Thirty-Five
Fire-Born
Zales landed and set Tirah on her feet not far from where she had exited Saber’s mountain dwelling. Then he shifted into his human-form. “You’ve been here before?”
“Yes.” Tirah was anxious to get to Saber and make sure he was all right.
Zales stared at her. “If you hurt my brother in any way, it won’t matter how much he cares about you, I will hunt you down and make you pay.”
Tirah’s regard for Zales rose at his obvious love for his brother. “I won’t. I promise, I—” She started to say like Saber, but that seemed inadequate. Yet, she couldn’t bring herself to tell Zales that she loved him, when she hadn’t told Saber himself. Besides, though Saber called her his mate, what if he no longer wanted her? She had run away and then had gotten him stabbed. “I’d never intentionally hurt him,” she said instead.
Zales narrowed his eyes on her. “I believe you. I might be a while. I’ll bring your mother and brother when I can.”
“Thank you,” Tirah said and moved away. She watched him shift back into his dragon and a moment later, rise into the air. Moonlight glinted off his navy scales. Tirah frowned as he shimmered and then completely disappeared.
She smiled at finally seeing a dragon grow invisible and knowing they really could do so.
Tirah faced the tunnel she’d come out of and not caring the least bit about the prickly claws, parted the bushes. Then she cast another light spell and quickly navigated the dark, rocky incline up the mountain.
When she reached the top, Tirah stopped and gaped at the new drawing. It was beautiful. The woman in it was beautiful. Wait. This was how he saw her? She bit her lip and tore her gaze away, the urge to hurry stronger than ever. She passed back through the magic barrier-wall into his lair. “Saber?” There was no answer. The feeling of dread worsened and she shivered as goose pimples rose on her skin. Then she sniffed the air. It smelled damp, like … death.
Foreboding consumed her and Tirah rushed into Saber’s room, sure that she wouldn’t find him there either. She let out a deep sigh of relief at the sight of Saber lying naked on his bed. Then she frowned. He had a greenish tint to his skin and his breathing was shallow. “Saber?”
He didn’t move.
Tirah climbed up beside him and put her hand on his forehead. He was ice cold. “No, Saber.” She pulled the blankets up over him and then shook him. Panic devoured her when he didn’t respond. She’d just found him, she couldn’t lose him now.
“Please, Saber,” she cried, shaking him again. It was a long moment before a groan slipped from his mouth.
“Yes, that’s it, wake up,” she encouraged.
Slowly, one eye opened. Saber winced and quickly shut it again. “Tirah?” he said her name so quietly, she almost didn’t hear.
“It’s me, I’m here. What’s wrong with you?” she asked.
Saber didn’t answer.
“Saber?” she called, feeling the panic building inside of her. “What’s wrong, tell me.”
“P-poison, dying,” he mumbled, his breathing way too shallow.
Tirah felt the blood drain from her face. “No. You can’t be.”
“L-leave … me.”
“I am not leaving you. Now tell me what to do,” she said. Her heart rose in her throat at the idea of him dying. There had to be something. She wished that Zales had come inside with her. Now she had no way to reach him. “Tell me how to save you,” she begged.
Saber didn’t respond, and as she watched, he grew even paler as the stench of death crept around the room, waiting to take him.
“Don’t you dare die on me,” she cried. Then she leaned over and placed a kiss on his lips. “Saber, please. Don’t leave me. I love you. I need you,” she whispered.
He still didn’t respond. Tirah tried to calm herself and think. Then she climbed off the bed. “I’m going for help. Stay with me. Please.”
With a last worried glance, Tirah left his room and ran through his lair to the waterfall. This better work, because she didn’t have time to go back down the tunnel.
She swallowed deeply, closed her eyes, and drew carefully on her own power. Over the last few years she’d slowly tried to get used to the feel of it. It felt wonderful when she let it out, yet like a living entity, it always wanted more. And being scared, Tirah always shut it down.
She felt her skin tingle, and sucking in a deep breath, held onto the power flowing through her. Then she stuck her hand in the waterfall and grinned. Magic tingled over her. Tirah held her breath and kept going until she stood on the other side. She drew in deep gulps of air and fought to control the panic. With Saber dying, she really needed to get moving.
Tirah stared at the lake far below and wondered how badly it would hurt if she failed. I can’t believe I am going to do this. Pushing away the fear that had always stopped her in the past, Tirah called upon more of her power. This time, instead of shutting it down, she let it take hold.
Her whole body vibrated, and Tirah felt herself turning to a million particles of light and fire. When she rematerialized, Tirah craned her long neck to peruse her body. She was covered in dark-brown scales with a red swirling flame underneath. Then the sight of her long, sharp talons almost made her lose her balance.
Holy mites, I did it. I’m a dragon! Oh look, I have a tail. She would have laughed at herself if she hadn’t been so worried about Saber. Then her heart started to thunder as she contemplated her next step. Now to fly. Surely it will come naturally, right? Not at all sure, she opened her wings, closed her eyes, and dove off the ledge.
As she began to plummet straight toward the lake, panic engulfed her, stronger than ever. No. Not like this. She flapped her wings. Then she started to spin. Oh, demons.