Burn (Dragon Souls) (27 page)

Seeing Boy safe and hale warmed her. The dark fear she’d carried since they last spoke eased, replaced with impatience.

After the quest was done, she and Boy would shut themselves away to simply be for a while. She’d hunt him down and drag him by the ear if she had to.

Forcing that ugly, fake smile, she gave him a thumb up.

She grinned when he returned the gesture.

Her gaze switched to Koen Raad, and her smile faltered.

It seemed Nikolai and Daniil kept her Dragon Mate calm, but she could tell from the set of his shoulders and jaw he was breaking.

Koen managed a stressed jerk of the head, acknowledging her worried stare then placed a hand on Boy’s shoulder, a silent signal their offspring was protected.

Relaxing, she poured her love into a smile. She was grateful for her adopted son’s attendance and her male’s composure. It would have been much worse if Koen had fought to get to her.

It would have made her more frightened than she already was.

“Focus on the quest.” Galina of Tyr spoke offhandedly as she rubbed her mounts large fleshy pink tongue. Her carnelian braid circled her head like a ginger crown. The vivid colour contrasted beautifully with her porcelain skin. Dressed in the dark purple colours of her House, her light green eyes fixed unwaveringly on Marina. “The Dragon King isn’t going anywhere.”

Marina watched Galina begin her quest on the gargantuan male with knifelike appendages on his oval tail fin.

Now it was her turn.

She had been advised by the Regent’s aide, Yaakov, a squat, robust male with biggest nose wart she’d ever seen, to be at the canyon by sunrise.

Marina had to pass through the lagoon with her water Dragon and reach the other side before the sun hit its highest point in the sky. The black lagoon wasn’t a third of the size of Goii-Goii. It wouldn’t take her much more than a couple of hours to cross it at a decent pace, but should she encounter any problems she thought it might be difficult to reach the end. Any major complications along the way then it really would be a race. Reaching her destination after midday meant she failed. Arriving without Fia meant she failed, or if Fia arrived without her, she failed. They were allowed to sustain injury, but a mortal wound was a failure.

That one had earned Yaakov a dry look. She could accept no help from outside sources, and if anyone helped her, she failed.

The word ‘failed’ revolved around her head in a taunting screech after the male had left with a jovial smile, and a rousing speech of how proud of the First Chosen the Courts were.

So much rested on her getting this done.

Truthfully, she would retain her wealth and most of what she’d come to love.

The only thing she’d
lose
is the right to marry Koen Raad.

Amazing how such a small right could cause so much grief. Neither he nor she would be able coldly to walk away if she lost. They’d try to stay together, and who knew if it’d work? She’d have to watch other Chosen fight for him every time Aver came about. It would destroy her to watch them vie for him when she owned his heart.

Shoving everything but what she must accomplish behind her, she focused on the shimmering path before her.

The dark waters looked innocuous enough.

Large islands jutted through the placid surface making her wonder if the lagoon had a cave system.

A roaring screech blasted through the morning air.

Going hunter-still, Marina instinctively lowered, preparing for attack.

Had one of the other Chosen come into contact with an enraged wild Dragon protecting territory?

Her stomach clenched remembering how she’d panicked and gotten herself trapped by the ice wolves within the arena. That couldn’t happen again. She needed to focus and remain calm until she reached the finish.

Sliding her hand over Fia, she mounted the water Dragon and whispered her encouragement.

The beast shook between her thighs.

No doubt she could sense the danger waiting for them on the other side of the natural barrier.

With a little coaxing Fia began a steady side sweeping motion with her sleek tail fin. She crooned dolefully, whimpering in fear.

Marina felt terribly guilty for bringing her before, but the soul wrenching sound had her feeling like a hateful bitch and she swore to protect the creature at all costs, the price of which would be devastatingly high.

Eventually, Fia quietened, and she included her wing fins in manoeuvring them from the safety of the shallows into the deeper waters.

The salty liquid lapping at Marina’s knees turned gloomy green from algae then continued turning darker until she saw nothing but black sludge and spiny seaweed.

How was she supposed to see if they were being attacked?

Fia acted and sounded a certain way the closer danger approached, but it would be nice to be able to
see
an oncoming threat.

Shuddering at what she needed to do, Marina took a breath. She leaned over and dunked her head under the rippling surface.

Opening her eyes stung, but the prickling sensation was manageable. Her body was designed to survive the brackish water. Faint outlines moved below them.

Was it fish, or monsters readying to devour?

The otherness had her shuddering with its sudden vigilance. Marina shoved the alien presence to the edges of her awareness.

Being submerged in the black lagoon was nothing like being underwater in Goi-Goi. There the water was so clean and fresh it appeared you looked through glass.

In the black lagoon life was veiled by a gritty sheen of charcoal.

Passing through a narrow passageway the canyon opened up before them.

T
he surrounding steep banks were barren rock. The chance of her scrambling from the water and onto an outcrop for safety was slim.

Even so, there was no way Fia could follow.

They had to get to the other side.

Pockets of thick mud and volcanic rock were easy to see, and, unfortunately, smell. The dangerous pools were avoided with ease. The pungent odour and bright splash of orange sulphur worked as a perfect alarm signal for areas best avoided.

A subterranean rumble disturbed the glassy surface, and a burst of blistering liquid jettisoned into the air.

Daniil warned her the seismic activity of the black lagoon was as active and unpredictable as the eruptions at the Red Citadel. As long as they weren’t directly on top of a boiling geyser as it erupted they’d be fine. Daniil assured her Fia could sense them.

Much to her relief, Marina noticed the water Dragon consciously avoiding areas that seemed fine, but obviously held unseen peril.

Feeling eyes on her, Marina sent her growing awareness outward. Her senses came across wild ones following her progress high in the canyon.

Their colourful bodies gracefully hopped and flew across the craggy mountain ranges sending smaller rocks tumbling towards the basin.

It amused her they had an interest in what she did. Rather than feel hunted or tracked, she took it as a good omen.

Maybe Koen asked them to tag along.

Most of the morning passed in silence, broken only by the occasional burst of steam, falling of rocks, or a piercing warble from her guardians above.

The air was suffocating, moist, and the climbing sun scorching hot.

Even the water warmed, adding to the muggy atmosphere, impeding her vision as wispy vapour crept over the surface.

Sweat dripped from her brow to sting her eyes. Her hair stuck to her nape and temples making her itch. Breathing became difficult, and her nose burned from inhaling the sulphur. The discomfort worried her little, but the ability to smell reduced with each bitter lungful, and that made her leery.

The otherness grumbled sullenly, distressed by the sensory demur.

Marina for once sympathized with its feelings, because she depended on her sense of smell to tell her what her eyes and ears could not.

Fia shivered violently and slowed.

Her body dove deeper.

Alarm replaced Marina’s languid demeanour. She slipped off the dragon’s back to tread water at her side, holding onto gentle ridges swelling at the base of her elongated neck.

Scanning the still waters she saw nothing. The misty steam obscured sight of anything further down the lagoon.

Peering for time unknown she shook her head slightly, making an unsure noise at the back of her throat.

Whatever it was wasn’t coming directly at them.

“We can’t stay here,” Marina murmured. “The sooner we face it the better.”

Stroking Fia’s side, she got the trembling mount moving.

Anger and fear had her shaking at the unfair situation. She understood the reasoning behind having the Chosen pair up with dragons on each quest. The occupation they competed for may afford them luxury and subservience, but it also placed the responsibility of thousands of people directly on their shoulders. The Empress bore the even greater weight of protecting the Emperor. However, she found it highly unjust on the tame or captured wild ones used to recreate the dangerous circumstances overcome by the ancient Queens.

Fia was terrified, but swam bravely towards an unknown future she knew might kill her – all because she was trained to follow Marina’s lead.

The outline of a smudge appeared in the distance.

They advanced with care until Marina realised the shape was Galina treading water.

She watched something up ahead with a pretty face of thunder.

“Where’s your dragon?” Marina demanded voice pitched low, eyes scanning the surroundings for a threat.

Galina barely glanced her direction.

Her pouty lips thinned as she eyed Fia, obviously viewing the female as a foolish thought. “Scouting a path through that.” She flicked a wet hand up to point.

Marina craned her neck. “I can’t see....”

A gentle disturbance turned into a violent thrashing.

Huge dragons clashed under the water. Their ferocious movements forced them to the surface, enormous jaws snapping, bladed fins mercilessly slashing. They roared then dove under as their tails punched though the lagoon surface to crash down with inconceivable force, jettisoning crimson marbled water into the air.

The wild one lashed with a vicious spiked tail, and the smaller, mauve-coloured tamed dragon withdrew, grumbling angrily, but definitely on retreat.

Galina cursed.

“That’s your mount?” Marina croaked. She gaped in horror at the gory wound on the side of the dragon’s snout. “He’s hurt.”

Galina studied the bleeding gash.

Sighing, she patted her mount’s neck comfortingly before sending him back to try again. “Batyr is strong. He will not fail me.”

“Anastasia got through?”

“Yes.” Galina’s graceful jaw worked furiously. “Just before this male woke and charged to block my way. Stupid creature.”

Marina blinked at the acidic tone, and watched in disbelief as the male dragons reared and clashed yet again with no less ferociousness.

Guilt crept into Marina’s heart about what she considered doing. Royally screwing the other Chosen over would create yet another enemy with a personal vendetta.

Would it be considered weak by her critics if she offered her help as she helped herself?

Since when did she give a shit what the Courts thought?

“Hold onto Fia,” Marina ordered as she adjusted her hold.

Galina’s head whipped around. “What?”

“Your Batyr is providing the perfect distraction. Hold on. Fia will get us past.”

“But–”

“Really? I am not going to sit here convincing you.”

Flushing, Galina latched on.

It took a moment for Fia to settle at the unexpected grip. Marina urged her on with a quietly spoken command, adding another in a short bark for a sharp increase in speed.

Fia’s body dived, but her head and neck remained visible, reminding Marina of a hunting crocodile.

The water dragon sliced through the oily water’s surface, causing it to split and spray in glistening arcs either side of the Chosen.

Marina’s body lifted and her legs dangled as they powered forward.

As Batyr fought with the wild one they took a wide berth around the skirmish and ended up slowing a considerable distance away.

After a tense moment of silence, Galina chuckled darkly. “You understand that would have been less dangerous if you left me behind? She would have moved faster.”

Heart pounding, Marina managed a shrug. “As far as I’m concerned you’re not a threat to me.”

“You are wrong. This is a competition.”

“I don’t have to be a hateful bitch to be a strong competitor.”

Galina sniffed.

Detaching from Fia she swam back the way they came. Treading water, she shouted a terse instruction to her mount.

Batyr thrashed his tail before vanishing.

“Time to go, Fia. That wild one is not going to be happy.”

Again the pair cut through the water at pace, leaving the other Chosen and her mount to their own devices.

It was not long before they slowed.

This time Marina felt more than a stirring of fear. She experienced bone-deep dread.

Anastasia Vor, regal in her splendour, fierce as any warrior, battled three wild ones. And was losing. Blood misted the air and turned the murky water opaque.

The tame red dragon roared in pain as bladed tails punctured its flanks.

Batyr coasted to a stop beside them.

Once again mounted proudly at his front dorsal fin, Galina’s sweetly rounded face was troubled. “Visigoth looks bad.”

As if in denial of this, Anastasia cursed, and yelled a battle cry to push forward. Her mount tried again and again to pass the barricade of scaly flesh only to be beaten aside.

A tail skimmed taking Anastasia’s head off at the neck.

Blanching, she yanked her mount back and kept going until the males separated. She remained flat on his back, shaking badly as they retreated.

She shot straight and crushed her fear to nothingness when she realised she was no longer alone.

Gaze passing over them both, revealing only a hint of embarrassment, her mouth thinned. She appeared piqued to be caught unawares. “Either of you wish to try? My Visi must rest, but they must have none if one of us is to be victorious.”