Dragonmark

by Sherrilyn Kenyon

Why?

  "You said in the beginning that you were afraid I wasn't me, but you're the one who isn't like himself. And it's starting to scare me."

  He lifted his head to stare down at her with a fierce frown. What do you mean?

  She brushed her fingers against his frown to smooth it. "You're like an addict, and you look dreadful. I don't think you're supposed to be in a human body this long."

  Don't be ridiculous.

  Biting her lip, she ran her fingers through his tangled hair. "I'm not, love. You need to look in a mirror. You're very pale. Your eyes are hollow and sunken. Gaunt, even. And you've lost weight. You need to eat and you've got to return to your true form."

  Instead, he kissed her, then slid himself back inside her body. I don't want to leave you.

  "Precious ... you haven't even asked about your brother. Max was wounded badly in the fighting."

  Max?

  Edilyn went cold as she saw the confusion in his eyes. He truly had no recollection of his beloved brother. "Do you know where we are?"

  My father's temple.

  At least he remembered that much. But it wasn't like him to call Apollo father.

  Bloody bastard.

  Worthless ...

  Those were the normal epitaphs for the creature who'd sired him.

  "What else do you recall?"

  He kissed her blind before he began thrusting fiercely against her hips. How much I love you.

  She groaned in pleasure as she struggled to remember herself why this was important. Yet she couldn't let him distract her. Not again. She had to stay focused. Had to make him remember himself. "And?"

  I don't want to talk, Addie. I just want to feast on you. He pulled out of her then so that he could kiss his way down her body until he took her into his mouth and made her forget everything except how talented he was with his tongue.

  Growling deep in her throat, she sank her hand in his hair and spread her thighs wider to give him all the access he wanted to her body.

  At the rate he was going, she'd never walk again. He was merciless and skillful in a way that should be illegal. And when she finally came, it was so intense that she screamed out from it.

  Laughing, he rolled her over so that he could enter her again. This time, he positioned her on her stomach so that he could ride her furiously while his fingers kept time to his strokes.

  And before she knew it, she came with him. His heart pounded against her shoulder while his ragged breath fell against her cheek.

  I love you, Addie.

  "Love you. But you've got to stop this, Illy. You are drakomai! You have to remember that."

  He laid himself over her like a blanket, pressing her deep into the mattress with his weight. Nay ... I'm a man. For you.

  True fear cut through her at those words. This was serious. She needed to get him out of here and away from his uncle's clutches and schemes. There was something about this place that was damaging him. A spell or something ...

  But she would have to be careful. Apollo had them guarded and watched.

  For that reason, she waited until Illarion fell asleep before she scooted away from him and dressed. Slipping off to the bathroom, she made sure that no guard or anyone else could hear her.

  Then she used her powers to summon the last person she really wanted to converse with.

  "Virag," she whispered. "Where are you?"

  "Thought you weren't talking to me again, little sister?"

  "Don't be a jerk. I'm not, but I need you."

  "And I'm the jerk?"

  She scoffed. "Of course you are.... Now can you come to me?"

  "Where are you?"

  "Olympus."

  He let out a sarcastic laugh. "Seriously. Where are you?"

  "Olympus. Seriously. Now haul your butt here."

  He manifested as a shimmering shade next to her. "Wow, you weren't kidding. Why are you here?"

  "Illarion. He's here, too."

  His features paled. "Uh ... then I don't need to be here."

  She held him there with her powers. "Oh no you don't! Stay. I need you."

  "For what? Target practice?"

  "Illarion has forgotten himself."

  He gaped. "How?"

  "I don't know. Nor do I know how to repair it. Do you?"

  "Of course not. I'm a kikimora, not a dragon."

  She gave him a droll, irritated glare.

  "Don't even. It's not like I've had a lot of experience with dragons."

  Growling at him, she nudged him toward the bedroom. "Fine, then. I need you to do what you can."

  His eyes widened. "And that is?"

  "Pretend to be Illarion. They don't care if I'm here or not. But they watch him constantly. You can take on his form. Just pretend to sleep until we get back."

  She expected him to protest.

  But after an excruciating wait, he nodded. "Be careful."

  "Thank you."

  When she started away, Virag caught her hand. "I'm sorry, Eddie. For everything. You were never supposed to get hurt."

  Tears filled her eyes as she remembered the day she'd died in battle. The way it'd felt to see the anguish on Illarion's face and know that she was the cause of it. She'd fought to stay with everything she had.

  But the Fates had cruelly denied them.

  Bitter anger had filled her as she was forced from his side and pain had torn her apart and left her heartbroken.

  Virag had been the first one she'd seen when she'd crossed over to her mother's realm. Even now, she remembered the indignity on his face the moment he realized what had happened to her.

  What Morgen had done.

  "No! This was not the deal! Edilyn was to remain unharmed!"

  Morgen's voice had cut through their realm. "You failed, demon. I warned you the cost of it! No one crosses me!"

  Then, Morgen had unleashed her MODs--her death demons that existed only to hunt and kill--to go after Edilyn even in their realm.

  Virag had grabbed her immediately.

  Their gazes had met in the darkness and he'd given her that big-brother smile that had always promised her protection and safety. "Do you trust me, Eddie?"

  In spite of it all, she'd nodded.

  And when they'd come to kill her, she'd learned the true power of her mother's people. What made them so incredibly sought after by others who wanted to enslave them for their abilities.

  As the MODs had closed in to deal her the last fatal blow that would have ended her existence in all realms, Virag had taken her form and received her death sentence from Morgen's minions without hesitation or reservation.

  Or at least, that had been his plan.

  It wasn't until after she'd seen them kill her body that Virag had appeared by her side, dazed and with tears in his eyes.

  As befuddled and shocked as he appeared, she'd stared at him. "Virag?"

  He'd sniffed back his tears as he took her hand and then run with her before Morgen and the others realized what'd happened. Without explaining why her lifeless body was lying on the ground on the other side of the meadow from where they had fled, he'd taken her to hide deep inside their realm so that no one could find them.

  Only when they were safe and far away from Morgen's reach did he finally explain what had happened on her arrival to the fey realm.

  "I was supposed to die for you, Eddie. To make up for what I'd done to you and Illarion." Sobs had racked him. "But she didn't give me a chance to make it right." A tear had slid down his cheek. When he spoke, his voice had broken on a sob. "That was our mother just then. She cast me out of your body at the last minute and took my place when they attacked. She's the one they killed in your body."

  Edilyn had started after her, but he'd stopped her.

  "It's too late. She's gone."

  "Nay! I want to see her!"

  Clearing his throat, he'd gathered her into his arms. "I know and I'm so sorry. All of this is my fault. But if you go back now, they'll kill you and undo her sacrifice."