Licked by the Flame

by Serena Gilley

  It couldn’t be possible. Hadn’t she torn into him just a few minutes ago about how he used her and took advantage of her? He hadn’t denied it, either. But now here he was, stripped down to his roughed-up human form wearing burnt pants and looking at her with eyes that almost made her want to cry.

  He loved her! And damn it, she realized she loved him back. Right at this moment it almost didn’t matter that they were both probably going to die, that his kind would end up extinct and that some crazy mixed-up human/magic scheme was going on around them. Whatever she was feeling for him right now, she’d never experienced it before. She liked it.

  “You realize how insane this is, right?” she asked him.

  He laughed. “Yeah. I do, actually.”

  “So why are we standing around here talking about our feelings when there’s a bunch of dragon eggs to be saved?”

  “Our feelings?”

  “Yeah, our feelings. I’m not sure how this could possibly happen, but you aren’t the only one feeling stuff, you know. I love you, too, Nic. So what in the hell are we going to do about this?”

  “I suppose if there weren’t several species of conspirators out to murder us, we could find a quiet corner and make love.”

  She knew he was only half kidding. She kind of wished it hadn’t only been half. Forgetting about all this other crap and giving in to more of his hot kisses sounded like a really good idea right now.

  Of course they couldn’t, though. He had entirely too much at stake. If he wasn’t going to do the right thing, she was just going to have to push him into it. She never really wanted to die from this damn tumor, anyway. Death by magical creature sounded so much more exciting.

  “Well, I’m afraid all the quiet corners in this mountain have been used up,” she said, moving half a step closer to him and gingerly running one finger over his rock-solid chest muscles. “Why don’t we go find those evil conspirators out there and kick some ass?”

  “But I have to keep you safe, and—”

  She put her fingers over his lips. “You’re not afraid of that lizard girl, are you?”

  “Hell no! She betrayed me; she betrayed our clan.”

  “Then let’s get down there and make sure that’s the last stupid thing she ever does. What can I do to help you?”

  “No, Lianne, I can’t let you get involved.”

  “I am involved, damn it! And I’m dying, Nic, whether you like it or not. I came here to make a difference. I don’t want to leave this world never having meant anything, as just another rich girl who rode on her daddy’s coattails. Let me help you.”

  She could tell he was going to refuse again, but then he stopped himself. His fingers gripped tighter on her shoulders and his eyes narrowed. It felt like they bored into her soul. She kept her mind open to him, let him feel the raw pain as well as the burning heat she felt for him.

  “All right,” he said at last. “I think I know what you can do. Help me find the case of explosives I keep under the bathroom sink.”

  * * *

  He knew she was in more pain than she let on. He’d been inside her mind off and on now as they’d worked to set up his plan. It wasn’t the best plan, but he hoped it would work.

  Lianne set up the explosives in one of the tunnels leading off the main brood chamber. He’d appear from another, attacking Eubryd and pushing her toward the explosives. Lianne would get herself somewhere safe, and then Nic would trigger the explosion when Eubryd was in position.

  Then he’d wait around to fry anybody who might show up looking for Eubryd. Somehow along the way, he was going to get Lianne back to her people. She insisted they make the clutch top priority now, but he wasn’t ready to give up on finding help for Lianne. She might be determined to die for a cause, but he wasn’t planning to let her.

  What’s she doing in there? he felt Lianne ask in his mind.

  He glanced around the corner of the dark tunnel where he hid, and caught a glimpse of Eubryd, darting around, flitting over pieces from the console he’d crushed and toying with them.

  Looks like she’s getting all the bits of machinery into one pile, he replied. Maybe she thinks she can fix it.

  Can she?

  I doubt it. That’s human technology. Wyverns are notoriously antihuman.

  She seemed pretty buddy-buddy with Mr. Blanchard up in your little chamber there. Is she still alone?

  Yes, but I sense she is expecting company very soon.

  They won’t try to get there through this tunnel where I am, will they? Lianne asked silently.

  No. I didn’t detect any residual magic in that tunnel. I don’t believe it’s been used. Anyone who is coming to help her will probably come a more regularly traveled route.

  I hope so. Can you tell if anyone is close by, on the way here?

  He felt out into the distance, his mind reaching through solid rock to try to feel the world outside. It was difficult. He’d been fully strengthened by their passion, but since then he’d been through a lot and could tell he was slightly depleted. It didn’t help that he was unable to take his focus off Lianne. It was as if a part of him were permanently connected there. Even if he wanted to forget her or concentrate on other things, he couldn’t.

  Maybe if he wasn’t pent up in this human form he could reach farther with his mind. But he wasn’t ready to shift into his natural form yet. He didn’t want to risk alerting Eubryd to his presence down here, and it was much easier to hide as a human.

  I can’t detect anyone yet, he told Lianne. I’ll let you know when…Wait, I sense magic. Growing nearer now.

  What kind of magic? Good magic or bad magic?

  He had to smile. He wished they could have a lifetime together to learn all about each other’s ways. There is no good or bad magic, just magic. Some magic is darker or more ancient, and it is generally different depending on the element it is drawn from, but it is only good or bad depending on who uses it.

  Huh. Interesting. And to think I wasted a whole semester studying French in Paris when I should have been studying magic in Russia.

  When we’re all done with this, I’ll let you study Russian to your heart’s content.

  It warmed him to feel her pleasure at his words. The magic surged within him as his passion for her boiled. He could feel someone approaching, entering the mountain. Several someones, actually. Light, airy magic. Fairies.

  We have more fairies on the way, he told Lianne. Get yourself to safety; go back the way I told you and wait for me there.

  But what if you need me?

  I need you to be safe, Lianne. Once I’ve taken care of the threat, I’ll meet you at the entrance to the mountain.

  I don’t like being separated from you, Nic.

  You’re not. You never will be. I’m only a thought away, Lianne. Trust me.

  I’d rather be able to touch you.

  Stop talking like that or you’ll get me distracted.

  Yeah? Well, maybe we don’t need to actually be together then to…you know, be together. Want to try?

  The thoughts she sent to him were positively indecent. His mind flamed and his blood raged at the images they conjured. By the Fires, he would love nothing better than to try a few things with her. Not now, though.

  Behave yourself, woman, he chided softly. The magic is moving closer now. Eubryd left them a trail; they are coming directly to the brood chamber. Two fairies.

  Only two? No humans?

  Not yet. I don’t dare try to search their minds to know what nonmagical assistance they expect. They’re probably on guard for that. But there’s no one else in the mountain yet, of that I am sure.

  Good. You can take care of them in your sleep.

  It did seem a little too easy. How could two fairies and a traitorous wyvern possibly hope to overpower him? They couldn’t, of course. That must mean they knew something he did not. He’d better be extra careful and not be too sure of himself.

  Lianne kept her thoughts quiet for a few moments while they waite
d. He could not see anymore what Eubryd was up to in the brood chamber, but he could see several eggs from his vantage point. They still appeared fine, and the cauldron of molten rock that they rested in boiled and heated the air of the cavern at the same scalding temperature he’d grown accustomed to. Nic had no reason to suspect she’d done anything to damage them yet. She must be waiting for her coconspirators.

  I see them! Lianne exclaimed in his mind. In one of the tunnels across from me, I can see a little bit of a glow. It’s getting stronger. They should be coming into the chamber through a tunnel about thirty feet to the right of yours.

  My right or your right? he asked for clarification.

  Um, yours. Can’t you feel them?

  Yes, I was teasing you. I know exactly where they are. He could feel her rolling her eyes at him. Can you tell what color they are?

  I can see a greenish glow…okay, one green fairy and one yellow, she informed him.

  He let his mind range farther, sensing for subtleties and any details that would give him the edge. He found two fairies, just as she’d described. What he needed now was to single them out, decide which one to target first.

  One of them feels stronger than the other, he mentioned. Which one is that? Describe him to me so I’ll know him when I see him.

  She paused for a moment and he could feel her considering the question. He knew she wasn’t used to communicating like this or using her senses the way that he did. She seemed to understand what he was asking, though. She studied the fairies, watching their body language and assessing their attitudes. At last she gave a confident reply.

  The green one. Yes, definitely the green one.

  He commended her. Excellent. He’s the leader, then.

  I could tell because he glowed brighter than the other, Lianne announced. I wish people glowed like that. It’s kind of pretty.

  Don’t get too attached. They’re going to be snuffed out very quickly.

  Pity. But whatever. Burn the little bastards and let’s get out of here.

  Damn it, but he loved that woman.

  He could feel the fairies entering the chamber. Eubryd must have felt them, too. She called out a greeting.

  “It’s about time! All was very nearly lost, but I think we can salvage things.”

  “These are dragon eggs,” the green fairy noted.

  “Best source of magic in all of the world,” Eubryd announced. “We had equipment set up to collect here, but my larger hot-tempered friend sort of destroyed it.”

  “We’ve been collecting magic from incubating eggs?” the green fairy questioned.

  “Brilliant, isn’t it?”

  “And the dragons are with us on this?”

  “Er, not quite,” Eubryd admitted. “That’s why things are a little bit of a mess right now.”

  Nic could feel the fairy’s indignant energy. Whoever he was, he’d had no idea what had been going on in here. What sort of conspiracy was this that didn’t keep its members informed? He could feel anger building inside the green fairy. Likely Eubryd could feel it, too.

  “Hey, don’t get all righteous with me,” she scolded the newcomer. “We’re doing this for the good of all the Veiled creatures.”

  “Stealing magic from dragons without their consent? Where is the dragon that destroyed this equipment? What have you done with him?”

  “He’s gone off to side with the humans,” Eubryd hissed. “That’s what’s been going on, that’s why we have to do this. We’re becoming pets, harmless caged animals, taking scraps from humans while they keep the best parts of the world for themselves! It’s time we use magic for something more than just surviving. We’re going to break out of our cage and show the humans what magic is for.”

  “I thought we were working to strengthen the Veil, to keep the humans farther away from our magic.”

  “We’ve been doing that for thousands of years and what has it gotten us?” Eubryd asked. “Now help me reconnect this part.”

  “You think you can fix this? You can’t. The power supply is destroyed and the components are all crushed.”

  “The human components are all crushed. The magical components are just fine. The magic that was being processed in here all escaped, but see this containment box?”

  Nic could hear some scuffling and some mumbling. Unfortunately, this green fairy knew a bit about hybrid machinery. That might be to his credit where this damned fairy conspiracy was concerned, but Nic counted it as a strike against him. That fairy would be the first one he fried, as a matter of fact.

  “The containment box is good,” the green fairy acknowledged. “But what can you do with it? There’s no electrical impulse, no catalyst.”

  “I see your human associates have taught you not to think for yourself,” Eubryd said. “What’s your name?”

  “I’m called Swift. I work for the council of the Great Lake Fairyrealm near—”

  “I don’t care about that,” Eubryd interrupted. “You’ve lived behind the Veil for so long you think you belong there. You have at least part of a brain, though, unlike your dim little partner here.”

  “Er, I’m Lem, ma’am,” the yellow fairy stammered.

  Eubryd seemed unimpressed. “Well, flutter over here, Lem, and let me show you how this thing works.”

  There were a couple of moments of clanking metal, then a sudden shout. Nic could feel Lianne’s shock as she watched on from the other side of the chamber. He peered down the tunnel where he’d remained concealed, moving just enough to see the action out in the open.

  Eubryd had grabbed the yellow fairy and held him securely in her talons. She was just slightly more than twice his size, but her dragon reflexes were quick. She’d snapped him up before he had time to react and she held him, flapping her leathery wings and hovering over the pile of equipment she’d gathered up.

  “What are you doing?” the green fairy demanded.

  “I’m showing you that we don’t need human components to create a perfectly good catalyst,” she replied.

  With that, she swiftly ripped the pale yellow fairy in half. The little creature barely had time to cry out before Nic felt his life force evaporate. Magic sparked from him, and Eubryd quickly shoved both halves of him into an oddly shaped box that rested atop the pile of equipment. The box suddenly glowed and the equipment started to hum.

  Nic could feel its effects almost immediately. Yes, By the Flames, Eubryd had known something he did not. She knew she could get that damn machinery working again! How had he not known that’s what she was planning? When did she become so accomplished at keeping her mind closed to him?

  “You should come out here now, Nic,” she called, as if the whole damn thing had been perfectly on cue. “Did you finally give up on your frail little human up there, or did she expire?”

  “Damn you, Eubryd,” he growled.

  His already torn pants shredded as his body roared into its natural form. He burst, full, sizzling dragon, out of the tunnel where he’d been hiding. The green fairy zipped up toward the ceiling, uttering curses as he went.

  “Aw, too bad. The scrawny human must not have made it,” Eubryd said with a delighted smile. “So sorry for your loss.”

  Well, that was interesting. He might not be able to reach into Eubryd’s mind right now, but clearly she could not read him, either. Apparently whatever bond they’d once had, her betrayal had broken it. He was sure he could read her if he tried—his mind was much more powerful than hers—but for now it was good to know his thoughts were a mystery to her.

  “Whose side are you on, anyway?” Nic asked her. “That was one of our own kind, another Veiled creature that you just destroyed!”

  “He gave his pitiful life for our cause,” she said with a shrug of her wings, her beady eyes flashing and puffs of glowing smoke emitting from her tiny, pointed nostrils. “In the end, it will all be worth it, when magic controls the earth again and humans are put in their place.”

  She was delusional. She had the upper han
d right now, though. He could feel his strength being slowly drained by that machine. It was not functioning at full capacity, but the fairy magic she jammed into that box had jump-started it, and he could feel the effects increasing. It was drawing in magic again, sucking it up from everything in proximity. The more magic it collected, the stronger it would get.

  “You shouldn’t have done that,” the green fairy called down from where he hovered above, clearly trying to stay just out of blast range. “The Regulator on that equipment was destroyed. It will continue to gather up magic over capacity.”

  Nic had a fairly good idea what might happen at that point. Uncontrolled magic was a very dangerous substance. With the practically endless supply it could collect from the clutch, this equipment would overload at some point. The result would be catastrophic.

  “Oh dear, will this make the mountain go boom?” Eubryd asked sweetly. “Too bad I’ll be long gone by then. And what will you do, Nic? Stay to save your precious, useless clutch of weak little dragon pets? Or will you come with me and put your efforts toward a far more rewarding task?”

  “You know I can’t leave the clutch,” he growled. “By the Flames, you won’t either, Eubryd!”

  He released a powerful blast, enough to leave the walls of the chamber burnt to a glassy sheen where the giant fireball hit. Eubryd dodged him easily, though. She was a dragon, however small and misguided. Fire was not her enemy.

  It could harm Lianne, though. Nic would have to be careful where he aimed his flame. He could feel that Lianne had not done as she was told and fled the area. She was nearby, clearly in harm’s way.

  “What is that you are feeling, Nic?” Eubryd asked. “You’ve closed your mind to me, but I can detect…ah, so the female isn’t expired. You brought her down here with you.”

  “She has nothing to do with this!” he commanded. “Face me Eubryd, if you have any honor left in you at all.”

  For a moment it seemed the wyvern would indeed face him with honor. But she was distracted.

  “No, face me, you damn bat-winged chicken!”

  Lianne. Damn her, she’d come out of the tunnel and stood there in the open, yelling at Eubryd and tossing stones, of all things, through the air at her. Nic couldn’t dare blast Eubryd away for fear he’d char Lianne. The little fool! What was she thinking?