Burn

  The malevolent eyes of a Dragon male glared back at him. The monster was over fifty feet long and alpha male of the depths.

  Koen Raad saw death in the creature’s eyes.

  Panicked, he’d raced to the Citadel intending to grab his Treasure in his claws, hide her in a cave, and stop her from ever nearing what may become her watery grave.

  He was not successful.

  She was gone by the time he arrived and his brother talked him down from following and doing as he planned.

  He’d always wanted to avoid Aver, knowing it was hateful his female must put herself in danger simply to be with him, but watching Marina battle the ice wolves had terrified him on such a deep, visceral level he experienced waking nightmares because of it.

  He’d avoided thinking of the lagoon quest too often, knowing it would be difficult to allow her to once again risk her life. He hadn’t realised it would be impossible. The trip to the lagoon had meant to be a way to mentally prepare for the second quest since the impact of the first left him shaken and heartsick. The effect had been exactly opposite.

  Marina was dressed in a loose tunic, her legs and feet bare.

  She looked achingly vulnerable against the giantesses either side of her.

  Fia bobbed in the water in-between two hulking male water dragons that provocatively rubbed her sides.

  These were gentle males under the control of their mistresses, and still they were attracted to the female in their midst. What would happen to Fia as she travelled through the domain of feral male water wild ones – and the horror of all horrors – with his precious Treasure holding onto her back?

  Koen had witnessed the thrashing lagoons during a water Dragon mating many times. The waters churned and splashed violently as the creatures wrestled for dominance.

  The thought of his beloved trapped between two thrusting males trying to mount Fia had him powering forward with the sole intention of dragging her the hell away from this madness.

  They would crush her small bones. She’d die in agony as her body shut down from her injuries, drowning alone in the dark.

  Daniil and Nikolai’s grip on either of his arms had ceased being comforting and turned restraining.

  This made his Dragon less willing to cooperate.

  He growled and snapped menacingly, his eyes burning, angry smoke billowing from his nose and mouth. Frost seeped from his pores and slicked the ground they stood upon with ice.

  As he looked upon her she seemed so alone. Her Dragon mount was less than half the size of the other Chosen’s steeds, and Fia’s light purple scales stood out starkly. She was a glowing target. It would be worse when her pheromones seeped into the lagoon waters, unconsciously drawing the predators towards her rider.

  Koen’s heart felt as if it would beat right out of his chest yet his blood slowed to cold sludge.

  He envisioned Marina tossed from her Dragon and choking for air, silently screaming for help as her body was battered, and he was forced to stand helpless on the shore because of a stupid contest.

  The quivering in his bones intensified until he swore his whole body quaked.

  “Breathe, Koen,” Nikolai murmured. “You make it harder for her to concentrate this way.”

  “Indeed,” Daniil said solemnly. “Think of how this will distract her. Seeing you, her male, lose faith in her abilities to survive this. It will crush her. The last thing we need for her to do is panic when she is in the water.”

  “Please?” The husky voice broaching manhood snapped him out of his tight-lipped fugue. “What he says is true, and I need her.”

  Blinking, Koen lowered his head to see Boy crouched a shaku from him.

  The youngling did not look traumatised as Marina fretted when she couldn’t locate him. Yes, his face was thinner, strained, but his eyes were filled with steadfast conviction.

  A fear Koen had not known he carried uncoiled.

  Seeing their offspring reminded him Marina had so much to live for, so much to fight for.

  She could not conceivably fail.

  Devastated this situation spiralled beyond his control Koen Raad drew on his reserve of strength and composed himself.

  Just in time, as Marina turned.

  Her expression was anxious as she searched the sea of unknown faces until she spotted him.

  Seeing the two males flanking him, their stances edgy, her brows pulled together even as she smiled, expressive eyes apprehensive and questioning.

  Koen felt like a bastard.

  She needed his support, to see it, and feel it when she couldn’t hear it.

  Swallowing hard, he nodded firmly and placed a hand over his heart. Then he touched Boy’s shoulder and drew him closer both for comfort and to lend the detached youngling support.

  Marina beamed and visibly squared her shoulders. Turning back to the murky waters she knelt and slipped into the water to straddle Fia.

  Daniil clapped his shoulder, his rigid hold easing.

  “Swear to me if this goes wrong you will help me get to her. You will keep them off me until I get her safe.” Koen grabbed the male’s tunic. His voice was a hoarse whisper. “Promise me.”

  “We vow it,” Nikolai said. He roughly hugged Koen across the shoulders. Butted their foreheads. “Be easy. Nothing will go wrong.”

  “You underestimate her.” Daniil jerked his chin. “Come. Watch your female triumph.”

  “You have a death wish.” Lady Anastasia of House Vor stared at the smooth-backed water Dragon with undisguised horror. “She is House bred. You know what will happen if those wild ones get a hold of her?”

  Cringing, Marina ran her hand soothingly over Fia’s textured rump.

  She knew exactly what would happen.

  The males would fight to mount Fia, strongest to weakest. Though an animal, Fia was sentient, and Marina loved her. The thought of the playful dragoness forced under so many males sickened her.

  Being an animal the female Dragon wouldn’t see it as rape, but as dominant males taking their right. Still, Marina knew wild ones preferred to mate for life, and were emotionally impacted when they were dominated outside of a lifelong mating.

  Should anything happen to the aquatic dragoness Marina would be directly responsible.

  “I know.” Treading water, Marina kissed Fia’s delicate wet snout. “She’s fast and clever. We’ll survive this.”

  Anastasia mounted her fierce-looking male.

  With a crest of sharp fins climbing his spine, his scales were a deep red appearing black. The shade eerily reminded the admirer of dried blood. It blended with the water perfectly.

  The crimson of Vor House colours made Dragon and rider look an angry pair in an angrier environment.

  “You are either brave or addled, Princess.” Anastasia paused. “I believe you are part of my future. I am not sure if this thrills or terrifies me.”

  The statuesque Chosen dug her naked heels into the tough hide of her male steed, holding onto a smooth curve of his crest with one hand. The other clutched a short-hafted spear.

  Her Dragon grunted, blew water as it breathed, and waded towards the entrance to the black lagoon.

  Marina watched her go with no small amount of awe.

  The woman was fearless.

  Giving into one last urge to look at Koen, she sought his distinctive form in the crowd.

  Her heart gave a little skip.

  He stood in the shadows between Daniil and Nikolai.

  It was the gangly form crouched at his feet peering at her worriedly that drew her attention first.

  Seeing Boy safe and hale warmed her. The dark fear she’d carried since they last spoke eased, replaced with impatience.

  After the quest was done, she and Boy would shut themselves away to simply be for a while. She’d hunt him down and drag him by the ear if she had to.

  Forcing that ugly, fake smile, she gave him a thumb up.

  She grinned when he returned the gesture.

  Her gaze switched to Koen Raa
d, and her smile faltered.

  It seemed Nikolai and Daniil kept her Dragon Mate calm, but she could tell from the set of his shoulders and jaw he was breaking.

  Koen managed a stressed jerk of the head, acknowledging her worried stare then placed a hand on Boy’s shoulder, a silent signal their offspring was protected.

  Relaxing, she poured her love into a smile. She was grateful for her adopted son’s attendance and her male’s composure. It would have been much worse if Koen had fought to get to her.

  It would have made her more frightened than she already was.

  “Focus on the quest.” Galina of Tyr spoke offhandedly as she rubbed her mounts large fleshy pink tongue. Her carnelian braid circled her head like a ginger crown. The vivid colour contrasted beautifully with her porcelain skin. Dressed in the dark purple colours of her House, her light green eyes fixed unwaveringly on Marina. “The Dragon King isn’t going anywhere.”

  Marina watched Galina begin her quest on the gargantuan male with knifelike appendages on his oval tail fin.

  Now it was her turn.

  She had been advised by the Regent’s aide, Yaakov, a squat, robust male with biggest nose wart she’d ever seen, to be at the canyon by sunrise.

  Marina had to pass through the lagoon with her water Dragon and reach the other side before the sun hit its highest point in the sky. The black lagoon wasn’t a third of the size of Goii-Goii. It wouldn’t take her much more than a couple of hours to cross it at a decent pace, but should she encounter any problems she thought it might be difficult to reach the end. Any major complications along the way then it really would be a race. Reaching her destination after midday meant she failed. Arriving without Fia meant she failed, or if Fia arrived without her, she failed. They were allowed to sustain injury, but a mortal wound was a failure.

  That one had earned Yaakov a dry look. She could accept no help from outside sources, and if anyone helped her, she failed.

  The word ‘failed’ revolved around her head in a taunting screech after the male had left with a jovial smile, and a rousing speech of how proud of the First Chosen the Courts were.

  So much rested on her getting this done.

  Truthfully, she would retain her wealth and most of what she’d come to love.

  The only thing she’d lose is the right to marry Koen Raad.

  Amazing how such a small right could cause so much grief. Neither he nor she would be able coldly to walk away if she lost. They’d try to stay together, and who knew if it’d work? She’d have to watch other Chosen fight for him every time Aver came about. It would destroy her to watch them vie for him when she owned his heart.

  Shoving everything but what she must accomplish behind her, she focused on the shimmering path before her.

  The dark waters looked innocuous enough.

  Large islands jutted through the placid surface making her wonder if the lagoon had a cave system.

  A roaring screech blasted through the morning air.

  Going hunter-still, Marina instinctively lowered, preparing for attack.

  Had one of the other Chosen come into contact with an enraged wild Dragon protecting territory?

  Her stomach clenched remembering how she’d panicked and gotten herself trapped by the ice wolves within the arena. That couldn’t happen again. She needed to focus and remain calm until she reached the finish.

  Sliding her hand over Fia, she mounted the water Dragon and whispered her encouragement.

  The beast shook between her thighs.

  No doubt she could sense the danger waiting for them on the other side of the natural barrier.

  With a little coaxing Fia began a steady side sweeping motion with her sleek tail fin. She crooned dolefully, whimpering in fear.

  Marina felt terribly guilty for bringing her before, but the soul wrenching sound had her feeling like a hateful bitch and she swore to protect the creature at all costs, the price of which would be devastatingly high.

  Eventually, Fia quietened, and she included her wing fins in manoeuvring them from the safety of the shallows into the deeper waters.

  The salty liquid lapping at Marina’s knees turned gloomy green from algae then continued turning darker until she saw nothing but black sludge and spiny seaweed.

  How was she supposed to see if they were being attacked?

  Fia acted and sounded a certain way the closer danger approached, but it would be nice to be able to see an oncoming threat.

  Shuddering at what she needed to do, Marina took a breath. She leaned over and dunked her head under the rippling surface.

  Opening her eyes stung, but the prickling sensation was manageable. Her body was designed to survive the brackish water. Faint outlines moved below them.

  Was it fish, or monsters readying to devour?

  The otherness had her shuddering with its sudden vigilance. Marina shoved the alien presence to the edges of her awareness.

  Being submerged in the black lagoon was nothing like being underwater in Goi-Goi. There the water was so clean and fresh it appeared you looked through glass.

  In the black lagoon life was veiled by a gritty sheen of charcoal.

  Passing through a narrow passageway the canyon opened up before them.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

  The surrounding steep banks were barren rock. The chance of her scrambling from the water and onto an outcrop for safety was slim.

  Even so, there was no way Fia could follow.

  They had to get to the other side.

  Pockets of thick mud and volcanic rock were easy to see, and, unfortunately, smell. The dangerous pools were avoided with ease. The pungent odour and bright splash of orange sulphur worked as a perfect alarm signal for areas best avoided.

  A subterranean rumble disturbed the glassy surface, and a burst of blistering liquid jettisoned into the air.

  Daniil warned her the seismic activity of the black lagoon was as active and unpredictable as the eruptions at the Red Citadel. As long as they weren’t directly on top of a boiling geyser as it erupted they’d be fine. Daniil assured her Fia could sense them.

  Much to her relief, Marina noticed the water Dragon consciously avoiding areas that seemed fine, but obviously held unseen peril.

  Feeling eyes on her, Marina sent her growing awareness outward. Her senses came across wild ones following her progress high in the canyon.

  Their colourful bodies gracefully hopped and flew across the craggy mountain ranges sending smaller rocks tumbling towards the basin.

  It amused her they had an interest in what she did. Rather than feel hunted or tracked, she took it as a good omen.

  Maybe Koen asked them to tag along.

  Most of the morning passed in silence, broken only by the occasional burst of steam, falling of rocks, or a piercing warble from her guardians above.

  The air was suffocating, moist, and the climbing sun scorching hot.

  Even the water warmed, adding to the muggy atmosphere, impeding her vision as wispy vapour crept over the surface.

  Sweat dripped from her brow to sting her eyes. Her hair stuck to her nape and temples making her itch. Breathing became difficult, and her nose burned from inhaling the sulphur. The discomfort worried her little, but the ability to smell reduced with each bitter lungful, and that made her leery.

  The otherness grumbled sullenly, distressed by the sensory demur.

  Marina for once sympathized with its feelings, because she depended on her sense of smell to tell her what her eyes and ears could not.

  Fia shivered violently and slowed.

  Her body dove deeper.

  Alarm replaced Marina’s languid demeanour. She slipped off the dragon’s back to tread water at her side, holding onto gentle ridges swelling at the base of her elongated neck.

  Scanning the still waters she saw nothing. The misty steam obscured sight of anything further down the lagoon.

  Peering for time unknown she shook her head slightly, making an unsure noise at the back of her
throat.

  Whatever it was wasn’t coming directly at them.

  “We can’t stay here,” Marina murmured. “The sooner we face it the better.”

  Stroking Fia’s side, she got the trembling mount moving.

  Anger and fear had her shaking at the unfair situation. She understood the reasoning behind having the Chosen pair up with dragons on each quest. The occupation they competed for may afford them luxury and subservience, but it also placed the responsibility of thousands of people directly on their shoulders. The Empress bore the even greater weight of protecting the Emperor. However, she found it highly unjust on the tame or captured wild ones used to recreate the dangerous circumstances overcome by the ancient Queens.

  Fia was terrified, but swam bravely towards an unknown future she knew might kill her – all because she was trained to follow Marina’s lead.

  The outline of a smudge appeared in the distance.

  They advanced with care until Marina realised the shape was Galina treading water.

  She watched something up ahead with a pretty face of thunder.

  “Where’s your dragon?” Marina demanded voice pitched low, eyes scanning the surroundings for a threat.

  Galina barely glanced her direction.

  Her pouty lips thinned as she eyed Fia, obviously viewing the female as a foolish thought. “Scouting a path through that.” She flicked a wet hand up to point.

  Marina craned her neck. “I can’t see....”

  A gentle disturbance turned into a violent thrashing.

  Huge dragons clashed under the water. Their ferocious movements forced them to the surface, enormous jaws snapping, bladed fins mercilessly slashing. They roared then dove under as their tails punched though the lagoon surface to crash down with inconceivable force, jettisoning crimson marbled water into the air.

  The wild one lashed with a vicious spiked tail, and the smaller, mauve-coloured tamed dragon withdrew, grumbling angrily, but definitely on retreat.

  Galina cursed.

  “That’s your mount?” Marina croaked. She gaped in horror at the gory wound on the side of the dragon’s snout. “He’s hurt.”

  Galina studied the bleeding gash.