Dane's Lair

  Chapter 9

   “Almost there,” whispered Noah.

  “Where?” asked Athens. Dane sniffed the air after what seemed like hours in the winding tunnel. Athens had refused to let Dane carry her. An overwhelming compulsion to protect her and the child she carried tormented him as they had fumbled through the blackness. The emotion intensified when Dane heard her panting from the ground’s upward slope. Rough stone walls scratched their skin as they groped along the tunnel. At several points, Noah had gripped both of them and guided them through. Guilt gnawed at Dane. This was no place for a woman such as Athens.

  Slowly, the outlines of Athens’ and Noah’s faces appeared. Then the shadows on the jagged walls emerged and deepened. Finally, dim light filled the space. Dane sniffed the air again. The scent of salty ocean breeze filled his nostrils and he jerked to a halt.

  “What’s the matter?” whispered Athens. A frown creased her brow and she was sweating lightly.

  Dane held up his hand to silence her. Noah had continued to walk ahead of them and unease drifted through Dane. They were heading to his lair.

  “Come along,” he told Athens, taking her hand. She followed and Dane prayed he would be able to protect her from whatever lay at the end of the darkness, especially since Noah knew his lair’s location. He had slept here for thousands of years undetected. Now…

  “We’re here!” announced Noah. Dane and Athens scurried to his side.

  Athens was panting beside Dane and he hurried to help her sit on the dusty floor. Now that she was in the cavernous den, Dane doubted his earlier intentions to bring her there. With that doubt came dread as Dane observed her lower belly’s increased curve. If his child was growing this fast, then he - or she - must sense an urgent need to develop. Dane swallowed hard and looked into Athens’ anxious eyes. If the baby grew too fast, her body wouldn’t be able to handle it.

  “We’ll be fine,” Dane said softly. He reigned in his own apprehension, forcing himself to fill their connection with as much calm as he could muster. In the dim cavern, Dane’s hunger for human life roared and crashed into him, like the nearby ocean waves, tumbling into the rock. Wearing it down.

  Athens nodded and lay on the dirt, closing her eyes. Dane cursed himself for forgetting his shirt, wishing he could offer it to her as a pillow. Instead her black hair rested on the ground and her hands settled against her cheek. Dane sat beside her and watched as her breathing slowed and deepened.

  “You haven’t learned your lesson, have you?” said Noah. Dane jerked his head in the direction of the old man, suddenly remembering his undesirable presence. Instead of disapproving, Noah’s expression was warm.

  “Perhaps not,” Dane said, turning back to his sleeping woman.

  “That’s a very human trait,” said Noah.

  Dane glanced back up at Noah, dumbstruck.

  “Dane, why won’t you feed?” asked Noah, walking towards him.

  “Because I learned my lesson.”

  Noah furrowed his brow and shook his head but said nothing.

  “Who are we running from, Noah?” asked Dane.

  Noah sighed. The creases on his face deepened and Dane sensed a heavy burden weighing down his harvester. Noah sat on the dusty floor and patted the spot next to him. Dane reluctantly obliged.

  “The man in my office,” started Noah, “and I pray he is still there… that man is the other dragon.”

  Anger welled up in Dane. His hands clenched at his sides and Noah reached out, placing his wrinkled hand over Dane’s fist. “How long have you known about the dragon?” Dane said, through gritted teeth. He curbed the rage that simmered inside him, hoping his harvester had just discovered the dragon, praying not to face yet another betrayal.

  “His name is Blake Evans,” said Noah, ignoring Dane’s question. “He doesn’t know his dragon name but he is the reason you awoke.”

  Bewilderment replaced Dane’s rage at Noah’s revelation. “How is it possible,” he said, “that the mere presence of a dragon could awaken me?”

  “He is no ordinary dragon, Djgarr,” said Noah.

  “Who is he?” Dane asked. Panic welled up in him as a thought nibbled at his conscious. He had sensed something when he awoke… something powerful but so brief it slipped into his subconscious. Now it shimmered in his mind, not quite clear enough to identify, but teasing him with its silent presence.

  “Tzgarr,” said Noah softly. “Your son.”

  Instantly, the air in the cavern grew thick around Dane, pressing itself into his chest. Visions filled his head of Aelia’s father snaring that Djgarr’s son was dead. Dane scrambled to his feet and ran to the rear of the cave. “We have to go back,” he said.

  “No!” bellowed Noah. The word echoed in the vast lair and Dane froze. He slowly turned, his eyes burning into Noah. The magnitude of Noah’s possible betrayal fuelled his increasing fury.

  “Why not?” Dane said softly.

  “Because he wants to kill you,” said Noah. Dane detected a hint of sorrow in Noah’s voice but the angry blood pounding in his head drowned out all pity for the old man.

  “Liar,” whispered Dane. He envisioned himself poised over Noah’s body, snuffing out his life.

  “No, Dane,” said Noah. Tears formed in the old man’s eyes and spilled over. Dane was disconcerted by Noah’s emotion for a moment and then his heart grew cold. A growl began low in his chest and Dane felt the bones in his hands twisting and morphing. His skin hardened and scales formed along his neck, rising to his jaw. A gasp from his right made him turn abruptly.

  “Dane?” whispered Athens. She had pushed herself up on her hands and was staring at him wide-eyed. Dane felt her fear knead into him across their bond and his anger faded. The urge to rush to her side surged through him but he remained motionless.

  “It’s ok, m’dear,” said Noah. “He won’t hurt you.”

  Athens still stared at Dane. He felt like a beast as her doubt filtered through to him.

  “I…” Dane started. He let his voice trail off, choosing instead to focus on returning to his human form. He stared into her teal eyes and let himself get lost in their depths.

  Athens’ face twisted into agony and Dane’s breath caught. Her stomach had grown since they entered the lair and the fabric of her silk shirt moulded around its bulge. Her face reddened as she silently suppressed her pain. This time, Dane did rush to her side.

  “I’m… ok…” she gasped.

  Dane was silent as he let her grip his hands, digging her nails into his palms. At least his hands were human. He shifted her into his arms and held her back to his chest, resting his legs on either side of hers. His inner thighs pressed against her legs, as tension rippled from her back through her limbs. Dane closed his eyes as Athens tucked her head under his chin, her warmth settling into his core. She guided his hands to rest on her stomach and Dane gasped as something moved inside her.

  “I did something terrible,” whispered Noah. Dane looked at him as fresh panic rose, mingled with an intense yearning to protect his new family.

  “I grow weary of your secrets, old man,” said Dane as dread swirled around him. He squeezed Athens gently, breathing in her woodsy scent.

  Noah removed his glasses and pressed his fingers to his closed eyes. He inhaled and opened his eyes, replacing his spectacles crookedly on his nose. “I led him to you,” said Noah. “I’m so sorry.”

  Dane rose to his feet, careful not to jolt Athens. He marched to Noah and wrapped his fingers around his neck. Noah’s eyes pleaded with Dane for release, but Dane’s grip was solid.

  “I won’t kill you,” said Dane. “Not yet.” His grip loosened marginally but remained firm around Noah’s throat. Noah nodded weakly against Dane’s hand. “Tell me everything,” said Dane.

  “Can’t… talk…” wheezed Noah.

  Dane released him abruptly and Noah doubled over, gasping for air.

  “Noah,” snapped Dane, bending down to speak into Noah’s ear.

  Noah st
ood upright and nodded again. Their eyes locked and Noah inhaled before speaking. “I was fifteen when I met Balthazar. He was one of a very small number of active druids in England. He taught me about the dragons and their needs. I spent twelve years under his guidance, learning how to choose humans to feed the dragons… learning to be a harvester.”

  Athens’ breathing grew shallow and Dane was aware of the terror rising in her. Dane shook his head at Noah and Noah looked past him to where Athens sat.

  “Sorry, m’dear,” said Noah, “but its the truth.”

  “Continue,” snapped Dane.

  “I thought it was all bullocks for years… did it for fun,” said Noah. “You know, reading people… sensing their auras… hearing stories of great beasts that savagely-”

  “Exaggerations,” interrupted Dane. “Get to the point.”

  Noah continued. “Then one day, about two years ago, a man came into my hotel. He looked familiar but I couldn’t figure out why. Turns out he was Balthasar. Only he was younger than me.” Noah paused and looked up at Dane who grunted impatiently. “He had found a dragon and had used its blood to reverse the aging process.”

  Dread was sifting into Dane’s mind as Noah spoke.

  “He said he was the harvester for the dragon, called Tzgarr,” said Noah. He held up his hands and said, “I didn’t know anything at the time, about you or your son. Balthasar had conveniently left that information out of my training.”

  “So Balthasar was immortal,” said Dane matter-of-factly.

  “In a way, yes,” said Noah.

  “And Athens killed him,” said Dane.

  Noah nodded and Athens gasped.

  “He was immortal,” said Noah, “not invincible.”

  “Like the dragons,” said Dane.

  Noah shook his head. “If a dragon consumes enough human life force,” he said, “you become very close to invincible.”

  “My son,” said Dane thickly, “Why did we run from him?”

  “He wants to kill you,” said Noah. “I told you this. He sent Athens… knowing you would die if you consumed her.”

  Rage rose in Dane, filling his chest with its darkness, willing him to kill his harvester. 

  Noah seemed to ignore Dane’s heaving chest. “And you are too weak to protect her. To save yourself.”

  “I AM NOT WEAK!” roared Dane. The words echoed in the cavern and entered Dane’s ears, empty. His inability to transform into dragon form hung over him like a black cloud waiting to unleash its power at his most vulnerable moment.

  “Yes you are,” said a raspy voice from behind. Noah’s face whitened as Dane turned to confront the intruder.