, and a violent surge of power shot from the stones as Rena was inundated with a swirling mass of images.

  Dragons of all colors and sizes were perched on top of a jagged mountain range at sunset. Wings spread wide and eyes blazing, the army of creatures roared to the sky before launching into the darkness. Amid the flurry of memories that flashed through her mind, Rena spotted Zed and Zander. Young men. Brothers by blood. Friends by choice. Until Arianna slipped between them and shoved the men apart.

  “Time to make some new memories,” Rena murmured. She turned her attention to Arianna and willed the ghost of her vision away. “I think we’ve seen enough of you.”

  With a gust of wind, Arianna’s form swirled before vanishing in the mist, and the forlorn expression on Zed’s face almost broke Rena’s heart.

  “It’s okay, Zed.” She took Zander and Zed by their hands, picturing the spirit stones within, and smiled at each of them. Rena whispered, “You’re free. It’s time to come home.”

  The vision faded, and Rena fought the tide of dizziness as she released Zander’s and Zed’s hands, removing the stones. She rubbed at her eyes furiously as she looked from one man to the other.

  Zander sat up with a groan and pressed his hand to the wound on his forehead as Rena tackled him with a hug. She flung her arms around his neck and let out an undignified sob of relief. He tangled his hands in her hair and pressed his mouth to her throat.

  “Thank you,” he murmured. Zander pulled back and cradled her face in his hands. “I love you, Rena McHale.”

  Rena sniffled and rested her forehead against his, reveling in the feel of him.

  “Uh…hello?”

  Zander and Rena spun around to find Zed staring at them with a puzzled expression. His eyes shifted and glowed brightly as he rose to his feet while warily studying the Amoveo, who had effectively surrounded him. Zed held the shirt around his waist, covering his nakedness. She couldn’t blame the guy for feeling vulnerable. It was a sensation she had become familiar with since opening her heart.

  “Zander?” His voice was raspy and raw, but was that a surprise? He hadn’t spoken in centuries. “What happened?”

  “You don’t remember anything?” Zander asked as he and Rena stood to face his brother. “None of it?”

  “Do you know who I am?” Rena asked warily.

  “No.” The line between his eyes deepened. “I’ve never seen you before.”

  “Good.” Rena nodded and gave him a big smile. “I’m Rena, Zander’s mate.”

  “Uh…hello.”

  “You really don’t remember what happened before you went into hibernation?” Zander asked, his arm curled around Rena protectively as he pulled her against him. “Arianna? The witch? Hibernating for five hundred years?”

  “What? Five hundred years? No.” Zed shook his head slowly. “The last thing I recall is Arianna asking to meet me in the woods.” His brow furrowed. “And fighting with you…but I—I can’t remember why exactly. It’s all foggy.”

  “Here,” Rena murmured. She took Zed’s hand in hers and gave him the spirit stone. “You’re going to be okay, Zed.” She looked up at Zander and handed him his. “You both are.”

  And for the first time in her life, she knew she would be too.

  * * *

  “Are you sure you want to leave?” Tatiana asked, her worried dark eyes lingering on Zed. The healer was not fond of it when her patients ignored her advice. “It’s
only been a few weeks. Maybe you should stay here a while longer. You know, get used to this millennium a little more?”

  “She’s right, Zed.” Rena hated to see him leave when he had only just arrived. “Why don’t you come back to Zander’s cabin with us? It’s your place too. Family land and all that.”

  “No.” He shook his head curtly and adjusted the pack on his back. “You’ve all been very kind, but…I need space. Besides, the earth has told me all I need to know.”

  “Right.” Dante nodded. “That’s an interesting gift your clan has, but you should still stick around for a while.”

  “I get it,” Kerry said with a smile. She pulled Zander into a big hug that he accepted reluctantly. “The dude was buried underground for hundreds of years. If anyone needs some space, it’s him.”

  Dante and the other Amoveo said their good-byes, which left only Zander and Rena at the end of the ranch’s driveway with Zed. The sun was setting, and the glow of the horizon cast a fiery light over the land. The sight of it reminded Rena of the army of dragons she had seen in the last vision.

  “You gonna walk?” Rena asked with a wink. “Or fly?”

  “Walking sounds good to me.” Zed gave her an awkward smile and shrugged. “I’ve seen enough of my dragon for a while. Besides, there’s not enough cloud cover tonight. The humans would see me, and I wouldn’t want to wind up on the YouTube.”

  “It’s just YouTube.” Rena laughed. “Not the YouTube, but I can’t say that I blame you.”

  “Right.” He shrugged awkwardly. “I obviously have more catching up to do.”

  “Are you sure we can’t convince you to stay?”

  Zander’s voice was gruff and edged with genuine sadness. Rena held him a little tighter. She knew how hard it was for Zander to let his brother go. He’d spent centuries working tirelessly to free him only to lose him again.

  “Another week, maybe?” Rena asked gently.

  “Richard has said we can stay as long as we like. The Amoveo of this time are not the same as the ones we knew. They’ve…evolved.”