Only there was no sunlight down here...
“Shit. You've betrayed us.” Braeden jumped up so quickly his chair toppled over.
He paid it no attention. He grabbed Alyx's shoulder and pulled her behind him, shielding her with his body.
And then the door banged open. A terrifying man strode inside.
Alyx had only seen him in those terrible nightmare visions when they’d forced her to drink their potions, but she knew immediately who he was.
Steele.
The leader of the fire dragons. The most powerful—and the most dangerous of them all.
That's it. I'm dead, she thought, her heart hammering in her chest.
Zena had immediately retreated, the firebird shifter now pressed against the wall at the back of the room.
She was still looking cool, even now, as she looked at them.
She betrayed me. She told Steele I was here. She betrayed me... The only person I trusted down here...
Alyx's heart was aching, but now wasn't the time. Perhaps they'd all be dead in a minute, and then it wouldn't matter anymore that the other woman had sold her out.
She always seemed aloof, and like she didn't want to be here. Maybe it was all a game from the start. Maybe they wanted her to win my trust...
“Braeden.” There was a cruel smile on Steele’s face as he looked at them. “We meet again. Only this time in very different circumstances.”
“This time, I'm no longer a prisoner,” Braeden said calmly. “No dragonsbane. No obsidian cuffs. Are you ready to take on the master of fire, Steele?”
Steele laughed in derision. “Don't flatter yourself. You're nothing special. I know exactly who you are. I made you. I made hundreds just like you. Loyal fighters for our cause. Fighters for revenge. For the world we deserve after centuries in darkness.”
“There's no one like me,” Braeden said. There was the crackling of fire in his voice. “And I come to warn you. Do you think we'll let you destroy the world without a fight? What good is revenge when everything is dead? We've hidden in the darkness for too long, Steele. But it isn't too late yet. Leave the darkness. Come into the light. Let our children taste the freedom of blue skies—let's give our families the life of peace they deserve.”
“Ah,” Steele said with a dark chuckle. “It's just as I suspected. They've brainwashed you. Or maybe it's just that you're a coward, and rather than fighting for our cause, you've accepted the bribes of the council of elements. There will be peace for our families, Braeden, and blue skies for our dragonets. And that time will come when the council of elements is wiped out. When fire reigns. And it won't be a time for you.”
Braeden laughed in Steele's face. Alyx saw fire crackling along his fingers.
“You're wrong. Fire has chosen its allegiance. And it's not on your side anymore.”
And then Braeden shifted.
Chapter Six: Braeden
The rooms of the firebird shifter were large and luxurious, but even so there wasn't much space for a fight between two powerful dragons.
Even worse, Alyx was trapped in here with them.
If Braeden wanted to defeat Steele and make his escape together with Alyx, the first thing he had to do was to get them out of here.
Fortunately, Braeden was stronger than ever before—and he'd taken a good look at the walls of the corridor when they'd made their way to Zena's rooms.
Before Steele could attack, Braeden turned. With all his strength, he slammed his tail into the wall closest to the corridor.
And the wall collapsed.
Steele had come prepared, Braeden saw. He'd brought guards—but those were now on the other side of the heap of rubble that completely blocked the corridor.
He hadn't bought them more than a few seconds.