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A searing agony burned down the entire left side of my torso. Julian tensed in my arms. I opened my eyes to see what was wrong. Patterns of gold fire curled around one side of his body, and the smell of burnt flesh—his and mine—mingled with the scent of blood, magic, and desire.
We were being branded—branded by the gods to spend eternity together. It was more binding than any wedding band.
The pleasure and the pain interchanged until I was delirious with exhaustion. I was no longer whole but a part of someone else. And when the blue fire around us turned white I fell into unconsciousness until everything went dark.
ChapterNineteen
Iawoke lazily, disoriented until the details of the round room came into focus. The night before played over and over in my mind. I stretched and winced as my muscles protested. I was sore everywhere.
The only light in the room was from the small window we’d flown through the night before. It looked to be just after dawn by the hazy, gray hue that teased the window with its light. I could smell the rain in the air and knew we’d get a downpour by midmorning.
I sat up slowly and realized I lay dead center of the big black bed from my dream. Julian’s bed. The satin sheets were twisted around my body and the pillows were strewn on the floor. Julian was nowhere in sight.
I was relieved not to have to face him just yet. We’d done things that even now brought a blush to my face, and I laughed at the irony of what a human bride must feel after her wedding night. I pulled the sheets up higher around me. I looked at the ceiling and then back down at the bed. I’d thought Julian had said he couldn’t get a bed into the tower.
No, Rena. I never said I couldn’t bring a bed to our tower. I simply told you the truth, that there was no bed. I felt we should not use such conventional means the first time. It should be different between us, no? We have a lifetime to try out all the beds you want.
I slammed my mind shut, cutting Julian off before he could say any more. I really wasn’t ready to talk to him yet. I sat there a few seconds longer before I realized how easy it had been to get Julian out of my head. I wondered if this was one of the advantages of being true lifemates.
My neck burned fiercely, and I touched a finger to the ragged skin there. It was healing slower than a normal wound would have, but at least it was healing. I looked down at the rest of my body, afraid of what I’d see. A beautiful tattoo scrolled down the side of my body—henna in color. It was written in the old tongue, but I couldn’t make out the words from this angle. I needed a mirror. The burns were still tender to the touch, and I remembered that Esmerelda had told me she would give me some salve for them.
I gingerly got out of the bed and made my way over to the window. It didn’t take long to realize I had a problem. How was I going to get down from this tower?
A good question indeed, Julian said.
“You did this on purpose.”
Of course. It is now my job to teach you how to survive as I have.
“Well, great master, what do you suggest?”
You must fly, of course. And if I were you I’d do it quickly. It will be full daylight shortly. I’m not sure the good citizens of my country are ready to see a dragon over their morning commute.
“What if I can’t do it?”
Then you will have a long, lonely day spent in the dark.
“Hell.”
Indeed.
I looked out the window at the threatening light of day and then down to the gardens. It was a long—long—way down from where I stood. A knot formed in the pit of my stomach. I tried to swallow past the lump in my throat. I was going to have to change into my dragon form. I’d never heard of a Drakán being able to fly without it. The problem was, other than the morning I’d eaten breakfast with Esmerelda, I hadn’t been able to shift into my dragon.
Just thinking of my dragon brought her to the surface. Her joy was contagious as she moved inside me. She’d gotten what she’d wanted the night before, and now she was up for anything. She wanted to fly, to feel the wind beneath her scales. I closed my eyes and fought against the nausea. I could see her clearly. Her silver eyes were pleading. She gave me a final nudge and then disappeared.
Bones and cartilage slid and re-slid inside of me. It didn’t hurt, but it wasn’t exactly comfortable. I was cold. A clear fluid burst from my skin and was replaced by silvery scales. But the scales were dry and cool to the touch when I felt them. Smoother than I thought they’d be. My teeth were sharp. My vision extraordinary. Every particle that floated across the air was crystal clear. Every color vividly bright. The change brought a rush of power I never could have imagined.
I was stronger. Everything about me was stronger—including my magic. But with the change came an overwhelming need for violence. My dragon was in charge now, and just as she’d been trapped inside me, writhing to get out, the same was now true for my human self. My sense of smell was powerful—gasoline, coffee, dirt, pastries—they were each defined and tickled my snout. But there was something else that was stronger. Meat. Flesh and blood. I wanted to fight. And I wanted to hunt.
But first I needed to get out of my prison. Even my dragon looked down from the window with trepidation. She wasn’t sure what she was meant to do.
It will all happen as it is meant. Success and failure are up to you.
You’re not helping, I answered.
I looked out the window once again at the plunging depths that awaited me and closed my eyes. My dragon didn’t know the mechanics of flying. But she wanted to jump. Instinct took over. I took a last deep breath and plunged over the edge.
The wind rose beneath me, and for a short moment I soared. But the ground grew closer and panic clouded my mind. Dragon and human both screamed as I sank like a stone several hundred feet. I lost control of my dragon form, and I shifted back into myself. I opened my mind and pleaded for help.
