Page 86 of Castor

Raiden, Bellamy, and Alastair dropped down next to me, each of them bleeding and exhausted. But we were all still standing.

A light pressure at my back, followed by the faintest hint of water lilies, announced Kyo’s presence.

Phoenix’s dark brown eyes flashed red as he snarled at us.

“Isn’t this where you’re supposed to say some cheesy villain dialogue?” I asked him. “Something like, ‘This isn’t over. I’ll be back.’ I need you to say it in a Schwarzenegger accent though.”

“I hate that smart-ass mouth of yours,” Phoenix responded. “I should’ve never hesitated in killing you. You won’t be so fortunate the next time we meet.”

“Yeah. Like that. But you forgot the accent.”

The full-sized dragon continued killing demons behind Phoenix. He glanced over his shoulder at it before cursing. It looked like he was about to do his infamous vanishing act.

“Stop him,”Alastair told all of us.“If he leaves, he’ll return to Asa’s side and plan another attack. Taking him out now will give us the advantage.”

Bellamy lunged forward and grabbed Phoenix by the back of his dark auburn hair, resting the sharp edge of his dagger at his throat. Phoenix stared up at Bellamy and trembled a bit in his tight grip.

“Kill him, Bell!” Raiden growled.

“I…” Bellamy stilled.

Why was he hesitating?

“Fuck this!” one of the demons yelled before running toward the water. Others followed his lead and began to retreat. The dragon scorched them all with a single fiery breath.

I looked back at Phoenix, seeing his next move before he even made it. “Bellamy!”

Phoenix maneuvered out of Bellamy’s hold and pried the dagger from his grip just like he’d done to me earlier. He smirked at me before sending it whirling through the air, aimed right at my heart.

Weary from hours of battle, my reflexes were slowed. I wouldn’t be able to dodge it. I barely had time to register that fact before it reached me. My eyes closed as something slammed into my chest.

But there was no pain.

Confused, I opened my eyes to see Kyo in front of me. The dagger was embedded in his back. He softly smiled before slumping against me.

“Kyo?” My arms wrapped around him, and we dropped to the sand. I couldn’t fucking breathe. I was shocked. Suspended in disbelief. Commotion sounded around me, but I didn’t care enough to look. My focus was on the dragon in my arms.

“That’s a look I haven’t seen on your face before, Red.” Kyo touched my jaw with a shaking hand. His blue-and-green scales began to disappear, and his horns retracted. His claws shortened to rounded fingertips that lightly caressed my cheek.

He was too weak to hold his hybrid form.

Tears filled my eyes. “I’ll heal you.” Gently turning him so I could see his back, I pulled the dagger free and placed my hand over the wound to apply pressure. Blood pooled between my fingers. I concentrated all of my healing energy into my palm and sent it flowing into him.

“Cas.” Raiden dropped down beside us, his expression grave. “Phoenix used a celestial blade. You can’t heal him.”

“Yes, I can!” I focused harder, my palm warming as healing energy poured from me. I ground my teeth together as tears slipped from my eyes. I looked at Raiden. Pleading. “Please. Help me.”

Alastair knelt in front of Kyo and added his healing energy to mine. His frown deepened. “Castor…”

“Don’t say it! He’s not going to die. I won’t let him, goddammit!” I brought Kyo closer and pressed our foreheads together, my tears falling on his cheeks.

“Hey, Red?” Kyo’s voice was so frail. “You were right.”

I pulled back to look at him. “About what?”

“I think… my fate was… to save you. Like Izumi protected those kids.”

“I think the sword protected you so you could grow and protect others. Just like Izumi did.”Remembering the words I’d said to him, I cried harder.