CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
Warm. Warm as if wrapped in a thick comforter at night. Warm as if a lover had gathered her in an unbreakable embrace. Asher.
Valeria purred in delight as she imagined his arms around her. His hot shifter body like a furnace, his golden skin only for her to touch, his piercing blue eyes crazed with pleasure. Safe, protected, loved. She knew her mother’s love, never doubted it. But with Asher, she discovered that she could love too. More than the feeble emotion she felt for James. More. It was more, deeper, stronger, more lethal and real. Something to fight for, to die for, to sacrifice herself for. And even to sacrifice her witch for.
Something curled inside her soul, something strong, foreign, hot as lava. It moved and settled once more, calm and powerful. Old. A dragon. Her dragon!
The thought jarred her awake. She could see! And she was still in the cabin, lying on the couch with Finn by her side and Soren at her feet.
Her thoughts were a jumbled mess until one name made it all clear. Asher.
“Damn, how long was I out?”
Finn looked at Soren. “A few minutes. How are you feeling?”
Valeria rolled her head. “Normal, and strange at the same time.” Her eyes went to Soren. “If I didn’t die, it means that I’m … that I turned…”
Soren’s blank expression made it difficult for her to find the words. He nodded. “Dragon. Yes. I can sense it now. Strong, but disoriented. You will need to train, to partner with it.”
She shook her head to clear it. “You’re right, there’s so much I don’t understand or know, but there’s no time. I need to get back to Sanctuary. Without powers, or the possibility to create a portal, what’s the best way to reach it?”
Soren came closer and sat by her feet. “As a shifter, you cannot use magic, but as a dragon, you’re not powerless. Your magic is just different. Limited and elemental.”
“Elemental, as in elemental magic? I can only use spells linked to the elements.” Valeria’s mind went into overdrive. Elemental magic was often beginner’s magic. And since she had talent to begin with, elemental spells had been skipped pretty quickly.
“Okay, travel is linked to air. That means I need an elemental air spell to create a portal.”
For the first time, Soren smiled. “You’re right. Now, do it.”
The most difficult thing was to force her mind to think differently, and with so little time to get accustomed to it. Usually, portals were circles created out of magic, but elemental spells weren’t as refined. Instead, she thought of a smaller sized air tube, softer than a tornado, encircling the three of them. As she felt the air shift, she closed her eyes, and something inside her settled, allowing the magic to flow. The dragon. The wind increased until it became a storm. At that moment, she visualized the Sanctuary kitchen, and it felt like a pop, and the storm died down. When she opened her eyes, she was in the Sanctuary kitchen, and she couldn’t help but smile and do a little dance.
“Yeah!” It was then that she realized that the three of them weren’t alone. Many men and women she recognized as sentinels were gathered there, stunned by the sudden apparition. And in the corner, hunched over a wounded Patricia, was Asher.
As soon as their eyes locked, nothing could stop her from going to him. The feeling was overwhelming, something she had never felt before. It was as if she would never be able to breathe if she didn’t touch him or kiss him right now.
Asher took two steps in her direction, engulfing her in his embrace and Valeria knew she was home. Another surprise to her was his smell when she buried her nose in his chest. Not that it was different but more complex. Instinctively, she detected pain, physical strain, and increasing lust. Wolf. There it was, she could smell his wolf, and deep down, she purred. Or groaned. Or whatever dragons do.
Destabilized by the creature’s reaction deep down inside, she pulled away from him.
Asher let her go, but his blue eyes were glued to her, examining her face, sniffing the air. Just as she stepped out of range, she saw recognition on his face.
“You’re … you’ve…”
Valeria nodded but had no intention of dwelling on that, when there were more pressing matters at hand.
“You already know Finn. And this is Soren Racovan. He’s here to assess the situation. Where are Sera and Violet?”
“They’re on the roof with Ian. When we returned through the portal, James Cooper was leading a charge against Sanctuary. The sentinels held them at bay for a while, and. Sera and Violet were incredible, but there are a lot of them. I think they’re regrouping, but we won’t be able to defend the Sanctuary for much longer. All able warriors are here or just outside. Everyone else is in the basement. It’s the safest place when the building is shaking due to the attack.”
Asher turned his gaze to Soren and slightly bowed his head. “Soren Racovan. Thank you for coming. I’m Asher Stonelake, Sanctuary Master of the Territory of Maine.”
Soren bowed his head in return. “Valeria here is a hard woman to say no to. And our Sanctuaries are to be protected. And the attackers punished.” He glanced around and then closed his eyes.
“They’re coming. They stand at the edge of the forest. Master Stonelake, ask your sentinels to come inside.”
Asher howled a command, and many more men ran inside the kitchen, now bursting at the seams with shifters.
“Keep everyone inside. I’m going to take care of them, once and for all.”
As Soren went for the door, Valeria got away from Asher’s hold and grabbed the weredragon’s hand.
“It’s dangerous; you can’t take all of them alone.”
Soren’s stone face turned to her. “A weredragon is dangerous, child. You’re unaware of it yet, but it takes a great deal to overcome me. Us.”
“Twenty warlocks and witches are in the forest, and most are ex-Enforcers. You need backup.”
Soren peered at the shifters and werewolves gathered inside. “My child, if I fail, you will be the backup.” He gently squeezed her hand before going outside.
Surprised by Soren’s touch, she turned to the crowded kitchen and saw Finn and Asher close by. “I don’t know what he’s going to do, but Sera and Violet need to know what’s going on. Finn, can you go to the roof to help out, and tell my friends not to interfere no matter what they see.”
Finn understood and nodded quickly. “And Finn, don’t antagonize Violet. Please.”
The vampire smiled and winked at her, which made her shake her head.
Turning to the people gathered in the kitchen, she rubbed Asher’s arm. “Who’s injured?”
Asher nodded and guided her to Patricia, leaving his hand in the small of her back. If he felt the same way she did, as a shifter now, and no longer as a witch, it was impossible not to have constant physical contact.
Forcing herself to focus on the task at hand, she knelt beside Patricia who was lying on the floor, holding a dressing to her side. The werebear was as irritable as ever.
“And here’s the Lancaster witch again. I thought you were at least dead or something.”
Valeria arched an eyebrow and ignored the warning growl of Asher by her side.
“Well, death is still on the menu, so don’t worry. Let me take a look at you.”
Slowly, she pulled the dressing away from the wound and winced at the mangled skin. Blood oozed from it and, from what she could see, it went deep.
“I’ll stabilize you.” And she turned to Asher. “Get Sera here, she’s the best at healing.”
Patricia gave a half-laugh. “Just say that you’re worthless, witch. No shame in that.”
Before she could reply, Asher was by the werebear’s head, a warning hand on her throat. “Be careful of your next words.”
Patricia immediately cowered and bowed her head. “Sorry, Alpha.”
Asher slightly tightened his hand. “I’m not the one you ought to apologize to, Patricia.”
The werebear lifted her head, and Valeria was surprised to see the sincerity in her gaze. “I’m sorry.”
Valeria smiled. “Don’t worry. It seems that the witch insult won’t stick for much longer.” She dug through her memories and found a basic water spell for injuries. It would have to do until Sera could perform a more potent spell.
Gently, she pressed her palms against the wound and winced when she heard Patricia’s whimper. As gently as she could, she let liquid healing plasma flow through her hands. The magic made her beast stir, almost distracting her. She was tempted to admonish it for diverting her attention. Could she do that?
Pulled back into reality when Sera came running into the room, Valeria looked at the wound and saw that it had closed nicely. It was still ragged and red, but at least the bleeding had stopped. As she stood, Sera jumped into her arms and squeezed her hard.
“Oh, Val. I’m so glad you’re okay!” And then she froze, slowly pulling back to assess her friend’s face. Valeria let Sera’s fingers trail her cheek before she nodded, realizing that her friend had sensed it. The witch in her was gone. Forever. And something had replaced it. What she felt was Sera’s uncertainty, about what she would become. If Valeria had something to say on that, she would protect her friends with everything she had, and she wouldn’t let them be vulnerable to anybody else’s power as she did.
Sera nodded and turned to Patricia. Letting out a breath, Valeria saw Ian in the corner, observing. It seemed that the dark werewolf was never far when her dear Sera was concerned. That was something to consider and tell Sera about. The blonde witch had always been unaware of the men attracted to her.
As she turned to Asher, the house shook. Hard. The sentinels stood ready, but nothing could be seen through the windows. Asher turned and pointed at three of his guards. “Go into the basement and make sure everyone is alright. Ian, stay here, I’m going to the roof.”
Asher grabbed her hand, and they ran up the stairs until they reached the attic. He opened a trap door leading to a widow’s walk. What Valeria saw stopped her in her tracks. Just at the edge of the wood, she saw Soren in dragon form. She never realized how huge he was. Not green, but a dark golden hue, although as he shifted, his scales revealed fiery reds and copper oranges. He was magnificent and surrounded by no less than twenty enraged Enforcers attacking him on all sides.
Violet approached her and put a hand on her shoulder. “I never thought you would be able to convince him to come. But even if he’s one powerful fighter, there are too many of them.”
And as she spoke, Valeria saw Soren shower her opponents with a torrent of fire-like splashing napalm. The forest was starting to catch fire.
“I’ve contained any fire directed to the Sanctuary, but he’s fighting a losing battle.”
Finn came closer. “Maybe if we try to surround them from the outside, a two-sided attack to crush the enemy.”
Asher seemed to consider it. “Difficult, and it may hinder Soren’s capacity to fire at them.”
Valeria felt restless. And her dragon roared inside her as she saw Soren, her blood, being attacked. It wasn’t logical but purely instinctual. The beast wanted to come out. Maybe it was the solution. Too bad she was scared shitless at letting this thing out of her, possess her.
Observing still, she noticed James taking a step back and summoning some sort of spike. It shimmered in his hand, and she suspected that even the thick scales on Soren would be vulnerable to it. Valeria had to act, but she didn’t know exactly how.
“Asher. How does it feel when you change? Into wolf form, I mean.”
He seemed to be taken aback by her question but answered. “Mmmm. It’s like switching places, giving the reins to another part of me, so to speak, while retaining a particular part of control. A logical mind. Why?”
She ignored her question and asked another. “When your wolf comes out, you just let him? No incantation, no spell, no secret word?”
Asher shook his head, eyes narrowing. “No, the wolf is part of me. He’s me. I just do it. Why, Valeria?”
Would she be as big as Soren? Would she know how to belch fire? Would she ever be able to revert to her human form again? When Soren howled, drawing her attention back to him, she took it as her cue. Gathering all her courage, thinking of protecting those she loved, Valeria waited for all the people on the roof to be entranced by the battle below before sprinting and jumping over the ledge, praying her newfound dragon would take it from there.
And it did.