Whisper Kiss

  Niall ripped the shadow dragon's arm free and spat it onto the train tracks. It landed on the third rail and sparked, filling the station with the smell of burned flesh.

  Thorolf turned dragonfire on the lost limb, incinerating it on the spot. There was a crack and a flash from the electrical conduit in the tracks; then an alarm began to sound.

  The shadow dragon roared, then struck Niall hard. Niall rolled with the blow, falling backward, letting his opponent think he was more injured than he was. The station was rapidly filling with smoke and another alarm added its summons to the first. The shadow dragon looked between Niall and Thorolf, then came after Niall.

  Niall kept his eyes narrowed; then, when the shadow dragon was almost upon him, he leapt upward. He slammed his tail into his attacker's genitals, to no discernible effect. He breathed fire with new ferocity and caught the shadow dragon by his other shoulder, digging his claws deep into his chest.

  The shadow dragon screamed and writhed, making the wounds deeper with his struggles. He, too, had that tiger brand, although the sight only told Niall that this one was in Chen's thrall, as well. Niall burned the shadow dragon's right claw to cinders, singeing it to ash while it was still attached to his body.

  He had a heartbeat to believe that the battle was nearly over; then Rox screamed behind him.

  Too far behind him.

  The shadow dragon saw Niall's dilemma and laughed. He latched onto Niall's talons so tightly that Niall was trapped. The shadow dragon's claws dug deeply, drawing Niall's blood, and his tail twined around Niall.

  He leaned his face close and his dark eyes glittered with malice. "Something for everyone," he murmured, then looked down the platform.

  Niall saw a red dragon drag a captive Rox down those stairs. Thorolf raced after the red dragon, which didn't reassure Niall nearly enough. He struggled with all his might, sinking his teeth into the shadow dragon's side.

  A little too late, he realized that the shadow dragon had been a distraction. Niall not only had to destroy his attacker, but he had to do it quickly enough to save Rox. There were only twenty steps down into that murky water, so time was of the essence.

  "You'll be one of us soon," the shadow dragon whispered in old-speak.

  "Never!" Niall roared, ripping himself free of his attacker's grasp. He slashed and raged against him, and the shadow dragon recoiled from Niall's assault. Niall dismembered his opponent with savage speed, scattering his limbs across the platform, then incinerating them.

  It took far too long, to Niall's perspective, and he hoped that Thorolf was having success. As soon as the last ash blew down the tracks, Niall raced after Rox.

  He could only hope he was in time.

  Sloane intended to go only a few feet down the side tunnel.

  Once he was enfolded by its shadows and unable to see, his other senses sharpened. Sloane smelled Slayer even more clearly.

  Chen.

  The scent tempted him onward, drawing him ever farther into the darkness. He followed it, sorting out the way it dodged and feinted, moving farther and farther away from Niall and Thorolf without realizing what he'd done.

  Rox watched Niall and Thorolf go after the shadow dragon. He was slighter than either of the Pyr and she was sure they'd make short work of him.

  "The nine-sixteen is running late," a man mused from right behind Rox, and she nearly jumped out of her skin.

  Rox spun in shock. She'd been so busy watching Niall that she didn't hear the man until he spoke. He looked to be in his twenties, Asian, and neatly dressed. He was consulting an expensive watch on his left wrist, as if there were nothing surprising about their situation at all.

  A train rumbled overhead and a smile of satisfaction touched his lips. "There. Only fifty-two seconds' delay, after all." Then he looked up and met her gaze, the coldness in his eyes prompting her to take another step back. "Oh no," he murmured, and closed the distance between them again. "You're coming with me."

  "I don't think so," Rox said.

  The man shone blue suddenly, as if his aura had caught fire, and Rox didn't wait for more. She screamed and ran toward Niall and Thorolf as quickly as she could.

  She felt a rush of wind behind her; then the train platform seemed to ripple beneath her feet. She stumbled and he leapt over top of her.

  He was a massive dragon, one seemingly made of red lacquer edged in gold. He had small golden horns on his head and long golden whiskers trailing from his chin. He snatched Rox in talons that seemed to be gilded, then raced toward those descending stairs.

  And that dark, still water.

  Rox knew that nothing good was going to happen down there. She struggled and fought and bit, though it made no difference. She kicked him hard in the chest, aiming for a spot that looked a bit different from the rest. When her boot connected, he inhaled sharply.

  As if in pain.

  Rox could work with that. She kicked again, driving her boot into the spot, and he stumbled on the steps. He hissed at her, his eyes lighting with fury.

  "Pesky human," he muttered, grabbed her by the throat, and shoved her head toward the still water.

  He'd drown her! She squirmed and struggled, but his grip was merciless. He locked his other claw around her waist, holding her so she couldn't reach the spot she'd kicked. He forced her steadily closer to the water. Rox could smell its mire and see an oil slick on its surface. She closed her eyes and fought harder, even though it made no difference.

  Rox couldn't think of a worse place to die, but she didn't have a lot of choice.

  Her face was inches away from the water when Rox saw a silvery reflection. Before she could blink, brilliant orange dragonfire erupted around them. In the mirror of the water, the red dragon was silhouetted in flames. He arched his back and screamed.

  There was a moonstone and silver dragon right behind him.

  A big one.

  And he was pissed. Thorolf exhaled smoke and more fire as he leapt down the stairs. Rox smelled burning dragon flesh.

  The red dragon spun with a hiss just as Thorolf fell upon him in an assault of talons and teeth. The red dragon dropped Rox and she grabbed the handrail with one hand as she fell. She got her back and one shoulder wet, but kept her face out of the water.

  Then she tried to get out of the way.

  Thorolf slammed the red dragon's head into the lip of the higher platform. One of his golden horns broke and black blood flowed from the wound. He went limp, his tail sliding into the dark water, and Rox took advantage of the opportunity. She scurried past the red dragon, back to the comparative safety of the higher platform. He didn't even seem to notice.

  But then, Thorolf was kicking his butt. He drove the red dragon's head into the platform again, and black blood ran from the other side of his head. His eye on that side looked to be swollen shut. Thorolf ripped his claws across the red dragon's chest and the red dragon grimaced in pain; then Thorolf decked him.

  Rox wanted to cheer.

  Thorolf winked at her, then moved to toss the Slayer into the water that flooded the lower platform. The red dragon was completely limp.

  Until the moment Thorolf released him.

  Then he suddenly came to life.

  Chapter 15

  "No!" Rox shouted in warning.

  Too late.

  The red dragon reached back and locked both claws around the moonstone and silver dragon's neck. His eyes were bright with anger as he hauled Thorolf into the water. Thorolf shouted. He struggled. He raged against his attacker.

  To no avail.

  Rox screamed, hating that there was nothing else she could do to help.

  The red dragon dragged Thorolf into the dark water. They struggled, making the water churn violently. Rox saw a tail and then a wing; then a cluster of bubbles burst on the surface.

  After that, the water was still.

  No. He couldn't take Thorolf.

  But the Slayer had.

  Rox was standing with her hands pressed to her mouth, terrif
ied, when Niall came thundering down the stairs in human form. He was bleeding and bruised, but it didn't seem to slow him down.

  Rox realized there were alarms ringing and smoke wafting from the upper platform. "Where's the shadow dragon?"

  Niall shook his head, his frustration clear. "Destroyed." He halted beside her and stared across the still water.

  "The red Slayer took Thorolf," Rox whispered, and Niall nodded.

  "Chen." Niall looked between her and the dark surface, clearly torn between his responsibilities. She understood and she admired him for it.

  Then she made the choice for him.

  "You've got to help him, before it's too late," Rox said. Niall opened his mouth to argue, but Rox didn't give him time. "And I don't wait for anybody, especially not in the dark with shadow dragons and Slayers around." She heard her own anxiety but kept talking as if unafraid. "You leave me here, Talbot, and we're done."

  Niall looked at her and he almost smiled. Rox thought for a heartbeat that he would call her bluff, but Niall didn't argue.

  "Deal," he said, then caught her around the waist. He dove into the water, slicing cleanly into its darkness. Rox wasn't nearly so graceful and she sputtered when they went under. She was glad Niall had a tight hold on her, because she might have sunk like a rock.

  She didn't want to think about what might be lurking in the water's depths. As soon as they were submerged, Rox felt Niall shift shape. The powerful length of him was suddenly beneath her, his amethyst scales gleaming beneath her hands. He rolled her to his back even as he swam, and Rox hung on tightly. She was wet, but the glow of the firestorm warmed her.

  Plus she knew that Niall would defend her against anything or anyone they encountered. She gripped his scales tightly, sliding her fingers beneath them for a better grasp.

  To her astonishment, the one she held with her right hand came away from his skin. She watched a small ripple pass over Niall's flesh, as if he had felt the loss.

  Did the Pyr shed their scales periodically and grow new ones? Rox wasn't sure, and it wasn't a good time to ask Niall. That spot where she'd struck Chen could have been tender because of a missing scale.

  She'd have to ask later. She managed to shove the loose scale into the pocket of her wet jacket, then grabbed another scale, her grip tentative at first. This one stayed put, so she tightened her grasp. Then she leaned her cheek against Niall's shoulder, keeping as low a profile as possible, as the end of the tunnel came ever closer.

  The firestorm sparked along the length of her body, emanating a pale golden light where her body touched Niall's. It warmed her and excited her, making her aware of his muscled strength beneath her. The light flowed over the surface of the water, turning oil slicks into rainbows that disappeared in the shadows on either side.

  There was another light reflecting on the surface of the water. It couldn't have been from a signal light, because the power was off in this tunnel.

  It was white and it pulsed. They were headed straight for it.

  Rox was really glad Niall hadn't left her alone.

  Niall yet again felt that he and Rox worked well together. She'd instinctively understood and solved his dilemma about saving Thorolf. He wasn't entirely happy having Rox with him as he headed into danger, but it was better than leaving her undefended.

  Yes, definitely better, although he did have a feeling that Rox wasn't that defenseless. The way she challenged him when she was so obviously afraid made his heart clench. She was a fighter, more resilient than anyone had guessed and more vulnerable than anyone knew.

  Niall wanted to shield her from every threat, from this day forward through forever. He wanted his firestorm to be the beginning of a long partnership. He knew he could love this woman, so fiercely determined to protect those she cared about, but he wasn't sure Rox would let him.

  Niall intended to persuade her to do so.

  He shouted for Sloane in old- speak, but had no response. That was worrisome, but Niall was compelled to prioritize.

  First, they had to save Thorolf.

  The white light at the end of the tunnel seemed cold, which Niall didn't like at all. He feared that nothing good was waiting for him.

  But if he turned back, he also knew that Thorolf would be lost for all time.

  Niall drew strength from the firestorm's slow burn, letting the passion it kindled within his body give him new resolve to defend his mate. He felt that an additional spark of the Great Wyvern accompanied him, lighting his path in the darkness, giving him hope. Maybe it would guide his blows and give him resilience. Maybe it would protect them both in the deepest darkness.

  The white light ahead grew ever brighter. The tunnel must have sloped upward, because the water became more shallow. Niall felt his claws brush against the ground, against old metal tracks. Soon the water was only as deep as his knees, so he shifted shape. Rox slipped from his back to walk beside him, her hand locked in his. He could hear the racing beat of her heart and the anxiety in her breathing, and he gave her fingers a reassuring squeeze.

  "I hate the dark," she whispered so softly that the words were almost inaudible.

  "But you said you'd been down here before." Niall looked at her and saw that her pupils were huge and her skin was pale. She was trembling slightly.

  But she summoned a brave smile and squared her shoulders. "You can't let your life be shaped by your fears," she said with a determination he associated with her. "You've got to face those fears, kick the stuffing out of them."

  "Slay your own dragons," Niall suggested, wanting only for her to smile.

  Rox did, briefly. "Something like that." She leaned her breast against his arm and swallowed. "Or maybe you just need to bring one of your own."

  Niall wrapped his arm around her shoulders, guessing that she was having a harder time with this than he was. Was her dislike of darkness linked to what he had seen in his dream?

  "The sooner we get him, the sooner we get out of here," he said, then strode onward.

  Rox didn't argue with that. "Works for me," she said grimly.

  They only went a bit farther before the tunnel branched hard, a dark opening yawning to their right. The tracks gleamed as they rose above the water, the tunnel ascending toward some unknown point.

  The tunnel before them terminated with only a small opening, maybe three-by-three, set at the height of Niall's shoulders. It must have been covered by a metal plate before, the one that now lay discarded on the ground. The light emanated from that hole, beckoning him onward.

  "This stinks," Rox whispered, hovering close to his side.

  Niall nodded in agreement. He suspected they were moving into a trap, but there was nothing to be gained by shirking the inevitable fight. Chen already knew he was here and already knew he was coming. Niall saw no point in delaying the inevitable.

  "Stay close," he said to Rox, and climbed through the hole.

  "As if I wouldn't," she muttered from right behind him.

  Beyond it was a mirror image of the tunnel they'd just followed, although this one was constructed of cinder blocks. They'd moved through a partition that divided the tunnel in two.

  Partway down the second half of the tunnel, there was a hole in the roof, and Niall could hear the faint echo of the street far overhead. He looked but couldn't glimpse light.

  "Vent," Rox said. "They're everywhere down here. Hurry."

  At least if they were sealed into this tunnel, they might be able to climb out. Niall moved forward with purpose, half expecting the far end to be suddenly sealed against them.

  It was too quiet for his taste. Too still. He couldn't smell anything other than concrete and wet metal, and he didn't like that one bit. The water rose again as they moved forward, coming up to his hips. Rox waded right behind him.

  Niall reached the end of the passage and stepped abruptly into a large room filled with pulsing white light. The light glowed from the very center of the chamber, as if its source was on the surface of the water.


  "A railroad turntable," Rox murmured in surprise, looking around. "Neo said he'd found one down here, but he could never locate it again. I thought he was putting me on."

  It was exactly that, or had been at some point in the distant past. The chamber was round, perhaps the diameter of three train cars, and tunnels led off in every direction. There had to be a dozen openings. The water filled the tunnels half deep, only a dark crescent about four feet high showing the top of each departing tunnel. The converging tracks were submerged.

  And in the middle of the space, the water rippled. Niall took a step back. He would have pushed Rox behind him, but she was already there, her hands clutching his shoulders. He felt his body shimmer on the cusp of change as circles began to emanate from a central point.

  He shifted when a dragon claw extended out of the obsidian water. It was red, with golden talons, and it held that iron brand. The brand was the source of the light. It shone coldly, the sight of it making Niall shiver.

  Chen was ready to recruit.

  Niall was startled when he saw movement in a flooded tunnel on the far side of the chamber. A dark talon appeared, a manacle shaking as it was extended in silent plea. Niall saw a silhouette appear behind it, then the gleam of dark eyes. A manacle rattled right beside them, and Niall jumped farther into the chamber. Talons reached from all the tunnel openings, clutching at the air.

  Niall realized there were shadow dragons shackled in all of the tunnels. They moved in agitation, all stretching toward the radiant brand. Rox swore and couldn't have been closer to him unless she'd slid under his skin.

  "Chen, Chen, Chen," they chanted in unison, the sound making Niall's flesh creep.

  The water heaved below the upheld brand. A tail thrashed as Chen broke the surface; then a long, scaled back rose out of the water. It was red with scales edged in gold.

  The crimson Slayer appeared, water beading on his neck and running from his long whiskers. One side of his face was badly battered and his horns were broken, dark blood running down his face. Niall wondered what had happened to Thorolf.