by Amber Kallyn
Above them, bellows rang out as from the black clouds, emerged dark, inky dragons. Some created by the mage, some turned evil, Other, lured by the power of black magic.
Bree and Scott moved to Isa’s sides, Bree’s hands aflame, while the air whipped violently in front of Scott.
Pete wanted to shift, to become dragon. In his true form, he could protect Isa so much better. But she’d asked him to stay human, for fear of the mage’s traps he guessed. So he would.
For now.
Chapter Eight
Isa found the still, quiet place deep inside herself.
Her very soul.
The ruckus of the fighting around and above her did not penetrate.
Only the warmth of Pete’s presence remained a distraction, yet she had to ignore it.
Had to concentrate on the magic man, the aura of oily blackness emanating from him. Had to keep his attention splintered between their group. If the mage managed to target the Dragos’ individually, his power would overtake them one by one.
They needed their strength as a group.
She reached into the deepest part of her soul, calling and tugging at the demon within, drawing on magic straight from the depths of hell. This part of herself, dormant for eons, responded sluggishly.
Concentrating harder, Isa demanded it do her bidding. She had sold her soul back to Hell, the magic was hers to fully command once more.
A zap of electric pain shot to her temples. Her head jerked back, jaw slamming shut. Power infused her every nerve.
Above, dragons bellowed. Fire blazed—the clean bluish-red of the Dragos clan, mixing with the crippling, black flames of the corrupted Others.
Pete glanced up at his family, fighting high in the dark sky, then shot Isa a look.
She tried to smile, to reassure him, but worry for his family shone clearly from his gaze.
Isa understood.
Her lover was dragon.
He must want to join the fight in the air with every part of his being. It filled her with a warmth rivaling the heat of Hell that this man trusted her and stayed in his human form, on the ground.
Protecting her, yes.
But trusting her.
The pain, bearable for the most part, shuddered down Isa’s arms and tingled into her fingertips. Her small group moved closer to the line of dryads keeping the mage safe.
Above came a shrill cry.
A black dragon crashed into the trees behind them. Then another.
A brilliant ruby dragon swooped down, immense wings stirring the dusty ground as she flung fire at the line.
The stick creatures screamed as flames engulfed them.
It was time.
Isa raised her hands, palms facing the remaining dryads. Then she pushed against the air.
Neon red lines snaked their way across the ground, stirring pebbles and tufts of yellowed grass. Illusion, yet powerful.
The tendrils glowed brighter as they reached the remaining dryads. A blaze roared, starting from the ground and speeding up each tall, thin form. Isa’s hellfire reached the dryads’ heads, then blinked out as ashes drifted on the wind.
The mage stumbled back, staring at his creatures quickly being destroyed.
With a growl, the harsh sound audible over the fighting in the air above them, the mage withdrew a long wooden staff from his cloak.
Isa faced him, trying to catch the man with her fire before he could perform any tricks, but the tendrils speeding across the ground were too slow.
The mage slammed the tip in the dirt, chanting undecipherable words.
A green-gray orb of light grew around him, a bubble of protection.
The fighting above them stalled, then stopped. Dragons fell from the sky, slamming into the earth. Isa was nearly shaken off her feet.
Scott whipped his hands to the sky, stirring the air, and softening the landing of the Dragos dragons.
Calla, Garreth and Anna had been reduced to their human form. Isa couldn’t see Ty.
Bree cried out, spinning, searching for her mate. Scott rushed to Calla’s side, lifting her gently. She moaned, stumbling on her feet.
Pete stayed by Isa’s side. Together, they continued toward the mage.
The dark magician cackled as he surveyed them. “In centuries no one has beaten me. You will not be the first.”
Isa kept slamming her hellfire at the boundary of his protective sphere, but to no avail.
Slowly, the Dragos clan reached Isa and Pete. Bree dumped a dazed Ty near Garreth’s feet, then hurried to Isa’s side.
Together, they stared down the mage.
As if in slow motion, the mage lifted his arm. His dark robe slid back, revealing a thin, skeletal hand, then arm. He tugged at his hood, pushing it from his face, then shook out his long gray hair. He wore the face of a kind old man. His orange and yellow-flecked eyes remained true, though.
Beside her, the others seemed to freeze in shock.
Scott stumbled back, his arms still protectively clutching Calla. “Y-you? This isn’t possible.”
“Ah, dear boy. But it is. And how sweet was it when you fell for that little Dragos bitch. Such a thing wasn’t in my plans, but it all worked out nicely.” The mage grinned, his eyes blazing with darkness. “Got me into the circle, now didn’t it? Made everything so much easier.”
Isa glanced at Pete. “What is it?”
Anna squeaked as Garreth’s arms tightened around her.
Pete swallowed, then gritted his teeth. “Fred.”
Scott opened his mouth, but couldn’t speak.
Calla took his hand, lacing her fingers in his. “You. You were a trusted friend. Why would you do this? Why us, our family?”
The mage’s gaze grew dreamy as if he were reliving memories. “Well, my dear. Perhaps you should ask your dear father. He could answer that question.”
“Our father?” Pete asked. “He’s never hurt another in his life.”
The mage’s smile stretched grimly, showing sharpened teeth. “Your father is nowhere near the saint you believe him to be. Once, hundreds of years ago when we were both young boys, his recklessness caused damage, pain, destruction to many. Including the one love who would have been mine. It has taken me a long time to gather the power needed to destroy him. But first, I will destroy those he loves. When he falls to his knees before me and begs for mercy, I will show him the same lack he once showed others.”
Anna’s gaze jerked from the mage to Garreth. “So that’s why he’s never been around to meet me, though I wanted to thank him for helping save us, get us out of Canada.” She let out a sharp laugh. “Save me. He’s been the one trying to kill us all.”
Chapter Nine
Pete stared at the man he’d known for a while now. Scott’s family friend.
Pain and betrayal etched Scott’s face, as if someone was digging a knife into his guts and twisting violently. Calla, ashen and trembling, looked as if she might cry.
Beside him, Isa stumbled. Pete caught her, but she jerked away.
Her hands shook and the red lines snaking from her feet dimmed. The woman was tiring.
With a quick glance at his family, Pete knew they were all tired. And now, knowing this man, so close and entwined with their family, was the betrayer, it seemed as if some of the fight had went out of them.
His thoughts raced. There was only one option available. Isa could rally his family, and together they could defeat the mage. Yet her energy was flagging.
There was only one way to help her. Remembering the pain of their touch in real life scared him, but he ignored it and stepped closer to the woman of his dreams.
She looked up, gasping at whatever it was she saw in his eyes.
Isa tried to back away, but Pete easily caught her in his arms.
She cried out, “No. If we connect in reality, I will drain your life force. Only in the Dimension of Dreams can we safely touch. My escape is not worth your death.”
He leaned down and pressed his lips hard against
hers, forcing her mouth open with his tongue and delving into her moist heat.
Pain didn’t come.
Isa’s struggles slowed, then disappeared. She pressed her body to his, kissing him back for all she was worth.
Magic, power, flooded him. Isa’s nails dug into his back and warmth trickled down his skin as blood welled from the cuts.
Pete pulled her closer, taking it all in, giving her his strength.
His dragon roared.
A bright light grew from Isa, and from himself, expanding from them like the protective barrier the mage used.
It swept over everything, crashing into the mage’s barrier.
Pain jarred Pete from the collision, but he ignored it and continued to kiss Isa. Her body plastered against him, her hands roamed his back, his ass. Pete’s hardened cock strained against his jeans.
Isa moaned, kissing him harder. Their tongues entwined, fighting furiously as if in a battle of wills.
The mage’s dome burst like a bubble popping.
Air rushed over them all, pushing Isa from his embrace.
Panting heavily, he stared at her.
Behind him, Ty whistled.
Calla said, “Wow.”
Isa’s gaze was pure red, her eyes glowing with demon magic. Her siren call drew Pete and he pushed closer, kissing her again.
Isa tried to pull away, but he bit her lip, holding her close.
Their eyes met.
Shaking her head, Isa drew back, breaking their touch. “We… we can’t do this here. I will… It will harm you.”
He blinked. “Then, darling, why do I feel so full of power. I’m near bursting.”
Wide-eyed, Isa watched him. “I too am filled with power.” She glanced away. “This doesn’t make sense. My demon should have drained you.”
A blast of magic hit them, sending them both stumbling. Turning back to the mage, Pete and Isa clasped hands and strode toward him, his family close behind.
“You are done,” Isa said softly. “Your time for harming others is at its end.”
Fred threw his head back and laughed. “A succubus and a dragon. You will not defeat me.”
He raised his hands and slammed another burst of power at them all.
Pete barely felt it. The connection between him and Isa, the beginnings of his dragon bond—destiny sealing their souls together—kept him safe and strong.
Power continued to flow between them.
It expanded, making his dragon come alive and try to break free. But he controlled the impulse to shift, and instead, forced the magic to flow through his hand and into Isa.
They slowly drew closer to the mage.
Calla and Scott, Garreth and Anna, Ty and Bree, stayed by their sides.
Together, their clan would exact the retribution this mage owed them, not only for the deaths of their family, for the mage had hurt each person facing him now in some way or another, but for everyone else this evil man had killed and destroyed.
A low growl built in Pete’s chest and he stared at the kindly old face of Fred. Of dark magic. Of evil.
Isa lifted her free hand and pointed at the mage. “Now, it’s your turn to feel what you’ve done to others.”
A beam of reddish magic flowed from her fingertips, swirling and spiraling through the air.
The mage blinked, his eyes widened. He tried to back up, but the magic drove into him.
The mage, it was still hard for Pete to think of him as Fred, glowed with the eerie light. He floated into the air, hovering a few feet above the ground. His hands stopped moving. He opened his mouth, but didn’t speak.
The man was frozen.
His eyes glazed over as if Isa’s magic was taking him away from this place.
“Help me,” Isa called.
Pete glanced over. Her face was pale, sweat beading on her forehead. Her hand began to shake.
He grabbed Scott’s hand. “Join us,” Pete shouted to the others.
They hesitated. Garreth glanced at Anna who nodded. As everyone linked hands, Garreth sighed, then joined them. Magic flowed into Pete and then to Isa.
The light shooting from hand her intensified, so bright Pete had to blink rapidly.
The mage disappeared.
The magic faded and Isa slumped against Pete’s side.
“Is he gone?” Anna asked, clutching Garreth’s side.
Isa nodded.
The castle in front of them rumbled, shaking violently. Stones flew from the battlements, hurtled through the air. As the highest tower crumbled down on top of the rest of the castle, small glowing orbs rose from the hole.
Pete watched in awe as the lights twirled and spun in the air, darting this way and that.
“What is that?” Calla asked.
One orb darted toward their group. It hovered, as if cautious, above them, then sped right at Pete.
He felt warmth. Love.
The orb brushed his cheek gently, butterfly kisses, and the scent of his mother filled the air. It moved to Garreth, then Ty, then lightly brushed against Calla.
His sister lifted her hand, touching the orb of light.
“Mother,” Calla whispered.
The orb gently floated down to Calla’s protruding stomach and a tinkling laugh floated on the air.
Then, as if hearing some call no one else heard, the orb spun and darted back up into the sky to the other lights. As one, they all floated higher, higher until they disappeared.
“The captured souls. They are free,” Isa stated softly.
Anna burst into tears, sniffling against Garreth’s chest.
Chapter Ten
Pete stood facing the window, looking out at the forest surrounding Scott’s mountain cabin. Behind him, Calla perched on a chair, still as death. Their father came in, closely followed by Ty and Garreth.
Pete couldn’t bring himself to turn and face them. He wasn’t sure he wanted to hear the truth.
Yet, he knew he must.
Their father perched on the corner of the desk, shaking his head. “What Desmond… Fred… whatever you want to call him… said is partly true.”
“Daddy?” Calla asked, her voice a squeak.
“In my youth I was reckless, unheedful of others. But I did not kill his mate.” The old man sighed as he pushed his hands into his pants pockets. “It was Desmond’s temper, and his quest for power, which drove her away. She cloaked her magic and fled to safety, where she remains—as far as I’m aware—to this day. Her fear was that Desmond would find her, and abuse her as he once tried to do.”
Pete swallowed, his nerves jittery but calming a bit. He turned and glanced at his siblings, then met his father’s gaze. The man looked old, as he’d never really seemed before. Even after their mother died, he’d retained a youthfulness.
But now, it was gone.
He slumped on the corner of the desk, back bent, shoulders bowed. His face showed the lines of time.
Outside, Isa emerged from the forest. She turned her face to the sky, closing her eyes, as if enjoying the sunshine. As if such a feeling was soon to be gone from her forever.
Pete turned from the window, feeling her sadness as if it were his own.
He stepped to his father’s side. “It’s over. That’s all that matters now.”
His father shook his head. “No. What matters is by helping another in my youth, I caused your mother’s death.” The old man sighed, a tear trailing down his lined cheek.
Pete looked to Calla, not knowing how to help the man. She nodded and waved him back, then enveloped their father in her arms.
From the corner of his eye, Pete watched Isa for another long moment. He needed to talk to her. Without a word, he headed outside.
* * *
Isa took in everything—the sights, the sounds, the smells. The feel of the cool breeze bringing the scent of pine, of tree sap. The warmth of the sun, the roughness of the bark beneath her fingers.
She wanted to memorize it all, to take with her, to keep her warm during
the long, lonely eternity she would face when Hell claimed her.
Which was strange. The fight had been over last night, the Dragos clan was safe. Yet neither Johmma nor Damascus had come to take her back.
A door crashed open and she jerked around. Pete strode down the porch steps, heading her way.
Determination shone from his eyes.
Isa shuddered. She knew what he wanted. And it made her heart race, her chest heavy, knowing she’d soon have to let him go.
This wonderful man, special and true.
She could touch him in life and not kill him. Such a thing was myth, happening only in fairy tales whispered by young demons.
Yet, here he was.
Pete stopped beside her, looking out over the forest. “My family never thanked you for your help. The mage is destroyed, my mother and brother avenged. Perhaps now, the pain can heal.”
It hurt not to reach over and touch him, yet she resisted. Her heart already ached, a deep, agony she’d have to bear for eternity.
“It was not just me. Besides, you all saved me, as well.”
He glanced at her, his eyes a mix of blues and oranges, shiny from unshed tears. “But we couldn’t have done it without you.”
She shrugged, leaning against the warm tree.
“What’s your plan now?” Pete’s voice was husky, sending shivers down her spine.
Isa bit her lip. There was no answer she wanted to give him.
He turned, taking her arm and making her face him. “I know this is forbidden. You told me years ago in our dreams that matters of the heart weren’t for us.”
Isa swallowed the pain crawling up her throat.
“I love you. Demon, succubus, woman. I want you to stay with me. Be my mate. Already, my dragon calls to you. Destiny has begun binding us. Our souls. We belong together.”
The pain escaped her throat with a rough cry. Isa jerked from his grasp and spun away from Pete, staring blindly through the tears blurring her vision.
“I-I can’t.”
“Why not?” he demanded.
“My soul is not free.”
“Damascus.”
