Page 12

12

Who Brings Fire to a Dragon Fight?

JEDIDIAH

D own, down, down I went. Descending the endless spiral stone stairs, wondering when in the seven realms I’d reach the bottom. Under the mountain, she dwelled.

Now that I was away from Solaris, I began to pick up an energetic trace of her. Muted, slow. A dying heartbeat summoned me from somewhere deep inside the Earth. I inhaled a deep breath and conjured fire over my left palm once I reached a low enough level that the lanterns had gone out. My shadow danced tantalizingly on the walls, inflated and disfigured. The heavy sword I carried made me look like a dark knight. I grit my teeth and kept going, trying to keep my eyes down.

Finally, the end of the stairs emerged. The stone walls loomed around me, dreary and watchful. The crypt below what used to be San Gabriel Academy was a dark, damp, unwelcoming place. I held my hand out like a torch, shining orange light upon the barren nothingness. I moved around a bit, finding nothing but more ground. I fell still then, reaching out with all of my senses, searching for her. How could she be down here? I didn’t see a tomb. I saw nothing but stone and darkness.

Come on, Nyx. Give me a sign. Where are you?

I could feel her. But not enough to point out her exact location.

My heart thundered behind the cage of my ribs. The rising hairs on the back of my neck told me I wasn’t alone.

Something rustled in the far corner. I stiffened, holding one fiery hand out to light up the direction the sound came from, the other clutching the hilt of the sword, ready to strike.

The slithering sound of a lithe body moving while claws scratched stone had my heart diving into the depths of my gut.

“Hey,” I called sternly, the way one might address a wild animal approaching them in the woods. Part warning, part plea. “I know you’re there. I mean her no harm. I’m just going to—”

A torrent of audible fire erupted from above and I almost didn’t jolt out of the way in time. The flames were so white they almost appeared blue, drenching the crypt in light as bright as the sun. I had to shut my eyes as I dodged the blast, my own fire snuffing out in shock. Scorching heat lit up my left side, burning the way only Celestial Fire could burn.

Fucker was right about the sword.

Who brings fire to a dragon fight?

When the flames went out, darkness reigned once more.

I gripped the sword with both hands, planting myself in a defensive stance, angling around, trying to sense where it was.

How had it attacked from above? Even if it could fly, this crypt was too small for anything to propel itself into flight. And surely I would hear wings flapping if it were flying.

Claws scuttling along the roof had a chill rushing up my spine.

This time, when the dragon breathed fire, I was ready. As soon as the stream came at me, I hopped out of the way, keeping my eyes on the spot where the fire had come from. I caught sight of its golden body. Holy shit . It had quadrupled in size! It was nearly the size of a dog!

I didn’t let shock stop me. I lunged for it, sweeping the sword forward in warning. A low hiss responded to that as the fire faded, and then more scuttling across the roof.

I clutched the sword in one hand and freed the other, summoning fire of my own. I reached up to illuminate the roof, and the gold dragon clinging to nothing as it stared down at me.

Our eyes met, and a storm of butterflies exploded in my stomach. It had grown impossibly, its features striking and otherworldly. The hard, metallic scales covering his chest and body glimmered in the firelight. A crown of curved horns eroded from its head. It had this hybrid face, both birdlike and reptilian. Its leathery, bat-like wings were folded neatly behind its back. The creature seemed to possess an uncanny number of dualistic natures. Its body was both serpentine and feline, its flaming club tail lashing behind it like a moody cat.

The way it looked at me was beyond sentient. The dragon was staring into my goddamn soul.

It clung to the ceiling like its feet were suctioned to the stone. Shit—that was when I noticed its talons. The claws reminded me of long black daggers, shining with the vow of death. Smoke seeped from its nostrils as it regarded me. I felt winded, not knowing what to do.

This impasse had us both in limbo, neither of us knowing whether we should strike.

I thought better of it. This creature had torn Solaris apart. If he could inflict damage like that onto someone with that kind of strength, I stood little chance against him.

Could you negotiate with a dragon?

My shoulders rose and fell as my mind reeled. I thought back on the year I turned thirteen and my father had allowed me into his personal library. I’d been over the moon. The first book I chose was about dragons. I’d never really felt drawn to them up until that moment. Something about the book just called to me. I sat on the floor and read it for hours. I remembered something now, something important. There was a certain gesture a dragon expected you to do when you met them. It was a signal of respect, honor, and truth.

Fuck. What was it again?

The dragon suddenly dropped from the roof, coming straight for me.

I hauled backward, my fire going out as I gripped the sword with both hands. I swung it around aimlessly, attempting to ward him off in the dark.

A blast of white-blue fire came out of nowhere, and though I twirled away, my right hip inflamed with agony. The scent of burning clothes harassed my nostrils while my skin screamed. I growled in frustration and pain, lunging forward, sword flying.

The dragon yelped as I nicked it. Panic exploded through my chest despite the small victory.

If I hurt Nyx’s dragon, she’d kill me. But if I didn’t defend myself, it was going to kill me.

Either way, I was screwed.

Trying to remember something from a book you read as a kid while also attempting to ward off an angry fire-breathing dragon was no picnic.

O-Ma-Taya .

The memory came out of nowhere, a feminine voice whispering it in the back of my mind.

My eyes widened as it all came back. To bow low, your hands in front of our forehead, fingers curled together to make a perfect circle over your third eye.

Impulsively, possessed by the knowledge that I had no time to lose, I tossed the sword to the ground, my first sign of surrender. Though blind, I felt the dragon fall still.

I dropped to my knees. Shakily, I brought my hands together and did what I needed to do.

A silvery blue light framed with sharp, jagged fangs appeared right in front of me. The dragon’s mouth, open, the threat of ethereal fire making my temples bead with sweat. Its eyes began to glow along with the fire churning at the back of its throat.

I had never seen anything like it, nor ever imagined such a thing could be real.

It was both glorious and terrifying.

I put my head down, submissive. “ O-Ma-Taya! ” I declared, adrenaline spiking my tone. A few ragged breaths escaped me, and then I said, softer this time, “O-Ma-Taya. O-Ma-Taya.”

Only silence followed.

My heart thrashed like a drum solo.

I braced myself for death.

“I’m here to help her,” I breathed.

The dragon made a soft sound that could only be described as a purr. My neck snapped up incredulously. The murderous look in those bright eyes had waned, an unexpected gentleness radiating at me now. It kept its mouth open, its spirit fire still on show, lighting up the small space between us. The heat radiating off this creature had me sweating. My breath came out hard while we sized each other up.

He was gorgeous.

And he knew it.

The dragon snapped his jaw shut, and in the same instant, the ground came alive with tiny pathways of muted golden-blue flames. He lit up the crypt, carefully and precisely, keeping us out of harm. My gaze roved over his magic, wonder and awe filling me as I realized the sacred geometric pattern of his flames.

I rose to my feet, swallowing hard. The dragon and I held each other’s gazes for a moment longer. When he was satisfied, he darted away, moving in that strange snake-cat way. He scuttled up the wall in a certain spot at the far end of the crypt, curling his body inward. Showing me.

I didn’t waste a second. I’m coming for you, Nyx .