Chapter 39
REGAN
The impact of the dragon’s fall shook the hill like a hammer smashing glass when Viktor’s burning body slammed into the meadow.
As the blast of heat and wind tore over us, I was hurled off Kage’s back.
For a single moment, I was weightless—flying like a dragon.
Then I crashed down onto the grass, skidding to a stop.
Pain flared along my arm. Blood welled up where a shard of red scale had slit my wrist open to the bone.
Kage growled, bounding to my side. He nudged the gash with his nose.
I gasped as he dragged his rough tongue over the wound.
A roar shattered the moment. I stared past Kage in horror to where Viktor was hauling himself up. He’d shed most of his dragon form, but crimson scales armored his torso. Black-veined red wings furled from his back, one horribly crushed and ragged.
He hadn’t seen us yet.
Kage’s lips peeled back to bare his fangs, his chest rumbling in a snarl. He sprang, a silver blur spinning towards the red. The wolf was massive, but the dragon was larger. Viktor turned as the wolf came towards him, his eyes widening. I saw him lift his arms, draconic talons snapping outwards.
The two beasts collided, canine fangs sinking into scale.
Sharp talons scraping flesh and fur. Although Viktor was bigger than the wolf by far, he was already wounded, and he staggered under the wolf’s weight.
Kage’s jaws reached down, finding the soft seam where red plating ended.
The wolf’s teeth tore, and black blood splattered the earth.
Viktor let out an unearthly roar as the wolf sank his teeth in a second time, ripping and shredding at the monstrous highblood.
I lay where I’d fallen, my heart heavy in my chest, my own wound forgotten, everything in me praying to the Bloodmaiden for the wolf’s victory. For Kage’s safety.
Viktor slammed at the wolf with a taloned fist, sending him careering against a nearby boulder with a sickening thud. I screamed as Kage yelped. He tried to rise as Viktor descended upon him, talons ripping across the wolf’s flank, cutting through the beautiful silver coat and exposing flesh.
“No!” I screamed.
I pushed myself off the ground, slipping and sliding down the slope.
The wolf lay beside the boulder, his blood soaking the grass, still struggling to rise.
“Stop,” I whispered. “Rest.” I slid to my knees beside him, pressing both hands against his torn side.
My wrist throbbed, but I ignored the pain.
Our mingled blood ran through my fingers.
Kage’s warmth spread through me, flowing up my arm.
Behind me, Viktor straightened. He gave his wings a flick, and they flew open. He walked slowly towards us, then stopped, looming over me, cold and monstrous, staring down at Kage’s bleeding body and my crouched figure.
“Let him live and I’ll do anything,” I breathed. “I’ll come back with you. Do anything you want.” I swallowed the lump in my throat. “It was a mistake to come here tonight, but … I needed you. Needed to see you.”
A wing flew forward, backhanding me and sending me rolling across the ground. I lay there for a moment, dizzy and winded, then pushed myself up, retching dry heaves onto the grass.
“You need him,” I whispered, looking up at Viktor as he approached me.
“He’s the last Avari.” The instant the word left my tongue, a white-hot wrongness flooded through me.
Poison creeping up from my stomach to choke my heart.
But I pressed forward. “Think of the power his blood holds. You can’t kill him. ”
“Regan, no,” Kage growled. I looked back over at him. His fur had retreated. He was highblood again, naked and wounded. His chest was raked open, flesh peeled back. He struggled to rise but sank back down.
Viktor said nothing, just pulled back a taloned fist. This time I was ready for the blow. I coughed up blood, my lips cracking open. “Get your fucking hands off her, old man,” Kage snarled. He was crouched low, knees bent, crawling towards me, the wound in his chest bleeding onto the grass.
I was ready when the next blow came. I lifted my wounded wrist, using it to shield my face.
Viktor’s talons easily tore the wound open.
I felt blood rush down my arm. “I’ll do anything,” I whispered, trying to smile through the blood coating my teeth.
“Anything for you. Spare him. Break me, beat me, use me—but take me back. Forgive me, Viktor.”
Kage growled, the sound bestial and desperate.
“Stay back,” I warned him. “This is between my archon and me. I was wrong. I disobeyed him. He’s right to punish me.
” I looked up at Viktor. “I needed to see you. The Avari tried to sway me to his side, but I led him here so he could be tribute. You fought bravely. Truly you are the most powerful highblood in all of Sangratha.”
A taloned finger lifted my chin. “Traitorous bitch. I honored you. Elevated you.”
“You did,” I whispered. “And look at me now. Kneeling at your feet. My blood spilling to honor the ground you walk upon. Just as it should be, my lord, my archon. No less than you deserve.”
I glanced at Kage, steeling my gaze, feeling the poison tinge my heart.
“Let the Avari dog watch as we consort together.” It was hard to choke out the words, but I forced myself to keep going.
“Put him in a cage at the foot of our bed. Let him see us feed from one another.” Only spare him. Spare him.
Viktor’s face split into a horrific smile. “You long for me, though it kills you to admit it, does it not? You yearn for me. As it should be. Seeing me now in this form, it makes you dream of dark things, does it not, Regan?”
“Truly dark,” I whispered. “You have no idea.”
“Take my hand,” he murmured. “Rise. Let me give you power beyond your wildest dreams.”
I glanced at Kage. His teeth were bared in a snarl of rage and revulsion. It was no more than I deserved: I disgusted him. I was vile and repugnant, even to myself. But I could do this. I could do one pure, good thing. Viktor reached his hand down to raise me.
“I’m sorry, Avari,” I said clearly. “This is my choice.” Then I grabbed Viktor’s wrist, pulling him off-balance. Before he could wrench free, I bared my fangs, driving them deep into his veins.
Hot blood flooded my mouth. I tore, ripping the wound wide. Then I slammed my own bleeding wrist hard across Viktor’s, smearing it into his bloodstream.
Wolf blood met dragon blood.
Viktor’s red eyes flared wide with alarm. He staggered back, the wound already blistering inwards, flesh melting away to expose bone. Black veins spread like vines up his arm where the wolf ’s blood crept, snaking up his shoulder, making its way to Viktor’s heart.
Beside us, Kage snarled, shifting as he leaped at Viktor, all silver fur and bared teeth. But Viktor’s good hand was faster. It scythed out, razored talons flashing.
A burning line split across my throat. I fell back against the grass, the night sky spinning above me. My eyes closed. When I opened them, the wolf crouched over me, paws heavy on my chest, fury and grief blazing in his dark eyes.
I smiled. Darkness folded in on me. Warm like my wolf.