Soul of the Dragon (36 page)

Alexa frowned and tried to recall where they’d been when they’d discussed Peter’s
dreams. “How did you hear us?” Alexa said. “You weren’t outside.” And she’d been careful to steer Peter away from the hotel room.
 

“You think my darling, wonderful,
generous
brother is the only one with special talents? You weren’t that quiet. Not to me.”
 

Peter tried to placate her, but she looked at him so venomously he fell back two steps. “Victoria, I love you.”
 

“Yeah, well, I can’t take that to the bank, can I? And you want to design playground equipment for the poor.” Derision dripped from every word. Mark didn’t bother to hold her back when she started moving toward Peter. He was avidly watching the drama.
 

Victoria bumped into the barrier Ryc had built. She put up a hand and felt it, then closed her fist and pounded it once, twice, against the wall. “Take this down!” She hit it again, then kicked it. “Now! Goddammit!” She threw herself into the attack, hitting and kicking and growling, her hair flying around her face. The stillness of the other eight people in the room made her frenzied attack look ridiculous.
 

Alexa couldn’t hold back a snort of laughter. She put her hand up over her mouth and tried to turn it into a cough, but it was too late. Her gaze met Ryc’s. His mouth twitched, and when the second snort went through her nose, he broke. They dissolved into laughter that made Victoria pause.
 

But not for long. She gave an enraged yell and spun around, yanking the Uzi from Mark’s hand and swinging it up. Before she could fix on anyone, however, the gun flew from her hands and out the door. Alexa wasn’t sure whether Ryc’s, Tarsuinn’s, or her own magic had gotten to it first.
 

Not that it mattered. Victoria overcame her surprise and leaped at her nearest unprotected target. Fury gave her speed, and she managed to yank out a hunk of Alexa’s hair.
 

“Ooowwww!” Furious, Alexa reached for the woman, then hesitated just a moment to glance at her brother. This was his fiancée, and she didn’t want to be responsible for ruining his life.
 

Someone had apparently taught Victoria self-defense, because in that second of hesitation she stomped on Alexa’s foot, then tried to jab her in the eye. Alexa caught her by the wrist and jerked her arm up behind her.
 

Peter was standing tensely behind the barrier, quivering like a horse at the gate. Ryc lowered it and he charged out, coming straight at Victoria.
 

Alexa didn’t release the woman, even as Peter’s hands closed over her shoulders and Victoria relaxed under them.
 

“Vic,” Peter said. “I can’t believe you’d do this. Why?”
 

“I told you why.” Her voice was still frenzied, now with an edge of desperation that superseded the anger. “You would have ruined everything.”
 

“Ruined what?” Peter shook Victoria a little. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
 

“Didn’t you ever notice, Peter? My brother, your sister. Parental favorites. Even after they left home, they just became legends.” Alexa didn’t have to work to hear the bitterness in Victoria’s voice. “Alexa the spy, out saving the world. Tars Suinn, youngest billionaire ever, building an empire but sharing none of it.”
 

“I shared,” Tars broke in quietly. “You know I shared.”
 

“Pittance,” she spat. Then her tone turned pleading, and she laid her free hand on Peter’s
chest. “I wanted to marry you, get something precious to both of them. You’re precious to Alexa, and money is precious to Tars.” She shoved Peter, hard, and broke his grip. Alexa tightened hers. “We almost had it all, then you had to go all noble and run off to save Alexa from the demons chasing her.” She laughed. “Turns out the demon was my brother!”
 

Alexa watched Peter thinking, and knew the instant he realized he didn’t need this woman. He stepped back, shaking his head. “You’re such a cliché, Vic. I thought you had more imagination than that.” His eyes met Alexa’s, amusement covering the hurt. “Dad’s gonna love being right.”
 

Victoria twisted against Alexa’s hold. “No, sweetheart,” Alexa told her, “you’re going to sit right here until we straighten the rest of this out.” She grabbed a chair and pushed her down into it, then bound her with energy so she couldn’t move. Victoria struggled against her invisible bonds, her movements more and more panicky, until Tars stepped over and laid his hand on her cheek.
 

“I’m sorry for the part I’ve played in this, Victoria. But you must relax. You can’t get out of there.”
 

The woman shrieked, but settled down and actually shrank back when Aunt Ethel stepped forward. “I’ll cover her,” she told Alexa, who kissed her on the cheek and smiled.
 

“Thanks.”
 

“And don’t you go thinking she kidnapped me. I insisted on coming. She would have figured out a way to get rid of me if the brain trust over here hadn’t gotten in her way.” She gestured to Mark, who had been watching the goings on as avidly as the rest. Unlike the professionals, however, he’d let his attention waver and the gun had drooped to his side. When Aunt Ethel jerked her head at him he jumped, as if he’d forgotten he wasn’t a simple spectator. He began to lift the gun, but a moment’s indecision choosing his target was a moment too long.
 

Tars took two strides across the floor, then lifted Mark into the air without touching him. Alexa grabbed the gun—with her hand, not magic—and tossed it out to join its mate in the yard.
 

Defenseless, Mark was no longer a tough guy. He begged Tars’ forgiveness until the mage shut him up with a flick of his hand. Mark clutched at his throat, working his silent mouth until, realizing he wasn’t going to force his voice back, he stopped moving to hang in the air.
 

“I do not understand,” Tars said to the man. “What have I done that has so wronged you?”
 

“Don’t act all fatherly toward me all of a sudden.” Mark looked momentarily surprised at the sound of his voice but recovered quickly. “I was always a lackey, and you acted like I was a pest when I wasn’t doing your dirty work. I deserve something for taking that for so many years.”
 

Alexa saw the edges of Tars’ mouth curl upward just a bit.
 

“You are receiving quite a bit of money for the sale of my companies. That isn’t enough?”
 

Victoria’s screech had them all turning. “You sold Dragonsoul Enterprises? All of it? You bastard!” She ranted on until Tars pointed at her and her mouth snapped shut.
 

“You and your family have been well taken care of, Victoria.” He looked at Alexa. “As has yours.”
 

“We don’t want your money,” Alexa and Peter said in unison. Aunt Ethel, who now stood between her niece and nephew, nudged them with her elbows.
 

“Don’t speak for all of us, kids. He apparently has a lot to answer for.”
 

Alexa realized Aunt Ethel had learned enough in this exchange only to have a ton of questions. She felt exhausted just imagining trying to answer them. Then their father would have
to know, too.
 

Maybe she could just stay in the cabin once this was over. For a thousand more years.
 

The thud of Mark’s feet on the floor drew her attention back to Tarsuinn and the knowledge that they had a long journey before the end appeared. Mark was glaring at Tars but backing out of the cabin. While she had been introspecting they must have come to an understanding.
 

“The guns!” She started to follow Mark but Rock was already there. He acquired the weapons before Mark could even consider making another move, then he signaled Alexa that he’d follow the man until he was certain he was safely away.
 

Tars turned to his sister. “I am truly sorry, Victoria, for the role I played in bringing you to this point.” He started toward her but she wrestled her bonds so ferociously he paused and examined her thoughtfully. “Perhaps it is best you remain…seated.” He levitated the chair and floated her to the yard, then stood with his back to them for several long moments.
 

“And it comes back to us,” he said quietly.
 

Alexa felt her “forces” gathering behind her as Kurt and Peter drew near. Ryc stood next to her, and his presence made her feel stronger than she ever had alone.
 

Aunt Ethel patted her on the arm, then moved past Tars. “I’ll just go out and take care of the young lady.” She waved a fistful of rope she had acquired from their supplies. “This kind of thing must take an awful lot of energy.” She disappeared out the door.
 

Kurt and Peter seemed less inclined to leave them alone. Alexa could see them in her peripheral vision, bracketing her and Ryc and standing in identical poses, legs spread wide, arms crossed.
 

Alexa wondered what resolution could possibly occur now, but somehow, even after all that had happened, she retained a kernel of hope. She turned to Tarsuinn.
 

“We’re listening,”
 

Tarsuinn looked at Ryc, who saw his past mirrored in the mage’s eyes. “I’m sorry, friend.”
 

It wasn’t enough, could never be enough, but it would start. “Reverse it,” Ryc ordered.
 

Tarsuinn lifted his palms and raised his shoulders. “I cannot. There are no incantations to do so. I was not lying when I told you the power to reverse the curse was given to her.”
 

“So why are you here?” Alexa demanded. “Besides the side show, I mean.”
 

“You will never love me, and I have finally accepted that,” Tarsuinn said. “This time, I speak truth. I will fight you no longer. I will leave you in peace.” He glanced back and forth between them. Ryc wanted to believe he was lying, that they could somehow force the mage to restore him, but he could see the truth. Feel it.
 

The shudder hit him unexpectedly. Ryc grabbed Alexa’s arm more from reflex than anything else. She couldn’t prevent the change. No one could. But now, more than ever, he dreaded becoming Cyrgyn again.
 

Through the roar in his head he could hear Alexa arguing with Tarsuinn. Light narrowed his vision until it seemed he was looking down a tunnel. The pain he’d felt earlier began to fill him. Dimly, he registered the difference in this change and somehow knew it would be the last. He didn’t know why, but the curse was expiring. No wonder he had felt such urgency to summon her and begin the quest.
 

Their time was up.
 

“Alexa.” His voice sounded far away, but it must have been forceful enough to make her stop talking. She turned and he wrapped his other hand around her shoulder. His blood grew hot and his muscles pulsed with the energy of transformation. With all of his might, he fought it.
 

“This is the last,” he managed to say. Alexa’s eyes widened in horrified understanding, and he felt her clutch at him.
 

“No! Ryc, no! Don’t!”
 

“I can’t stop it.” He closed his eyes for a second, trying to push back the forces overcoming him. Miraculously, he felt them recede slightly. When he opened his eyes his vision was clearer. He could see Alexa, the tears on her face, the determination behind the fear.
 

“We’ll find the way,” she was saying. Sobbing. “It’s not the last, Ryc! It can’t be!”
 

“It is. Listen to me.” He braced his hands under her jaw, his fingers curved over the back of her head. He had to tell her. After all this time, all these battles, he had to tell her the one thing he’d kept to himself since he was truly a man.
 

“I love you.” It came out a whisper, but no less intense for the lack of volume. Ryc’s heart felt like it would burst. The despair receded, taking the bitterness and anger. There was no room, no time for such emotions. Only love remained. Pure, true love. He looked into the eyes of his soulmate, and told her the only thing that mattered. “I will love you for all time.”
 

The forces closed over him again. Desperately, he pressed his mouth to hers, telling her with his kiss what she had meant to him for four lifetimes. She returned the kiss just as passionately, and though he could not hear her voice, he heard her thoughts.
 

I love you, too
, echoed in his head, his heart, his soul.
Always only you
.
 

* * *
 

Alexa clung to Ryc, her mind fighting the truth of what he’d told her. There was no reason for this to be the end, for him to transform to dragon forever. Tarsuinn hadn’t won. He hadn’t gotten Alexa, and no one was dead. She wasn’t giving up.
 

But Ryc was. She could hear it in his voice, see it in his face, feel it in the energy rippling over and under his skin. His words arrowed straight to her heart, banishing all the self-doubt and guilt and fear, leaving only love.
 

She would not let him go. Where there was life, there was hope, and they were both for damn sure alive.
 

The kiss broke and Alexa’s grip on Ryc’s shoulders slipped. He pulled away from her.
 

“No!” Her cry was involuntary, instinctive, but even as she lunged for him, she stopped herself. Something was different. Last time the transformation had been almost instantaneous, a blink of the eye. Not so, now.
 

The four onlookers moved backward in unison, then raised an arm against the bright light that burst around Ryc.
 

No, not
around
him, Alexa realized,
from
him. The light glowed gold, as if reflected from Cyrgyn’s scales. Except there were no scales. Not yet.