Chapter Five
First Dragon, above and below, Azynsa straddling him was the most beautiful sight under the sun. She was finally in his arms and her dark skin and long black hair was calling for him to touch and tease.
Before another second passed he needed to mark her, claim her, unite their souls for all time. He knew that just as he’d known a new power had sunk into him when he’d seen her. Both had hit him so damn hard, it had knocked him to his knees.
He couldn’t feel any stronger, except if he had his dragon back. That part of him still felt empty, but the warmth of having his mate by his side filled that hole with the strength of a thousand suns.
“Get up, you damn fools, and run.” Jett whooshed over their heads and farther down the tunnel. Not far behind him was the horde of demon dragons.
He thought there had been a lot of them at the battle he’d fought with Jakob and Ciara. This was ten times that. They screeched and came at them like pissed off pissants whose hill been smashed.
But, who cared. Cage had found his mate and now they were going to fight their way out of here.
He and Azynsa scrambled to their feet and he grabbed her hand. He shouted to Jett’s behind. “Lead the way, oh black–souled one.”
Together, they ran, twisting and turning through a maze of tunnels. Demon dragons popped up at every corner. Jett dispatched the first few with his talons or his fire, until they figured out where the weakness was. Mainly Cage and Azynsa.
“To where? Now that they have seen you and your mate, they will be everywhere. Kur-Jara won't be far behind. He wants her bad. The demon dragons are all wound up about it.”
One of the little bastards popped up behind them. Azynsa squealed and shoved her blade right through its eye.
That was fucking sexy as hell. He’d known she was a badass, but to see it in person was hot. He’d love to spar with her someday, just as foreplay. First, they had to escape.
“Can we get out the same way Jakob and Ky did?” Jett was turning out to be a shitty guide.
“Not unless you are a green dragon and not a gold one, or your mate there has some special powers I don't know about.”
They hit a dead-end and both he and Jett turned to look at Azynsa.
“What do you want from me? I can turn into half a fish. But, unless you think these guys want a dragon fish sandwich for dinner, that's not going to help.” What she didn't say, but that was clear in her voice, was that she thought the two of them were dumbasses.
God, he could kiss her right here and now. Smart mouth with a sense of humor in a damn tight situation. Adorable. However, he would save kissing for later when they weren't all about to die.
A great roar reverberated through the tunnel followed by a swath of fire that disintegrated the majority of the demon dragons. The remaining ones shrank back.
Unless that was miraculously Match, they were about to get a visit from the Black Dragon himself.
The only way out was to fight. There was no way he was making it through six out of the seven gates of hell, surviving an attack by Annunaki and demon dragons, and actually finding Azynsa alive and in good shape, to die at the hands of that son of a bitch. But, he was still weak, and a mirror and a sword weren't helping him come up with anyway out of this situation.
Cage was no God damned knight in shining armor here to slay the dragon.
Azynsa gripped his hand tighter. “Anyone got any bright ideas on what to do now?”
Oh, fuck yeah. Bright was exactly the right idea. He yanked the mirror off of his belt and shoved it into her hand. “Hold this.”
He traded the mirror for her sword, shoving the extra blade into his belt. He may need it later.
Not at all how he had planned to gift the mirror to her, but maybe he would not die in the next twenty-seven seconds and could do a better job later. Azynsa stared at the gold and glass and gasped.
“Where did you get my mother's mirror?”
“Later. Hold it up and out like a cross at an exorcism.”
“Whatever your planning, hurry the fuck up.” Jett lifted his snout and blew his own fire back into the tunnel. “Because that is only going to hold him off for about three and half seconds.”
“When I say go, point that mirror right at the Black Dragon’s eyes. Jett, when she does, hit him with everything you've got and then grab us. We'll have only an instant to get by him and back on the run.”
Neither of them had time to agree to his plan because just then, the Black Dragon showed up.
Its huge body filled the only exit and it sauntered in like it owned the place, which it did.
Cage held his sword out with one hand, keeping the demon dragons at bay and cupped his other hand, concentrated every shred of the sunlight inside of him into a dense ball. When he opened his fist, the light filled the area around the dead end in a blinding flash.
“Go, love. Hit him with the light.”
The initial explosion of light diminished and Azynsa was right there with the mirror manipulating the reflected beam directly at the Black Dragon's face like a laser.
The Black Dragon growled and recoiled. Azynsa had to adjust and maneuver so that the light continued to hit him. She found exactly the sweet spot and drilled that beam of light directly into his black eyeball. When she did, Jett blasted the Black Dragon with a burst of flames and threw his own body at its chest.
The distraction of sunlight in this bleak underground hell and the fact that Black Dragon must not have expected them to put up much of a fight, because, even though Jett's body was half the size, they tumbled backward into the wall behind. The cave all around them shook and rocks tumbled from the ceiling.
Jett thrashed and pounded at his opponent, not following through with grabbing the two of them and flying out of there.
Azynsa could no longer focus the mirror with Jett and the Black Dragon fighting each other. Cage pulled the power of the sun back inside himself.
Good, he’d have some energy for later.
He slashed at the demon dragons nearest them who disappeared, not into the black puffs of ash and smoke with their death, but teleported across the room.
Each time he struck one of them, the sword hit flesh and bone, but then glided through it like a puff of wind. They reappeared around the Black Dragon.
Great. Another new trick to fight against. At least they weren’t able to get to Azynsa and her mirror.
Jett hit the Black Dragon again with his tail, but it ducked, and the spikes on Jett's tail hit the wall, causing more of a cave in. Jett did not relent, which was not the plan. Cage could see there would be no reaching the rogue in his current state of mind. If ever there was a berserker dragon, Jett was it.
He was out for the Black Dragon’s blood. Cage should have guessed this was Jett’s original intent.
The Black Dragon retaliated with a swipe of its own tail which caught Jett in the shoulder. He cracked against the wall and a fissure snaked its way up the rock. Cage glimpsed the tiniest bit of light leaking through that crack. Wherever was on the other side of that wall, was the only escape route.
The ground shook like an earthquake under the force of the dragon’s battle. It wouldn’t be long now.
Cage pressed his mouth to Azynsa ear, which might have been necessary for her to hear him over the din, but it was certainly no hardship. The scent of rain over the ocean enveloped him and he would never forget it. Damn it, he needed to concentrate on getting her to safety not on how he couldn’t wait to taste her. “On his next hit, run.”
“Where?”
Jett didn't miss a beat and rolled with the next hit using the Black Dragon's momentum to yank it up and into the air. It hit the wall hard enough to not only expand the crack like Cage had thought it would, but broke right through and into a huge cavern lit by pools of lava.
“There, go, go, go.” He pushed Azynsa forward, she was off and running without his help.
Azynsa continued to hold the mirror in front of her which he couldn’t blame her for seeing as she had no other weapon anymore. Cage slashed at more demon dragons, who this time appeared in the open cavern as he struck them. Slick bastards.
Jett flew at the Black Dragon, who was still pulling himself up from the floor of the larger cavern it had fallen into. The Black Dragon twisted at the last moment and tossed Jett over and passed him. Jett used his wings to slow himself down, but it was too quick for him to expand them fully and he skidded to the edge of a pool of lava.
“I know where we are now, and I think I can get us to my hiding place.” Azynsa pointed to a tunnel not far from them. If Jett continue to battle the Black Dragon, they could probably slip away unnoticed. Cage gritted his teeth. The rogue might be a total dickhead, he didn't deserve this fate.
Damn, Cage needed his dragon now. Together the two of them might be able to injure the Black Dragon at least, and at best capture him. But, Cage didn't have his dragon.
“Ready to try that trick again?”
Before she could agree Jett yelled into their heads. “Get her the fuck out of here. I will find you for that favor later.”
There was no time for an argument. If the rogue thought he could take care of himself, Cage had to believe it. His number one priority was Azynsa. Together the two of them would figure out a way out of hell, with or without Jett. The Black Dragon hurdled himself at Jett again and this was the perfect opportunity to get away. Cage kept them both close to the wall and worked his way over to the tunnel she had indicated. He ducked inside to make sure the coast was clear and expecting her to come in right behind him. She stood frozen at the entryway.
“Azynsa, come on. The coast is clear. Only you know the way.”
She didn't move, in fact, she wasn’t even breathing. Cage tried to pull her into the tunnel, but she swatted him away.
“He'll be fine, let's go.”
“But, she won’t,” Azynsa said and pointed to the other side of the cavern.
Cage popped his head back out and saw an old woman appeared there, gripping the arm of another younger woman, hauling her along.
“You lied, child,” she croaked. “Now, face the consequences.” The old woman shoved the girl between the Black Dragon and Jett. She would be crushed between the two combatants.
“No.” Azynsa jumped forward, reaching her arms out as if she could save the woman who was at least ten meters away.
Cage grabbed for Azynsa but missed her and she ran into the fray.
The Black Dragon, who had his claws aimed directly at Jett's chest via the woman, pulled up and swerved at the last moment, catching her in the face and snapping her head back. She crashed into the floor and rolled toward the lava pool.
Azynsa dove and reached the woman before she could tumble into the liquid hot rock. Cage put on a burst of speed and caught up with them both, pulling them back away from the edge.
“Well, what do we have here? A weak warrior, a missing mate, and a traitor. The exact three things I've been looking for.” The Black Dragon landed and hulked over the three of them. “Release her.”
Cage put himself between the Black Dragon and the women. The fucker would have to go through him first. Although, it would be nice if Jett continued his berserking.
“Your new friend can't help you now.” The Black Dragon lowered his wings and stepped to the side. Jett was behind him and pinned to the ceiling with absolutely nothing holding him there.
“The Black Witch has him now,” Azynsa whispered from behind him. She had shoved the mirror into her belt like it was a sword and cradled the head of the woman, who was unconscious, in her hands.
This woman was obviously important to the Black Dragon. Maybe he could trade her for Jett. But, what if she was another mate, kidnapped by him. That was a no-win situation. If Cage had learned anything in his two hundred years, it was how to negotiate. There was always something that could be bartered. “What is it that you want Kur-Jara?”
The Black Dragon chuckled or growled, Cage couldn't be sure which, and demon dragons sprouted up from the shadows beneath his wings. They surrounded Cage and the two women, pinning them with only the lava to their backs. It shifted into his human form, a man with long dark hair that reminded Cage more of a clichéd vampire than a dragon warrior.
“So, you and your Wyverns brothers have finally learned who I am. I'm a little surprised, seeing as your fathers weren't smart enough to even learn of my existence.”
“We know all about you now and how you are the Black Witch's bitch.” This guy had the ego the size of hell itself. Any slight would keep him off guard.
“You know nothing. If she and her spells weren’t useful to me, I would have roasted her centuries ago.”
The Black Witch scoffed from behind them.
“I'll deal with you later, Ereshkigal.” The two glared at each other.
The interaction made Cage even wonder if they were working together. He'd remember that and try to use it against them when he could.
“You haven't answered my question. What do you want?” Cage recognized the stalling tactic when he saw it. There was something about the situation that was off for Kur-Jara. The longer he could draw that out, the more time it gave him to come up with a plan.
“I want a lot of things, little golden boy. My birthright, for instance. But, for now I'll be happy with your soul.”
Interesting and also nope. “It's not mine to give.”
Azynsa owned his soul. He had yet to even claim hers. The tiniest ray of an idea shined into Cage's mind.
“Ah, yes. Your mate. She's given me almost more trouble than she's worth.”
A ripple of power burst from behind Cage and Azynsa told the Black Dragon exactly how she felt about that. “Fuck you, asshole. Why don't you call off your guard dogs and come at me like a man for once?”
Yep, that was his mate calling out the Black Dragon like he was some little punk.
What a woman.
“Stop touching her,” Kur-Jara snapped.
Cage wasn't touching anyone. Azynsa was though. And there it was. Kur-Jara's problem, the reason he hadn't already tried to take what he wanted from them, what had him so worked up. The woman Azynsa had wanted so badly to save was also important to Kur-Jara. Was she his mate?
Jett’s strained voice filtered into Cage's head. “His daughter.”
What the fuck?
The Black Dragon family tree was sprouting branches all over the place.
Now that was something to negotiate with.
“Why don't we make a deal? Your girl there, for mine.”
Both Kur-Jara and Azynsa shouted “no” at the same time.
Cage didn't know what Azynsa's connection was with Kur-Jara's daughter, but he would have to override whatever it was for her safety and freedom.
“Don't you even think about it,” she whispered from behind him.
He'd lost his edge if everybody could tell what he was thinking. Fine, on to plan B.
He'd been there when Jakob and Ciara had mated. Both Jakob and Ky had reported that when they first met their mates, their soul shards had glowed, and they had come into more power. Of course, Cage’s own mating was all screwed up because he didn't have his soul shard. He had to believe that the results of the process would produce similar effects.
First Dragon, let this work. Because if it didn't, he was only going to piss Kur-Jara off more and not be able to defend himself or Azynsa.
“Sorry, asshole. You're not getting anyone's soul today.”
Cage pivoted and pulled Azynsa to him. “Forgive me.”
He pushed her hair aside and sunk his teeth into the soft flesh at her neck. Her hands went to his shoulders and gripped him tight. She arched into him, the same way he hoped she would someday soon when he was buried deep inside of her. She moaned low and dug her fingernails into his skin. She tasted of salt and sweet golden honey.
In his mind he thought, “You belong to me and I belong to you. Forever.”
A flash of light exploded from the shard at her throat, but only the two of them felt its power.
He released Azynsa’s collarbone from his bite and saw pearlescent golden scales ripple across her skin. They traveled along her body, upper arms, and through her fingers onto his shoulders.
She jerked her hand away and scowled at him. Then, she slapped him. There was a litany of unspoken words in her eyes.
He nodded, accepting her rebuke and said, “That's my girl.”
He would apologize for her lack of consent in this plan for the rest of his days. Which made him smile, because he knew now they were going to have many days together. She was his mate, and he was hers.
That changed something deep inside of him and the parts that were missing, that he'd given away for nothing more than sex, were now returned.
The scales solidified and hardened on Cage's skin. With each one he felt a pulse of power pushing into his core. Hot wind swirled throughout the cavern, whipping through Azynsa's hair. The wind and the power warmed him like sunshine from the inside out, and with a roar he shifted into a great Gold Dragon.