by Boone Brux
Even though she couldn’t make out his face, she looked at him. “Are we like Siban now? Survivors of the Shadow World? Forever scarred by the Banes’ torture?”
“No.” Luc was quiet for a few seconds. “What we’ve been through is nothing compared to the cruelty that Siban suffered, but I do understand him better, his watchful suspicion and need for solitude at times.”
“And respect him more.”
“Yes.” Silence stretched between them until Luc said, “Let’s go home.”
The warmth of happiness spread through her. “Yes, let’s go home.”
At the end of the passage, Luc repositioned Esmeralda’s body. “I think I can carry her from here. Check for Bane. I don’t feel any, but it’s difficult to tell so close to the Shadow World.”
Jade released her sister and exited the opening, blinking against the sunlight. The day looked barely changed from the time they’d entered the Shadow World. Again she wondered how long they’d been held captive.
She scanned the woods and sky. All seemed quiet and nothing appeared out of place. She motioned him forward.
“Climb to the next ledge and I’ll lower her. If you can balance her until I climb down to you, then we can work our way to the ground.”
“All right.” The dead weight would be difficult to wrestle and Jade prayed she wouldn’t tumble over the edge, but she couldn’t think of a better plan. Whatever she could do to get them safely back to the manor, she would.
Healing Luc had drained more energy than she cared to admit, but she didn’t regret doing it. Hollow dips and dark smudges under his eyes told her he still wasn’t well. There would have been little hope of escape if she had left him in his weakened condition. At least now they had a chance and the odds were looking better with each obstacle they conquered.
Poor Esmeralda. The descent was none too smooth and their handling of her even less gentle. If by some chance they were able to revive her, she would bear the aches of scrapes and bruises. Finally, Jade’s feet touched solid ground. Their descent, no matter how uncoordinated, was a success for the simple fact that neither of them had fallen to their deaths.
Luc scooped up Esmeralda and carried her into the trees, indicating Jade should follow with a roll of his head. The long furrows caused by scraping against jagged rocks burned across her torso. She pressed her hand to her side and limped behind him.
She wanted to moan—wanted to cry like a little girl. It was still a mile to the horses and their gear if the horses hadn’t wandered off. Then there was the act of riding the blasted animals.
With great strength of will she repressed the urge to whine. They’d just escaped a fate worse than death in the Shadow World. The rest of this trip would be easy in comparison and the last thing Luc needed was to hear her complaints. She might sleep for a week, but until her head hit the pillow, she would not grumble.
Luc laid Esmeralda on the ground. “I have a plan.”
“What is it?”
She liked plans.
He rolled the shoulder that had been supporting Esmeralda. “You’re not going to like it.”
It was difficult to keep the half smile from slipping, but she managed it. “Try me.”
“I don’t think I have the strength to carry your sister the entire distance, especially if the horses are gone.” His words echoed her very concerns. “We need help.”
She nodded her head. “Fine. Do you want to go or should I?”
“Neither.”
Her spine stiffened, her chin lifting in a huff. “You don’t mean to leave Esmeralda behind, do you?”
She’d just gotten her back. Even if she had to drag her sister’s limp body all the way back to the manor, she wouldn’t leave Esmeralda.
“No.” Luc held up a hand before she could continue her tirade. “So calm down.”
“What, then?” She didn’t trust him. His voice sounded suspicious.
“We fly.”
The words circled around her and she mentally swatted them away. Her response was simple and brooked no argument. “No.”
“Jade, be reasonable. If I transform I can carry you and your sister.”
“No.” She hugged herself, only flinching slightly at the spark of pain that raced across her abdomen. “No.” She took a step back, trying to put distance between them. “No.”
He followed, pacing her step for step. “I need you to put aside your fear and think.”
Think? Be reasonable? He wanted her to climb onto the back of a dragon and fly—high—where people didn’t belong. Bile rose in her throat. She waved him off, her head shaking frantically of its own accord. She turned and began quickly walking away. To where she didn’t know, but she had to get as far as she could from the possibility of flying. “I’ll go get the horses and be right back.”
Footsteps thundered behind her. She began to run but Luc was faster and lifted her off the ground before she’d picked up speed. Kicking and her attempts to bite him didn’t seem to dampen his determination. He tossed her over his shoulder and stomped back to where Esmeralda lay. With very little consideration, he tossed her on the ground and stepped on her chest. The more she fought, the more weight he applied.
Her unladylike name calling wheezed from her throat and her feeble slaps were useless against him. He had size and patience on his side. After exhausting herself with very little effect, Jade lay spread-eagle on the ground, panting.
He stared down at her. “Days of being tortured in the Shadow World, starved, cold, thinking death was near, and you remained calm. I ask you to fly and you completely lose your mind.”
It was impossible to keep the quiver from her voice. “I’m afraid of heights.”
His eyes narrowed and then widened. For a second he looked as if he would say something, but then his gaze narrowed again. He pursed his lips and stared down at her, his foot still resting on her chest. Finally, he stepped back and offered her his hand. Unsure what the truce meant, but having no fight left in her, she accepted it. He pulled her to a stand.
“You must trust me.”
“I want to, Luc.” Her throat tightened. “But I can’t do it.”
“Close your eyes.”
“That won’t help.” Heat spread in a small patch on her neck. She stared at Luc, willing him to change his mind. Tiny bumps rippled under her fingertips when she rubbed her neck. Hives, a most unpleasant result of her nerves. “I can’t do it.”
He clutched her shoulders, his icy blue stare commanding her to act. “I have faith in you.”
Damn him. She pressed the heels of her hands to her eyes, taking a deep breath. Could she do it—for him? Her head began to shake, her words coming out in a desperate plea. “I can’t.”
“Jade, I don’t know how much time we have.” He lowered his hands. “Despite what she said, Sha-hera will most definitely be after us. As will Icarus, Rell, and probably the entire succubus army.”
His words broke through her panic. He was right. There was no guarantee she would die while flying, but if they didn’t return to the manor and warn the others, she could die right here.
She nodded. “I know.” Though the intensity of her fear didn’t lessen, the importance of them getting home quickly increased enough for her to think rationally.
“We are still in a lot of danger.”
She nodded her understanding of the situation, the motion all she could manage.
“I promise if you do this, I will never make you fly again.”
Her mind screamed no but her mouth said, “All right.”
The look on his face was one of pride and appreciation. He drew her to him, wrapping her in his strong, reassuring arms. She returned the embrace, closing her eyes to drink in his strength. She was going to need as much as she could get for what she was about to do.
He released her and stepped away. “Let’s hope this works.”
She crouched next to her sister and watched him walk deeper into the trees. The forest wasn’t as thick here, and once
in dragon form he should be able to move without much problem. This would be the first time she’d ever seen him transform. He stood in the middle of a small clearing with his eyes closed. His lips moved with silent words. Like her, he seemed to be learning about his powers through trial and error—unfortunately.
His change was truly magnificent to behold. It happened much quicker than she’d anticipated. Though she hadn’t given it much thought, she assumed he’d lie on the ground and undergo some painful stretching of bones and muscle. Graceful, that was the first word that came to mind. Golden light flared and engulfed his body. She shielded her eyes from the brightness, but the light quickly dimmed to a million glittering sparkles.
In the middle stood Luc. Another form swirled around him in a whirl of glistening streaks. With each pass his body transformed, lengthening.
Luc faded and in his place stood the golden dragon she remembered from the night at the chapel. Scales the size of serving platters swept along his haunches in waves of white light. As the animal’s neck extended, ridges rose along its spine. Oval nostrils flared and flattened against a wide snout and two thin horns spiraled upward from the low, sloping head. A spiked tail flowed away from the creature’s back like a deadly train and wings sprouted from its sides, unfolding like a butterfly breaking free of its cocoon.
Lights faded and Luc was gone. The dragon exhaled, expelling a thick cloud of mist much like the fog that filled the chamber where they’d been chained.
“Dragon’s breath,” she whispered. It was a story her father used to tell about the dragons of old and how their breath could befuddle their attackers. “Not a fairytale, it would seem.”
The dragon turned its head and held her stare. Its eyes were the color of pale blue river ice. An ancient awareness radiated from the beast. Luc might be part of this magnificent creature, but he was not its whole. This was an entity like she had never known, powerful and raw. It was clear now that her father’s stories had been so much more than just fantasy for a little girl. This creature could conceal the world with its breath or destroy it with its fire. It offered tolerance but not kindness and without the Bringer bond, its need for dominance would enslave any whose will was weaker.
The dragon twisted its body within the tight confines of the trees and lumbered toward her. Instinct had her cowering next to Esmeralda, even though logically she knew the animal wouldn’t hurt her. Warnings from her father’s tales rang through her mind. How predictable could a dragon be, even if Luc lurked inside?
The animal stopped a few yards away from where she crouched. Curled talons pawed at the ground. It lowered its head and gave a look that questioned her resolve to go through with their plan. She licked her lips and eased to a stand, holding the white-blue gaze. Her feet felt as if they were made of iron and her body rebelled against cooperation.
Another jet of steam erupted from its nostrils. The corner of the creature’s upper lip curled upward. Was the dragon growling at her? She took a step back and it advanced until reaching Esmeralda. With movements more gentle than Jade thought possible, the dragon lifted the limp body and cradled her next to its chest. Sitting slightly back on his hind legs, it unfolded its wings, extending one of them to where Jade stood with her back pressed against a tree.
Curse the Sainted Ones, but she didn’t think she could do this. The tip of the wing tapped her ankle, coaxing her to climb on. She shook her head and the dragon growled again. Unlike Luc, who tried to reason with her, the dragon seemed less patient and not nearly as inclined to concede to her fears.
That thought was nearly as frightening as the idea of flight. If she didn’t climb onto the dragon’s back, it could grip her by the mouth and carry her, or worse, take hold of her ankle and fly the entire distance with her dangling head down over the rushing ground.
Her breath stuttered in her chest. No, better to be a willing prisoner and keep a small amount of control. She pushed away from the tree and forced one foot in front of the other until she reached the dragon’s haunch.
The creature craned its long neck to watch her. Encouragement and something akin to pride flickered in the dragon’s otherwise stern expression. It was the first hint of Luc she’d seen since his transformation. Knowing he was aware and supportive gave her the boost of courage she needed.
With one hand, she grabbed the thick cartilage that framed the wing and with the other hand braced her palm against the bent leg. She jumped and propelled herself onto the haunch. After getting her balance, she eased to a stand. Even ten feet off the ground, her heartbeat quickened. The scales provided good traction. Unlike what she originally thought, they weren’t smooth. Long ridges arced from one side to the other and held her feet in place as she made her way along the spiny back.
A cleared spot lay at the base of the dragon’s skull. She crouched, holding onto a thick spike behind her, and let her legs slide over the sides of the thick neck. And she thought riding a horse had been uncomfortable. She searched for something to hold onto, knowing she’d fall off if left to balance herself. As if sensing her dilemma, the dragon tilted its head back, placing two feet of horn within her reach. She hesitated. The creature grunted and shook its head. Its message was clear.
She took hold of each horn and slid forward. Wedged between the head and slope of the neck, the position gave her stability. The horns were a solid brace and if she gripped with her thighs, which she would probably do out of sheer terror, she should be able to stay on.
She swallowed hard and let out a heavy and somewhat desperate breath. “I’m ready.”
The words had barely left her mouth when the dragon reared on its back legs and launched them all into the sky. The first leap took them just above tree level, which allowed the large wings to give a deep stroke downward. Her knees dug into the dragon’s neck in an effort to remain seated in their nearly vertical position. The scream lodged in her throat and the effort to not pass out became a struggle.
After what seemed like an hour of pulse-pounding ascent, they leveled off and Jade was able to regain a secure seating. The ground below them rushed by and she chose not to look down but instead focus on the horizon. A band of orange spread across the sky. Sunset was approaching. She inhaled and sent up a prayer of thanks for their freedom, even if it meant riding this damned dragon.
Her panic and fear eased the longer they flew. If she didn’t think about how high they were, she was able to view things from a point of appreciation. The world was a different place from above. Roads turned at different angles from what she’d always believed and the river wasn’t nearly as wide. She wondered how many people would see a dragon in the sky tonight.
They swooped low over their campsite at the hot pools, but there was no sign of the horses. That revelation gave her decision to fly a little more credence. Hopefully the horses had wandered back to the manor and maybe even alerted the others to their plight.
Brisk air and mind-numbing fear of falling off kept Jade alert. After a while, she started anticipating their movements, riding the downward stroke of the dragon’s wings and sensing which direction to lean in order to stay seated. Flying wasn’t as bad as she’d expected—but that didn’t mean she wanted to do it again. She was certain that constantly squeezing her legs would leave her every bit as sore as riding the horses had. Her hands ached from the chilled wind rushing over them and her inability to relax her grip.
The sky darkened, the orange band spreading to a bluish pink. After what seemed like hours, they crested the rise and the manor spread out before them. Joy pounded through her veins. She gave a whoop and the dragon released a roar and a jettison of mist in reply.
They landed hard in the front garden, its back legs taking all the force. Jade slid sideways, but caught herself, preventing a fall. The animal settled Esmeralda on the ground and lowered its body to a crouched position. Unsure if it was going to move again, Jade sat for a second. The thick sides heaved in and out. She could feel the fast pace of its heart thumping against her calf and sud
denly she felt bad. All this time she’d only been thinking about her own welfare. Never once had she considered how difficult it would be to carry two people to safety.
She released the horns and leaned over the top of the wide head. “Well done, dragon.” She gave a tentative pat on its protruding brow ridge. “Well done.”
A grunt that sounded more like Luc than the dragon rumbled from its throat.
With more grace than she’d managed when dismounting her horse, Jade stood and wove her way around the spines running along the back. Her legs trembled from exertion but she remained upright.
She’d just stepped onto the dragon’s bent thigh when loud voices erupted from the house. The creature’s head swung in the same direction. Another low grumble reverberated from deep inside the animal.
Taking its warning, she jumped down. Her legs buckled and she went to her knees. There she stayed, watching her friends sprint toward her across the open ground. Heat bristled along her skin and a flash of white light flared. In a blink of an eye Luc was lying prone beside her. He turned his head in the direction of the advancing horde, gave a half smile, and passed out.
Praise the Sainted Ones, it was good to be home.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Icarus’s shoulders nearly spanned the width of the narrow corridor. He walked with purpose, never hesitating in his goal. Rell followed, but the closer they drew to the chamber where Jade and Luc were chained, the slower her steps became. The need to reap her revenge on Luc had driven her for so many years, but seeing him tortured, and Jade’s pleading for it to stop, had tempered her anger.
Despite the doubts that plagued her, there was no turning back. She’d severed the remaining cords from her past with Icarus’s plan and killed whatever loyalty Jade had for her. The Shadow World and the darkness would be her only companions for eternity.
Icarus turned into the chamber and stopped. Tension rippled along his muscles, his spine straight and stiff. She instantly sensed the change in his mood and halted in the doorway, bracing one hand at the edge for support. What would she see?
