Stone of Ascension (32 page)

This was her life and the choice she made here could very much determine if she survived to experience that life.

Chapter Twenty-Three

“Airiana,” Tubal’s voice boomed down the beach. “Why are
you
here? With
him
?”

“Grandfather,” the dark-haired woman answered. “I’m here to fight for what’s right.”

“And it’s right to turn on your family?” Tubal growled. “On all that you were raised to believe?”

The woman lowered her chin. “When what I was raised to believe is evil and wrong? Then yes. It is right to turn on my family.”

“I can’t allow that, Airiana.”

“You don’t have a say, Grandfather.” The woman raised her hand that was clasped tightly with the male’s. “I have chosen my mate and my side.”

Tubal roared, his anger radiating down the beach in a cold ripple of violence.

Amber’s attention whipped between the two forces on opposite sides of her, grateful their personal conflict pulled the attention from her. A wave rolled in and washed over Amber’s boots, pushing her forward just an inch. Heeding the subtle sign, she followed the flow of the energy and made a sprint toward the cliffs.

A long stream of fire blazed before Amber, cutting off her advance. She flailed back to avoid the heat of the flames, her boots catching in the sand and causing her to stumble before regaining her balance.

The loud roar that followed and echoed through the night made her freeze. Amber knew that sound. One she wished she’d never hear again.

A dragon.

Another flaming dragon.

In Tubal’s place stood a large, red-and-black-scaled dragon.

The dragon dipped its head, lifted heavy lids and glared directly at her. Its deadly intent was clear. Amber was its prey.

Short, white horns sprouted between pointed ears and from under a tuft of fine, scarlet hair that spread along its jaw and down the ridge of spikes that ran along its back. The large beast tossed its head and let out another ear-shattering roar. Flames reached high into the sky, golden-red shimmers of heated death.

The sound was like a trumpet call to arms, all along the beach behind the dragon more shapes started to form within eerie, black clouds of wispy smoke.

More Shifters.

The dark energy that grew and crested from that direction assured Amber she was right. The cold increased with each form that solidified. The negative energy flowed down the beach like the putrid downdraft of a sewage plant.

Chills encased her and she shivered, unable to stop the visceral reaction. Unwanted, the coldness seeped in and called to her, urging her forward, toward the dark.

To surrender.

To follow.

To the answers it could provide. To the numbness that drifted through her, blanking her fear and soothing her worry. Her problems solved. All of them forgotten in the freedom offered by the cold.

She leaned toward Tubal but her boots held firm. The lure was stronger than before. It tugged at her until it seemed so right, so easy to go with Tubal.

The wind gusted off the open water, charging across the sand with a single-minded intent. It hit Amber in the chest then cut around her to push at her body from all sides. Her hair whipped around her head and over her face, blocking the view of the Shifters. In the brief moment of darkness, she snapped back.

Amber grabbed at the annoying mass of hair and held it tightly to keep it out of her face. In a bizarre way, it was like an anchor holding her grounded. A reminder of who she was.

What she was.

At her back, Amber felt the warmth soothe over her and slowly surround her until the cold was eliminated. Pivoting to one side, she looked down the beach toward the mysterious pair. Not at all surprised, Amber watched as a small army of men and women took form on the beach behind them. All armed and ready for battle.

The Energens had arrived.

The two sides established. An ancient battle ready to repeat. And in the middle was Amber Morningstar. The time had come.

Inhaling, Amber lifted her arms to the sky and believed, calling to the energy in a silent prayer of faith.

The wind buffeted Damian in the face, a hard slap of shame and reproach that stung clear to his soul. The energy tore at him, ripping him apart as he took in the scene below.

He had arrived high on the cliffs just seconds before. His vantage point provided an unbroken view of the battle forming on the beach below.

But right then, all was frozen as if the entire image were but a painting. A brushstroke in time.

The pale light of the half moon illuminated the scene in a stark visage of light and shadow. The glow shimmered off the expanse of water, reflecting back into the night and staging the show below.
 

Two sides ready for battle and in the middle stood his Amber, alone but strong.

Damian’s urge to rush to her side was stayed by the image she projected. She was a physical force that radiated power from her as she stood between the two sides. The middle compass point with her legs braced apart, her hands spread wide as they reached into the sky. Her head was tilted back, her beautiful hair lifting and dancing behind her in a silent dance to the power.

She was glorious.

His dragon growled and paced, its claws drawn and scraping in its urgency to get to her. Back to its mate. Beside it, the bird soared, its spirit filled with belief and understanding as it scouted out the battle to come.

Fool
. He’d been such a fool to doubt what he knew. To doubt her.

The energy circled, a slow-cycling twister that hovered over Amber. It was unseen but felt by all who were present. Through the ranks, both sides watched in stunned awe while simultaneously preparing.

Then she moved, one quick swipe of her arms to the side that brought with it the sharp crack of a lightning bolt. The blazing streak of energy was accompanied by a solid line of flames that shot from her palms, both attacks directed at the black and red dragon.

Her side chosen.

Instantly, the battle commenced in a smooth mesh of chaos and order.

The dragon roared and twisted to the side, his serpentine body moving out of the path of the lightning as he crouched and ducked under the flames.

Tubal. Damian knew the energy even if he’d never seen the man in dragon form.

The two sides of the battle charged, creating a distorted visual reminiscent of ancient battles. Swords drawn, battle cries raised, adrenaline raging. Mixed within the standard weapons was the volley of fireballs from the Shifters countered by the Energens with propelling boulders, air shields, lightning bolts, water spouts and their own return of fireballs.

Determined to save Amber, Damian started to port to her but stopped, his dash halted by the sudden appearance of a Shifter behind her. Damian immediately called to his power, sending a bolt of lightning at the man. The energy nailed its intended target in the chest and sent the enemy flying backwards.

Faster than he could port, more forms appeared around Amber. Tubal sent a round of dragon flames through the night sky that danced and hissed several feet above Amber’s head. Damian fired down more bolts of lightning as other Energens converged on the attackers, swords rising and falling in bloody defense of Amber.

His mate. The glory of the rightness burst in his chest and sent his energy soaring with the beautiful white bird.

Behind Tubal, more Shifters transformed, the dragons emerging in a sinuous line of death and destruction. The dragons dispersed across the sand, beasts of fire and power that descended on their opponents with vicious intent. In dragon form, the Shifters were formidable beasts, but they still had weaknesses. They couldn’t port in that form, and their fire abilities were limited to what they breathed.

The Energens countered with their own powers, the elements responding to the calls of the various wielders. Earth, water, fire and air—all were present and in use. Against the might and size of the dragons, the human form Energens appeared easily conquered. The Energen advantage was their ability to wield all of the elemental powers and from a great distance.

A sand funnel took shape and tore through the Shifter ranks, shooting boulders and pellets of sand at the enemy. Lightning bolts struck at the hard hides of the dragons while Energens from the House of Fire wielded swords that blazed with fire.

Behind him, Damian felt the energy shift and knew the battle had reached him. Turning, he unsheathed a sword from his back and swung in one motion. The enemy jumped away, spun and returned with his own strike of iron. The two swords clashed in a long-heard clang of metal, power and strength held in the hands of man.

The vibration of the swords echoed up his arms as his eyes narrowed on his attacker. Recognition hit and spiked the rage that burned deep within him.

“What? You’re not running this time?” Damian taunted the man with the Native American features. The same man who’d disappeared from the alley that Amber had run from in Chinatown.

The man cursed. “I didn’t run the first time.” He jabbed and swung a broad arch with his sword in a juvenile move. “I was waiting to finish you now.”

Damian easily dodged the swing and laughed. “And what will that gain you?”

“Glory,” the man grunted. “Position. Recognition.”

“And Amber?” Damian asked as he advanced. “What of her?”

The man grinned, a malicious leer filled with lust. “A great piece of ass that was supposed to be mine. The little slut wasn’t as easy as her mother. I’m going to destroy her just like I did that fucking junk shop.”

Fury raged within Damian. Breathing deep, he fought for the balance that would keep him focused on the battle before him. Each swing of the sword, dodge of a blow, strike of a blade was a challenge in concentration.

This kill would be for Amber.

His shoulder muscles ached, bringing back buried memories of battles fought long ago. Back to the time when their war was more open. When the battles were not as hidden and humans were openly recruited to sides, even if they didn’t understand what they were really fighting for.

Back before the dragon was trapped and Damian was exiled.

Ancient times.

Damian
. The word echoed in his head, a whisper of welcome that cleansed his mind and centered his power. Amber.

His sword struck out, a long swipe of death that lit in flames—a burning blend of white, gold and violet fire. Surprise shot through Damian, but he didn’t pause or question. The power was fresh and heady, filled with a newness that itched to be used.

Fire. He, an Energen with the power of air, could control fire. The power of the Shifters, an element of the Energens.

Amber
. Damian called back mentally—a Spirit power. Three powers—he could control three elemental powers. How? There was no time to question the facts or to doubt the energy.
I’m here. For you.

The Shifter’s eyes widened in surprise, his shoulder dropped and Damian’s sword hit its mark, a clear strike through the neck of the Shifter. The energy pulled the flaming blade through the flesh in a cauterizing swipe of mercy. Instant death.

A death that was too quick for a man who had tormented Amber.

His opponent crumbled, his knees buckling as his arms twitched in a last flickering of flexing nerves. Damian turned away before the head hit the ground,
 
his attention immediately back to Amber.

Below, the fight raged. Fire streamed from her hands as she held off a Shifter. Xander, flaming sword raised in combat, along with Ladon and Phelix surrounded her. Damian’s two oldest friends and his brother protecting what had so quickly become the most precious thing in his life.

In fact, the entire Energen Guard was there fighting for Amber. Protecting and defending her from the Shifters. Keeping her safe.

Damian focused on getting to her. The beach below was a landmine of battling forms and energy. Constant movement and crossing energy patterns made it strategically hard to port into a position close to her.

Hold on, Amber
, he called to her.
I’m coming
.

To kill me or help me?
she snapped back, her spirit and strength clearly felt even through the non-verbal communication. Her doubt throbbed within him. It was his fault; his own actions had caused that pain. He’d been such a bastard to her. Once again, he’d turned on her. After he’d told her he would never hurt her again.

He couldn’t—wouldn’t—lose her now.

His heart burst at that thought. His chest ached with a sudden intensity that took him to his knees.
You’re mine, Amber. All of you. I’m sorry I doubted you.

Below, she turned, her eyes meeting his over the distance. The energy connected them across the space and within him, he felt her pain ease.

Then fight with me and prove it.

Her simple order had him surging to his feet, his determination solidified. He would die to protect her. Shifter blood and all, she belonged by his side. She was a fighter and now that she’d accepted her power, she was beyond gorgeous.
Shield yourself
, he commanded.
I can’t get down there.