Licked by the Flame

by Serena Gilley

  Whatever it was, Eubryd fell for it. She glowered at Lianne, and her scales glowed with molten fury. She had to get closer to do any damage to the woman, however, so she left her spot at the buzzing machine and flew toward Lianne’s tunnel.

  Lianne gave one quick glance at Nic and then took off running. He understood now and both loved her and hated her for it. She was going through with their plan, only right now it didn’t seem she’d be out of the way in time for it to work.

  “Now, Nic!” she ordered, yelling out loud.

  Her voice sounded strong, but he could feel the pain in her body. It was excruciating. Still, she was running up that damned tunnel for all she was worth.

  “Do it now!” she repeated. “I’ll be okay, but you have to do it now!”

  By the Fires, he hoped she was right. He’d hung the remote detonator around his neck. His scaly fingers grasped it, but he could not bring himself to press the button. She was still too close, still in that tunnel with the explosives, damn it. How could he do this thing, even to save his clutch?

  “If you don’t do it now, we’ll all be toast,” she said.

  He could see through her eyes. She was in darkness, pressing her bruised, trembling body into the tiny cleft where he’d shown her to hide. Eubryd would find her there. Lianne was right, if he didn’t set off the explosives now, Eubryd would burn her and then leave the chamber to explode when the machinery overloaded. This was his only chance.

  “I love you, Lianne.”

  He said it aloud and sent the words with every ounce of mental energy he could, then pressed the little button on the detonator. The tunnel exploded with a boom and a whoosh of dusty, ashy air billowed out like furious storm clouds. It overwhelmed him in a second, knocking him backward and obscuring his vision. The entire chamber around him glowed red from the heat of the brooding pool. He was momentarily dazed.

  The echo of the explosion reverberated through the chamber until finally the sound dissipated. He was aware of the green fairy flapping his tiny wings furiously, faltering and dropping lower as he choked on the hot, dusty air.

  “By the Skies, what did you do?”

  Nic wasn’t sure how to answer. What had he done? Did he just kill the woman he loved? He reached out for her.

  “Lianne…are you there?”

  No answer, not audible or mental. He was still too disoriented to find her mind. The machine, though, still hummed away. He was very close to it and could feel it draining him, sucking at his very essence.

  “Get away from the machine,” he ordered the fairy. “Get out of here before it depletes your magic. Go find help—anyone who can help me get the woman out of the tunnel.”

  “You think she’s still alive in there?” the fairy asked, clearly wondering if Nic had suffered some form of brain damage.

  “I hope so. Are you with me, or do I need to get rid of you, too?”

  “Hey, I was sent here to help our people shore up the Veil. I don’t know anything about plotting to take over the world. If you want to save that human, I’ll do what I can.”

  That was the right answer. Now if he could just feel Lianne, find her mind or her heartbeat or some sign of her life…It was reassuring, though, to know that he could not find Eubryd, either. Apparently his efforts had managed to get that part of the plan right.

  He hoped the cost had not been entirely too high.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Lianne slowly became aware of Nic calling her name. She cracked open her eyes, but they stung so she shut them again. Dust—it was all around her, choking her and making her eyes burn. She reached up to swipe at them and found that, although she could open them, she still couldn’t see. Everything was black all around her.

  She groped in the darkness, trying to remember where she was. Oh yeah…she was in a tunnel. But why couldn’t she see the bright red glow from the main chamber? It was blocked. She could feel huge chunks of rocks all around her.

  Pain stabbed through her leg as she moved. She found a big chunk of rock on top of it. Pushing herself into a seated position, she shoved the rock over. It clattered and made sounds of little pebble slides where it landed. She must have just barely missed being crushed.

  So Nic had set off the explosives, just like she told him. He trusted her. That warmed her a little, despite the fact that she hurt and felt completely alone here in this rapidly cooling cavern.

  But was she alone? That overheated lizard bitch had been coming at her, blazes roaring. There was no sign of her now, though. Lianne supposed if the creature was anywhere to be found, she’d be making herself known right about now. The creature’s absence probably meant the explosion had done its job.

  But what about Nic? Where was he? She shut her burning eyes again and concentrated on finding him. She had heard his voice, hadn’t she?

  Yes, there it was. Through all the rocks and debris, she could feel his desperate thoughts. He was searching for her, begging her to reply.

  “I’m here,” she called out, and nearly gagged at the ragged condition of her throat.

  Her head rang pretty good, too. It made her voice sound muffled and foggy. Maybe she did sound muffled and foggy; she couldn’t really tell. She went ahead and swallowed back some of the grit and tried calling out to him again.

  “I’m okay! I’m in here.”

  She waited, then suddenly he filled her mind. He was not as near as she wanted him, but they had found each other.

  Thank the Flame, he said. Are you injured?

  Not too much. More bruises and…ouch, a nice cut on my head, I think. It seems to be bleeding.

  Put pressure on it, if you can.

  Yeah, all right. I probably look like hell, just so you know.

  Are you in any other immediate danger?

  From your mini-dragon friend? I don’t see her. I don’t see anything, actually. Either I’m blind, or there are a hell of a lot of rocks fallen down in here.

  The ceiling caved in, but I’ll get to you, he assured her. Just stay where you are.

  That was my plan. Damn it. My leg hurts pretty good, too.

  I’m coming for you.

  Good. I like it when you come.

  She could feel his chuckle rumble through her brain. It wasn’t hearty and rich, though, as she’d come to know it. In fact, his thoughts hadn’t been sharp and clear. Did she really rattle her head so much that she wasn’t receiving properly? She must have.

  Just hold on, Lianne, he said, weaker than she would have expected. I’ll get to you.

  Hey, what’s wrong with your voice? I mean, your thought voice. You sound like you’re a hundred miles away. Are you okay, Nic?

  I’m fine. I just…The equipment is collecting magic at an increasing rate.

  And you’re still in there with it? Get out of that chamber, Nic! It’s draining you. Find some other way to get in here to me.

  No, there isn’t time. Just sit tight, Lianne. Let me concentrate.

  There isn’t time? Why? What’s the next disaster I need to be worried about?

  The equipment is collecting too much. It’s going to overload itself soon.

  Oh, hell. That can’t be good.

  It isn’t. Now stay back while I try to clear out this debris.

  And by that she figured he probably meant burn the shit out of it. Since she didn’t really want a lap full of molten rock anytime soon, she scrambled back, crawling over broken hunks of rock face and finding her back against the far wall of the tunnel. She pulled herself up to stand, resting all her weight on one good leg and feeling her way along the wall. She moved farther into the tunnel, away from where the opening to the main chamber used to be.

  At first she thought she was imagining it, but after blinking and rubbing her eyes again she couldn’t deny there was a faint light. Some of the rocks at the opening were starting to glow, and she could feel the air warming up around her again. Nic would be breaking through to her anytime now.

  And he’d be a dragon. The thought of
seeing him again that way sent a jolt of electricity through her. She’d been a little bit afraid of him, not quite sure how to react. But then she’d looked into his eyes, felt his mind touching hers, and he’d treated her so tenderly. No, she wasn’t afraid of him now. She wouldn’t react with fear when he burst through the rubble to get to her.

  Well, maybe just a little. He was a big-ass scary dragon!

  She held her position as the light grew brighter and she began to make out shapes. Her eyes could pick out individual formations and bits of shattered ancient lava rock that glittered in the growing glow. She rubbed her arms to both calm her nerves and revel in the warmth Nic’s blast created.

  Lianne, can you see me yet? he called into her mind.

  I see light, and the debris is starting to glow. It’s getting warm in here.

  Good. How are you doing?

  My leg isn’t much help to me, and that bump on my head is making me a little bit woozy, but overall I’m thrilled that you’re coming to get me.

  Me, too. I’m worried about hurting you, though. Do you think you can move farther from the tunnel entrance?

  Sure. Now that I can see better, I can find my way. I can’t move very fast, Nic.

  Do what you can. Let me know if it starts to get too warm for you.

  She agreed, and held on to the tunnel wall for support as she scooted back deeper into the tunnel. It began to turn to the left, so she was moving out of the nice warm light and farther into the darkness. She could hear the walls and ceiling of the tunnel creaking, popping as the fractured rock heated from Nic’s blast. If it wasn’t for the fact that she knew he was just a few yards away from her now, it would be terrifying.

  Hold on. I have to work my way through this big chunk. Get back as far as you can, Lianne.

  That sounded ominous, so she pressed on into the darkness around the bend in the tunnel. She couldn’t see the bright glow where Nic worked, just a dusky beam of flickering red spreading across the tunnel floor and twisting up onto the opposing wall. It got brighter and all of a sudden, with a loud crack and the whoosh of more dust and debris, the beam shone bright and she knew the tunnel was open. He’d gotten through to her.

  “Lianne! Are you all right?”

  “I am.” She coughed with her reply. “I’m back here.”

  The beam of light was quickly blocked by the huge shadow of something. Nic’s giant form swiftly moved toward her, filling the tunnel and creating wicked patterns of dancing red light as he moved. His eyes glowed and the gaps between his scales were like rivers of fire. It was as if he himself were molten in his core and the dragon form was simply a suit of armor he wore to contain it all.

  Terrifying, but hot as hell.

  His fiery eyes searched for her and she met them boldly. Yes, he was a dragon through and through, but she knew the soul behind those eyes. That would never change. The emotion she saw in them when they caught on her was unmistakable, too.

  She didn’t have to say anything. Surely he could feel her thoughts for himself, know that everything he felt for her, all the love that was displayed in his eyes was echoed within her. She released her desperate grip on the wall and let her aching body fall into his arms.

  * * *

  He’d done it. He’d destroyed Eubryd and somehow managed to keep Lianne safe. Their stupid, hasty plan had worked, despite a few glitches along the way. She was the bravest, most determined human he had ever known. And she was his.

  He held her tightly, pressing her against him and praying he could keep his body temperature cool enough not to burn her. He should have at least waited to turn into his human form before lunging for her this way. But he’d needed to touch her, to hold her and feel the life surge through her body and know that she was all right.

  But she wasn’t all right. He could feel it even now. The wound on her head had been bleeding profusely, and as she wheezed under his crushing embrace, he knew there were less visible wounds as well. The force of the explosion had likely thrown her hard against the tunnel wall. Her lungs were filling with fluid; he could hear the raspy sound that she made when she whispered his name.

  “I’ve got to get you out of here,” he said, stroking her hair and cradling her against him.

  Even with his wings furled tightly against him, he barely had room inside the tunnel to maneuver. He managed, somehow. This tunnel would wind and meander through the depths of the mountain. He needed one that would take a more direct route to the surface, away from the churning machine that was draining his strength and would eventually destroy the mountain.

  Already he was weary from the labor of searing his way through the debris that had blocked the tunnel. If he had his full strength, that should have been child’s play. Obviously the machine was becoming more and more effective as the minutes ticked by.

  Damn, but he hated to admit defeat. Eubryd would succeed in destroying the clutch, after all. He would be forced to abandon his duty. It made him so angry, he had to be extra cautious not to let his body flame up or hold Lianne too tight.

  “What is it?” she murmured, pressing herself against him as they emerged into the main chamber. “You’re upset about something.”

  “I have to get you out of here before that machine blows,” he said. “We should go this way.”

  He began moving toward one of the tunnels, but he pulled up short. The little green fairy was still hovering listlessly nearby.

  “What the hell are you still doing here?”

  “I wanted to make sure the human got out of there all right,” the fairy replied.

  “She did. You should be gone while you still have any strength,” Nic admonished him.

  “I can feel its effects getting stronger,” the fairy admitted. “What will you do with her?”

  “I’ll get her to her people. They can help.”

  “A dragon is just going to swoop down into a little village somewhere and get help for his injured human? No, let me help her.”

  Nic didn’t trust this fairy one bit, but he did realize that the damn little creature was right. Their vehicle had been struck by lightning and Nic had left everyone back at the jobsite groggy and confused about what he was up to. There was no telling if or when anyone might realize they needed to come looking for Lianne, or where. If he took on his human form, they were both stranded here. And honestly, he wasn’t certain how much energy he had left for a long overland flight, if Lianne even could survive such a thing in a freezing storm with her injuries.

  “How can you help her?”

  “I’ve got some dust with me. If we can get her away from that machine, there’s probably still enough magic to heal her.”

  “You can do that?” This was the first glimmer of hope Nic could truly latch onto.

  “I can try. It will depend how much magic I have left, and how bad her condition is.”

  It’s bad.

  He hadn’t needed Lianne to confirm his worst fears, but she had. He craned his neck to peer down at her. Her eyes told him all he needed to know. Now that the initial surge of adrenaline was wearing off, she was beginning to realize the extent of her injuries.

  “You’re willing to let this fairy try his magic on you?”

  She nodded. “There’s something wrong in my chest, Nic. I mean, besides the other stuff. I think…I might be bleeding internally. I didn’t notice it at first, but maybe one of my ribs is broken. It’s getting harder to breathe.”

  Immediately he relaxed his hold on her. Damn it, but things were going from bad to worse. If this fairy thought he could help, then there was nothing they could do but let him attempt it.

  “All right,” Nic assented. “Let’s go over there, into that tunnel. It is the most direct route up to the surface and away from the machine.”

  Before they could even enter the tunnel, however, the feel of new magic tingled through him. He barely had time to twist his body to shield Lianne from whatever this was when the glow of two more fairies appeared in the very tunnel they’d jus
t been about to enter. Nic glared as a fiery golden fairy appeared with a more delicate pink fairy at his side.

  “Friends of yours?” he asked the green fairy.

  “Not exactly,” Swift replied.

  “What are you doing here?” the golden fairy grumbled at Swift.

  “There’s no time for an explanation,” Swift answered. “This human is injured. Have you brought any dust with you?”

  “Only a little bit,” the pink fairy replied, eyeing Nic nervously. “What happened to her?”

  “Long story,” Nic rumbled. “Can you help her?”

  “We can try, but—” the pink fairy said but faltered in midair. “Whoa. Is that…there’s a machine running in here! We’ve got to get out.”

  “Damn it, Swift,” the golden fairy snarled. “What are you up to? And where’s your little partner?”

  “He didn’t quite make it,” Swift replied. “Now come on, we’ve got to get back where we came from.”

  They were all about to head into the tunnel when a ball of fire slammed into the wall beside Nic’s head. He whirled around to find a broken, hissing Eubryd crawling out from under the melted debris of the cave-in. By the Flame, how could she possibly still be alive?

  He ducked, depositing Lianne just inside the entrance to the tunnel. She moaned in pain when she tried to cling to him.

  “Stay here. I’ll take care of Eubryd.”

  Lianne was afraid for him, he could feel that. “But you’re weak, Nic, I can tell. She can’t have much fight in her. Let’s just get out of here.”

  “And have her attack us from behind? No, wait here.”

  He gave each of the fairies their own killing glare. “Tend her,” he ordered. “Keep her safe. I’m going to end this once and for all.”

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Kyne did what he could to position himself between the injured human and whatever was going to transpire in the main chamber. The effects of the machine were already getting to him, though, and he could see that Swift and Raea were fading, too.