Dragonbane_[AN_SK]

by Sherrilyn Kenyon

  Not the queen of warm fuzzies.

  “Why are you being so…” Medea shuddered at using the word in front of the goddess lest she offend her and end up as a stain on the wall or floor, “kind?”

  Apollymi laughed evilly. “While your thoughts are correct, child, I would remind you that I killed them all over the fact that they harmed my son.” She sobered. “In spite of the fights we’ve had over the centuries, Stryker is my son as well, and though I did not birth him, he is no less dear to me. And as any mother, I will not and cannot allow one son to harm the other, and that is the only time I’ve ever stayed Stryker’s hand. I won’t allow him to attack Apostolos or Styxx. So long as he leaves his brothers and their families in peace, I will not splinter him into pieces. And I would no sooner harm him than I would any of my children.”

  She cupped Medea’s chin in her hand. “And that includes you. Now what do you need from me, child?”

  Medea hesitated again. Honestly, she wasn’t used to affection from anyone other than her mother, and for a time, until the humans had murdered him, her husband.

  Her relationship with her father was a very new one. She’d never had a grandparent of any sort, and this side of Apollymi rather frightened her.

  It definitely made her uncomfortable. But for now, she’d go with it.

  “There seems to be a plague moving through the Spathi here. Davyn is ill, as is my mother.”

  Apollymi’s swirling silver eyes flashed red as she dropped her hand. An unseen wind swept through the room, whipping her hair around her body.

  With a hissing curse, she turned and stalked away.

  “Akra?”

  “Follow me!”

  Medea knew better than to question or disobey that tone of voice. She quickened her steps to catch up to the goddess, who led her down to a lower level of the palace that had once belonged to Misos, the Atlantean god of death and violence. From the looks of this level, she would say that this was where that ancient god had once held his “special” damned guests for punishment in their afterlives.

  According to Medea’s brother, Urian, those souls had been among the first consumed by the original Daimons Apollymi had brought here and saved from Apollo’s curse. The souls of those corrupted damned had fed them for a long time.

  But unfortunately, all good things came to an end. And after a time, the Daimons had been forced to leave and prey on humans out in the world to feed and elongate their lives.

  Thanks to Apollo and his horrific curse.

  As they reached the end of the hallway, Apollymi used her powers to throw open a thick iron door. Chained in a naked heap on the floor was Apollo, the Greek god who had damned them all and brutally gutted Apollymi’s son Acheron when he’d been human. That betrayal was what the goddess hated him for most. But it paled in comparison to the thousands of years Apollo had spent torturing Acheron’s twin brother, Styxx.

  As Apollo’s granddaughter, Medea should probably feel bad for the old god. But since his curse had cost her her life and he’d done nothing when the human vermin had slaughtered her husband and young son for no other reason than the fact that Apollo had cursed them to grow fangs and live only by night, she just couldn’t find it in her heart to spare him. Rather, she hated him even more than her father did.

  Furious, she charged at him.

  Apollo pulled back laughing. “I wouldn’t, were I you.”

  She hesitated. “Meaning?”

  “I know why you’re here and yes, I’m the cause of it all.”

  Apollymi flung out her hand and pinned him to the wall behind him. “What have you done?”

  He laughed even harder. “All of you forgot that I’m the god of plagues. I saved up enough of my strength for one last payback.”

  Medea went cold. “What do we do, akra?”

  The expression on Apollymi’s face confirmed her worst fear. There was nothing they could do. One god couldn’t undo another god’s spell or curse.

  Cruelty flashed in Apollymi’s eyes. “One bastard turn deserves another.”

  Apollo actually paled at her words. He’d been here long enough to learn to fear that look, as they all did. “What do you mean?”

  Apollymi slid an insidious smile to Medea. “We can’t kill Apollo. We can’t undo this latest trick.… But no one said we couldn’t feed him to the gallu and let them turn him into one of their blood bitches as they did Zakar. What do you think?”

  Medea laughed evilly. “Oh my Lady Apollymi, how I adore the way your mind works. Shall I summon Kessar for a negotiation?”

  “Yes, little one. I think you shall.”

  Apollo screamed. “You can’t do that! Have you any idea what they’ll do to the world?”

  She raked him with a cold, empty stare. “You forget, dearest Apollo, I am Apollymi the Great Destroyer. You think I care for these mortal fools?” She smiled at Medea. “Summon them.”

  13

  Naked beneath his pile of furs, Max lay on the floor of his loft, holding Sera in his arms. He’d sent Illarion to Blaise to see after the children and return them so that they could visit with her before she returned to stone. But he wanted a few last private moments to say his good-byes.

  It seemed that every heartbeat made her body turn colder and stiffer. She was slowly dying in his arms. He was trying everything he could think of to keep her warm and vibrant. How could his powers be so worthless?

  She offered him a kind, sad smile as she fingered his lips. “Don’t fret so, my dragon lord. It’s not so bad. Really. It’s not like being dead.… Just a long sleep. I don’t even know that I’m there.”

  As if that helped? If anything, it made it worse to know that she existed in a dark, vacant state.

  Her eyes glistening, she reached up to brush her hand through his bangs. “I just wish I could have seen your hair the way I remembered it. You look so tame like this. So human.” She wrinkled her nose playfully.

  He laughed as he gently caressed her breasts. “I would have thought you’d prefer my hair short and trim, like the men of your village.”

  “No. It’s your feral dragon ways that have always beguiled me most. It was what first drew me to you, above all others.”

  “Then close your eyes.”

  She did, and he used his powers to return his hair to the primitive, barbarian style it’d been when they’d first mated.

  Taking her hand, he kissed her palm and led it to his long, thin braids that were laced with feathers.

  Sera gasped as she opened her eyes to see it. “How did you do that?”

  “I have my drakomas ways.”

  Laughing, she wound a thin braid around her index finger and played in his long hair with such delight that it actually made him hard again. Though how he could rally given their last heated go-round was beyond him. It was a good thing he didn’t have a bed, as he was sure they’d have broken it.

  She brushed his braid against her plump lips. “There you are, my wild, feral dragon.”

  Max leaned over her and kissed her as his heart shattered at the thought of losing her again. He had so many powers. So many trinkets and treasures of the gods. Timeless enchanted objects people had killed throughout history to find and possess. But nothing that could stop or prevent this.

  Nothing.

  So he held on to her so tightly that she finally protested.

  “You’re crushing me.”

  “Sorry. I just want to keep you warm and safe.” He teased her earlobe with his tongue.

  She sighed in pleasure. “How I wish you could. There is nothing more I wish than to stay with you.”

  Someone knocked on his door. Max used his powers to put clothes back on them before he called out for their visitor to enter his room.

  It was Illarion, with one of Merlin’s magical spheres.

  Max scowled at him. “Where are the kids?”

  They’re fine and still in Avalon. Since they’re not in the process of reconverting to stone, Merlin kept them there. She thinks wha
tever is affecting Sera and her tribe here can’t break through the barrier to reach them on her side of things. She was afraid that if she sent them back, they’d begin to turn, too.

  Sera let out a sound of happiness as she sat up. “They’re not changing back?”

  Illarion held the crystal ball for her to see into it.

  Both of the children were there, in what appeared to be Merlin’s castle in Avalon. They looked happy and, best of all, healthy and whole. If not a little concerned and stressed.

  Edena bit her lip as she moved her head about like a little bird, trying to focus on her mother’s face. “Mom?”

  Sera smiled at her as she took the ball into her hands. “Edena? Hadyn? Are you all right?”

  Hadyn nodded. “We’re fine. You?”

  “Wonderful, now that I know you’re both okay.”

  Edena’s lips quivered. “Is it true? Are you changing back?”

  She nodded. “I want you two to listen to your father and let him take care of you for me. Can you do that?”

  They both nodded.

  “I love you, Mom,” Hadyn said, placing his hand on the orb. “I wish I was there to say it to your face.”

  “As do I. Just remember that no matter what, I will be close. And Edena, I need you to be kinder to your brother in my absence. Stop trying to clip his wings all the time. Let him learn to fly or crash on his own.”

  “I shall try. For you.”

  “I love you both. Please take care of each other and your father and uncles for me.”

  Edena started crying as Hadyn pulled her into his arms to comfort her.

  Max swallowed hard as an idea struck him. “Merlin? Are you there with the children?”

  The beautiful white-blond enchantress moved to stand next to them. “I’m here. What do you need?”

  “If I brought Seraphina to you in Avalon, do you think you could stop her from turning? That whatever is saving the children could save her, too?”

  Merlin hesitated. “It might, but it could also kill her, since she’s in the process of changing already. I don’t know what type of spell Zeus has her under. You know as well as I do how unreasonable magick can be, and the unforeseen consequences.” She glanced to his children. “Plus, she’s not your bloodline. While she carried your young and has mixed her blood with yours, it’s not the same as being born of the drakomai. There’s just no telling what might happen. I’m sorry, Max. I don’t want to try something and lose her.”

  Tears choked him. Merlin was right. With her returned to stone, there was always a chance he could find another way to restore her. To get the Tablet from Kessar and use it to free her again.

  But there was no way back from dead. Especially not if Zeus splintered her statue first.

  “Thanks, Merlin.”

  She inclined her head to him before the mist in the orb swallowed them.

  Sera cocked her head to stare up at him. “What’s with that look? What are you planning?”

  Yeah, you’re scaring me, too.

  He stood up. “I’m going after Kessar and the Tablet.”

  “Are you out of your mind?”

  Max shook his head. “It’s the only way. He used it to free you. Then I can use it to keep you here, too.” He looked at Illarion. “Right?”

  His brother shook his head. Yeah … no, this is a really bad, bad idea. Like trying to blow-dry your hair while showering, or piss into a high wind. Are you out of your mind?

  “No. I’m desperate.”

  Same thing.

  He gave his brother an irritated smirk.

  Well, it is.

  Sera stood up beside him. “I agree with Illarion. Don’t even think about doing this. Are you insane? You can’t walk into a colony of demons and Amazons who want you dead, and take the Tablet the head demon covets most. They tend to react badly to such things. Believe me. I’ve seen it. I do believe Nala wears the claw of the last dragon possessed of such arrogance.”

  Illarion gestured his agreement at Sera. How many more challenges are you planning to issue? Sheez, Max. There are far less painful ways to die. Drowning in acid comes to mind.

  Suddenly, a light flashed in the room with them. Max started toward it, but something kept him in place. A strong, unseen force he couldn’t break.

  Furious, he manifested a fire blast to attack. Until he recognized the source of the power.

  Falcyn.

  Only this time, he wasn’t in dragon form. Dressed in their ancient black war garb, he wore the skins and furs of the slayers who’d made the mistake of coming after him, as trophies and testament to his unsurpassed martial skills. His black hair was short except for one long braid that was wrapped around his throat and adorned with a silver dragon pendant that matched his pale eyes. They flashed like mercury in the dim light.

  And they missed no detail at all.

  Illarion’s eyes widened as he saw him there. He inclined his head in acknowledgment of his older brother’s birth order and out of respect.

  Returning the gesture to Illarion, Falcyn closed the distance between them with that fierce predatorial walk that was uniquely his.

  Without a word, he stopped in front of Seraphina and met Max’s gaze. “May I?” It was forbidden for a drakomas to touch another’s mate without permission. To do so was a killing offense in their culture.

  Max nodded.

  Sera frowned at him as she looked back and forth between them. “Max?”

  “It’s all right, Sera. This is my brother Falcyn. I trust him … most days.”

  Ignoring his teasing barb, Falcyn touched her icy forehead, then her hand. “Who curses her?”

  “Zeus.”

  He scoffed disdainfully. “Then I hope this seriously pisses that bastard by-blow off. You should have told me that originally. I wouldn’t have had to soul-search nearly as long before helping you.”

  With one claw, Falcyn made a small incision on his wrist until he could gather three drops of blood. From his satchel, he pulled a small oblong ball that resembled an egg, then coated it with his blood. He placed it in her hands and cupped them around it while he chanted in their mother’s tongue. He used her hands to turn the egg round and round.

  After a few seconds, Sera sucked her breath in sharply, but Falcyn held her hands in place around the egg. She hissed. “It’s burning.”

  Max tightened his arms around her. “It’ll be all right. He’s drawing the poison from you. Give him time to work.”

  Only then did she relax a degree.

  By the time Falcyn finished the ritual, she was even paler, but her breathing was more solid.

  Falcyn wiped the stone off on his sleeve, and returned it to his satchel. He glanced about the loft expectantly. “You said you have dragonets?”

  “A son and daughter. They’re with Blaise. In Avalon.”

  For the first time, Falcyn’s stern features softened. Blaise had always held a special place in his affections. “I’ll see them protected and shielded, too.”

  As he started to leave, Max stopped him. “Thank you, brother. Can I ask why you changed your mind?”

  Falcyn turned at the curtains to look back first at Max, then to Sera. “I still think you’re an idiot. I still hate and begrudge every breath that fills your lungs. But you are my brother and we are drakomai. It’s not my place to take from you your heart.… If there is any way to help her, then I am honor bound to do so. You know the code we live and die by. Regardless of my feelings for you, it is my responsibility to protect what you love and preserve our bloodline.”

  “Again, thank you.”

  Falcyn didn’t respond to that. It was as if a part of him was embarrassed by the gratitude. Instead, he turned toward Illarion. “You still have your dragon’s claw I gave you?”

  Always.

  “Yeah, not what I heard.” Falcyn clapped him on the arm. “I heard you loaned it out to an addanc. What the hell’s wrong with you? Did I teach you nothing?” He shook his head at Illarion. “An addanc? Really
?”

  Falcyn made a sound of supreme disgust. “All my brothers are morons. I swear. Now take me to the dragonets before Blaise sucks what little intelligence they have out and leaves them lacking, too.”

  Illarion rolled his eyes.

  After they left, Max laughed.

  Sera scowled at him. “What?”

  “I just realized why I like Rémi so much. He reminds me of my own asshole brother.”

  “And you find that funny?”

  “I do.”

  Sera held her arms out to examine them as if waiting to start growing cold and sluggish again. “Will this last?”

  “It should. Falcyn is the oldest of our kind, to my knowledge.” He wrinkled his nose at her. “He’s even older than I am.”

  “Wow! So why does he hate you, then?”

  “I failed him and Hadyn. It’s why I won’t ever fail anyone else I love.” He brushed his hand through her hair before lifting a lock up to rub against his bottom lip.

  That single action sent chills over her. Worse, it awakened her hunger for him in a way that was frightening. Before she could stop herself, she cupped his face in her hands and led his lips to hers so that she could ravage his mouth and drink her fill of him.

  Max laughed as he picked her up and pressed her against the wall behind her. “How can my swan be starving so soon?”

  She nipped at his whiskered chin, wanting to forget about everything else.

  If only they could.

  “We need to see about Nala.”

  He nodded. “I need to get the Tablet back and make sure Kessar doesn’t use it.” He picked her up and slung her over his shoulder.

  Sera gasped at the action, especially when he headed for the door. “What are you doing?”

  He playfully held her legs against his chest as he continued to carry her. “You keep getting into trouble. I’m not letting you out of my sight.”

  “I can walk, you know.”

  “Aye, but I’m a dragon. We’re known for abducting beautiful maidens and taking them to our lairs.”

  Giggling, she surrendered to his hold. “I’ve always wondered about that. Why do dragons take women?”

  He tsked playfully. “I’m offended you’d ask that given the ride we just had in my bed.”