Look at him now! Jasper hooted. He’s so used to having preternatural powers that he’s gotten soft! He can’t handle being human!
Jasper was right. He had gotten soft. He had gotten weak. He had relied too long on Raziel. He had forgotten that it was the Dragon and not the man that made the difference. He had been with Raziel so long that he had thought of the Dragon’s strength as his own and not something borrowed.
Or gifted at great cost.
Valerius thought of Raziel always in that lair. He heaved himself out of the water and rolled onto his back. He breathed there deeply. His limbs shook. His wounds ached. But he used that as fuel. Pain as energy, as power.
He’s not been human in a long time, you idiot! He’s just getting used to it again! Landry defended him. You can do this, King Valerius! You can get to Caden!
He was so stupid that he didn’t even know about the Behemoth! That we had a wall in his goddamned city, Jasper pointed out. The Behemoth is going to destroy him. He’s weak.
You’re wrong! King Valerius, keep going! Landry cried.
Thank you, Landry, and you, too, Jasper, Valerius said as he got to his feet. You both said exactly what I needed to hear.
He heard them both gasp. They hadn’t realized he had been listening to all they had been saying. He was darkly amused to see Jasper pale. He was only a “big man” when he thought that there would be no consequences for him. Not that Valerius could reach him quite yet and administer those consequences. Honestly, even if he had Jasper in front of him he could have done little. He was trembling, but his legs were firm beneath him. He turned towards the tunnel that was just five feet away. There was a sudden roar. It wasn’t blurred or distorted by water. It was Vozyth. Her head was above the surface. He looked for Mephous.
The Green Dragon was wedged by one ruined wing that was stuck against the wall. Green eyes looked up at Valerius for one moment. And Valerius knew what Illarion was thinking, which was that he had failed to protect Valerius. There was such despair in his gaze that Valerius wished for just Illarion’s sake that things would have turned out differently.
See! He’s going to die, Landry! Jasper sounded both happy and terrified.
No! NO! Landry screamed.
Valerius lifted his head. He saw plasma again bubble in the back of Vozyth’s throat. He dove towards the tunnel, but he knew he was going to be too late. He rolled into the tunnel. His shoulders and back struck the stone floor hard, but he kept rolling, thinking somehow he could roll far enough away from the searing, sticky plasma that would roast his flesh from his bones and then destroy those as well.
Caden, forgive me, Valerius thought. I love you.
He wanted those words to be imprinted in the lair. He saw Landry with eyes wide and her hands covering her mouth. One brother looked to be ripping his hair out in alarm. The other curled in on himself. Jasper appeared like a man that was seeing what he’d always wished for and yet dreaded all the same.
Valerius felt a whoosh of hot air that preceded the plasma ball. He kept moving, crawling now on his belly, trying to get to his feet to run. He would keep trying to get away until he was ash.
But suddenly the tunnel went dark. The lights from the pool area were cut off. And there was no blast of purple light coming down the tunnel towards him. He dared glance over his shoulder. What he saw had him skidding to a halt.
The darkness was from Mephous’ body covering the tunnel’s mouth so that no plasma had gotten to him. But that was not the surprise, not what had him staring in shock. Mephous had Vozyth’s head in his hands.
Except it wasn’t attached to her neck.
Mephous had ripped it off.
A rain of red sparks started to come off of the Ruby Dragon’s head as it started to break apart. The sparks gathered together and slowly streamed out of the other tunnel mouth, heading upwards, to the sky.
Mephous killed that Dragon, Landry murmured. I didn’t think you could do that.
While Valerius had seen Raziel do something similar to the Behemoth, none of them had ever, obviously, killed another Dragon in this world. Valerius had almost not thought it possible. Mephous and Valerius watched until the head had disappeared. Then Mephous turned and looked at Valerius.
Valerius had made his way down the tunnel. He stepped out onto the path. He extended a hand towards Mephous. The Green Dragon swam over to him. Its right wing was shredded, but already that was starting to heal. Mephous’ massive head was even with his body.
For the first time ever, Valerius reached over and touched Mephous. The scales were warm and slick. He slowly ran his hands over them, not quite stroking Mephous, but connecting with it. The Green Dragon’s eyes half closed and made a low sound that was almost a purr. Valerius was shocked that his eyes stung with tears.
“You are… magnificent, Mephous,” Valerius murmured. “Thank you for saving me. Repeatedly.”
The Green Dragon preened, but then those green eyes searched him. It drew in a deep breath. Valerius felt something running down the back of his leg. It wasn’t water. He was still bleeding. Mephous’ eyes widened. Then in a moment the Green Dragon was gone and a naked Illarion was treading water below him.
“I didn’t save you to have you bleed to death!” Illarion grumbled as he effortlessly pulled himself up onto the path.
Valerius had a momentary stab of jealousy at that easy movement.
I will have that back again, he promised himself.
