To Light the Dragon's Fire

by Margaret Taylor

  Ho’li, the only Harpy to sit at the table, huffed out a breath. “What about Arin Manus?”

  He waved a dismissive hand. “He is the War Advisor. He does not qualify. Aside from that, no one has seen him. For all we know, he could be the one responsible for the attack.”

  The nostrils at the end of Ho’li’s beak flared wide and his black eyes narrowed into small slits. “How dare you! I have known Arin and Draven since they were younglings. He would no sooner harm his King than allow him to be harmed! There is no way in all the Suns he would be responsible for this!”

  Tyleios kept himself calm. Of course he knew Arin wasn’t responsible, but they didn’t and he needed to seed doubt which would eventually be corroborated by the evidence he’d planted in the Chimera’s quarters. “Then where is he? Where has he been? The last anyone saw, he was leaving the Tower on the back of a Roc not too long before the Parade.”

  Three new heads nodded slowly but Ho’li wasn’t about to be run over. “He is on a mission for His Majesty,” he said calmly.

  Ah ha! Thank you! My first command will be to pluck you for a pillow!

  “And what mission would that be? I was not informed of such a thing,” he countered.

  Ho’li drew back his shoulders and tilted his head enough to look down his beak, a disdainful glint in his black eyes. “It is of a personal nature.”

  No doubt, Ranji had passed along the existence of Lanni Heegan to the Head Doctor after he’d worked on Arin’s shoulder and the feathered upstart was simply putting the pieces together. He hated smart people, they always got in the way of carefully crafted plans. But, not today! He would not have it! He’d worked too hard and too long to have this ripped away from him!

  He locked eyes with the Harpy. “It matters not, in the end. Manus cannot be nominated. He has no standing in the Court.”

  Ho’li tilted another disdainful look down the table. “But, he did have the King’s ear and was at his side for hundreds of Suns. If anyone would know what His Majesty wished for the Citizen’s, it would be him, would it not?”

  The three that had begun to sway his direction, quickly nodded, swinging back to the Harpy’s suggestion.

  He had to stay calm. If he showed emotion now, even his own bribed votes may be lost. And for that, Golix would strike him dead! “It might,” he conceded. “But Physician Ho’li, you are forgetting one very important fact. Manus may indeed have been faithful to the Dragon King for an eon, but he is still Neither-Born and therefore unable to hold such a prestigious position.”

  ***

  Lanni stroked Arin’s hair, shoulders, back, wherever she could easily reach as he lay curled against her thighs and stomach. The wails of the doctors, nurses and the man himself continued for a good hour. It tore at her soul, as it was probably meant too, but not for the reasons it should.

  She hadn’t known Draven all that well but Arin had and his sorrow is what ripped through her chest with every moan and tear he shed. “Shhhh,” she whispered. “I know baby, I know.”

  She wanted to say it would be alright, she really did, but she couldn’t even offer him that comfort. His world was being shattered and for the first time, she truly felt powerless to ease someone else’s loss. It was eye-opening for sure. With the occasional glance toward Terra, who hadn’t moved, all she could do was kneel there and allow Arin his grief.

  ***

  She was flying and it felt good! Damn good!

  Too good…

  She couldn’t fly! She was, human.

  But there was no doubt as she watched the clouds growing smaller and smaller the higher she went, that for this moment, she was, what she was meant to be.

  Careful, Kyleri. Too high and you will not be able to breathe.

  She twisted her massive head around, looking for the speaker. A shadow formed in the grey-white fluff under her. It started small, like a speck and grew bigger and bigger. The clouds parted and the defined form of another dragon rose into the same current she was using.

  It smiled, exposing pearlescent teeth easily six-feet long. Molten orange eyes twinkled under the full moon, slowly giving her the once over. His body was shadowed in the dark, but she recognized Draven in his true form easily enough.

  Her triple hearts beat wildly in her chest, pounding fire and blood down the length of her own scales.

  His distinct voice rumbled across her thoughts. You look good, like that.

  She laughed and arched her wings. Tipping one slightly, she twirled over in a barrel roll. How she knew to do that, she wasn’t sure. It had to be instinct. The same one that had driven her into his arms, compelled her to fix him when they’d been in the pit and his claustrophobia had tried to take hold. Compelled her back to the village when he’d been threatened by Golix. And compelled her to stand stock still when the evil bastard gutted her. She knew if she took that hit, Draven would survive. In what condition he’d be, she didn’t know, but he’d be alive and as long as he was, there was always a chance.

  It called to her even now and she drifted closer, brushing her wingtip to his. Is this real?

  His lips parted in a sly grin. It can be.

  How?

  The grin widened. Let go, Kyleri. Give in to who you are. He folded his wings and dipped away, coming back up directly under her. With a quick twist, he flipped onto his back and all four of his clawed feet arched out, talons open, waiting for her to latch on.

  She did. Propelled by some force she couldn’t define, she dropped closer and twined her talons with his.

  His scales rippled and the thick, hard muscles of his feet drew her in until their breastplates touched. Lightening sparked, crackling across the grey clouds and striking them both as they came together.

  Surprisingly enough, it didn’t hurt. Instead it fueled the desire coursing through her. She groaned and snaked her long neck around his, arching it to nuzzle his face.

  Draven’s wings came up and she tucked hers back as they wrapped around her tightly. With a lack of lift, they dropped from the sky, twined together like the lovers she wished they were.

  Over and over they spun, her stomach lurching into her throat as the clouds swept by in a rush.

  Draven’s massive head twisted down to her shoulder. His maw opened and razor-sharp teeth sank into her scales. Mine!

  She laughed and twisted her own head around to return the Mate Bite, sinking hers deep into his neck. Nay, Mine!

  But the ground was coming. She caught the shadowed surface out of the corner of her eye. Draven must have known. Seconds before they would crash, he unfurled his wings and pushed away with a loud roar.

  Her wings rolled out with a loud snap and billowed, filled by with the low lying air. It was enough to send her up and away, her belly tickled by the tops of the trees. She tipped a wing and twirled to the ground, shaking the leaves as she hit hard.

  Draven’s own landing was much more graceful. His shadow passed over her and she looked up, watching him curl his wings just so. His back feet then his front touched the earth, light as a feather on a breeze. He chuckled and strode forward, shifting into his humanoid form.

  She tried to do the same but nothing happened. Why can’t I…

  He stopped just under her chest and reached up, laying his hand palm flat on her breast plate. You need time, Kyleri. You must practice when you are awake.

  She tilted her head around to see him. I’m not awake?

  He chuckled, low and deep, the sound rumbling from his hand across her scales. You are not. But you must now. I need you. War is coming and you must be strong.

  His body was growing fuzzy again and she knew what it meant. He was going to leave her again. She didn’t want him to leave! She twisted around him but it worked no better than it had the last time to keep him with her. Draven, no, I need you!

  He leaned in and put his arms around her as far as he could. And I you. Come back to me.

  “Terra? Terra? Wake up…”

  Lanni’s voice was distant and she lifte
d her head in the direction of it. Just beyond the trees a pinprick of light was growing brighter. It was coming for them, no, correct that, it was coming for her and she didn’t want to go. She liked it here, with Draven, flying among the clouds…

  His body was no longer against hers and she looked down, bellowing out an anguished cry as his outline faded away…

  ***

  Interim King Tyleios Cannis stood before the gaggle of reporters, shuffling the papers of his prepared statement. “Thank you all for coming,” he began. “I called you here to confirm the news from the Shi-so. During the surgery performed by the good physicians, His Majesty, King Draven Taraxus succumbed to his injuries and passed beyond the Veil.”

  Camera’s snapped, lights flashed and he kept his face stoic.

  He shuffled the papers again, even though he already knew every word they contained. The scent of Unicorn’s blood drifted to his nose. He ignored it or tried too, but it was the smell of victory. They’d done it! And now that he had been named Interim King, he had no intention of giving it up, even if the Council managed to call for a general election.

  “Investigators worked tirelessly through the darkfall to determine the cause of the explosion and the perpetrator.” He lifted his gaze from the podium and let it pass over those in the Tower’s Press Room. “It is my sad duty to inform you that War Advisor Arin Manus is now a person of interest in this matter and sanctions have been issued for his capture and return to the Capitol for further questioning.”

  He paused and the expected gasp and murmur of voices took place. He cleared his throat for silence. “I must also advise the people of Bra’ka, that in the absence of a Taraxian heir, the Council has voted for myself, First Magistrate Cannis, to sit the throne until such time as a general election can be held…”

  Chapter Seventeen

  Crap!

  Lanni’s heart thudded against her ribs at the words coming out of the box on the nurse’s station.

  This was bad, very bad!

  “Arin? You have to get up, now!” She gave his hair a stroke, hoping the urgency in her tone was enough to shake him out of the stupor he’d fallen into.

  When he didn’t move, she flicked the edge of his ear, hard.

  He bolted up, scowling and rubbed the spot. “What the--?”

  She allowed a sheepish smile. “I’m sorry, but, well, we have to go.”

  He blinked a couple of times and she saw the emotions being shuttered away in his eyes. She hated that, but right now it was for the best.

  “What has happened?” he finally asked, still rubbing his ear.

  She jerked her chin toward the hallway. “Some guy named Cannis is calling you a suspect in the bombing.”

  His entire frame jerked and his mouth fell open. “What?”

  She pushed up off the floor and held out a hand. “Cannis said you’re a person of interest and ordered a sanction for your capture and return to the city.”

  “Shit.”

  She was rubbing off on him apparently, but he at least took her hand and rose.

  A flash of anxiety rolled through the golden color of his eyes. “We have to go.”

  “I couldn’t agree more.” She headed for Terra’s bed and bent over it to brush the hair off her sister’s forehead. “Terra? Terra? Wake up.”

  Terra’s eyes shifted under her lids. She was dreaming and she hated to wake her twin, wanted to leave her here to rest and recover, but there was no time. Not now. “Terra? Come on girl,” she tried again. “You need to wake up.”

  Arin was moving about the room but she didn’t bother to look.

  “Where is the gear?”

  “With Dinsa,” she called over her shoulder. “Do you need something?”

  “Thonu,” he said calmly.

  She pushed back from the bed and walked toward him. He was trying to dress, struggling to pull the shirt over his head with only one arm. She sighed. “And just what are you thinking to do with it?”

  He stopped, half-in, half-out of the garment, his words muffled by the fabric. “I am going to finish this.”

  “Oh good Gods above,” she muttered, half under her breath. She reached up and righted the shirt, easing it down his chest. “Let me guess, you’re going to just fly into the city and demand answers?”

  He stopped, arms hanging loosely at his sides and tilted his head slightly. “Well, yes. How did you?”

  She rolled her eyes and reached for his pants. Crossing one arm over her chest, she held them out with the other. “Because it’s what stubborn males do.”

  He took the offering and shook them out, getting them up one leg. “And you have a better idea?”

  She slapped a hand over her face. “Don’t you think it might be a better place to start if we find out exactly what happened to Terra and Draven after you left?” She paced away, ticking things off on her fingers. “I mean let’s think about this. You said they seemed fine, right?”

  He sat on the edge of the bed, working to get the material up his other leg. “Well, yes. They did. Both were healthy the last time I saw them.”

  “Ok, there ya go. From that time until we saw Draven in the city again, something obviously happened because he tried to kill me, doesn’t remember the two days you were gone and when we found Terra, her guts were falling out.”

  He paused with his pants only half-way up his thighs. A strange look flittered over his face before he rose, pulling the material up the rest of the way. He struggled to get both halves together and button them with one hand.

  She stepped in to intervene again. Taking the edges, she sucked in a breath when his body heat tickled the backs of her fingers. It flamed over her hands and she stilled, tilting a look at him from under her lashes.

  His jaw was clenched. A muscle along the bottom ticked once, twice and the evidence of attraction on his part expanded against the crotch area.

  She gulped and began to work the buttons together with shaking fingers.

  He shifted forward, inching closer when she finished and his natural musk reached out, begging her to close the distance. Two of his fingers came up and grasped her chin.

  Time halted on a screech. The tip of his tongue darted out and roamed over the whiskers on either side of his short snout. The scent of grass and a faint twang of coppery blood drifted up her nose. She inhaled both deeply, letting it wash over her palate and mark him distinctly in her mind.

  The rough pad of his thumb skimmed over her lips and a low growl punctuated his next words. “I think, I will kiss you now.”

  She’d never wanted anything so badly in her life, but something she couldn’t name stopped her. It pierced her mind, shrieking against her thoughts.

  He is disgusting, an abomination, Neither-Born!

  No! He’s sweet and kind and beautiful!

  And wanted by the Royal Guard. You will never be safe! Run, run now!

  She drew in another lungful of his scent and felt herself being pulled back a step. She didn’t want too, but whatever was arguing with her, also seemed to have control of her body. “Arin,” she whispered.

  His hand dropped and when she dared to raise her eyes, the pained expression on his face tore what little remained of her heart to shreds. “It’s not what you think.”

  He turned his back, his words low and full of an age-old pain. “I understand.”

  “No, you don’t,” she hissed. “This, this isn’t me.”

  He spun back, nostrils flaring and anger radiated off him in waves. “It is. You are just like the rest. I never should have dared to hope…”

  Whatever had forced her away faded from her thoughts and she felt in control again. She cut him off mid-tirade with a hard slap across the cheek. “Just, stop! Listen to me dammit!”

  He pulled back, rubbing his cheek. His eyes filled with disdain but he remained silent and she tried to explain what happened.

  “Something pushed me back from you.” When he didn’t move, or seem to comprehend, she took the initiative. Wrapping
a fist in his shirt, she yanked him forward. “Kiss me.”

  He growled angrily and slammed his lips over hers.

  Nothing happened at first and she sighed. She couldn’t blame him for his feelings, she knew the pain of rejection all too well and accepted the assault of his lips. When the voice didn’t return right away, she figured it out. Whatever, or whomever, it was controlling her, only responded if she did. So, she relaxed, allowing her mouth to open under his.

  His tongue dove in and his good hand came up, curling around the back of her neck. With a bit of pressure from his thumb against her jaw, he tilted it over and she allowed it, snaking her arms around his back. Digging her fingers into the hard muscles, she was mindful of his injuries as the heat of his body spiraled warmth down the digits and through her forearms.

  No! Abomination! Neither-Born! Run, run now Lanni. You can never trust him…

  Her body shuddered and she fought the sensation to pull away. The words repeated, becoming a piercingly painful wail she couldn’t ignore. If she didn’t step back, it would fry her from the inside out!

  But his rough tongue felt so good against hers that she stayed put, rallying every ounce of strength she had.

  The sound turned into the howl of a banshee and she dug her fingers deeper, holding on with fierce determination to beat whatever this was. It was a losing battle, she knew, but she’d be damned if she went down without one hell of a fight…

  ***

  Arin felt the magic in the air. It corkscrewed around them, tugging at her physically and trying to rip her out of his arms. He wasn’t going to have it! With a possessive growl, he broke the kiss and turned them into the wall, trapping her between it and his chest. Dipping his head, he nuzzled close to her ear. “Fight it, Lanni!”

  She buried her face in his shirt, biting down on the material, her voice a guttural croak. “I’m trying.” She panted at the air, every inch of her body shaking. “What, is it?”