Darklis and Liev
What... what was that?!
Darklis managed to resist the urge to shake her head, but she couldn’t stop herself from gasping in surprise as she felt... something... echo through her chest.
Blinking, she tried to make herself focus on it, to block out everything else.
Was it my dragon? Has it returned to me at last?
Squeezing her eyes shut, she tried to find the feeling again, but it was gone. It had only been brief, just the most fleeting of sensations.
But it was there, I know it! If only I had more time...
But time was the one thing she knew she didn’t have.
Well. There were plenty of things she didn’t have, but right now, time was the most pressing.
Erik Lukich had been in quiet conversation with the other dragon – Dante, that was his name, wasn’t it? – ever since he had made the threat against her brother. He hadn’t even spared her the most cursory of glances. Clearly, he thought her well and truly subdued.
Which is exactly what I wanted.
She’d done her best to play-act the part of someone who was totally defeated; someone who had given up all hope of rescue.
Because what she really needed was time to think.
He’s going to use the scepter on himself, Darklis thought, watching the two dragons from beneath her eyelashes. He can’t shift without it. But how is he planning on luring Stefan here? And more importantly, what can I do to stop it?
Darklis watched as Erik and Dante spoke. Every now and then she could see Dante’s eyes flicker back to her, clearly keeping a close watch on her.
Darklis made certain not to react. But in her head, she could still hear the desperation in Dante’s voice as he had told her that he had no choice but to help the manticores. She could see the barely veiled pain in his eyes.
He’s the key, she thought to herself, as Erik turned away, walking to the far side of the room. If I can just make him realize that Liev and I could help him...
But how would she get the chance to talk to him, to try to convince him, with Erik in the room?
“Well. I certainly am pleased. It seems like manticores are good for something after all.”
Darklis turned her head slightly as Erik’s voice rang out from across the room. Raising her eyes, she saw he was holding something that shone brightly even in the dim light of the room. She recognized it instantly as the scepter that had been stolen from the Drakos Clan’s hoard. It certainly was superb: the golden dragon on the end was perfectly rendered and lifelike, and even its ruby dragonfire seemed to dance in the shifting light, as if it were truly a flickering flame.
Inside her chest, Darklis felt a sudden jerk, as if someone had her heart on a string, and had just given it a sudden tug. It was as if seeing such a magnificent treasure had awoken something inside her: something that hungered for the gold it was crafted from, the jewels that were embedded in its length.
My dragon.
Excitement coursed through her at the realization. Sure, humans wanted to be wealthy and a lot of them went to extreme lengths for money. But it was nothing like the hunger dragons felt when they spied a particularly beautiful item that would be perfect for their hoard.
A dragon’s hoard was the source of its power, after all. It made sense that they would hunger for anything that added to it, made it more powerful.
And now, Darklis could feel that familiar hunger unfurling inside her, at the sight of the beautiful scepter.
“Yes, it is gorgeous, isn’t it,” Erik purred suddenly, as if he had read her mind. “Truly a remarkable piece. But it’s not only its beauty that makes this scepter so desirable. It’s also the magical powers it has been imbued with. The power to teleport. The power to stun an enemy. But more important than either of those, the power to take away a shifter’s power – or to give it back.”
Darklis shifted uneasily. If Erik used the scepter on himself, then it was all over.
Liev, she thought desperately. If her dragon was stirring within her, then perhaps his was too. If she could only reach him...
Liev, please. I need you!
***
Deep inside his chest, Liev felt something stir. It felt as if his heart had suddenly moved inside him, the rhythm of its beat changing somehow. He blinked as his blood surged strangely in his veins, feeling as if it was burning, filled with fire...
I know this feeling.
His dragon.
Rowena was turned away from him, speaking quietly on her cell phone. Probably arranging for someone to come and take his blood from him so they could sell it on the streets to whoever would buy it. Gangsters, thieves, bank robbers – there was no shortage of people who would be able to see the benefits of drinking dragon’s blood, Liev was certain.
But if this feeling within me truly is my dragon...
Then perhaps he had a chance of escaping this place. And of saving Darklis from wherever she had been taken.
As soon as the words entered his head, he heard a sudden, faint sound, as if in answer to his thoughts.
Liev sucked in a quick breath. Could it be...?
Closing his eyes, he focused all his attention on the faint sound he had heard within him. It was only the softest echo, nothing more than a whisper – but he knew it was real.
Darklis!
Knitting his brows, Liev reached out to her with his mind, grasping, clinging, to any trace of her he could find. Behind his eyes, he saw a golden, shining light, rising up as if from the depths of a dark ocean, growing clearer and clearer with every passing moment.
The mated bond.
He could see it – he could feel it. Glowing brightly and stretching out from inside him, connecting him to his one true mate.
Liev! Liev, is that you?
Darklis’s voice sounded in his head, as clear and perfect as the ringing of a bell.
Darklis! I’ve found you. Are you unhurt?
Tension wound in Liev’s chest. Darklis didn’t sound hurt, but he had to be certain.
I’m fine, Liev. You worry about yourself! Where are you?
I do not know, Darklis. But I promise you, I will find you.
The golden glow of the mated bond gave a sudden pulse, like the beating of a heart. All at once, its light flared, and Liev felt warmth surge through his chest.
What was that?
I don’t know, Darklis replied, her voice cautious. Or perhaps I do...
Once again, the bond pulsed – and this time, it was more than warmth that Liev felt coursing through him. It was pure, unadulterated strength.
And then, Liev felt something else stirring within him: something with wings and claws and teeth, and fury enough to burn the whole world if that’s what it took to get his mate to safety.
My dragon.
***
Darklis stifled a gasp as she heard the roar of Liev’s dragon within him. Even another shifter would have been frightened to hear that sound: the sound of a dragon bellowing in rage at having been shut away when it was needed. The fury of a creature who would protect its loved ones until its dying breath.
And then, somewhere inside her, she felt an answering roar; an answering bellow of rage.
My dragon!
Tears sprang into her eyes as she felt the familiar presence within her. But even as she felt her dragon rising within her, she knew she would have to wait just a little while longer yet.
Gritting her teeth, she opened her eyes, training them on Erik Lukich’s back. She could not risk him knowing what was happening.
Liev. Listen to me.
Of course. Liev’s response was instantaneous.
I can sense my dragon within me, but it’s weak. I think... I think only one of us will be able to shift. And I think it should be you.
There was a brief pause. Then: What do you mean? Darklis, if you can get out of danger now, then I –
Liev, just listen to me. Darklis thought over her options quickly, wondering how she could concisely explain her theory. We can sense our dragons. But our dragons are still fighting against the suppressing magic. I think bringing them to the surface – shifting – will take a lot of strength. More strength than either one of us has at the moment on our own.
She took a deep breath. She could feel Liev’s interest in what she was saying, but also his resistance to what he was beginning to realize was her idea.
But I can send you my strength, she sent to him. Through the mated bond. But it’s likely I won’t have enough strength to shift myself if I do.
Silence. Then: Darklis, I don’t –
I can’t fight Erik Lukich, Darklis interrupted him. My brother Stefan is ten times stronger than I am, and he barely survived his fight with Erik. I’ll be doomed if I try. But I know you can fight those manticores. And then...
She trailed off. But she could already sense that Liev understood her.
And then, I’ll come for you, he sent to her.
***
I know you will.
The love and trust in Darklis’s voice squeezed Liev’s heart in a vise, and made his dragon, still rising within him, roar in triumph.
Our mate needs us! Our mate trusts that we will save her!
Liev could feel its wings unfurling within him as the golden bond pulsed again, filling him with strength. His heart pounded, blood surging in his veins. Heat flared through him – the heat of dragonfire.
That’s it, Liev!
Darklis was sending him her strength. He could feel it now – something that was composed of both of them, stronger than anything they could have done alone.
His dragon shook its head as if shaking off sleep, its teeth glistening, eyes filled with rage.
Who did this to me? Who sealed me away when I was needed? They will pay! They will all pay!
The mated bond became molten with heat and strength, as Darklis sent him everything she had – everything he would need to transform, and break through the chains that bound him.
Almost, Darklis, almost... I’m so close...
His dragon was at last in reach, surging upwards, almost at the surface now.
From the corner of his eye, Liev saw a sudden movement, and realized that Rowena had spun around to look at him once more, her cell phone still held to her ear.
“No – no!”
Her furious shout echoed around the warehouse as she realized what was happening. Clearly, her shifter senses had suddenly alerted her to the return of his dragon, as its power spread out through the air around them. Shifters could sense each other, after all, sometimes before they had even laid eyes on one another.
Rowena’s eyes blazed, her mouth contorting in anger. She threw her cellphone aside.
“Don’t you fucking dare!” she screamed, her voice taking on an otherworldly quality that Liev knew meant she was about to shift.
I need to hurry, Darklis!
If Rowena completed her shift and injured him badly, he’d be helpless. A manticore – with its lion’s teeth and scorpion’s tail – had a range of weapons at its disposal. Its venom could penetrate even a dragon’s tough scales – and it was utterly deadly.
In response to his cry, Liev felt another pulse of pure strength surge through him.
In the next moment his dragon lifted its neck, head held high, wings beating the air as it roared, dragonfire rising in its throat.
You’ve done it, Liev!
And it was true. Liev felt himself changing, the chains that had bound him snapping like string as his arms became the scaled forelegs of his dragon. Massive black wings unfolded from his back, powerful enough to carry even his enormous form high into the skies above. Claws sprouted from his fingers, his teeth becoming longer and sharp as sabers.
At last, it was finished. The dragon’s strength was his once more – as well as the dragon’s power.
And now, we will make the ones who have done this pay, his dragon bellowed, voice rich with anger.
We will, Liev agreed with it, as he lifted his head high, and roared.