by Olivia Ash
I might as well channel this energy into something productive.
With only the occasional blustery wind and chirping cricket to keep me company, I reach inward toward my dragon.
Come on, babe, I say to her. Let's shift.
I feel a surge of resistance, like she’s actively building a brick wall between us so that she can get some sleep. Annoyed, I curse quietly under my breath.
She's so damn stubborn. I have no idea where she gets that from.
With a deep and centering breath, I try again, reaching for her, asking for her, opening up to her.
This time, I wait just out of reach, wondering what she will do. Wondering if she will close the gap between us.
This time, I feel her come to me. It's slow at first, like waiting for an animal who isn’t sure of your intentions yet. But as I keep my breath calm and steady, I feel her sink into me, trusting me.
My shoulders relax as the two of us merge, and I once more ask for the shift.
She leans in, fully listening, actually wanting this. Together, we lean forward. My skin buzzes, and my body aches. I can feel the ripples of pain shooting through me, the tell-tale sign of the pending shift.
But nothing happens.
The shift doesn't come.
On impulse, I hold my breath, trying to force it. The harder I push, however, the more light-headed I feel. Before I know it, I fall forward—my hands outstretched, reaching for the railing so that I don’t fall a hundred feet to the ground below.
Two strong hands grab my shoulders, and a familiar voice lets out a relieved sigh as his strong head leans against the back of mine.
“Please don't fall to your death, damn it,” Jace says quietly.
I chuckle. “Sorry.”
His strong fingers ignite my core as they press against my arms, rooting me in place. His touch is like silk, and it calms my soul. Inwardly, my dragon swirls with glee, wanting more.
“Are you trying to shift again?” he asks.
“Trying and failing,” I mutter, not bothering to mask the small pout of my lips as I think over my failure. “I want to be able to shift for the battle.”
He peeks around me until I can see his face, and he lifts one eyebrow skeptically. “You mean the battle Russell ordered you not to join?”
I grin sheepishly. “Yeah, that one.”
He laughs and kisses my cheek, wrapping his arms around me as he holds my back tightly to his chest, hugging me from behind. “I knew better than to think you'd obey that command.”
“Are you going to try to keep me in a tower?” I joke.
“Hell, no,” he says. “You and I are going onto that battlefield and sending those assassins to their maker.”
I nod, grateful for my partner in crime. “Damn right, we are.”
My dragon stirs again within me, louder this time, and I set a hand on my chest as my heart pangs.
“She really reacts to you,” I say, taking a moment to study myself after her surge of power.
Even though I can't see his face, I hear the flattered chuckle as he holds me a little tighter.
“I want to try to shift again,” I say.
“Or we could just enjoy the night,” he counters.
“I kind of feel like we should get ready for the war that's coming our way,” I say, not bothering to mask my sarcasm.
He laughs. “Must you be so damn serious all the time?”
I pause. “Yes.”
He chuckles and sighs in defeat. “Fine. But Rory, I don't think you should be in your dragon form for the fight.”
I frown, pivoting on my heel to stare him down. “Why not?”
“You won't have control over your magic yet,” he points out, lifting his hands as he gestures vaguely toward the sky. “Your magic is your most powerful weapon, even over your diamond dragon. Even if you're able to access it in your dragon form, there's no guarantee you'll be able to control that power. You could hurt one of us,” he adds, gesturing toward himself. “Besides, you’re still learning to fly. To control your new body. It’s just too soon.”
My gaze drops briefly to the balcony floor as I think about what he's saying and really process the risk. When I fly, I feel so powerful, so strong. In my dragon form, life just feels right, even if my flying is wobbly and my access to my magic is inconsistent at best.
There's just something so right about it.
“Trust me, Rory,” he says, setting his hands on my shoulders as he smiles gently. “You’ll get the hang of it. But for now, trust your human body.” He gently taps his finger against my chest. “Trust yourself.”
“I should still know how to shift,” I point out. “If I fall, I'll need to fly. If I need to save someone…”
“Fair points,” he says, shrugging. “I trust you, Rory. Listen to yourself and listen to your dragon. That's all I'm saying.”
“Okay. I concede.”
“Now close your eyes,” he orders. “It's easier to shift in the beginning if your eyes are shut.”
Despite his playfully bossy tone, I play along and indulge him. I feel for my dragon as she swims and tumbles within me, eager and ready, just waiting for a chance to stretch her wings.
“How is she feeling?” Jace asks.
“Restless,” I answer.
“Is that you or her?” he challenges.
I pause again, frowning slightly as I listen a little more intently, filtering past the impatience to the dull pulse of her energy deep within.
She's brimming with power and light. Ready for war. Ready for blood.
Ready to fly.
“Eager,” I answer, more confident this time.
“Good,” Jace says as I hear him slowly pace around me. “Feel how that's different from your own energy. Listen for that difference. Really get to know it.”
I scrunch my features as I focus on trying to implement what he's suggesting, knowing he's watching me all the while.
I have to confess that, with my mate circling me, I want to show off a little.
Come on, girl, I ask her. Come on.
Once again, my dragon leans into me, opening her heart as we merge into one.
And this time, we shift.
My body buzzes and hums with power and magic. My ears pop as ripples of pain tear through me, followed by surges of relief and adrenaline. The balcony gives a little underneath me, and I instinctively beat my wings on the air to lift myself into the sky. I take off, the stars glimmering above me as the wind cuts against my face, crisp and sweet.
I briefly look down as my wings beat the air, watching the moonlight glimmer off my iridescent scales.
Victory.
I roar into the sky triumphantly, once more connected to my dragon. Seconds later, Jace joins me, his jet-black skin almost invisible against the night sky except for the soft blue glow of his magic cutting through his wings. He effortlessly soars past, flying in literal circles around me as he growls in encouragement.
I began to feel more in tune with my wings as I carry myself into the stars, ever higher.
Movement in my periphery catches my attention, and I look down to see Tucker waving from the roof. Levi stands beside him, arms crossed, but I can't quite see the details of their features. A red fire dragon dominates the roof beside them.
Drew.
My fire dragon takes to the air, soaring toward me and Jace, and the two of them spiral around me as I soar higher.
It's a magical moment, one I feel like I'm stealing from the night. I can let the obsessive worry of when Zurie will attack slide off of me and just enjoy the moment. I stretch my wings and bank, the three of us circling the embassy as the crisp, clean air soars past me.
I feel so free. It's like soaring through heaven, and I feel like I was meant for the sky.
Below us, Tucker cheers as Levi watches quietly. As we near, I catch a broad grin on Levi's face, and I feel a swell of pride.
Even though I know he wants to be up here with us—that he and his dragon are still le
arning to see eye to eye—I'm grateful he can be happy for me. For my flight. For my connection to my dragon. For my shift.
Jace and Drew slip into formation around me, letting me lead as they keep to my admittedly slow pace. It's a kindness, one I figure they won't extend to me for much longer, as I know they're both going to want to train me to fly properly.
That's something I can worry about later.
There's a subtle shift in the air, and my joy quickly dissolves.
Even though nothing has changed, I feel a flicker of warning as my intuition detects something in the night that I miss. I look at Jace, and he tenses as well, scanning the horizon warily.
Something's off.
I just don't know what.
Drew seems to catch the hint, and even though he briefly scans my face, he quickly turns his attention to the world around us.
Twelve dragons sail by in tight formation, a scout squad that flies by Jace as they check on us. The leader of the pack nods to Jace, and it strikes me as the sort of subtle motion that's supposed to mean everything is fine. As they trail by, a few of them steal looks over their shoulder at me.
An air current cuts past me, and I wobble, still not used to my wings yet. Drew impulsively flies beneath me, ready to catch me if I fall, and I flick my tail at him playfully. He returns to my side, black smoke trailing from his nose as he watches me through the corner of his eye.
An alarm cuts through the air.
The warning.
The attack has begun.
Jace roars at me, nodding toward the roof, and we angle toward it. I know what he’s doing—he wants me to shift back. To be human for this battle.
I still don't know if I agree.
Not to sound cocky, but I'm a diamond dragon—a creature of lore and magic. That’s got to count for something.
Around us, hundreds of dragons take instantly to the air, breaking through the forest canopy as they fill the sky. Drew nudges my side, angling me toward the roof.
Ugh.
Fine.
I angle downward, hoping I don't drive a hole through the roof as I land, but kind of expecting it to happen anyway.
As the other dragons soar through the air, one of them dives toward us. He's as dark as shadow, and the yellow light of his magic leaves streaks through the midnight sky as he darts toward us at a blinding pace.
Russell.
He roars in warning, the sound almost desperate and panicked. He knows something—something we missed.
Something we haven’t yet seen.
He roars again, but I have no idea what he’s trying to tell us.
Moments later, explosions light the sky. Whistles tear through the clouds, and it takes me a moment to realize what's happening.
Missiles.
I roar into the air, brimming with fury and frustration that they were able to attack us without us noticing—after everything we've done. After all the precautions we took.
But this is Zurie.
If anyone can undermine a fortress and destroy it from within, it’s her.
The three of us bolt toward the roof as Russell races to meet us.
I need to go get Tucker and Levi, to make sure they're safe. They wave at us from the rooftop, shouting something we can't hear over the whistles and explosions in the sky.
Beside me, Jace rotates, flying backward as magic pools and burns in his throat. He fires off several blasts of blue light, destroying missiles before they can actually hit anything. Explosions thunder behind us, shooting hot waves of air over me.
And damn it all, I wish I could help.
On my other side, Drew does the same, a brilliant blaze of fire shooting from his mouth as he destroys three missiles in one blow.
Explosions burn through the sky like fireworks as the missiles detonate too early. The deafening blasts make my ears ring sharply, the high-pitched whine almost painful.
My dragon wants in.
Instinct pulls on my magic, drawing it from the depths of my soul. It smolders in my chest, hot and fierce. The warmth and energy climb up my throat, desperate to break free.
No, I warn her. We could hurt people.
If I summon the magic, there's no saying what my control will be like. I need to practice in a controlled environment, not in a war zone where I could hurt someone on our side.
The impulsive wave of magic simmers, fading slowly as she listens, and I let out a sigh of relief.
A dozen missiles clump together, soaring through the air. This—this was intentional. These missiles were definitely meant for the three of us.
Jace and Drew unleash their magic and fire on the missiles, and the thundering crack of explosions burst through the sky.
Four of them get through the brilliant yellow fire.
Three miss, sailing off into the forest. Yellow and orange flames burst into the night, flattening trees and igniting the canopy.
But one missile hits its target, and slams against Jace's chest. The explosion knocks him through the sky, away from me, and he goes limp.
My thunderbird falls.
I feel it—the bolt of pain ripping through me as he’s hit. It’s surreal to feel another’s pain, but my world goes briefly white. I stumble through the air, hurt by the blow that hit him, and drop in altitude.
But I recover.
And I’m pissed.
A surge of adrenaline and dread pumps through me, as does the overwhelming need to protect him. Without even thinking it through, I instinctively bolt through the sky, flying impossibly fast as I try to catch him before he falls to his death.
Russell has the same idea, and the two of us race toward the former dojo master as Drew roars at us in warning.
I don't even register Drew at first. I just hear the same roar, echoing again and again in my mind, cutting through the chaos.
Getting louder and louder.
Then, I hear a whistle.
It whizzes through the air, getting closer with every passing second.
As the more experienced flyer, Russell gets to Jace before I can. He dips below Jace’s unconscious body and catches him, carrying the former dojo master on his back as they tumble harmlessly into the canopy.
But that whistling, it just gets louder.
I look behind me as a missile approaches, coming too fast for me to duck out of the way.
Shit.
It hits my chest, and the pain shatters me. I can't even breathe. Every muscle tenses, paralyzed and immobile.
My wings stop working.
My body goes limp.
I fall.
The roars of panic through the night begin to fade as the ringing in my ears gets worse.
My vision blurs, and the last thing I see is a familiar blue blur sailing through the flame-riddled sky before my world goes dark.
Chapter Thirty-Three
I wake to the hazy sound of someone calling my name.
My head aches.
Searing pain splinters through my brow with every breath, with every movement.
My head spins, and I can barely think straight as the world rolls around me. I sit upright, and a flush of nausea burns through my cheeks. I pause to keep it at bay as the memory of the assault flashes through my mind.
The explosions.
The missiles.
Drew roaring in warning.
Jace falling toward trees below.
Jace.
A surge of adrenaline shoots through me like fire as bloodlust and fury pump through my veins.
I open my eyes, but the world’s still blurry. The hazy silhouette of a person hovers over me. In my confused daze, instinct takes over. I cock my fist back and punch them, expecting them to fall to the floor.
The blow is fast, but a strong hand catches my fist. Thin fingers wrap around my hand with surprising strength.
My vision slowly clears, the blurs sharpening into detail, and it takes me only a moment longer to recognize Harper's face.
She leans toward me, her brows knit in c
oncern, surrounded by the shadows of a dark room.
“Oh, good. You're not dead,” she says with a wry grin.
As another round of nausea floods me, I try to figure out where I am.
Indoors.
Darkness.
The room is mostly empty, the walls made of a familiar black stone. Thin slits line the circular room, windows to the outside that let in thin rays of moonlight. Other than the occasional beam of silvery light, shadows swallow most of the dark chamber.
I adjust, only to feel the subtle give of a spring below me. My world shifts slightly as the rough cot gives with my movement. I toss the blanket off of me as I try to get my bearings.
Harper sets her hands on my shoulders, squinting slightly as she studies my face, looking for something I don't have the energy to figure out right now.
As I continue to survey the world around me, it takes me a minute to realize she's not wearing any clothes.
“Girl, you're naked,” I say, slurring as my head continues to spin.
“Yeah, thanks,” she says dryly. “I shifted and flew over to help you all, so I'm afraid the clothes didn't quite survive the flight.”
“Russell said not to do that,” I quip, smirking at her audacity even as I continue to slur.
I rub my temples, trying to clear my head.
That was a hell of a concussion.
“Well, if he survives, he can yell at me,” Harper says, shrugging.
“Where are we?” I ask.
“A watchtower at the edge of the dojo lands, a relatively safe space—at least for now. They needed to make sure you were out of harm's way, as you took the brunt of one hell of a missile.” Harper whistles, clearly impressed. “I really didn't think you were going to wake up for a while.” She hesitates, her smile falling. “Or at all.”
“I’m fine,” I lie, trying to ignore the way the room tilts around me. “Jace got hit. Is he—did he—”
“He’s fine,” Harper says, her tone gentle and soothing. “Dazed, but not dead. And, of course, already back in the fray.”
I sigh with relief.
Thank goodness.
“I've been listening in to see when the fight would happen, but I wasn't expecting it to be this bad,” she admits.
My head snaps toward her as I narrow my eyes in surprise and suspicion. The sudden movement shakes my brain, making the room spin again. But I grit my teeth and force my way through it. “What's going on?”