Tallon shook her head. "Oh, gods, Dec. What if it isn't true? What if...?" Her eyes lowered and a small sigh fell from her lips.
Declan hooked a finger beneath her chin, forcing her gaze to his.
"What if I can't find them?" she finally asked.
"You're strong, Tallon. You are one of the fastest and bravest on the council. I know you can do this."
"Alone?"
He paused. "No. I want you take the hunter along."
"Griffon?" Tallon's voice cracked. She cleared her throat, a slight flush peppering her cheeks. "Are you certain? Why can't I go with Falcon?"
"Tallon, Griffon is the only one of our flock who's been beyond the Mysts. The only one who knows his way around both the place and its inhabitants."
"But..."
"No buts, Tallon. I need to ensure you'll be safe."
Alexia saw Tallon's brow furrow, saw the unease written all over the young woman's face. After meeting Griffon she could understand her trepidation. However, there was something else, something decidedly feminine and familiar in her body language. Before Alexia could put her finger on it, Tallon nodded her consent. "All right. I'll ready to leave at once."
"Fly fast and safe," he said, giving her shoulders a reassuring squeeze before she turned. "And, Tallon," Declan called after her. "Speak of this to no one else until we are certain. That includes Falcon."
She opened her mouth as if to speak, but then closed it. "I won't, brother." Then her gaze slipped to Alexia, and she found herself holding her breath.
"Thank you," Tallon said.
Alexia smiled. "Good luck."
Once Tallon disappeared into the lair, Alexia turned back to Declan. "So, now we find Falcon?"
Declan nodded and let out a sigh. "And then Griffon."
"Need something from me, boss?"
DECLAN STARTED at the voice and whirled around, looking for where it might be coming from. The sound of rocks skipping down the side of the mountain clued him in on a location. He peered over the side. Griffon sat on a short outcropping, his weight precariously balanced on only the tips of his toes. The violent and cold winds picked up the long black mane of his hair, flying it wildly about his shoulders.
Declan propped his hands on his hips and hung his head before leveling it again. "Yes, as a matter of fact. I need you to accompany Tallon on a mission."
Griffon's gaze fell to his fingerless-gloved hands, his jaw flexed. "Why me? You heard her yourself. She'd rather go with Falcon."
Declan frowned at the sarcasm dripping from his words, but shrugged it off.
"If you heard that, then you heard me tell her you are the only dragon of this flock who knows what lies beyond the Fatum, in the land of the Myst and myth. The only one of us who's been there..."
"And what makes you think I'd be willing to go back?" Griffon bit out.
The harsh tone more than the comment itself took Declan aback. Squaring his stance, he placed his hands on his hip bones. "I don't pretend to know what happened to you. To know about your past or the life you once led. You've made it quite clear that topic is off the map and I've never asked to go exploring. But if you aided the return of the King and Queen, there would be no more questions, no more doubts of your loyalty here. To this flock or this council." He stepped forward. "I thought that's what you wanted."
Griffon didn't move, didn't speak at that offer. So Declan took another step toward the cliff's ledge to present another one. "And what you didn't hear me tell my sister is that you're the only one I trust to protect her."
The hunter slid his gaze across the stones and stared Declan down with heated purple eyes. However, instead of glowing with irritation or anger, emotion swirled through Griffon's usually steely gaze. Respect?
Declan bowed his head and exhaled, saying the last thing he thought might make a difference. "I trust you with her life out there, hunter. And I will forever owe you mine if you keep an eye on hers."
Again met by silence, Declan tentatively glanced up. Griffon's massive body lengthened as he stood. Balancing on the tiny foothold with unbelievable stability for his size, he shifted his leather baldric across his chest and nodded.
"I'll do it," Griffon murmured, before jumping to the sky. Declan watched the hunter shift in a blast of purple and black, stared as he flew in a graceful spiral through the clouds until he could no longer see him.
"Where is he going?"
Declan turned, surprised and yet not to see Falcon grabbing a leather trench coat from the other wall and shrugging into it. Reaching back, he pulled his long curtain of black hair out of the collar before buttoning the front.
"Nowhere," Declan replied, noticing Falcon's combat gear and flying attire. "What about you?"
"Tallon's leaving. Although she wouldn't say where, I'm preparing to go with her."
Declan stepped to block him. "Falcon, you can't accompany her. I need you for something else."
Falcon paused, his green eyes searching Declan's face until he found the answer. "You sent Tallon on a mission without me? Why?"
Declan knew he had to broach this carefully. Although Falcon acted rational and level-headed at all times, this was Tallon they were discussing. Falcon always held a special part of his heart for her--had always protected and looked out for her.
"Remember that solider?" Declan asked. "The one who told us about Lotharus's plan."
His friend clenched his teeth and nodded. Obviously wanting to run away but needing to hear what Declan had to say.
"Well, he was right. The soldiers can walk in the sun."
Falcon's eyes widened. "Gods, how do you know?"
"When the crystal exploded, it killed anyone in its path. Alexia and I were guarded behind a boulder, but the soldiers were killed by the shards. When the sun came up, Lotharus's body disintegrated. Theirs did not. Now," he continued, "if another head grows on the body Lotharus created, if those soldiers find out about their new power, this war could get worse before it gets better. The horde is scattered and leaderless without her right now," Declan said, nodding over his shoulder. "We can both sit around and hope the right person steps forward to fill her shoes..."
"Or?"
Declan paused. "Or we fill it ourselves."
An angry line tensed on Falcon's brow. "What are you saying?"
Declan sucked in a breath, letting it out slowly. "I need you to go down the mountain."
"To the humans? Are you nuts?"
"Alexia thinks a child, the next woman in line for the throne, was hidden amongst them."
"She thinks," he said, running a palm over his face.
"Yes, she doesn't know for certain. Lotharus could have discovered and killed the child. But if he hasn't, then this human female is the one we need to bring peace, once and for all, to our clans."
"Why can't she stay the Queen?" he asked, motioning to Alexia.
Declan followed Falcon's gaze. A sharp pain splintered through him at the truth he was about to tell Falcon. "They won't accept her. Not now that she's one of us."
Falcon's eyes closed, but not before Declan saw a familiar flash of agony lingering in their green depths.
"But Tallon..."
Exhaling, Declan took a step closer to his friend, clapping him on the shoulder. "She's fine, I promise. I sent someone with her."
"Who?" Falcon's eyes narrowed as he put two and two together. "Griffon? Declan, no. Why don't you send that ox to find this human person and let me go after Tal?"
"You know as well as I, Griffon would never fit in down the mountain. He's five times the size of a normal human and scarred to boot. The female he needs to find would likely run in the opposite direction the instant she saw him." Declan shook his head, hoping the regret he felt showed in his eyes. "No, I need you to do this.
Only you. Kestrel is not yet used to his prosthetic, Ash is too young and Hawk too old."
Falcon's face twisted in fury before he turned and roared his frustration to the sky. By the time he'd spun around, his ches
t rose and fell sharply and his eyes held sorrow, longing and a tint of madness Declan had never before seen in his friend.
"I'll do this for you," he said through clenched teeth. "But know this. Tallon is the only thing that matters to me." He held up one finger as if to further prove his point. "The only thing. And if you, her brother, her blood, cannot protect her while I'm gone, then gods help me, what I'll do when I return."
"Falcon, you're overreacting, plea--" He didn't get the word out before his friend turned heel, shrugged out of his coat and strode back into the lair.
Declan ran his hands through his hair and turned to face the majestic view of his mountain home stretched out before him. He wasn't sure how long he stood there, feeling the icy winds lap his face, before Alexia came up behind him. Sliding one arm under his, she wrapped it around his chest, resting her chin on his shoulder. The contact relaxed him instantly, bringing a happy smile to his otherwise worried body.
Turning, he took her in his arms. At the sight of her, all the doubt and uncertainty faded until he saw only her.
"Come," he said, tugging on her hand. "After we have Doc take a look at your wounds, I have something I want to show you."
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
"ARE YOU READY?"
Alexia nodded.
Strong arms braced around her middle, clutching her to his chest. The long, smooth length of his tail wound around it, too. The dusk wind spiraled up from the ocean below, causing riotous curls to dance across his handsome face. He began beating his wings, lifting them off the ground. Her heart hammered behind her ribs. Being near him, being in his arms had always been a heady thrill. But ever since the night of her ascension, the effect had increased tenfold. Butterflies fluttered in her stomach at just a look. At a touch, lust rolled through her like a steam train at full pressure. Pressed flush against him now, she felt longing she had never known.
"Now I've got you. Don't worry. Just focus, as I told you."
Again, Alexia nodded. She closed her eyes and focused on the butterfly tingle glowing in her belly. Focused on Declan, on her love for him. Nothing happened.
"I can't do it," she said with a groan, opening her eyes to stare into his. "It's not working."
Slow and knowing, his lips curved in a smile.
"What?"
"Look behind you." He nodded.
A glance over her shoulder showed large, scaled wings like his, but of a delicate lilac color. Awe and then sheer panic gripped her. She clutched her arms around his neck, holding him tight. He flattened his palm to her back and clutched her to him, his laughter ringing in her ears.
"Don't laugh at me," she said with a smile. He leaned back to look at her and a squeal of panic tore from her lips. "Don't lemme go, either."
Panting hard, Alexia forced herself to look down, to will the fear at bay. "Goddess, we're so high up!"
They hovered far above the ocean now. Above the cliff, she realized, where not too long ago she'd captured Declan, the mighty dragon lord and King. A smile tweaked her lips at the memory, before they parted in wonder. The sun had set, casting the sky in layers of yellow, reds and purples. She didn't think she'd ever become accustomed to the majestic beauty of the sun.
"You best get used to heights, if you want to fly. You do want to fly, don't you?"
"I did," she said, leaning back to look in his face. "I do."
He smiled. "Good. Then give me your hand. I won't let you fall."
They flew hand in hand over the coastline. An intense wave of deja vu floated over her and she realized she'd seen this before. It was just like in her dream. Sure enough, when she looked at Declan, the wound she'd seen on his cheek in the dream was there.
Laughing, she rolled into his arms and once again they embraced her readily.
"I still can't believe this. How did you know?"
A dark brow arched. "Know what?"
"That turning me would work."
His grin faded. "I didn't. I hoped. My father turned my mother after she was bitten during a vampire attack and she became both vampire and dragon."
Alexia nodded, recalling the story he'd told her before, and then she frowned. "I am still part..."
"Vampire, yes," he finished for her. "But like me, you are more dragon."
A large hand palmed her bottom and a wicked glint lit up his eyes. Undeniable, magnetic desire pulled her to him. Alexia dipped her head, kissing the side of his throat, the space behind his ear, tasting the sweat on his skin, tangy and salty. She ran her hands down his back, over the swell of his butt, feeling the muscles beneath tense.
"I'm learning dragonesses are more sexual, are they not?"
"Gods, yes," he breathed before pressing his lips to her throat. That slight contact made her heart rate spike and Alexia wondered if he knew how easily he could affect her. Moaning, she wrapped her legs around his hips, locking her ankles at his lower back to keep them in place.
"They are fiercely loyal to one another," she panted, threading her hands through his windblown hair. "And aggressive when they mate."
It was Declan's turn to groan as Alexia's fangs pierced the flesh of his neck. The dark sound of his lust sent heat spreading from her belly to her toes. She took a small pull of his blood, savoring the delicious taste of him before running her tongue up his neck, planting open-mouthed kisses across his jaw to his lips. His mouth met hers, coming down hard and fast, and she relished every second of it.
Alexia lost herself in his kiss until she forgot where they were. The instant she remembered they flew a thousand feet above ground, she pulled back. Her breath caught to see Declan staring down at her with dark, hungry eyes. Grinning, she clutched his back for support as she pressed her hips against his. She found him, rock hard and urgent. The smile fled from her lips and a pool of heat liquefied her lower belly. Flames licked her inner walls in an unquenchable burn only he could sate.
"What it's like to mate when you're flying?"
A low groan rumbled in his chest and he pressed her tight, molding her small body against his. One large hand covered her thigh, hitching it higher on his waist, while his other cupped her butt, pressing her harder against the insistent length of him.
"Little vampire, you're about to find out."
ISBN: 978-1-4268-5991-5
SHADOW OF THE VAMPIRE
Copyright (c) 2010 by Meagan Hatfield
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