If using magic normally wipes me out, being in my real dragon body is worse. I’ve used muscles that I didn’t know existed. Carrying that extra mass causes my legs, arms, back, and yes, even my neck, to be sore.
After I transform back into my human body, I sway from exhaustion.
“Come on, Babe, let’s get you into bed.”
“My bed, not yours.”
His light chuckle lulls me to sleep. “Of course, that’s where I am planning to take you.” I swat his arm. “No, really.”
My legs give out and warm arms lift under my knees and back. I lay my head onto his shoulder. He gently lays me into a bed, flicking off the light. His footsteps don’t wake me.
It doesn’t take long for normal dreams to fill my mind with the faces of my school friends: Noelle, Chris, and Brian. We’re all hanging out again in the Lounge, laughing and telling jokes. Even Reist and Sax are there. They are dead now, so I know this isn’t real. But to see their faces again, smiling and having fun, soothes me. And then I’m sad because I know when I wake, the reality of them dying will crash into my heart.
Then it’s a new dream, memories really, of me and my boys. We’re all in a room, watching TV or a movie. I’m nestled between Manny and Bronx. Staten’s in a chair, and McQueen lies sprawled on the floor. Manny runs a finger inside my palm. My feet are being rubbed by Bronx. We’re happy.
And then the scene changes again into the mountain view I’ve come to cherish. I know who will be waiting for me. And my instincts are correct.
Staten.
“Hello,” he says. “Glad you could make it.”
“I don’t think I have a choice.”
“You always have a choice.”
“You mean, I don’t have to be here?” His wings droop a bit. “Not that I don’t want to be here.” I’m peddling backward. “It’s just that this is new for me, and I didn’t know I had the choice.”
“You can block me out and just sleep or have normal dreams. I’m glad you’re here, though.”
We’re both standing on the ledge, overlooking the landscape. The moon is out, which makes this dream different. I’ve never been here at night. It’s magical with the brighter and larger moon hanging high in the sky. The millions of stars twinkle against the dark blue heavens.
“Me, too,” I say.
“What’s been going on? Has McQueen been treating you okay?”
“He’s been the perfect gentleman.”
It’s peaceful here. Only the cicadas’ voices fill the evening with their songs. All the other animals must be nestled in for the night.
“There’s a first for everything.” He chuckles.
“We’ve been training, practicing shifting, and earlier this evening, he taught me to fight in my dragon form.”
“Ah, all good stuff to know.”
I nod. “Are you still coming over tomorrow night?”
“Yes, if that’s okay with you.”
“Of course it is. I miss you guys. For the past few weeks, we’ve hung out every day and now all of a sudden, I don’t get my daily boys’ fix. I think I’m going through withdrawal. Tell me news from school. How’s Noelle? Did you guys take instructor positions? What classes are you teaching? Do you have Noelle as a student?”
“Are you going to keep asking me questions, or are you going to let me answer them?” He grins as he lies down. His snout nudges me to do the same. “We decided that it was best if we be instructors. The Council doesn’t know about us. They only know you are a dragon. And if we’re here, maybe one of us will get a position on their Council. Perhaps we can infiltrate that way, too. It makes the most sense if it were me. I haven’t been seen with you a lot of the time, unless it’s for a class, like my brothers.”
My body curls up against Staten’s. “You’re the best choice because of your magic. Granted, Manny and Bronx would also be excellent choices, too. But you’ve got the analytical brain.” I gaze into the evening sky, across the fields and over the snow-capped mountains.
“That may be,” Staten says. “I’m teaching the Level One and Two magic classes. John has been let go from his position because he sided with your parents.”
My stomach flips. Oh, boroughs. The school sacked him for knowing and associating with me? That’s not right. Makes me glad I’m not part of that any more, even though I miss my friends and boys. “Manny is teaching social media, which I still get a kick out of, and Bronx is continuing with Skills.”
“When do you think you’ll know if you’re invited to be on the Council?”
“Probably soon because a couple members died during the fight, and they want to replace them. Rumor is that Allister is holding secret meetings, so he can get sympathizers to his side. If we play our cards right, I could use that. I might be young, but I’m a three year in a row Kill Shot, book smart, and one of their finest magical users they’ve had in years.”
We curl up together and lie on the ledge, watching the moon rising higher into the sky. We stay there until the early morning sun’s rays replace the darkness. It doesn’t feel like a lot of time has passed. Maybe time has no meaning here in this dream world of Staten’s.
For now, I’m content being with him like this. Like we normally are.
By the time the dream sun is high in the sky, I fade away and sleep soundly. But then gory images replace the calm, scenic views.
A field is covered in pools of blood. The trees drip fat red drops, adding to the already saturated ground. Human bodies lie on the blood-soaked earth, limbs akimbo. Skin has been peeled away from deadly claws.
Enormous dragon forms also lay scattered. Their scales glisten like rubies. The sun is out and warms the air, but a stillness blankets the area.
A land of death.
I have no idea where it is, or if it’s real or not. But then like a motion picture, the scene rewinds.
Human bodies lift to standing positions. Dragons take flight into the skies. Arrows, bullets, and spears return to their users. Steps retreat to two sides of the field. Large shadows reduce to small specks on the horizon.
No sounds are heard—a quiet before the storm. A battle is brewing that I know will start soon, having just witnessed the end game of destruction.
Slayers are on one side and dragons descend from the other. Silver tipped weapons are out and on the ready to meet their targets.
I’m standing in the middle, watching them rush toward me. Battle cries flick on as if someone turned up the volume. Roars sound from my right, followed by streams of fire.
The land becomes scorched.
Humans run fearlessly to the enemy line. They pass through me like I’m a ghost witnessing the fight that’s already taken place, and this is only a memory.
Dragons fly in formation above, and as they near the ground, scatter to make themselves harder targets. They pick off lone bodies lagging behind.
Every warrior on the field is dressed in silver armor. My guess is it’s all made from titanium. Their only protection. But I know that it doesn’t stop their deaths. The dragons find a way to slay them all.
Bullets soar as a volley of arrows launch into the skies, some hitting the delicate, leather-like wings.
Human lines form and advance on the creatures that land, now battling on the ground. Being too smart to get caught by the people’s nets and lines, aerial dragons blow fire between the groups, not allowing for the people to continue their progression.
As the wall of fire diverts the people, the dragons continue to snatch them unawares, killing them instantly. The humans gather into tight groups, shields up to protect them from burning.
Screams penetrate my ears and nestle into my soul. I know what a death shout sounds like. This isn’t my first battle, nor will it be my last.
The smell of flesh charring fills my nose as I watch a body run past me, still burning. I wish he would drop and extinguish the flames, but it won’t do any good.
Flame throwers line up, ready to launch their attack. People ready their
special crossbows. I’ve never seen anything like it before. A single bow has seven arrows notched and ready. Dozens of them take aim for targets across the field. Someone yells “fire,” and the arrows are let loose.
A second line rushes and fires while the first line reloads their bows. It’s a massive destruction to the dragon forces. The sharp points slam into their bodies, chests, open maws, and wings. They are dropping from the skies. The grounded ones are dying from easy kill shots.
The dragon magic swirls in the air and mixes with the humans. Some is being absorbed back into the ground while other tendrils float in the air, finding new forms to mesh with.
Five green dragons stand on a ledge overlooking the battle. I didn’t notice them before. The front one is tall while the other four smaller ones flank its sides.
It’s me and my protectors.
We watch as our forces are decimated just as badly as our opponents. Black smoke rises from burning trees, grass, and human bodies.
A screech escapes my lips. Only a few remaining dragons turn their heads to my cry. My wings expand, and I leap off the cliff gliding down to the open field. My boys follow.
I survey the carnage.
The remnants of magic flows into me.
My brown eyes scan the waste of life. It didn’t need to come to this. We had a truce. They broke it.
I’m focused on my fallen brethren and don’t hear humans approaching. Not until it’s too late. One of my boys calls out a warning but not in time. Staten and Manny take to the sky, leaving Bronx and McQueen guarding me.
Those silver tipped arrows are out and pointed at us. All of my protectors launch fireballs at the approaching humans. They lift their shields, hiding from the flames.
We take defensive positions. I call out a warning to them. The people don’t stop. They fire their weapons.
McQueen launches himself in front of me, taking multiple arrows to his chest and belly as he rears up. Bronx’s wings are shredded, but he’s still moving. His tail sweeps the line of people, battering them down, while Staten and Manny continue their assault from the sky and behind the human line.
The people reload their arrows as a barrage of bullets come raining down on us. Manny falls from the sky.
The arrows are ready and firing again, taking Bronx from me, too.
Staten lands in front of me.
Somehow, I’ve always known it would come down to him and me. Our relationship is the most unconventional, but really there is nothing normal about any of this. But he’s here now, doing his job. Fighting alongside me. The Pride Leader.
More than a dozen humans remain, still firing at us with everything they have.
I don’t take the quick second to mourn my boys. Rage fills my heart as the humans take away my loves. I’ll never see them again. Never feel their hands on my flesh. Never know their dragon magic.
I go on the offensive and ram through their lines. My tail sweeps back and forth. My claws are out, digging into a few soft bodies.
Staten is doing the same. We’ve killed all but a few of them. But he’s hurt. His stride is short and he’s limping.
I’m not much better. My wings have gaping holes in them, casting dots on the ground. We’re making our last stand here. Now.
The trees move. No, not the trees, bodies move behind the tree line. More humans run out, firing arrow after arrow from those deadly crossbows.
Staten goes down. His eyes close for the final time.
A shrill cry bursts from my throat. And with my last breath of air, I summon all of my magic, all of my essence and being. I direct it at the humans. Humans who betrayed me and my kind.
They don’t deserve to live.
As I feel my heart beat slowing, I expel my bright green magic. It floods the field, ricocheting around like a pinball machine. The force of it packs a punch as it sweeps through the slayers, knocking them onto the ground and absorbing their magic—leaving them with nothing. Their hearts no longer beat.
Just like my own.
A scream wrenches from me and I jerk awake.
The door swings open, and McQueen stands in the doorway, fists clenched and scanning the room for an intruder. When his jade eyes land on me, they examine my body. Seeing that no one is with me and I appear to be unhurt, he strides forward. “Are you okay?” he asks. “I heard your scream.”
I nod. I can’t speak. The memories are still too fresh in my mind. I died. My boys died, protecting me. The whole Pride died. The slayers died on the bloody battlefield.
My body shivers. Tears swell in my eyes.
McQueen walks farther into my room and sits on the bed. “It’ll be all right.” He pats my foot. I’ve never seen him like this before, unsure of himself. “Do you want to talk about it?” He’s sweet, keeping his voice low.
I shake my head as my arms wrap around my legs, bringing them closer into my chest. I lay my head on my knees.
He motions for me to move over, crawling under the covers to sit next to me. His body is warm, strong, and now I feel safe. Comforted.
I lay my head on his shoulder as he tucks me into his side. We stay like that for a while as I get my breathing under control. Eventually, it evens out and I can form coherent thoughts. “I had a dream,” I whisper, cringing at my next words. “There was a battle. We all died.” I suck in a breath. “As in you boys, me, and the slayers. Everyone. I don’t know if it was real or something that will happen. But it felt real. I felt those souls die. I felt my Pride’s voices go quiet.”
“Do you know where it happened?”
I’ve never seen the place before. Nothing looked familiar. There weren’t any distinguishing landmarks. “No,” I say.
“It’s just a dream.” He squeezes my shoulder and swings his legs off the bed.
“McQueen?”
His eyes find mine. “Yeah?”
“Will you stay with me?”
A grin spreads across his face. He swallows. “I thought you’d never ask.” His eyes twinkle.
“To sleep.”
“Whatever you want, Babe.”
I’m still rattled about the fight and the deaths. But eventually sleep finds me in the warmth of McQueen’s arms. I don’t know if he sleeps at all. His breathing never changes. I think he is still awake when I drift into a restless slumber. He’s staring at me when I wake, too.
His fingers brush my hair from my face. “Better?” he asks.
The morning sun streams in through the blinds. It’s going to be a great day. I won’t let the lingering bad feelings I have dampen my thoughts. Tonight, Staten is coming over to continue magic training. Maybe he’ll bring his brothers, and they can hang out.
“Yeah, I think so,” I say. “Thank you for staying with me last night.” I glance at the window, not wanting to face him.
“It’s not a problem. I love being with you.” He shrugs. “Sure, we’ve only been hanging out for a couple of days, but we have a connection that neither of us can deny. When my brothers found you, I knew that I’d be the last to link with you. I’m just glad that your dragon really likes mine.” He smiles. Perhaps his brothers told him what they had to go through to get my dragon to like theirs. “She’s a smart one, I’ll give you that. And what’s not to like about me?” He sweeps his hand down his body. “I mean, hello.”
“Conceited much?”
“Only a little bit.” He smirks. “I know it’s probably early, but I want to get this out there. I know you’re dating Manny and Bronx. Not sure what’s going on with Staten, but I know that you two have something special, or should I say, weird between you. They told you that they don’t mind sharing you, and I’m just tossing in my own name in there, too. I think since your dragon has the hots for me, that maybe our human forms should ... you know.” He nods. “Have something, too?”
I blink. He wants to have a relationship with me, too? While I still sort of find it strange dating two guys—and yes, whatever is going on with Staten and me brings it to a whole other level—I feel tha
t I should give McQueen a chance. He’s right that our dragons really get along. Perhaps we’re supposed to be together. That book that Staten showed me seems to think we should be.
“You might have some reservations about all of this.” He turns to face me and leans on his elbow. “Have you ever watched The Bachelorette?”
“As in the TV show?”
He nods. “Yeah, where the girl tries to find a husband in the twenty-five contestants. While we are only four, the concept is the same. She goes on dates with everyone, finding that one guy. And in our cases, you don’t have to settle on just one. You can have us all.”
I like that analogy. He’s right. The woman in that show does date multiple guys over the course of the season. She kisses them, sometimes has sex with certain ones. They do dinner outings, movies, sporting events, all while trying to find love.
The best part of what I have is that I’ve found love in each of them. I don’t need to choose between them.
I won’t. They all are part of me.
Today has been low-key; the lingering memories still haunts me. McQueen and I worked out in the morning and then practiced shifting.
It’s after dinner when the doorbell rings.
McQueen goes and opens the door. There, standing on the threshold, are all three of my boys. Grins light their faces. They didn’t tell me through our bond that Manny and Bronx were coming with Staten.
And now that I see them, here before me, I smile. My heart warms as I fling my arms around each one. “Hi guys,” I say. “What a nice surprise. I was only expecting Staten tonight.”
“We know,” Manny says. “But not much has been going on at the school, and we thought a few hours away won’t hurt. Staten told us that he clued you in on the goings on.”
“Plus,” Bronx says. “We come bearing gifts.” He hands me a garment bag. I clutch it to my chest. Yes, my warrior outfit. “Couldn’t pass on an opportunity to hang out with you either. Things will get back to normal at York soon, and we don’t know when the next time will be we can visit. We might not be able to sneak away. Everyone knows that you’re dating me and Manny, and they might be watching us, so they can get to you.”
Dragon Protectors Page 6
