by Ciara Graves
Mercy pulled a dagger from her boot and aimed for the dragon’s throat.
I ducked under the punch from the one in front of me. Bastard moved fast and his claws embedded in my right shoulder.
“Rafael!”
I wrenched my shoulder free. Warm blood oozed from the wound. There was no time to see how bad the damage was as the dragon brought his other hand down on my left shoulder.
With a yell of pain and anger, I wrapped a hand around his throat and slammed him into the wall.
Damian was shouting for Mercy to guard the door to the bedroom.
I bashed the dragon into the wall, again and again, gritting my teeth as he continued to claw the hell out of my arm. I rammed him into the wall one final time, and he finally went limp.
I dropped him to the floor and whirled around just as Mercy sprinted toward the hallway that led to the bedroom. She tackled the dragon ahead of her.
He kicked her in the face.
As she rolled away, I lunged forward and pinned the dragon to the floor.
“That’s it,” Mercy snapped.
I spotted a flicker of fire out of the corner of my eye.
“Move.” Her voice was steely.
I rolled off the dragon.
He threw himself toward me.
Mercy blasted him in the chest. He shrieked as her mage fire burned him. She hit him a second time, her eyes alight as she unleashed hell.
When he finally stopped moving and screaming, she lowered her hands.
“Feel better?” I asked as she hauled me to my feet.
“Not even close.” She spun around and was ready to blast the other two when the one I thought I’d knocked out crashed into us.
His fist connected with my face and his knee with my gut.
Mercy raised her hand to blast him, but he was far stronger than he’d been minutes ago. He held us both to the floor. His claws began to elongate.
Mercy screamed as they dug into her chest.
I strained to push him away, but he didn’t budge.
His eyes glowed a dark gold color, his bones shifted and popped. His body was changing.
He was shifting.
I did not want to be here when the change was complete.
“Kill him,” Damian shouted. “Stop him from shifting!”
“What do you think we’re doing?” Mercy gasped as the weight of the dragon’s hand pressed harder on her body.
He was going to crush us both.
I still had my gun on me and maneuvered my hand to grab it. He caught sight of my action and wrenched the weapon away, tossing it across the room.
I grabbed hold of his wrist, twisting it as hard as I could, to no avail.
“Rafael,” Mercy breathed, hardly able to get my name out.
Something metallic brushed against my arm.
I glanced down.
Her dagger.
Her eyes rolled back into her head and she went still.
My demon rage kicked in full gear.
I grabbed the dagger as adrenaline coursed through my body like fire. I shoved the dragon off me, plunging the blade into his heart.
He gasped, his body twitching violently. I kicked him off Mercy. He flailed, sucking in his last breath.
I tapped Mercy’s cheeks. “Come on. Open your eyes, woman. Mercy,” I roared,.
She jerked awake, coughing as she tried to breathe too fast.
“Easy, I’ve got you.”
She grabbed my shoulders until I winced in pain. “You’re bleeding.”
“We’re all bleeding,” I muttered.
The wounds on her chest weren’t too deep, thank gods.
I turned around as the dragon took his last breath.
Down the hall, the bedroom door opened. Horace limped out, eyes wide.
“Friends of yours?” I asked him.
He nodded. “Dead friends, now.”
I wasn’t sure I was happy that they were all dead, but it was too late now. “That one was shifting,” I said as I helped Mercy to her feet. “Can someone explain to me how that’s possible?”
“Guess we forgot to mention that part.” Damian kicked the dead one next to him. “Shuval’s making it possible for dragons to shift again. Part of her plan.”
“And you didn’t think that was important to mention?” Mercy shouted.
We needed to get rid of the dead bodies and patch our wounds. We could argue later. Somewhere amid the shouting and trying to stem the flow of blood from our injuries, my cell went off. I
scrambled to answer it. “Yeah?”
“Rafael, it’s Joseph,” the mage said, sounding out of breath. “I heard you were searching for someone.”
I held up my hand for some quiet. Mercy and Damian stopped arguing.
“Hey, Joseph. You found him?”
“Yes, I did. Franklin Monroe has been spotted. As of now, he has not left his current location.”
“And where might that be?”
Joseph hesitated then said, “Sector 2.”
The phone fell from my hand.
All I could see was the slum I grew up in. All the blood and death I’d witnessed in that hell hole.
Mercy called my name, but when I didn’t respond, she picked up my cell. I couldn’t hear what she was saying. I was too focused on my own thoughts.
I’d told myself I would never go back to Sector 2, but now, I had no choice.
Chapter 9
Mercy
I picked up Rafael’s phone. “Joseph?”
Joseph Sycamore. Powerful mage and one of the Gathered. Also, a good guy, as far as we could tell.
“What’s going on?” I waved a hand in front of Rafael’s face.
He blinked, a steady growl rumbling through his chest, but otherwise, he remained perfectly still.
“Rafael’s gone a bit comatose. Or something close to that,” I told Joseph.
“It’s about Monroe. I know where he is. Sector 2.”
“Shit.” No wonder Rafael had a look in his eyes that was darkening by the second. “You’re sure?”
“I wouldn’t have called otherwise.”
It was a night for one crappy moment after another. “Thanks, Joseph.”
“You’re going in there after him?”
Rafael whispered something that sounded like his brother’s name, then stormed out of the room.
Nor nodded, indicating that he’d stay with him.
I glanced at the four dragon bodies on the floor in Damian’s sitting room. The two brothers were talking, motioning with their hands, figuring out where to move them to.
I sighed. “Don’t have much choice. The situation’s changed.”
“Rafael said all was quiet the last time I checked in.”
“Too quiet, apparently.” And here I thought I’d be able to enjoy my time with Rafael a bit longer. I should have known it wouldn’t last. The calm before the storm was over. We were about to get thrown into the middle of a freaking hurricane of blood and death. “I’ll keep you posted,” I told Joseph, then hung up.
I shoved Rafael’s cell in my pocket, griping about the new injuries I’d sustained just when all the others finally healed.
Those claws dug in deep. I wouldn’t have to get stitches, but it hurt all the same. The dragon Rafael stabbed lay on his back, dead eyes focused on the ceiling, both hands clasped around the dagger’s hilt.
My dagger.
I’d lost enough weapons to Shuval’s freaking horde of monsters.
I removed the dragon’s hands from the hilt, kicking him at the same time, then grabbed my dagger with both hands, planted my boot on his chest and yanked as hard as I could.
The dagger appeared to be stuck in his ribs. I pulled harder. When it came loose, I staggered back and ended up on my ass.
Horace burst out laughing as Damian raised a brow.
“What? Don’t give me that look.” I scrambled to my feet, wiping the blood off the dagger with my shirt. “Lost my sword and my favorite gun. I’m not
losing anymore.” I sheathed it in my boot, found my gun and holstered it at my side. “Are they all like this?” I kicked the dead half-shifted dragon again. “You know, able to shift?”
“I only saw a few,” Horace said as he joined me at the dead dragon’s side. “It’s incredible to imagine that you could do that.”
“I can’t.”
He frowned. “You’re half dragon. The gene is inside you. If Shuval gets her way, you’ll be able to shift. You’d be a full dragon.”
I shook my head. “I don’t want to be. That’s what I’m saying. It’s enough dealing with this mage magic. I don’t need to add shifting to my problems. Anyway, if Shuval’s the only reason I would be able do it, it would mean she succeeded in her plans. It’ll be dark magic. It’ll be twisted. I’ll pass.”
We weren’t meant to shift. That was my race’s burden to bear. I shuddered to think what would happen if Shuval got her way. I didn’t want to become one of her monsters.
“What are we doing with the bodies?”
Damian glanced toward the door that led to his small kitchen and the back alley. “Anyone up for a mage bonfire? Can you handle it?”
I flexed my hands, my fire easily coming to my fingertips. I hadn’t overexerted during this fight. “Yeah, I can.”
Together, we dragged the four bodies out into the alley.
Horace checked each one, then backed off, not finding anything of use on their persons. He already knew their names and told us.
Not that I cared. They tried to kill me. They were casualties of war.
I snapped my fingers. My mage fire sparked to life. Holding my hand over the first body, I lit it up.
The rest the same fate followed swiftly.
All of us stood vigil until there was only ash left in the alley. Mage fire left no trace. Not even smoke.
I sidled closer to Damian as the last ember flickered out. “I’m taking Rafael home.”
“I don’t have to tell you the two of you are not to go to Sector 2 alone.”
Usually, I would’ve told him I wasn’t a child, but there was no more room for pride. “No, you don’t. I’ll call you in the morning.”
I turned to go then stopped and hugged Damian.
He hugged me back just as hard.
He’d returned, but tonight showed me something. The fight with Shuval was ramping up. She wasn’t about to back down just because we held five measly artifacts.
I took hold of Rafael’s hand. The walk back to his place was long and silent. His hand squeezed mine every now and then.
I was worried about having him join us in Sector 2 tomorrow. If we even went tomorrow.
Once we sat down and talked about it, I had a feeling Nor and Damian wouldn’t want to rush in there blindly. Then again, it wasn’t like we had much time to waste.
We reached home. I guided him toward the courtyard that was between the apartment buildings. He didn’t question me at all as we took the stairs and made it to the gym on the top floor. The place was deserted. I shrugged out of my coat, kicked off my boots, and shook out my arms.
Rafael watched me the whole time.
I wondered if his shoulders and arm were too sore from the fight, but still, I took up a defensive stance.
His upper lip twitched. He scowled. “No.”
“No what? You think I can’t handle your anger?”
He said nothing, but the tension was clearly in his shoulders and the strained muscles in his neck. His hands flexed and he shifted from foot to foot. He seemed ready to give, but then he froze. “I can’t.”
“You won’t hurt me.”
“You don’t know that. My demon rage is simmering so close to the surface.”
“I’ve seen that rage plenty of times. I might not be a demon, but I’ve experienced it myself, too, in my own way. You need to do something or you’re going to explode.”
He blew out a heavy breath and turned to leave. If he didn’t release the rage tonight, tomorrow it would be worse. If he couldn’t convince the others he could control himself, they’d make him stay behind.
I rushed forward and with a grunt of effort, grabbed hold of him and dragged him backward, throwing him off balance.
He righted himself, his lip lifting in a snarl. “Mercy, I said no.”
“Since when do I ever listen?” I went after him again, harder, forcing him to block my attacks if he wanted to avoid a split lip.
Suddenly, he was fighting back. I went from attacking him to defending myself, shuffling across the mats to stay out of reach.
Sweat drenched our bodies and stung the puncture wounds in my chest, but Rafael was finally letting loose.
There wasn’t time to catch my breath or stop. He charged at me.
I leapt out of the way then latched onto his back, putting him in a chokehold.
He reached around to snag me, but I held on tight. He spun quickly and then I was suddenly on my back, the air knocked from my lungs.
He caught my wrists and pinned me to the mat.
But I wasn’t finished just yet. My leg came free of his, and I flipped us over, now pinning him.
He tried to get up, but I slammed him back down.
His growling might’ve scared someone else, but not me.
He relaxed on the mat while I waited for him to give in. I let up my grip, then I was on my back again, glaring up at him.
His eyes darkened. He leaned down and kissed me. I kissed him back just as fiercely, fighting for control as he rolled us over and held me.
I grabbed him by his shirt. He tugged my hair loose then buried his hands in it.
The rest of our problems fell away until it was only Rafael and me.
We stayed where we were, unmoving, for a long time. If only we could’ve stayed like that forever. No distractions, no fear, no more fighting. Just the two of us.
Eventually, we rose, gathered our things, and hurried to the stairs. When we finally stumbled into the apartment and slammed the door shut us, I’d almost managed to forget the fight at Damian’s place.
I’d almost forgotten about the attacking dragons and the one who was able to shift.
Almost.
It stayed in the back of my mind, a constant reminder to take what time I could with Rafael and run with it.
Tomorrow was a new day, but my hope of making it out of this alive grew smaller with every beat of my heart.
I was back in the cage.
Envy’s power surrounded me, lashing out and burning my skin. A green flash filled my vision and then he was there, standing just on the other side of the bars.
I shook them to get free, but they held fast.
A door creaked open behind me. There were the vampires and shifters, snarling. Their eyes zeroed in on me as I pressed my back to the cage.
“Nowhere to run now, Mercy,” Envy said through his mad laughter. “Your end is finally here.”
I wasn’t going to die. I couldn’t. I breathed in deeply, reaching for my mage fire, but it didn’t come. There was a strange hollowness inside me, and I stared at my hands in disbelief. “No, this isn’t happening.”
“Mercy!”
“Rafael.” I spun around.
He charged the bars.
Envy was gone.
I stretched my arm out, to grab his hand. His demon rage burned red in his eyes. His fingers grazed mine. As his hand closed around my wrist, he froze, a confused look on his face.
“No… no!”
Blood dripped from his lips. A blade wreathed in green flame protruded from his chest. It was yanked free.
Rafael gagged, then fell over.
I scrambled to reach him, shouting and cursing, but the bars held me back.
Envy stood over Rafael, sword swinging casually. “Pity, he was quite an impressive figure. Now then, shall we finish this?”
He walked through the bars as if they weren’t there. A vampire and shifters stood at the other end, not attacking.
Envy leered at me, eyes glowing green.
The scar on my face burned. I clawed at my face to try and make it stop, then fell to my knees.
His blade was directly before me. He raised it high over his head and swung his arm down—
Hands grabbed my wrists, pulling them from my face.
Someone was saying my name, but I couldn’t see who it was in the darkness.
A fierce growl cut through the din and then two strong arms wrapped around me, holding me tightly.
I sucked in a breath. That scent. I knew that scent. I stopped fighting and heard Rafael talking to me quietly as he held me to his chest.
The shaking came next, as it always did. Like a fever rampaged through my body.
“I thought Gigi’s charms would’ve stopped the nightmares.” He leaned back and looked into my eyes.
The second his gaze flicked to my cheek, I was in his arms, being carried me to the bathroom.
I tried to tell him I was fine, to no avail.
He set me on the edge of the tub and flipped on the light.
“What the hell?” I stood, my knees buckling.
Rafael caught me. He scolded me to sit down, but I had to see for myself.
“What did I do?”
Rafael’s face was set as he guided me back to the tub. “You were clawing your face.” His voice was rough.
I noticed scratches on his cheek and chest. I reached for them.
He caught my hands. “I’m fine, but you can’t keep having these nightmares.”
He wet a washcloth and gently wiped the rivulets of blood from my face.
I bit my cheek, gripping the edge of the tub until my hands cramped. He started to pull back, but I shook my head.
“It’s getting better,” I muttered.
He grunted and kept the cloth where it was. “Same nightmare as before?” He knelt on the floor.
I glanced at his chest. When I blinked, I saw a blade jutting out of his body. I flinched and jerked back, nearly crashing into the tub.
Luckily, he caught me in time and held my arms, his lips moving, but the words were muffled.
I blinked, trying to clear away the nightmarish sight of blood dripping from his chest as he died all over again.
I shut my eyes and fell into his arms. He was alive. Rafael was here with me and he was alive. Envy hadn’t killed him. I wasn’t trapped in a cage. We were both here.
