CHAPTER 1 of FOR THE LOVE OF HER DRAGON #9
Before she could sink any farther into her self-examination, a strange feeling fell over her.
She felt covered with a sick, slimy feeling that literally tried to invade her pores.
It was as if she walked through motor oil flowing from a waterfall.
Each step she took made it harder to breathe.
Her feet felt like they were tied to bricks.
Kyra stumbled and reached forward, using Aaron’s back for support.
The Guardsman spun around with a half-smile, obviously ready to tease, but his expression immediately changed when he saw her struggle to stand.
“Kyra.” He reached out to keep her from falling forward. “What the…”
She couldn’t make out what came next, and she fell to the ground, tearing the backpack from her shoulder.
Aaron knelt down in front of her, still obviously shouting, trying to get an answer to what was happening, but she was unable to make out any of his words.
In her peripheral vision, she could see the others, spread out in a circle, protecting her from whatever seemed to be coming just for her.
She searched her bag for protection against the onslaught of the black magic that she was coming to recognize.
It had a signature all its own: betrayal, hate, and retribution.
Finally, at the bottom of her bag, her fingers touched the cool silver disc she sought. Snatching it out, she let her bag fall to the side and shoved her head through the leather strap attached to the powerful Protection amulet she always made sure was charged and close at hand.
The instant the weight of the ancient pendant touched the center of her chest, the oppressive weight began to lift.
She counted to ten and finally drew her first full, clean breath.
When her vision cleared, Aaron was kneeling in front of her, hands on her shoulders, gripping just shy of the point of pain and repeating her name over and over.
She put one hand on his and tried to smile. “I’m okay.” Her voice sounded scratchy even to her ears, confirming that she had been sucking air like a fish out of water during her battle with the dark magic.
She swallowed and continued to reassure her protector and the others she knew were still standing guard, “Seriously, I’m okay, but Andrew is close, and he’s not alone.
He’s attempting to work a serious Barrier spell.
I must have walked right through the perimeter he set.
One second I was breathing the beautiful fresh scent of the sea and the next I felt like I was drowning in motor oil. ”
The Guardsmen turned to face her and listened intently to the information she had about the traitor.
Aaron stood, and the spot he vacated was filled with the Dragon Guard Commander, Rayne.
He looked at her intently with a look of concern mixed with anger in his deep violet eyes.
When he spoke, it was the voice of a commander, not the voice of Kyndel’s caring mate or Jay’s loving father that she was used to. “Are you sure you’re alright?”
“Yeah, I’m sure.” She smiled her best ‘it’ll be okay’ smile and made sure it reached her eyes. “But I’m getting damn tired of this son of a bitch sneaking up on me and knocking me on my ass. I have my pride, ya’ know?”
The Commander smiled, and the tension level all around her dropped a notch.
Before anyone could interrupt, she continued, “He’s not far, no more than twenty miles away, and he’s not alone.
” She closed her eyes and imagined the face of the traitor, the man she had believed needed her help all those months ago but only gave her what he seemed to give everyone… betrayal.
“There are at least eight of them using magic, maybe others. I can’t read anyone non-magical while they’re working the spell. They’re using blood magic, but it doesn’t feel like they performed the sacrifice here.”
She grew silent as she realized they were merely warming up. Her eyes opened of their own volition, and she saw five fierce warriors hanging on her every word. Damn! No pressure, she thought to herself.
“He’s only working a Barrier spell. It’ll take most of the night to complete, and it’s meant to seal anything that draws breath within its confines. We need to find Royce and get everyone out from behind the barrier that little piece of shit is building.”
As she stood up, she was struck with a thought, “Hey! Don’t any of you big lugs feel the effects of the spell…at all?” Her eyes widened, but she couldn’t help her surprise when they all shook their heads.
“Well, damn, I knew you guys were strong, and dragon magic was nothing to mess with, but…well…” She rubbed her hands down her face, still in awe of the vast amount of power surrounding her. “Just damn…that’s all I got.”
Laughter rang through the forest as she gathered up her backpack and secured it on her shoulder. Devon handed her a bottle of water, a concerned look still haunting his grey eyes. “You sure you’re okay? That’s the second time in just a few hours you’ve taken a fall.”
Kyra swatted his shoulder and teased, “Way to make a girl feel special, Dev.”
At least he had the decency to look embarrassed, because Aaron and Lance chose that moment to pick on her like the big brothers she had always wished for. “Yeah, little witch,” Lance joked, using the nickname he knew irritated her the most. “Your ass has been hitting the ground a lot lately.”
“I hear you’ve taken to fainting, ‘Sarcastic Little Witch of the South’. All this raw power makes you swoon, huh?” Aaron teased, and she wondered when Lance had found the time to tell them all about her new ‘title’.
“Swoon my ass, dragon man,” she laughed.
Before they could continue their banter, Rayne spoke, “Alright, there’ll be time for this shit later.
Right now we need to get to Royce and Rian and see what we can do about evacuating the area.
” He pointed to Aidan, who had been suspiciously silent during the whole incident.
“’ A’, you take the lead.” He looked from man to man.
“Lance to Kyra’s right, Devon to her left, Aaron and I will take the rear. Let’s get moving.”
She felt the weight of the Commander’s stare right before he spoke, “Kyra, let me know if you feel anything unusual. I want no more sneak attacks, and I want Andrew’s head on a pike,” he finished on a growl with a look of utter contempt and untold anger in his eyes.
“Absolutely,” was all she could get out before he disappeared behind her and they started to move forward.
That is one pissed-off dragon, was all she thought as they marched towards Royce, hoping they could stop whatever the traitor had planned.
Exactly one hour later, she felt the familiar sensation associated with the mind speak of the Dragon Guard.
Curious by nature, it always bothered her when she knew they were talking but couldn’t hear it.
She smiled, remembering that her Auntie Della had told her dragon mates shared special abilities and that one day she would share everything with hers.
Her smile fell as she realized that was not what the future held for her.
If she was not mistaken, and she was sure she wasn’t, her mate would rather eat nails than share anything with her.
Stop your fucking whining, Kyra. Now is not the time, she thought to herself.
Rayne’s voice sounded from behind. “I finally got a hold of Rian. He said Royce is on the outer edge of the lair, holed up in a cave.”
She felt a whoosh of air as he sped past her. “I’ll lead the way, and Rian will meet us on the other side. Let’s go.”
Their hike continued, and the buzzing from their mind speak rose higher and higher until she was sure she could reach out and grab the words.
She concentrated on the flow of energy and found one strand more intense than the others.
Following it, she found Aidan, his blue eyes turbulent with worry and anger.
Not wanting to disturb him, but desperate to know who he was trying to connect with, she followed the trail as far as it went.
There at the end was not a face, but a huge inky stain filled with pure malevolence and contempt.
The emotions coming from the horrible mass of evil made Kyra feel dirty from the inside out.
Just as she was about to retreat, she sensed a familiar signature, one she despised more with every passing second.
It was Andrew. Aidan was trying to track his treacherous brother through the special link between brothers, searching for the one who had caused so much pain to so many he loved.
It was then that she knew why he had been so quiet and withdrawn.
Aidan was seeking out the little bastard, and if the powerfully hostile feelings were any indication, Aidan intended to end his brother’s life if given the chance.
Feeling like a Peeping Tom and sure that she had time to keep Aidan from making a mistake he couldn’t take back, Kyra pulled back, but kept a small foothold in the brothers’ connection.
If Aidan found Andrew before they did and tried to act without his brethren, she would know and would do whatever it took to ensure the traitor’s capture without harm to the living.
Andrew had to pay for what he had done, but not at the cost of any of the souls of the people she had come to think of as family.