As I spurred my dragon on, she hopped down the bank before lowering herself to let me off.
"Where is everyone?" I asked, as I jumped from Aaraeth's back.
Evgeni met my eye, "Gone. They can't be witnesses. I want to limit their liability."
"And George?" I asked.
"Oh… yeah, he's still here with Egor. He wanted to say goodbye to you before heading to California with the team." Evgeni pointed into the trees to where George sat on the ground bent over a notebook. "George!” he yelled. "Sydney's here!"
George scrambled up before closing the space.
"Now, I don't want to fuss, but I do have a few things to say." He pressed a white handkerchief to his eyes before continuing. "I am the luckiest man in the world to have you as my daughter, even if it were only for sixteen years." He gripped my hands with his. "I'll see you soon, and we'll be together again once your mother comes back."
He squeezed me into a bony hug before letting me go.
I watched him mount Egor's dragon before flying away. When they disappeared behind the ridge, I turned to my bio dad. “That was weird.”
Evgeni tilted his head and said, "He knows you’re not coming with us, right?"
I frowned, "I don't know. But I'm glad he stayed to say goodbye,"
Bio dad's eyes darted to Taya. "Take care of Sydney—take her back to school once we complete the ritual. Do not wait around."
She nodded, "Okay. I will."
We didn't take snowmobiles this time, nor did we take horses. We rode our dragons, gliding over the lush green valley and up toward the cavern in the cliff.
In winter, there had been a high hedge of snow that partially blocked the cave's mouth, protecting it from the elements, but not today. Today, our beasts drifted inside easily and landed one by one on the sandy floor.
My heart squeezed thinking of Ashe.
"I should be going," I called out to Evgeni.
"No," he told me, merging with his dragon. "No. It'll only be a week. Katie might seem like an airhead, but she's brilliant at what she does. If she says she can get us back, then she can."
"Even though you'll be bringing your bondmate back?" I asked with raised eyebrows.
"Yes… Katie's not really my girlfriend. That's a cover she uses. She's an expert on Dragon rituals and ceremonies… but she's also into acting and all that. The whole girlfriend shtick was her idea. I don't really care. I just didn't want the notes and research I had of Celine's to leave the house, which is why she lives there."
Taya and I shared a look. She hadn't seen Katie at Evgeni's house, but even she looked skeptical.
I had to trust Evgeni. If he said he trusted Katie, then I would trust her too.
This was my mother's life we were talking about, and she deserved to get it back. I merged with Aaraeth and followed Evgeni and Lev into the tunnel.
Taya stood beside me, face white and lips pinched as she stared off into the cave's intense darkness. I knew she was apprehensive, but she still came when I told her that she didn't need to.
I had to see it work.
I had to know it worked.
The trek was tense and quiet as we climbed through the cave system.
Memories of the last time I'd been here with Ashe seemed to come alive in the dark. The first time I saw Aaraeth on my body, her mark—her tattoo—was in this place. Ashe had traced my skin with his fingertips.
Today, she was covered up by my climbing pants and long sleeve research shirt.
I knew memories were triggered by smells and sounds. I felt as if Ashe were nearby, even though I knew that couldn't be the case. He should be in California, probably on a computer right now.
I twisted the platinum ring and thought of him.
Evgeni and the Russian were talking up ahead, but I didn't listen. Their large packs blocked the light as I followed them, holding my own lantern. I wanted to go, but I knew I had to stay here in case they couldn't make it back.
What would I do if that happened? Go on my own? Search for them?
I thought of Celine, who'd been trapped there for fifteen years.
After we reached the outer cavern, the one with the stream, where Lacy Bryant had slapped my naked body with a bundle of herbs, we stopped for a break.
I hesitated, wondering if we'd do the ritual washing, but when the men bypassed the water, I did as well. Ducking, I followed them through the long low section and into the inner chamber with Taya on my heels.
The place looked less foreboding this time, being lit by our headlamps, as well as two lanterns.
I stood back and watched as Evgeni began painstakingly drawing the runes on the smoothest rock wall. He looked between his notes and the wall, checking each symbol as he went. When he finished, Lev examined each rune and placement, comparing them against his own notes. I had memorized them and silently double-checked them myself.
Lev knelt before the markings and focused on the specific chant. According to Celine, they found that these chants forced our brains to make a particular wavelength combined with this place, and the runes together would open the door to the dragon realm.
When the surface of the cave rippled with silver light, I gasped, and Taya gripped my hand. Baldy stood, and I could tell he struggled to maintain the chant because the glowing pool faded before solidifying once more.
Without speaking, he took a step and walked right through the wall.
Taya's nails dug into me, but I ignored it, mesmerized as the Russian stood on the other side, standing in a thick jungle. A thick green canopy obscured the skyline behind him.
Taya's hand was wet, and her face terrified.
"I can't watch this, Sydney. I can't. I'm sorry. But this is freaking me out. We need to go," she told me as she began to back up.
"What? No, I'm not leaving. You can go if you want to." I sighed, not wanting her to leave.
"I'm so sorry… I just can't. I'll wait for you at the entrance of the cave. Just… meet me there," she said, her eyes full of fearful tears.
I nodded. "It's okay. I'll be fine. I'll be right behind you. Are you sure you don't want to stay? It's almost over."
She shook her head before darting away, her quick footsteps echoing.
Evgeni held his hands wide. "Well, it's just you and me, kiddo."
I stared into the portal, tingles going up my spine from the sheer electricity it gave off.
"I'll be back, I promise." Evgeni’s eyes swept the cave floor between us. "I wish… I wish things had been different. I wish I'd known about you…" his voice trailed off as he gave me a smile.
I shook my head. "It's okay, Evgeni. I'm all right. Go and find Celine… I can't wait to meet her."
There was so much left unsaid between us. But instead of speaking, he just stared into my eyes, smiled, and then walked through the shimmering water-like surface.
I swallowed hard as tears pricked the backs of my eyes.
28
Ashe
Corbin and I ran until we neared the horse stables at the end of the trail, before finally slowing. We were both pretty fit, ran and cycled regularly, but this had been tough. We’d probably covered miles with heavy packs before realizing that we were being followed. After that, we’d doubled back and then been running for almost two and half hours straight.
I thought back to the last time I’d been up here with Sydney, in the snow. She’d looked haughty and bored until she met Eondian.
“You okay?” The Eton Prime asked, knowing we’d set a brutal pace.
I nodded.
Corbin straightened before downing more water and eyeing the final switchback trail that led to the mouth of the cave above. “Hey! Look. Someone’s up there.”
I turned to see a red wyvern.
“That’s Taya’s dragon! They’re going to see her!” I spat in anger.
Ignoring my exhaustion I started up the steep trail to the cave.
Halfway to the top, the sound of gunfire made me duck within the angular boulders. I ga
zed up at the sky as I moved in my crouched position, made even more difficult with my heavy pack.
“And now they’re shooting at us?” Corbin growled incredulously.
“Apparently,” I replied, picking up my pace. My legs were burning, but we had to get to that cave before they did. If Taya left, what did that mean about the remaining people? Who was still there? Sydney? Was she alone?
Rock bits flew up like shrapnel when another bullet hit the rocks beside me. I felt blood begin to trickle down my leg, but I ignored it.
Just as we reached the top, I spotted Taya. She stood white-faced and scared.
“Taya! Where’s Sydney?” I called, gazing out behind us. “Do you have a weapon? A gun? Anything?”
She stared at Corbin and me in shock before shaking her head. “N…no. Why? Sydney? She’s…”
Another gunshot echoed in the cave walls, interrupting her.
I spat, “Where’s Sydney?”
“She’s in the cave…” She bit her lip, shaking her head. “Who’s shooting at us?”
“Is she alone?” I asked.
The medic shook her head, “No, maybe… she was with Evgeni… but… who’s out there?”
“I don’t know who they are, but you need to get the hell out of here and get help. With your wyvern, you’ll be able to fly faster than we can.”
She blinked and nodded. “Okay… I’ll try.”
“Go! Fly as fast as you can! I’ll try to give you some cover,” I told her.
I slid against the side of the wall before gathering up some rocks. This was pathetic, but if I could draw their attention away from the small medic, then she might have a chance. I threw two stones, clearing the entrance and making a loud crack farther down the rockfall. Gunfire met the location of my rocks, which meant they were shooting blind.
“Go!” I told her. Taya mounted her beast, and before I threw another rock, she shot out of the cave as if on fire.
“That was weird. I’ve never seen her shaken up like this,” Corbin told me as we watched her wyvern speed away in the distance.
I shook off his question and threw more rocks to occupy our followers and lure them away from Taya. I hadn’t been paying attention to the medic. I was more concerned with Sydney and our pursuers.
I didn’t have time to ponder Corbin’s question, because three wyverns dove past the cave’s entrance, one of them firing a semi-automatic weapon.
Rock splinters flew up at us from where the bullets hit the floor. Corbin and I dove for the tunnel. We fumbled in the pitch black before I pulled out my phone. I didn’t have time to search for my headlight.
We pushed onward at an almost painful pace until we reached the cleansing space just outside the sacred cavern.
My phone chose that moment to die, and as my boots splashed through the water, I knew I was going the wrong way. Reaching up to the zipper on the hood of my pack, I fumbled around until I found my headlight. Corbin had already discovered his and stood searching the cavern.
“Dude!” he frowned. “We need to hide. These guys are gonna kill us.”
I shook my head. “Not before we find Sydney! I won’t leave her alone!”
“She’s not alone. She’s with her dad! Do you know of a tougher bastard than Evgeni?” he argued.
Just then, a light appeared from the sacred chamber.
It was Sydney.
We just stared at each other for a moment.
“Ashe!” she whispered.
“We need to find someplace to hide!” Corbin yelled as his words were punctuated by rapid gunfire.
“What the hell? What is that?” she asked.
“It’s the same guys from before, come on, we have to move,” I told her.
Gunfire echoed again even closer this time, and instead of following me, Syd turned around and bolted back into the sacred cavern.
“Syd!” I whispered after her. “Syd! That’s a dead-end!”
But she was already gone.
Following on her heels, I popped out in the ritual cave. The place reeked of sulfur, and the walls trapped the heat from the hot spring.
Sydney was kneeling down, drawing something onto the cave wall. Nearing her, I saw that she’d cut herself and was using her blood as paint.
“Syd! What are you doing?!” I spat, trying to tug her away, but she shrugged me off and continued.
“No, Ashe. We have a place to go,” she told me as she continued.
The attackers were now in the bathing room not too far away.
Corbin and I gave each other a grim expression.
“I’m not going out like this,” he said quietly as he pulled a knife from his ankle with his left hand and held his camping machete in the other.
I pulled out my hunting knife, and we flanked the entrance, waiting.
Their voices grew closer and closer.
“If we can take them by surprise, we might have a chance,” I whispered.
Another gunshot rang out.
Syd looked up at me from where she knelt, drawing on the wall like a crazy person. “It’ll be okay…” she breathed.
“Where’s Evgeni?!” Corbin hissed.
“Gone, gone through…” She stood and examined her blood art. “Who are they? Is that why you came?”
A harsh voice called out to us from the passageway in a sing-song voice, “Come out, come out wherever you are! Arthur promised me the girl Prime… you don’t have to die for her. You can just walk away… Ashe Carrick.” The voice became distant as if the man who it belonged to was pacing the outer room. “Besides, killing you is doing Arthur a favor that he hasn’t paid for… aren’t I right boys?”
I gritted my teeth, not willing to play this game with them.
The man continued, “We hear that your sweet little bondmate is still a virgin…” he laughed. “I can’t wait to take her for myself. Once she gives me a child, then I promised I’d hand her back over to Arthur…” More laughter erupted from the other room.
My vision went red. “I will kill you, you spineless fuck!”
My eyes went to Syd. She was still intent on her drawings even as Corbin tried to get her to move.
“Syd!” Corbin whispered. “Syd! You need to hide.”
I could barely speak, I was so full of rage.
29
Sydney
I heard yelling, but didn’t listen to the angry words. If I got the symbols right, then we’d be able to escape. I had to get each line perfect in order for this ritual to work.
I squatted in front of the runes again, examining them. I noticed bits and traces of the markings that had been used for Evgeni’s trip and hoped that they wouldn’t cause a problem. Frowning, I bit my lip. I had no notebook to compare my drawings to or even another person to double-check my work. My bloody runes were entirely from memory, and I could only hope that I’d done each one correctly.
Standing back, I held the lantern closer to check each mark. My fingers throbbed from the cuts I made, but it was done.
I’d created the borders of the portal.
The chant came to mind, and I began whispering the words, repeating them over and over again.
Once the portal formed, we could escape.
Ignore the gunshots… focus on the words...
Corbin’s gasp made my lashes flutter open.
In front of me, the stone rippled like the surface of a pond. Beyond it, lay another world—the dragon realm. I could see several of the beasts off in the distance.
The wind ruffled my hair as it blew through the rippled surface, and the scent of the jungle, sweet and slightly rotting, mixed with the sulfurous smell of the cave.
“Go through!” I told the guys.
But they just watched.
“We don’t have time for this!” I hissed.
Turning to the portal, I slipped my foot through the water-like surface. The gateway felt electrified and the tiny hairs on my arms lifted as I stood with one foot on a rust-colored rock of the dragon world and the rest o
f me in the cavern. Taking another step landed me squarely in the jungle heat of the other side. The sun shone down on my head, heating my hair.
“Come on! I can’t hold it forever!” I turned, yelling into the cave.
My tenuous grip on the ritual was fading and the gateway was flickering in and out.
The shimmering surface mesmerized me as I stared at it repeating the ritual words over and over again. It was as if someone took a sheet of paper, folded it in half, and punched a hole—and I stood, looking through that hole into my own world.
The portal tugged at me, straining my concentration. I motioned to Ashe and Corbin again.
I could hear the men who pursued—their voices were louder, and the threats and bullets were flying.
Ashe stepped away until his back was against the far wall.
“Come on!” I screamed, desperation lacing my words, “I can’t hold it much longer!”
I could see it in his eyes, not panic, nor hesitation, just a decision. Running flat out toward me, he pierced the portal, bracing his arms over his face as if he’d hit a wall.
His shoes slapped the rocks as his momentum carried him across the rock. Turning in a circle, his eyes searched the new world, assessing our surroundings.
“Corbin! Come on!” I yelled.
The shouts were close… they were almost here. I’d have to close the portal with or without the Eton Prime.
Behind Corbin, three men with flashlights appeared.
I glanced over at Ashe, who yelled at the Eton Prime to cross through.
I was losing my grip, the surface was splotchy as if it were made of fragments from a broken mirror.
Just as I began to let go of the portal, Corbin came flying through. But unlike Ashe, the Eton tripped and landed sprawled out on the red sandstone rock.
Rolling over, he unclipped his large backpack.
“I think I cracked a tooth,” he told us, as he sat up and rubbed a finger inside his lower lip.
The men with the guns weren’t as eager to cross and held back, examining the shimmering surface of the gateway. When one of the men finally reached out to touch it, the portal snapped closed.
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