Page 46 of Lahaina Noon (Modern Legends of Dragons & Shadows #1)

Chapter 46

I t hadn’t been long since the blues and silvers had left on their mission. They’d seen a few people try to escape. They were sucked down into the earth by the browns lurking there before they could get their bearings enough to escape into shadow. So far, the plan was going well. She’d seen Jack and the others leave on their side mission. She closed her eyes and prayed for them that all would go well.

Vaughn stood nearby, coordinating with the red’s commander. It was almost time for their main attack. They finished speaking, and Vaughn shook hands with the fierce-looking man before he walked off to his squadron to brief them.

She heard a fluttering motion and noticed a large red dragon flying in behind them. Who is that? She wondered. The dragon landed, and she heard a snarl rip from Vaughn’s throat. Oh shit, she had a second to think before he launched himself at the red.

It was Ivan.

His father transformed into human form just in time for Vaughn to barrel into him, already in his half-shifted form. He dug his talons into his father’s shoulders. “Why are you here?” he demanded through his fangs. “You have no business here. This is not a mission for cowards and traitors.”

“Son, listen,” Ivan began.

“I’m not your son!” Vaughn shouted, “My father died over two hundred years ago, a hero in battle. He would never have walked away from me.”

Bridget heard the pain in Vaughn’s voice, and she wanted to tell him.

She heard a whisper in her mind, not yet.

She was angry, then when? She demanded in return.

Soon.

Several dragons had barely managed to restrain Vaughn and pull him from his father. One red lay on the ground, gasping for air for his efforts.

She turned to face him, knowing it was dangerous but trusting he wouldn’t hurt her. “Vaughn!” she grabbed his arms.

He wrapped his talons around her wrists and snarled at her. Then he looked into her eyes and dropped her like she’d burned him. His fangs and claws retracted, and his eyes held shame. His wings dropped at his side.

“Bridget!” he whispered, horrified at what he’d almost done.

“Vaughn, I’m fine. You didn’t hurt me. I knew you wouldn’t. Listen to me, dammit, I’m fine, and we don’t have time for this. Remember, we are here to kill the Shadow King. If he wants to help, let him. You don’t have to speak to him.”

She guided Vaughn away, returning him to his post. She turned her head to look back at Ivan, giving him an almost imperceptible nod that he returned .

Good girl, she heard.

The reds had launched their mission and now it was time for her to do the first part of her task. This one she knew she could do, the rest, she would see when the time came. Drake flew with her, about halfway from their post to the compound.

Siobhan was behind her, shielding them from view and would drop the shield at the last minute so it wouldn’t block her blast. She rolled her shoulders and cracked her neck. She was ready.

She opened herself and began to draw in the energy. It was much easier than the first time. Now, it entered like a welcome friend; like it was water, and she was a desert begging for rain. Again, she could feel the hairs on her body standing tall, her hair floating, and Siobhan nudged her when her eyes went black. She could hear the arcing and crackling all over her as it gained more strength.

Remember, my love, you have to control the channel. Give it a finite lane, or it will drown you, came the reminder from Drake.

Bridget could only squeeze his neck with her legs to acknowledge. She needed to concentrate on her aim, so she didn’t accidentally knock out power to the entire chain of islands. She was waiting for the signal that all of their side were clear. Suddenly, they heard the explosions that signaled Jack’s team had started their diversion and Siobhan dropped their shield. Bridget grinned and then unleashed hell on the Shadow compound.

A huge wave slammed into the building and blew the front of the structure into pieces. Lightning came from the ground and surrounded the building in a blue haze, crackling and popping. The compound shimmied and shook, the sound of screaming filled the air. Then everything went quiet.

Bridget dropped her arms and closed the channel. It had been difficult; she wasn’t sure she would be able to stop as the very air seemed to want more and began pulling it from her. She wrestled it under control. Breathing heavily, she shakily patted Drake on the neck, letting him know it was time to return.

He turned and began making the descent to the command post. His flight was jagged, though, and she could tell he was having trouble.

Drake? she asked, concerned.

I’m fine, he replied, just a little drained. I need to get down and conserve my energy. They landed roughly, and she jumped to the ground, followed by Siobhan. Vaughn shimmered into human and lay there on the ground, breathing hard.

She lifted his head to her lap and covered him as she whispered to him comfortingly.

Siobhan quickly examined him and said a few spells. She smiled at Bridget shakily and said, “He’s okay, just magic drained. I can boost his recharge, and he will be better in about ten minutes or so.”

Bridget breathed a sigh of relief and gestured for her to go on. She checked her watch. It would be cutting it close, but they were still doing okay on time. She sat with him while he absorbed energy and recharged his magical batteries.

He told her contact with the earth helped, so he stayed on the ground as they listened to the sounds of the battle continuing in front of them. Some of the Shadows were trying to shoot down the red dragons and were being bitten and slashed for their wasted efforts. Many were opting to surrender to the silvers who were standing guard nearby.

Bridget heard a commotion and looked up. Jack, Davis, and Shepard were returning, and they had someone with them, but it wasn’t Dio. It was a woman. She was very dirty and frail looking.

It’s time, Bridget heard in her mind.

“Vaughn!” she said urgently.

His eyes snapped open, and he sat up, looking at her.

“Listen, we don’t have a lot of time, so I need to tell you something quickly, and I need you to listen and not interrupt. Promise me!” she said.

“Of course, Bridget, what—”

She shushed him and began speaking rapidly.

“Your father didn’t abandon us. He was ordered by Baltrus, the traitor, to leave, or he would kill you. He didn’t want to risk it; he was torn about it. Baltrus bound him so he couldn’t tell us. You remember, in Italy, after you proposed, and Jorrie and I went outside?”

He nodded, bewildered.

“Okay, well, she told me about it. See he couldn’t tell you, he couldn’t tell me, but he didn’t say anything about Jorrie. She told me and swore me to secrecy. I know you may not believe it at first, I didn’t either, but it is true. And here’s the really hard part. Okay, whew. Vaughn, please forgive me. I didn’t tell you any of this because I couldn’t. If you knew, you’d never have waited and would have gone off angry, and this wouldn’t have succeeded. It’s been killing me not to tell you. But Vaughn...” She heard the thump as the diversion team landed behind him. She needed to talk faster .

“Vaughn, there’s a reason your father isn’t dead. It’s because the bond was never broken. The Shadow King didn’t kill your mother. It was an enchantment, a decoy. He’s had her this whole time, suppressing her magic. The Council found out someone was dirty and helping him. That’s why they kept your father prisoner, and that’s why I couldn’t tell you.”

Vaughn stared at her, pain filling his eyes. “Why would you say these things to me?” he whispered.

“Because it’s true, my love. Jack and the others found her for you. Look.” She pointed behind him.

He turned his head and saw Jack limping towards him. He was ashen and covered in blood, but he held Mirra in his arms, who Bridget thought looked very much like Vaughn.

Vaughn tried to stand but dropped to his knees again. He shook his head, “No, it’s not possible.”

Mirra weakly turned her head as Jack dropped next to Vaughn and set her down gently. She stared at Vaughn and raised a hand to caress his face. “My son,” she whispered and closed her eyes.

A broken roar echoed across the battlefield.

Bridget sat with Jack as Siobhan tended to his wounds. He winced as the deep gash on his side knitted together.

“Hold still you baby!” Siobhan told him.

He glared at her, “Ma’am, your bedside manner is atrocious. ”

She rolled her eyes and slapped his leg. “All better, now get out of here so I can tend to your boyfriend,” she ordered.

Jack gave her a sarcastic salute and walked away with Bridget on his arm. “She’s as prickly as a cactus,” he told her.

Bridget laughed; relieved Jack wasn’t too gravely injured. Then sobered.

He had quite a few cuts and bruises, and he’d been stabbed in his side, hence all the blood, but assured her the other guy looked worse. Davis had taken on a few cuts and bruises as well, but Shepard had been gravely injured.

A jagged tear in one wing and a broken leg in his dragon form had meant a broken arm and a massive knife wound from his shoulder down his side. In human form it would reach his waist. He’d lost a lot of blood, and it was a miracle he’d made it back at all. Siobhan had tended him first and now he was stabilized while Davis looked on, refusing to leave his brother’s side. They would be sending him to the hospital shortly.

Dio had not returned. He had taken a knife to the heart meant for Jack.

Shepard had tried to bring the fallen wielder back, but he couldn’t. Jack couldn’t either, it was carry Dio or carry Mirra.

She pulled Jack to a stop and held him. “Thank you, brother, for taking that on. I know Vaughn appreciates it. Eventually, he will forgive us for keeping this from him and thank you himself.”

Jack hugged her back and said, “Anything for you, sister, but you know you owe me in Dio’s honor.” He closed his eyes in pain from what he’d seen and whispered, “Dio. ”

Bridget and Circe stood together, ready to enact the next part of their plan. Circe was going to enhance Bridget’s voice so it could be heard throughout the compound. Many more of the lower-level Shadow Claw had come out, surrendering, begging for refuge. They all claimed the King was still inside, and they’d only acted on his orders because he tortured those who defied him.

Mirra confirmed much of this as well. Her jailers were kind to her over the years unless they were caught by the King when he came down to taunt her. He’d taken her those years ago because he’d been struck by her beauty and wanted her for himself. She refused him, she had a mate and a son. She could never love someone as cruel as him. He wasn’t a take no for an answer kind of guy.

Bridget smiled softly as she watched Ivan and Mirra reunite after so many years. Tears fell all around when they pulled Vaughn into their embrace. She hated Azrael even more now, but she couldn’t afford to let that emotion distract her.