Wicked Burn

by Rebecca Zanetti

  “Yes.” Desmond nodded. “There was a cross breed, a crazy being, and it killed for sport. With its skills, it was nearly infallible, and that can’t happen again. The Coven Nine and the Guard hunted all dragons down at that time, believing them to be mutated multis. We had to create this island just to survive and protect ourselves from the witch nation.”

  “Witches and demons are now allies. Why don’t dragons come back into the world and do the same?” Simone asked.

  Flynn leaned back. “I think it’s time we stopped hiding, but Desmond doesn’t agree.”

  “No. Hidden we stay safe,” Desmond countered. “We can counter witch fire, avoid demon mind attacks, and fight as well as vampires or other shifters. We’re too dangerous to be allowed to live, and the other species will combine to take us out. Again.”

  Simone swallowed. Perhaps the world had been that way before, but now peace reigned. “I think you’re wrong.”

  Desmond studied her. “Maybe, but look at the bright side. Fate obviously stepped in with you, Simone.”

  She tilted her head to the side. “How so?”

  Desmond smiled. “You see, it’s a good thing you didn’t mate the demon and procreate our worst nightmare. The second you were with child, we’d have had to kill you.”

  Chapter 22

  Nick had faced death before, several times, and yet this was the worst. Guided by moonlight, a bear-dragon hybrid mix held him high above the churning sea, flying in what could only be described as a turbulent mission. He strengthened his hold on the pack holding clothes and weapons.

  Bear dropped several meters again, and bile shot up Nick’s throat. He swallowed it ruthlessly down. “Would you please stop doing that?”

  “You weigh a fucking ton,” Bear complained, flying high above the ocean, his hold on Nick not at all secure. Pain tingled from the scales all around Nick. They dropped again, and Bear grunted, trying to gain altitude. “I haven’t practiced flying in a long time.”

  “Why the fuck not?” Nick shut his eyes as the sea rose up to meet them again.

  They lifted higher, and cool air slammed into them.

  “It’s not my thing,” Bear groaned. His wings made audible flaps through the night. Bear’s hold slipped, and Nick fell into rushing air.

  He bellowed, his arms and legs windmilling.

  Fast and hard, Bear pummeled into him, slamming his weird arms through Nick’s and rapidly flapping his wings. Pain ripped through Nick’s abdomen.

  He held perfectly still, his heart pounding against his rib cage as they rose again. He was upright, his legs catching the wind, his blood rushing through his veins. “What the hell?”

  “Sorry.” Bear tucked him up against his belly again. “You shouldn’t have brought so many weapons. They’re really heavy.”

  “Just don’t drop me again,” Nick ordered, his entire body already in serious pain. He took a deep breath and sent healing cells to three of his ribs, which Bear had broken when he’d caught Nick up. “How much farther?” Nick asked, gritting his teeth from the pain of healing.

  “A ways.” Bear seemed to find an air current, because his body relaxed, and he began to soar better.

  Clouds wafted around them, and the moon glinted off the wild ocean below. “What’s up with all the secrecy about dragons? I mean, who cares?” Nick asked.

  “Dragons can counter any attack, and the smartest move for other immortals is to take us out. The witches and demons combined years ago to make it happen, and they could do so again,” Bear said.

  Nick forced his eyes to remain open on not on the earth spinning by. The shifter had a point, and it was something they could figure out at a later date. For now, he had a job to do. “Are you all right with the plan?” Nick asked, aiming his question for the beast’s long neck.

  “Yes. I’ll do anything for Simone,” Bear returned, his body moving as his wings went back to work. “The plan sucks.”

  “I know, but at the very worst, they’ll kill me and not Simone, so you’re on board, right?”

  “Yep. I don’t want to see you die, but if it comes down to you or Simone, I’m all right with you taking the sword to the throat.”

  Nick coughed. “Thanks, Bear.” He meant the words.

  “You’re welcome.” Bear sounded as if he was sincere, too.

  Simone was all that mattered, and as long as she walked away unscathed, Nick would gladly give up his head. Of course, that was his last option. He’d be happy to fight first. “We try to battle our way out before I take the sword, right?”

  Bear gave the equivalent of a dragon shrug, which felt like a whole body roll from under his massive body. “Eh.”

  Hell. Not the right answer. “If I die, Simone is going to be upset.” Nick kept his voice level. Just how crazy and nonchalant was Bear? Nick had never been able to get a grasp on the shifter. “You don’t want your only sister upset.”

  “I think you’re basically a hitch in her life, demon.” Bear’s voice sounded like Bear but with a raspiness that carried on the breeze. “Any alliance with you ultimately will hinder her plans.”

  A bird flew into them, and Nick ducked his head, taking a mouthful of feathers. The bird flapped away, clacking in anger. He spit out feathers. “Would you watch where you’re going?” What the hell had he been thinking to work with Bear instead of working around the damn shifter?

  “Sorry.” He didn’t sound sorry.

  “What do you mean, I hinder her plans?”

  “Geez, man. Simone is as ambitious as they get, and she wants to run the Coven Nine. You just get in the way.”

  Nick sneezed out another feather. “I could make her happy.” He gingerly reached up and picked more feathers off his face.

  Bear dropped a meter.

  “Bear!”

  “Don’t wriggle so much,” the shifter muttered.

  Nick shook his head. “You’re one crazy bastard. Simone is already established in the Coven Nine, assuming they don’t order her death.” Which they wouldn’t, because he had a decent defense planned finally. Well, kind of. All right, he could still lose, and then he’d have to put her in hiding, which would be a disaster.

  “No way would a witch mated to a non-witch ever lead the Council. Hell. Why do you think Viv never mated my dad? I mean, besides the fact that he was a real dick.” Bear snorted, his massive dragon body shuddering.

  Nick opened his mouth but couldn’t find any words of comfort. “Simone makes her own path.”

  Bear coughed. “Those witches are big on tradition, allies, and war. The demons might be allies right now, but you know that can change on a sneeze.”

  True. Definitely true. Nick struggled to argue his position, even while his chest ached at the possibility of Simone choosing duty over him. “If I mate her, then her alliance will be to me.”

  Bear chuckled. “You’re fooling yourself, demon.”

  There was a better than slim chance that Bear would let Nick be killed and then just go happily on with his life. Nick restrategized his plan in case Bear turned against him. He wanted to trust Simone’s brother to have his back, but he just didn’t know the guy.

  The air changed, thickening and warming. Nick peered down at the sea, trying to find the difference in the night. Magic and veils whispered on the air currents. A chill clacked down his back, and his fangs elongated.

  “We’re almost there. Get ready for a fast landing.” Bear pointed his reptilian face toward the waves, and all of his muscles bunched.

  Nick tensed, trying to see anything but water. He shoved his fangs up tight. “I can’t find the land.”

  “Unless you’re a dragon, you can’t see it until you’re on it.” Bear descended rapidly, and the ocean came closer. Suddenly, they impacted something hard, and Bear dropped Nick.

  The air flew from Nick’s lungs. He tucked in his head and extremities, sliding across a smooth surface. He rolled several times and crashed into a stone wall, shoulders first.

  The earth stopped movin
g. He blinked and then slowly opened his eyes fully, glancing around. Pain ripped through his back and down one leg, and he took a quick inventory, shoving healing cells into place. Bruised and ripped but not broken. Good enough.

  He shoved to his feet and wavered.

  The dragon stared at him. Its eyes morphed from black to brown, and he shifted into a grizzly bear. The air shimmered and popped, and soon Bear was back to human form, standing against a white railing overlooking a cliff. He heaved in huge gulps of air, and his entire body shuddered with the movement. “Clothes,” he groaned.

  Nick reached into his pack and tossed Bear a pair of jeans that had once probably been blue and a T-shirt blacker than the night. Bear quickly dressed. “Are you all right?” Nick whispered.

  Bear held his stomach and then nodded. “Yes.”

  Oh, something was wrong, but Nick would have to figure it out later. “All right.”

  “Are you ready?” Bear rumbled.

  Just as Nick nodded, bright lights illuminated the entire balcony.

  He stiffened.

  Several men moved out of the shadows and the building, all holding weapons. Then another man, tall with blondish-brown hair and dressed impeccably, strode out.

  Bear sighed. “Desmond.”

  “Beauregard. We spotted you several miles out, and your landing was the loudest we’ve had in centuries.” Desmond nodded regally toward Nick. “You must be Nicholai Veis.”

  “I must be,” Nick murmured, edging his leg back in case he needed to go for the gun in his boot.

  “I wouldn’t,” Desmond said smoothly, casually sliding his hands into the pockets of his perfectly pressed pants. “There are about twenty barrels on you right now, and even if you were able to somehow dismantle all of them, I have Simone under guard and gun, as well. You move the wrong way, and I’ll have her shot and beheaded.”

  The blood in Nick’s veins froze, and energy popped through his mind. “Threatening Simone was a bad idea, dragon.” It was only fair to warn the bastard, and allowing his voice to go demon hoarse worked for him.

  Another man walked out, this one with hair darker than night. “Bear, what the holy fuck? Are you trying to kill yourself?”

  Bear nodded, and his upper lip curled. “Nick, this is my brother, Flynn.”

  How odd that Bear, of all people, had a half-brother who was a dragon. A real dragon. Nick studied the guy, probing deep for any sense that he was family or ally. He tried to move into the dragon’s brain, but shields stronger than any metal created kept him out.

  Damn dragons. They really could block mind attacks. On to plan B, then.

  Flynn edged himself between Desmond and Bear, his hard gaze on his brother. “Why the hell are you here?” he asked, fire flashing in his black eyes.

  “To get Simone,” Bear said easily. “Fetch her, and we’ll be on our way.”

  Desmond laughed, the sound throaty and rich. “I’ve always liked your humor, and now you’ve made it so easy for us to carry out your sentence. I appreciate it.”

  Flynn growled low. “I’d like to revisit the sentence. Bear was acting in self-defense, I’m sure, and now that Simone is here, we can have another hearing, get to the bottom of this. We didn’t have the benefit of talking to her last time.”

  Desmond shook his head. “The laws are the laws, and the sentence has been declared.” He looked soberly at Bear. “I’m sorry, but you need to say your good-byes tonight. We will allow you some time with your sister.”

  Ah, shit. Nick stepped forward. “Bear didn’t kill Roman. I did.”

  “Liar,” Desmond said, his gaze narrowing.

  “It’s true. Ask Simone.” Nick gestured toward Bear. “He was tossed out a window, I came in, and I battled to protect Simone. I ran a sword through Roman, and then I sliced off his head.”

  Flynn looked from Nick to Bear and then back again.

  Nick waited patiently. If dragons were half as powerful as demons, they could smell a lie and discern the truth.

  Finally, Desmond frowned and studied Bear. “I never had an inkling that you weren’t being truthful before.”

  Bear lifted a shoulder. “I’m half-bear. We lie well.”

  “Why?” Flynn asked, his gaze hardening. “I know we’ve never been close, but why would you lie to your own brother?”

  “I thought Simone had done it,” Bear said simply.

  “I see.” Flynn’s gaze softened. “You’re still trying to sacrifice yourself for her, apparently. With the shift.”

  Nick pressed his hands to his hips. “Shifting into a dragon harms you?”

  “No,” Bear said just as Flynn nodded.

  Flynn growled. “Stop lying. Bear’s true nature is that of a bear and not of a dragon, so when he shifts into a dragon, he’s pretty much flaying his soul open.”

  Nick winced. Bear hadn’t said a word and had insisted on saving Simone. “You’re a good brother to her,” he said.

  Bear nodded. “I surely am. So, let’s get out of here, shall we?”

  Desmond eyed the interchange and then turned his focus on Nick. “I believe you about killing Roman.”

  Bear breathed out. “Good. So, I guess we need to have another trial or whatever, right? Should take some time to suss out the truth.”

  “No.” Desmond shook his head. “Pursuant to dragon law, Nicholai Veis, tomorrow you will die for the death of Roman.”

  Nick tried to sense Simone, but he couldn’t find her signature nearby. Without knowing where she was, he didn’t dare start a fight. “My people will declare war.”

  Desmond smiled. “Your people don’t know we exist, so I’m not concerned.” He gestured toward two of the armed men. “Please escort Mr. Veis to the dungeon. I assure you that it’s nicer than most five-star hotels.”

  One of the soldiers grabbed Nick and pushed him toward the open doorway. He went ahead, hoping to catch either sight or scent of Simone, but they turned quickly into a stairwell made of stone. He could hear Bear talking as he began to descend.

  “We have a dungeon? Cool,” Bear said. “Are there wall racks and shit?”

  Chapter 23

  Simone paced the palatial private suite, calculating her odds of taking down the three guards outside her door.

  A quick knock sounded, and she stood back, allowing fire to dance down her arms.

  Bear poked his head in, and his eyes widened. “Whoa. What’s up with the pink fire?” He slipped inside and shut the door.

  She gasped and quickly doused the flames. “What in the hell are you doing here?”

  “Me and Nick decided to recue you.” Bear stretched his neck.

  She studied him. His normally bronze face had lost quite a bit of color, and for some reason, his chest didn’t seem as broad as usual. “You shifted into a dragon.”

  “Yep.” He grinned, but his honey-brown eyes didn’t sparkle.

  “Damn it, Bear.” She slammed both hands on her hips. “Flynn told me what shifting into a dragon does to you. Under no circumstances will you do it again.” She couldn’t lose him now that she finally had him in her life.

  He rolled his eyes. “It’s fine. Flynn exaggerates.”

  Her temper, born of fear, flashed through her. Pink flames cascaded along her fingers.

  “More pink. What in the world?” Bear asked, his gaze on her hands.

  “I can make different colors.” There was no reason to tell Bear about the baby before she told Nick.

  “Okay. Wanna go to the dungeon? We have a real dungeon. Can you believe it?” Bear asked.

  Simone narrowed her focus. Bear was usually a little off, but this was more than normal. Was he acting simple for a reason? Or had he finally lost his damn mind? Either way, she didn’t have time for it. “Knock it off.”

  His gaze flickered from amused to dangerously focused and then back again. “Knock what off?”

  She shook her head. “Why would I want to visit the dungeon?”

  “That’s where Nick is, awaiting death for ki
lling our dad.”

  Oh God. She nodded. “Yes. Is he okay?”

  “He’s fine.” Bear opened the door. “Just follow me.”

  She nodded and completely ignored the guards while following Bear’s long stride through rooms carrying enough riches to bankroll several countries. They finally reached a huge stairwell that tunneled into the earth.

  She jogged down the stone steps, her mind whirling. Oddly enough, she felt less powerful in the jeans and sweater she was wearing than she did in a full dress, but right now, she had other things to worry about.

  They climbed down for what seemed like hours. “These guys ever think of an elevator?” she muttered.

  “No kidding,” Bear snorted.

  “Seriously. It’s a new century and all. Put in a pulley or something.” Her calves were actually beginning to ache.

  Finally, they reached the bottom, and the sound of the sea could be heard outside. Well, above them. How deep under the ocean’s surface were they? She tried to tune in her sense of hearing, but the stone was thick and solid around her.

  Bear shoved open an iron door out of an era long past, and it creaked as it moved.

  Simone shuddered. “There had better not be rats down here.” Could rats get onto an island? Dragons ought to be powerful enough to banish rodents, right?

  Bear turned and handed her the lantern. “Don’t trip.”

  She kept her head high, accepted the lantern, and swept through the doorway. The door clanged shut behind her, and she stood in a long hallway with several metal doors set into the rock.

  The nearest door opened, and both Flynn and Desmond walked out.

  Desmond smiled. “I like your demon. He threatened to kill me at least twenty different ways in less than five minutes. Too bad I’ll have to chop off his head.”

  Flynn nodded toward her, gave Bear a look, and then turned for the exit door.

  Simone reared up into Desmond’s face, allowing fire to cascade down her arm. “You kill him, and I’m going to kill you.”

  Desmond’s smile widened. “Yet another death threat. This really isn’t my day, is it?” He nodded at Bear. “Beauregard. When you’re finished here, we need to talk.”