by Zoe Chant
She couldn't even shout for help; she was too exhausted.
Not that anyone down here would have helped her.
“What have we here?” one of the shifters asked, grinning down at her. “Looks like the firebird's pet has escaped.”
“You're coming with us,” another said. “Fuck, the stupid human ruined my day off.”
“Bet the boss is going to roast her alive,” the first guard said, smirking at her as he licked his lips suggestively.
Alyx trembled.
She stared at the shifters in terror, hunching her shoulders and finally allowing her tears to run free.
“Please let me go,” she whimpered, trying to sound as pathetic as possible.
Two of the guards nudged each other, laughing as they looked at her—probably thinking of whatever reward they'd get for catching her.
Which was exactly what Alyx had wanted.
Abruptly she broke into a run, breaking away from the startled shifters.
Her ruse had gained her a precious second or two. Her jailers had been so confident that it took them a moment to realize what had happened.
By the time she heard the sound of boots on stone coming hastily after her, she'd already turned a corner.
She hadn't explored this direction before. Now she realized why: the tunnel led downward.
The wrong direction.
But right now, Alyx didn't care. Anything was better than going back to being the dragons' prisoner.
Her heartbeat was as loud as thunder in her ears when she raced through the new tunnel. And for once, luck was on her side.
There were several tunnels opening up before her, and none of them large enough for a shifted dragon.
Without wasting time to think, she threw herself into the tunnel to her right, running as fast as she could in the hope that the dragons wouldn't be able to figure out which tunnel she'd taken.
There were still shouts and the sound of boots hastening across stone, echoing weirdly in the narrow tunnel—but no hand had reached out to grab her.
Yet.
There was another tunnel opening up, and then another.
Every time, Alyx threw herself into the narrow side tunnels, hoping to confuse the men who followed her. She had no idea where she was, or how she'd get out of this maze—but right now, she was still free. It was all that mattered.
Until the ground beneath her suddenly gave way, and she found herself sliding down a steep incline.
Her heart pounding in terror, even now she didn't allow herself to make a sound.
The stone beneath her was smooth, and she went faster and faster. In her mind, she already saw herself falling down an endless hole that led right to the center of the earth, where she'd burn to death in a giant cave filled with magma...
And then she slowed.
The incline was no longer quite as steep. A moment later, she came to a stop.
With trembling hands, she felt around. The ground beneath her was smooth—and even.
She hadn't fallen into a vat of magma. That was good.
But she also had no idea where she was. Worse, it was completely dark. There were no torches or lamps of dragon fire that lit the area.
I'm going to die down here, she thought, her chest so tight that for a moment, she couldn't breathe.
Then she swallowed down the rising panic.
She forced herself up, her entire body aching from her flight. She stretched out her hands, trying to feel for the wall of the tunnel—but there was nothing in front of her.
A moment later, the cave she'd ended up in was lit almost unbearably bright—and the terrible light revealed the figure of a man in front of her.
It was one of the three guards who'd hunted her. He had the dark hair and eyes of the fire dragons who'd imprisoned her, and the broad shoulders and athletic build of a fighter.
In his eyes, Alyx could see red flames dancing, and a sudden, terrified heat filled her body.
The man in front of her looked like he'd sprung right from the cover of her lifestyle magazine. In fact, Alyx knew that Jen from the fitness section would have killed for a photo spread of this guy.
His hair was a little shorter than the old-fashioned looks of the dragons down here—and his eyes seemed to hypnotize her, the fire in his gaze kindling something inside her.
And he was her enemy.
She couldn't forget that, not ever. To him, she was just a human. Expendable. Useless.
He reached out to grab her hand with a strange expression on his face—and at his touch, a wave of heat rolled through Alyx.
She gritted her teeth. She'd had enough of fire dragon games and poisons.
“Asshole,” she hissed and threw herself forward with all her might.
She took him completely off guard. He stumbled backwards, losing his hold on her wrist.
Alyx started forward again, determined that she'd never, ever allow herself to be captured again—but he easily caught up with her.
“Please,” he gasped when his hand clenched around her shoulder. “Wait! I'm not your enemy!”
“You're a fucking fire dragon! I hate you all!” she spat into his face—a face, she couldn't help but note even now, that was almost otherworldly handsome, with a strong jaw and a sensitive mouth, and warm eyes that were full of worry...
No!
Fire dragon tricks. Fire dragon magic. She'd never again allow herself to fall victim to these things.
“Be silent,” he hissed back, that strange look of worry still on his face. “They'll hear us!”
“I don't care.” She glared at him. “Do your worst, fire dragon. I'm not afraid of you. I'm—”
“Hush,” he said, and a moment later, his hand covered her mouth.
She made a muffled, indignant sound. Then she became aware of the echoing sound of claws on stone somewhere in the distance.
“Don't let her get away,” the stranger holding her shouted. “I saw her! She was heading up, towards the eastern tunnels!”
A distant roar came echoing down the small tunnel that had spit her out earlier. Then she heard the sound of claws again, from somewhere far above—this time the sound was getting softer.
Alyx's heart was beating fast in her chest. The stranger's hand still covered her mouth.
She couldn't think. He'd sent those dragons away. Why?
To save me? No way. He's one of them.
He probably wanted to claim whatever reward there was for her capture without having to share with his friends.
I hope I'm worth at least a handful of gold, she thought as she glared into the stranger's eyes.
There were flames still dancing in them—flames that promised warmth and security. Flames that promised rest.
His arm curved around her body, holding her tight and secure.
How long had it been since a man had held her like this, making her feel completely safe and loved...?
What the hell am I thinking? He's my enemy!
More dragon magic, probably. They'd succeeded in making her hate them. Maybe now they wanted to test if they could make her love them.
Good luck with that, she thought. Then she bit down on her captor's fingers.
“Ouch! What the hell was that for?”
The dragon grimaced, shaking his hand—on which the red imprint of her teeth could now be seen.
Alyx gave him a smug look. Maybe she'd lost, but she wouldn't go down without a fight. She wasn't the meek creature they thought she was.
“What do you think it's for? That's for imprisoning me. For torturing me. For using me as a guinea pig, as a servant, as your lab rat. But you know what? You can't keep your secret forever. Sooner or later, we'll find out that you exist. And you're all high and mighty here in your ugly little caves, but that won't last long when you'll have to face off with an F-15. Maybe you've got magic, but we've got fighter jets.”
The fire dragon was still shaking his hand with a hurt look on his unfairly handsome face.
How wei
rd. He hasn't attacked me yet.
“Look, I'm really sorry this has happened to you,” he said softly. “But I'm not who you think I am. I'm here to help you. I can get you out—maybe. If we're very careful.”
Alyx snorted, eyeing him suspiciously. “I'm not going to fall for your tricks. You're a fire dragon.”
“I am,” he admitted evenly. “But I'm not one of them.” He hesitated for a long moment, staring at her with those gorgeous eyes, hypnotizing flames still flickering in them. “I'm here to take out their leader.”
“Steele?” Alyx shuddered instinctively, remembering the terrifying man with eyes like deep, cold shadows.
He'd been the one who'd ordered the experiments. He was the reason she'd been forced to drink the awful dragon poisons and feel her mind invaded by fire and shadows.
“If you're going against Steele, you're fucking insane,” she hissed, still not quite sure if she believed him. “He'll take you out in a second.”
“I wouldn't be so certain of that,” the stranger said calmly.
For the first time, Alyx began to feel that there was something distinctly different about him, compared to the other dragons. Much like Steele, there was a strange aura of power and command around him—but unlike Steele, he seemed weirdly innocent. As if he truly believed what he was saying.
As if he truly wanted to rescue her and save the world from Steele's plans of world domination.
But that was impossible. She’d never trust a shifter again.
So why did she want to believe him?
Chapter Four: Braeden
“Quick now,” Braeden said hastily. “Come on. If they find us here...”
“I don't trust you,” the woman said, still glaring at him.
Braeden found it hard to take his eyes off her. As soon as he'd seen her, he'd realized why exactly his heart had led him right down into this fire dragon lair.
It wasn't the pull of duty, as he'd thought.
She was his mate. She was his mate—and she was a captive of the fire dragons.
Just my luck. Of course she hates me. Who wouldn't hate their jailer?
Of course, he'd once been a prisoner of the council of elements as well. That hadn't worked out too badly for him...
On the other hand, he hadn't been treated the way she'd been treated. She looked exhausted and terrified—but despite everything, there was a steely determination in her eyes.
She hadn't stopped fighting him for one minute since they'd met. Braeden felt strangely proud. His mate had been a prisoner of the same people who'd be only too happy to lock him up for all eternity as well, and she'd survived. She'd even found a way to run.
“There's no time.” He took hold of her hand. “Come—and try to be silent.”
Who knew how long the other two guards would be distracted by searching the eastern tunnels. And of course, there was always the possibility that they'd run into a different patrol down here...
“I think I know how to get to the exit,” he said. His dragon could smell a hint of the mushroom fields, carried in by the faint breeze that came from one of the tunnels above.
If that tunnel led them back to the huge cave with the copses of trees, they could take the tunnel that led outside, rise quickly through the remnant of the old volcano vent, and then make their way to the sunlight by the tunnels he'd used on his way in.
It would be dangerous, but it was the best chance they had.
He knew he'd easily be able to take out the two guards watching the tunnel to the exit. He'd just have to hope that they wouldn't run into any other dragons on their way. He might be strong now—but he wasn't yet used to his power.
And he had his mate to protect now...
“I'm Braeden, by the way.” He tried to give her a reassuring smile. “What's your name?”
In return, she narrowed her eyes at him, her black hair shimmering with red highlights in the light of the dragon fire that lit the cave.
“Since when do you dragons care about a human's name?” she demanded. “Can't you just call me human like all the other dragons?”
“I'm not like all the other dragons,” Braeden said. “Well, not like all the other fire dragons. Trust me. Or if you can't trust me—humor me?”
She snorted. “You're pretty weird for a high and mighty fire dragon, I'll admit that.” She hesitated for a moment, then glared at him. “I'm Alyx. Hope you're happy now.”
“I am, actually,” he said softly. “But I'll be much happier once we've made it out of this place.”
She gave him another look that said all too clearly what she thought of that plan.
But as much as it hurt him that his mate, the woman his heart was destined for, had learned that all dragon shifters were horrible monsters, there really wasn't another second to waste.
Once she was free, surely she'd see that he hadn't lied.
“Sorry,” he said in advance. “Remember, try to keep silent.”
Then he shifted. A heartbeat later, he rose into the air, carrying her as gently and carefully as he could in his clawed hand.
Above him, the small ball of dragon fire he'd used to illuminate the cave was still burning. In its familiar orange-red light, he made his way straight towards one of the openings further up, feeling with his dragon's sharp senses for the telltale sensation of fire that would tell him if the other guards had returned.
But they were lucky. His ruse had worked. He could sense them, somewhere off to the east.
And the tunnel before them was dark and quiet, with not even the smallest hint of heat that any other dragons would give off.
So far, so good.
This tunnel was large enough that he could move in his shifted form, although he couldn't fly. Still, in case they were surprised, he'd be prepared.
He stayed in his dragon form, gently setting Alyx down on his back.
For a long moment, she held herself stiffly, and he worried that she'd try to jump down and run again. But after a few seconds, he felt her reach out to hold on to one of the ridges around his neck with her hands.
Even that touch sent a wave of warmth through him, the flames in his heart burning brighter as the dragon within him preened.
Our mate, every triumphant heartbeat said.
Our mate, who hates us, he thought. Our mate who's in mortal danger. We have to get her out of here!
As quickly as he could, he made his way back through the maze of tunnels, following the air that carried the scent of the mushroom fields towards him.
His claws struck sparks again on the stone, and Alyx was still holding on tightly. She felt so small and fragile on his back that his dragon was beside himself with worry—even though Braeden had learned that human women were far from fragile.
In fact, it had been the human mates of the other council dragons who'd first had the courage to stand up to him and tell him some truths he'd badly needed to hear.
Truths like how destroying the entire world would leave fire dragons with nothing but ruins to rule over. Truths like how it was cruel to sulk in caves below the earth and prepare for revenge, depriving their own children of sunlight and freedom.
Wistfully, Braeden thought of his own childhood. They'd been right—he should have been able to soar through a blue sky, the sun warming his wings.
That was what every dragonet deserved. Instead, he'd learned to fly across mushroom fields, circling caves lit by the unnatural sun made out of dragon fire.
I can't end it, not on my own.
Perhaps, if he managed to take out Steele, the fire dragons' leader, the remaining dragons could be convinced to give up the centuries-old quest for revenge.
But first, he'd have to carry his mate to safety...
He couldn't tell Alyx how important it was to stay silent and out of sight, but she instinctively clung to him, pressing herself close to his back so that with some luck, she wouldn't be seen from below.
They entered the huge cave from a different exit than the one he'd taken to ge
t in. This one was further up—perhaps half the height of the cave. And it was a little closer to the tunnel that would lead to the old volcano vent.
Braeden spread his wings and soared into the cave as if he belonged there.
Before, he'd kept a tight hold on the flame that burned brightly in his heart. This time, he drew on the power of the element, using it to surround himself with the lightest of shields. A shield made of pure heat.
Alyx would feel it as a gentle warmth, and it would be useless in a fight. But hopefully, it would divert the attention of everyone who might look up at the wrong moment. If they did, their eyes would be distracted by the hot air surrounding him.
The illusion wouldn't work for more than a few seconds—but that would be enough in a place like this, where a fire dragon soaring through the cave was an everyday occurrence.
Braeden kept his eyes on the exit. As Alyx clung to him, he spread his wings wider, soaring beneath the ball of dragon fire.
No one looked up. There was no shout, no dragon's roar.
Braeden beat his wings once, then angled them slightly. They began to descend.
The exit was very close now. He could already see the two shifters who'd greeted him when he'd first arrived.
They hadn't seen him yet. Instead, they were watching the other side of the tunnel, their long tails moving back and forth.
Good.
If he could surprise them, he might gain the seconds he needed to take them out before they could alarm anyone else...
And then Braeden saw just what had roused their attention.
Another dragon had arrived from the old volcano. And not just any dragon.
Braeden felt his heart painfully contract as he recognized him, the same moment the dragon's aura of flame and smoke alerted him to the danger they were in.
Steele.
Just in time, Braeden managed to beat his wings with enough force to take them high up into the air.
Braeden prayed that if anyone had been watching, they'd see it as a sign of respect for the arrival of their leader.
Hurriedly, his eyes scanned the wall of the cave that rose before him. He couldn't hover in the air indefinitely.
Steele would recognize him the moment he set foot into the cave. Braeden needed to get out of his sight immediately. He needed a hiding place. He needed—
