Dragon Series: Dragon Heat

by Missy Lyons

  "Where are your boots, Xanther?"

  He smiled, and then she remembered how he took them off last night just before they—

  "I remember now.” She chuckled, reaching for them on the floor. She grabbed them and brought them back to where he waited in the chair in the room. She set them on the floor and helped to fit his boots to each foot and then laced them.

  "Ready?"

  "Ready enough."

  Alyssa didn't even comb her hair out before chasing after Xanther down the stairs and out into the yard. It was easy enough to find the victim; a small crowd of onlookers had gathered around the body.

  The stench of death was already in the air. It shouldn't be, with the body sitting in the water all night. But since last night, Alyssa's keen senses had sharpened dramatically. Her nose was offended by the smell of flesh and death. Not a clean kill and it was violent. The water had a ring of blood that tinted it red near the body. The man's body had expanded with the water, making him look bloated and swollen. He was a young man, in a blue guard uniform sure enough.

  "Anybody know who he was?” Xanther asked, searching the men's faces.

  "Damn it,” Alyssa cursed, looking hard at the young man's face, kicking the body slightly to see if she could see his neck wound better without actually touching him.” I know who it was, Xanther. It was Gideon. The man I fought before you."

  "Gideon?” Xanther questioned. “But why would anyone want to kill him?"

  "I don't know,” she whispered.

  Just then, a man barged his way through the crowd, “Excuse me. Excuse me! Get out of my way!” He pushed, cursing to get to the body. “I am Drake, the magistrate, get out of my way!” He shoved a few men roughly to the side to gain access to the body.

  Alyssa immediately tensed, her hand on the sword by her side. But now was not the time for a confrontation.

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  Chapter 16

  "Alyssa, have you tried to change to a dragon? Since I told you about your heritage?"

  "Yes actually, but it didn't work. I tried to make myself change after I saw your father. So maybe I am not one of your people and not part dragon."

  "You were close to the change when we first met. When we were in the field.” He looked thoughtful and happy, like he was reliving a fantasy.

  "When I was so hot, I thought I was going to burn into a cinder?"

  "Yes, if you had just pushed yourself, peaked over the edge you should have begun the change."

  "But I didn't."

  "I wonder why?"

  "Perhaps, because I am not a dragon?"

  "No—I am sure it is not that,” he said, pulling her in for a quick embrace, revisiting her scents and searching her eyes for fire. It was there. “You are dragon."

  "You are sure of that, are you? What am I going to do?"

  "I don't know, but I have an idea that might help."

  "What?"

  "Can you keep a secret?"

  "Yes."

  "Then follow me,” he said, guiding her to another part of the castle. “When my father has questions, he goes to a special place to seek the answers."

  He pulled her along the corridor, taking her this way and that, until they found themselves in the library. He shut the door behind them and locked it from the inside. He glanced at her, nearly asking her to turn away, but then decided not to. As his mate, he would give her everything. Any secrets that were his should now be hers to share.

  "This is one of my people's greatest secrets. I used to come here for hours,” he said, pulling two books out then pushing the bookcase aside, revealing a secret passageway. A dark archway led down a stairwell, urging Alyssa to follow him into the shadows. It was pitch black. Alyssa had to feel for each step, touching the stonewall in the darkness to find her way.

  "Xanther, are there candles or torches? Something we could light to see our way?"

  "Yes, but I didn't think to get one. I have been here so many times before. There is a lamp at the entrance.” He led her back up the stairs to the unlit lamp.

  She picked it up. “Do you have any matches? Or a tinderbox?"

  "In my room, or we can find a servant."

  "Never mind, it will be a perfect opportunity to show you how uncontrollable and un-dragon-like my magic is.” She held the lamp aloft, while he looked on in amused silence. “This is a simple spell. It should light one candle, be a single spark. But watch what happens. Bravada Luminara!"

  A sudden bright light blinded them both. Fire sparked not just in the lamp but everywhere. Neither of them was singed or burned, but the fire was there in the room, in the stairwell as high as the walls, an explosion of light and flame.

  He whispered some words in return, a simple counter spell. The fire around them vanished, leaving only the single spark of light in the lamp.

  "How did you do that?” Alyssa asked. He brought control to where she had none before.

  "I am part dragon and part druid, unlike you my dear. I don't think you should be casting spells with your magic anymore."

  "That's not very nice."

  "Didn't I say dragons don't use spells? There are better ways to focus it."

  "Really?"

  "Yes and I would be honored to teach you."

  "I would like to have control."

  "Come, let's go. Soon all your questions will be answered.” He pulled her along the stairs. This time, with the light, Alyssa moved much more quickly.

  "Does anyone else know of this place?"

  "The elders all know."

  After a seemingly endless number of stairs, the hall opened into a wide, expansive room. It squished under their feet, and Alyssa was shocked to realize it was sand they were stepping on.

  The cavern had two other entrances, but what drew her eye was in the middle of the room on a pedestal. There was the most beautiful red stone she had ever seen. But it wasn't a stone, it was some kind of gem. It had smooth facets like a crystal or a diamond, yet it was neither. It wasn't clear; it was smoky, the depths unfathomable. It drew Alyssa like a moth was drawn to the light.

  "Stop right there. It is a treasure we cannot afford to lose. So there are protective spells on the stone. None other than those who are of dragon blood may touch it."

  "Or what?"

  "They die."

  Did she really believe she was a dragon? He seemed to believe. She on the other hand, was still not so sure.

  "Do you want to touch it, Alyssa?"

  "I—something inside of me does, yes. Yes I do."

  "You want to touch it, feel it, almost as bad as you wanted me when you first saw me."

  "Yes,” she whispered, lowering her head, slightly ashamed he could read her as easily as an open book.

  "It is that way with anyone who is borne of our blood. This is the Dragons’ Heart. It is the heart of my people. Go ahead and touch it."

  "Are you sure I won't be hurt?"

  "Yes. Does it feel evil?"

  Alyssa closed her eyes, searching the item for emotions as she would a person. She waded through the traps, and the spell wrought around it. Yes, the spells would not harm her. The gem had an odd feel to it. A complex and intriguing object, it had layers to it like an onion, and a life of its own, but it was not alive, and it had no emotion. It didn't feel good or evil, it had no conscious thoughts. It just was what it was, which was neither dead nor alive. Yet it lived without breath.

  "No, it's not evil."

  "Are you afraid?"

  "No.” Alyssa stepped forward, tentatively reaching out to the stone. It called to her, singing a language she didn't understand, but welcomed.

  The red stone emanated power, she could feel its invitation. Red had always been a color she linked to power. Red was also the color she had associated with her sisters, the Elisaid. It reminded her of the color of their beautiful, fiery red hair. The color of fire and roses and apples, and so many of her favorite things.

  "It won't hurt me?"

  He reached for her
hand, grasping it firmly within his. “No. It will not hurt you. It will only answer questions. I will be here with you."

  "Is it like an oracle?"

  "Not quite. It's more like a recording of memories. It will never tell you the future, and it will never tell you what to do, but it will give you knowledge you seek to come to a decision."

  With the confidence of having him by her side, she walked forward, touching a fingertip to the stone. Warmth flooded her, drawing her to it. Unable to resist, she pressed both palms to it, accepting the warm sensations, and the color. Vivid colors, swirling around her, a rainbow of color, taking her deep in the recesses of her mind.

  She felt the smoky remains of memories, flickers of images—dragons, humans, faeries, a unicorn! A beautiful unicorn drinking at a lake. But they were fairy tales! Weren't they? She pressed further, wading through the smoke and the mist, until she saw a great ocean and a ship emerge on the waters. A massive ship with sails dyed black, the name Dark Destroyer written proudly on its bow.

  Alyssa recognized its name as one of her father's ships. His favorite ship. One she had not seen for many years. It was like seeing a lost friend. A friend she had to meet in person. The ship's crew was busy keeping the ship cruising along at a healthy clip; most of them appeared to be above deck.

  Would Drake have kept this ship in such good shape? No, he was a leech. He would have sucked the coffers dry and probably not make any but the most necessary repairs. This must be a memory. She hoped it was a time when her father lived. She missed her father, but perhaps she could relive a memory.

  She hurried to the place she knew to be the captain's quarters. Her body floated in the air like she was a spirit. She reached for the doorknob and her hand found nothing, but went right through the knob.

  "Just walk through the door. This is a vision, just a memory and not real,” Xanther said.

  Inside the chamber was a scene she did not expect. Her father paced the room nervously. But seeing her father did not surprise her. What surprised her was the dragon. The brown dragon that lay uncomfortably sprawled over the bed. Its body was too large even for this, the largest cabin. It could not stand if it wanted too, and its body seemed to be in pain.

  Her father spoke to the creature comfortingly. “I wish I could call for help. You can't deliver the baby by yourself."

  Its stomach muscles flexed involuntarily with spasms every few minutes. Strong contractions wracked its body. The dragon closed its eyes, gritting its jaw tightly and its front claws were clenched in fists. She was pushing. Her father approached the dragon's body, tenderly placing his hands on her claw.

  The dragon grunted, waiting patiently for the contraction to pass. You know it's impossible. She spoke quietly, a soft female voice filling Alyssa's mind.

  "But women need support to have babies."

  I have you. She grimaced, another contraction tightening her stomach.

  "And I have no experience in these things. What if you die? I can't even call a doctor to save you."

  You won't need to. But now you know there are reasons I should not have left my people. Reasons our daughter needs to know her own kind. Reasons we have to return one day. They will accept you in time.

  "No, they won't. They will kill me for kidnapping you. You told me yourself, I would die a violent death. Wait a minute, we're having a daughter? How do you know you are having a daughter?"

  She speaks to me at night.

  He laughed. She felt an exceptional contraction and an irritable urge to push. So she did, bearing down hard.

  "I can see the head. Keep pushing. You're doing it!” Alyssa's father knelt between the dragon's legs and wiped the mouth and nose of blood to clear the passageway for breath. “One more good push and you have it. You can do it. Push!” He helped to pull the baby from the mother's womb. But it wasn't a baby, not a human baby anyway. It was a baby dragon, with scales the same color as its mother. It was a brown dragon and its muscles were weak and flaccid, its eyes shut in defense to the light.

  Her father clipped the umbilical cord and helped to clean mother and child, before handing the baby to the dragon.

  "I can't believe I have a dragon for a daughter."

  Well she is most definitely yours.

  "I would never question that. What do you want to name her?"

  She knows her name and she told it to me a long time ago. It will be Alyssa. Alyssa Hawkins.

  Then what happened was the most amazing thing. The dragon became a woman. The baby dragon became human in the arms of her mother. It was wrought as a spell, yet as no spell Alyssa had watched. It had no words, only a splash of heat and vivid colors. Translucent colors waved in her mind. An anchoring weight of brown and green, cloaking the mother and child in human form. The air misted over for a brief second, as if they were in a mirage and then they were solid once more. This was her family. Who she was. Alyssa wished she had been able to know her mother. To learn her secrets, feel her love. It was enough that she knew now, how much she loved her once.

  Suddenly sand was crunching under her feet once more. They returned to the cavern, but in truth they had never really left.

  "Did you see that, Xanther?"

  "Yes. Do you understand now?"

  "I do. I know how to do it now. I can use the colors to make it happen. The colors in my mind control the magic."

  "Show me."

  Alyssa let herself free, unchaining the heat, bringing brown and green into her mind. Her skin felt itchy. Something hot pierced her stomach. Still the brown colors swirled. She focused on bringing a dragon shape into her mind. Brown like her mother. It made her proud that she could share this gift with her in spirit. She gasped as the pain enveloped her. It was if something was trying to rip her apart, and sear her skin at the same time.

  "My skull feels like it's splitting in half!” It was like a beast was trying to possess her body. The blazing in her stomach spread to all the other parts of her body. With it came a pain that threatened to break her. She felt breathless. An intense pressure squeezed her chest.

  "Don't fight it. Surrender to the fire."

  "I have to fight it. It hurts.” Strangely her skin felt itchy, like it was crawling.

  "Relax,” he purred. “Let the fire take you. It will not hurt you. The more you fight it, the more it will hurt the first time."

  Her vision blurred with the intense heat and fire. So she tried to focus on his voice. Letting his voice give her strength, take her from the pain. She welcomed the fire, using his strength for her courage.

  "Relax. Surrender yourself to the fire. I'll be here for you. I will protect you. I will never let anything hurt you."

  Then she was a dragon. It happened so quickly, she was not sure exactly which second it took place, but it did. One minute she was standing there in Xanther's arms, using his strength to stand and the next, he was a dragon and so was she.

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  Chapter 17

  Xanther watched in starry fascination as his mate gloried in the power and size of her still new dragon form. She stretched her wings wide, and then snapped them close to her back. She was sleek and sexy and that mouth, with those sharp little teeth—he wanted to feel her mouth on him, biting and nipping and licking.

  Her scales shimmered in the light of the torches; with dusk just having passed, the sun was long gone. She had to be the sexiest thing he had ever seen. She was smooth and hard as glass, in all the right places.

  She was just as beautiful in this form as she was human. No, she was much more beautiful in dragon form. This seemed so much more natural to him. The way things should be. If they were free to pursue their lives as he wished, this is how he would live. As wild creatures should, free to fly, to hunt, and to mate.

  He regretted having to hide this part of himself, this part of his people. To protect his people by hiding seemed so wrong.

  But the era of magic was over. The time where people looked up to the dragon for his wisdom and knowled
ge was at an end. Now if such magic reared its ugly head, that dragon would be drawn and quartered. Slaughtered in cold blood.

  Xanther's head lowered to feel his mate, rubbing his neck along hers. God, she was sexy. He gave her a love nip on the shoulder. She flapped her wings in mock protest, still gaining her balance on her new ungainly legs. The tail greatly helped to keep her balance. She realized just how helpful after falling on her face several times.

  She must be a sight, she realized. She was a dragon three times her human body and as unwieldy as a whale on dry land.

  She opened her mouth to speak and the words would not form. A strangled cry, a cross between a growl and a yelp came out. A panic of grey thought invaded her mind. She fought the panic, knowing she was not completely bereft of communication. She could mindspeak still. She would have to mindspeak to Xanther.

  "Xanther, you're beautiful. I should have known you would be handsome even as a dragon.” Her eyes whirled, admiring the dragon he had become. This is what her inner beast saw. What she wanted from the start. She growled a deep approval low in her throat.

  From his spiked tail to his sharply jutting jaw line, he manifested all that was male. Raw and sexy power. His muscles flexed as he preened under her gaze. His lips curled as he snarled into her neck, sending a thrill to her core. She sensed his virile dominance. There was a deep and ancient magic that embodied him. He was both a druid and a dragon. A balance of both light and dark. What kind of magic would they have, when such power was barely confined within him?

  He had a mass and bulk that was much larger than her. She could see his father in him. Hard lines to his clean face. Wide green eyes blinked in the waning light. He was a red dragon, but such a rich red that he was almost black. She had never seen a color like him before. It drew her with more attraction than the brightest ruby.

  "Did you want to learn to fly?"

  Desire welled up in her. “Xanther, is flying any easier? If I can't walk, how am I going to fly without crashing? If I crash, could I kill myself?” She teetered into him, using his large body to help balance herself.