Fine by her. She’d never get enough of this dragon.
When Opal was sleeping, fully exhausted by sex, Aegis crept downstairs to where the dragons were still up and talking, their mates long gone to bed.
“I still don’t get why they’d warn us,” Diamond said, tossing his long, white hair back. “Why would she send a note to Aegis instead of simply coming early, knowing Dom had probably seen them in a vision?”
“I’m not sure how the oracle works,” Zach said. “I have no idea how she even knew she’d been caught. For all I know, she sent that vision to Dom, since he hasn’t broken through before.”
Diamond nodded, sitting back and rubbing his hands over his face.
“I know,” Aegis said. “It’s because she is coming as soon as she is ready, not a minute sooner. She sees no reason to delay the attack because she thinks she has a perfect checkmate.”
“Do you want to hear our plan for dealing with it?” Zach asked.
“Sure,” Aegis said, sitting in a chair and kicking his feet up, trying to look relaxed. He couldn’t let any of them know what he was planning.
“First, promise me you aren’t planning to do anything stupid,” Zach said.
“I never do anything stupid,” Aegis said. “I make calculated choices and I follow through with them. So what’s your plan?”
Zach explained, and Aegis felt himself get tense just thinking about it. They would gather the mates with the young in the basement, where they could be guarded. Zach, Sapphire and Ruby would be inside with them, in case wyverns breached the house, and Amethyst, Citrine, Diamond and Emerald (Aegis) would be outside in the main fight.
“Citrine has been telling us all about Topaz,” Zach said. “We’re trying to figure out how to best counter his electricity.”
“Probably me,” Aegis said. “As you saw before, I can control his mind. Otherwise, he has truly terrifying powers.”
“Right,” Zach said, leaning back with his hands behind his head, looking strained. “It’s enough to make me wish my mate hadn’t gotten pregnant. Not that I’m not ecstatic, but at times like this, it makes fighting—”
“Scarier,” Ruby said.
“Don’t worry,” Dom said. “We aren’t going to let them breach the walls. And we have a good safe room in the basement for the mates.” He rubbed Ruby’s shoulder, but the other man showed no sign of calming down. “It’s going to be fine. We’re the awakened dragons. Who could take us?”
A dark oracle maybe. That’s who, Aegis thought cynically.
“All right,” Zach said. “Are we all clear? Citrine will use blinding attacks, Dom will use mental debilitation as a last defense, and Diamond will be changing the wyverns as they approach the mansion. Aegis will be fighting Topaz.”
“And what about Opal?” Aegis asked. “She is a dragon and a mate. Where will she be?”
“Right by your side,” a feminine voice said, and Opal, wrapped in a fluffy, modest robe, sat down beside him.
“But—”
“Don’t but me,” she said, ignoring him and turning to the others. “My powers are the ability to multi-shift, or even partial shift, and also to use toxic or pleasant illusions.”
“Hm,” Zach said. “I’m sure you can probably think of better ways than I can to utilize your powers.” He eyed Aegis. “Oh yeah, and you should remove his collar.”
She nodded. “So I’m just a free agent.”
Zach eyed Aegis. “I don’t want to get killed by this guy, so I’m not going to say you have to fight at all. I’m sure you’d kick ass, but I know if someone assigned my mate a part in a battle, dragon or not, I’d want to kill them.”
Aegis nodded. “Opal is an asset, but I appreciate everyone leaving it up to her. She’s not a violent sort.”
“Right,” Sapphire said with a snort. “But she’s not afraid to handle you when it calls for it.”
“Don’t know what you’re talking about,” Aegis said. “My mate is a gentle rose.”
Opal gave him a shove, and the others chuckled. Aegis focused back in.
“Right, the collar,” Opal said. She reached up and unclicked the clasp, and it fell free. “We’ve already traded rings.”
Zach stood and gave Aegis a hug. Citrine followed, and it turned into a whole freaking procession of disgusting physical affection.
When it was over, Aegis huffed, brushed off his clothing, and sat back down.
“All right,” Citrine said. “You all go to bed. I’ll take the first watch. They shouldn’t be here until midway through the day, but I’m not taking any chances on being surprised.”
“I’ll take the next watch,” Aegis said, surprising all of them.
“All right, then, we better get you to bed,” Opal said, pulling him to a standing position. As they left the room, she leaned her head against him. It felt so odd to not have the collar on.
Weeks ago, he’d been alone, on the side he was about to face tomorrow. Now, he had the woman of his dreams at his side, was totally free, and had his powers.
It was just too bad everything had changed just before it was all going to go to crap.
“I’m glad we are fighting,” she said. “As long as I’m with you, we can make it.”
He just swallowed, trying to ignore the tightness in his chest. All he wanted was to stay with her.
But even if he left her, even if he had to in order to protect her, he knew his heart would always be there beside her.
That would have to be enough.
From early morning on, all the mates were downstairs except for Opal, who was pacing nervously in the front room. The panic room was locked, and baby Luc was in there with Hallie and the others, and for all intents and purposes, they were safe.
But Aegis was still nervous.
How would Opal react when he sacrificed himself? Would she do something stupid like he would if she were in his position? He had to do it quickly so she could stay safe.
“They’re here,” Citrine yelled, running into the house, his feet clattering over the marble. The other dragons were wearing leather to protect their human skin when they were shifting in and out of dragon form. Opal was wearing jeans and a leather jacket, looking like a curvy warrior with her hair pulled back into a high ponytail.
She came up beside him. “Don’t do anything stupid,” she muttered.
“People keep saying that, but they don’t need to worry.”
“Um, no, they really do,” she said, biting her lip and walking to the window with the others to walk out and see what they were facing.
“Holy hell,” Dom said, looking out at what looked like ominous clouds that were rapidly approaching. A large gold shape was at the forefront. That was probably Topaz.
And there was another figure, glowing, more distinct as they approached, wearing a cloak, with dark hair streaked with white flowing out behind her.
“The oracle,” Dom said.
“Right,” Citrine said. “I see Topaz. He looks… bigger.”
“She might have given him something,” Aegis said. “She was working on some things to enhance fighting ability and size in dragons and wyverns.” He sighed. “She’s insane.”
“And the good oracle knows we’re fighting?” Citrine asked.
Diamond nodded. “She knows we have no choice. But she trusts us. And remember, I can turn anyone into an impressive carat weight.”
“But you stay here,” Citrine said. “You’re the last point of protection. Save your powers for those aiming for the house.”
Dom nodded. “I’ll be here, too.”
“The most important thing is no one gets to the mates,” Citrine said.
“Look at you, being the leader,” Aegis teased.
“I’m the most expendable,” Citrine said. “I’m not mated. It’s up to the rest of you to make sure there’s a whole new generation of dragons to help this messed-up world.”
Aegis swallowed. He wished he could be selfless on Citrine’s level. He hoped after he made
his sacrifice and the rest were safe that Citrine found a mate someday.
He had a feeling if he stayed around, he and Citrine could have been good friends.
Citrine looked at him, sunlight-colored eyes suspicious, as if he’d heard him. But that was impossible with Aegis’s mind blocks. Probably it was just Citrine’s way of picking up on emotional cues in a situation.
Still, he couldn’t stop him. Maybe he wouldn’t even if he did know.
“They’re getting closer,” Citrine said.
Right. No more time to waste. Aegis turned to the others, clapping his hands together once sharply so they all turned to make eye contact with him.
“So you will all stay here until I’m captured,” he said, noting with pain the way Opal’s eyes widened in anger, even as her feet froze to the floor. “Then you’re free.”
“You can’t do this,” Citrine said. “You’re ruining the plan.”
“The plan is stupid,” Aegis said, putting his hands in his pockets and preparing himself. “Why would everyone risk death when I can prevent it?”
“Don’t do this,” Citrine said. “Your judgment is clouded. Don’t trust her.”
Aegis looked sadly at Opal, stroking her face, placing a kiss on her lips that she returned, biting him bitterly as he pulled away, as if she could keep him there.
“I’m sorry, sweetheart,” he said. “I told you I’d stay by your side, but I did keep other promises. You’ll be happy here. Maybe you’ll even find another mate someday. If I died. But then, I’m pretty sure I’d be an angry ghost and not that selfless. So perhaps not a good idea.”
He was babbling now, wanting to keep the picture of her face in his mind as long as possible.
“I love you. Good-bye.”
And then he steeled himself because there wasn’t any more time. As he ran outside, the wind generated by hundreds of pairs of flapping wings blew against him, whipping at his hair and clothing. He put up a hand and appraised the situation.
They were almost here. He could see the oracle’s face. So angry. She was riding astride something, and he knew she could enchant any object to float. She could even float without one, though she didn’t feel that was ladylike.
Hell, wyverns were ugly creatures. Much smaller than dragons, and always looking half formed with their wings in place of arms and spindly legs. They looked thin but were deceptively strong and usually had grayish skin.
He wasn’t sure why the shifters who took dragon blood to turn to wyverns did it. Any shifter was better than this creature.
They were powerful, though, second only to dragons. A very distant second.
He spread his feet and folded his arms, determined to look powerful even as he was captured.
The oracle landed and pulled the staff she’d been riding into her hand. “Well, well. You decided to take my bargain.”
“I know you,” he said, walking forward. “You’re prideful. Vengeful. But you don’t go back on your word.”
She raised an eyebrow. “I’m impressed, Aegis. You know me too well.”
He walked forward. “I’m ready for your collar.”
She held it out as he walked forward. It was quiet out there, Topaz hovered in the air, and the wyverns were still approaching.
She tossed it toward him, and it floated out to his neck. It was just a slim, rounded snake chain, but when it linked around his neck, it felt nothing like the other collar he’d had.
His veins, his throat, all of him felt on fire.
“Ah, poor Aegis. You should have stayed mean and distant. Love has made you dopey. Did you really think I would trust you ever again? Did you forget what I told you? I said if you betrayed me, I would make you pay.” She knelt in front of him, where he fought to stay on his hands and knees. “Did you think you could trust me? Your love for that little dragon slut has made you blind. You’d do anything for her, wouldn’t you?” She clicked her tongue. “Makes it ironic that now none of your friends has a chance.”
“Why?” he croaked out.
She folded her arms, her craggy face looking pleased. “Revenge, obviously. Well, and with your mental powers, I run the risk of you taking out Topaz and ruining my plan.” She rubbed her hands together as Topaz landed next to her in human form, cracking with electricity, not looking at all right. “But not now, right, Topaz?”
His hair stood up at all angles, and he glared menacingly at Aegis. “Right.”
“What did you do to him?” Aegis asked as the other dragon came toward him, glowering over him.
“Capture him,” she said to Topaz, ignoring Aegis. “I want to watch him die away from the rest. Then you’re free to fight.”
Chapter 16
Opal watched with dawning horror as Topaz picked up Aegis, who was writhing and weak from pain. Then she felt the invisible bonds Aegis had placed on her and the others melt away, freeing her.
Because he was captured.
Dammit!
She threw open the door and partially shifted, her wings lending her speed as she flew over the ground, still mostly in human form as she rushed to her mate’s side. She retracted her wings and skidded to a stop as she caught up to Aegis and the people capturing him.
She didn’t want to be a bigger target.
Topaz tossed Aegis down and stepped forward, but the oracle put up a hand.
“Come for your mate, traitor?”
“What did you do to him?”
The dark oracle merely folded her arms as Opal walked forward, studying Aegis, who groaned in pain.
The collar on his neck gleamed with with a noxious energy, the skin where it touched had darkened, and Aegis’s veins throbbed with whatever curse the dark oracle had put on him. Not knowing what to do, she reached for it, but Aegis flailed an arm outward, urging her away from him.
“Stay back! It’s poison,” Aegis choked out, waving her away.
Fear shot through Opal’s heart at the thought of losing her mate, her lover, and her best friend. The helplessness of being unable to do anything was terrible, suffocating.
And then Opal became acutely aware of the dark oracle, standing only a few paces from them, laughing darkly as she watched with an almost sadistic glee as her wyverns began to descend on the grass behind her, headed for the mansion, ready to clash with Diamond, Citrine, and Amethyst as they ran forward, ready to fight.
All at once, the once peaceful, serene grounds became a battlefield, dragon fire flying everywhere, wyverns being knocked back by the defenders, only to charge back into the fray.
Within seconds, the flickering flame of anger inside of Opal grew to a roaring bonfire. Seething rage replaced all conscious thought, filling her with singular purpose.
If the dark oracle could put that collar on Aegis, then she sure as hell could take it off.
Opal lunged at the oracle, but the second she moved, the oracle raised her staff, flicking it as a wave of dark energy rushed directly at her.
Quickly, Opal rolled to the side, the spell barely missing her. But as she recovered, another spell came directly toward her, about to make impact.
But just as it was about to reach her, threatening to freeze her in place once again, she transformed in the blink of an eye into a small dragonfly.
Now more agile than ever, she flitted effortlessly to the side, the spell whizzing past her and missing completely.
“Where did she go?” the dark oracle muttered to herself as wyverns gathered around her, trying to find something that was no longer there.
With incredible speed, Opal darted upward and past the oracle, coming behind her and hoping to keep the element of surprise. All around her, the fighting intensified, the scale of it only exaggerated by her tiny shape as monstrous dragons with gleaming scales fought viciously to defend the mansion and their precious friends within it.
But Opal needed to pay attention.
As soon as she was behind the oracle, she changed again, finally taking her full dragon form. She rose up over the oracle, a giant,
shimmering harbinger of death with opalescent scales and pearly wings.
The oracle whirled around with a shriek as Opal lunged, knocking the other woman to the ground with a swipe of her tail and moving forward to stand over her.
As much as she wanted to tear the hag limb from limb, Opal needed something from her first.
The oracle cried out, and the wyverns at her sides, quickly overcoming their shock at seeing a terrifyingly large dragon appear out of nowhere, charged in to defend their master. But Opal swatted them away like flies with her massive claws.
The oracle tried to stand, but Opal caught the end of her robe with her razor-sharp fangs, pulling her back and tossing her to the side like the tiny, useless baggage she was.
“Release the collar! Undo the spell!” Opal roared, unable to suppress a deep growl as she stalked toward her prey.
“Never!” the oracle replied, swiping her staff in the air, sending a black ball of energy toward her, knocking Opal off her feet and onto the ground.
As Opal looked back, she saw the oracle wave her staff once again, then take off from the ground with surprising speed, her black cloak whipping around her as she soared into the air. Behind her, Opal could hear Aegis barely moving, his life force draining out of him as the hideous poison took its toll.
Time was running out. She had to hurry.
She quickly changed back into her semi-shifted shape, taking human form but letting her wings unfurl, making her an agile but a much smaller target.
With a powerful whoosh, Opal shot into the air, chasing after the oracle with all of her strength. Beneath her, she could make out a huge white shape, the diamond dragon, breathing a long sheet of razor-sharp diamond breath at a wave of enemies, while the amethyst dragon blew a wide arc of purple fire in front of him. Off in the distance, she could make out two gigantic shapes, Topaz and Citrine clashing in the distance as bright beams of light and long, blue bolts of electricity crossed through the air around them as they battled.
“Stop her!” the oracle screamed in fury, addressing the wyverns flying around her and pointing at Opal. All at once, their attention turned from the house to Opal, their ghastly red eyes gleaming against the dark night as lightning cracked the sky in two and thunder rumbled in the air.
Emerald Dragon (Awakened Dragons Book 6) Page 13
