Anna moved enough to touch his lower back with her other hand, exploring the ridges on either side of his spine. Her hand brushed his braid. It was soft and supple, just as she had always imagined. The tip was undone. “You never wear it down,” she said, gently undoing more of it and letting it run through her fingers. “You should.” His hair was so long that it lay across her thigh.
Rakan leaned into her, his hand relaxing its hold on hers. She resumed her exploration of his chest and this time he didn’t stop her. She rubbed her face against his leg, breathing in his smell of incense and wishing she could wrap herself in it. She was consumed by a sudden urge to bite him. She hesitated and then sank her teeth into his thigh. Rakan groaned and wrapped his fingers in her hair. “Anna, no,” he said. His breath caressed her face.
Anna closed her eyes. Her mind-touch slipped forward and embraced him. His body was alive with desire and it made hers tremble in response. She gripped his arms. They were bigger than she had remembered. “You’ve been working out,” she mumbled into his hair.
He pulled back. “No.” He groaned without looking at her.
Anna outlined his face with her eyes, lingering on his full lips that beckoned her closer. She had waited too long for him to kiss her. She wasn’t waiting anymore. She hoisted herself onto her elbow and then pushed up into a sitting position, her chest rubbing against his as she did so. He breathed in sharply and Anna closed her eyes. The only thing separating them was the flimsy bit of pink silk that she was wearing and the contact made her body tingle then rush with fire. She edged her way higher, pushing him back onto the bed, one arm on either side of his head as she lay half on top of him, her legs curled to the side.
Her heart raced against his as she leaned forward, her hair flowing around her face. His eyes were the same color as his Maii-a. She dropped her eyes to the perfect curves of his lips. Her lips parted in anticipation and she brushed them gently against his. His hands buried themselves in her hair. “Why did you do that?” he asked, his voice husky.
“Because you told me the truth.” Her lips rubbed against his as she spoke.
“But didn’t you understand what I was telling you?”
“Yes.” She pushed up enough to look him in the eyes. “You said you love me.”
Rakan spread her hair out with his hands and watched it slide through his fingers. “What have I gotten you into?”
“Nothing.” Anna smiled. “I kissed you, remember?”
“Maybe,” he said. “But I let you.”
She pressed her lips against his, but more firmly this time. His lips parted and he responded, sending a jolt of energy through her center as his tongue wrapped around hers in smooth, gentle strokes. An inarticulate groan escaped from her. She arched her neck as his mouth followed the length of her jawbone. His teeth rubbed against the soft skin of her neck. “Bite me, please,” she groaned.
“Anna,” he said, swallowing hard. “We can’t. I’m a dragon. I—”
“I don’t care what you are,” she mumbled, her lips finding his.
* * *
Red cleared his throat. “I see I haven’t been missed.”
Anna and Rakan pulled apart. Anna wrapped herself in the comforter, avoiding Red’s eyes.
“I had a hard time getting your clothes,” continued Red. He ignored their embarrassment and handed Anna her neatly folded things. “If you want to get changed.”
“Uh, yeah. Thanks.” Anna stifled a scream when she turned and saw Ulf half buried in the walk-in closet that was hidden by a wall behind the bed. “What happened to him?”
“He’s frozen,” Rakan said, flicking his re-braided hair back over his shoulder. “And that might be a problem.” If T’eng Sten didn’t come back.
“I can release him,” said Red casually.
Rakan’s attention snapped to Anna’s cousin. How? Only the one who had frozen someone could undo it.
“Not until I get changed.” Anna scrambled to her feet and then paused. “Can he hear us?”
Red approached Ulf and touched him. “Yes. And see. It’s just a simple freeze, the least invasive physically. Although it can be traumatic mentally and emotionally.” He turned back to Anna. “I’ll decide what he can remember later.”
Anna tugged the comforter closer around her and waddled out of the room, her cheeks nearly the same color as the pink negligee she was wearing. Rakan’s eyes followed her out, his lips still feeling hers. He inhaled deeply, savoring the lingering smell of chrysanthemums that had begun to have the sweet smell of ripeness to them. He closed his eyes, losing himself again in the full firmness of her lips, the flowing magic of her hair. He hadn’t gone wild. He hadn’t lost control. He stood to follow her, to wrap his arms around her, to run his hands through her hair, to feel her lithe muscular body…
“You have a strange way of showing your interest in her,” said Red, waving an envelope in front of Rakan’s face.
Rakan growled and grabbed it. “What’s that supposed to mean?” He had forgotten about Red.
“Look for yourself.”
Rakan saw the orange seal and froze. It was impossible. But there it was. The seal was made out of his poison, solidified and turned into a miniature version of himself. But it smelled like Kariaksuq. “How did she get it?”
“You tell me.”
Rakan touched the poison. It had been neutralized, probably by Red when he found it. “It’s been mixed with Yttresken’s.” He sank to the bed. “That’s why my shield didn’t react. Anna was too sick to know what was going on.”
Red’s face softened. “When did you bite Kariaksuq?”
Rakan looked at Red in surprise. “Before I left. But I thought no one knew how to extract dragon poison.” And yet everyone seemed to know. Except for him.
Red burst into laughter. “That’s only so that puppies don’t bite each other and try to extract it themselves before reaching a certain level of expertise. Otherwise it can cause permanent damage.”
Rakan restrained the urge to crush the envelope. What had happened to Anna was his fault then. He should never have let Kariaksuq get away.
Red examined Rakan slowly, his eyes lingering on the increased bulk of his torso. “Were you trying to mate with her?” Red paused and asked quietly, “Were you wild?”
“No,” hissed Rakan. He jumped to face Red, his fists clenched at the insult.
* * *
“What are you guys arguing about?” asked Anna, coming back dressed in her own clothes. She looked from one to the other as she pulled her hair into a ponytail. She avoided looking at Ulf. The sight of him frozen in mid-motion was freaky.
“I was trying to find out if Pemba had chased a female with intent to mate or not,” said Red without taking his eyes from Pemba. “One I can forgive, the other not.”
“Why do you think he did?” Anna felt a rush of doubt.
“Because the only way a shapeshifter can be stimulated into developing his mature mass is by responding to a female’s challenge. And Pemba is filling out. Proof that he chased a female recently.”
“Oh.” Anna looked once again at Pemba’s increased bulk.
“I chased Kariaksuq. We were fighting,” Pemba said defensively.
Red growled and moved closer. “So who else did you chase?”
“No one.”
“Then you weren’t just fighting with Kariaksuq. And if it wasn’t because you went wild and lost control, you were intentionally cheating on Anna.”
The two men squared off, their faces only inches away from each other.
“No fighting.” Anna pushed them apart. She glared at Red. “Don’t even think about it. Is that clear?” She wouldn’t let him kill Pemba. “And you,” Anna said, turning to Pemba with a tremor in her voice. “Show me what happened.”
“Maybe you should show me instead,” said Red.
Pemba ignored him and pulled Anna into his chest. “It was a confusing fight. You may not understand it all,” he said into her ear. “Because I don’t.”
&nb
sp; Anna nodded and opened herself to the rush of feelings and emotions that she knew would flood her mind. But she still wasn’t prepared for the intensity of Pemba’s memory. She felt his anger, his frustration as he waited at the bar feeling Kariaksuq up in the apartment, this apartment, with Ulf. She also felt his loathing of the people in the bar and wondered if he hated all non-shapeshifting humans that much. She felt the crisp air, the tension as Kariaksuq walked down the stairs. And appeared dressed… to seduce. Anna clutched Pemba as the memory picked up speed, she was chasing Kariaksuq with him, hating her and yet strangely excited at the same time. Anna felt her body throb and thicken as if her blood had turned to lead and then she was a dragon, clawing at the glacier where Kariaksuq had disappeared. Suddenly the glacier enveloped her and she was swimming through it to kill Kariaksuq. She bit Kariaksuq’s tail and felt the satisfaction of her teeth sinking into it as poison ejaculated from her canines with a bitterness that was almost sweet. And then it stopped.
Anna clung to Pemba, needing to feel him. She searched for his mouth, wanting to rekindle the closeness that he had just interrupted. Wanting to feel his power rush through her, herself both filled with hatred for Kariaksuq and a wild desire to possess Pemba. His desire echoed hers and he crushed her in his arms.
“Eh, oh,” said Red, whacking them on the shoulder. “Can we move on?”
Anna rubbed her face in Pemba’s neck. “Go away, Red.”
“We need to decide what to do with Ulf.”
Anna sized up her cousin. “And you need to promise me something.”
Red shot her a questioning look and then his face went hard. “No.”
“Yes.” Anna pushed Pemba behind her. “You won’t touch Pemba. Or erase his mind.”
Red growled. “You have no idea what you’re asking of me.”
Pemba disentangled himself from Anna and walked over to face Red. “I don’t know who or what you are, but I don’t care. You saved Anna’s life.” Pemba hit his chest and raised a palm. “Your secret is mine.”
Red stared at him, trying to judge his character. “Remember that,” he said. “Or I’ll regret letting Anna sway my resolve.” Red gripped Pemba’s arm. “I promised her father I would protect her,” he said. “You’re barely more than a puppy yourself and you have no idea what you’re doing by awakening her.” Red’s grip tightened, pressing into Pemba’s bone. “If you go wild on her, I’ll skin you alive.”
“Then why don’t you offer to help me instead?”
Red dropped Pemba’s arm but not his eyes.
Anna felt a horrendous ripping through the very fiber of her being. And then another. And another. She gripped Pemba, but the feeling was even worse feeling it with him. Each rip took part of her soul with it, leaving a gaping hole in its place. Anna cried out in pain. Pemba held her tightly, his fingers digging into her. Red dropped to his knees, his face twisted in anguish, shaking his head and muttering, “No, no. Let them go…”
And then it stopped.
Anna collapsed in Pemba’s arms, crying uncontrollably. The world was emptier. Something was gone. Gone forever.
“Fourteen,” said Red, standing up after the ripping had stopped. “Fourteen more dragons lost forever.”
Anna shook in Pemba’s arms, clinging to him, needing his warmth, his vibrancy. It had hurt too much to feel them die.
“Take her home,” said Red. “I’ll take care of this.”
Chapter 24
Revelations
THE NEXT MORNING ANNA STUMBLED DOWN the stairs. Her head hurt from having cried herself to sleep and her eyes felt like huge puffballs. Pemba had disappeared right after seeing her home. He had gone to find Dawa. Hushed voices came from the kitchen and she slowed down. Ulf was speaking with her mom. She had forgotten about him. She turned to go back up the stairs, but her mom came out.
“Anna, wait,” Ingrid said. She ran up the stairs and hugged Anna. “Ulf told me all about last night…” Ingrid trembled as she took one of Anna’s hands and traced the pink welt with an icy finger. She looked at Anna and then turned to the kitchen. “Ulf? These are welts, not cuts. Oh, thank goodness.” She started laughing and pulled Anna down the stairs. “You’ll never believe what Ulf said. He was convinced you tried to commit suicide last night at some party because Pemba wasn’t there. Isn’t that just the silliest thing you’ve ever heard?”
Anna pulled her hand away. Had Red not been able to erase Ulf’s memory and the events had come out scrambled in a weird way? “I’m fine, Mom. Really.”
Ingrid hugged her. “I know you are, honey. Ulf’s just not used to being in a parenting role.” Ingrid went over to the counter and fussed over the coffee. “I can’t believe you could mistake a few little scrapes for an open wound,” Ingrid said to Ulf. “It’s a good thing I’m a nurse. You had me completely panicked for a moment.”
Ingrid came over and put a tray with three cups of coffee on the table. “There’s nothing wrong with her, see? Right, honey?”
“Sure,” said Anna. “Everything’s fine.” Other than being poisoned and shapeshifters killing each other. Anna choked back a sob.
Ulf stood up. “She’s not alright, Ingrid. Look at her.”
Ingrid shook her head. “She’s fine. It’s just hard to be separated from your boyfriend when you’re so young. Or have you forgotten already?”
“But…” Ulf sank to his chair, his head in his hands. “I don’t understand.”
Ingrid patted Anna’s hand. “Don’t worry. I do.” She turned to Ulf and caressed his hair. “You’re so sweet, darling. It’s touching how much you care. But really, it’s nothing. It’s just part of growing up.”
Anna looked out the window, this was just what she needed. A clueless mom and a hovering Ulf. “I’m late for school.”
“You can stay at home, if you want,” Ulf said. “Right, Ingrid? You’re not working. You could spend the day together…”
“Ulf, it’s okay. I’m fine.” There was no way she was spending the day with her mom. “Thanks for the coffee,” she said and walked out of the room.
“See?” Ingrid said to Ulf. “She’d rather go to school. She’s not depressed. Just love-sick.”
“But, Ingrid. I’m sure of what I saw.”
A coffee cup slammed on the table. Anna paused on the stairs. “That’s enough,” said Ingrid, her voice hard as rock. “She’s my daughter and I know what’s going on. She doesn’t need to tell me for me to know she’s okay.”
“But she’s a teenager. And no normal teenager will ever tell their mom how they are feeling. Especially if it’s about a boy.”
“Ulf, it’s okay. She’s not a normal teenager. Leave her alone. She doesn’t need your help any more than she needs mine.”
Anna gaped. Not normal? Why wasn’t she normal?
“But you can’t just let her—”
“Stop right now, Ulf.” Her mom’s voice was unlike anything she had ever heard. Cold and calm. And on the brink of imploding. “If you can’t accept her as she is, you can leave.”
“No, Ingrid, please. I just want to help. You’re the only thing that is stable in my life.”
Ingrid burst into tears. “Then help me,” came the choked reply. “I feel so alone all the time. If only her father would come back…”
Anna heard movement and then muffled voices. Ulf must be comforting her mom. She gripped the rail and walked slowly upstairs. Her mom was hiding something. And so was Red.
* * *
Rakan watched over Dvara as she tossed and turned in her bed. The firelight flickered against the stone walls, giving the nook an incongruously cheery feel. Nineteen dragons had died. Fourteen of them in excruciating pain since Yttresken had refused to let go of their röks. The only reason more hadn’t died was because T’eng Sten had managed to rip Yttresken’s rök out of his chest before killing him. Otherwise all of Yttresken’s kais would have died with him. Rakan shook with anger, wishing he had been the one to rip out Yttresken’s rök.
Dvara
moaned and Rakan moved to her side. “Dvara? Can you hear me?”
“Where’s T’eng Sten?”
“He’s alive.”
“I know that.” She opened her eyes. “Where is he?”
Rakan felt her try to reach out. “Don’t,” he said. “You won’t find him. He’s in the Hold.” And nothing could reach through the shields around the Hold.
“What? Why? It’s Yttresken’s fault, not T’eng Sten’s.”
“Yarlung declared it wasn’t an official duel.”
Dvara hissed. Her skin flickered vermillion.
Khotan shifted into the room. He held a steaming bowl of yak meat stew. “Shh,” he said, silencing Dvara’s protests. “You can’t help him unless you heal.”
Dvara glared at Khotan. “How long will he be in the Hold?”
“They’re starting the Meet as soon as the other Kairöks arrive from the Fragments. Today or tomorrow at the latest. His trial will be the first thing on the agenda.”
“But he doesn’t need to be tried.” Dvara shimmered in anger.
“It’ll be alright,” Rakan said, trying to soothe her. “You should eat something.”
“I don’t want to eat,” she yelled. She hurled the bowl across the room and exploded into her dragon form. She twirled wildly, scratching at the walls and blasting fire. Khotan morphed and flattened her, biting into her jugular. Rakan jumped into the spiral stairway. He cursed himself for not having morphed fast enough. Dvara went still and Khotan let her go. He morphed back into his human form. But Dvara didn’t. She limped over to her dragon nest and curled up facing the wall.
“Come upstairs,” said Khotan. He shifted out of the room with the remains of the bowl.
Rakan looked at his sister’s drooping black crest. “I’ll go see T’eng Sten.”
Dvara didn’t say anything and he didn’t expect her to; she couldn’t speak in dragon form. But she gave a low grunt and curled up tighter. Rakan bowed his head slightly. “I’ll do what I can to help him. I promise.”
* * *
June ran into the parking lot in front of Anna’s apartment. “Oh, Anna, there you are,” she said, throwing her arms around Anna. “I’m so sorry.”
Dragon Fire Page 28
