“I felt you,” he said hoarsely, hugging her as tightly as he could. “When I was fighting—I could feel you. I don't know what you did, but you drove him out of my mind.”
“I could feel you too,” she said, laughing even as she grabbed hold of his face and pulled him down.
He groaned as their lips met, desire racing through his body once more. He wanted her—even now, after their mating, his body felt as if it was on fire with need. He needed to feel her, skin to skin, hear her cry out his name...
From the darkness before them, there came an echoing chuckle. Chagrined, Braeden pulled back a little.
“Congratulations, dragon of fire,” the chimera boomed. “I could feel the power of darkness flare—and then die.”
Braeden kept his arm wrapped tightly around Alyx. “I defeated Steele. But I don't think the darkness is defeated. There was a cloud that appeared once Steele was down. A moment later, it vanished, and he was gone.”
“Yes,” the chimera murmured from the shadows. “I did not expect you would succeed in driving out all darkness from the world. Still, with Steele down, a dangerous enemy is gone.”
“But it's not over yet. Whatever this darkness was he allied himself with, it'll return.”
“Yes,” the chimera growled. “But that was not your task. Your task was to defeat Steele—and you did.”
“So now what?” Alyx asked. “Will we be safe for now?”
“For the moment,” the chimera said. “The darkness will gather its strength before it strikes again.”
From somewhere to their right, Jared appeared. He grinned at Braeden, obviously pleased to see that he'd made it back alive.
“So how do we deal with it when it returns?” the griffin shifter then demanded. “The element of darkness—I've never heard anyone talk of it before.”
“That is because it has never before found a champion in this world,” the chimera hissed.
For a moment, Braeden could see the shadow of a serpent’s tail writhing.
“I have spent long hours poring over old books and scrolls. There is one prophecy, thousands of years old. Yet it makes no sense.”
“What does it say?” the griffin shifter asked curiously. “We need any help we can get.”
For a moment, the chimera was silent. Then his voice came echoing out of the shadows, every word pronounced with great care. “When darkness falls over the world, five must stand against one to complete the circle.”
“Five?” Braeden frowned, his eyes going to the four plinths, each glowing with the symbol of an element. “That doesn't make sense. There are four elements. There've only ever been four.”
“Earth, air, fire, and water.” Jared shook his head. “There's no other dragon powerful enough to join Braeden, Gregory, Timothy, and Damon. You'd know if there was one.”
“I know,” the chimera growled. “It makes no sense—but the prophecy leaves no other interpretation.”
“When darkness falls over the world...” Alyx repeated thoughtfully. “No, he's right. That's what's happening. I saw that darkness when I was inside Braeden's mind. It was terrible. It was all shadows and coldness, like a black hole swallowing all light.”
The chimera was silent for a moment before he continued. “There are four elemental dragons now. Four alpha dragons in their full power, each with a human mate. Braeden, dragon of fire. I set you a task, and you fulfilled it. You have proven yourself. The seat of fire is yours.”
Braeden felt a smile break out over his face. He'd never thought he'd end up here, on the council of elements.
He knew it wasn't so much a privilege as a duty. A duty that might put him in danger again.
Still, he'd come to admire the other dragons of the council. They were the closest thing to a family he'd ever known. Even if darkness wasn't defeated yet—this was a start.
As he turned to look at the plinth of fire, the dragon within him preening with pride, the symbol on the rock burst into light. Alyx's fingers entwined with his own.
“Congrats,” she said softly, smiling up at him.
“That makes you the Lady of the Fire, you know.” He grinned at her, excited and proud, remembering that glorious moment when he'd seen her in his mind, taking hold of fire itself to burn the shadow inside him.
“Not where I thought my next promotion would go—but I'm not complaining.”