13
Dragon:
Idiot human! Remove chains!
Dragon threw himself against the sand, his tail thrashing wildly. A large, stray boulder that had fallen from the cliffs years earlier burst into pieces with one swipe of his tail. The dried remains of a tree limb splintered in half, broke, and were driven deep into the sand. With a monstrous roar he tried to throw off the chains holding him prisoner, focused his magic in an attempt to melt the offensive Elven metal for the thousandth time.
Nothing. His human had been silent since the two dragon opponents had turned tail and run away. Dragon was too weak to give chase. Bleeding. Torn. His wings badly damaged. He needed half a day to heal.
Too long! His mate was gone. Taken.
Dragon seethed. Ryker! Remove chains! We go. Destroy enemy.
No!Ryker argued, the human voice inside the dragon’s mind. We don’t know where Erik took her. Let me out.
Hunt! Now! You failed. Human Ryker had his chance to protect our mate. To claim her. Dragon will make things right. Find mate. Destroy enemies. Give true mate my dragonfire.
Every swipe of his tail caused ripples in the sand like raindrops in a shallow pool of water. Around him, the rocks and sand took on a reddish hue as dragon blood soaked the earth. Eventually he would break free. He was ancient. The oldest of all living dragons. He would not be defeated.
“Ryker!” Someone farther up the beach yelled his human’s name. Who dared approach? Dragon waited until the fool drew near and blasted the intruder with fire. A fellow dragon would be immune to the flame. An ignorant human would burn.
Dragon was out of patience.
Rather than turn to ash, as Dragon expected, the intruder continued to advance on his position, enveloped by a silvery glow.
Dragon sniffed. Elven magic.
Dark elf.
Dragon roared in fury.
“Ancient One,” said the dark-haired man covered in black Elven armor. “You called for the executioner. I am here.”
Dragon turned his head. Raged. Swung his massive body to face the elf. Bits of sand, rock, and salt water flew from Dragon’s tail to douse the elf, but the ancient magic woven through the elf’s armor held steady, and the assault melted away, not harming the elf at all.
A low rumble was the only warning Dragon would give. If Dragon could not burn the elf, he would crush him under talon and claw. Tear the elf to pieces. Break free of these chains.
Hunt. Go to his mate.
“Dragon! Do not force me to kill you today. We were friends once. Do you not remember?”
Dragon swung his head back and forth, fighting the memories that accompanied the all too familiar voice. Dragon had great magic inside him. Magic so ancient, so wrapped in mystique and legend, few could comprehend the extent of his power. He narrowed his gaze. Lowered his head to stare at the one sent to kill him.
I remember you, Prince Alrik. Dark Elf scum. You dare threaten me? You cannot kill me. I am a dragon.
“Old friend. Do not make me do this. Calm yourself. Allow me to speak to Ryker.”
Dragon snarled. Roared. Breathed fire at the Dark Elf, but the bastard stood his ground, hand on his sword hilt, completely unaffected.
Asshole.
That finally had an effect. Prince Alrik threw back his head and laughed.
Tired from the battle and from berating the human inside him, tired of trying to break free of the dragon chains, Dragon gave one last heaving breath of fire and allowed Ryker to regain control over his form, gave in to the change.
* * *
Exhausted and bleeding, Ryker pulled himself slowly to his feet, his only thoughts of Katy. He had ruined everything. He never should have allowed the invaders to breach his defenses. Should have tripled his guard. Not been so arrogant. Should have listened to his dragon and told Katy the truth, revealed his true nature, Draquonir laws be damned, and bound her to both parts of him. Once she was fully his, he would have found a way to keep her by his side.