They were more spread out now, the beasts we passed larger and more robust. They stared us down, many taking a few paces forward. Strange presences touched me, like fingers jabbing my chest, but they all felt wrong. Annoying, as any finger jabbing your chest would be.
That was when I realized I’d been fooling myself—not just any dragon would do.
“I’ll fall back now,” Lucifer said, and he did, leaving me to walk alone. No druid by my side this time. No safety blanket.
I didn’t need it. Didn’t want it.
I picked up my pace, because that was my jam. I’d prefer to run at danger than from it, more often than not. And this was dangerous, I could feel it. The dragons’ exploratory touches were harder now, packing more force and power.
At the end, way at the back, I saw the big black dragon that I knew was Lucifer’s. I remembered that thing chasing me out of the Underworld, burning everything in its path.
It trumpeted out in pleasure, feeling its—her—rider. A big pile of bones sat to her side, and trees and foliage covered her area, Lucifer obviously taking great pains to make her as comfortable as possible. He hadn’t been lying.
She was taken, though.
To my left I spied a few others of equal size, all standing now, looking my way. Annoyance flared through them. Surprise too, though. Could they feel my magic or power scale even from this distance?
They waited near their nests, the nearest a good fifty yards out.
I eyed them all, not sure what I was looking for.
The closest to Lucifer’s dragon held its wings tightly to its body, the faux-sun glistening off its forest-green hide. Two white horns rose from its otherwise smooth head, and its wide chest was currently filling with air. It was readying for battle.
Magic shoved my middle, like an opened hand slapping my chest.
I rubbed it away and looked at the next dragon, a stunning metallic gray-blue with a metallic purple chest and underbelly. Its wings rested loosely against its sides, shimmering like gems, with curved claws at the ends. It also had horns rising from a spiked head, these in onyx. Its burst of magic dug into my chest, rooted around, and squeezed my freaking heart. I sucked in a startled breath.
It didn’t let go when I tried to mentally brush it away. It didn’t give me a chance to look at the sparkly dragon next to it. Instead, it held on, daring me to act. To push back. To tear its hold from my body.
I did, ripping through its hold with my magic, slicing like I had with Lucifer’s. Its hold fell away, and I felt its shock. It didn’t trumpet, though. It didn’t give any outward sign that I’d surprised it.
The last dragon waited, somewhat tense. I had no idea why I knew that, but I could sense it as plain as day. Its white scales glistened, each outlined in dusty gray. No horns crowned its head, and its touch felt like a beautiful day at the park, welcoming and lovely. It ruffled its wings, and I took that as a gentle come-hither. The thing was incredibly beautiful, and I knew it would be sweet and kind and made for Penny. It probably liked rocks and killing things over its shoulder while it ran away.
I refocused on that steel-blue-gray dickhead who’d tried to push me around. It needed a lesson in politeness, and I was going to give it.
Lucifer’s laughter followed me through the grass as I charged at the blue-gray dragon. An air sword filled my hand, and suddenly fire was spurting down on me. I brushed it away as the magical hold filled my chest again, pounding now, trying to distract me with its intense gust of power.
“Two can play at that game, you bastard.” I sent my own shock of power, punching for its middle.
It fly-lumbered at me, its wings barely skimming the air just to make running a little less awkward for it. These creatures weren’t meant for ground combat, their true prowess soaring through the sky. This dragon, though, had figured out how to reduce the handicap.
Male.
The thought reverberated through my mind. Its shape loomed over me, at least twenty feet at the shoulder.
“Yeah. That’s what I said—dickhead. Same thing.”
He spun at the last minute, his tail whipping around. I’d seen this trick. I jumped over before cleaving one of his legs with my air sword. Power reverberating off him, he hastened to turn back. I copied Cahal and ran under him, but it didn’t work out quite like I’d planned.
I was about to slash my sword upward at its belly…and suddenly the ceiling was falling.
“Holy—” Sword forgotten, I pushed air up with all my might, stopping the dragon from squishing me beneath him. “Good call, bud,” I ground out as he thrashed, trying to break my hold. “Smart thinking.”