As he did so, the other Pyr shifted shape, filling the air with a shimmer of pale blue light. Erik shifted next, becoming a pewter and ebony dragon. Donovan’s dragon scales were lapis lazuli and gold, and the large pearl in his repaired scale gleamed in the light of Quinn’s dragonfire. Delaney shifted to an emerald and copper dragon, then Niall became a dragon of amethyst and silver. Rafferty shifted to his opal and gold dragon form, and Brandon became a black dragon who looked to be lit with an inner orange fire.
Drake shifted to his dragon form, and his scales were so dark that they could have been made of black pearls or pieces of night sky. Lorenzo became a dragon with scales of three colors of gold with cabochon gems, and Lee had gold scales with red talons and a red belly. Thorolf became a massive dragon of diamond and platinum, as brilliant as the light of the moon. Marco became a dragon of deepest black, though Sloane thought a glimmer of blue-green danced over his scales. Sloane squeezed Sam’s hand then shifted shape himself, becoming a dragon of tourmaline and gold, his scales shading from green to purple and back again.
Jac stepped forward to offer a token to Quinn to repair Marco’s scale, which was white-hot. He couldn’t see what she offered, but Sam whispered to him. “It’s a pendant of Mom’s, a sterling rose.” There was pride in her voice, and Sloane was glad that the sisters had reconciled.
They’d make good neighbors.
“Fire,” Quinn commanded, and both he and Marco breathed dragonfire on the scale. It shimmered like heat glare above asphalt in summer, as if so hot it might vaporize. Quinn pressed the silver pendant into it then looked at Jac.
“Earth,” she said. To Sloane’s surprise, she had tugged on a padded glove and pushed the scale into place on Marco’s chest along with Quinn. Marco tipped his head back and gritted his teeth, then breathed a torrent of dragonfire into the night sky.
“Water,” Quinn said and Jac lifted one of her tears of sympathy with a fingertip. Sloane heard it hiss as she dropped it on the scale.
“Air,” Quinn said. Marco dropped his chin and breathed on his own scale. Sloane glimpsed another crackle of darkfire, then realized that Jac still had possession of the crystal. She gave it to Marco, who lifted her into his embrace. The new scale cooled quickly on his chest, returning to the same color as the others. The silver rose shone like the trophy it was as Marco stepped back into the Pyr circle.
“We’re up,” Sam said, not hesitant in the least.
“Anything that doesn’t kill you makes you stronger,” Sloane said, still sensing how Marco’s repair burned.
“I want your armor repaired,” Sam said firmly. “Even if there aren’t Slayers around.”
“Fair enough,” Quinn said, his eyes twinkling as Garrett handed him Sloane’s scale. The Smith took a deep breath then exhaled a brilliant torrent of dragonfire on the scale. Sloane could smell its heat and saw smoke rise from it.
He wasn’t surprised that she had a token for his scale repair, but he was surprised to see what it was. She’d been mysterious and as soon as he glimpsed the item on her palm, Sloane knew why. It was the gold necklace with the charm of the Space Needle that Nathaniel had bought for her on his last visit to Jacelyn. “Are you sure?” he whispered, knowing how she treasured it.
“I know where I want it to be,” Sam said firmly. There were tears in her eyes. “And I think Nathaniel would love this solution.”
Jac was blinking back her own tears and the sisters exchanged a look.
Quinn took the necklace with care, arranging it on the scale so it encircled the single charm. He lifted his gaze to Sam, as if for her approval.
“Make a spiral of the chain,” she said. “One that goes the right way.”
“Sunwise,” Quinn said and moved the chain with his talon.
Sam smiled up at Sloane. “So, it draws energy into the heart of the Apothecary, whenever he needs it.”
Sloane’s heart thundered at both the sentiment and Sam embracing new ways of thinking about the world. Quinn worked on the scale until he was satisfied with it, then heated it again. Sloane stepped forward and reared back, baring the empty spot on his chest to the Smith.
“Fire,” Quinn said, holding out the scale to Sloane. They both exhaled enough fire that their view of the scale was lost. Quinn’s eyes brightened as the Apothecary’s dragonfire touched his claw and Sloane recalled how dragonfire healed the Smith.
“I am forged anew,” Quinn murmured, then nodded to Sam. She tugged on the same padded glove Jac had used. “Earth,” Quinn said and they pushed as one, him guiding the scale to its location and Sam pressing it home. Its heat seared Sloane’s skin, sending pain through his body, but cleansing the spot as well.
“Air!” Quinn commanded, and Sam blew upon the scale even as Sloane caught his own breath after the stabbing pain.
“Water,” Quinn concluded and Sloane bowed his head, allowing Sam to lift the tear from his own cheek and place it on the repaired scale. He heard the hiss of it evaporating and sighed with relief as the scale cooled. It was hardening in place, just as it should, and Sloane smiled that his armor was complete again. He smiled down at Sam, his heart thundering fit to burst, but there was no time to celebrate now.
* * *
Ronnie stood with her new son in her arms and her older son standing on her left, with Drake at her right. She felt Timmy’s awe that he was in the company of the Pyr and felt a measure of wonder herself. She felt honored to have been welcomed into this group, as if she’d joined a large and loving family. They had each other’s backs, all the time, no matter the challenge, and Ronnie knew she’d only become closer to them over the coming years.
She loved Drake with all her heart, and then some. She’d always believed that deeds spoke louder than words, and Drake’s actions had proven him to be the man she’d been waiting for. He’d already been wonderful with Timmy and she knew they’d build a wonderful future together.
She blinked back a few tears, amazed that everything had worked out so well.
There was a brief rumble of old-speak, and Ronnie guessed that someone had given a command. Probably Erik. The Pyr stepped forward in unison, each one placing his left claw on the shoulder of the dragon beside him and his right claw over his heart.
Erik nodded and they spoke in unison.
She listened to Drake’s low tones, feeling his voice create a vibration deep within her.
“I, Drake, do solemnly pledge not to willfully reveal the truth of my shape-shifting abilities to humans. I understand that individuals may know me in dragon form or in human form, but I swear that I shall not permit humans to know me in both forms, to allow them to witness my shifting between forms without appropriate assessment of risk. I understand also that there will be humans who come to know me in both forms over the course of my life—I pledge not to reveal myself without due consideration, to beguile those who inadvertently witness my abilities, and to supply the names of those humans whom I have entrusted with my truth to the leader of the Pyr, Erik Sorensson.”
Before the Pyr moved, Marco reached back to his mate, Jac. She placed the darkfire crystal in his hand, and Ronnie noticed that the blue-green flame trapped within it was burning brightly. Its light illuminated the faces of the Pyr when Marco held the stone into the middle of the circle, giving them a majestic air.
“And so the time comes for the darkfire to be unharnessed again,” Marco said. “And its light to be spread throughout the world to the point of disappearing from view.” He bowed his head in the direction of the crystal with a kind of reverence. “We give our thanks to the Great Wyvern for Her wisdom and for the power of the darkfire. Like every spark that springs from Her, this one must return to its source, as its task is completed.”
He cracked the crystal in half, like he was breaking an egg. For a moment the blue-green light of the darkfire hovered in the air, like a glowing orb. Then it leapt across the circle, creating a brilliant arc of light and landing on the black and white ring that Rafferty wore. That Pyr jumped as
if shocked, but the darkfire sparked to his chest. It struck his repaired scale, illuminating it with its strange glow for a moment.
The darkfire jumped again, sparking on Donovan’s chest where he stood beside Rafferty and making his repaired scale glow brilliantly. The next jump happened more quickly, then the darkfire moved with increasing speed. It set Quinn’s scale alight, then Delaney’s, Niall’s, Drake’s. When the darkfire touched Drake’s repaired scale, Ronnie felt it like a blow to her own heart and caught her breath just as Drake did. She felt a heat slide through her, a warmth that was as beguiling as the firestorm.
It made her think about celebrating, Pyr-style.
The darkfire continued around the circle, touching Brandon’s scale, then Brandt’s, Thorolf’s and Lorenzo’s. Finally it leapt to Erik’s repaired scale in a blaze of light. Those repaired scales all burned brilliantly in unison, crackling as if touched by the firestorm again, but this time the light was blue-green. The scales glowed more and more brilliantly, and Ronnie felt her own heart heating so it felt like it might burst. She could see the reaction of the other mates and their Pyr and felt a powerful sense of communion with all them.
Then the darkfire was extinguished, disappearing so abruptly that she wasn’t the only one to catch her breath.
“Thanks to the darkfire,” Sloane said huskily. “These firestorms burn forever.”
The Pyr bowed their heads in thanks then the air was filled with shimmering blue light. They shifted shape, taking their human forms, each and every one of them turning to embrace his mate and sons. Ronnie found herself caught up against Drake’s chest and closed her eyes at the magnitude of the gift he had brought to her.
“One more obligation,” Drake murmured to her, his gaze warm.
“One more celebration of a world without Slayers,” she agreed.
“A world safe for our sons.” Drake ruffled Timmy’s hair and the boy grinned.
“I can’t wait for the fireworks,” he said. “Zoë said her dad’s shows are awesome.”
“But this one will be extra special,” Drake said just as Erik raised his voice.
“It is time,” he announced. The Pyr shifted back to their dragon forms, taking flight in pairs. Ronnie liked how they flew in formation, as if they’d drilled for this moment.
“I knew he was a warrior,” Timmy said, and Ronnie couldn’t help but smile. “Right from the first.”
She drew her son into a hug, pressing a kiss to the top of his head. “And you were right.” Just as Ronnie had suspected from the first that Drake was a man who could heal her wounded heart.
* * *
Maeve found her prey easily.
She had Jorge’s scale in her cabinet of trophies, a token from another unnatural species that was rightfully extinct. The Pyr, though, continued to survive, which meant the job was only half completed. She was in Chicago to film a report on the Pyr’s final appearance, partly because the network demanded it but more because she needed to snare a Pyr.
This was the best place to find one.
And they did intend to disappear from view after this night.
Lorenzo had told her so much about his kind and it was all so interesting. She could use the information to bend a dragon to her will. It would take time, but Maeve had nothing but time. After all, the creature best equipped to hunt dragons had to be another dragon, and she did have that pesky other issue to see resolved.
She definitely needed a Pyr of her own.
The crowd was thick with Pyr, but she made her selection with care. A muscular young man with dark hair was emanating frustration almost as vehemently as he exuded the scent of Pyr. He looked to be in his late twenties, but it was his attitude that intrigued her. He seemed to feel unappreciated. Maeve could work with it. She deliberately jostled against him, then gave him her most sultry smile.
He looked her up and down, then smiled in return as they exchanged apologies. He snapped his fingers as his gaze brightened. “Hey, aren’t you that reporter?”
“I’m Maeve,” she whispered, holding his gaze as she exhaled a spell. He was dazzled easily, not nearly as much of a challenge as Lorenzo had been. “And you?”
“Kade,” he whispered.
“Hello, Kade.” Maeve conjured a stylus of ice from her sleeve and placed it in his hand.
He frowned down at it. “What’s that?”
“A little gift from me to you,” she whispered, then caught the back of his neck in her hand. He was delicious and she barely restrained herself from claiming him immediately. Surrender was so much sweeter. “If you ever want to see me again, just use it to draw a door.”
“A door?” Kade chuckled. His skepticism made her spell slip slightly.
Maeve smiled. “A door. Draw it anywhere, then add a knob and a keyhole.” She tapped the stylus. “This will unlock it.” She kissed him, leaving her lipstick on his mouth and her perfume on his skin. “Trust me,” she whispered, then continued on her way.
The camera lights were on and the crew was waiting for her at the assigned location, her assistant even having found some humans to share their views on the Pyr.
But what Maeve noticed most was the weight of that handsome Pyr’s gaze following her progress.
Kade.
He’d do very well indeed.
* * *
Sam stood with the other mates, excitement fluttering in her belly. She couldn’t believe that she’d have a son again, but there was no doubting it, given the disappearance of their firestorm. Sam knew enough to believe in the physiology of the Pyr. What she really couldn’t believe was that she was happy again and looking forward to the future. Her sister was beside her, Jac’s belly round with her son, and Sam was glad that Jac’s dream of having a family was finally coming true. It was wonderful how much their relationship had already healed and improved. Jac was thrilled about the house, and Sam was glad that her sister would be right next door.
On this night, they were at Navy Pier, waiting for Erik’s show to begin. All along Chicago’s waterfront, people were gathered to see the fireworks display and to have their last glimpse of the Pyr. The excitement was tangible and the atmosphere festive. The lake was like a dark mirror, and the weather was perfect. The sky was clear and the water still. Sam could see the lights all along the park system reflected in the water. There was music and the sound of the rides on the pier, children laughing, and vendors hawking their wares.
Melissa Smith was doing live interviews with people who had come to watch the show and would broadcast it live. Sam could see the lights from the television cameras and knew that some of the Pyr mates were going to be interviewed, even though they were going to pretend to be passersby.
Sam was content to blend into the crowd, to be with Jac and wait. Jac glanced at her watch, looked at Sam, and tapped the display.
Sam was amused that the flare fired over the lake on the stroke of the hour. She could have expected that Erik would insist upon punctuality. The audience cheered as the flare spewed a brilliant trail of stars, and the music soared. Those stars grew bigger and spun, turning from white to yellow to red before they fell into the lake below.
Before they were extinguished, nine similar flares went straight up from the barge where the fireworks were loaded. They shot high into the sky and exploded into a corona of stars. The audience gasped and applauded as the stars rained down into the lake. They fell silent as they realized that a dragon had taken position in the sky behind the curtain of the fireworks. It was Erik. He breathed dragonfire, the brilliant flames licking against the night sky and the crowd gasped in wonder.
A dragon appeared behind him, his dragonfire revealing his presence and casting Erik into silhouette. It was Quinn, flying with power. Donovan appeared behind him in the same way, his dragonfire casting Quinn in silhouette, his scales shining against the night. The trio fanned out, and three dragons appeared behind them in the same way.
Delaney was the copper and emerald dragon behind Donovan, Sam knew, while N
iall was the amethyst and platinum dragon behind Quinn. Rafferty was the opal and gold dragon behind Erik. The music soared and the Pyr flew in a tight circle, then fanned out again.
Six more dragons appeared behind them in the same way. Sam identified Thorolf as the diamond and platinum dragon behind Quinn, Brandon as the black dragon with scales edged in orange behind Erik, Marco as the anthracite dragon behind Rafferty, Drake as the thorned dragon whose scales gleamed like they were made of black pearls behind Donovan, Lorenzo as the dragon in three shades of gold behind Delaney and Theo as the carnelian and gold dragon behind Niall.
Sam saw more than one person filming the sight with a camera or cellphone.
There were more Pyr in the crowd, she knew, dragon shifters who were part of Theo’s Dragon Legion. Other than Kristofer and Arach, who she’d met briefly, their identities were hidden to her still. Sam knew she’d be meeting more Pyr over time.
Meanwhile, the Pyr overhead formed created two circles as they flew in time to the music, one facing inward and one outward. Plumes of dragonfire erupted from their mouths and burned brightly against the night. They wove in and out of each other’s flight paths, the outer circle going one way and the inside one the other. They blew fire intermittently then, matching the clash of drums in the music, and people clapped along. The kids began to cheer.
The Pyr flew faster and faster, so it seemed that there were two spinning circles of flame in the night sky. They all breathed fire at once and the circles became an orb of burning flames almost as bright as the sun. They broke rank and all flew outward at the same point, revealing one dragon at the point where the middle of the circle had been.
The Apothecary, who had healed the earth.
Her Pyr.
Sam locked her hands together as Sloane, tourmaline and gold, beat his wings to hover in place. The crowd cheered as the Pyr shot toward the coastline. They flew over the crowds of people, diving so low that people could almost reach up and touch their scales. They continued to do acrobatics in the air, then back over the water again, enchanting everyone who had come to see them.