Liev
Liev’s roar echoed through the vast space of the warehouse.
His dragon’s vision, misted over with red, took in everything, its heightened senses able to detect things his human form simply couldn’t. It was nighttime outside; he could sense the position of the moon above. He was no longer in the city – the air smelled too clean for that, even in this musty warehouse. But most importantly, he could sense that Rowena and Norman were alone here with him. There were no other manticores he’d have to deal with.
Stupid, he thought – but then Rowena had made her arrogance clear the moment she’d opened her mouth. She clearly hadn’t felt he was any threat to her at all. But she was wrong, Liev thought, fury simmering in his belly. And now, it is time to make her pay for it.
Rowena had shifted, of course, her manticore’s monstrous form crouched on the far side of the warehouse. Manticores were almost as big as dragons, with the body of a lion and the wings of an eagle – but what made them truly dangerous were their scorpion’s tails, dripping with venom that could kill even a dragon.
Rowena’s tail was poised now, waving back and forth as she tried to line up a strike in the confined space they found themselves in. Liev was bigger than her, and while he didn’t know her background, he doubted she had as much training in all forms of fighting as he had. Being able to defend himself had been something he had learned from the moment could walk.
And he knew that sometimes, the best form of defense was to attack.
Bellowing in rage, Liev threw himself forward before Rowena could have a chance to react. He saw surprise flash in the yellow of her eyes, before her tail flicked forward, spitting venom. It clearly wasn’t the precise strike she had wanted, and the powerful, viscous substance spattered across the room.
Liev felt a searing pain in his shoulder as a few droplets landed on his scales, but he ignored it. If he’d been in human form it would have been deadly, but as a dragon, his body could deal with it – it was only a small amount, and it had only glanced across his scales. Adrenaline surged within him, and the pain receded to nothing.
Snarling, Liev slammed into Rowena with all the strength and force he could muster, sending her flying back against the sturdy concrete wall behind her. The entire building rattled on its foundations, dust pouring from the high ceiling.
The manticore roared in pain as she rolled over, trying to find her feet. She was clearly stunned from the blow, and Liev could see that one of her wings had clearly borne the brunt of the impact: it hung down by her side at an unnatural angle.
Manticores healed just as quickly as dragons, and Liev knew it was hardly an injury that could keep her down for long.
But it might be enough...
He didn’t have time to waste here, fighting Rowena and Norman. He had to get to Darklis, before Erik Lukich carried out whatever his plans were.
Growling, he swung his body around, whipping his thick tail through the air. It caught Rowena in a blow across her side, sending her tumbling back against the wall once more, her massive lion’s paws knocked out from under her.
Satisfied that she was down at least for the moment, Liev swung his head around, looking for Norman, expecting to find that he too had shifted. But instead, he saw him standing opened-mouthed by the door of the warehouse, his eyes moving quickly between Liev and Rowena – before he suddenly turned and ran.
Coward, thought Liev contemptuously. Ordinarily, he might have followed him – but now, he simply could not afford the time.
I have to get out of here. I have to find Darklis.
His dragon’s massive body wouldn’t be able to fit through the human-sized doorway that Norman had just fled through. He’d have to find another way out.
Thinking quickly, Liev looked up. While the roof was mainly corrugated iron, there was a large skylight above him.
It’s big enough, Liev decided. He’d have to fold his wings close to his body, but he was sure he could fit through...
It’s not big enough, his dragon argued.
It’ll have to be, Liev told it, unless you have a better idea.
His dragon’s snarl, followed by silence, told him all he needed to know.
Crouching for only a second, Liev propelled himself up, his powerful wings beating only once before he drew them close to his body, allowing his momentum to carry him.
Liev ducked his head slightly to protect the soft scales of his throat from the shards of glass that would shortly be raining down around him.
He hit the glass with a thunderous CRASH, easily smashing through it and shooting upward into the night sky. He could feel the glass, sharp as knives, rip into the thin membrane of his wings, but he could not bring himself to care. The pain was only momentary, before it was erased by the dragon’s pure fury – and the need to find its mate.
Darklis! Where have they taken you?
Spreading his wings wide once more, Liev bellowed his rage into the limitless expanse of the sky. He could feel the heat of dragonfire in his belly.
Liev... is that you?
Darklis’s voice sounded thin and thready. Clearly, sending him the amount of energy needed for him to be able to shift had taken its toll.
It’s me, Darklis. I’m coming for you, Liev sent to her. Reaching inside himself, he found the golden ribbon of their mated bond at once. Through it, he would be able to find Darklis. He would be able to sense his way to her, the bond acting as a guide.
Please... please hurry. I don’t know what Erik is going to do, but...
Liev didn’t waste a moment. With a single beat of his powerful wings, he was on his way.
I’m coming, I promise you, Liev sent, frantically hoping she could still hear him. What if the softness of Darklis’s voice wasn’t only because sending him such a huge amount of energy had weakened her? What if Erik had done something to harm her?
Then he will die by my claws! Liev’s dragon roared out, as its wings beat the air, propelling it forward.
In the part of his mind that was still fully human, Liev thought that it was fortunate that night had fallen – if any human on the ground looked up, the most they would see was a dark blur, moving through the sky. He could see that this area was still populated, but, it seemed, only sparsely: lights from house windows twinkled between trees, and he could make out the winding path of a road, lined by streetlights. But this was certainly not the city they had found themselves in when they had first been sucked through the portal.
The ground below was densely forested, the houses few and far between. Clearly, wherever Rowena and Erik had moved them to was quite isolated.
Then we won’t have to worry about being seen when we tear Erik Lukich to pieces, his dragon thought.
Liev, in his human mind, smiled grimly. No, we won’t. But first we have to get to him.
The golden rope of the mated bond shone the way. He followed it, straining his wings to go faster, faster.
We must hurry!
A dragon’s body was fast and strong, and could take almost any kind of punishment. But even Liev could feel the strain he was putting on his wings as he forced himself to fly faster and faster, desperate to reach his mate.
My mate. My precious mate. I will find you. And I will destroy the ones who have taken you.
Seething, Liev snapped his jaws, feeling the ache in his body melt away, even as he pushed himself to his limits.
I’m getting closer...
He could sense it. Not only was the mated bond glowing brighter than ever, he could feel the presence of other dragons now.
One of them was unmistakable – it hovered on the edge of his mind like a dark and powerful force, just out of sight.
It must be Erik Lukich.
He had only met Erik once or twice, when he’d been a small child and his father had taken him with him to a meeting of clan leaders. He had only seen Erik in his human form, but even then, he could tell how powerful he was – and how terrifying.
The presence he could sense now felt the same way. It had to be Lukich.
We will make him pay. He will die for what he’s done.
Liev nodded, feeling tension crawl through his belly. He was confident in his abilities, it was true. He had years of training behind him – and aside from that, he was a Drakos. The Drakos Clan had always prided themselves on their courage in battle.
But it didn’t change the fact that Erik was an extremely powerful dragon.
It does not matter, his dragon raged. The only thing that matters is that he took our mate! We must find her. We must find her, and claim her and crown her. Then she will be ours, and we will be hers.
We will, Liev promised it, as he began to fly lower, barely skimming over the tops of the trees. Suddenly, the trees disappeared from beneath him, and Liev found himself flying over a large body of water. He looked about, his dragon’s keen night vision taking in every detail. He was still going in the right direction, he was certain of it...
Ah. There.
In the distance, he saw what he was looking for. A house on an island – if it could even be called a house. It was more like a castle, pointing up from between the thick trees that covered the island where it sat in the middle of the vast lake.
There. They are there.
Angling his wings slightly, Liev forced himself to slow down even as all his dragon’s instincts screamed at him to land on the roof and tear it open, before closing his jaws around Erik Lukich’s throat. He didn’t know how many dragons were inside – he could sense Darklis, of course, but Erik Lukich’s power was so great that it was hard to tell if there was anyone else.
Turning, he swept around the house in a massive arc, surveying it. His dragon was all but writhing in its eagerness to fight, but Liev forced it to calm down.
Remember what our fencing master said, he reminded it. Survey your surroundings. Always be aware of what’s going on around you. Don’t rush into a fight unprepared.
Kill! his dragon howled, flames licking at its jaws. Kill them all!
For a moment, Liev could feel dragonfire building within him, and he almost let fly with a stream of it at the house. But then, remembering how weak Darklis had sounded, he forced himself to stop. The only flame that could harm a dragon was dragonfire. And if Darklis was weakened, she may be badly hurt if he did anything rash.
Darklis! He called her name through the mated bond, reaching for her desperately with his mind. Darklis, can you hear me?
There was a long pause before she answered.
I’m here, Liev.
His heart leapt at the sound of her voice, but he could hear the fear in it.
Are you all right? What have they done to you?
I’m fine Liev, just... oh God. Liev...!
Fear ripped through him like a tidal wave. His dragon let out a deafening roar as it folded its wings and dove, speeding through the air toward the roof of the house.
If they have harmed you Darklis, I swear that I will –
It’s not that, Liev, Darklis’s panic-stricken voice interrupted him. It’s Erik, he’s –
In the next moment, whatever she had been going to say was drowned out by the sound of a terrible crashing sound beneath him, followed by a bellow of pure fury.
Shocked, Liev was only just quick enough to swerve out of the way as an enormous green dragon suddenly surged toward him, red eyes glowing in the darkness of the night.
Erik Lukich.
Shocked at the size and power of him, Liev could barely process what had just happened. He risked a glance down, only to see a gaping hole had been torn through the roof of the mansion below. Roof tiles were still spinning through the air, wooden beams hanging limply. One of the castle-like turrets had crashed to the ground, its stones spilling across the expansive lawn.
Clearly, in his rage that someone was daring to tamper with his plans, Erik had simply shifted and then smashed straight through the roof.
Liev turned in the sky, twisting his body to follow Erik’s trajectory. Clearly, he had been hoping to crash straight into him, and use the element of surprise to catch Liev utterly off-guard. It had been only Darklis’s hasty warning and Liev’s own quick movement that had saved him. If not for that, Liev was certain that his neck would now be between Erik Lukich’s jaws, and he would be preparing to breathe his last.
So. You escaped.
Erik’s voice sounded in his head as Liev twisted around, scooping his wings to keep himself airborne. Finally, he spotted the massive green dragon again as it turned slowly through the sky with long beats of its enormous wings.
You took my mate! Liev couldn’t stop his furious bellow in response. I’ll kill you for that.
He could sense Erik’s surprise in the pause that followed.
Your mate? Perhaps I should have known, he finally said, his voice tinged with black humor. That one seems to have a lucky star over her head.
He let out a low laugh. The sound of it sent a chill down Liev’s spine.
But no matter. You are easily dealt with. And then I will return to more important matters.
Liev felt rage tearing through him, his vision once more misting over with red.
Shut up and fight me, then, he roared, filling his wings with air and propelling himself forward, straight at Erik’s massive form. You won’t leave here alive, I swear it!
Won’t I? Erik’s voice was sardonic. In the distance, Liev could see his red eyes flash, see the gathering of dragonfire at his jaws. I don’t think you should be making promises you have no possible way of keeping.
The next thing Liev knew, a white-hot stream of dragonfire had burst through the air in front of him, forcing him to turn suddenly in order to avoid being burned alive.
Even though he managed to avoid the brunt of the flame, he could still feel the scales on his side curling with its heat, the sensitive membrane of his wings scorched and blackened.
Pain lanced through him, and he let out a small howl of surprise. Erik was even stronger than he had thought – he had shot the flames at him from a shocking distance away.
I will need to be careful. Erik is no ordinary opponent.
Although his small injuries from the fight with Rowena had already healed, healing took energy. His swift flight to find Darklis had strained his body, whereas Erik, newly shifted, was fresh for the fight.
Gritting his teeth, Liev wheeled in the sky, trying to make his movements as unpredictable as possible. He had hoped he might end this quickly – but now he could see he was going to have to be far more cautious.
Remember your mate, his dragon roared. Remember that you are not fighting for yourself – you are fighting for her!
With that, Liev felt a fresh burst of energy flow through his body. A dragon would stop at nothing to protect his mate. No matter what, he would fight to the end. He had to win, if Erik was to be stopped from enacting whatever terrible revenge he had planned for Darklis – and her clan.
Fury rising anew within him, Liev swung around, letting dragonfire surge from his jaws. The jet of flame shot through the air, forcing Erik to dodge, massive wings scooping the air.
Liev anticipated his move and threw himself upward, colliding bodily with Erik. Liev’s claws found the softness of Erik’s sides and tore into them, leaving whatever wounds he could. Then he sprang back, releasing the other dragon, his wings propelling him away as quickly as possible. Liev knew he couldn’t beat Erik on power or strength – so he would just have to settle for using speed instead.
Erik roared in fury, his claws tearing through the air where Liev had been only a moment before. If Liev had been a split second slower to make his escape, those claws would have been buried in his flesh.
Don’t think about that. Concentrate!
Darklis’s voice from below him sent a jolt through his entire body.
Darklis! Are you all right??
Don’t worry about me, worry about Erik! came her reply, a moment before another stream of deadly dragonfire shot past him, forcing him to dodge.
Good advice, he sent back to her.
Shooting upwards, he once again tried for a speed attack, lashing out with his teeth and claws as he rose up past Erik’s massive form.
But this time, it was clear that Erik had been waiting for him.
He twisted in the air as Liev shot past him, jaws open, red eyes glowing in the darkness. Fire surged forth from his mouth, catching Liev in the shoulder and neck as he rose.
It was only with effort that he stopped himself from roaring in pain – the heat was unbearable, his scales offering no protection whatsoever against the heat of Erik’s flames. His shoulder was engulfed in agony – but at least Erik had missed his wing. Without his wings, he would truly be done for.
But if he injures me like that again...
Liev couldn’t afford another blast like that. Erik had clearly worked out he was relying on his speed, and so had set out to slow him down. Once he could no longer make such swift strikes and then retreat, the fight would come down to a matter of strength and endurance – in other words, a fight that Liev couldn’t hope to win.
You can do it, Liev. I believe in you.
Liev spread his wings, unfurling them into the night sky. Pain seared through his shoulder, but he ignored it.
My mate, he thought, letting forth a mighty roar. For my mate!