by Cassia Briar
Books forgotten, I shuffled toward him. “I didn’t know you had tattoos.”
He glanced at me over his shoulder. “All shapeshifters do, eventually.” Montrell pointed at his back. “These represent the three animal forms I take. Remember shapeshifters need DNA from each source to take on its form. Traditionally, we go on a quest when we’re young and choose three animals. One from the water, one of earth, and one of the sky.”
I smoothed my hand over his skin and it pebbled. A shiver vibrated in his large frame. An octopus tattoo wrapped its tentacles around his leg. Across his back was a bear, and it entwined with a giant owl, one wing edging over his upper arm.
“Beautiful,” I breathed out the word.
“They are more than tattoos. When a shapeshifter takes the DNA of an animal, the creature dies and their spirit marks our skin. In a way, we carry their souls with us. The tattoos are sacred.”
That renewed my interest in them. The research I’d done on mutated genetics two terms ago never mentioned that the animal a shapeshifter took DNA from became one with the shifter. Fascinated, I circled him. He caught my waist and pulled me into his chest. His mouth devoured mine in a searing kiss.
Too soon, he released me. “We need sleep.”
I licked my swollen lips, unsure of how I was going to actually sleep with Montrell’s perfect, naked body next to mine. He settled into the bed, folding the blankets back for me. I stripped and climbed in. He dragged me across his chest, holding me tight in his arms, and kissed my forehead.
He released a contented sigh. That sound spoke of his happiness, and I smiled against his warm skin, soaking in the rightness, the completeness, of us being together. Finally. I was that much closer to taking my full form. As importantly, I’d found my mates.
“I made you a wedding gift,” Elena said, digging in her jeans pocket. She was helping me get ready for the ceremony. I’d already bathed. Wrapped in a towel, now I needed to untangle my hair, and get dressed.
She pulled out a folded black cloth and handed it to me.“You better like it.”
Curious, I unfolded it and held it up. The cloth was a small square bag with a drawstring closure. A strange iridescence showed in the light and I felt the magic in it.
“It’s pretty,” I said.
“Oh, it’s so much more than pretty.” Elena took it from me. “This is fae cloth. It will change color and texture to match the wearer. Basically camouflage, just like what your scales do when you go invisible. I put an expansion spell on it, so it holds a lot. And, these drawstrings are magiced to expand and retract so you can wear it when you’re in any form, even full dragon.”
“Holy crap.” I studied the bag with renewed interest. Elena had really taken to this whole witch thing, she was such a natural. “It’s amazing. Thank you.”
“Now put all your precious shit in it and don’t lose it.”
I smiled at her. “Bossy much?”
She gave me a wicked grin and pulled the metal box from under my bed. I sighed, of course she knew where I kept all my precious shit.
“Let’s see what we have in here.” Elena slid her thumb over the clasp.
Before I could stop myself, I growled. My dragon hoard was in there and I didn’t like anyone touching it. I snatched the box out of her hands. She laughed.
Sitting on the bed, holding my towel closed, I opened the top. My seashells were scattered loose in there next to the ruby necklace Isabella had given me. I always wore the diamond bracelet from my mates.
“Pretty,” Elena said.
“Yeah. Handy, too.” I lifted the piece of ruby jewelry. “It defends against curses. Unfortunately, it also has a tracking spell on it so I can’t wear it. Courtesy of dear grandmama, of course. But May and Jaxon put concealment spells on my tin, so as long as it stays in there no one can detect it.”
“Hmmm. Tracking spells are advanced magic.”
“I’m not surprised. Isabella is a powerful witch.” I placed the ruby back in the box and closed it. “I don’t see how this will fit in the bag.”
“Like this.” Elena picked up the fae cloth bag and held it while I slipped the metal tin inside, the mouth expanding to the right size. “Cool, huh?”
“Very cool.” I slipped my diamond bracelet in there too, the mating ceremony required us to wear no jewelry. We were supposed to be completely naked under our black robes.
Elena squeed. “I can’t believe you’re getting married!” She pulled me in for a hug.
“Me neither. Under these crazy circumstances, too. It’ll be your turn next,” I teased.
She grinned. “Not for a few years. We’re taking it slow. All this supernatural stuff is new to me. Plus, Tyler’s parents are super rich and influential. It might be a while before I can win them over completely.”
“I have faith in you. Charm their socks off,” I said.
“Speaking of socks off, you should put that robe on and I’ll comb your hair.”
On with the mating show. I cringed, awkward about how much of a show it was going to be.
We were gathered in Liam’s apartment overlooking the lawn at the center of campus. We’d decided to have the Council formally witness the mating ceremony. Of course, as soon as news spread, everyone showed up and the lawn was packed to the edges leaving only the empty spot in the middle for us. I couldn’t blame them. Who wouldn’t want to see the queen turn into a dragon for the first time?
Cleaned, robed, and anxious as hell, I stared down at all those people and tried not to think about having sex in front of them. It wasn’t working.
“We are all prepared,” Liam said, “except for which cardinal points we will take. And I think we have a built in system to answer that.”
I turned to the room where my four mates also wore robes. Each clean shaven and smelling so good I wanted to eat them one by one.
“What’s our answer?” Jaxon asked.
“Astrology.” Liam motioned to himself. “I’m a Gemini, which is an air element sign and associated with the East. Jaxon, you’re a Leo, fire, and therefore South.” His gazed latched on to Angel. “You’re West, being a Cancer. And… Montrell?”
“I’m a Capricorn. North.”
“Explains a lot,” Angel grumbled.
Montrell shot him, what I hoped, was a playful glare.
I nibbled my bottom lip. “I’m an Aquarius. What does that make me?”
“You’re an air sign, like me,” Liam said. “But in this ritual you become the fifth element. The center that binds us together.”
Was it a coincidence I’d chosen men from each of the four elements, when Iria’s mates were dragons of the same? I still had so many questions. But they would have to wait until all of this was over.
“Are we ready?” I asked, summoning up courage from my inner dragon. She was restless, being this close to coming out. To taking flight.
Everyone nodded and one by one we slipped out the door. I took the lead as we exited Academy Hall. Head held high, spine straight, I approached the crowd.
My friends managed to be gathered nearest to us. Elena and Lana wore excited expressions. Olivia gave me a thumbs up, and Payton clapped. They parted, letting us through to the open space at the center. Forming a ring around the middle, stood the entire Council in matching black robes.
My heart raced as I took up my position and the guys each found their cardinal point. I turned in a slow circle as a hush fell over those gathered round. This first part was all on me. Mine alone.
I started in with the script I’d memorized. “Tonight, you are here to bear witness as I take my four mates. I, Queen Caprice Sorrentino of—”
A red magical blast rattled the protection bubble overhead. Sparks flew toward the night sky and veins of orange shot down the dome. Another spell hit the barrier, followed by several more from different directions.
We were being attacked.
My mates and the Council closed in around me, all of us gazing skyward.
Dean Wright ap
peared. “The wards should hold,” she said. “We knew they’d attack eventually.”
Horrible timing—for us. A pit opened at the bottom of my stomach. We did know that they’d bring the fight to us, but why now? Had they managed to use the Codex and regain their power in only a matter of days?
I firmly cinched the robe tie. “I don’t want to take any chances. We need to be prepared for anything.”
The dean gave a curt nod and took flight. “Everyone to their stations at the wall.” Her amplified voice sounded over the lawn. A ripple of tension swept through the crowd.
Gavin said, “We need to get up in the towers.”
Frustration replaced the sinking feeling. If only the Tromara had waited half an hour I’d have my full dragon form and could burn them all.
As we began to move, a massive set of scaly wings caught my eye. I pointed. “Look! Up there!” As the solo dragon approached, its red coloring became apparent. “It’s Zafer. He’s come back!”
Relief flooded me. My family had decided to help after all. They’d come back.
Zafer neared, hovering over the protective dome. He touched his horned tail to the barrier and a zap of magic ripped through his body. I frowned. Why wasn’t he coming through and landing? Or better yet, attacking the Tromara outside the walls? He was a fire dragon, he should be incinerating our enemy.
He drew back his upper body and a column of flame poured from his maw. The fire engulfed our magical shield, tearing holes through it. A second blast would destroy it completely.
“What the fuck is he doing?” Jaxon said, beside me.
This wasn’t right. I let my dragon senses study Zafer. They registered vampire, witch, a touch of fae, and…something new…shapeshifter. I knew that original energy mix well. It was branded into my subconscious.
I spoke the name like a curse. “Sebastian.”
Iria’s voice message held new meaning now. Though I didn’t think she understood the significance of the Tromara’s attack on them. She’d said Zafer was alive and well, but if Sebastian had taken his form then…that was impossible. Wasn’t it?
13
Jaxon
Sebastian? My moment of confusion was replaced with gut clenching horror. The king had used the Codex, had performed the power stealing ritual on a shapeshifter, and gotten hold of dragon DNA? Caprice had said Iria left a message about Zafer getting wounded. Were a few drops of blood enough for a full transformation?
Shit. We were all going to die.
“Abandon the Academy!” I shouted, pulling my wand from the robe’s pocket. “Now!” I cast a shield around us. “Let’s move!”
Caprice shifter to her half form, black scales glowing with that faint red light. “Make sure everyone gets away,” she said, slipping out of the robe. She ducked between me and Liam, then took off running to the center of the lawn.
Liam tried to grab for her, but missed.
“Caprice!” Angel and I hollered after her.
Montrell cursed.
Itzel and Kyle produced their own shields and split off with the other council members who shouted orders to evacuate. I darted after Caprice only to have her go invisible. If we got out of this alive, I was going to murder her. From the looks on the other guys’ faces, they wouldn’t mind one bit.
The expanse of grass emptied as people followed the evacuation plan. They disappeared in bursts of purple smoke on the sidelines. Over head, Sebastian burned through our last layer of protection. Winged Tromara filled the sky. Enemy vampires and shifters crawled over the walls. Wood and metal exploded as they tore apart the gates. We needed to get the hell out of there. Now.
Caprice turned visible and shouted at the red dragon. “Hey, asshole!”
Sebastian aimed his next breath of flame on her and let loose. She vanished again, only to appear several feet away and taunt him again.
She was buying us time. Distracting the greatest threat to everyone on campus so they could leave. Damn her heroics.
I turned to Angel, Liam, and Montrell. “Get to the SUV. I’m going to teleport her out of here.”
“We’ll meet you there.” Angel shifted as he ran for the parking lot. Montrell turned into an owl, then he and Liam both took flight.
I focused on Caprice. The next time she turned visible I would scoop her away.
She materialized at the far side of the lawn. I flicked my wrist to cast the teleportation spell, when the dragon swooped down like lightening. He caught Caprice in his jaws and flung her across the open space. Her body hit the ground with an audible thud.
I appeared beside her in a purple smoke, pulled her limp body into my arms, and vanished. Dangerous as that was, I had no choice. Half a second later, I stood at the SUV where Liam helped me get Caprice into the back seat with us.
The main gate lay open in ruin. A swarm of Tromara flowed on to campus, engaging the few of us who remained in battle. Magic darted through the air all around us. A Tromara wolf jumped up on the hood of the SUV and snarled through the windshield.
Angel shifted into gear and dislodged the beast. He plowed through the monsters who tried to block our escape route. In moments we were through and took off down the mountain road.
Montrell twisted around in the passenger seat, his eyes widening at Caprice’s bloodied body. She was in human form. Deep punctures oozed red.
“Hold on, baby,” I said, taking my robe and applying pressure to her wounds. At her feet, Liam did the same. His hands lit with green magic as he concentrated on healing her wounds. I lent my own magic to the process. With how many times Caprice had been hurt over the past year, I should have learned more healing techniques. I cursed myself for not doing so.
The SUV shook, jostling us. I rolled down the window and encased the vehicle in magic. The Tromara in the woods bombarded the shield. Flying shifters swooped down trying to penetrate it, and were zapped by the protective spell.
I needed to fight them off, while keeping the ward intact, and heal Caprice, and get us all out of here at the same time. Preferably alive. Fuck.
Spell blasts shook the vehicle again.
“I’ve got her,” Liam said to me, his voice unnaturally calm. “Get those fuckers off of us.”
Montrell twisted and leaned between the seats to aid Liam, doing whatever the fae told him.
I climbed halfway out the window and threw spells at those bastards who assaulted us. They fell back only to regroup and push harder in their next attack. I had to pause several times to reinforce the shield.
A shuddering wind gust blew through the trees. My gaze found and fixed on the gigantic red beast fast approaching, blotting out the night sky. As soon as Sebastian caught up with us, this would be over. We’d be finished. There was only one thing to do.
My gaze found Caprice. Teleporting an injured person was dangerous. I’d already done it to her once, I’d had no other choice. Thankfully she’d survived. Could her body handle it again—so soon? It was a risk I had to take. Any moment we were going to get incinerated.
I closed my eyes, ignoring the nagging thought that I’d never teleported multiple people and a moving vehicle before. Heat, and painfully bright light seeped through my eyelids. Visualizing our destination, I summoned all of my energy and whispered the spell.
We landed with a thunk, followed by screeching brakes, in my driveway. My ribs slammed painfully against the window frame as we came to a halt. I ducked back inside to catch my breath. My fingers found Caprice’s pulse and I whooshed out a sigh. I’d done it. We were alive.
Angel turned around in the driver’s seat with a glare. “You could have given me some roadway to work with,” he growled.
I ignored him. “Caprice.” I swept damp hair away from her face.
“I’ve stopped the bleeding,” Liam said. “The wounds will heal. She needs rest.”
Pure, draining relief washed through me. I brushed my lips over her temple. Savoring the sweet, exotic scent of the woman who’d captured my heart and soul.
&nbs
p; Liam glanced over at me. “And we need to get away from here. Your house is one of the first places they’ll look.”
“I know. I just want to grab a few things.” I let myself out, clutching the bloodied robe around me. Finding the hidden key, I rummaged through the rooms of my house loading clothing, blankets, food, and other supplies into the back of the SUV. The others changed out of their robes. Montrell and Angel did their best to clean up Caprice, dress her in some of my old clothes, and make her comfortable. She was still unconscious and that worried me.
Ten minutes later we were on the road out of Estacada, heading north. We’d soon be turning east to make the journey across Washington and Idaho, to Montana. From there we’d hike into the nearby national forest and hook up with the Gran Lobo Pack. Everyone else from campus should be on their way there already.
Teleporting would have been the quickest way to travel, except witches could only teleport to familiar destinations, places we’d already been. I’d never visited Montana.
Liam and I tried to get some sleep before we had to take the next driver and navigator shift. I dozed fitfully, with Caprice’s head resting in my lap. My mind kept wandering to our problems. Even once we completed the mating ceremony and she was a dragon, Caprice would be going up against Sebastian. The match was much too uneven. Both of them dragons, but Sebastian had developed his cunning over centuries. I didn’t like it. In fact, I hated the idea with every cell in my body.
I hated feeling less capable, less able to protect her and keep her safe. I had to find a way to help Caprice. She shouldn’t have to face him alone. If Sebastian could now turn into a dragon, and witches were the beast’s natural enemy, I wanted to know exactly how dangerous my magic could be to him. He had to have a weakness. I was going to find it.
14
Liam
Across the Idaho border we swapped places. I navigated us through the northern part of the state while Jaxon drove. I couldn’t help glancing in the backseat every so often where Caprice still slept, now nestled between Angel and Montrell.
