“Your...h-heart...” Simone sank to her knees, her entire body shaking.
Ah Simone, I did not tell you because I knew it would cause you pain.
“Your heart!” she repeated.
My heart is whole now, Breene assured her. And it is yours.
Vanora canted her head at Breene. “You care for this human.” She smiled but her eyes gleamed with rage and hostility. “So much the better. Killing her slowly will be so much more enjoyable.” She gave a mock bow. “It will be my pleasure Breene...”
Her face twisted in an ugly smile. “...to make you suffer for all eternity.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
Breene heard Simone's voice in his head, calming telling him to ignore Vanora's threats and stay focused.
You should have told me everything. I can handle the truth. I love you, Breene. Don't let her use me to get to you.
His mate's voice centered him and calmed him down. Simone had composed herself quickly and focused on the clear and present danger. She hadn't allowed her emotions to get the better of her.
He was so much older than her, and yet there was much he had to learn from his mate. Fire had been rising from his gut, and his dragon had wanted to spit the flames out at Vanora and burn her to ashes.
“Not yet,” Simone whispered, urging him closer.
Breene approached the other dragon carefully, but saw nothing in those swirling blue eyes. The dragon's eyes showed no recognition or awareness but there were hints of the pain and madness within.
Breene pitied the poor beast, but he shoved aside his feelings. Pity had no place in a battle to the death. Pity and mercy would only get him killed, and he had to stay alive for all their sakes.
If he died, Simone and Lester would stand no chance against Vanora and her dragon.
Come on, Lester! You can do it. Don't make me fly up there and shove you out the window myself! Breene yelled in his mind.
Master...I can't...I'm sorry! The conflict and remorse in Lester's voice made Breene soften his tone.
We need your help, Lester. You can help Simone fight the sorceress.
Oh Master...forgive me…please, just leave me. Fly Mistress Simone home. Lester's voice was wretched, full of pain and self-loathing.
Simone and I will never leave you.
Breene veered suddenly when the dragon blasted him with a bolt of dragon fire.
He roared. Simone!
She was no longer on his back.
Simone had leaped off his back as he tilted at a dangerous angle and flew towards Vanora. With a furious, blood-curdling screech, she landed on the other dragon and slammed into the sorceress.
Vanora was thrown onto her back just as she released a ball of devastating energy at Breene. Her aim was off and the blast detonated harmlessly behind Breene.
Simone slashed her knives down, aiming for Vanora's face and neck but the sorceress blocked her blows deftly. Simone grunted as she continued attacking relentlessly. Vanora flicked her fingers at Simone, and Simone jerked back violently. A cut appeared on Simone's cheek.
Simone licked her lips as the blood dripped into her mouth. The taste of her own blood seemed to fuel her rage, and she reared up with both blades flashing. “Bitch!” she shrieked. “Coward! Come on and fight me properly!”
Vanora aimed another spell at Simone, but Simone ducked and sneered, “What a wuss. You need to use magic against a human woman? What a weakling you are, Vanora. No wonder Breene chose me instead of you! 'Cause I am a real woman!”
“Here, catch!” She threw one of her knives to Vanora and taunted, “Now let's fight fair. And may the best bitch win!”
Vanora snatched the knife out of the air and faced Simone. Breene silently glided below the green dragon, ready to catch Simone if she should stumble and fall. But his mate seemed to be in complete control. Simone showed no fear as she faced Vanora, but Breene bared his teeth as he drew the fire up from his belly to his throat.
He would release his fire on Vanora in a heartbeat. But he needed to get a clear shot.
Vanora glanced over her shoulder and gave a sly smile. Breene tensed, his dragon fire churning in his throat.
Vanora screamed a command to her dragon and flung herself at Simone. Simone fought back but Vanora kept pushing her towards the dragon's spiked tail.
The green dragon lurched forward and flew at Breene. Scorching flames spewed from the dragon's mouth and he snapped his jaws dangerously close to Breene's throat.
Breene tried to fly nearer to the dragon's tail to retrieve Simone, but the dragon kept him at bay. Vanora and Simone was wobbling and wrestling at the base of the dragon's tail, trying to stab each other.
Breene dodged another ball of fire and roared to Simone. But Simone refused to let go of Vanora. There was murder in her eyes as she pushed her blade closer to Vanora's neck.
Vanora bared her teeth in an ugly smile. Screaming an order to her dragon, she lunged forward suddenly and grabbed Simone. Holding Simone in a death grip, Vanora threw them both off the dragon's back.
Breene dived after the two women who were still fighting in midair. But the other dragon blocked him, and he felt claws gouging into his side.
Breene roared as he engaged in a fierce fire-fight with the green dragon. The younger dragon was savage and brutal, and if Breene didn't fight back, he would be torn apart, burned and killed.
Simone was plummeting down, her hands around Vanora's throat. She was determined to kill the evil sorceress, even if it killed her.
Vanora smiled as she looked up at Breene. She was only pretending to fight back.
Breene's blood turned to ice in his veins. He roared a warning to Simone, and fought hard to reach her.
But he might be too late.
They were too far away.
Simone was dropping farther and farther away from him, her life measured by his anguished heartbeats…
The sorceress could save herself. She had tricks and spells up her sleeve. She could cast a spell to change her shape at the last instant or dematerialize just before she hit the ground. Breene didn't know what exactly she would do, but she would survive the fall.
Simone wouldn't.
CHAPTER FORTY
Simone curled her fingers tighter around Vanora's neck and squeezed. They were both free-falling, twisting and turning through the air as they tried to kill each other.
It was an airborne catfight, but this fight wouldn't end well. They were plunging towards the ground, and a fall from this height would kill any mortal.
Mortal.
Simone's eyes widened. The sorceress wasn't an ordinary mortal. She could use her magic to survive. Simone stared into Vanora's cold violet eyes and suddenly realized that she was looking into the eyes of an old, old woman. The sorceress had been around for a long time, and she would be around long after Simone was gone.
Those eyes, those violet eyes...
“You!” Simone gasped. “It was you!” The person at the ball, the person pretending to be Dr. Emerson, was Vanora.
Vanora had cast a spell over Dr. Emerson on the night of the ball, making him feel unwell and putting him into a deep sleep. She had taken the doctor's place and used her glamor to get into the castle to observe Breene and Lester and plan her next move.
Vanora smiled. “Goodbye, Simone.”
Simone heard Breene's anguished roar above her. Scorching, blinding flames exploded as the two dragons battled. She knew that Breene was trying desperately to reach her, but she was now beyond his reach. The other dragon was blocking him at every turn, using his weakness against him.
Simone swore and dug her nails into Vanora's neck. She might be plunging to her death, but she wasn't going down without a fight. She would cause the bitch as much pain as possible, and maybe claw some skin off her cruel, spiteful face.
Simone heard a familiar voice and for a heart-stopping instant, she wondered if she was dreaming. Or was she dead already?
“Mistress Simone!”
She b
linked and looked up. She blinked again in disbelief.
“Lester...”
Lester was swooping towards her, a hard, furious, determined expression on his face. His wide wings were fully extended, and so were his claws. The gargoyle's tail lashed angrily behind him as he bared his fangs and hurtled towards them.
With his clawed foot, he slashed at Vanora and pushed a deadly, curved claw into her eye socket. Vanora screamed as Lester took out her eye and twisted away.
“Mistress Simone,” Lester yelled, reaching for her with his other foot. Simone grabbed hold of his foot, careful to avoid those deadly claws and kicked Vanora away.
Lester rose into the air with her and shot towards Breene. “Master! I got her, Master!”
Lester deftly flew around the green dragon and dropped Simone safely on Breene's back. Then he dived down again.
“Lester! No!” Simone shrieked. “Go after him, Breene!”
The gargoyle didn't look back. He shot downwards, his claws elongating as he let out a sound that was both a scream and a roar.
Breene turned and flew after Lester. Simone clung to Breene's neck as she shook uncontrollably. The other dragon gave chase, but Breene swerved and spun to avoid all those balls of fire.
Simone saw what Lester was after. Vanora had used her magic to stop her fall, and she was waving one arm frantically about to weave a spell around herself while she pressed her other hand to her mangled eye.
She had managed to slow her descent and was twisting in the air. But Lester was hellbent on revenge. “You hurt Mistress Simone!” he screamed. “I won't let you hurt my Master and Mistress! You will never hurt them again!”
With that, Lester flung himself at her and gouged out Vanora's other eye with his fang. The sorceress screeched and cursed as she began to spin dangerously. She could no longer concentrate on her spell, and she began to drop towards the ground.
Lester headbutted her just as the first rays of the sun pierced through the clouds. His hard stone head cracked Vanora's skull and her scream died abruptly as she dropped to the ground.
Simone saw that Lester had turned to stone and was dropping together with Vanora. “No!” Simone cried, reaching out for him.
The red glow left his eyes. Simone saw that a faint smile was frozen on the gargoyle's face as he fell away from them.
“No!” she sobbed. “No!”
CHAPTER FORTY-ONE
Breene watched in horror as Lester plummeted towards the ground. He swore viciously as he dived after Lester. How had he not noticed that dawn was breaking? He should have warned Lester.
Lester had pushed aside all his fears and doubts and threw himself off the high tower to save Simone. Breene knew that his friend was terrified but his love for his Mistress and Master was far stronger than his fear.
Lester would do anything to save Breene and Simone. Even sacrifice himself.
Simone screamed herself hoarse as she stretched out her hand and grasped at the empty air. “No! Lester...”
Breene flew as fast as he could but he couldn't make a steep, rapid descent with Simone on his back. Lester, wake up! Dammit, just wake up and fly!
But he knew it was too late. The sun was up. Lester's spirit was willing, but his flesh had become stone.
A shadow flashed in front of Breene. The sunlight glinted off the green scales and momentarily blinded Breene.
It was that green dragon.
Breene roared and was about to throw a ball of fire at the enemy when he saw the green dragon swoop down and snatch Lester up with his talons.
Gripping the gargoyle securely, the green dragon circled round to look at Breene. I got your friend.
Breene stared at him. The dragon's mind was now clear and strong, and he projected his thoughts urgently to Breene.
I saved your friend. Please save my brother.
Breene nodded. Where is he?
The sorceress locked him in the dungeon. Please, time is running out. Lachlan...may not survive.
Breene followed the green dragon towards the castle, and hurriedly relayed the dragon's words to Simone.
“Can we...trust him?” Simone asked uncertainly.
With his acute hearing, the green dragon evidently heard her question. He turned to bow his head at her. I know that I am not deserving of your trust and help. But my brother is innocent. Please save him, and I will lay my life down at your feet. My name is Kieron. Lachlan is my younger brother.
Breene conveyed the information to Simone.
“I think you'd better take Lester from him,” Simone whispered to Breene.
Again Kieron heard her. Your friend is safe with me. I swear that I will place him safely on the ground when we reach the castle. The gargoyle saved me. He freed me when he killed the sorceress.
Breene nodded. Lead us to your brother.
They landed in front of the castle, and Breene shifted to human form. He pulled Simone protectively to him and watched as Kieron placed Lester very gently on the ground. Then the green dragon stepped away and closed his eyes.
The dragon let out a bellow and shuddered violently. The huge beast crumpled to the ground and seemed to shrivel before their eyes. The shift was painful and messy, and it took a while before Kieron regained his human shape fully.
A young man with dirty blond hair knelt on the ground. He was wearing only a loin cloth and his body was covered with cuts and barely healed wounds. When he looked up, Breene saw that his face was twisted in pain. The man growled and grimaced as he pushed himself up.
“Kieron?” Simone said softly.
He blinked at her in confusion. “Yes.” Shaking his head, he turned his hands over in front of him and whispered, “I almost forgot how to be human.”
Breene stepped forward and said tersely, “Your brother.”
At that, Kieron jerked to attention. “Lachlan,” he rasped.
Breene tucked Lester under his arm and followed Kieron into the castle. Simone stuck close to his side, watching Kieron warily.
They ran down many dark, narrow flights of steps before they reached the dungeon. The smell of vomit, excrement and blood was overpowering, and Simone covered her mouth and nose with both hands.
Kieron rushed past the empty cells until he reached the last one. “Lachlan! Lachlan, it's me! I've come to get you. Lachlan!”
Breene saw a gaunt young man hanging by his wrists in the cell. His hair was matted with blood, and there were festering wounds all over his naked body. There was a deep, long scar across his abdomen, and the wound looked like it had only just healed. The scar was red, raw and throbbing.
“Oh God!” Simone cried in distress.
Kieron rammed his shoulders against the door and it gave easily. “Vanora reinforced these bars with magic, but now that she's dead, the magic died with her,” Kieron wheezed.
Simone ran into the cell with Kieron. She tugged desperately at the shackles. “Free him, get these off!” she begged.
Breene pushed Simone gently aside and grabbed the shackles. With a low growl, he snapped them right off.
“Lachlan...we're free now...please...” Kieron's face twisted in agony as he caught his brother in his arms. “Please don't die!”
“What...what did she do to him?” Simone whispered, unable to control her tears.
“Vanora bled him, used his blood and his body. She cut him open and sliced out pieces of his liver,” Kieron answered, dragging his arm roughly across his eyes. “She used her magic to heal him and keep him alive. She told me...that if I didn't do her bidding, she would tear out his heart bit by bit. I...I let her turn me into a monster...”
“No.” Simone stepped forward and put her hand on Kieron's shoulder. “You are not a monster. Vanora tried, but she couldn't destroy your human mind and will. You love your brother. That love and loyalty tethered your human to your dragon.”
“Come, we have no time.” Breene helped Kieron carry his brother out of the dungeon.
Once they were out in the open, Breene turned
to Kieron and said, “Shift to dragon form. Carry your brother, and follow me. I'll take Simone and Lester. It's quite a long journey, so we'll probably reach by nightfall.”
“Where...” Kieron began.
“We're going home.”
Kieron blinked at them. “Lachlan and I...” Shaking his head, he stammered, “W-we don't have a home.”
“You do now,” Breene and Simone answered together.
CHAPTER FORTY-TWO
Breene neared Redrock Valley just as the sun began to set. He glanced back to see Kieron flying at a distance behind him. On his back, Simone was snoring softly. His mate was exhausted. She had traveled so far away from home, battled a sorceress and saved a gargoyle and two young dragons.
Breene smiled. He knew that humans possessed incredible courage and resolve. But his mate, his brave, beautiful mate, was the most incredible person he knew.
Circling his castle to let Kieron know that this was their landing ground, Breene made a gentle descent and landed on the sprawling lawn.
After Kieron landed awkwardly beside him, Breene nuzzled Simone to wake her. Once she'd clambered off his back, he shifted to human form and pulled her into his arms.
“We're home.” Simone smiled. “Hey, Lester.”
The gargoyle twitched and blinked rapidly. The sun had set completely and the stars were peeking out from behind the clouds.
“Mistress Simone,” Lester said hoarsely. “Master.”
“Don't ever do that again,” Breene barked.
“What?” Lester gave him a wide-eyed innocent look. “Do what? I thought you wanted me to fly.”
“Fly, yes. Drop like a stone to your death, no.”
Lester bowed and turned to stare at Kieron. The dragon seemed to be having difficulty shifting to human form. Smoke billowed from his nostrils and his huge body was convulsing and jerking.
Breene and Lester went forward and gently lifted Lachlan off Kieron's back. “Let go of your fear,” Breene instructed quietly. “There is no need to force your dragon down. Just let your human rise slowly.”
The Dragon Tycoon's Bride: Billionaire Shifter Paranormal Romance Page 11
