Dragon Rising (7 page)

“Pop?”

Her father lifted his head, and he didn’t look happy to see her. “Oh, Lyra.”

She could barely sense his Dragon or recognize his haggard face. Beside him a baby slept in a crib, blissfully unaware of the horror around it.
A baby?

Anika’s cheeks were wet with tears as she looked at Silva. “Please, let me see Jeremy. He’s in a lot of pain.”

Silva regarded her with cold curiosity. “How do you know that, exactly? How did you supposedly see where he was?” He must have been spying on her at Jeremy’s apartment.

Anika’s voice was filled with venom. “I’ll tell you nothing!”

Lyra’s gaze went back to the baby. She felt its essence, its…Dragon-ness. And she knew—Tara’s baby. But no sign of Tara.

Archer crashed through the doorway, his eyes frantic with worry. It eased a fraction when he saw her. He staggered as Silva extended his hand and hit him with what looked like a whip, only he’d created it with the same energy as the snake. She screamed as it cut into the skin on Archer’s chest. Silva hit him again, and Archer charged at him with his sword. It cut Silva’s arm, leaving a swath of burned flesh and blood.

Silva’s eyes flashed black in fury, looking demonic. He hurled a beam of blinding Light at Archer, throwing him hard against the wall. Silva moved so fast that he was a dark blur. No, he’d
changed
into something that didn’t look human or angel, but a large black creature that had her Dragon thrashing. Silva crushed Archer against the wall, flattening his wings. Silva’s hands were larger, with claws that gripped Archer’s shoulders and dug into his skin.

“What are you?” Archer gritted out, thrashing futilely against him.

Silva’s long, angular face leaned close to Archer’s. “Your nightmare.” He laughed, deep and rich. “And you could be my delicious morsel.” His tongue lapped Archer’s throat. “But I think you’d be better suited as one of my wraiths, since you have killed mine.”

No! She had to get out, to help. She whipped her tail up to sting at the thick body of the snake. It didn’t budge, didn’t seem affected at all. Because it wasn’t alive, only some insane magick she’d never seen before.

A
smash
jerked her attention back to the two Caidos. Except there was only Silva, standing in front of a huge hole in the wall. She could see a soundproofed room on the other side, too, but not Archer. Panic seized her. What had happened during the seconds she’d looked away?

Blisters covered Silva’s chest, and midnight fury darkened his eyes. Archer appeared on the other side of the hole, throwing Silva backward, where he landed on the hard floor. Archer stepped into the room, wielding his Light. He spared her only a glance before focusing his angry glare at Silva. Archer’s wings were rumpled. The backs of his legs were cut and red.

Silva, back on his feet, sent a net of Light at Archer. It shattered into tiny shards that flew at his wings and latched on to the feathers. That was probably how Jeremy had been Stripped! Archer pulled in his wings, and the shards began attacking his body like Alfred Hitchcock’s killer birds. Silva took advantage of Archer’s distraction, moving closer. The creepiest part was that he actually seemed to be enjoying the fight—and Archer’s pain.

Archer zapped the living shards with his Light, but there were so many of them stabbing and drawing blood.

“Archer! Watch out!” she screamed as Silva approached from the side.

Silva swung an arc of Light at Archer’s neck. He backed away in the nick of time, though the Light scorched a line across his throat.

If she could only get out. Lyra pushed and wriggled and sank her fangs into the flesh of the snake. It had the consistency of rubber and was just as tough. The thing had too tight of a hold on her.

Wait a minute.

She Catalyzed to human, which left a gap because she was now smaller. The snake began to tighten its hold, but she slipped to the floor before it could grasp her.

The cool air nipped at Lyra’s bare skin, but without clothing, she could move soundlessly. She stayed right behind Silva as he and Archer circled each other. Archer kept his gaze from giving her away, swiping at Silva and the shards. In his demonic form, Silva’s wings were huge, black, and jagged. She Catalyzed again and leaped onto Silva’s back, tearing at the base of his wings.

Silva spun at the sudden attack, wildly reaching back with flailing hands. She saw a deadly glow ignite on his palm. Archer stepped forward and lanced him in the chest. Silva stumbled back, knocking Archer aside. She sliced her claws across Silva’s neck. He twisted, burning her with a white-hot blast of heat. It hurt, pounding through her like a sonic blast. She grimaced and held on, sinking her talons deeper into his skin.

Archer jumped to his feet and nailed him with another slice of his sword, this time across his abdomen. Silva slid on a floor wet with his own blood. With an agonized scream and blinding flash, he disappeared, leaving her on the floor.

She Catalyzed to human again, letting Archer help her to her feet.

Archer surveyed her for injuries. “You were brilliant. You all right?”

“I’m fine.” She looked at the cuts all over his body and the sear across his throat. “But you…”

“I’ll heal. Go, go to your father. I need to find Jeremy.”

Anika was getting up from the floor. The snake was gone. She stumbled toward Archer, pointing at the hole. “The bastard has him next door.” The two went through.

Lyra ran to her father. “Pop!”

He looked at her with eyes so dim that she couldn’t see the flames in them. “Lyra, the baby. Get the baby out of here.”

“And you, Pop. We’re getting you out, too.”

She helped him to his feet, scared at how weak he was, and wrapped her arms around him. Her eyes closed as she soaked in the fact that he was alive.
Alive.
When she released him, he grabbed on to the top of the chair for support.

“What are you doing?” she asked as he began to unbutton his shirt with trembling fingers.

“Cover…”

Cover? Oh right, she was naked. Details. She slid the shirt on as Anika and Archer returned, helping a pale Jeremy walk between them.

“We didn’t see anyone else,” Archer said.

“Is Silva dead?” Lyra asked.

“Caidos can channel their Light inward to self-destruct. I’ve never seen it, but I think that’s what he did. Check the hall to see if anyone’s out there. We don’t know how many minions Silva has.”

Lyra peered around the open doorway. The house was silent. She went back down again. “I don’t even hear a sound. Maybe they were freed when Silva died. Or they ran off to save their butts.”

The baby started to cry, pumping her little fists. Lyra scooped up the infant, and her cries stilled as she likely sensed a kindred essence. She looked at her father. “Tara’s baby?” When he nodded, she asked, “Where is she?”

“Gone,” he said. “Silva said she died just before we were brought here.”

“Poor baby,” Lyra said, rocking her in her arms. “I know how hard it is to lose your mother when you’re young.” Golden flames flickered in her eyes as she stared at Lyra. “She’s still Dragon. Silva didn’t change her. What did he want with her?”

“Wanted her energy,” Jeremy said in a strained voice. “Like an Essex. Babies and children have the purest essence, and Silva didn’t need consent, as is required of adults.” He was leaning against Anika, his face pale.

Lyra looked at that innocent, chubby face. “That’s horrible. Just to, what, feel emotions safely?” It hit her then, and she took in her weak father. “You offered your energy in her place, didn’t you?”

He shrugged. “I was only buying time.”

She smiled. Her self-effacing pop.

Anika was staring at Jeremy’s back, her expression filled with pain. Lyra couldn’t resist taking a look. She wanted to hiss, too, seeing the torn and bloody design where the tattoo had once been.

Archer caught Lyra’s attention. “I need to take Jeremy to my condo. I can Leap us to the car, and then you’ll have to drive it over.”

In a flash, they were standing by the Aston Martin.

Anika said, “Take me with you. Please.” Her pained gaze went to Jeremy. “I need to be with him.”

Archer nodded, handing Lyra his keys. “I can manage two but that’s all. I’m shattered.”

“What about the baby?” Lyra asked. “We don’t have a car seat.”

Anika said, “I’ll hold her.” She took her from Lyra and gave Archer a pleading look. “Two and a half?”

Archer put his hand on Anika’s arm and Jeremy’s forehead, and they vanished.

A
rcher got Anika and Jeremy settled into the guest room and, with great frustration, left them alone. He could do nothing to heal his brother’s stripped wings or his wounded soul. Archer found himself alone in the living room holding the baby. She gripped his finger, her eyes wide as she gazed up at him. Well, this was certainly not anything he imagined he’d be doing. It was odd but not unpleasant.

Despite that, and the fact that his brother was home, he felt empty. Lyra had called to let him know that her twin brother would be meeting them there, so when the doorbell rang and he found two men and a woman there, he assumed the younger man was her twin.

Kirin rushed right past him, scanning the living room. “Where’s Lyra?”

“She should be here any minute.”

The sight of the baby obviously confused Kirin, but he focused on Archer. “All she told me was that everything was all right ‘but that it’s freaky.’ What does that mean? Who are you?”

The door opened, and the sight of Lyra filled the hollowness Archer had just been feeling. Though Kirin started pelting her with questions, she headed directly to Archer. “How is Jeremy?”

“I’ve never heard of anyone having their wings stripped. I don’t know what the repercussions are.” Worry pressed on Archer’s chest like a cement block.

Lyra relieved him of the baby, who was beginning to fuss. She instantly calmed in Lyra’s arms. Lyra took Archer’s hand as she walked to her twin brother, who was guiding their father to the sofa.

Once Kirin had him settled, he turned to Lyra. “Who’s the Caido? Where’d you get the baby? What happened to Pop?”

Lyra leaned closer to Archer. “Archer helped me find Pop.” Pain throbbed as she transmitted how much more there was to their relationship. “We don’t know what happened yet that caused the mess in Pop’s room.”

The man who was with Kirin lifted his hand, his guilt jabbing Archer. “That was my doing, I’m afraid.” When everyone looked at him, he said, “I’m Huff, Ellie’s father.” He nodded to the attractive brunette beside him.

“Ellie is Kirin’s”—Lyra assessed the way they were standing, his posture possessive and protective—“girlfriend.”

Huff pointed at Stein, anger rippling across his face. “When I found Tara’s diary and discovered she was pregnant with your child, I knew you killed her. I created a tulpa to scare you into confessing, but it broke out of my control.”

Stein clutched the arm of the sofa. “She was pregnant with
your
child, you idiot. We never so much as kissed!” He wheezed, catching his breath. “She was terrified of your reaction. Not only because of the surprise late-in-life pregnancy, but also because she’d found out the baby was Dragon.”

“She wrote ‘I’m pregnant! Must talk to Stein,’” Huff said.

“She came to me because she had no one else to confide in. She wasn’t going to terminate the pregnancy, but she didn’t want to lose you either. She’d already given up so much. Tara heard a powerful Caido might be able to change the fetus’s essence from Dragon to Deuce. The only way it could work was because the baby had Deuce DNA, too. Your DNA. When she disappeared, I thought she’d taken desperate measures.”

He gave Kirin and Lyra an apologetic look. “I swore to Tara that I would tell no one.” He addressed them all again. “Then last Friday, Jeremy comes to me and says he just did some magick that released locked memories of a meeting he and Tara had with Silva. Because Silva performed the memory lock on him, Jeremy suspected he might have kidnapped Tara. He spied on Silva and discovered a Dragon baby he thought might be Tara’s. He was going back to investigate, and he wanted me ready in case the baby needed my essence. That’s when the tulpa appeared. Jeremy fought it, then zapped us to his apartment. Soon after, this horrible snake popped out of the wall and took me to his mansion. Then Silva used his dark magick to bring Jeremy. Silva said Tara died trying to escape with the baby right after she was born.” He turned to Huff, then Ellie. “I’m sorry.”

Ellie let out a pained gasp, and Kirin pulled her close.

Lyra filled them in on what had happened on their end. She maneuvered the baby so that she faced Huff. “This is your daughter.”

Huff’s face drained of all color. He made no move to take the baby.

Ellie’s eyes glistened with tears as she stepped forward and cuddled the infant. She turned to her father. “Mom lost her life trying to conform to what you wanted. Are you willing to lose your daughter, too?” She leaned close to Kirin. “You have to accept all of us as we are.” When Huff still looked stunned, she added, “If you can’t, we’ll take her.” Emotions welled in her voice, poking at Archer. “She’s got Mom’s eyes and your nose, and she’s my family.”

Huff reached for the baby at last. He held her aloft, studying her face. She wriggled and started to fuss. Then he pulled her against his chest and squeezed his eyes shut.

All of those wonderful, warm feelings pounded Archer. He gripped his chest, wishing he could loosen the tightness. “You should all go now. Jeremy needs quiet. And I need to recover.” Lyra gave him a questioning look. He had to fight not to reach over and touch her cheek to smooth away the wetness. “Bye, Lyra.”

Her mouth trembled as she heard the finality of his good-bye. A wave of her frustration and sorrow smashed into him. It was she who took several steps back. To protect him. She turned to the group. “We have to get Pop home. And help set up a nursery. We need to get back to normal.” She gave Archer one last look before she ushered them out the door.

He stumbled to the living room. He didn’t even make it to the couch.

The following two weeks dragged for Lyra, despite how busy the bakery got. Unusually busy. Really unusual, because Caidos started coming in to buy pastries and donuts and gourmet breads. She had never seen a Caido in the bakeshop before, and now they were coming in every day. Oh, yeah, the employees noticed, swooning over the beautiful men with shimmering eyes. Lyra bit her lip and didn’t say anything. How could she explain that the most gorgeous man she’d ever met was no doubt sending them her way to boost business when that Caido wasn’t making an appearance himself?

She snarled at the thought. No, she got it. She couldn’t be in his life if she caused him pain. If he’d come in, or called, that would only prolong her agony, and possibly his. So complete separation was good.

She snarled again, making Catalina, one of the employees, give her a wide berth as she headed to ring up a customer. Lyra jerked an empty tray from the case and stalked into the kitchen to get a fresh tray of angel-wing cookies glittering with fairy dust sugar. Now that she had Caido customers, it was only fair to create a cookie for them. It hurt to look at those wings that reminded her of Archer.

She emerged from the kitchen and slid the full tray into the case.

“Nice wings.”

His voice washed over her like an ocean wave at the beach, nearly knocking her over. She jerked up, hitting her head on the top of the case. She hardly felt the pain as she extricated herself and rose to her full height. She’d been feeling enough of the emotional type of pain every time she thought about him or took a sip of that wretched absinthe that reminded her of how his mouth tasted. But looking at him, right there, in a white cotton shirt and jeans, she was feeling no pain.

“I’ll take a dozen,” he said.

Lyra stared at him for a second, until Catalina nudged her. “If you’re not going to help him, I will.”

“I’ve got him. It. The customer, I mean.” She snapped out of her spell and grabbed a white box. Her hands were shaking as she set the cookies gently inside. He was only there to, what, say hello? She fumbled until she got the stupid flaps into the slots and set the box on the counter. “On the house. Consider it a referral bonus.”

He smiled. “They’ve been coming? I told them how great the breads were, the cookies…” His gaze slid down to her mouth. “Everything.”

“Yeah, thanks.” She caught herself staring again. The Thrall.

Sure, if that’s what you want to think.

“How’s Jeremy?” See, that was a nice, logical question to ask.

“He’s having a hard time getting used to life without his wings, but Anika has been by his side. From what I’ve found after doing some asking around, his essence will return when the Caido who Stripped him dies or deigns to restore them. Which may mean Silva isn’t dead. The Guard can’t find anything about him, so we may never know who he is or why he did it.”

“I’m sorry.” She tamped down her sympathy for his situation.

He held her gaze for a moment. “Can we talk?”

“Sure. When? Now?” Could she sound more eager?

“If you can break away. I’ve got my car at the curb.”

She leaned across the counter, spotting the silver beauty out front. “How’d you manage to get that perfect spot…never mind, I think I know.” She turned to Catalina. “I’m taking a break.”

She waved her on with wagging fingers. “Go, leave for the day. You’ve been here since four this morning.” She gave her a wink.

Lyra whipped off her apron and tossed it into her office, grabbed her purse, and headed out. Archer held the passenger door open for her, closing it before getting in on his side.

The employees were all at the window watching. Oh, brother.

Archer seemed content as he wove through midday traffic. So, what, he’d moved on? Accepted their predicament? He didn’t look like a man who’d been suffering without her and was about to profess his…well, not love, not this soon.

“You know, it’s considered a tease to say you want to talk and then not talk,” Lyra said when she couldn’t stand the silence anymore.

He looked genuinely contrite. “Sorry. I don’t want to talk in the car. I thought we’d go somewhere quiet for a drink.”

“Someplace where they serve absinthe in that complicated way?”

He gave her a heart-stopping smile. “Exactly. I thought it would be the best place. You can’t beat the view.”

Then he settled back into an annoying silence that let her think too much.

“How is the baby?” he asked after a few more minutes. “See…talking.”

Damn, she was so in love with him. “Oh, she’s great. Huff named her Sarina. He is completely smitten, and I get to be a doting sort-of aunt.”

Now he was smiling. Had she said something funny? Dumb?

“Just enjoying your enthusiasm,” he said, as though he’d read her mind. Maybe he’d picked up her feelings.

“It doesn’t hurt?”

He shrugged. “Not much.”

A few minutes later, he pulled into the Raphael’s parking garage.

He pulled out his phone and texted someone, then slipped it back into his pocket. He looked at her, which made her stomach go all to jelly. “Shall we?”

Oh my, yes.
“Sure.”

He ushered her toward the elevator. Walking through the garage gave her shivers, remembering those wraiths.

Archer’s condo seemed different. It still had cool undertones and clean lines, but there were touches of color here and there. Touches of…yellow. A huge canvas of it hung on one wall, nothing but a square of yellow. Yellow pillows on the white leather wraparound couch. A yellow vase filled with daisies on the counter. She searched his face, but he gave nothing away.

“You really want an absinthe?” he asked as he pulled down two glasses. “I seem to recall your reaction to the last one I made you. I don’t want you to think that I’m trying to get rid of you.”

“They’ve grown on me. Like you grew on me.”

He came around the bar to stand in front of her. “I wanted to see if you still felt the same. About me.”

She let out a sigh. “Yes, damn it. Of course, I’m sure you can feel it. We knew each other for, what, twelve hours? Sure, we went through a lot together, but still, to think about you every minute, to ache—”

Archer kissed her. She was lost, except for that tiny voice that echoed in her head:
What does this mean?
Because she could never be with him knowing it caused him pain.

He finished the kiss and stepped back. “Me too.”

Hope and trepidation twined in her stomach, making him wince. “Archer…”

The doorbell chimed.
No, not now!

He didn’t look the least bit annoyed that someone was interrupting their moment. In fact, he didn’t seem surprised to see Kye standing there. He invited her in.

She was dressed in normal clothing, jeans and a black shirt, no spikes or jacket. “Hi, Lyra. Are you ready to do this?”

“Do what?”

Archer stepped closer. “I didn’t get to that part yet.” He took Lyra’s hand, twining their fingers as he had when they’d gone up the stairs to Silva’s. “I want to do the Cobra with you.”

Lyra’s heart jumped. “But it’s not stable. You could be overwhelmed. You
will
be overwhelmed.”

“I can handle it. If you can.”

Kye looked at Lyra. “There won’t be any risk for you.”

“I’m not worried about me.” Lyra turned to Archer. “Look what happened to Jeremy.”

“That was different,” Kye said, her expression shadowing at the mention of him. “What messed him up was the memories returning. How bad it will be for Archer, we won’t know.”

Seeing Lyra’s tense expression, he brushed her hair back from her face in a tender gesture. “Don’t worry about me. You can be my guardian Dragon.”

Kye said, “The only side effect for you, Lyra, might be that what you feel for him, the bond between you, will be forged in steel so strong that you may never be able to walk away from him.”

Archer looked serious. “In other words, you may be stuck with me.”

“And he will, in effect, be stuck with you. Bonded the same way. The Cobra inures Archer against your feelings. He’ll still feel them but they won't be painful. It will allow him to feel desire for you as well as your desire for him.”

Lyra arched one eyebrow. “Only me?”

Kye grinned. “You’ll never have to worry about him cheating.”

“That won’t be an issue anyway,” he said, rubbing the back of Lyra’s neck.

Kye met Lyra’s gaze. “It’s a big decision. You don’t have to decide now—”

“Yes.” Lyra leaned into his touch. “I want to do it. How does this work?”