Again, that terrible memory of darkness rose up inside him. He could nearly hear Steele's laughter in his mind.
Determined, he forced the sensation back.
“I didn't know they'd started to capture innocent humans,” Timothy said, sounding shocked. “So far, they only attacked us—”
“They also attacked me,” Liana pointed out.
“Because you were my mate.”
Liana raised a brow. “And Alyx is...?”
“The fire dragon's mate,” Timothy completed, his face darkening. “How did they know?”
“They didn't,” Alyx cut in. “I'm pretty sure of it. They would have mentioned it. And anyway, they didn't care about me. They did some sort of experiment that involved drinking horrible, disgusting potions. Sometimes it felt like drinking liquid fire and smoke. But whatever they were trying to do didn't work. I was useless. I'm pretty sure they would have just killed me. But the firebird needed a servant, so I got to play maid instead.”
“Experiments? And—a firebird?” Timothy held up a hand. “Wait. That's a lot to take in. Come in, have a drink and some food, and then tell me everything you know from the beginning.”
Braeden met Timothy's eyes and then nodded, not surprised by the shock he saw in them.
It was worse than they'd expected. Steele had to be taken out—if only so that this wouldn't happen to anyone else.
And he'd promised Alyx that he'd keep her safe from now on. She wouldn't be safe until Steele was gone.
I'll never be gone, the memory of Steele's voice seemed to growl in his head. Darkness follows day. It cannot be destroyed.
Annoyed, Braeden shook his head again. Why'd he let Steele get so under his skin?
“I could use a drink, actually,” Alyx said with a wry smile. “I feel like I've just escaped hell and been carried straight to paradise.”
***
Braeden took a sip of the cocktail Timothy had prepared for them. He'd thoug
ht it would be too sweet for his liking—but Liana had sprinkled something on it with a wink at him, and now there was just the right combination of cherry, rum, vanilla, and chili. It ran down his throat with a pleasing burn—almost like swallowing dragon fire.
Alyx was holding a cocktail that was a milky blue, the same color as the ocean stretching to the horizon in front of them. She stared at it with the awe a dragon reserved for gold and diamonds.
“There's even a little paper umbrella in it,” she said. “Is this really real? Why couldn't I have been captured by the nice dragons? The ones with beaches and cocktails?”
Timothy grinned. “It's because we don't capture people. Sorry. But you're welcome to visit any time!”
Alyx took a deep sip of her cocktail, and Braeden watched her eyes close as she made a sound of delight.
“Okay,” she said, keeping her eyes closed, “you've convinced me. Not all shifters are evil. This is divine!”
Braeden couldn't stop smiling as he watched her. The hours running and hiding in the fire dragon lair almost seemed like a bad dream now.
“I'm sorry they got you,” he said softly. “I'm going to make sure that doesn't happen again.”
“The chimera will need to know about this.” Timothy gave him a look.
Braeden nodded. “I know. And he probably won't be pleased I didn't take out Steele like I promised.”
“He'll understand,” Liana said. “You found your mate. Steele's dangerous, but what were you supposed to do?”
“What he did do,” Alyx said with a disbelieving laugh, “was to make a volcano erupt. Did he tell you that? Because that was the most incredible and absolutely terrifying thing I've seen in my entire life. And I hope I'll never see anything like it again. It was straight out of Indiana Jones, trying to run away from the rising magma.”
Braeden shrugged nonchalantly when Timothy and Liana stared at him. “It worked, didn't it? Every fire dragon down in that mountain will still be busy trying to keep the magma from flooding their home. I know they can do it. I didn't take them out. But it'll take all their strength.”