Releasing the Dragon: Myths and Legends, Book One (30 page)

I glanced around the arena and noticed our
group was being scrutinized by more than one set of demonic eyes.
They were watching us like they expected something exciting to
happen. I was about to ask Dragon what was up when a man - or going
by his pale, ethereal skin - a vampire approached us flanked by a
couple of goons. The one on the left I recognized as Malachi, and
if I had to take a guess, I would say the one in front was Travali.
After everything I'd heard about him I thought he would look like
evil incarnate. Instead, he had light blonde hair cut in one of
those trendy styles, a little shaggy, but not quite long enough to
brush his collar. He looked to be about my age, in his late
twenties, with dreamy blue eyes and impeccable taste in clothing.
Rather than shopping at Badasses-R-Us like almost everyone else in
the arena, he was dressed in designer slacks and a button up shirt.
If I'd seen him on the street I would have probably thought he
looked like a Hollywood playboy.

Travali and his vampires stopped about five
feet away from us and Rook moved up to stand on the other side of
Dragon.

"Now I understand what all the fuss is about,
she is exquisite." He bit his lower lip while his eyes traveled
over my body, deliberately lingering on my breasts before he met my
eyes. "It's so nice to meet you Madam Dragon, I am Travali. You'll
understand of course if I don't offer to kiss your hand. The
animals can be so possessive, not wanting anyone to touch their
females. That's what gets us into situations like the one we're in
tonight."

"And here I thought attempted rape and murder
were what brought us here tonight," I replied icily.

"Tsk, tsk," Travali said before he focused on
Dragon. "She is a feisty one, wherever did you find her
Dragon?"

"That is none of your concern Travali. Have
you decided who will replace Malachi once I'm finished tearing him
to pieces?" Dragon's eyes were completely brown without even the
slightest flicker of red. He'd told me he wanted to wait until the
last possible moment before showing his dragon, but I was surprised
by how much control he had with the way Travali was intentionally
trying to provoke him.

"There's no need for that," Travali replied
smoothly. "After tonight, Malachi will be a legend and you will be
nothing but a bad memory. Maybe I will let him take your luscious
mate as a prize. Even with your spawn swimming around inside of
her, she would make quite a trophy. Can't you just imagine her laid
out on our bed with her plump red lips wrapped around his cock
while I fuck her tight wet pussy?" He rubbed his hand over the
bulge in the front of his slacks. "Mmm… I'm getting hard just
thinking about it," he all but purred.

Behind him Malachi smirked. I wanted to wipe
that smirk off his face. My hand must have twitched betraying that
desire because Dragon reached out and gently brought it to his lips
for a kiss before he responded. How the hell could he remain so
outwardly calm when I could feel the angry turmoil threatening to
rip its way out of him?

"That's a very good fantasy, too bad Malachi
won't be around to enjoy it." Dragon shrugged like Travali's words
hadn't bothered him at all. "And since the only way you would get
near my mate is over my cold, dead body, we won't have to worry
about you disappointing her with your lack of skill in the
bedroom."

Travali's eyes flashed to black then returned
to their usual deep blue. "You seem very confident in your ability
to win this fight. Your guardian won't be able to save you this
time. His Elders will not allow him to set the clock back, not when
you have agreed to the terms of a death match. Before this night is
over you will lose your head, just like your father lost his."

"I will not need help from Rook, or from
anyone else. Malachi doesn't have a chance against me. He is too
young to know any better or he would've turned tail and ran like
you did when you fled my homelands. The only reason I tolerate you
now is that a truce between us benefits everyone in the
supernatural community as a whole. If not for that, I would've
taken you and all of your people out ages ago. Keep pushing me now
and I just might decide a war with you is worth the trouble it will
bring with the humans." Dragon kept his tone conversational but
anyone listening would know the threat was real.

Before Travali could respond a man stepped in
between him and Dragon. He was almost as tall as Rook but thinner
with short brown hair, calculating brown eyes and appeared to be
pushing forty. I recognized him Garrett Mitchell United States
Senator but here in this crowd with his medieval chainmail I knew
he was known as Garrek.

"Travali, I think it's time you moved along,
you've caused enough of a scene for one night and the festivities
are about to begin." Garrek gave Travali a hard look and the
vampire left without another word.

Garrek clapped Dragon on the back and said,
"That should keep him away from your mate while you're in the ring
so that you can concentrate on Malachi instead of worrying about
her."

"I have no need to worry about her wellbeing
with Rook and the others watching her back. She will be perfectly
safe until I return," Dragon assured Garrek then turned to me.
"Serafina, I’d like to introduce you to Garrek, my longtime friend
and head of the Interracial Council."

"I'm pleased to meet you Garrek, and I look
forward to meeting your bride-to-be this weekend at the resort." I
extended my hand which Garrek brought to his lips for a brief
kiss.

"The pleasure is all mine dear, I assure
you," he said before releasing my hand. The way Garrek's eyes lit
up left me feeling cold inside. He may be Dragon's friend, but I
got the sense that would only last as long as the friendship served
his purpose.

Dragon looked back to Garrek. "If you'll
excuse us, we have some last minute things to discuss." Garrek
inclined his head then sauntered off into the crowd.

Dragon turned to Rook to discuss battle
strategies while I took in my surroundings. More and more exotic
creatures had filed into the stadium during our exchange until it
was nearly filled to capacity. I recognized several faces and
realized that most if not all of the nightshifters were here to
support their king. Vendors walked up and down through the stands
peddling their wares while bookies struggled to take as many bets
as they could before the fights got underway. A few brave souls
approached Claire asking if she had seen who would win the various
matches but Doyle chased them away with threatening growls. Fights
broke out on the upper levels with fist flying and jaws snapping.
When the noise from all of the chaos reached deafening levels a
voice boomed through the arena with a command for silence.

The audience quieted instantly and everyone
quickly moved to take their seats. I sat between Dragon and Rook,
with Claire between Solomon and Doyle. When Dragon left for his
match Doyle would be between me and Claire.

The voice spoke again, echoing around us
making it difficult to pinpoint its source. "Tonight we are all
here to see the renowned Dragon King battle the infamous Malachi
over his appalling treatment of the newly crowned Dragon Queen. But
before we get to the main event, let us whet our appetites with a
little sex, blood and tears."

Below us a woman in a white gauzy dress was
led to the center of The Pit where the chains binding her hands
were hung from a hook attached to a wooden pole above her head. A
sick feeling started to settle in my stomach.

"Meet the virgin sacrifice," the announcer
bellowed with obvious relish.

Two groups of six male demons each joined the
woman in The Pit. They were all dressed similar to Dragon and
carried weapons ranging from lengths of chains and knives to swords
and axes. They spread out in a circle around the woman and seemed
to be waiting for some signal. They danced from one foot to the
other shaking out their arms and cracking their necks, getting
ready for battle.

"Let the games begin!"

As soon as the words left the announcer's
mouth the demons were on each other, slashing and hitting, biting
and clawing. Members of the audience rushed to the bookies placing
their bets on who they thought would win this gruesome
free-for-all. The fight seemed to go on forever with vicious growls
and howls of pain until one demon stood alone in the ring with the
bodies of the other fighters broken and bloody at his feet.

He let out a triumphant roar and ripped the
dress from the woman's body. The crowd cheered wildly. She was
screaming and kicking as he freed his erection from his pants and
impaled her with rough, pounding thrusts of his hips. The crowd
never stopped cheering, encouraging him in his brutality. When he
bit into her breast drawing blood tears streamed down her face. He
savaged her body clawing and biting her until she lay limp hanging
from the wooden pole. Only then did he allow himself to climax,
shuddering as he emptied himself into her body. He tucked himself
back into his pants and pulled her chains down from the hook that
held them above her head. Using the chains he dragged her from the
ring behind him like she was no more important than a sack of
garbage.

I wanted to rage and scream, to kill everyone
responsible for her torture. Most of all I wanted to cry for her.
But I couldn't do any of those things here and now where my pity
would be seen as a weakness.

Dragon took my hand in his and whispered, "If
there was anything I could have done to help her I would have done
it."

"What will happen to her now?" I asked him
just as quietly.

His expression was grim when he answered.
"She will be his slave now. She will bear his children and she will
suffer every day for the rest of her life."

"Did I not promise you sex, blood and tears?!
What a spectacular sight that was!" The announcer laughed and I
wanted to vomit. "Next we will witness how a fire demon settles a
territory dispute with a werewolf."

One fight after another I watched as males
and females slaughtered each other settling scores or simply
entertaining the crowd. I wanted to leave. I wanted to forget I'd
ever been here. I was sure the gory scenes playing out in The Pit
would haunt my nightmares for years to come. I held onto Dragon's
hand like a lifeline and wondered how I would ever make it through
his fight without him. He knew what I was feeling and reminded me
that Rook and Claire would be here to take care of me.

Ice ran through my veins when the announcer
said, "Finally, the moment we have all been waiting for! Entering
the ring first is Malachi, ruthless vampire second only to his
vicious Master Travali!"

Malachi jumped off the edge into The Pit from
the other side of the ring, landing in a crouch then standing with
his hands raised in the air like a showboating professional
wrestler. Cheers and jeers sounded equally from around the stadium
and I was pleased to learn this was not an entirely vampire
friendly crowd.

"His opponent, the challenger in this match,
is none other than the mighty Dragon King, fierce warrior and
commanding ruler of The United Clans!"

Dragon stood and pulled me to my feet. He
claimed my mouth in a devouring kiss that left me breathless.

The crowd went wild and the announcer
exclaimed, "Now that's something worth fighting for!"

"I'll be right back." Dragon winked at me
then dove off the edge executing a couple of flawless summersaults
before landing in a crouch. When he stood, there was no need to put
his hands in the air begging for applause.

"What an entrance! The dragons always did
know how to put on a good show," the announcer explained
enthusiastically. The audience cheered some more making it clear
Dragon was the favorite here tonight.

Once he was in The Pit the playful man who
winked at me disappeared and a calculating fighter emerged. He
strode to the center of the ring where he wasted no time and
attacked Malachi, delivering a series of kicks and punches with
brutal efficiency and blinding speed. The vampire was left stunned,
noticeably shaken by the unexpected strength and speed of Dragon's
attack. Judging by the way the crowd quieted and watched with
intense focus many of them were just as surprised as Malachi.
Dragon stood back for a moment allowing the vampire to recover
before moving in for another assault.

When Dragon struck again Malachi was able to
defend himself a little better as he backed away towards the stands
where his vampire brethren watched from above. When he was close
enough, one of the vampires sitting near Travali tossed a
broadsword down into The Pit. Malachi scooped it up and came after
Dragon with vicious intent, hissing through his descended fangs.
Dragon managed to dodge the swinging blade for several minutes
until Malachi finally drew blood, slicing across his upper arm and
leaving a deep gash. I gasped and nearly jumped out of my seat.
Rook held me in place with a restraining hand on my shoulder,
reminding me to control my emotions and my outward reactions.

Rook leaned over to whisper in my ear. "The
shapeshifters of the northern clans were the most powerful beasts
in any world before they were cursed. Malachi isn't old enough to
have ever seen a shapeshifter of Dragon's caliber in action, let
alone a nightshifter with his beast fully restored. Now that the
spell has been lifted Dragon and the other nightshifters are a
perfect melding of vampire and shapeshifter, hybrids the likes of
which no one in this crowd has ever seen. Malachi expected to face
another vampire in this ring. Instead, he's facing off with a being
that is faster and stronger than anything we have ever witnessed
before. Combine that with Dragon's exceptional fighting skills and
Malachi doesn't stand a chance. You really don't need to worry
about Dragon, he will be victorious."