Knight Awakened (Circle of Seven #1) (31 page)

The chain holding the medallion unlocked. Gold rattled. Tareek snarled as the links slid against his scales. With a yank, magic hauled Afina out of the glade and through the fog. She slammed back into her body, jerking, gasping, breathing the night chill as it slapped against her face.

Oh, goddess. What the devil had she done?

The medallion was her only handhold. And now? The chain was slipping free and—

Tareek roared and twisted, arching as though in pain. Flipped by his momentum, Afina tumbled up and over him. His powerful wing came around, and she met his gaze over the webbing. Greens eyes wide, he reached for her. The heat of his claw encircled her wrist as the bones in his face shifted.

Afina heard the crack as he threw his head back on a shriek. An instant later, she was tangled up with a man instead of a dragon. Eyes the same hue as Tareek’s, dark red hair blew around his head as he stared at her, awe deep in the planes of his face. Suspended in the moment, Afina stretched her hand toward him. She knew him. Had seen him before as a child. In the garden, playing hide and seek.

“I know you,” she said, gripping his forearm.

He didn’t answer, simply studied her as their bodies stopped traveling up and started to come back down.

“The goddess preserve me,” she whispered as the stars spun and they dropped, falling without his wings to carry them.

Tightening his hold on her, he swung them full circle, putting his back to the ground.

“Tareek!”

“Relax, Priestess.” Eyes crinkled at the corners, a slow grin spread across his face. He tugged her closer, brought his foot up, and planted it against her breastbone. His expression smoothed out, turning serious as he said, “Do not drop the medallion.”

“No. Don’t...d-don’t—”

With a grunt, he kicked out, tossing her above him like a baton. Afina screamed as she shot upward. The medallion slipped against her sweat-slicked palms. She grabbed for it, catching the links with her fingertips.

Tareek transformed, shifting into the red dragon. Lightning quick, he plucked her out of thin air, his talon a firm weight around her rib cage. As he secured his hold and unfurled his wings, he tucked into a dive and headed for the cliff edge.

A death grip on his leg, Afina watched the ground approach. Tareek banked right, and she got a clear view of the field below them.

“Thank the goddess,” she gasped, spotting Xavian.

Little more than a black blob on green grass, he stood back to back with Henrik. Swords protecting the other, they moved in concert, the dance as beautiful as it was deadly. The dragons shifted around them, scales gleaming in the moonlight, advancing with one goal in mind: separate the men, move in for the kill.

Afina hammered Tareek’s foot with her fist. With a snort, he tossed her an annoyed look.

She hit him again. “Tell the others to back away.”

Tareek ignored her and, wings spread wide, prepared to land. Afina bucked, screaming a warning as Violet Eyes circled around behind Xavian. Movements coordinated, the younger dragon drew Henrik’s fire and raised his spiked tail. Green scales flashed as it flew overhead and slammed into the ground at the men’s feet. Both jumped, trying to avoid the backlash when the dragon pivoted. Another scream locked in her throat, Afina watched helplessly as the huge spikes caught their boot heels and sent them tumbling.

Quick to recover, Xavian kicked to his feet, but it was too late. Violet Eyes was already moving. With a growl that sent shivers down her spine, he knocked Xavian down again. Talon unfurled, the blue dragon pinned him, razor-sharp claws on either side of his head. Henrik notched an arrow and took aim. Still twenty feet in the air, Afina focused on the arrowhead, willing a straight shot and a true target.

Before he could release the arrow, the green dragon engaged. Henrik turned to protect his flank, leaving Xavian without help. Afina’s heart skipped a beat then thumped hard. Running on pure instinct, she threw her hand out. Air rushed to meet her palm then pushed out, roaring toward Violet Eyes. With a hiss, he shifted. And she missed. Dirt exploded, the air blast tearing a trench in the earth six feet wide beside him.

The spikes along his spine aligned, tail swishing like a cat’s, Violet Eyes crouched above Xavian, his gaze following her descent.

She raised her hand again.

Tareek squeezed her rib cage. “Temper, temper, Priestess-sss.”

“Tell Violet Eyes to let him go!”

With a grunt, Tareek touched down on his hind legs. He hopped once then dropped her. Afina landed hard, but ignored the pain and rolled, using her momentum to gain her feet. She needed to reach Xavian. If she got close enough, she could set up a shield and send Violet Eyes flying.

Constructing a barrier in her mind, she lengthened her stride, her gaze locked on Xavian. A growl sounded at her back. She zigzagged, praying Tareek missed. Luck wasn’t with her as the dragon pounced, knocking her flat from behind.

Claws turned to fingers as he shifted into a man. Wrapping her hair around his fist, he hauled her up and back, away from Xavian.

“No!”

“Be silent.” With a quick kick, her feet left the ground, and Tareek forced her to her knees.

Her back to him, she raised her hand to blast him. He brought the medallion up and wrapped it around her throat. Afina gagged as the blood crystal settled under her chin, searing her skin. Pain arced, and she screamed as the gemstone opened a doorway inside her, sucking the magic from her blood until she was nothing but a shell with an empty inside.

“A word to the wise, Priestess.” His mouth against the curve of her ear, Tareek murmured, “Never allow a blood crystal near your throat. ’Tis as good as any noose, strangling the life from your magic.”

She coughed and clawed at Tareek’s forearms.

He twisted the chain, tightening it turn by turn until her back bowed. Leaning in, he met her gaze. “What...Didn’t think you were invincible, did you?”

“But...” Unable to get enough air, she wheezed as the blood crystal pressed against her windpipe. The gemstone burned and magic rippled. Agonizing pain sank deep, eating at her. Afina fisted the amulet she wore. “How? I wear one...every day.”

“White, not red.” He shifted his hold on the chain, improving his grip. “Hristos, didn’t that bitch teach you anything?”

Afina shook her head, hopelessness swelling inside her. She was so unprepared. Knew nothing about the role she was meant to play. She wanted to cry, but couldn’t. Tears wouldn’t change the outcome. Begging, however, might.

Her hands around the gold links, she tugged, needed some slack to speak.

Tareek retaliated, pulling on the chain until her spine arched. “Behave.”

“Promise me...he won’t be...hurt.”

“I promise you nothing.”

The tears she’d fought so hard not to shed spilled over her lashes. As the droplets streaked her cheeks, desperation took hold. She needed to make Tareek understand. Her family’s crimes were not Xavian’s. If they wanted blood, she would gladly give them hers to see Xavian safe.

“Tareek, please,” she said, her voice a mere wisp. “I will pay...take the blame for my mother’s crimes, but please, let Xavian go free.”

A muscle jumping along his jaw, he looked way without answering.

Afina closed her eyes. The dragon shifter’s hatred was absolute. He would give no quarter, and neither would the others.

The talon pressed him into the ground, cutting off his air supply. Xavian twisted, wedging his hand between the massive claw and his chest. He needed some wiggle room. Not a lot. Just enough to reach the blade sheathed against his back. The thick scales were impenetrable, but he’d found a weakness...right between the bastard’s toes.

Devoid of scales, his knife would sink deep into the dragon’s flesh, ripping at muscle to reach the bone beneath. But first, he had to reach the christing thing.

Xavian slammed his fist against the beast’s knuckle and shifted sideways. He didn’t have much time. Though he couldn’t see Afina, he could feel her. So much pain. The bastard was hurting her. And he was stuck: unable to reach her, unable to help her, unable to stop Tareek from...

He couldn’t stand it. She was so close. So damn close.

Baring his teeth, he roared, “Afina!”

The blue dragon’s eyes narrowed on him. “Quiet, human.”

Xavian snarled in answer, shoved harder, grinding his back into the ground. His swords were gone, lost in battle among the field grass. But his double scabbards did their job, gouging the earth, digging a hole beneath him. The smell of dirt and turf clogged the air, mixing with the chill of midnight. He hammered
the bastard again. Harder than stone, the scales split his knuckles wide open. He smelled blood. Knew it was his but didn’t care.

“Hristos, so fucking stubborn.” Violet Eyes lowered his head, bringing them nose-to-nose. “Cease, Xavian. You do yourself harm and little good. You cannot hurt me.”

“Let her go.”

“Or what?”

“I’ll rip your head off.”

The dragon snorted. Tendrils of smoke curled from his nostrils as he shook his horned head.

Steel clanged against scales. The echo rang in his ears as Xavian looked left. Christ, Henrik had engaged the green dragon. Twin blades flashing, he struck over and over, trying to drive the beast back into Violet Eyes. ’Twas a sound strategy. The dragons were too big to fight in close proximity. At least on the ground. One would eventually unbalance the other and—

The dragon holding him captive sidestepped, dragging Xavian with him. As he lifted his claw, a narrow sliver opened beneath Xavian’s back. He stretched hard, fingers spread wide, and palmed the knife hilt. The grip felt like home as the metal edge rasped against leather. He brought his arm up and around. Moonlight touched steel an instant before he rammed the blade between the dragon’s toes. It sank to the hilt in the webbing, finding vulnerable flesh.

The beast’s eyes went wide. He sucked in a quick breath, the sharp sound momentary before his paw jerked, up and back. Xavian went flying. Twisting in midair, he came down feet first and rolled, eyes on the ground, searching for his weapons. Moments turned into an eternity. Where were they?

Steel peeked between tuffs of field grass.

Locked on, Xavian lunged, curling both hands around the hilts. As the leather grips settled in his palms, he kicked to his feet and raised both blades. Picked up by the night breeze, his war cry echoed across the field as he leveled his swords at Violet Eyes’ head.

The dragon shook out his paw. Looking annoyed more than hurt, he said, “You are a pain in the ass.”

“I aim to please.” Xavian shifted right. He needed a way around the scaly bastard...that or a clear throwing lane. If he timed it right the redhead holding Afina wouldn’t see the blade coming until it took his head off.

Afina whimpered.

The soft sound broke Xavian’s concentration. He told himself not to look, to stay focused, but...

God help him. The bastard had her on her knees. Tears streaked down her cheeks as she fought for each breath, small hands pulling at the chain wrapped around her throat. Xavian’s heart constricted. He lunged forward, desperate to reach her.

Head low, ready to strike, Violet Eyes stepped into his path. Xavian pinwheeled, twin blades flashing as he spun. The tips of the weapons scored the dragon’s flank. Sparks flew. The beast reared, countering his blows, staying between him and Afina.

“Garren,” the redhead yelled, his deep voice drifting like a ribbon on the wind. “I am ready.”

Garren snapped at him, razor-sharp fangs clipping his steel before he hissed, “Cruz, leave Henrik and come. I will hold the humans at bay.”

Green scales gleaming in the moonlight, Cruz glanced over his shoulder. Garren tipped his chin, motioning him toward Tareek. With a nod, Cruz glanced at Henrik and inhaled. Xavian shouted a warning. His friend leapt right as the fireball left the
dragon’s mouth. Flames exploded, eating a trail through the grass as the green beast retreated toward Afina.

Xavian’s heart went loose inside his chest. He’d never reach her in time. The blue dragon stood in his path and Cruz was too fast. “Jesu, let her go. She has done naught wrong. Whatever it is you want—”

“I have what I want.” Garren spread his claws, preparing for attack as Henrik rolled to his feet. “You.”

The confirmation unhinged him, and with a howl, Xavian attacked. Twin swords blazing in the weak light, he thrust and slashed, meeting hard scales and wicked skill as the beast blocked every strike. He couldn’t get through or past the bastard. He knew that, but didn’t care. All that mattered was Afina. He needed to reach her...to stop her suffering. Had he done as she asked and left her alone, she wouldn’t have a chain to her throat and a dragon who wanted her dead.

Chest heaving, he circled the beast. Henrik took the other side, sheathing his blades in favor of his bow. The green dragon stopped in front of Afina. Anguish hit, slicing Xavian wide open. God, nay. Not Afina. Whatever the price, he would pay it. Would accept the pain to spare her a thimbleful of hurt.

Lowering his blades, he stood vulnerable, without his swords to shield him. “Do not do this.”

Garren hesitated, his gaze riveted on him.

“You want me then take me,” Xavian said, hearing the agony in his own voice. He let the weakness lie. Afina was worth the blow to his pride. Hell, he would forsake it entirely to see her safe. “Do what you will, but leave Afina unharmed. She has done naught to deserve your anger or death. I will go willingly if you release her.”

“You have feelings for the witch?”

Xavian bared his teeth. “Call her that again and I will cut your balls off.”

Scaled brows drew in tight. “Hristos, you’ve done more than bed her. You’ve taken her to mate.”

Long-standing habit told him to deny it. Instinct wouldn’t let him. The bond he shared with Afina meant something to the dragon. Xavian could all but taste it. “She is mine.”

“Ce chin.”
Garren’s lip curled, his disgust plain to see as he yelled over his shoulder, “Tareek...ease up. He’s bonded with her.”

“Shit.” The redhead scowled. “Can nothing ever be easy?”