by E. L. Todd
Come on, Cora.
“I’m doing the best I can.”
I will kill you if you don’t succeed.
She tripped over a rock and fell to the ground.
His massive claws raised and prepared to strike her down.
She threw her mind out like a net and encompassed his, pulling the string and squeezing his consciousness. Just like she did with the Shamans, she infected his thoughts, his mind, his abilities. She tortured him.
He halted, his eyes closed, slowly moving back.
She gave everything she had, pushing and pushing.
He halted, his eyes still closed. Pressure returned, his resistance.
She kept it up, but the exertion strained her brain, making a migraine appear suddenly. When she’d made the attack on the Shamans, it was much easier. This was the hardest thing she’d ever done—and it wasn’t even physical.
When her energy drained, she dropped the assault.
Ashe’s eyes opened.
Cora remained on the grass, panting in exertion, her body broken. Flare’s face appeared in her sight, his eyes checking her over for injury.
Cora, get up. Ashe commanded her with urgency.
She obeyed, climbing to her feet.
Flare lifted his snout to help her.
Don’t help her. You’re here to provide assistance, not a handicap.
Flare backed away.
You need to learn to do this on command, not under threat of death.
“Look, I don’t even know what I’m doing—”
Stop with the excuses. I don’t accept excuses. He nodded to Flare. Do the same on him.
“Why?”
I want to see something.
She turned to Flare. “Is this okay?”
Flare nodded. I’m not afraid.
She pushed her mind forward like she had before, attacking him the way she did with Ashe, giving everything she had.
Flare immediately backed away, his snout down, his legs shaking.
She kept it up and waited for him to push back.
There was resistance, but not nearly as much as with Ashe.
She dropped the attack.
Ashe shouted into her mind. You keep going until I tell you otherwise.
It’s okay, Pretty.
She did it again, feeling like shit for hurting him.
Flare pushed back, but his resistance never increased beyond his limitations. His legs started to shake, his body trembled, and smoke rose from his snout.
What the hell is going on here? Rush immediately appeared, his sword unsheathed, insatiable rage in his eyes. He gripped the blade by the pommel and directed his insanity at Ashe, assuming he was the culprit for the torture. “Hurt my dragon, and I’ll cut off your goddamn tail. You understand me, asshole?”
Cora felt weak, but for a whole new reason. “It wasn’t him…it was me.”
Rush slowly turned his gaze on her, his hostility softening.
“We’re working on this mental thing—”
The Skull Crusher.
Rush immediately turned back to Ashe.
So did Cora.
That’s what you’re doing, Cora. The Skull Crusher.
Rush’s sword was sheathed as well as his anger. “How is that possible?”
I do not know. Only Shamans are capable of it—or so I thought.
Cora stood with her hands on her hips, still breathing hard from the toll it took on her entire body. “But you’re pushing back.”
Because dragons have powers that allow us to resist. But we don’t have the power to destroy. That’s a whole different kind of magic. People call it dark magic, but its true name is Death Magic.
Cora’s eyes opened. “So, you’re saying…I can do Death Magic?”
I’m saying that you can perform the Skull Crusher—which is Death Magic. Can you do other things involved with Death Magic? I do not know.
Rush slowly turned to look at her, regarding her with new eyes. “What are other aspects of Death Magic?”
Ashe’s nostrils flared in response. Do I look like a Shaman to you?
“You’re an ass like one, so—”
“Okay, let’s just calm down here.” Cora stepped forward between them.
Smoke rose from Ashe’s snout, his black eyes filled with a jolt of anger.
“Let’s get back on track here.” She glanced back and forth between them, seeing the way they glared at each other. “Ashe, if you’re right, what does that mean?”
He shifted his gaze back to her, his rage instantly subsiding. It means you have an advantage that no one else does—especially since it’s a secret.
“Well, it’s not really a secret…” She’d pushed the Shamans away just with her mind, sparing both her and Callon. “The Shamans know about it. I’ve used it on them to save us before, and when they’ve done the Skull Crusher on me, it didn’t work. I black out sometimes, but that’s the worst of it.”
Ashe stared at her, his eyes blinking from time to time.
She knew that meant he was thinking, so she stayed quiet.
Then King Lux must want to capture you dearly.
“Yes,” Rush said. “When I was being tortured by the Steward of Easton, that was all he cared about.”
Ashe’s eyes flicked back to him. And what did you say?
“Nothing.”
Ashe studied him with the same blinking stare.
“Callon and I made it to Rock Island and saved him before it was too late.” The scars would forever mark his body, but at least he’d escaped with his life.
Ashe turned back to her. From Eden Star?
“Yes.”
You got General Callon to leave his forest and save the enemy of his people?
“Well…I didn’t tell him who we were saving. Not on purpose. Everything just happened so fast. He came with me because he knew I wasn’t a strong enough fighter to survive on my own, and he was right. I suck.”
That means they know you’re allies.
“Yep.”
That means you will never find peace—unless you die or win.
Rush exhaled. “That makes me excited to go back to Anastille…”
Ashe ignored him.
“Rush?”
“Yeah.” He turned back to her.
“How did the humans force the dragons to fuse in the first place?” She’d never considered it before, but if humans had no magical abilities, then how was that possible? “You talk about breaking in to their minds—”
Ashe released a low growl, a quiet clicking coming from the back of his throat, like a gas stove trying to light.
Rush held her gaze, standing with the posture of a king, his powerful muscles stretching the fabric of his shirt. “My father had the Shamans break in to Obsidian’s mind. That was the first fuse. After that, it was a domino effect. Obsidian helped us with the others, and then we used physical torture to turn the ones we captured…” He dropped his chin, his sadness physical like the breeze that brushed against their cheeks. “I don’t want to talk about this anymore.”
Ashe stared him down, a low burning fire in his eyes, specks of ash flying everywhere.
Cora came to his side and placed her hand on his shoulder.
His mind seemed to be elsewhere, reliving the traumas of his past life because he gave a gentle jerk when he felt her touch. His eyes moved to hers, the sorrow deeper than the ocean, but there was a sign of comfort. His hand moved to hers, squeezed it, and then stepped away.
Thirty-Six
Hot Springs
Fight him. I want to see what you can do.
Rush unsheathed his sword and spun it around his wrist as he waggled his eyebrows at her.
“I already told you I suck. Just take my word for it.”
Do what I say. His eyes flicked to Rush. Don’t go easy on her.
She withdrew her blade from the scabbard, the red scales turning into flames in the sunshine. It was a prism of color, showing different hues of red. It was like blood in its
veins, darkening as it stained clothing, changing color depending on its place and purpose.
Rush gave a low whistle. “You always look sexy when you’re holding my sword.”
Ashe studied the red blade in her hand. You took scales from a dragon?
“He offered.”
Ashe turned to Rush. Where is yours like that?
Rush stepped forward with his blade ready. “Never wanted one.” He made his move and swung his sword.
She cut it with her blade and pushed back.
He made a flurry of motions, spinning the blade in a flash, the sun glinting off the steel.
She blocked all of his hits but never returned any of her own. All she could do was focus on maneuvering, on blocking his blade, on staying alive. Rush was too fast for her, just as fast as Callon, and within minutes, she broke a sweat, her lungs gasping for air.
Fight back.
She blocked his hit and swung.
Rush was ready for it, parrying her blade and pushing it down. His blade came up and pressed against her neck, just an inch away from the skin. There was no victory in his eyes, just remorse. He dropped his blade and stepped back.
She lowered herself to her knees to catch her breath.
Rush didn’t even look tired.
“I…I told you I suck.” She continued to pull the air into her lungs as she wiped her forehead with the back of her forearm.
You don’t suck. You aren’t good—but you aren’t bad either.
“If this were a real fight, I’d be dead. That means I suck.”
“It doesn’t matter how good or bad she is.” Rush sheathed his sword into the scabbard on his hip. “Because I can be her sword. I can be her shield. I can get her where she needs to go. She has abilities I’ll never possess—nor will anyone else, for that matter—so that should be her only focus.”
Ashe turned back to him, his nostrils flaring. She will be her own sword. She will be her own shield. She doesn’t need some arrogant human to defend her when she can defend herself. Your services aren’t needed, General.
Rush stood with his arms by his sides, holding Ashe’s gaze without blinking, his brows tight in insult.
Cora’s eyes flicked back and forth between them, feeling the tension like it was the air she breathed into her lungs. “He just wants to protect me, Ashe. That’s all he means—”
You won’t need his protection, Cora. He turned back to her. Because General Callon’s instruction is clearly unfinished. You understand the maneuvers of battle, blocking hits and conserving energy while doing so, but you are clearly unused to the weight of the sword and how to go on the offensive. When he’s finished with you, I’m certain you will be ready. But in the meantime, I will teach you how to fight a dragon. His eyes flicked back to Rush, silently telling him what to do.
Rush kept his annoyance to himself and did as Ashe asked, turning back into Flare instantly.
The red dragon appeared, his wings stretching out and his back arching, like a cat that had just stirred from a nap.
Cora sheathed her sword.
You’re going to need that.
“I’ll use a branch instead. I don’t want to scuff up his scales.”
Flare gave a slight smile. Thanks, Pretty.
Use the sword, Cora. You can buff out the marks later.
She withdrew her sword once again.
Dragons have very few vulnerabilities. There are only a couple spots where a sword will do damage significant enough to slow his speed or kill him. The eyes. The mouth. The snout. And one other place. Located at the back of the head is a small fusion of the bones that come together to form the skull. Get your sword inside and twist it.
“And you expect me to do that right now?”
No. I expect you to get that close to him first. Good luck. He sat upright and waited for the battle to commence.
I won’t hurt you, Pretty.
Our job is to prepare her for what’s to come. If you don’t hurt her, she’ll die later. Keep that in mind.
Flare released a sigh from his snout and dropped his head slightly. You’re right.
“It’s okay, Flare. I understand.”
Cora rushed him, but the dragon was too fast. She rolled across the ground, tried to climb up his legs, his tail, did what she could to get close to his face, but it was no use. She fell to the ground over and over, bruised and battered every single time.
Ashe watched in silence.
She fell to the ground for the final time, her sword lying beside her. This time, she didn’t get up again.
Flare came over and nudged her with his snout. You okay, Pretty?
“Yeah…just exhausted.”
You’ll get better, Cora. It takes time.
“Does it take time?” she asked sarcastically. “I don’t think humans or elves are supposed to fight dragons…and win.”
No. But you can.
“Honestly, I don’t think I’m going to get better at this.”
Not when you fight like that, no. You failed to use any of your skills.
“What are you talking about?” She pushed herself up, her entire body sore.
You used your body. Not your mind.
“Shit…I didn’t even think of that.”
I know you didn’t.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
Because I wanted you to learn a lesson instead.
“Can you die from being sore?” Cora moved slowly, one foot in front of the other, all the muscles of her body screaming in pain.
Rush grinned as he walked beside her. “Fighting a dragon all day will do that to you.”
“Apparently.”
He moved behind her and scooped his arms underneath her, cradling her to his chest as he continued to walk at his previous speed.
“You don’t have to do that…” Her arms circled his neck, and she rested her face against his shoulder, her eyes instantly closing.
“Yeah?” he asked with a grin. “Seems like you’re enjoying it.”
“No…”
He chuckled and continued on his way.
“Where are we going?”
“To the hot springs I told you about.”
“So, the water is just warm?”
“Very. It’ll help relax your muscles.”
“Ooh, that sounds nice.”
Minutes later, he arrived and set her on the ground. He stripped off his clothes, washed them in the water, and then hung them up on a nearby tree before he stepped into the water.
She watched him go, taking in the masculine aspects of his body, including his muscular back and his tight ass. It took her a moment to regain focus and do what he did, washing her clothes and hanging them out to dry.
He leaned against the cliffside and faced her, his arms sprawled out on the ledge behind him. With an intense expression, his eyes roamed over her body, taking in the sight with the same interest she’d just given him.
She lowered herself into the water, the warmth immediately reminding her of a bath at an inn. She sank lower and let out a moan. “Wow, you weren’t kidding.” She looked down into the water and found the origin of the bubbles from the soil, feeling the source of heat. She dipped underneath the water and remained that way for as long as she could hold her breath before she emerged back on the surface.
He watched her with a slight smile on his lips, that intense possessiveness still in his eyes. “Wish we could stay here forever.”
“Me too.” She walked through the shallow water to his side and peered over the edge. “It’s beautiful…”
His head turned in her direction, and he watched her, his arm rising from the ledge and wrapping around her shoulders. He gently pulled her close and rested his head against hers, still facing the opposite direction. His skin was warmer than the water, already running at a high temperature from his strong muscles and pumping blood. Breaths came and went, time trickled by, and then he pressed a kiss to her temple before he released her. “Feel better?”
“A lot
better. I’d sleep in here if I wouldn’t drown.”
“I can always keep you warm at home.”
She smiled slightly at the affectionate term he used for the cave where they slept. It was where they cooked their meals, where they slept side by side, where they hid from the rainfall. It was made of stone and uncomfortable, but it somehow felt cozy. “Home, huh?”
“Wherever you are is home.” He continued to rest his head against hers, looking at the mountains while she looked at the ocean. The sun sank farther and farther, making the landscape harder to see.
Her arm circled his chest as she shifted her face to his, so she could see his beautiful eyes set in that handsome face. There was masculine beauty in his features, wisdom in his eyes. But there was also sadness. “What is it?”
He held her gaze for a long time, his eyes still like they were frozen in place. Deliberation was visible in his gaze. When he looked away, he spoke with a strained voice. “Our time is coming to an end.”
“I still have so much to do with Ashe…”
“Yes. That will take a long time. Time that we don’t have. There are many moving parts to this endeavor, and we need to return to get those pieces where they belong. I need to return to Bridge at the hideaway so we can make our next plan. You need to return to Eden Star and get Queen Delwyn to pledge her participation in this fight, among other things…”
“Then I don’t understand…”
He continued to look away, his expression turning heavy with grief. “I want to keep this to myself because I never want to leave this place. I never want this moment to end. But that would be wrong…so I have to tell you.”
“Tell me what, Rush?”
He took a deep breath before he regarded her once more. Pain was visible in his eyes like needles pierced the flesh. That handsome smile he’d just worn moments ago was so far gone that it would never come back. “Ashe will fuse with you—if you ask.”
Her eyes narrowed. “You’re wrong. I know him better than you, and the question itself will offend him.”
“You’re right. You do know him better than I do. But I also understand dragons better than you do. Yes, he’ll say no at first. Yes, he’ll probably be offended. But he will do it. Trust me on that.”