by Ava Mason
“Denver, let’s get out of here!” Tallon was running towards where we came from and I tried to go towards him but I couldn’t move my feet; the ground sloughed like sand all around me, sucking me into it like quicksand. It spread from me until everything in the cave began to sink, as though the glowing rocks were the center of a whirlpool.
We were both stuck and sinking too quickly.
The glowing rocks flashed brighter, then there was a loud boom and the cave shook again as Tallon and I were sucked into the ground. I took a deep breath just as we were pulled into blackness.
We landed with a splash in a pool of darkness so obscure it pressed against me. Even with my dragon senses, I could barely see two feet in front of me. I heard Tallon struggling in the water, as other things splashed around us. It sounded like the whole ground above us was falling into the water. Through the darkness I saw a large rock hit Tallon’s head, knocking him unconscious, and he slipped under the water.
18
Tallon
I opened my eyes. I was floating. I groaned and the hard thing I was floating on jerked forward, dumping me into the water. I gasped in shock at the cold, inhaling water into my lungs. I choked on it, struggling to breathe. The water was so dark, I couldn’t see which way was up, and I thrashed, trying to figure it out. Strong arms wrapped around me, yanking me upwards until I hit the surface of the water.
I sucked in a short breath and immediately began coughing. Denver held on to me until I was able to get the water out of my lungs. When I could finally suck in a breath, I spurt out, “What the hell, Denver? Why’d you drop me in the water?”
“It’s not like I meant to.” His voice came out a growl. “You surprised me.”
I focused on treading in the murky water. “How long was I out for?”
“About fifteen minutes.”
“Did you try to shift?” It was hard to shift while you were treading water, but it wasn’t impossible.
“No, because I didn’t think of that, idiot.”
“Fuck, I’m just asking.” I looked around, trying to take in my bearings. I was getting used to the dark but it was still really hard to see. We were in a small room, completely surrounded by rock. The water was so high, if I kicked up hard enough, I could touch the ceiling. I wasn’t claustrophobic, but anxiety filled my body - I felt cramped in the small area. “Let me see what I can do.”
Even though Denver was being his usual sarcastic self, I knew him well enough to know that his voice was edged with something more. Panic. There was something he hadn’t told me yet. I took in a calming breath, trying to connect with my dragon. And was met by a blackness. He was totally gone. Shit, shit. I began swimming towards the edge.
“Be careful, man. I dragged your ass around, best as I could, but I couldn’t find any exits.”
After swimming for a few minutes, I got to the wall and pressed my hand against it. I heard the water splashing, like Denver was trying to do the same. There was something very wrong about the situation, but I couldn’t quite put my finger on it. Large columns of stalagmites loomed in the water, sharp-edged sentinels. I felt like they were watching me, but that was ridiculous. It took us twenty minutes to make our way around the edges of the room, until we met in the middle - there was no obvious way out. Tension and disappointment were thick in the air.
“Tallon, you need to know something.” The panic was back again in Denver’s voice. “The water is surging in from somewhere. I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but it’s risen significantly since we fell.”
I jerked my head upwards, studying the ceiling above me, realizing he was right. We were going to drown if we didn’t get out of here, and soon.
I closed my eyes, still treading fiercely, trying to listen. I could hear the dull throb of bubbles.
“Have you tried your fire yet?” One of Denver’s powers was the ability to push fire out through his fingertips, even in human form.
“Not yet. I couldn’t while I was carrying your ass around.” He swam towards one of the stalagmites and wrapped one arm around the tip, then held the other hand out. Flames sparked from the tips of his fingers then died.
“Shit. Try again,” I said.
This time, a low flame appeared. Concentrating hard enough, he was able to get it to flare a bit brighter. I could see the area better and saw an area towards the middle of the pool where large bubbles broke on the surface.
“There,” I pointed and Denver nodded, staring at it.
“Okay, so there’s our way out.” I hoped. “But let’s see if the fire will do anything to the rock, first.” I swam over to him and, grabbing the other side of the stalagmite, grasped his shirt and yanked him upwards, trying to help. Being soaked through to the bone was making it harder for him to use his elemental power.
Raising his hand as high as possible, Denver concentrated hard. Soon, he had a blazing ball of fire in his hand. I was amazed at how the heat danced across his skin but didn’t burn him.
He turned around, looking for a weak spot in the rock. Then he took aim, and fired it at a large crack.
It hit the wall, making a large boom, but the fire was easily swallowed up in the rock.
I frowned. “I think the witch has some kind of magic down here.”
Determined to get our asses out of here, he tried again, but in a different spot. Over and over, until his fire wore down to a simmering poof, but nothing broke though the walls, or even made a dent in them. It was like there was a magical force field over the stone.
Realizing it was pointless, I finally released him and we both clung to the stalagmite, knowing that we only had one hope left. We had to try and get through the hole where the water was coming from.
“I’ll go,” I offered, after our unspoken exchange.
“We’ll both go together.”
We knew each other so well. Denver and I fought a lot, but during times like these, when our lives were on the line, we almost didn’t have to speak.
He nodded and, after taking deep breaths, we both dove under the inky water, together. As we neared the hole, we struggled against the pressure from the incoming water, only to be spit out when we got closer. The water pressure was incredible, and we were going to need everything we had to get through it. Fear seeped through me - the thought of my lungs bursting made a shiver run up my back and the hair on my arms stand on end. The water was so cold, my teeth wouldn’t stop chattering and my arms vibrated uncontrollably. I’d been in bad situations before, but drowning to death took away all control. I couldn’t take on an opponent or fly away. I couldn’t fight my way through anything, except this damn current.
Denver and I took turns trying to swim through the rush of water, only to be pushed away before we got close. Again, it didn’t feel like a normal current, but one controlled with magic - it was impossible to fight against. Each time we came back up for air, the space between the water and the ceiling grew smaller and smaller.
I finally had to face the facts; I was probably going to die like this. At least I wasn’t alone - my brother was by my side.
But the need to see Carrie again pulsed through me, with crushing disappointment.
I’d finally found a woman that showed me the kind of life I could have. She’d shown me that I could actually be happy. That I didn’t need to constantly compete with Denver for a woman’s affections. And I wanted to fight for her.
I needed to know what life would be like with a woman I actually loved by my side.
And so, I fought with everything I had in me to get down to that fucking hole. Time after time, we were thwarted. The last time I rose to the surface, I was tired, so fucking cold, and loosing hope.
Denver and I clung to that stupid stalagmite, catching our breaths. I wanted to say something to him, a goodbye of sorts. But what words could convey my feelings for him? I hated him and I loved him. He was cocky and selfish. He took for granted everything that he had. And yet, he’d taken me in, gave me everything I had. He was a loyal and true friend, and I care
d for him like a brother.
He was closing his eyes. The water was up to our chins now, even though we were pushed up to the very tip of the stalagmite. We only had a couple minutes, at most.
“Denver.” I needed to say something.
His eyes finally opened, staring at me. He shook his head. “No, man. No goodbyes.”
“Just shut up and listen.”
He screamed out, slamming the ceiling above me, his anger boiling over. “I’m not fucking saying goodbye.”
The sound echoed through the room, a splitting sound and for a second, I thought he’d actually done something. I scrunched my eyes, looking for any sign he’d done damage to the ceiling, but there was nothing. I heard it again - an echo, except now I realized that it was coming from the other side of the room.
I snapped my face to him, eyes wide. “What is that?”
“It’s either the Angel of Death, pissed off ‘cause he hates us so much, or it’s our salvation.”
Not waiting for me to respond, he let go of the stalagmite, swimming towards the noise. I followed close behind him, tired to my bones but giving it everything I had because I knew it was our last chance. The pounding grew louder and more insistent, and a spark of hope filled me. The water was up to my forehead now and I had to pause and press my face up to take in a deep breath, knowing it would probably be my last.
I followed Denver, his black hair almost swallowed up in the dark water, until my lungs almost burst. I reached up again but my lips met cold rock. Pressing my lips to them, I sucked in as much air as I could without sucking in water, and then the water was completely covering us. I had no more hope of getting anymore air.
And so, I dove, swimming with strong strokes towards the noise. A booming sound ricocheted across the water and a current pulled me forward. I let it suck me in, hoping that if I died with it, that I would drown quickly. A hole appeared in the rock, just barely large enough for Denver and I to squeeze ourselves through.
We flopped through it like fish, landing on the ground, exhausted but thrilled to be sucking in stale, moist cave air. Blaze stood over us, heaving in large breaths, his fists bloody and torn up. But he gave us a gleaming smile and it was like the fucking heavens had opened because Blaze never smiled. Then he opened his mouth and said the most beautiful words I’d ever heard.
“You rang, assholes?”
The clan bond had saved us again.
19
Carrie
Sighing, I slammed the door to the shiny black 1969 Mustang shut and took a moment to take in a deep breath. The past few days had been crazy. With the baby acting up and Harry booking our schedules to the max, I hadn’t had a moment’s reprieve. The supernaturals had finally agreed to start meeting again, and they’d been going at it for three full days. I’d been running errands for my mamá because little baby munchkin’s power had been off the charts.
She’d also decided that I needed to work on my power more, so we’d spent all my spare time going over spells and practicing them. Then, to keep me even more on my toes, she often called me in to help with Lizzy. Internally, I was freaking the hell out because I was worried I wouldn’t be enough to keep the baby’s power controlled, even though my mamá was always there to back me up.
Plus, they still hadn’t found out who killed the wolf we captured, and somehow, I felt like that was my fault. I thought maybe I should go back to Tallon and ask to help out.
After nearly having a meltdown myself, Hunter handed me his credit card and the keys to his car, and had practically shoved me out the door. He told me I needed to take a break from all the madness. Pausing only to make sure it was fine with Lizzy, I ran out of there as fast as my two feet could take me.
The rest of her guys were going to be flying in soon anyways and I needed to take the chance to think in silence, for just a little while.
It had taken me some time to figure out where to go. I’d left so quickly, I’d forgotten to bring my phone. I vaguely remembered the grid system Sawyer had explained, and managed to make it near downtown Drakenstad, the main city just outside of the royal grounds.
It also took me about fifteen minutes to park - it was about two in the afternoon, so downtown was hopping with business people doing business stuff. They were running around in their special suits and pencil skirts, gripping briefcases and gabbing loudly on their phones about stocks and business accounts. I shoved my hands into my pockets, feeling very small as I wandered the streets.
At least they weren’t giving me dirty looks for being a wolf. I was starting to get used to those but it was nice not to have to bear them.
Hunter’s credit card burned a hole in my pocket. I was tempted to buy something really expensive, just to get back at him for sidelining me. An iPad Pro would be nice - I’d been eying one of those for a long time. I’d be able to practice my graphic design skills in Photoshop in my down time. Or a phone - mine was getting kind of old and loosing it’s charge. I usually had to plug it in twice a day now.
Oooo, an idea sparked!
I could buy a yacht!
Oh, I’d always wanted one of those. My eyes automatically went to the sparkling blue lake, stretched out between the mountains so close to the city. I wasn’t exactly sure how rich Hunter was, but from what I gathered in the Entertainment News here in Aerwyna, something I snuck in any chance I got, he was pretty loaded.
I sighed, knowing I wouldn’t really do it. Any of it; he was only looking out for me.
Instead, I took a deep breath and tried to force my mind to other thoughts. He was right. I needed a break. I only wished I’d taken a shower before I left; I felt like I had magical goo all over me, and the baby wasn’t even born yet!
So I wandered around in awe of this beautiful city. Aerwyna was an incredible place, filled with ancient and modern architecture that fascinated me. There was a large, old church to my right, with the most beautiful stained glass windows and large carved, ornate wooden doors. Just a few blocks down, I could see several modern clubs, now closed due to the daytime hours. I walked towards them anyways, curious to whether they were as fancy as their signs portrayed. I stopped at a coffee shop and ordered a cup, nearly spilling it as a burst of magic erupted just next to me. A woman in a tight button up shirt and four inch heels stirred cream into her tea without even touching it, instead staring at her phone and texting furiously. No one blinked an eye at her but I was still getting used to magic being used out in the open.
Grumbling, I took a seat and stared out the window, taking in the cityscape while my mind wandered to the wolf situation. Wolves weren’t common in Aerwyna, and I was starting to understand why. When we had just arrived, I was surprised to find myself treated with such hostility. But if wolves really were terrorists out here, setting out to kill the dragon shifters, it made sense to want to keep the wolves away.
So far, the only wolves that were allowed to enter the country were the wolves that Queen Aria approved of herself.
I didn’t doubt that they were still some more out there, though, probably in hiding. Even if that wolf had been acting on its own, it was very likely that it was at least near a pack of some sort. Most wolves longed for a pack - they not only offered companionship and guidance, but stability for our magic. A wolf isolated from its peers could be a dangerous thing.
My mind wandered to the trail I’d picked up when we were in the forest while arresting the wolf responsible for the murder. There was something there in the trees, something suspicious. But I couldn’t remember what.
Could it be that I’d picked up something that didn’t exist?
I’d mentioned it to my mamá and we’d gone over some revealing spells. I shook my head. That didn’t make sense; why would I need those? A sharp pain shot into my temples and I closed my eyes, pressing my fingers to my head just above my eyebrow. I never usually got headaches but ever since I’d arrived, since I had gotten involved in all this, they were becoming more and more frequent.
Maybe it was the str
ess of dealing with this, the panic about Lizzy’s baby being so strong that no one knew how to handle her, and the questions about the pending alliance.
I rubbed my temples in a circular motion, clearing my mind of all thoughts until the headache started fading again.
After I left the coffee shop, I decided to keep wandering through the city. Across from me, there was a long block of boutique stores, with digital news strips running across the bottom screen, filled with ads of beautifully placed models displaying perfectly toned bodies. At the far end, a crowd was gathered around a large window, staring at something inside.
Dread clutched my stomach. Some kind of instinct screamed at me that this had to do with the wolves, and that I wasn’t going to like it.
I tried to force myself to turn around, to ignore it - I was trying to have a relaxing day, for hell’s sake. But I couldn’t stop my feet from pulling me forward towards the crowd. Once I got there, it took me a while to squeeze through everyone, but when I made it to the front, my heart stuttered, then thudded loudly in my ears.
On the screen was a reporter, standing in front of a hill with the mountains rising behind him. Off in the distance, a woman lay on the ground, her face not yet covered by the coroner’s sheet. I could barely see the whips of blonde hair, blowing around her lifeless face. Then two men in black uniforms covered her with a white sheet.
The sheet couldn’t hide the fact that her belly protruded, far along in her pregnancy.
My legs were numb and my fingers tingled. Officials wearing uniforms crawled across the countryside like ants, trying to find some clues as to what had happened. I felt like I was stuck in a nightmare I couldn’t wake myself from.
That hill, with the surroundings, the tall grass, was all too familiar. I’d seen it before, in my dream; the woman on the hill, turning around to look at me, her haunted eyes flashing at me. The wolves running faster and faster, then jumping into an attack.
My head spun, and I clutched the person next to me, trying not to faint. My stomach rolled in agony and fear.
