Josie
Oh my... oh my God...
Josie wasn’t sure what she’d been expecting to see when she peered up from behind the rock she’d dived behind to escape the fire, but it sure wasn’t this.
Okay, maybe that’s not quite true, Josie thought. Given everything they’d discovered about Isaak last night and this morning, this certainly made a lot more sense than most things, in fact.
Unexpected would have been a giant cat, or a double-decker bus, or a flying hat, or...
Okay, calm down Josie, there’s no need to get hysterical, Josie thought, hysterically, as she drank in the sight before her eyes.
Because where there had just moments earlier been one dragon, now there were two.
She knew the massive black dragon who had spit fire at her was Magnus, of course. But the even larger dragon with wide, majestic wings, red-golden scales, and burning green eyes...
... That one could only be Isaak.
She stared up at him in wonder. Could it be true that the amazing man she had come to know over the past few days was really this incredible creature?
Somehow, she knew it was true. Even if there was nothing of his human form in the dragon that stood before her, the eyes were the same. Bright green and glowing like coals, Josie knew she would recognize them anywhere.
He... he transformed.
When she had been attacked, he had somehow managed to access the power that must have been lying dormant within him all his life.
Now... now he was a dragon.
But, she realized, biting her lip, the fight was far from over.
She could see Bain in a panic, scrambling back over his dragon’s body to his saddle. He made it just as Isaak seemed to shake off his own surprise at how he had changed and reared back slightly on his hind legs, raising his front claws to strike.
Bain reached his seat only just in time, jerking Magnus around to avoid the blow. Even so, Isaak’s claws still brushed against the other dragon’s side, and Josie saw some of his blue-black scales come loose, scattering on the wind.
Magnus let out a low growl of pain as Bain tugged on his reins, pulling him back with what looked like some effort. Slowly, the two dragons began to circle each other, eyes darting, smoke spooling up from their jaws.
Josie bit her lip as she watched, realizing what a disadvantage Isaak was at. This was only the first time he had ever shifted into his dragon form – would he know how to control his formidable new body? Would he know the full range of his powers? Would he know how to fly?
Perhaps these things came instinctively to dragons, but she couldn’t be sure.
Magnus, on the other hand, seemed to be an experienced fighter – that was what Bain had implied by saying that Isaak might need training before he was a suitable mount for a dragon hunter.
Josie shuddered, disgust roiling through her stomach. What kind of person could do such a thing? Dragons clearly weren’t just beasts – they were... well, they were human, at least some of the time. Treating them as if they had no free will of their own... well, that just seemed barbaric. The thought of Isaak being under Bain’s control the same way Magnus clearly was brought hot tears of anger to her eyes.
But as she clenched her fists in rage, she realized that this put Isaak at yet another disadvantage.
What if... what if Magnus doesn’t want to be doing this?
Isaak couldn’t hurt someone who was being forced into fighting him. She thought of the way Magnus had seemed reluctant to follow Bain’s commands the night he had confronted them on the street, and felt a chill run down her spine.
Isaak, she tried to send to him desperately as the two dragons lowered their heads, as if preparing to charge. Please – don’t hurt him. Bain is controlling him! He doesn’t want to fight!
I know. Isaak’s voice came back to her, low and steady – the same voice she knew and loved, despite his changed appearance. And I promise you I’ll do my best. But I can’t let him hurt you.
Josie caught her breath. As much as she didn’t want Magnus to get hurt, Isaak was right. They couldn’t let Bain have his way.
He’d already tried to burn her alive – who knew what he would do next?
Speaking of burning...
Josie turned her head, sniffing the air.
Naturally, it smelled like smoke. There was enough of it rising from the jaws of both dragons to cloud the air.
But she didn’t think it was just that she could smell.
“Oh – oh no –”
The forest.
She whipped her head around, just in time to see the fire, left over from when Bain had commanded Magnus to burn her, begin to catch on the first few trees beyond the garden.
Shit. Shit!
Josie’s mind whirled. If the forest burned, then so would all the creatures that lived within its shade – or at the very least, they would be made homeless.
My kingfisher... she has babies...
Josie didn’t have a chance to complete the thought before a sudden, earth-shattering crash stole the breath from her lungs. Stumbling as the ground shook beneath her, Josie watched in horror as at last, Magnus charged.
Frozen in place, she stared as one massive clawed forepaw rose into the air, before sweeping down again, slamming into Isaak’s side. Isaak roared in pain as the cruel claws bit into his side, tearing at his glittering golden-red scales. Like Magnus, he too had defensive armored plates on his shoulders and horned spines running down his neck, but it was clear the scales on his sides and belly were far more sensitive to damage.
Isaak reared back, jaws snapping, trying to sidle around Magnus to get at the man who was riding him.
The man who had caused all of this.
Josie found herself balling her fists, wanting to do something to show Isaak that she knew he could do this – that she had no doubt he could win. Bain was cowardly, wrong, evil – everything that Isaak, with all his kindness and strength, was not. It seemed bitterly ironic to her that of the two of them, Isaak was the one who had thought he was the monster.
I believe in you, Isaak! I believe in you, and I love you.
Almost as if he had heard her, Isaak let out a mighty roar, lowering his head and charging once more, his tail carving a path through the air behind him. Josie gasped as suddenly, his muscles coiled and he leaped forward, spreading his massive wings wide, and took to the air.
Josie couldn’t stop her mouth from dropping open in awe as he sailed upwards, before beating his wings to take him higher. Perhaps the dragon’s instincts had taken over, because there was nothing clumsy or awkward about the way he flew. To watch him, Josie would have thought he’d been flying his whole life.
Isaak twisted sinuously in the air, turning sharply before descending at speed, dropping onto Magnus as Bain was still struggling to get him airborne. Josie watched as he tugged at the reins, his face red with anger and exertion.
It all pointed to a mount who was not co-operating with him in the slightest.
And it made her more certain than ever that even if Magnus’s movements were being controlled by the strange black collar he wore, he did not want to be doing this. He didn’t want to be forced to hunt and fight his own kind.
It was clear he was fighting Bain every step of the way.
Isaak snapped at Bain, head moving quickly, as Magnus’s wings at last unfurled, lifting him into the sky.
Once again, Josie found herself staring, speechless, almost unable to believe what she was seeing. How could this be real? How could any of this be real?
Dragons were myths – fairy tales!
And yet, here she was, watching two real, fire-breathing, flying dragons as they snapped and roared and clawed at each other, searching each other for weaknesses.
But despite this, Isaak always pulled back a moment before his teeth closed around any part of Magnus’s body; his claws, when he lashed them down on Magnus’s side, were not doing the damage that Josie could see they were capable of.
He’s going easy on him, Josie thought, biting her lip apprehensively. He doesn’t want to hurt him, if he can avoid it.
It was clear, however, that Bain had no such concerns.
Every attack that he forced Magnus into was ferocious and terrifying – his wings filled with air, his teeth slavering in the sunlight. When his massive, saber-like claws tore through Isaak’s scales, they drew blood.
Josie could see the wounds on Isaak’s side as he turned in the air, blood dripping onto the cliffs below. Isaak was dodging as best he could, but he couldn’t ward off every attack.
And sooner or later, he would be worn down.
He would have no choice but to fight back in earnest.
Just as the thought entered her head, Bain flicked at the reins around Magnus’s neck, and Josie saw him raise a hand.
Just like he did before Magnus breathed fire at me...
Horror flooded her belly.
Isaak! He’s going to try to burn you!!
Isaak must have heard her, because he banked sharply, angling his wings so he stopped short in the air. A moment later, a blast of fire shot from Magnus’s mouth and into the space that Isaak would have been without his quick evasive maneuver. Even from this distance, Josie could feel the heat of Magnus’s fire wash over her skin, and she gasped, raising her hand to protect her face.
That isn’t normal fire!
Flapping his wings to get some distance from Magnus and his rider, Isaak banked, turning in a long, slow circle as he apparently considered what his next attack would be. But before he could complete his turn, Bain had urged Magnus forward again, the glow of dragonfire once again building at his mouth.
But this time, Isaak was prepared.
He swooped low, barreling into Magnus’s chest in a quick charge, the fire sailing over his back as he tucked his wings close to his body.
Magnus let out a roar of surprise and pain as the impact of Isaak’s body sent him crashing back into the sharp rocks of the cliff. For a moment they scrabbled at each other, clawing and snapping, until Magnus heaved himself up. Together, they rolled off the side of the cliff, and out of sight.
“Isaak!” Josie called, racing forward to the edge of the destroyed terrace. Where did he go?!
Leaning over the edge of the shattered marble, Josie searched frantically for any signs of either Isaak or Magnus, but they were nowhere to be seen. A dip in the rock face of the cliff shielded them from her eyes – and though she could hear the crashes and roars of the continuing fight, she couldn’t see a thing.
Shit, shit, shit...
She wasn’t exactly sure what she’d be able to do to help Isaak – what if she only got in the way? Bain could make Magnus attack her again, and then Isaak would have to focus on trying to protect her, as well as protecting himself.
She’d already seen that Bain wouldn’t hesitate to harm her if he thought he could. The fire would have killed her instantly if she hadn’t leaped out of the way. She realized that throwing rocks at Bain might not have been the smartest thing she’d ever done, but there was no way she could have simply stood there and watched as Bain put one of those horrible collars around Isaak’s neck.
But what can I do now?
Looking around wildly, trying to think about what she could do that would be actually helpful for Isaak, something else caught her eye.
The fire.
It was still burning in the garden and the trees closest to the villa. As she watched, flames began to lick at the wall, seeking new material to burn.
If she left things as they were, Isaak’s home would be burned to rubble.
And if the forest burned, it would take with it the only known habitat of the white speckled kingfisher in the world.
Gritting her teeth, Josie realized that she might not be able to help Isaak win his fight, but she could save his home.
Dashing around the side of the house, Josie found what she was looking for: the bright red emergency fire hose reel. It had instructions printed in every European language she was aware of – and some she wasn’t – but she’d had to go through fire preparedness training as part of her job at every college lab she’d ever worked at, and all she needed to do was briefly run her eyes over them.
I know what to do. I can do this!
Yanking the cover open, Josie freed the hose nozzle from the clamp and twisted the valve. She could hear the hiss of the water filling the hose as she ran it out to where the fire was burning. Finally, she twisted the nozzle open, aiming it squarely at where the fire was just beginning to lick at the side of Isaak’s home.
“Shit!”
The water pressure was clearly a lot higher than those smaller hoses she was used to practicing with at her job. Josie struggled to hold the nozzle steady, stumbling a little as it seemed to take on a life of its own. Setting her jaw, she stood her ground, planting her feet and gripping the handle above the nozzle tightly.
The water shot out, dousing the flames by the house quickly. Without pausing, Josie struggled to turn the hose so it was directed at the burning trees, panting a little with exertion as the hose fought against her, wanting to break free and spray wildly all over the place.
The fire was burning a lot more fiercely amongst the trees, and Josie knew she had to stop it before it jumped into the canopy.
I can do this, she thought.
Steadily, she aimed the flow of water directly onto the base of the fire. It flickered, sizzling, twisting wildly as it fought to stay alive.
But it couldn’t hold out against the onslaught of the water. The fire grew smaller and smaller, dwindling, until finally it sputtered out altogether.
It’s out. Thank God.
Josie continued to spray the water at the blackened tree trunks just to be sure, before at last shutting off the nozzle again.
But despite the fact the fire was dealt with, Josie knew she couldn’t even slightly afford to breathe a sigh of relief. Bain was still down there, and Isaak was still fighting for his life...
Josie almost felt like crying with frustration. She felt so helpless.
How on earth could she help Isaak in a fight with a dragon?
No, no. Crying won’t help either, she told herself viciously as hot, angry tears sprang into her eyes. You’ll just have to think. Think!
Turning, Josie yanked on the hose to pull it out of the garden, before letting out a yelp of surprise.
Because, there, standing by the whitewashed wall of the house, was a woman.
The first thought that entered Josie’s head once she’d overcome her initial shock was that she could have been Isaak’s sister: she had the same tousled dark hair, and the same brilliant green eyes. She was tall and somewhat slim, though her arms and legs were clearly toned.
Josie stared at her, wide-eyed, before her brain finally kicked into gear again.
“Who the hell are you?” she demanded, hoping her voice sounded more like a commanding shout than a squeak of fear.
The woman instantly raised her hands, palms out, in the universal signal of I surrender!
“Please don’t be afraid,” she said, not moving an inch from where she stood. “I’m sorry – I wasn’t sure how to tell you I was here without surprising you.”
You can say that again, Josie thought, her heart still beating wildly in her chest. “You didn’t answer my question,” she said. Just because this woman had told her not to be frightened didn’t mean Josie was ready to trust her.
“My name is Darklis,” the woman said, still not moving, her hands still raised. “And... look, I’d love to explain more, but right now, your mate needs you.”
My... my mate? She knows that Isaak is my mate?
Josie’s head was in a whirl as the woman – Darklis – slowly lowered her hands and began to approach her.
“Stay back!” Josie warned, absurdly brandishing the fire hose as if it was some kind of weapon.
“Look, I don’t blame you for not wanting to trust me,” Darklis said, raising her hands again. “But please – for Isaak’s sake, at least listen to what I have to say.”
For Isaak’s sake.
Josie wasn’t sure what to think at all – but she also knew she didn’t exactly have a lot of choice.
If there was even a chance that this woman could help her assist Isaak with his fight against Bain, then she had to try.
“All right,” she whispered at last, her heart clenching. “I’ll listen.”
A brilliant smile broke out across Darklis’s face.
“Oh! Fantastic! But we have to hurry. Quickly – come with me.”
Josie let her take her by the arm, pulling her over to the destroyed terrace.
“I don’t have time to explain fully,” Darklis said, her words coming out in a rush. It was only now that Josie started to realize how young she was: she could only have been in her very early twenties, at the absolute oldest. “But... you can give Isaak strength in this fight. He needs it. He needs you.”
Josie’s head spun with questions: How do you know Isaak’s name? Why doesn’t the idea of a dragon fight seem to bother you? How do you know I’m Isaak’s mate?
But right now, she knew it wasn’t the time to ask any of them. She let Darklis lead her to the edge of the terrace. Josie gasped as she looked out over the sky above the ocean.
Isaak and Magnus were circling each other, jaws snapping, claws tearing whenever they came close. It was clear they had both tired, and neither one of them seemed any closer to winning the fight.
“You need to focus on him.” Darklis’ voice was in her ear. “Imagine a rope connecting the two of you, if that helps. But you need to let him know you’re here – that you believe in him and you will never leave his side. He’ll draw on your bond, and it will give him strength.”
Josie bit her lip. Again, the questions rose in her head – how do you know all this? Who are you? – but again, she forced them back.
She trained her eyes on Isaak’s distant form, and let her love for him fill her heart.
I believe in you, she sent to him, doing as Darklis said and imagining a long, golden rope that joined her and Isaak together. I love you. I’m your mate – and I know that you can do this. Please remember that – please know that I love you and I need you. You’re my mate!
She closed her eyes, clenching her fists. Somehow, she could still see the shining, brilliant connection between them even through the veil of her eyelids. Please let this work!!
As if in answer to her desperate plea, she heard a roar of fury from out over the ocean – and she knew that it was Isaak.
Josie gasped at the power of it, her eyes flying open. She watched as Isaak’s body rose, golden and magnificent, his wings beating the air with an unmatched power and strength. The fatigue she had seen in him just moments earlier seemed to fall away with every passing second.
“That’s right – you’ve done it!” Darklis’ voice beside her was exultant. “Please – please keep going! Only you can give him the strength he needs now.”
Josie took a deep breath, focusing all her strength, all her love into the bond between them.
And it was clear that Isaak was responding. His body, covered in bites and wounds from Magnus’s claws, seemed to shimmer in the sunlight, as if he didn’t feel the pain of his injuries. Where moments earlier he had seemed to be struggling to even stay airborne, he now looked powerful and sleek as he moved through the air.
Magnus – or Bain, at least – seemed confused by Isaak’s sudden recovery. Josie could just make out his tiny figure, tugging this way and that as he tried to follow Isaak’s suddenly swift movements.
But it was clear that Magnus himself was tiring. Josie supposed that even with the collar, Bain couldn’t force him to do things when his body was at its limit.
“Just a little more,” Darklis murmured encouragingly. “He just needs a little more help...”
Please, Isaak – don’t give up! Josie sent to him, and this time, she heard his answer.
Never, Josie. Never. You are my mate, and I will always protect you.
Well, focus on protecting yourself, for now! she replied, wanting to shake her head. She was safe here on the terrace – it was Isaak who was in danger!
Just as the thought entered her head, however, she suddenly saw Bain’s head snap in her direction. Vaguely, she recalled how Bain had seemed to be able to intercept their mental messages to each other before – and realized that he must have done the same thing now.
He had suddenly realized the source of Isaak’s surge in power.
At this distance, Josie couldn’t make out his facial expression – but she thought she could imagine it all the same. He jerked viciously at the reins and ignored the way Magnus roared in pain as his head was jerked around, his wings twisting to complete the sudden change in direction.
Oh – oh, is he –
Josie’s blood ran cold as she suddenly realized what Bain meant to do.
He was now flying straight for her, urging Magnus on to incredible speeds. The dragon’s mouth was open, teeth shining in the sunlight.
Josie swallowed, stumbling back a little.
Isaak!
Josie, I’m coming!
She saw Isaak swooping down, his mouth open, claws lashing at Magnus’ side – but it seemed that nothing would distract Bain from his terrifying flight toward her.
Closer he came, and closer, until Josie felt she was looking directly into his madly furious eyes...
Frozen in fear, Josie realized that even if Isaak stopped Magnus here, she would be in striking distance of his jaws. And as long as Bain was controlling him, he would never stop, he would keep trying to come at her...
Suddenly, she felt the weight of the fire hose in her hand. She’d still been clinging to it like a life raft as Darklis had pulled her over to the terrace.
The fire hose...
Her hands moved without her conscious will. She lifted the hose, yanking open the nozzle. The powerful spray of water almost jerked it from her hands, but she managed to hold on tight as it arced through the air...
... and hit Bain square in the face.
She saw his surprised expression before the jet of water smacked into him – quickly followed by horror.
His head jerked back, and he fell bodily to one side, slipping in the saddle. Josie gritted her teeth, jerking the water up, keeping it trained on him...
... Until finally, he made an awkward, graceless fall from the saddle. He was still clinging desperately to the reins, and the sudden jerk as he tumbled down forced Magnus’s head up. He roared, wings fluttering – before smashing bodily into the remains of the terrace, as Josie and Darklis dove for cover.
Breathless as she felt splinters of rock crashing down on her, it was a long moment before Josie dared to peep up from behind the large slab of rock she had leaped behind. Her ears were ringing, and she was shaking like a leaf in every limb. The fire hose, dropped as she had made her dash for cover, writhed like a cut snake on the ground.
“Wait here,” she heard Darklis say, before the woman ran past her, making her way over to where Magnus’s prone form lay on the terrace, sides heaving.
Josie watched as she approached him seemingly without fear, her hands running over his battered neck. Blinking, she thought she saw Darklis’s lips move as she muttered something that might have been an apology, before her fingers went to the dark metallic collar that was still around his neck.
Josie’s mouth fell open in surprise as Darklis took the collar in her hands, and then, with obvious effort, broke it apart so it fell into two pieces, sliding from Magnus’s neck.
The huge black dragon let out a terrible roar of pain, his body twisting – but then he began to shrink as Josie watched, transforming, his tail and wings receding into his body, his scales becoming human skin. In a few seconds he looked like a normal human, lying in the rubble of the terrace. He didn’t move.
“How dare you!”
Josie tore her eyes away from Magnus’s unconscious body at the sound of Bain’s furious voice.
“How dare you –!”
He was apparently too enraged to finish his sentence. Staggering slightly and dripping wet, he got to his feet slowly, his face the picture of wrath. For a moment Josie simply stared at him, still too bewildered to comprehend what she was seeing.
It took her a moment to notice that he was groping in his back pocket – and by that time, it was too late.
Oh my God, he’s got a gun!
She froze, realizing as he leveled it in her direction that she had no time to take cover. Bain’s face twisted in rage, his eyes blazing, as –
Whomp.
Josie hadn’t realized she had closed her eyes until she cracked them open again, gasping at the sight that greeted her.
Bain was trapped beneath the massive claws of a dragon.
But not just any dragon...
Growling, Isaak lowered his shining, golden head until his bright green eyes seemed to glower directly into Bain’s terrified face.
Oh. Oh my God.
Josie felt her legs wobble.
Isaak. He saved me.
Finally, her knees betrayed her, and she fell into a trembling kneel on the terrace.
It’s over. Thank God, it’s over.