Dragon in the Blood (Vale of Stars Book 2) Read online

  Bowen’s eyes glowed green in the shadows of the alcove. Morgon electricity snapped in the air. It was the kind of energy that made humans nervous when they sensed it, for it meant a dragon was present in the room whether you saw him or not.

  “I’ll keep watch, brother.” Bowen nodded to me. “You keep that fire burning hot for when we meet them face to face.”

  I glanced at Valla. “No need to worry on that score.”

  Bowen marched to the entrance and stood with his back to us, putting on his headgear to catch the infrared of an approaching enemy.

  Valla wiggled where she sat cross-legged, stirring the gravel under her boot, to maneuver to face me. “Could you”—she gestured toward my hand with her finger—“make a flame again…for me? It helps me concentrate.”

  “For you?” I snapped my fingers, flicking to life the golden flame on my palm again. “Anything.”

  Valla smiled, but sobered quickly. She stared into the flame, slowly letting her lids close. I watched and waited as she dreamwalked to speak to her brother and inform him of the latest intel. When I was sure she would not wake, I snapped off the flame. The blue-light emitted a soft hue, accentuating her high cheekbones and strong chin. Valla wasn’t what a man would call soft. Her beauty was fierce and biting, much like the woman herself. And I wanted her…more than anything. Defeating this fucker, Larkos, whether he spawned our race or not, was first priority. Yes, I wanted the world to be safe. But above all, I wanted her to be safe. Like a primitive pull, I needed her to be safe. I couldn’t focus on a damn thing knowing Larkos and his army planned to enslave us all. Over my dead fucking body.

  I flinched when Valla’s eyes snapped open.

  “What is it? Are you okay?”

  She smiled, and something burned hotter in my chest. Though by now, I knew what that something was.

  “Of course. My brother is on his way. He and a team are already en route.”

  “Who’s on the team?”

  She rolled her eyes as she stood. “Yes, yes. Your buddies Paxon and Lorian Nightwing are with him.”

  I couldn’t help but grin. Feeling lighter already, I grabbed my pack from against the wall. “And Lucius?”

  “No. He stayed behind to keep watch over Nightwing Security. And all their women, of course.”

  “I imagine Paxon had Ella and their daughter moved into the Nightwing Tower while the guys were away.”

  “You’re right about that. No worries. I’m sure they’ll have a blast.”

  Sensing sadness in her voice, I paused and grabbed her arm. “What’s wrong?”

  Buckling her pack on, she shrugged with one shoulder as she liked to do. “Nothing.”

  “Liar. Why does that make you sad?”

  “Oh, not sad. Just…I don’t know.”

  “Valla Moonring, you’ll have to do better than that, or I won’t let you leave this cave.”

  She laughed. “Like you could stop me.” She arched a brow.

  “Valla.”

  I said her name the way I did when I wanted her in my arms and in my bed. She shivered, then sighed.

  “Have you ever seen all of them together? Jessen, Moira, Ella, Sorcha and their mates?”

  “Yes.” Smirking, I crossed my arms. “I was actually instrumental in getting Ella together with Paxon.”

  “You were?” Her voice shrieked up high.

  “Don’t sound so surprised. I’m quite the romantic.”

  She playfully pulled me closer by my chest strap to tuck the frayed end away. “I know you are.”

  And there she was, up close and personal, filling my lungs and my heart with her night flower scent. Before I had a clue what I was doing, I’d gripped her waist with one hand and cupped her cheek with the other. Eyes widening, she let out a surprised gasp. But she didn’t push away. That was all the encouragement I needed. Hovering closer, I let my hand slide forward, fingers combing into her hair. Her braid brushed the backs of my knuckles, a soft caress that turned my insides into an inferno. My beast roared with yearning, and I couldn’t help but speak the words so heavy in my breast.

  “Valla…you fill me with every hope, every doubt, every wish a man could dream.” I brushed my lips lightly against hers.

  She lifted her head toward mine, encouraging me closer.

  “When will you give me a chance? When will you give us a chance?”

  “I—I—”

  She couldn’t form a verbal answer and gave me her mouth instead, answering me with a press of her soft lips and a sweep of her sweet tongue. I’d take it…for now.

  “Ahem.” Bowen startled us apart. “I know you two have important business to, um, discuss, but there’s a war that needs fighting. If you hadn’t noticed.”

  “Right.” Valla stepped around me and Bowen. She lowered her goggles. “Our orders are to meet Kol at Orlik’s tavern. We’ll stop at Bastien’s fortress first. We’ll need a guide to this blacksmith.” She lifted off without a backward glance.

  Bowen grinned. “After you, loverboy.”

  “Shut up.”

  THE AFTERNOON SKY was remarkably clear. The sun, a rare sight in Aria, shone warm and bright over the thin sheet of scattered clouds. We rode high in the flight line to make good time. Valla was at our head, while Bowen and I flanked behind her.

  “We should make it to Bastien’s before dark,” I said into the comm.

  “As long as nothing—” Valla broke off as the alarm beeped through our headgear.

  The wrist comm showed a large party heading directly for us.

  “Shit!” Valla surged with an updraft as she read her comm. “We’ve got company.”

  “Definitely not wulving,” I said, gritting my teeth.

  The two dozen figures in military V-flight formation told us it was certainly not a pack of flying hounds.

  “Nope,” said Bowen. “We’re too far from Bastien’s fortress. I suggest we cut south to the Huntergild scout station. If we can make it.”

  “Lead the way,” said Valla, slowing her speed to fall between us.

  Bowen beat his wings harder to take the point and turned hard south. I stole a glance at Valla. She was steady and strong, eyes forward, wings spread wide.

  The alarm continued to beep. The party veered on our southerly course.

  “Could it be Kol?” asked Bowen, his hand sliding to unhitch his crossbow strapped between his wings.

  “No,” assured Valla, a thread of strain in her voice as she unsheathed one of her Drakonian swords. “He was clear to meet us at Orlik’s in Barren Falls. Kol doesn’t make mistakes or spontaneous judgments.”

  “Let’s fly close to ground and try to get off their radar,” I said.

  We dropped as one, skimming low above snow-dusted firs, our wing-shear stirring the high branches as we swooped fast and hard. The alarm stopped. My comm showed no sign of the party.

  “Not much farther, and we can hide in the scout station,” said Bowen.

  “Hide? It’s invisible?” Valla was still snarky. A good sign since we all knew if we met this party of twenty-plus opponents, we’d not stand a chance against them. My blood burned hot.

  “Nearly,” replied Bowen in his steady voice. “It’s well-hidden. If we can get there before our followers catch up to us.”

  “Let’s just get there fast—” Valla started.

  “Look out!” I yelled.

  They attacked from above and the side, two barreling into me and knocking us all into the branches of the firs. We crashed to the packed snow below. On my feet with sword drawn, I prepared to fight not two but four Sunsting warriors dressed in black thermal suits and black cloaks with gold braiding along the edges. After the guard had rescued Kol’s mate, Moira, she’d been able to give them intel on her captives, one of which was their black and gold raiment. We were indeed engaged with the Larkosians.

  “Finally.” I grinned and ripped off my headgear and goggles. They didn’t speak. They simply attacked.

  Two came at me at once, blades
swinging. I deflected, felling one with my first arc. Another took his place, attacking from behind as the other kept my attention at the front. I heard the zing of Valla’s swords not far ahead. Drakonian steel made a different sound when in play—a low hum and swift whistle as it cut through air then slid against steel or iron.

  “Oh, fuck this.” I somersaulted up and opened my wings, flaring them wide for suspension. Stunned that I should run, the three looked up and realized what I was doing too late. Inhaling a deep lungful of air till the cold stung from the inside out, I blew a strong flame. The three Morgons back-stepped then ran in three different directions. With a flick of my hand, I split the flame into thirds. As they took flight, I shot the flame like three arrows that pierced straight through their backs to their hearts. They tumbled into the snow, smoke rising from their fatal wounds.

  Valla screamed. Speeding through the trees in flight, I dodged branches, hitting some, then came into a clearing where Valla was surrounded by at least ten Larkosian warriors. I sensed others flying close behind me as I landed within the circle beside her.

  “Why did you scream?” I asked low, searching every part of her body for any sign of injury and finding none.

  “That asshole pulled my hair.”

  “Which one?”

  “That one.” She pointed with her blade to the dead Morgon several yards away, blood and guts spilled into the snow.

  If we weren’t outnumbered, I might’ve laughed. They closed in, and I raised my sword, preparing to die to protect this woman at my side. Though she might be the one saving me considering her skill with a sword.

  “Ready or not, here they come,” she whispered, planting her boot in the snow inches from mine.

  “I’m ready,” I said, squaring my stance. “Are you?”

  She glanced up. Blue eyes burning white-hot, her dragon looked straight at me. “Hell yeah.”

  I’d never felt more alive in all my life than at this moment before possible death. This woman. She made the world right. And there was no place I’d rather be than at her side, no matter the odds against us.

  Before we’d gotten a swing in, a dozen more warriors landed behind the Larkosians. A band of unruly, mismatched, bad-ass individuals I never thought I’d be so happy to see. A Larkosian spun and charged Bastien who swung his battle-ax and embedded it in his attacker’s chest. The Morgon fell to his knees. Bastien put his foot on the man’s shoulder and pulled out his bloody ax with a crunch.

  “Started the party without us, did you?” He gave us a wink.

  The rest was nothing but swinging swords, flying arrows, and one seriously fatal battle ax. Bowen flew into the mix right after a Larkosian nicked my chin with his blade. Bowen gave him three arrows in the heart for it.

  “Thanks, brother,” I said, clasping hands, grateful to see him alive. “I was wondering where you’d gotten off to.”

  “Just a slight delay. Let’s finish it.”

  And so we did. I tried not to become distracted by my need to seek out Valla and assure myself of her safety. But the fire in my gut flamed brighter than ever before. There was no need to worry. She wasn’t in the top of her class in the Assassin’s Order for no reason.

  After felling my sixth Larkosian, I found her across the way. She spun and glided, wielding her twin swords like extensions of her slender arms. With a twirl of her wrists and a dip to avoid a high swinging opponent, she decapitated the man from behind before he knew where she’d gone. While the battleground filled with fallen soldiers, bloodying the white snow, I stood there, stunned by the beauty of the assassin moving from one enemy to the next like a dancer on the stage, her golden braid flying high. She was breathtaking.

  “Beautiful.”

  “That she is, brother,” said Bowen, heaving hard and fast from his last skirmish. “But nothing will come of it if you don’t tell her the truth.”

  “The truth?”

  No more Larkosians stood. Their bodies littered the forest floor. Madera speared one crawling toward the brush and finished him off. No need to keep any alive for questioning. These weren’t the kind of prisoners who talked under pressure or threat of death. They were fanatics to the core, dedicated to their cause to the death as was so obviously evident by their display today.

  “Don’t play dumb.”

  Bowen nodded at Valla who had knelt and was patting Razor on the head. He must’ve joined the attack since his muzzle was nice and bloody. The damn hound wagged his tail as she stroked him behind the ears. I shook my head.

  “Conn.” The stern tenor in Bowen’s voice drew my gaze to him. “Valla isn’t the kind of woman to trifle with.”

  “I’m not trifling with her. You know this.”

  “If you pretend she means less to you than she truly does, then yes, you are. And you can’t fool yourself, no matter how hard you try.” He pounded a palm to my chest, right where the burn of soulfire hurt the worst. “Tell her.”

  He marched off to shake Bastien’s hand, and I was left once more wondering how I’d been sentenced to hell by a woman who looked and smelled like heaven.

  CHAPTER 19

  We’d disposed of the bodies in a crevasse as Bastien had suggested. Burning them would only warn other Larkosians of our whereabouts if any others were in the vicinity. Conn had become strangely quiet after the battle. I knew he wasn’t injured because I checked, so I didn’t understand the reason behind his sudden distance. It was a little strange that we’d defeated the Larkosians so easily. Though I knew our skill outmatched theirs, it was as if they fell almost at will. As if they’d been doomed from the start.

  “We’ll need your assistance with the blacksmith.” Conn addressed Bastien as his band had gathered with us under an evergold at the edge of a frozen lake. “He won’t cooperate with foreigners. We’ll pay you well for your trouble.”

  Bastien’s high-arched wings with a silver sheen glistened with the last of the light as the sun dipped behind the purple-hued mountains in the distance. He stood with his hands on hips, battle ax stained dark crimson hitched on a belt at his waist. Razor sat at his feet.

  “As I told you before, I’ll help. No reward or payment necessary…except to leave my exact location out of the Morgon Guard intel system.”

  “Done,” I assured him, stepping between Conn and Bowen.

  “But every man and woman in my company speaks for themselves.” He turned to face his crew. “Anyone else who wants to kill more of these assholes who are stinking up Aria, feel free to come along. Those who don’t care to take part can head back to Pallatine. No judgment. No questions asked.”

  Rafe spoke first, the brawny Woodblade who enjoyed his pipe after our dinner at their palace. “My sword isn’t red enough. I’m with you.”

  “Aye,” said Madera. “So am I.”

  “And us, too,” said the Violetvale, his brother giving a nod next to him.

  The others stepped forward, one by one. Even Lyla who had stayed mostly out of the fight, awaiting those who needed a healer. Fortunately, we’d made quick work of them. She tended quietly to the Skyfell’s forearm that had a gash slicing up the middle. But his was the only injury out of all of us. Strange, as they seemed to be formidable opponents. But once in the fight, they were no match.

  I stepped forward. “Then there’s no time to lose. We meet my brother, Captain of the Morgon Guard, and his team in Barren Falls as fast as we can fly.”

  Bowen interrupted. “I think it best that I go to the Huntergild scout tower and see if I can acquire some assistance from my clan.”

  “You shouldn’t go alone,” said Conn, saying exactly what I was thinking.

  “It’s not far from here. And trust me,” he said, mouth quirking on one side. “I won’t be returning alone. My clansmen will help. And we’ll need the numbers.”

  “Agreed,” I said. “Good thinking, Bowen. And we appreciate any assistance your clansmen can give us.”

  “We’ll meet you at Orlik’s tavern.” With a nod, he lifted off and he
aded south.

  Bastien opened his wings and affixed his flight goggles as did the others. “Then follow me. I know a quicker and more discreet route, in case there’s another party out there.”

  I brushed the snow off my goggles from when they’d fallen earlier and then glanced back at Conn. His jaw clenched, he sheathed his sword and reset his gear. He didn’t say a word, and though he still seemed distant, he stopped me with a hand on my shoulder, snapping a strap that had come loose on my pack.

  “Thanks,” I said with a smile, trying to be friendly.

  He nodded, grim and grave, looking more like Bowen than the carefree man I knew so well.

  When I shot off the ground, he was close behind to my right flank. I liked him at my back as we headed into the darkening sky toward Barren Falls.

  TRUE TO BASTIEN’S WORD, we arrived at the mountainside village just as a gray morning dawned. He’d taken us through narrow passageways between foothills and once into a cave that literally took us through the mountain, saving us a half day’s flight. No wonder the Arians were able to escape capture here. They’d learned the land so well, there were countless hiding holes and escape routes. It seemed Bastien knew them all. How fortunate we’d found him as an ally.

  We landed just outside Orlik’s tavern. Conn approached first and pushed on the thick door. It was still open. As we stepped in, Orlik stood behind the bar, hands braced on the wood-top with an actual smile splitting his misshapen face. And who should he be smiling at? None other than my brother Kol, the most austere person I’d ever known. How and what the two men had to smile about, I had no idea.

  I slipped past Conn as our large crew filed inside. Kol’s smile had slipped from his face as he observed the Morgons filling the pub, settling at tables and removing headgear and weapons, snow and ice dusting to the floor.

  “Hello, Captain,” I said, wanting to embrace him with a hug instead.

  Kol had become more like a father after our parents died. And though he was also my superior officer, I found myself suddenly needing familial comfort. This journey had taken its toll on my nerves…and my emotions. He seemed to sense my need, as always. He pulled me close for a tight squeeze, releasing me quickly when I squirmed away. We were still in the company of a rough band of warriors.