Burn (Dragon Souls) (3 page)

Pasha valiantly took up the reigns the Princess tossed her way with reverent aplomb.

Her lined face stretched tight in an expression of forced calm when she realised he watched her. Offering him a fleeting smile she remained unable to hold his gaze as an equal.

She patted Boy’s shoulder comfortingly.

“Where is Daniil?” Koen demanded not caring who answered.

“Shouting at the stewards below.” Boy’s gangly legs shifted so he sat properly after Pasha poked the back of his head. He scowled at his scuffed boots. “They lost Marina’s armour. Daniil swears vengeance on those responsible.”

Anger surged. “He let her enter the quest unprotected.”

Boy’s eyes flashed to his then flitted away. “Does anybody
let
Marina do anything?”

Eyes narrowing, Koen grunted.

Marina’s trophy was chained to the middle of the battlefield. It was a petite female with vivid purple scales. The creature whimpered and tossed her slender neck.

Straining over the stone railings the burgeoning assembly filling the arena ceased their disrespectful taunts and gasped.

Marina made a brave dash from the crevice and bolted into the open arena.

Koen’s clenched hands tightened until they turned white.

She looked afraid, and appeared to have no plan until she made a decisive turn and lithely scaled cropping of rock. She made her first kill. The crowd applauded. Her decent from the high ground was graceless, but efficient for now she stood closer to her prize. The wolves surrounded her. Outnumbered, she widened her stance and tensed.

Koen felt his energy quicken as his Dragon prepared to save her when her spear erupted into blue flame.

He came to a complete stop.

Mute with shock, he only stirred when a familiar presence at his back roused him.

“You taught her magick?” he demanded gruffly of Dragon Lord Daniil of House Kol. His Second and honorary brother leaned heavily on the back of his throne.

Koen’s fisted hand covered his whitened lips when Daniil’s bewildered expression spoke for itself.

Marina’s circumstances improved. Her stances were simple, but solid, and her movement sure. Koen gripped the edges of his throne when mounted upon the rearing dragoness Marina threw her spear.

Pride swelled within his chest. His Treasure’s aim was deadly.

Daniil’s cry of despair as the last wolf dug its claws into Marina’s leg echoed in his brain.

Koen wrenched composure from the bottom of his soul to stop himself shifting when the coppery tang of her blood misted the air. It had a strange tang to it he recognised but couldn’t name.

He searched his memory for why the elusive scent was so familiar yet wrong.

The errant thought was lost to her pained scream.

The wolf shook off the blow from her shield, but she was down, her body exposed to a killing strike from the beast’s jaws.

“
Run
.” Koen lurched onto his feet. His fist slammed into the rock as he leaned over the balustrade. “
Marina, Treasure, run
.”

Marina rammed her shield into the wolf’s head, again, and again. Her chest rose and fell with each crushing blow.

Unlike those surrounding him who flinched at the brutality, Koen Raad derived feral satisfaction from each wet crunch.

The crowd went silent then uplifted in a roar of approval that shook the world when she threw down her shield and shrieked at them.

“Is she–” Pasha stared at her High Princess in horror. “Is she screaming
eat me
?”

Boy hopped back into a crouch on his padded seat. His eyes brightened with glee. “Yes, and to a crowd of shape shifting Dragon Lords who could actually eat her.”

Pasha made a choked noise of outrage.

The servants behind them snickered. They fell silent when the older woman turned a lethal matronly glare upon them.

Entering the royal viewing box, Nikolai chuckled and nudged Koen’s shoulder, eyebrows wagging. “Eat her? I should very much like to–Ugnuh!”

Gritting his teeth, Koen looked at his hand wrapped around his brother’s throat.

The younger Dragon Lord was turning blue.

Huffing, he reminded himself he might feel regret for killing his younger brother after the fact.

Might.

He released a wailing Nikolai and shoved, sending him sprawling, only for a bevy for longhaired maids to flutter to his side cooing.

Stumped, Daniil looked around in confusion as he checked the younger Raad for permanent damage then herded his chattering posse out with assurances he’d survive.

“How did these females even get in here?” he asked the door guard frantically, peeling a groping woman off his chest and thrusting her into the sheepish guard’s willing arms.

Pasha stomped her slippered foot. She still eyeballed Marina. “Goddess help us with that mouth.”

“Be easy, Pasha.” Returning, Daniil patted her hand. “Marina does not mean it the way you think. In her dimension I believe it is an insult.” After a lengthy pause where he remembered the mouthy Princess’ tendency to yell
then
think, he flushed. “At least I hope it is. The human dimension is a confusing place.”

“Must I remind you
this
is her dimension?” Mikhail’s booming voice preceded him.

Council Mon Mikhail of Imperial House Zar took the deferential bows and female sighs of appreciation as his kingly due. Time only just began to touch his face. Since the arrival of his offspring, years of aging had shed from his countenance.

Head held high, his dark eyes twinkled, piercing eyes that looked straight into the soul.

They reminded Koen of his Treasure’s stark gaze in a way that made him uncomfortable.

Mikhail’s heir had completed the first quest in Aver. He accepted the congratulations from the neighbouring boxes with an incline of the head.

The older Phoenix had reason to celebrate the victory. He could have as easily been burying her, just as easily been helping the Dragon King tear the walls down around them in a rage of grief.

“Tzion is her home,” Mikhail finished and bestowed a fond smile on his cheering grandson.

Koen agreed.

He prepared to voice this, but lurched to grab onto the scruff of Boy’s tunic. He leaned over the stone railing, hanging like a ruffian from the royal booth. He stuck up his middle finger much the way Marina had to a group of chattering younglings below.

“
Told you
,” he yelled in outrage as Koen dragged him back over. “I told she would survive.” The youngling almost wrenched himself free to shout, “Suck it, blackguards,” before being hauled from sight.

Pasha grabbed his finger in her wrinkled fist. “Hush. Where did you learn such foul language?”

Feet dangling, Boy struggled. Chagrined, knowing he was bested, he shrugged at Pasha’s question because it was obvious.

Trumpeting horns blasted through the noise of the buzzing crowds.

Below them, Marina wavered on her feet. Her eyes roamed for a new threat.

A smile of relief barely graced Koen’s face before his whole world crashed into nothingness.

The life seemed to flow from Marina’s limbs like the blood that dripped from her thigh.

She collapsed.

Dropping his offspring, Koen spun like a coiled snake, hissed as threateningly as the venomous reptile when bodies blocked his path. “Move. I must go to her.”

“Our Houses care for her.” Daniil bravely stood his ground when others scattered. He pointed. “Look.”

As he spoke the servants of Houses Kol, Raad and Zar ran from the bowls of the fortress. They argued amongst themselves before two males separated from the squabbling fray.

With the utmost care, they lifted Marina off the ground and carried her limp body from the unforgiving eyes of the spectators.

The remaining men were lesser Lords, and tended to the wild dragoness who took no injury during the quest.

A considerable feat since the other First Chosen’s prizes were still being healed.

She tried to follow Marina, and became aggravated when they blocked her path. The wild Dragon would be returned to the jungles and set free.

Marina earned that fate for the creature with blood.

With a flick of the wrist, Daniil motioned the others to leave them.

Tension flowed from Koen’s frame yet his anger refused to abate. Perilous emotion simmered in his eyes. “She did it.”

“You doubted?”

“I doubt everything.”

“Truer words have never been spoken.”

Koen studied his Second. Reluctantly gave a little. “I trust you. With my life and hers.”

“You honour me.”

“Sarcastic bastard.”

Daniil fought a grin. Satisfied Koen wasn’t going to tear the amphitheatre down, he hooked an arm around his friend’s shoulders. He knew better than any, whilst Koen Raad’s bite was much worse than his bark, he preferred to do the latter unless pushed beyond reason.

“She can do this. I would not have let her past the gate if I did not think she had the best of chances.”

“I know this.” Koen rapped the balustrade with his knuckles. Stone chipped away at the deceptively controlled movement. “I must see her. Hold her. Watch her chest rise and fall with life’s breath. My Dragon will not be calm until then.”

“Fine. But you must not stay long. People talk. Complaints Marina is treated with preference reach Myron’s ears daily. He then pesters
me
that it is unfair for the other First Chosen.”

Koen left the box and strode down the hallway. “I am caring about this?”

“It puts her at greater risk. Myron let her enter Aver because the Dragon Council twisted his arm, but do not think he will not expel her if we shun all tradition and flaunt it for all to see.”

“My preference is plain. I refuse to hide it.”

“You courted Katya.”

Koen snorted. “A deception to rid Marina of a dangerous enemy.”

“It was enough to convince many your Dragon’s attentions might be swayed by a stronger candidate.”

“That is their mistake. I will not encourage another. The last hurt my Treasure’s feelings. I would not do it again for the world.”

“Can you attempt at diplomacy? Remain aloof in her presence when the other females are within sight?”

Koen didn’t want to give ground on this matter. Not touching Marina for as long as he had almost drove him mad before a Council Mon gaily highlighted his lack of understanding on the tradition.

She could not initiate physical contact with him, but he could touch her – in private.

“Those females annoy me greatly.”

“They act for the honour and glory of their Houses. I have asked you time and time again not to hate them because of it.” Daniil lengthened his stride to keep pace with the Dragon King as he hastened to steal time with his beloved. “You know how I feel about Anastasia. I need more time to make her see we are perfect match.”

“You bother me with this because?”

“I have not forgotten of your vow concerning her.”

“Vow?”

“To kill her if she wins the Crown and hunts you.”

Stride faltering, Koen spared his friend a cross look. “I spoke rashly. I would not end the life of the female you have set your heart upon. I was enraged. Marina slipped from my grasp as your friendship deepened. Anastasia was another obstacle to my heart’s desire.” Koen snorted. “But if Marina is victorious against ice wolves I have faith she can handle that cold blooded bitch.”

Daniil cringed saying nothing. He was just relieved Koen had no plans to destroy his wilful Treasure before he had a chance to claim her.

They turned the corner and came across a Dragon Lord and Chosen rutting in plain view. The corridor was empty, but their lack of discretion was ridiculous.

The Lord’s face was buried in the crook of the giggling Chosen’s neck. His hands ran down her back to cup her ass and hold her gyrating hips closer.

It was only when the Chosen breathlessly moaned, “
Oh, Nikolai
,” did Daniil sigh gustily and slap a hand over his eyes.

Come morning a wronged Sire frothing at the mouth would be scrawling a challenge to House Raad on the stones.

Daniil ended a swift calculation of what another challenge would cost their political aspirations with a grimace. He was torn between distain and admiration. “How did he manage to meet an assignation between now and seeing him in the arena?”

“I do not bother myself with such questions. They are pointless and hurt my head.” Koen strolled past the writhing pair. As their moans increased in volume, he stopped. Shook his head just once. “I did not realise a female fought for your hand this Aver, brother.”

Squeaking, the flushed Chosen detached from the Dragon Lord who was not her betrothed. She dragged her bodice up and her skirts down while managing to bob a curtsey, evidently mortified.

She still managed to fling a mournful look at Nikolai’s groin before fleeing on silent feet, the palm of her hand hiding her face in a poor attempt to conceal her identity.

The three males watched her careen around the bend at speed.

Groaning, Nikolai stuffed his erect manhood into his leathers. He eyed the resulting bulge dolefully. “She was bestowing her fondest apology for being promised to another.” He glanced up angrily, sexual frustration apparent in his coloured cheeks and flared nostrils. “You could not have waited?”

Koen stalked his brother until the younger male pressed flat against the wall.

Nikolai’s shoulders hunched. He cringed expecting a blow.

“
Whore
,” Koen bellowed then spun about to continue his march towards the royal rooms where Marina was tended.

“
Rude
,” Nikolai yelled at his brother’s retreating back. He shot a wounded look at Daniil. “Was that not rude?”

Daniil gripped the taller male by the nape and shoved. “Brat.”

W
edged in the middle of the two males, Nikolai slung an arm around their shoulders. He hugged them roughly. “My sunshine was marvellous, was she not?”

Daniil brushed the arm off. He was not impressed in the least. “When is she not?”

“I thought for sure her chances were over when she dived into the crevice. It was a risky move. The bards will sing of her boldness for dynasties to come.”