Releasing the Dragon: Myths and Legends, Book One (36 page)

Detective Ruby was stunned. I caught Solomon
and Serrano whispering to each other out of the corner of my eye.
Angela glanced around our circle from one face to the next and
finally settled on mine. "You're serious aren't you?"

"Yes." We were no longer joking and I could
feel the tension radiating from her.

Her eyes remained locked on mine. "If I put
all that in my report I'd be laughed off the force. Of course you
know that, but it doesn't matter does it? My report would never be
filed if I tried to include any of that."

"No, we wouldn't allow any of that to become
public record." Rook moved like he wanted to get between us to
protect her but I stopped him with a look. Detective Ruby glanced
at him then back to me. "He wants to protect you from me. Do you
understand what that means? He is bound to me by blood and magic.
For him to even think about fighting against me would take a
monumental effort on his part."

She turned to him and their eyes met. I don't
know what passed between them but her entire body went rigid and
sweat broke out across her brow.

"Rook," I prompted gently.

He turned to me like he was waking from a
dream. She sagged in relief and I was sure her legs would give out.
Then she shook herself and crossed her arms over her chest.

"Your secret is safe with me," Detective Ruby
assured me with a shaky voice. "I don't have any desire to ruin my
own life just to expose whatever you've got going on here."

"That's good to know." I was relieved to know
I wouldn't have to take steps to silence her. It would devastate
Rook and chances were good our friendship would never recover.

Rook took a deep breath and relaxed while
Serrano passed a twenty dollar bill to Solomon. I sent the two of
them on errands so I could have a moment alone with Rook and
Detective Ruby.

When they were gone I spoke to Rook in his
native language. "
She will come to no harm from my hand or by
any other under my orders. I know it would be difficult for you,
but if she becomes a problem I will leave it to you to deal with.
Until that time, we will treat her as we would your mate whether
she accepts that position or not.
"

"Hey, what are you saying to him? Speak
English. What kind of messed up language was that?"

Rook actually smiled and bowed to me with his
hand fisted over his heart. When he straightened he grinned at her.
"He was telling me not to worry because in his eyes you're my woman
and therefore my problem to deal with."

"What? I'm not your woman..."

"No!" I fell to my knees with the jolt of
terror that shot through me from Serafina. Rook and Detective Ruby
were instantly alert and scanning the area but the danger wasn't
here. I got to my feet and raced home. I couldn't wait for the
elevator and the stairs would take far too long. The dragon tore
from my body and shot into the sky heading straight for the
terrace. I landed on human feet and sprinted into the apartment
yelling Serafina's name. I found Doyle out cold near the front door
which had been ripped from its hinges and now lay in pieces on the
floor. Rook and Detective Ruby came out of the elevator and took in
the situation. She had her gun out and started going from room to
room clearing the area.

I picked Doyle up off the floor and shook
him. "What happened? Where is she Doyle?"

He was groggy but slowly he came back to
consciousness. "It was Scarlett. She came to the door and said you
wanted Serafina to join you in your office." I dropped him and
swore. He slumped to the floor and sat with his head in his hands.
"Something wasn't right though. She didn't smell like Scarlett. I
tried to close the door in her face but then Rook stepped off the
elevator. I was going to explain my suspicions to him but he
cold-cocked me before I could say a word. As I was passing out I
realized he didn't smell right either."

I roared and sent a table flying into the
glass doors. They shattered with the impact showering the terrace
with glass and wood. I could feel her pain, her fear, but that
wasn't what scared me the most. "She's dying! I can feel her
slipping away."

"She's not here Dragon. I need you to calm
down and concentrate on her. Lead us to her. We can't save her if
we can't find her." Rook was the voice of reason that pulled me
back from the edge.

I went to the terrace and opened all my
senses. I smelled Travali and surprisingly Ivanna. They'd both been
here recently with Serafina. Where had they gone? She wasn't far, I
could feel that. I went to the railing and scanned the beaches
below. There, just beyond the pier, was something on fire?

My legs gave out and it felt like someone
ripped my heart from my chest. Serafina was gone. I couldn't see
her, but I knew she would never come back to me.

I was on my hands and knees when Rook
crouched down in front of me speaking urgently. "Dragon, I'm going
to reset the clock but we need to know where she is or we'll never
reach her in time. Do you know where she is?"

I shook my head. "I don't know for sure but I
think she might be down there on the beach where that fire is
burning."

He glance over the railing and nodded. "We'll
find a way to save her just hold on."

I reached out and grasped his arm, he had to
know so someone would remember, "Travali was here, and Ivanna, I
can smell them both."

He grimaced then stood and strode away from
me. I heard him talking to Detective Ruby. "I need your help
Angela. I've already reset time twice tonight. I can't do it again
by myself and even if I could I wouldn't be able to go back far
enough for this."

"I don't understand. How can I help? I can't
travel through time." She was trying hard to mask the fear in her
voice.

Rook made a frustrated sound. "I don't have
time to explain. I need you to trust me. Serafina's life depends on
it."

It was quiet for a moment then Detective Ruby
asked Rook, "What do you need me to do?"

There was no more talking, only a surprised
yelp from Detective Ruby when Rook claimed her mouth with a hungry
kiss. A moment later I heard clothes ripping then a satisfied groan
followed by the sounds of bodies slapping together. I wished I
would remember this once Rook reset time because I would owe
Detective Ruby for the rest of my life. I had no idea how she
really felt about Rook, but I knew she wasn't ready for this on any
level. When their passion crested they both cried out and
everything went dark...

Rook took a deep breath and relaxed while
Serrano passed a twenty dollar bill to Solomon. I sent the two of
them on errands so I could have a moment alone with Rook and
Detective Ruby.

When they were gone I spoke to Rook in his
native language. "
She will come to no harm from my hand or by
any other under my orders. I know it would be difficult for you,
but if she becomes a problem I will leave it to you to deal with.
Until that time, we will treat her as we would your mate whether
she accepts that position or not.
"

"Wait!" Detective Ruby crossed her hands over
her lower body then looked down twisting from side to side.

Rook stifled a laugh then became very
serious. "Dragon, Serafina needs us. I'm not sure where she is but
I think she's on the beach just past the pier. There should be a
fire, go now and I'll meet you there."

I didn't ask any questions I just launched
myself into the air, wrapping myself in shadows and flew as fast as
my wings could carry me. There wasn't a fire anywhere in sight but
I did see a torch and circled around to investigate. Serafina
screamed below me and terror lanced through my soul. She was so
frightened. I swooped down and landed on human feet with protective
scales still covering my body.

The scene before me made my heart beat at a
frantic rhythm as I quickly ran through my options. Serafina was
screaming hysterically, tied to a stake surrounded by kerosene
soaked branches and kindling. My eyes told me that Rook was at her
throat drinking with greedy pulls of his mouth, but the dragon knew
it was Travali's scent drifting on the wind.

I lunged forward, intent on ripping the
vampire to shreds when he spun around and pulled the torch from the
ground. I skidded to a halt about five feet from my beloved mate
and the vampire I hated most in all the worlds combined.

"Uh-uh-uh," Travali smirked with Rook's face
as he moved the torch closer to Serafina and licked his lips.
"Mmm... Now that is a taste I could get used to. It's a shame she
has to die tonight."

"If anyone dies tonight it won't be
Serafina," I promised, but doubt skittered through my mind. She'd
stopped screaming and though she watched us intently, her head was
starting to droop on her shoulders. Travali hadn't sealed his bite
mark. I needed to take care of him fast or she was going to bleed
out.

"Oh, but you're wrong." With an angry sneer
he chucked the torch like a spear igniting a blaze that swiftly
spread around Serafina.

"No!"

I charged forward in a mindless rush when
Serafina shrieked in agony but Travali blocked my path before I
could reach her. He came at me lightning fast, slashing at me with
his jagged claws. I dodged, but not fast enough. I'd left myself
wide open. Had it not been for my scales my insides would have been
spilling out. Blood flowed freely from a deep gash along my side as
I wheeled around and delivered a series of kicks and punches in
quick succession. Travali staggered back but managed to fend off my
attack. All I could think about was getting to Serafina. Every
scream was like a knife through my heart, I could feel her pain
through the bond. She wouldn't be able to hold on much longer.

In my distraction Travali attacked again,
toying with me, keeping me from my mate. We traded blow after blow
wasting too much time. I couldn't hear her any more. Why wasn't she
screaming? I couldn't concentrate on the bond to feel if she was
still alive, not with Travali waiting for me to slip up.

Travali landed a kick to my midsection and I
grabbed his foot and twisted hard. He howled in pain and went down
in the sand face first. I drove my foot into his back hearing a
satisfying crack as his spine snapped in half. He cursed me as I
moved to finish him once and for all.

"Dragon! Serafina needs you now," Rook called
urgently.

I spun in the direction his voice had come
from and forgot about Travali, nothing mattered but saving Serafina
from the bonfire surrounding her. I barreled through the fire
taking the stake and Serafina with me as I rolled into the surf.
Rook waded in after us and helped me drag myself and my mate back
on shore.

He checked her vital signs. "She breathing
but she's lost a lot of blood Dragon and the burns..."

I pulled her onto my lap and pushed what was
left of her hair off her face. She didn't make a single sound, not
even a whimper. I was so scared. What would I do if I lost her?

"Dragon, you have to help her," Rook
implored.

"What can I do? Look at her Rook." I met his
eyes and saw pity starring back at me.

"You have to give her your blood. Now before
it's too late."

I looked back down at Serafina. "She's lost
too much blood. Her body won't be able to fight off the virus."

"Do you honestly believe she would rather die
tonight than live as a vampire?" Rook put his hand on my shoulder.
"She needs you to put aside your hatred of vampires and let your
love for her guide you. Do what needs to be done to save your
mate."

It felt like there were iron bands
constricting around my chest. Serafina was slipping away from me.
The scales melted from my body leaving me nude and human again.

"I'm so sorry Serafina. I can't lose you like
this." My claws sliced out and I slit my wrist. I brought it to her
lips but my blood just pooled in her mouth. I smoothed her hair
with my free hand. "I need you to drink now Serafina, please don't
leave me, drink from me and live," I begged desperately. Still she
just lay there. I shook her and shouted, "Drink dammit, drink
before it’s too late." Tears of loss fear and frustration ran down
my face.

"Dragon..." Rook started.

"No! I won't give up on her," I growled at
him.

Then I pushed into Serafina's mind and let
bloodlust take us over. The madness consumed me, the dark thoughts
always whispering to my subconscious screamed through my mind
blocking out everything else. Gnawing hunger twisted in my gut
while fire scorched my throat, so dry, so thirsty. The scent of
blood snapped my head up. Someone thrust a bleeding wrist against
my lips. My fangs savagely tore through the tender flesh making the
blood gush over my tongue, soothing the burning ache in my throat.
I drank and drank, but still the voices demanded more.

The life force in the blood coursed through
my body lighting up every cell, sending blood rushing to my cock as
another kind of lust overcame me. My hips moved of their own
volition, seeking, needing. I sucked harder, every drop of the hot,
fresh blood driving the twin lusts higher.

"Dragon...have to..."

Someone was trying to break through the dark
voices in my head but I couldn't focus on anything but the
unquenchable thirst, the insatiable need.

The wrist was jerked from my mouth. I roared
and moved to attack, to recapture my prey, but someone pinned to me
to the ground. I struggled trying to free myself. Nothing mattered,
nothing but the blood. The voices screamed in my head, fire shot
down my throat, pain, so much pain... I had to have more blood.

"Fight it Dragon, fight it!"

I struggled harder, lost to my lust for
blood.

A new sound broke through the chaos in my
mind. It started with a soft rumble that grew louder, and louder
until the dragon drowned out all the other voices. He clawed his
way into my mind and tore himself from my body with a fiery
explosion of scales and claws. He took to the air, racing through
the night sky, pulling me from the abyss I'd fallen into. The
dragon had no use for blood. He was free, the wind was rushing over
his body, and his mate was waiting for him below.