Green shadow, p.31
Green Shadow, page 31
“Where’s the rest?” I stood ready. You just took down the Dragon Enforcer and current Dragon Protector. I reminded myself. You should be more worried about the damage to your bike than these bozos.
“Hear that, Cole?” Gavon shoved Cole’s shoulder with his own. “The snake here thinks he’s tough enough to take the two of us on.” They laughed.
“Well then, can we do this sometime today?” I drawled. “I have shit to do tomorrow, and I need my beauty sleep.”
That wiped the smirks off their faces, and propelled by rage, the pair approached as a unit. Only separating when they got close. Rolling my eyes, I stood my ground.
Gavon attacked with a knife he pulled out from the waistband of his pants. His swipes were broad but controlled arcs. I backed up, waiting for my opportunity to strike.
Two swings later, he overcompensated to the left. This was my chance. It turns out it was Cole’s chance too.
In my arrogance, I’d allowed him to flank me, and when Gavon overstretched, I put myself right into Cole’s claws.
Sharp nails punctured my shoulder. I tried to break free, but Cole hung on with dogged determination. I knew that grip. Karlos, a lion shifter at the guild, used it during one of our sparring matches, and he’d taught me how to counter it. Shoving my forearm down in time, I blocked Cole’s other hand. He’d struck with his fingers pressed tightly together, claws extended. The bastard aimed to puncture a hole in my side, up underneath my ribs, and into my heart—a killing blow.
Fire burned along my arm as his nails raked the sensitive skin. Ignoring the pain, I rammed my elbow into his gut.
Cole doubled over, his breath releasing in a whoosh. No time to make sure he was down. I turned and threw my arms up in front of my face. Gavon’s knife stopped an inch from my eye.
Cole’s fingers latched onto my thigh, his breaths coming out in halted gasps. Agony flared up my spine. My vision swam, and Gavon’s knife slowly began to creep toward my face as my arms gave out.
Cole whispered into my ear. “Say goodbye, Lucan.”
Was this really how it was going to end?
“Let. Him. Go.”
I recognized the higher-pitched voice through the haze of pain.
What the hell is Brooke doing here?
“Keep walking, little girl. This isn’t your fight.” Cole’s shouts deafened me, but I caught Brooke’s mocking taunt.
“Scared?”
The claws in my back retreated. I collapsed to one knee. Iron filled my skull, and it took tremendous effort to lift my eyes enough to watch as my attackers marched toward my ward. Gathering every ounce of strength left, I tried to stand. But my legs didn’t obey my commands. Helplessly, I had to watch as two seasoned mercenaries attacked a sixteen-year-old girl.
“Come on, boys, I don’t have all night.” She taunted, and I growled.
Brooke stood twenty feet from us. Feet shoulder width apart, she had one hand extended, goading Gavon and Cole forward.
Her other hand disappeared behind her back, and I could see the tips of her staff glowing lightly over her head.
“Brooke, no,” I coughed. The sound came out rushed, and my fear was plain in my tone.
She spared me a glance. “Be there soon, Lucan,” she called in a sing-song tone. Her voice may have been light, her eyes dancing, but her hands were steady, and she watched the pair with an intense focus.
“Last warning, leave now, and maybe we won’t hunt you down,” Gavon said as he and Cole split.
“Nah, I need the exercise,” Brooke quipped. Then, not letting the men have the opening move, she exploded forward, dancing between them as if she was a leaf blowing in the wind.
Not perfect, though. Within a minute, Brooke was bleeding from claw marks and a knife strike. Thankfully they looked minor.
Brooke twirled her bo staff. The ends lit with amber light. The staff had a crystal core that helped channel her magic. Effective with or without magic, it was her weapon of choice.
The stick sliced through the air, shattering bone when it hit its mark. Gavon howled in pain and clutched his ribs.
Seeing Cole sneak up behind her, I opened my mouth to shout a warning. But she didn’t need the help.
Spinning as Cole lunged, Brooke rammed the butt of her staff into the center of his chest. The canine shifter’s eyes rolled up, and he toppled, unconscious.
“Who sent you?” Brooke snarled in Gavon’s face.
The injured man clutched his ribs, breath ragged. “None of your business,” the male tried to sound harsh, but it came out more like a wheeze.
Brooke’s hand descended, and a pale-yellow whip cracked next to his ear. Cam had taught her the trick of condensing the air around her into a weapon. But, unfortunately, she wasn’t proficient at it yet, and the creation was already flickering at the tip.
However, it had the desired effect. Gavon flinched and stumbled away from Brooke.
“Ready to re-think your answer?” She took a menacing step forward.
Gavon slumped in defeat. Hands clenched into fists. He finally gave up his client. “A guy named Devon. He hired us to make the dragon pay. Said something about him messing up his mating. Wanted revenge.”
Brooke nodded. Though I doubt she knew who the man was. I’d given his wife a card with Annabelle’s name months ago. It looks like Monica had gone through with the separation.
Brooke turned her attention to me. Her eyes narrowed as they moved up and down my form. She frowned at what she saw.
Gavon pulled a dick move and charged Brooke while her attention was on me. He clutched his ribs tight, trying to lessen the pain.
Brooke’s focus snapped back to her foe, and she effortlessly danced out of his way, bringing her staff down on his neck. He collapsed to the ground and didn’t move. Leaning down, Brooke touched two fingers to his pulse. Then, nodding to herself, she went to check on Cole. Satisfied they were down but not dead. She made her way to me.
Humor laced her tone. “Fancy meeting you here.” With a practiced move, she tucked the weapon along her spine.
“Your lessons with Chris are paying off, I see,” I said, wincing as my other leg gave out, and I plopped down on my butt. Concern drifted through Brooke’s amber eyes, and she started rummaging in her hip bag.
“Cam’s, too. She’s the one who suggested the staff.” Then, finding what she was looking for, she pulled out several squares of linen and a bottle of ointment.
“This is going to sting.” She squeezed out a dollop of goop and smeared it on the five punctures on my back. The pain intensified as whatever healing magic was in the damn stuff burned out all the grime Cole’s claws had shoved into my skin.
More fire laced my arm and thigh as she spread the sharp-smelling compound. Then, with a roll of cotton, she bound my injuries tight.
“What the hell are you doing here, Brooke? I thought you were heading home with Saber.” Now that I wasn’t so woozy, fear ignited my temper. “You should be home already.”
“I decided to clear my head before going to sleep.” She replied with an air of innocence.
Having lived with Brooke for almost seven months, I knew her better than that.
“How is this conducive to clearing your head?” I snapped. I was more pissed at myself for not escorting her home. “Does anyone know where you are?” I could only imagine her brothers’ frantic worry when they found out she wasn’t there.
“Saber’s around here somewhere,” her voice was smaller. She was starting to realize how scared/pissed off I was.
Not wanting to take all my anger out on her, I looked around to see if I could spot the beast. But the cat was too good at hiding in plain sight, and I wouldn’t see him until he decided to be seen.
“What if you had gotten really hurt,” I pushed. “Or worse, what if Gavon and Cole managed to take you?” She had to know what it would do to her brothers if she vanished.
An obstinate look settled on her face. “You were in trouble, there are multiple escape routes, and I have backup.”
Grudgingly impressed at the level of forethought, I was about to concede. But my dragon wasn’t ready to let it slide. Coming forward, he snapped, “What if….”
Brooke threw her hands up. “Unless I’m inside, I have a way to escape that no one can stop.”
My brows furrowed in confusion, and she gave me a sheepish smile.
“Lucan, you’re not the only one who can fly.” She lifted a foot off the ground and hovered. “You didn’t know?” she said softly.
I shook my head. “No. You’ve never done it, and your family doesn’t talk a lot about the extent of their powers.”
She frowned and touched back down. “We need to let you in more. Old habits and all. That’s on us.” Reaching down, she offered me a hand. “Come on, let’s get you to Alec. You need to be at the top of your game for tomorrow.”
I agreed and stiffly made my way over to where my bike had toppled over. The crystal was scratched, but there didn’t seem to be any lasting damage.
The cat could make his own way.
“Hop on, kid. Let’s go home.”
Chapter 38
Lucan
I wiped a trickle of blood from under my nose and made it disappear into the black fabric of my sleeve. Glancing around, it didn’t seem as if anyone noticed.
Saber came up behind me and leaned heavily against my leg, his nostril’s flared, and his eyes narrowed. You know it’s not good, when the cat’s showing sympathy.
I closed my eyes for a second and took a deep breath. One way or another, this will all be over within the next few hours.
My new family, and those key to the plan, were gathered in the locker room before the fight. No one said much, but we all needed the silent support. After months of planning, this was it. There was no alternate path, no failsafe.
Slowly, the majority trickled out and headed to their posts. Tyr and I left last, making our way to the arena floor.
Adrenaline surged through me as I moved toward the sandy surface. Banners fluttered, agitated by the wind coming in through the upper decks. In the stands, people waved smaller versions. Pennants in black and green or blue and crimson peppered the crowd. Each represented one of the final two teams. We hadn’t chosen our colors. The administrative staff selected them. Ironically, Tyr and I were assigned blue and crimson, and the blue they had chosen was very close to the actual shade of my eyes.
A live band played, its music amplified by mages to cover every corner. Vendors walked up and down the aisles, trays held in front of them, supported by a strap looped around the worker’s neck. They yelled and shouted their wares to the seated patrons. The air was light, with an air of festivity to it. Anger bloomed in my stomach. How can they be so relaxed when the stakes are so high.
Despite my negative feelings about the whole thing, the tournament was wildly popular, and I’d bet my last dollar the contest would become an annual event.
Jonas sat in the stands. Curtis had offered him a place in the box he’d rented, but the man declined. His daughter wanted to be nearer to the action, and he enjoyed being another nameless face in the crowd.
The young teen bounced in her seat right next to the laneway where we waited. She chattered on at a mile a minute. Jonas’s eyes met mine, and instead of the exasperation I expected of a parent forced to endure the incessant noise, his face shone with proud fatherly love.
He nodded at me, and I returned the gesture. His face changed. He frowned and lifted a hand as if he wanted to reach out to me.
A trickle of blood dripped onto my upper lip. Shit. I quickly wiped it away and smiled reassuringly. Jonas’s concern didn’t ebb.
The announcer saved me from having to answer any questions about my health by blaring his introduction through the loudspeaker.
“Ladies and gentlemen, the moment you’ve all been waiting for, the final match in this single-elimination tournament. It has been a thrilling ten days of competition showcasing fighters from all walks of life. First, a round of applause for the valiantly defeated.”
A smattering of claps echoed through the stadium. I snorted. No one wanted to pity those who lost. They wanted to get to the main attraction.
Tyr shuffled his feet. His fingers flexed, and his eyes darted around the stadium.
“Now, to the main event. First, your reining home-team champions, representing the city of Seaforth. You’ve seen them fight. You’ve seen them win. Standing at six foot one… the noble dragon shifter… Athos Drrraaacccooosss!”
The left side of the stands erupted into wild cheers, their blue and crimson flags waving frantically.
“And don’t forget his partner, the man who brings the heat…. Parker Greenflame!”
I gave Tyr a wicked grin as a group of young women started shouting and holding signs.
Nudging him with my shoulder, I attempted to distract him from his nerves. “The one in the middle is cute, and she wants to marry you. Maybe you should give her your number.”
He blushed and punched my arm, but his fidgeting stopped, so I called it a win.
Opening my mouth to keep needling him, I spiraled into a coughing fit, and had to cover my mouth with my hand to catch the droplets of blood that emerged. When the fit subsided, I added them to the growing collection on my pants.
Tyr laid a hand on my back. “Are you going to be able to do this? It’s not too late to swap you out.”
I grunted. Tyr’s offer was misplaced. It was too late to switch me out; even if we could, I wouldn’t. I needed to do this.
Tyr sighed but didn’t offer again. I was glad. I needed all my energy to survive until Saber or Curtis gave the signal.
We came to a stop on our side of the vast oval arena. The announcer let the crowd go nuts for another minute before interrupting.
“The challengers. A duo who has not only won but annihilated anyone foolish enough to oppose them. The terror of the supernatural world, a name spoken as a warning to wayward children. The one, the only…. Terra!”
And there she was, her face a stone mask. I would think she was heartless and cold if I didn’t know better. But she wasn’t, and the slight flinch she wasn’t quick enough to hide told the truth of her nature. My magic covered every inch of the area, and though it was sluggish, I caught the shame, self-loathing, and utter defeat she couldn’t help but emit.
My hands twitched, and I took an involuntary step forward. I stopped, but it took an enormous effort not to stalk across the sandy pit, take Mackenzie in my arms, and kill anyone who even thought about separating us.
Beside me, Tyr stiffened. His eyes lit with a crimson glow, and a low growl rumbled out of his chest. I paused. It was by far the most animalistic sound the man had ever made, but I had no time to dwell on it as the announcer finished his spiel.
“And last but certainly not least, a newcomer to the scene. He doesn’t have the same ruthless reputation as Terra, but my sources say he’s been active as long as our terrifying girl. A man made of living darkness, the silent assassin… Shadow!”
A man stepped out of the shadow strategically cast at their end. A light came on as soon as he emerged, and the whole arena blazed brightly. Using a hand to shade my eyes, I studied him.
Cowl pulled up, his face wasn’t visible, but in the void, there was a glint, a mere hint of eyes.
Son-of-a-bitch. He was the assassin who’d come after Monica and Devon. The data we gathered suggested the man had killed more than one member of a blended shifter pairing. This was going to complicate things once we got them free.
Shadow moved to Mackenzie’s side, and they looked at us as one. Despair flittered through my mate’s features. She was expecting a rescue, expecting familiar faces across the sandy floor—someone, anyone, to fan the tiny flame of hope that fluttered in her soul. My hand moved involuntarily to my chest, and my fingers twitched. I didn’t grab the disguise charm and rip it off, no matter how much I wanted to. I couldn’t. Not until the time was right.
Dagmar’s voice whispered in my ear, thanks to the com charm from Ethyl.
“In position. We have sight of the target. At least three guards are blocking our path, and two other adults are sitting with the child. We need a distraction to get close enough to extract the girl without risking her.”
I couldn’t respond verbally without alerting those watching. So instead, I made one of the many prearranged signals we’d agreed on. Running my hand through my hair and tossing my head slightly, I watched Tyr out of the corner of my eye. He rubbed his nose, message understood. One distraction coming up.
“Make it good, dragon.“ The vampire chuckled in my ear.
Shadow’s emotions reached me. They’d taken longer to cross the distance than Mackenzie’s. I knew her better, and that made it easier for my magic. When I tasted the combination, it confirmed my earlier suspicion.
Love, respect, and admiration mixed in with the assassin combo. Rage punched me—a wave of deep, profound anger that I’d only felt when I’d learned of my father’s death. Shadow loved Mackenzie. My heart sank. Had they bonded? – Did she feel the same?
My dragon went quiet. In all our planning, all his dreams, never had we thought that she would find someone else, someone who could relate with her on a deeper level.
I couldn’t comfort him because he was me, and I wasn’t about to try and console myself. But I wasn’t going to repeat the mistakes of the past. I wouldn’t assume anything until I’d had a chance to talk to her—an opportunity to explain. Then I would honor her choice, whatever it was.
Even if that choice ripped my heart out.
Chapter 39
Mackenzie
Ignoring the announcer, I took a few deep, stabilizing breaths, letting the disappointment roll through me. I embraced the crushing weight threatening to take me to my knees, then let it go. Life is full of moments where your hopes are crushed, but that doesn’t mean you let them stop you. And I wouldn’t let this stop me. It hurt like a bitch, but it, too, would pass.
