Sky on Fire (Mages & Dragons #6)

Chapter One

SOMETHING EXPLODED nearby. Tyne barely even jumped. He grinned, still moving toward Carlyle.

This was what he wanted.

He finally had Carlyle in front of him, and if he had anything to say about it, it was the last time Carlyle would put someone Tyne loved in danger.

Tyne didn’t care what he had to do.

He was ready to sacrifice pretty much anything—including his life—to ensure that Carlyle met his end.

He wouldn’t escape this time around. Tyne wouldn’t allow him to.

Carlyle was putting up a decent fight, but he was only one man against all of them, and clearly, he hadn’t fully recuperated from his time spent trapped in the gemstone.

He was doing his best and using his human helper, but there was only so much he could do.

Tyne and the other mages all had their dragons, and it made them stronger.

Carlyle, on the other hand, would never get his dragon back.

Something caught Tyne’s attention.

Carlyle was moving toward Emory, and Tyne didn’t have to ask to know that whatever he was planning wouldn’t be good.

He moved, and he wasn’t the only one.

The other mages moved with him.

All of them wanted to protect Emory. They hadn’t been able to in the past, but they would now.

They didn’t have the time to get to him.

Graham appeared from out of nowhere, knocking into Emory.

The two of them went down, and Tyne thought that whatever Carlyle had been planning had failed.

Then he heard Emory scream, which told him he was wrong.

He‘d had enough.

He stepped forward, raising his hands.

His magic had always tended to the offensive more than the defensive.

Sometimes, it had made him feel guilty because he’d wished there’d been more he could do to protect himself and the dragons from Carlyle.

This was his opportunity, though. Carlyle was finally in front of him, and he was vulnerable.

Tyne grinned as he directed his magic toward Carlyle.

Blood spurted from Carlyle’s arm, making him scream.

That didn’t stop Tyne, who continued walking toward him.

Nothing would stop him.

Carlyle deserved everything that was coming at him. He deserved worse.

He’d taken the dragons away.

He’d stolen their memories.

None of that mattered for Tyne, but it did for the other mages.

He’d seen how unhappy they were over the past decades and how much they’d suffered.

He’d seen how much they’d struggled when they found their dragons again. Carlyle needed to pay for all of that.

Carlyle clutched his arm to his chest.

Tyne’s smile widened.

He hadn’t dared to attack Carlyle directly until now because he hadn’t wanted to hurt anyone else with his magic, but Carlyle stood almost alone now.

The only person close to him was his human minion, and Tyne wanted to tell him that it would soon be his turn.

He wanted the asshole to be afraid of him. Hell, he wanted Carlyle to be afraid of him. He didn’t usually enjoy that kind of thing, but it was Carlyle. Tyne would enjoy his screams of fear and pain as a soundtrack to fall asleep.

“This isn’t over,”

Carlyle said.

Tyne felt a little wild as he used his magic to hurt Carlyle even more.

“You’re right. It’s not over.”

He’d expected Carlyle to fight back.

The man might be weaker than usual, and he might be alone, but he’d never been anything but stubborn and resilient.

It was the reason he was still alive—that and because the mages had taken pity on him and hadn’t wanted to take his life.

If they’d killed him the first time around, they wouldn’t have lost their dragons.

None of this would have happened.

Tyne wouldn’t make the same mistake twice.

Carlyle screamed and pushed his magic forward.

For a second, Tyne wondered if this was it for him.

Carlyle was smart, though.

He didn’t aim the magic at Tyne or one of the other mages.

No, he aimed it at one of the dragons.

At Tyne’s dragon.

Meyer screamed, and the world stopped.

Tyne had been doing his best to keep Meyer at arm’s length, and he’d been succeeding.

Even though he’d known they would have to work together to win the fight against Carlyle, he wanted to make sure his heart didn’t end up shattered again.

He’d been wrong.

No matter the distance between them, if anything happened to Meyer, Tyne would be hurt.

He couldn’t lose Meyer again.

He ran toward his dragon, who was on the ground, still screaming.

He fell to his knees, hovering his hands over Meyer’s body, desperately needing to find a way to help him.

Meyer was in pain.

Tyne needed to do something, but what? He hadn’t been able to save Meyer the first time they’d fought Carlyle.

Nothing had changed since then.

Tyne didn’t care about Carlyle or anything that was happening around him anymore.

His full focus was on Meyer, who was still screaming.

Tyne looked him up and down.

He grimaced when he saw Meyer’s leg.

He had no idea how Carlyle had done it, but he’d broken it.

It was folded in a way that wouldn’t be possible if the bones were still intact.

He reached for the break, then stopped.

He’d never been good with healing spells. He was even worse than the other mages, possibly because his magic felt more comfortable attacking and defending. He was terrified he’d hurt Meyer even worse than he really was, but he had to do something.

He looked up.

The others were moving toward Meyer, so Tyne knew he would be in good hands.

He quickly slid toward Meyer’s head, leaving space for whoever would heal him to work.

“You’ll be okay,”

Tyne said.

He wasn’t sure Meyer heard him.

He wasn’t screaming anymore, but he was deathly pale, as if all the blood had leached from his face.

He was also shaking, which couldn’t be good.

Dallin suddenly appeared next to them.

Tyne looked up, not caring one bit what his brothers thought of him.

He knew they had questions about why he was so angry at Meyer, but he also knew they wouldn’t ask them now.

“You have to help him.”

Penley reached them, too.

He was out of breath and looked shaken, but he knelt next to Meyer and reached for his leg.

Tyne almost started crying.

Penley was the best of them at healing spells. If someone had a chance to heal Meyer and ensure he wouldn’t suffer consequences from whatever Carlyle had done to him, it would be Penley.

He wasn’t the only one who wanted to help.

Dallin mirrored Penley’s position on the other side of Meyer’s leg, and together, they started working on Meyer.

The first thing they did was take away the pain.

Tyne knew what they were doing—he just didn’t think he would’ve been able to do it, not on Meyer.

Meyer stopped screaming almost instantly.

His body slumped to the ground, but it only lasted for a moment.

He started screaming again, and Tyne reached for him.

He needed to help him. He needed to stop the pain.

Someone caught his arm.

Tyne fought the hold, but more hands appeared and pulled him away.

He struggled until Bennett wrapped an arm around his waist and held him still.

“Let them work,”

he murmured.

He was Meyer’s best friend. Tyne wanted to tell him to do something to help, but both of them were powerless right now. The only thing they could do was watch as the mages worked on Meyer and listen to Meyer scream.

MEYER screamed. There was nothing else he could do, and while normally, he wouldn’t have wanted to scare the others, right now, he didn’t care. He’d scare them to death if it meant the pain stopped.

It didn’t stop right away, but it lessened enough that Meyer didn’t feel like someone was tearing his leg off. He whimpered and dropped back onto the ground. He was shaking and sweaty, and he wanted to cry.

“You’ll be fine,”

Dallin reassured Meyer.

Meyer almost laughed.

“It doesn’t feel like it right now.”

His voice was rough and trembling. He almost didn’t recognize it.

“Penley’s good at healing spells. You will be fine,”

Dallin repeated.

Meyer wanted to believe him, but right now, the only thing he could focus on was the pain. It wasn’t as sharp as it had been earlier, but it was still there, pulsing in his broken leg.

He had no idea what had happened.

He’d been rushing toward Tyne, who’d been confronting Carlyle.

Tyne and Meyer might not be on talking terms, but Tyne was Meyer’s mage, and Meyer’s job was to protect him.

That was what he’d been planning on doing, but then, something had exploded, and his leg had felt like it was on fire.

Carlyle had gotten him.

Dallin took Meyer’s hand and squeezed.

Meyer squeezed back on instinct, relieved by the support.

He knew these men wouldn’t let anything bad happen to him—well, anything worse.

Something bad had already happened to him, courtesy of Carlyle.

Penley would fix it, though. Meyer was sure of it.

He didn’t know how much time passed.

He didn’t think it mattered, either.

The only thing that did was that it was getting easier to breathe through the pain.

It was still pulsing in his leg, but it wasn’t as bad as he’d expected it to be.

Penley really was good at healing.

“Emory will be fine,”

Jarvis suddenly said. “Meyer?”

Meyer had seen Emory and Graham go down. He hadn’t reached them in time, but he hadn’t even thought about what had happened to them. He’d been too focused on his own pain.

“Broken leg,”

Dallin told Jarvis.

“Penley’s almost done, though.”

That was a relief.

Meyer wasn’t sure what it meant, but while the pain had settled into a deep ache, it was a feeling he thought he could ignore.

At the very least, he could move his leg, which was more than he’d expected after how painful the break had been.

“He’ll need rest and not to use his leg for a few days, but he’ll be fine,”

Penley said.

He leaned back.

He looked exhausted, but Bennett was there instantly, pulling him into his arms.

Penley didn’t argue.

He cuddled against Bennett’s chest.

Watching them together made Meyer ache in a different way. He wanted that kind of relationship, too, but he wouldn’t get it from Tyne.

Tyne wasn’t even the one who helped Meyer to sit up.

Dallin and Sol did that, not letting go until Meyer was on his feet.

Meyer grimaced, afraid of the pain he was sure he was about to feel, but he was able to put his foot down without screaming.

It ached, but he thought he could walk, which, as far as he was concerned, was a miracle considering how he’d felt just minutes before.

He wasn’t going to push it by trying to walk, but he could stand on his own.

Tyne suddenly moved.

Meyer had expected him to yell at him for putting himself in danger or something like that, but instead, he pushed his way between Sol and Dallin and wrapped an arm around Meyer’s waist.

Meyer didn’t move, in shock at what was happening.

He didn’t think Tyne had ever willingly touched him.

Hell, usually, he didn’t even spend time in the same room as Meyer. It was like Meyer was contagious.

Yet, here Tyne was, pressing their bodies together.

He was a long line of strength and warmth against Meyer’s side, and Meyer wanted to lean against him, but he was almost afraid.

He didn’t think this was a trick, but what was Tyne up to?

Tyne started moving.

Meyer’s only choice was to move, too.

He was able not to put any way weight on his broken leg because Tyne was there, and together, they slowly made their way toward the castle.

Tyne didn’t stop to talk to anyone.

He was focused on getting Meyer home.

Neither of them spoke as they walked.

Meyer was too focused on not falling on his face or hurting himself, but even if he hadn’t been, what was he supposed to tell Tyne? He’d been begging Tyne to look at him for weeks.

He’d wanted a chance to find out what had happened between them in the past and why Tyne was so angry at him, but Tyne had barely even looked at him.

Clearly, though, he cared in some way.

Meyer had thought that Tyne wouldn’t care whether he lived or died, but he knew that wasn’t the case now.

The side door Tyne was aiming for swung open before they reached it.

Thorne stood there, looking pale, but he didn’t ask questions as he stepped aside to let Meyer and Tyne in.

He opened his mouth, then closed it again when Tyne shook his head.

“I’m taking Meyer to his room,”

Tyne declared.

Thorne nodded.

“Everyone’s in the kitchen.”

“The others should be back soon. They’ll tell you what happened.”

Meyer had initially been confused by the humans who lived in the castle, but he’d eventually realized that the mages saw them as family.

He was pretty sure they’d used magic to ensure that the humans weren’t aging, but he hadn’t asked, even though he was curious.

It was none of his business.

He might live at the castle, but he was pretty sure that if Tyne had his way, he’d get kicked out as soon as Carlyle was defeated.

He stayed silent and gritted his teeth as he continued walking.

That was the problem about living in a massive castle—it took ages to get to his room.

His leg might not be broken anymore, but he was aching and tired, and he felt like he was hundreds of years old.

He might crumble into dust if he didn’t sit down soon.

Luckily, they eventually reached his room.

Tyne made a beeline for the bed, and Meyer dropped on top of it.

He exhaled, his shoulders relaxing as he told himself he was done moving for the day.

Tyne hovered there for a second.

Meyer blinked up at him, trying to think of something to tell him.

He should thank him, right?

“I’ll get you something to eat,”

Tyne suddenly said.

“I’m fine.”

“Your body is healing. Penley did what he could, but you need rest and fuel. I’ll get you food while you shower.”

He hesitated.

“Unless you need my help in the bathroom?”

Meyer couldn’t think of anything worse right now.

“I’ll be fine.”

“Be careful and yell if you need any help.”

Meyer had no idea what was happening.

Why was Tyne suddenly talking to him? Was it because he’d almost died? Was that what it had taken to get Tyne to pull his head out of his ass?

Meyer wished he had the energy to ask, but the only thing he wanted to do was shower and drop into bed.

He got to his feet and wobbled for a second with Tyne hovering there.

His hands were held out as if he was ready to catch him.

Meyer shook his head to tell Tyne was fine, then made his way to the bathroom.

He was careful as he moved, but even though his leg hurt, it didn’t buckle under his weight.

It took every last bit of Meyer’s energy to shower.

By the time he was done, he was shaking, and he briefly wondered if he could fall asleep sitting on the toilet.

He was tempted to try, but he was pretty sure that someone would look for him in here, so after drying off and pulling on the pajama pants he’d left in the bathroom this morning, he wobbled his way back into the bedroom.

He blinked when he saw that Tyne was gone.

He’d told Meyer that he was getting him food, but Meyer wondered if he’d just run.

He might have been afraid for Meyer, but that didn’t mean he was over whatever his problem with Meyer was.

Maybe Meyer should have asked those questions when he’d had the opportunity to, but it looked like it was too late now.

He moved toward the dresser to grab a shirt when the door burst open, making him jump.

Tyne was there, holding a tray.

Meyer was even more confused.

Why was Tyne back? Why did he suddenly care so much about Meyer?

TYNE DID HIS BEST NOT to stare at Meyer’s chest.

It had been decades since he’d last seen Meyer in this state of undress, and part of him wanted to wrap his arms around him and press his cheek against his chest.

He wanted the reassurance that Meyer was okay.

But that wasn’t the kind of relationship they had, so Tyne forced himself to look away.

He stepped toward the nightstand, dropping the tray with the food he was carrying onto it.

That gave Meyer time to open a drawer and pull out a t-shirt, and when Tyne turned to look at him again, he was fully dressed.

It wasn’t what Tyne had wanted, but it was happening, and it wouldn’t stop Tyne from taking care of Meyer.

He rushed toward his dragon when Meyer turned toward the bed.

Meyer jerked back as if afraid that Tyne would hurt him, which would have offended Tyne if he hadn’t treated Meyer like shit until recently.

Why would Meyer trust him? Tyne hadn’t given him a reason to.

He didn’t know what he was doing.

He was still terrified of getting hurt again after everything that happened before Meyer was taken from him.

Hell, could he even think that? Meyer hadn’t been his anymore.

He’d already told Tyne that he was leaving him.

Tyne shook his head.

That wasn’t what he wanted to think about right now.

Hell, he’d be happy if he never had to think about that again.

He helped Meyer into bed and fluffed his pillows.

It was clear that Meyer was puzzled by Tyne’s behavior, but then, so was Tyne.

He’d never been a fusser, not even when they’d been together.

“You know I’m fine, right?”

Meyer asked once he was settled under the blankets, and Tyne turned to grab the tray.

“I think your leg disagrees with that.”

“Penley healed me.”

“He did, but he said you needed rest.”

“Which I’m about to get since I’m in bed. You don’t have to stay. I know you don’t want to.”

Tyne had only himself to blame for that.

He’d told Meyer he wanted nothing to do with him.

He’d been treating him like he hated him, and part of him did, but another part couldn’t stand to see his dragon in pain and helpless.

But no matter how much Peyton had hurt Tyne, Tyne had never stopped loving him.

He’d never stopped hoping he would find him, and he had.

He wasn’t Peyton anymore, but he still looked like him.

That was why Tyne had stayed away, but he couldn’t now that Meyer was hurt.

It was easier to focus on Meyer being Meyer when he was so worried about him dying. It had been easy to hold onto his anger before, but he’d almost lost Meyer again.

He shook his head.

He didn’t know what to say.

Instead of talking, he reached over to the nightstand and grabbed the remote control.

He turned the TV on so that there would be some noise in the room and he wouldn’t have to fill the silence.

He didn’t want to start rambling, especially when he didn’t know where any of this left them.

Luckily, Meyer seemed okay with the silence between them.

After staring at Tyne for a moment longer, he started eating and turned his attention to the TV.

It was a rerun of an old police procedural that Tyne was pretty sure he’d seen dozens of times, but he didn’t mention it.

He kept his gaze on the TV while regularly sneaking sideways glances at Meyer.

He snatched the tray away as soon as Meyer was done eating.

Meyer frowned, but he still didn’t say anything and settled back against the pillows.

Neither of them spoke.

The soft voices coming from the TV were soothing, and Tyne found his eyes sliding shut.

He still needed to shower, and he couldn’t exactly sleep in Meyer’s bed. He was pretty sure that Meyer would kick him out if he tried, broken leg or not.

He needed to find a less awkward way to leave, but he didn’t think he could.

Everything about his interactions with Meyer in the past twenty minutes had been awkward, even just sitting there staring at the TV.

Tyne licked his lips and turned, his mouth open to speak, but he stopped before any words crossed his lips.

Meyer was leaning back against his pillows, his eyes closed and his chest slowly rising and falling.

His hair was still damp and stuck to his forehead, and for a moment, Tyne ached to touch him.

Meyer was asleep, so he wouldn’t notice.

That was the only reason Tyne reached out and gently pushed the strand of hair away from Meyer’s forehead.

Meyer didn’t even react.

He kept on sleeping, and Tyne allowed himself to watch him for a moment.

It still hurt, even after all those years.

It hurt to know that he’d been losing Peyton even before he’d actually lost him.

It hurt to know that Peyton hadn’t loved him anymore.

Tyne got to his feet.

He needed to shower and talk to Jarvis.

Sitting here and watching Meyer like a creep wouldn’t help anything, especially not Tyne’s hurt feelings.

Peyton had broken his heart a long time ago, and he doubted that anything Meyer could do or say would heal it.