Not His Dragon (20 page)

Chapter Thirty-Three

Pinned to the ground by Cedric, Eoin tried rolling the bigger dragon off but his weight was too much. Body tense, muscles quivering, he snaked his head around and blew fire. A familiar burn rolled in his stomach, spreading up his throat and out his mouth. His flame bloomed like hungry death. It was back. Eoin was back.

The force of the blow sent Cedric rolling off. Angie was vulnerable. They’d started the mating dance but hadn’t finished. This left her open for any males to take his place and bind her. He had to protect her.

Eoin regained his feet and caught a glimpse of white in the corner of his eye. His gut clenched. Angie still stood by the lake. Why hadn’t she run? He set himself between her and Cedric. She didn’t know how much danger she was in. He should have taken the time to explain the details to her instead of impatiently rushing to possess her. “Angie, you have to go.”

“I’m not leaving you.”

Her heartfelt words only made him more determined to protect her.

Cedric had recovered from Eoin’s fiery strike. His scales steamed from the heat. They were not of the same clan and Cedric was somewhat more vulnerable to fire. But that also meant that Eoin was vulnerable to Cedric’s power.

Eoin stood his ground. “You could have had any mate in the world. Why did you wait for her?”

The ancient dragon tilted his head to the side as if not understanding the question. “Because I want her. She’s of an ancient bloodline as old as mine. My claim should come first.”

Eoin wanted to take this fight into the air—he was younger and faster—but there was no guarantee Cedric would follow him to the sky. He might just grab Angie and run, even though Eoin doubted the aged dragon would be so cowardly. “She’s mine.” Cedric was bigger and more experienced, but was he willing to fight to the death for Angie like Eoin? “She loves me.”

With a snort that set sparks off around his nostrils, Cedric shook with laughter. “That’s because she’s known no other dragons.” Cedric used his wings to leap high in the air with his talons extended toward Eoin’s chest.

The only choice Eoin had was to deflect the sharp talons. If he dodged, then Angie would take the hit instead. With all his strength, he shoved Cedric away but was left with a deep gash in his side. Blood streamed from the wound and would sap his strength if he didn’t put an end to Cedric soon.

Angie cried out and raced to Eoin’s side. She’d been raised human and wasn’t accustomed to the violent ways dragons used to settle their differences.

He swung around and extended his claws to stop her. “Stay back.” She was going to get trampled. He’d rather give her up than see her killed.

Angie crouched low to the ground and circled the two male dragons. What were they fighting for? She’d made her choice. Nothing was going to make her leave Eoin. That asshole Cedric might hurt her wonderful dragon. She wasn’t one to back down when someone she cared about needed help.

Cedric’s gaze caught hers, and of all things, he winked. “By the gods of thunder, you’re tiny.” What would happen to her if this jerk won the battle? She sure as fuck wouldn’t mate him. She suspected a mating with Cedric would be more the akin to prison than marriage.

Whipping his head back toward Eoin, Cedric opened his mouth, but it wasn’t flame that he blew. Jagged lightning bolts snapped and crackled from his throat. Static electricity tugged at her feathers.

“No!” she shouted as Eoin curled into a ball, his mouth open with no sound coming out.

With what grace Angie could manage on four legs, she hurried toward Cedric. When she reached his side she slid on her stomach and bit his ankle with her new needle-like teeth. It seemed like the only place on his body where her mouth would fit properly.

A startled cry from Cedric stopped his electrical attack. He swung his hand, hit the side of her head.

The world spun and she landed on her side, crushing one of her wings. She whimpered at the sharp pain. The taste of blood coated her tongue and she probed her teeth with her tongue to see if she had lost one.

Cedric hovered over her, concern apparent on his beaked face. He stroked her head as he gently lifted it from the forest floor. “You startled me. Are you injured?” He gathered her in his front arms like a child and took flight. “Let’s get some ice on this bump.” He didn’t even look back at Eoin.

“Let me go.” Her feeble attempts at struggling were ignored. “I don’t want you as a mate.”

“You don’t even know what I can offer you. You haven’t given anyone else a chance but this reclusive bore of a dragon. I will take you home to my clan and you can learn what it is to be a proper she-dragon.”

Icy dread gripped Angie’s spine. She’d never see her friends or shop again. Cedric was stealing her life and thought she’d be fine with that? She flexed her new claws and searched for a weak link in his exposed under-neck. The dragon was built like a tank, though. “Fuck.” She screamed at the top of her lungs.

He startled and paused in his flight. “Did I break something when I hit you?”

Not when he’d hit her, but her heart was shattering with every stroke of his massive wings. She lashed out with her claws, aiming for his eyes. “Put me down.” Over Cedric’s shoulder, Angie spotted Eoin in pursuit. Her heart soared.

He lived.

Eoin tackled Cedric mid-air.

The impact jarred her against the bigger dragon’s chest and she bit her damn tongue. She probably pierced it with her new razor-sharp teeth. Blood filled her mouth and she choked. The ground spun far below in a dizzying swirl of browns and greens.

The three of them fell in a tangle of wings and claws.

Her stomach suddenly traded places with her brain. Cedric had dropped her. She spun out of control and tried to spread her wings. The wind snapped them back, pulling her young muscles and tendons. She tried to flap them and ease her impact. Could she survive such a fall?

As the ground grew close enough for her to see the details of her crash site, a set of strong arms caught her around the chest. “Got you,” whispered Eoin, his head bent close to hers.

He back-winged to slow their speed and spun so she was cradled against his chest as he took the brunt of the blow. They slid in the mud into the shallows of the lake, causing a small tsunami. Helping to her to her feet, he half-dragged, half-carried her out of the water.

She caught sight of her wings. They were more beige now than white. She shook and fluttered her feathers, spraying muddy water everywhere. It was such an odd, instinctual sensation. She’d seen the wolf shifters do a similar motion but never imagined how good it felt.

The bloody gape in Eoin’s hide still oozed as he scanned the sky. “Are you okay?” The question was aimed at her.

“I’m much better than you are.” She hurried to his side and examined his wound. “You need stitches.”

“This isn’t over.” He shoved her toward the forest. “Hide, damn it.”

Cedric landed with a thunderclap. The shock wave of power ruffled her feathers and she squinted against the wind.

“Eoin…” She’d never felt so helpless in her life. Even when she’d been alone on the streets, she’d always been faster and stronger than her assailants. Cedric made her feel like an ant.

“You made me drop her. She could have died.” Cedric crouched as if preparing to pounce. “If it’s to the death that you want, then to the death it will be.”

This was getting out of hand. Angie’s head still spun and she fought the urge to lose her breakfast. She hurried between the two larger dragons. “Stop. I’m not some piece of meat to be fought over. I get to choose my mate.”

Eoin pushed her gently out of his way. “It’s the way of dragons, Angie. The law of nature extends to dragons as well and only the strong shall survive.”

“And breed.” Cedric smirked.

Eoin snarled and faced his opponent. Blood dripped from his deep wound and he limped. “I can’t fight him and defend you. I’ll die for sure.” Suddenly he swung his head around and spoke in a rushed low voice. “Run and I’ll keep him busy!”

Chapter Thirty-Four

Angie gave Eoin a slow blink as his words sunk in to her dazed brain. He was right. She was just in the way and causing him to get hurt more than he needed to. He had to win this fight.

Eoin struck Cedric with a very human-like undercut and both males fell to the ground.

Angie dragged her horrified gaze from Eoin and took the most direct path into the forest, since she couldn’t fly. She was slim enough that with her wings tucked against her back she was able to squeeze between the tree trunks. Mostly. The low-hanging branches proved more a hindrance than anything.

There would be a trail of loose feathers for the victor to follow. She swallowed a sob. What a time for her to become a crybaby. Why couldn’t she and Eoin get a break? They just wanted to be together. She’d finally fallen in love and found a good man—dragon—who loved her back.

The more distance she placed between her and the lake, the less panicked she felt. Her brain stopped spinning its wheels and she took a deep breath. She shouldn’t have left him. She should have fought at his side. If he died, she didn’t see how she could ever return to a normal life.

She paused by a stream and took a quick drink to ease her parched throat. Working dragon lips to sip wasn’t much different than using her human ones. Something still strummed in her body like a distant song she couldn’t quite hear. Her heart wanted to beat with the music but couldn’t keep time.

The magic that she and Eoin had created as they had started the mating dance still sang in her body. She’d been so focused on surviving Cedric’s attack, she hadn’t sensed it until now. Uncomfortable pressure built within her body. Her skin seemed too tight and she fought the urge to rub against the rough bark of the trees.

She needed release but she didn’t know how to achieve it. The scent of dead leaves and earth filled her sensitive nose. She searched the sky between the treetops for any sign of Eoin but to no avail. If she headed up the valley side, she might spot the towers of Eoin’s castle and find some direction toward safety.

Something flew overhead.

She instinctively crouched low to the ground, tucking her tail against her body. It had gone so fast it was a blur. Should she hide? What if Eoin was hurt and needed her help? Goddamn dragon bodies didn’t have pockets for cell phones. Even if he was dying, who would she call?

With a grim growl, she followed in the direction that the blur had flown until she came to a clearing. Trying to stay unseen was almost impossible with a white hide. She couldn’t shift back to human form without a little guidance from Eoin. If she had time and not a possible concussion, she could probably do it on her own.

In the clearing, she spotted a metallic blue dragon standing in the midst of wild flowers.

He stood on his hind legs as he angled his agile neck to see her. “Angie? It’s Zechariah.”

A rush of relief flooded her system and she raced from her hiding spot, tripping over her own wings. Before she hit the ground, he caught her in his hands. Zech would help. He’d been pretty cool about her and Eoin mating. She rubbed her face against his arm.

“Hey, dragons don’t cry.” He stroked her head gently. “Or have feathers. What the fuck is going on, Angie?”

“Cedric is going to kill Eoin. Can you stop him?” She clung to his arm for support.

Zechariah was shaped more like her and Eoin, except he had great ram horns growing on each side of his head and his tail ended in a spiked ball. “Your aura is freed. Eoin finally broke that shield that was blocking you from magic. Did you and Eoin just mate?”

“We were interrupted by Cedric.”

Zechariah stroked his clawed hands over the arch of her wing. It was an intimate act. “Before I help Eoin I have to get you to safety. Can you fly?”

Retreating from the blue dragon, she shook her head. “No, I just learned how to shift a few hours ago. I haven’t had time to learn to fly. But I need you to help Eoin now. I don’t know how much longer he can last.”

“It’s too dangerous for you in this state.” Zechariah gathered her in his arms like Cedric had. Angie was fed up of these dragons treating her like a glass doll.

She shoved Zech away. “I can take care of myself.”

“I don’t doubt that. But when a female has not completed the mating dance with her chosen, then any male can step in and finish it, binding her against her will. If I take you back, Cedric can do this to you. That’s probably why he waited to attack when he did.”

Angie spun around and made a frustrated noise. The last thing she wanted was to end up mated to that asshole.

Zechariah cradled her within his limbs like Eoin had and leaped into the air, flying over the treetops.

Her wings ached from the abuse she’d suffered when dropped midair by Cedric so she didn’t bother to practice flying. She twisted her neck around Zech’s broad shoulders and caught a distant glimpse of the lake. Her vision blurred. Eoin had to win.

Please…

The lake vanished from her sight as they crested the mountain and Angie’s hope vanished with it. She returned her gaze forward and spotted the towers to Eoin’s castle and she sighed in relief. As soon as Zech landed, she’d encourage him to return to the lake and help Eoin, then she’d call every shifter who owed her…

Zech flew past the castle, heading further south.

“Hey.” She shouted over the wind and pointed toward the towers. “The castle is that way.” How could miss the huge stone structure?

He nodded and hugged her tighter, but didn’t make any adjustment to his direction.

Angie squirmed in his arms, trying to get his attention. Maybe he couldn’t hear her? “You’re going the wrong way.” She shouted even louder, but he continued to ignore her. What the fuck? She escaped a kidnapping attempt by Cedric to run into another one by Zech? How could she be so stupid?

She snapped at his hands with her new needle-like teeth.

“Ow.” Zech shook out one hand and laughed, yet he still managed to hold onto her as she kept trying to bite him. “That’s enough.” He pinched her slender jaw closed. “I don’t want to drop you.” Flying over a different stretch of forest, they hovered over a wide clearing. “This will do.” He lightly landed and let her go.

Angie pushed from his arms and stumbled over her own limbs. He was going to force her to mate him and Eoin wouldn’t think to look for her here. She had to fight this dragon on her own. She ran toward the dense forest where Zechariah would be too big to follow. She had no misconception of what he wanted from her. She recalled what he’d said about her state of unfinished mating and the reason why he’d come to the city in the first place.

Her.

He flew over her head, landing to block the away. His wings extended and the light reflected off of his metallic scales as he began to weave to the faint beat inside Angie’s head.

“I don’t understand. There’s nothing special about me. Why can’t you and Cedric find your own mates?” Angie tried to back away, tripping over her fucking tail again. She needed a belt for that thing.

“Of course you don’t understand. You have only been a true dragon for a few hours. What you don’t know is that there are more male dragons born than female. It’s one of nature’s ways of ensuring that only the strongest or smartest breed.” He pointed to himself when he said ‘smartest.’

“So you think you have outsmarted the others?” She knew he did, but she had to buy herself some time to figure out a way to escape. But he continued to dance and the music grew louder. The pressure in her body needed release and her hips rose. She had to resist, she had to revert her gaze before she started yowling like some cat in heat.

“You don’t see me getting my head pounded in, now do you? I can make you a very happy she-dragon, if you would only let me try.”

“I’ve no doubt of this, Zech. But I’ve already fallen in love with Eoin.”

He circled around her, fluttering his wings on the ground and snaking his neck around closer to her.

She found it hard to breathe. The pressure inside her head and chest from the magic urged her to join in his dance. “Stop, please.”

With Angie safely away, Eoin focused on defeating Cedric. The other dragon was bigger but Eoin was fast and his heart was in this fight because without Angie he didn’t care to live. Blood dripped from multiple wounds now. How much more could he lose before he passed out?

Cedric took another dive, trying to tackle Eoin underneath his weight again.

Throwing himself to the side, Eoin landed hard on the lakeshore as Cedric grazed past. His solid
thunk!
vibrated through the ground and Eoin gathered his waning strength to face Cedric one last time. He dragged himself to his feet and found the great dragon lying on his stomach.

Cedric’s chest rose and fell, but everything else remained unmoving. A trickle of blood oozed from Cedric’s ear.

Eoin approached carefully. His limp would prevent him from deflecting an attack if Cedric was faking. If this was not a ruse, Eoin didn’t want the ancient dragon dying on his watch. Like it or not, his mother had taught him to respect his elders.

He knelt next to Cedric and lifted his eyelid. It drifted back closed. Well, fuck, he was unconscious. It appeared that when the old dragon passed Eoin, he’d slammed his head against a boulder hiding behind a large bush. To be on the safe side, Eoin poked the dragon’s underbelly with his claw and limped in retreat.

Cedric rumbled but didn’t move.

Eoin’s eyes widened. He’d won. Then he glanced down at the multiple wounds in his hide. Sort of. He limped in the direction of Angie’s escape. She couldn’t have gone far without flying, but it would be difficult for him to follow through the dense growth of the forest.

On sore wings, he leaped into the air and flew close to the treetops, trying to follow her scent. Another smell mingled in the wind with hers and seemed fresher than the ones he was getting from the ground. It seemed a familiar male musk. His talons extended to their fullest.

Zechariah.

Eoin winged in the direction that this new scent led him. It flowed in the wind so it was thinner and much more difficult to follow, but he was dragon. He knew how to follow the flows of air.

The direction took him toward his castle. Had he misjudged the younger dragon? He couldn’t imagine that Zechariah would have traveled all the way to New Port to court Angie only to help her mate a different dragon. Goodwill was not a strong trait within his people.

When the scent went past his castle, he had the answer to his question. The little bastard wanted to steal Angie. He put more effort into his flight but he’d burned up most of his reserves with Cedric.