Awakened By Flames

by Vella Day

  The trip back to the field behind the castle only took a few minutes. In that time, Finn studied the terrain, noting where he could land and hide if need be. Kaleena landed with grace, and he tried to do the same. Finn reached the ground shortly after her, but with more force than he would have liked.

  She shifted and he followed suit. Kaleena ran up to him and jumped into his arms. “You were right to undress first. Now you’re naked—just the way I like you.” She wrapped her arms around his neck and her legs around his hips. Divine pleasure filled him.

  “You’re dressed, which is wrong on so many levels,” Finn said.

  Before she could answer, a squawk sounded overhead, and he glanced upward. Holding Kaleena tight, he started to drag her toward the woods for safety.

  “It’s one of Gregor’s men,” she said.

  Finn relaxed his grip. “How can you tell?”

  “His men are mostly green interspersed with different colors. Why we are black with colors, I don’t know. It’s just the way it is.”

  “Are all dragons in this province green?”

  “Not all. I know it’s confusing. We’ve intermingled for years, so we have many combinations. There is one constant. If you see an all black dragon, watch out. Those are most likely evil. It means they believed they were too good to mate with a white lighter, human, or other shifter.” She dragged a hand down his naked chest. “Gregor knows that Rathan might come after us, so he’s having his men make periodic sweeps of the area.”

  Finn was impressed with her knowledge. “Is that what you and your family would have done if someone from here had sought refuge in Avonbelle? Do sweeps to look out for the evil ones?”

  “Yes.”

  “Nice.” Not that he cared if anyone saw him naked, but it might make Kaleena uneasy the next time she ran into one of Gregor’s men. “Do you want to try shifting into a wolf?”

  She grinned and his inner animal went wild. “I’d love that.”

  “I’m going to test your theory about whether I can keep my clothes intact. I’ll put on my briefs and then shift. I’ll just go commando if they get ruined.” Finn winked at her. If he were ever back home and his clothes remained intact after a shift, there would be no end to the questions about how he’d managed that feat.

  “So do I just think of a wolf, and poof, I’ll be one?” she asked.

  “That’s hard to say. I learned at such a young age I’ve never had to teach anyone.” He recalled what his oldest brother had told his mate the first time she attempted to shift. “How about this. Think of yourself as being one with a wolf. Once that image runs through your mind, start running and hopefully the rest will follow.”

  To give her visual, he shifted and then faced her.

  Her eyes brightened. “You’re beautiful,” Kaleena said as she moved closer.

  “I am not beautiful. I am a strong beast that can rip out a person’s throat,” he telepathed.

  “You’re still beautiful, and just so you know you can rip out someone’s throat as a dragon too, but if you want to do real harm, take out their heart.”

  He loved her sense of humor. “Got it. Now stop stalling.”

  Finn turned around and trotted toward the forest, hoping she’d follow. Not wanting to make her feel self-conscious, he didn’t look back, but the sudden intake of breath implied she’d started to shift.

  A moment later a gorgeous black animal with streaks of dark mahogany came up alongside him. She nudged him then took off. Finn smiled. His woman would always challenge him. Putting on his afterburners, he raced after her. As if she were born to be a wolf, she charged into the forest and hid behind a tree.

  Because they were mates, along with the fact he could hear her breathing, he was able to find her right away. The energy between them was growing to the point where Finn could no longer keep from ravishing her.

  One second he was a wolf and the next a human. It took Kaleena a moment to figure out how to change back, but when she did, the sight was worth it. Her hair was a bit tangled, and her clothes askew, but she took his breath away.

  She tugged at the waistband of his underwear. “See? They stayed on.”

  “Well, I’ll be damned.”

  With a quick yank he tossed them off. “Now it’s your turn. No one can see us in the dense foliage.”

  “Oh, Finn McKinnon. How have I lived this long without you?”

  Chapter Twenty-One

  “I know it’s not the same as being outside in the field, but watch as Kaleena and I demonstrate a simple attack move,” Thane said.

  The three of them were in a large room in the basement of Gregor’s castle, and Finn was anxious to learn how to fight. He was very thankful Kaleena’s brother had been able to fly out and help him.

  “I’ll use this whip to simulate my tail,” Thane said. “It can be one of your most powerful tools. Shooting fire at a dragon might make you look like a bad ass, but our scales are fairly heat resistant, so don’t waste your breath.”

  Finn smiled. “No pun intended.”

  Thane laughed. “Naturally, your end goal is to stab a claw into the dragon’s chest right about here.” He tapped a spot near the center of his chest, slightly above the heart. “Dig the claw in and the end will puncture the organ. That is the only way to kill one.”

  “How do I get that close?” Finn asked. “And if I do, what’s to prevent him from doing the same to me?”

  Kaleena slipped the whip from her brother’s hands. “Like this.” In a second, she had the ends wrapped around her brother’s wrists. “No claws? No killing.”

  “I see. Easier said than done I’d imagine.”

  Thane unwrapped the leather from his bound wrists. “Surprise is the key. I dare say if the two of you attacked Rathan, one can distract him from above while the other can fly in from below to deliver the fatal blow.”

  “Given my inexperience, I might have to opt for the top spot.”

  Kaleena smiled. “I’d be happy to dig out Rathan’s heart, but you need to be prepared for fights in the future, and Thane here is the best trainer in the realm.”

  “She exaggerates.” Her brother turned to Kaleena. “You might consider taking him ocean diving too. It’s one more skill that could come in handy.” Thane turned back to Finn again. “It could even save your life someday.”

  That sounded intriguing. “Dragons can swim?” They were such bulky creatures.

  “They love to swim. While we keep our wings tucked into our sides, our tail is a powerful propeller. Kind of like how whales and sharks swim.”

  That made sense. “How long can you hold your breath underwater?” He loved to swim, but only on top of the surface.

  “Three to four minutes maybe, but like human skin divers, with practice you can stay down longer. I believe your Earth record is about twenty minutes.”

  Finn whistled. “I’m impressed.” Not only with the record, but with the fact Thane knew that tidbit.

  “Diving for us is mostly used as an evasive maneuver. We’re near the coast here, so it might come in handy.”

  “I’m up for it,” Finn said.

  Thane pointed to his shoulder cap. “If I didn’t mention it, a dragon’s wing is a very vulnerable spot. Rip it or break it and a dragon will lose the ability to fly well.”

  He’d seen one of Rathan’s men harm Kaleena’s wing, and she’d been incapacitated for some time. It was why she’d needed to finish the job on the ground.

  “Got it.”

  “Ready for some real life fighting outside?” Thane asked.

  “Absolutely.”

  Kaleena remained in her human form and watched Thane put Finn through some dragon drills. On the way over to Grindale province, Thane said he’d not seen any other Royals. For the time being, they’d be safe.

  She leaned back on her elbows in the open field, admiring her mate’s grace. Sure, he’d stumbled through a few exercises, but he was an incredibly quick learner. And strong! Oh, my. Her father had been right whe
n he claimed that newly formed dragons were highly powerful.

  Twice, Thane had come after Finn with what she thought was a bit too much intensity, yet Finn had been able to dodge his attacks by performing a loop with pinpoint perfection. As much as she wanted to join him in the air and have her and Finn tag-team her brother, this was Finn’s time.

  The blue sky was dotted with white puffy clouds and the air was pure and balmy. She closed her eyes for a moment and tilted her face to the sun. Kaleena hadn’t been this relaxed in a while. A loud roar, together with a deep pain stabbing her chest, jarred her out of her reverie. She jumped to her feet. Finn was hurt.

  He fluttered his wings and nosedived toward the ground. “Keep your head up and whip your tail back and forth to give you some loft,” she telepathed. Her brother would pay for this.

  Thane flew underneath Finn as if to stop his free fall but then flipped onto his back, reached out with his claws, and grabbed Finn by the chest. Fire flew everywhere, nearly encapsulating her brother.

  “Stop it, Finn.”

  He was scared and in pain, but her brother must have been trying to teach him a lesson. If Thane wanted Finn dead, he’d be dead. Thane flipped them over and pushed upward, carrying Finn with him. A minute later he let go and motioned for them to land.

  Once safely on the ground, they shifted into their human form. Kaleena ran over to them. She didn’t know who to go after first. As much as she wanted to comfort Finn, she wanted to give a tongue lashing to Thane.

  Her brother held up his hands. “It was for his own good.”

  Was he kidding? “It’s his first day!”

  “That’s true, but Finn is more advanced than some dragons I’ve been training for a while. He has such raw talent that it scares even me. But Finn’s careless. He doesn’t know how to use his power.”

  Finn rose to his feet, and rubbed his shoulder and chest, both of which were probably sore. He came over to Thane and stuck out his hand. “Thanks for the lesson. I kind of thought I was invincible for a few minutes.”

  Thane smiled. “You have a lot of potential, but you need to learn when to conserve your energy and when to attack.”

  Okay, she must have had her eyes closed when something happened. If those two were fine with the outcome, she wouldn’t complain. “So are you guys done for the day?” she asked her brother.

  “I think Finn could use a nice refreshing swim. If Rathan finds you here, the water might be a good place of safety.” He turned to Finn. “Remember that while dragons enjoy the water, it’s not a place to fight. Our wings enable us to float on the surface, but underneath they can weigh us down. I’d feel better if you had some experience there.”

  “I appreciate it. It’s the same for my wolf. While we can swim, I’d rather be in my human form.”

  Thane patted him on the back. “Good luck, and listen to Kaleena. She’s been trained by the best.”

  She laughed. “Are you heading back to Edendale now?”

  “Yes, but I can return if you need me. Finn has the skills. He just needs to practice.”

  Kaleena hoped time was on their side. As soon as her brother took off, she hugged Finn. “I was so worried about you.” She ran a hand down his chest. “Did Thane stab you with his claw?”

  He cupped her hand in his. “Just a little poke and I deserved it. I was goofing around, and he wanted to show me that losing concentration for even a minute can be deadly.”

  “I felt your pain, so don’t do that to me again.”

  Finn leaned over, and when he kissed her, his air battle was nearly forgotten. As much as she wanted a repeat performance of their amazing adventure in the woods, Thane was right. Finn needed to learn to maneuver in water.

  She stepped back. “How about a quick swim? Afterwards, maybe I can show you a very private spot I learned about.”

  “Oh yeah?”

  “One of the guards told me of a waterfall hidden in the forest near a certain cove.”

  He grinned. “Now you’re speaking my language.”

  They both shifted into their dragon form and took off side by side. His speed and agility looked as if Finn had been flying for years instead of only three days. As they headed west, Finn would occasionally dip toward a line of trees or check out a rock cropping, but he never lingered.

  “The landscape is beautiful and unique. I love the deep purple rock formations,” he telepathed.

  “They are different from anything I’ve seen on Earth, though they kind of remind me of your Grand Canyon.”

  “I can see the resemblance.”

  Wanting to give Finn time to figure things out, Kaleena remained quiet though vigilant throughout the flight. While Gregor had his men patrolling, she wouldn’t put it past Rathan to send some scouts into each of the other three provinces. Even though the chances of the Royal Guards spotting them were slim, she wouldn’t let down her guard.

  Thankfully, Rathan had no idea that Finn was a dragon. Even if he saw him, Finn’s markings would be unidentifiable. If he spotted the two of them together, Rathan might assume the pair was someone else.

  After a wonderful but too short flight the ocean came into view. The ports were busy with fishing as well as recreational boats, and she wouldn’t be surprised to learn that one or more belonged to their host. Kaleena veered to the right and Finn followed. When she came to a more secluded and rugged coastline she slowed.

  “The key to diving into the water is to know how high you can be and not break your neck,” she mentally told me. “Watch me first. Just before you enter the water, you must bring in your wings.”

  “Can you go in claws first?”

  “You can, but it’s harder to keep your wings from spreading out. You won’t go as deep either. Ready?”

  “Yes.”

  Finn circled while she dove. Close to the surface, she spread her wings wide to slow down, and then folded them into her body as tightly as possible. Taking a deep breath, she entered the water and swept her tail back and forth to push deeper. The fish scattered as she neared the bottom.

  Waves from a splash above disturbed the sand below, and Kaleena soared upward to meet Finn.

  “Slow down your tail movement or you’ll tire too fast,” she telepathed.

  Finn followed her instructions. As soon as he decreased his speed, his body seemed to relax. Thirty seconds later, he rose to the surface. Because he didn’t open his wings to float, he descended once more.

  Instead of telling him what to do, she surfaced and showed him. Finn shot up out of the water fifteen seconds later and landed next to her, creating a big wave.

  “You’re a goof,” she mentally said, laughing in her head.

  “Just testing to see what my limits are.” With that he lifted one wing and then the other as if he thought he could swim. He soon figured out that wasn’t going to work. “How do you manage to get around?”

  “Only by swimming underwater. Come on, let’s head to the shore.”

  Kaleena dove down ten feet and whipped her tail to propel her forward. She hoped Finn didn’t decide to fly to the shore. Wet wings were heavy which would make the journey a difficult one.

  When they reached the gravelly ground, she spread her wings to dry them, much like the cormorant birds did on Earth. Finn did the same. The clear sky and warm air had them dry in a matter of minutes.

  “Ready to head over to the waterfall?”

  “Would it be easier in our wolf forms?” he telepathed.

  “First we’ll fly, and then we’ll run.” Kaleena had forgotten about her increased powers until now and it almost made her giddy.

  The two of them left on their journey. Having this uninterrupted time together where the evil of the world seemed far away was a precious gift, and Kaleena planned to enjoy it to the fullest.

  They flew over the steep cliffs, and when they reached the forested area, she motioned for them to land and shift. It was Finn who went straight from dragon to wolf without going through the human state. Never in he
r wildest dreams did she think that was possible. Concentrating on her wolf form, she shifted and landed on all fours.

  “I love it,” she telepathed. “It will shorten our trek by a half hour at least. Follow me.”

  Kaleena took off, enjoying the view from being this low to the ground. The occasional vast field of ferns took on a new meaning, and she spotted several squirrels and birds foraging for food, but the slithering snake had her moving a little faster. While he was no challenge to a dragon, shifting with all of these close packed trees would not be wise. It was one reason why she wanted to come here. They’d be safe from the enemy.

  While Kaleena was fast, Finn might have been faster, and he kept up without breathing hard. Kearn’s guard told her that if she kept to the path, she’d hear the noise of the falls and be able to locate them.

  It was Finn who howled first. “I hear the water and can smell it.”

  Without another word, he moved in front of her and charged down the path, cutting through the forest, lithely jumping over a log and dashing in between trees. Seeing him in his wolf form thrilled her. He had mostly dark brown fur with a sprinkling of gray around his face. His shoulders were wider than hers and his legs longer.

  After a fun chase, they made it to the falls where Finn immediately transformed into his glorious human form and Kaleena followed. He spun to face her. “It’s almost like in the dream!”

  She thought so too. “But I’ve never been here before. The water is as crystal clear as the one I’d conjured up.”

  Finn grinned. “I can’t wait.” He kicked off his shoes and unbuttoned his shirt. “I can see there are some advantages to being naked after a shift.”

  She laughed. “Do you always have sex on your mind?” As if I don’t? I wouldn’t mind him naked all the time.

  “I heard that,” he said as he finished undressing. “Need help?”

  “I’m good.” Kaleena stripped in record time. “Race you to the water.”

  There was something about Finn that made her want to challenge him.

  He took off and dove into the pool of water, looking like a professional diver. She jumped in. Strong hands grabbed her waist and dragged her to the surface.