Page 30 of Adding Fuel To The Flames

CHAPTER 13

The smirk of triumph on Salem’s face proved their plan had worked so far. Now Zev just needed to kick his father’s ass. Day moved closer to Morgan as Finn did the same on the other side. They were not to interfere, only observe, unless there was no other choice. It was one of the hardest things any of them would ever do, to just sit by and watch as one of their brothers fought alone against an evil, deadly foe.

Salem ripped open his shirt and threw the tattered material to the side. His massive chest rising and falling as his gaze focused on Zev. His eyes narrowed as his lips thinned and his jaw clenched. At the same time, Zev moved closer, his focus solely on Salem. Day watched as Zev relaxed his body and placed his feet shoulder width apart, and bent his knees slightly.

Salem smirked again as he casually walked toward Zev, then stopped two feet before him. “Well, at least you’re not running scared like you usually do. I guess that’s a small improvement. But how will you react when the punches start flying? Let’s find out, shall we?”

Before Salem uttered the last words, he balled up his right fist and swung hard, aiming for Zev’s temple. Without moving his feet, Zev leaned back, avoiding the hit, and at the same time reached out with lightning speed and grasped Salem’s wrist, going with the momentum of the punch he thrust Salem forward and the man lurched, losing his balance.

Before he could right himself, Zev spun, raising his left leg, placing his foot against Salem’s ass and pushing forward with all his strength. Salem flew forward, connecting with the ground. The shock was apparent on his face, but he quickly schooled his features. Salem pushed up off the ground and spun to face Zev, but Zev was ready and landed a perfect roundhouse kick to the side of Salem’s face, snapping his head around as his body followed and he spun.

This time Salem caught himself as he tucked his chin to his chest, ducking his head, and pulling his shoulder in right before hitting the ground, and rolled, then sprang back up to his feet, facing Zev. His eyes were wild with fury as his face turned red with rage.

“So, the kitten learned a little about fighting, did he? I guess I shouldn’t have assumed you’re still the disappointing weakling you always were. I won’t make that mistake again.”

“Are we going to stand here all day and talk, or are we going to do this?” Zev asked coolly.

Salem smiled, then went for the attack. He bent down, turning his shoulder into it and hit Zev hard in the midsection as he wrapped his arms around Zev, taking him to the ground. Salem sat above him raining punches down on Zev’s face and ribs.

Day knew that the only reason Salem was able to touch Zev, was because he had allowed him to. Zev let Salem get a few good punches in, then he began to fight back. He raised his legs up to either side of Salem, thrusting them over Salem’s shoulders and around his neck, clamping them together and caging Salem in between his thick thighs.

Salem stopped hitting him and reached up, trying to pull Zev’s legs from around his throat as his eyes bulged out and his lips began to turn blue. Zev began punching Salem’s gut and ribs so hard that bones could be heard breaking. Salem tried to cry out, but was unable to get enough air into his lungs.

Zev reached up and grabbed Salem’s arms as he rolled them, the move placing Salem below Zev. Salem brought up a knee and thrust it against Zev’s back over and over again until Zev released him and jumped away. Zev moved a few feet back and stared at Salem as he tried to control his breathing.

Salem rolled onto all fours as he coughed and panted, trying to catch his breath. His head shot up and his eyes glowed with his dragon as he focused on Zev. Within a mere two seconds, Salem had shifted into his midnight-black dragon and now stood facing Zev. He opened his mouth and Day could see the orange glow in his throat and knew Salem was about to blast Zev with his fire.

“Morgan!” Day yelled, hoping Morgan understood and would use his concussion blast against Salem.

“No!” Wyndingo called calmly. “I know he is your brother, but this is our town now and we will fight any foe. Illan, you and your men stand down,” Wyndingo commanded.

“At ease, Morgan,” Illan ordered.

Wyndingo stepped forward as he faced Salem’s beast. “You wanted a fair fight, and no powers were to be used. That included your beast. You are a much older dragon, therefore are able to shift a lot faster than your opponent, then you go to use your fire against him before he has a chance to match you. I always knew you weren’t an honorable man, Salem, but now you have proved it. There is no such thing as a fair fight with you, so I will not give you one,” Wyndingo warned.

In the blink of an eye Wydingo shifted into a deep rich brown three-headed dragon. Salem opened his mouth wider and blew out a stream of fire straight toward Wyndingo and Day’s eyes widened in surprise as Wyndingo’s dragon shifted and turned gray. He was now a dragon made of pure rock. The flames beat against him, and Wyndingo just stood there, not affected by the assault.

Salem pulled back his fire and closed his mouth as he huffed angrily. He took a step toward Wyndingo and raised off the ground, taking flight. Before he could ascend higher, Wyndingo grabbed his foot and pulled Salem back, then spun as he whipped Salem in a circle, then released him. Salem flew through the air and crashed into the trees, snapping them and taking them down with him.

They all watched as the now empty space lay silent and unmoving. Wyndingo moved closer, his gaze focused on the spot Salem had disappeared. Suddenly an orange glow appeared through the trees and began to build

“Shit! He’s setting the forest on fire!” Day cried out.

“Men, it’s time to roll!” Chief Nick Holt called out, and Day watched as the bear and his men grabbed their gear and headed toward the fire.

Trees snapped and flew through the air right before Salem’s dragon took flight and flew over their heads. In a heartbeat Wyndingo morphed again, and was now a Dragon only visible by a ripple of air. He could make out the dragon’s outline, but he was completely invisible. Wyndingo took flight and caught up to Salem quick, slamming into him and forcing him back down to the ground on the other side of the clearing.

“Should we help Sutton and the others?” Jett asked as he and Zev joined them

“No, son, let Nick and his boys do their job. They are the new firefighters here. If it starts to get out of control, we will join in,” Illan instructed.

They turned their attention back to the battle between Wyndingo and Salem, but now Wyndingo was back to his brown dragon and they were each trying to hit the other with their massive wings and heads.

Salem was able to get a hit in with his feet to Wyndingo’s chest and the dragon came flying towards them. Everyone took a collective step back out of the line of fire.

Salem flew towards Wyndingo before he could get back on his feet, when suddenly the light beam from the moon shifted and went right to Salem’s eyes, blinding him. He roared as he stopped and threw his head back.

Everyone looked to Zev with raised brows. “What? He’s not fighting fair, and this battle did start between us,” Zev answered indignantly as he crossed his arms over his chest.