by Anna Lowe
Mist closed in around her — a false kind of comfort, like a stranger trying too hard to invite her into his home. She frowned, sniffing hard. Then her eyes went wide, and she threw herself to the right — just in time to avoid crashing into a rocky outcrop.
She flew straight up, panting hard. That had been close. Too close.
Laura, Marco called into her mind. Where are you?
She roared in frustration. Telling up from down was hard enough, let alone figuring out where she was.
Here, she cried, knowing it would do no good.
Not long after, the valley broadened, its far side hidden from view. Laura hugged one wall, studying the land below. The river forked, and a fallen tree formed a bridge over one of its arms. Then came some boulders… A cluster of gnarled trees… Another river that branched…
Laura stared. Wait a minute. That was the same river and the same fallen tree. Had she flown in a circle?
A gust of fresh air chased the mist away, and Laura slowed, looking around. She was in a bowl high in the mountains. And, shit. Olivia and her four cronies were too.
“Got you,” Duarte growled, making a beeline for Laura.
Laura prayed for Marco to appear, but he didn’t. On the contrary, dragon roars sounded from lower in the valley. Was Marco caught up fighting a different battalion of dragons?
Laura sped toward the nearest mountaintop, tiring quickly. The two dragons who’d joined Olivia must have sensed it, because they zoomed after Laura in a fast, furious sprint.
Olivia perched on a rocky outcrop and preened a wing, utterly assured of success.
“Get her, but don’t hurt her. We need her alive.”
Laura wanted to cry, because sometimes, alive could be worse than dead.
Up ahead, the air thickened at the mountaintop — more bad news. She would hit that patch of air first, and it would slow her down, allowing the two dragons to catch up. Gritting her teeth, she shot into a hard left turn, following the walls of the mountain bowl. A terrible plan, since she would quickly circle back to Olivia, Duarte, and Luigi, who hung back waiting for the two mercenaries to catch her. But what else could she do?
Then one of Olivia’s two mercenaries made a fatal error. Instead of following on her tail, he cut across the valley. That put him head on to Laura once she curved along the cliffy wall of the natural bowl — and head on to his own buddy.
“Gotcha, sweetheart,” the mercenary roared, coming at her from dead ahead.
Like hell, you do. She exhaled, blasting him with fire. Then, at the last possible moment, she jerked upward. That exposed the dragon who’d been on her tail, and the two roared in alarm, hurtling straight at each other.
The two dragons crashed, and one careened to the right.
Laura whipped her head away a split second before the dragon bashed into a cliff. That spared her the sight but not the sound of his death — a sharp crack as his neck snapped, then a jarring thump as his body dashed against the rocks.
The second mercenary howled, but Olivia just hmpfed. “Second-rate mercenaries. Can no one here capture one hapless novice?”
Laura gritted her teeth. She was not hapless, dammit.
Duarte snarled, lurching into action. “That’s it. I’ve had it with you.”
The eyes of the surviving mercenary glowed with revenge, and he rushed at Laura too. He and Duarte converged on her from either side, until she had no choice but to fly straight up. And up and up until the air thinned. Laura winced, knowing she would eventually stall the way an old-fashioned biplane might. But biplanes did that for show, and she was fighting for her life.
God, where was Marco?
A furious roar boomed from the valley below, telling her he was still caught up in a different battle.
Biplanes… Show… The gears in her mind turned over.
“You are mine,” Duarte roared.
He and the other dragon both opened their mouths, ready to catch her in deadly cross fire.
Then Laura’s mind clicked, and she knew what to do. If she pretended to stall moments before the thinning air forced her to, she would catch Duarte off guard.
Three heartbeats later, she faked a stall. Slowly, she tucked her wings against her body and turned, hurtling into a dive. At that exact moment, Duarte and the mercenary unleashed their plumes of fire, aiming at her from both sides. As long as Laura was above them, the streams of fire crossed at a sharp angle. But as she fell, they redirected their blasts of fire — Duarte from the right, the mercenary from the left — until they were blasting at each other.
“Stop, you fools!” Olivia screamed, catching on before they did.
But it was too late. Laura dove between them, unscathed, but Duarte and the mercenary screamed in pain, burned by each other’s fire. Duarte jerked away, but not before inadvertently catching the mercenary with his full flame. The dragon burned as he fell, flapping his wings desperately. That only stoked the flames enveloping his body, however. When he bashed into the valley floor, lifeless, the fire continued to crackle around him.
“You killed him!” Duarte roared.
“You killed him!” Laura screamed back. Still, her eyes welled with tears. How had she ever become involved in all this?
The ruby glowed at her neck, and she blinked away the tears. Lots of innocent people found themselves caught up in trouble. All they could do was try to survive.
Laura! Marco roared in her mind. Hang in there!
She couldn’t — not for much longer anyway. But the warm pulse of the ruby seeped into her wings, giving her a little boost.
You can do it! Marco called.
His voice was faint, distant, and — insistent as it was — gentle, too. Much gentler than the way he’d spoken to her when they’d first met. Laura smiled in spite of herself. Somewhere along the line, she’d fallen in love.
Everything they’d experienced together — from the rushed motorcycle ride through Lisbon, to their marathon flight, and from their training sessions over the glittering ocean to the dance that had set off their steamy night — flashed in a slow-motion sequence through her mind.
He is our destiny, her dragon sighed.
The ruby glowed, sending out six points of light.
However, it was clear a happy ending wasn’t going to come to her just like that. She would have to fight for it herself.
An image of her family flashed through her mind next — her parents, brother, and all her cousins, aunts, and uncles — in a scene from a long time ago. They were at a funeral service, grieving for her uncle. That tragic accident had gutted everyone, and his loss had left a gaping hole in their lives. She couldn’t let that happen with her own tragedy. She simply couldn’t.
So, we fight, her dragon growled, digging deep for new reserves.
The ruby glowed brighter, giving her the strength to sprint for the horizon.
Marco burst into view, spitting a flame twice the length of his body. Laura cried out in relief, though it didn’t last long. He was pursued by two more dragons, both new to the scene, and Finn was nowhere in sight.
“Watch out!” Olivia shouted.
Luigi spun around and raced for Marco. Laura rushed in the same direction, determined to help. But Olivia cut her off with a snicker.
“Not you, senhorita.” Her voice dripped disdain.
“Watch me.” Laura hurled a huge volley of fire — the biggest she had ever managed.
Olivia dodged it, and Duarte closed in before Laura could break away. He clawed at her wing, forcing her to jerk away and climb.
“Not so fast, amada.”
“I am not your darling.” She spat another huge plume of fire.
But she’d rushed it, and it blew harmlessly over Duarte’s ears. Duarte spun on her, roaring, and Laura had no choice but to flee.
“Must I remind you we need her alive?” Olivia scolded as they sped off.
“We’ll see about that,” Duarte grumbled.
Laura beat her wings furiously, determined to g
et away. But Duarte threw a lick of fire after her, making her twist to one side.
“How do you like that?” he spat. “A taste of your own medicine.”
Laura whipped into a turn, sprinting away. But Duarte anticipated her move and stayed on her tail.
“Now what will you do?” He puffed more fire, singeing her feet.
Laura clawed the air. A fierce snap of her tail made Duarte back off, but at that very moment, Olivia came at her from below.
“I said we need you alive, but injured would be fine,” Olivia snarled.
Laura’s eyes went wide, because her turn had put her on a collision course with a rocky cliff. With Duarte behind her and Olivia attacking from below, she was running out of room. She racked her memories, desperate for a dogfighting move that would get her out of tight quarters.
Images blurred through her mind — the entire repertoire of maneuvers Marco had taught her. All in a rush, with no hope of her picking one out in time.
Then it hit her.
Roll…dive… Marco’s commands echoed through her mind.
Perfect, her dragon decided.
Still, she hesitated. The move was terrifying over water. Doing it in the mountains was damn near suicidal.
No way am I ever doing this over land, she’d told Marco at the time.
And yet, there she was, with no choice.
“Got you now.” Duarte inhaled, signaling the start of another burst of fire.
Now! her dragon screamed.
“Laura!” Marco roared from across the valley.
She gritted her teeth, folded her wings, and rolled just as Duarte lashed out with a fresh burst of fire. It crackled over her head, but she focused on the commands echoing through her mind.
Inhale on the roll. Heat the breath as you dive. Then let it out as you pick up speed.
She gulped in as much air as she could, then turned the roll into a dive aimed directly at Olivia.
At first, Olivia looked triumphant. Then her eyes went wide in an expression that said, You wouldn’t dare.
Watch me, Laura would have grunted if she hadn’t been busy heating her inner fire.
Her throat burned, and her lungs ached from holding the breath so long. But she hung on for two frantic heartbeats, then unleashed her fire.
Whoosh! Flames gushed out of her mouth, bigger and angrier than anything she’d produced before.
Olivia screamed without moving, just as surprised by the power of that flame as Laura was.
Laura hurtled on, mesmerized by her own fire. Then the ruby flared, burning her chest in warning.
The trick is to cut away before you fly into your own fire, she suddenly recalled Marco adding.
And, shit. He wasn’t kidding. The edges of her flames were already starting to curl back at her as she dove.
Every muscle in her body strained to break out of that free fall. But the twin forces of gravity and acceleration fought back, and escape seemed impossible.
“Laura!” Marco yelled.
It has to be possible, she screamed at herself.
With a mighty heave, she opened her wings and swooped clear of her own fire. Olivia tried dodging too, but it was too late. The flames enveloped her, crackling furiously.
“No!” Olivia screamed.
Laura screamed too. She didn’t want to kill Olivia. All she’d wanted was to escape. Now, she watched in horror as Olivia crash-landed on the valley floor and rolled, trying to douse the flames.
A switch flipped in Laura, and she dove after Olivia. The moment she landed, she held her wings over her adversary, trying to douse the fire.
“Help me!” Laura yelled to Duarte.
“And get burned? Are you crazy?”
Laura looked desperately for a source of water, determined to undo what she’d caused. Luckily, the flames died down, as did Olivia’s cries of pain. But the moment Olivia spotted Laura, she hissed, “Get away from me!”
Laura shook her head. “Don’t move. You’ll only stoke the fire.”
But Olivia refused to listen. She extended her pitifully burned wings and took to the sky, screaming, “Get away!”
“Wait! Don’t move!” Laura warned from the ground.
The remaining bits of fire clinging to Olivia’s hide burst into bigger flames, fueled by the air rushing off her wings. Olivia screamed but refused to quit, flapping wildly.
“Stop!” Laura yelled.
But Olivia’s wild eyes signaled she would never stop. A moment later, she gave one last, choking cry, then plummeted to the ground. Seconds later, she crashed and lay lifeless.
Laura drooped, aghast. When a roar sounded, she barely lifted her head. Let Duarte kill her. Let fate play its cruel games.
But that was Marco, not Duarte. His roar echoed off the mountain walls, swallowing up the frantic flutter of Duarte’s wings as he fled. Luigi fled too, several body lengths ahead.
“Wait!” Duarte called to his friend.
Like hell I will, Luigi’s wingbeats signaled.
Duarte strained to follow, but Marco was too close.
“Surrender!” Marco demanded.
Duarte glanced around wildly for some avenue of escape. Then he pitched to one side, attempting a move similar to the one Laura had used. But he was too close to the cliff, and his wingtip scraped a rocky outcrop. Duarte screamed in pain, then tumbled down the mountainside. He thumped to a halt in a hollow and lay there, moaning.
Marco circled Duarte, eyes darting all over, as if calculating what to do. Should he guard Duarte, chase Luigi, or hurry to Laura’s side?
Laura motioned with a wing, urging Marco to go. She would be all right.
But Marco’s eyes sparked more brightly than ever, and his roars thundered through the valley. No one touches my mate. No one!
Laura gulped. Had he fallen for her as hard as she’d fallen for him?
Absolutely, his glowing eyes assured her. Absolutely and forever.
Something flickered in the corner of Laura’s vision, and she spun in panic. Then she exhaled, recognizing the dragon flying to Marco’s side. “Finn.”
The two circled briefly, conferring, then separated. Finn flew to guard over Duarte, while Marco rushed to land at Laura’s side.
She gestured wildly. “You have to stop Luigi.”
Marco shook his head. “Luigi can wait. I can’t.”
He slid a wing over hers in a dragon embrace and nuzzled her neck gently. “Are you all right?”
Whatever energy she’d tapped into earlier faded, and she slumped. “I’m okay.” Exhausted, but okay. “What about Duarte?”
Finn grimaced. “He’ll survive.”
Silence settled over the mountains, and Laura looked around, taking it all in. Was it really all over? Was she safe?
“Oh God,” she murmured, spotting the charred spot where Olivia had fallen.
When Marco followed her eyes, his brow furrowed deeply, and she sensed his emotions churn. Finally, he shook his head. “Olivia made her own choices, and they led to this.”
Tears welled up in Laura’s eyes, and this time, she didn’t have the energy to fight them. She leaned against Marco’s side, letting the tears slide down her muzzle.
“I never wanted to kill anyone. I never wanted to be part of this.”
Beside her, Marco stiffened, and the glow in his eyes dulled.
Laura blinked away her tears and straightened. “Wait. I didn’t mean everything. Some aspects of the shifter world have grown on me.”
Marco’s throat bobbed, and his eyes glinted with hope. “Oh yes? Which might they be?”
Her right wing was tucked under his dragon embrace, but her left was free, and she used it to caress his cheek. “Well, there is a certain dragon…”
His ears perked.
“We started off on the wrong foot,” she went on. “But somewhere along the line, I fell in love.”
A faint thump sounded — Marco’s heart beating in hope?
“Plus, I actually enjoy flying now,�
� she added, then scowled. “Okay, not when I’m being chased. But flying — just flying, especially with you — I love that.”
“You do?”
“Of course. I’ve gotten pretty good, actually.” Then she sighed. “Except for landing.”
Marco nodded solemnly. “Yes, you do have to work on that.”
“Hey! All good things come with time, you know.”
Marco hugged her, and slowly, his chuckle subsided, giving way to long, solemn nuzzles. The kind marking her as his.
“I need to work on some things too,” he murmured. “Much more than you.”
She tickled his chin. “I didn’t say that.”
“No, but it’s true.” He gazed into the distance, and she wondered what he meant. More than just being curt with people, she sensed. Lots more. What exactly was he planning?
A long, quiet minute later, Marco blinked back to focus and went back to nuzzling her. “Still, you’re right. Good things come to those who wait.”
“Especially if we take it one step at a time,” she murmured, nuzzling him back.
The sun broke through the clouds, flooding them both with warmth.
Marco closed his eyes, and his voice was a hum. “I like the sound of that. One step at a time.”
Chapter Twenty
Marco would have loved his first step — the first of many after that fateful fight — to be claiming his mate with a bite.
Hmm, Laura murmured into his mind while snuggling her feet against his. I like the sound of that. Especially if a bite is as good as a dragon kiss. But I guess I can wait.
They were back in human form and back home — a home that had never felt quite as cozy and peaceful as now — with the remnants of dinner spread out before them and Finn.
It had taken ages to tie every loose end after the fight the previous day: licking their wounds, flying home to make sure Inés and Adriano were all right, and finally, checking in on Quintus. Thanks to Paloma, the old man had survived, and the dragons of Madeira had been convinced that Marco had nothing to do with the attempted coup.
After that, Marco, Laura, and Finn had spent an hour discussing the ramifications of everything that had happened. It was only late in the night when Marco had finally been able to settle down to the soundest sleep of his life beside the woman he loved. They hadn’t left the bed until noon and only slowly worked their way toward that early dinner.