Chapter Twenty-One

Crouched on the steps, she gripped the railing so hard splinters pierced her skin. Jagged flashes of lightning revealed Lucius in all his deadly beauty. His huge head was tilted back, fire spewed from his mouth. Like a prehistoric giant, he stretched at least twenty-five feet in length, not including his tail.

He was an awesome and terrifying sight.

The wind battered them. Trees cracked like toothpicks and crashed to the ground. Her Adirondack chairs skated across the porch and smashed into the railing. The house groaned. Fear clutched her heart. It wasn’t safe to stay here, but there was nowhere else to seek shelter.

“Show yourselves, you cowards,” Lucius roared to the heavens.

The wind ceased and the air grew still. It was like being in the eye of a hurricane. Or the calm before the storm. She gasped, her breathing ragged.

Six spotlights beamed on Lucius, coming from all directions. Arm up to shield her face, she tried to see who or what was behind the lights but couldn’t. They were far too bright.

Turning in a semicircle, he sent drakon fire around the space. Better than a flamethrower. The fire slammed against the lights. Sparks flew, neither giving ground as they battled for supremacy.

The spotlights winked out, exposing six tall, well-built men in formfitting white pants and shirts. They all had huge wings flared out behind them with varying shades of cream, white, and light gray.

They all had weapons.

Her fingers dug into the rail. “Holy crap, a horde of angels.” Technically, they were probably considered a host, but she’d always pictured a host of angels as, well, angelic. These were badass warriors with very big, very sharp swords.

“You must die, abomination,” the tallest one proclaimed.

“Why?” Lucius’s voice was deeper now that he was shifted. “What have I done to be sanctioned by Heaven? I don’t answer to you.”

She bit her lip so hard she drew blood. Interrupting wouldn’t help. Splitting Lucius’s attention could result in his death.

“We do not judge. We are sent to carry out the sentence.”

“Mindless idiots.” He gave a quick nod. “Got it.”

“Blasphemy.” One of them sent a bolt of lightning toward him. Even as she screamed, the bolt struck one of his beautiful scales. It began to glow, the pink outline becoming even brighter. “What is this sorcery?” the same angel demanded.

The leader peered beyond Lucius, homing in on her. “You have involved yourself in angelic business.”

She was getting damn tired of being blamed for something that wasn’t her fault. “Listen, buddy.” Righteous anger got her upright and carried her down the steps. “I was minding my own business when I got a grant from the Angel Foundation. I was guided to a cave where I found him.” She pointed at Lucius. “He was sleeping, minding his own business.”

“You woke him, you admit it.”

“It wasn’t a conscious choice, but it happened. Someone set us up so it would happen. All the evidence points to some high-ranking angel. You’re angels. You’re supposed to be the good guys.” Praying seemed appropriate, so she silently muttered a few.

“You have been judged.” the angel repeated.

“I figured angels would prefer to fly under the radar. You’re making a huge spectacle.” It was a good thing her house was in a remote area, especially now that she had a paranormal showdown of epic proportions unfolding in her front yard. The brilliant lights and sudden storm over her home should’ve prompted some response, but it was eerily quiet. Not even an insect or animal stirred.

“There is a dome of silence around us. None will see your deaths or stop us in our mission.”

This guy was over-the-top with the doom and gloom. His jaw was taut, grim determination on his face. They were so screwed.

“Enough!” Lucius positioned himself in front of her. “I’m more than a drakon. I’m one of the Forgotten Brotherhood. Do you really want to start a war with us?”

A ripple of unease ran through the group. Note to self, her man and his friends were even more badass than she’d thought.

“Who sent you?” he asked again. They had to get to the person behind this.

She peeked over his tail. The angelic leader frowned but raised his sword. It might be her imagination, but he didn’t seem nearly as sure about this as he’d been. He silenced that hope with his next words.

“It matters not. Sentence has been given.”

Talk about blindly following the chain of command. Never in her wildest imagination had she thought Heaven would work that way. Her view of everything was being shattered and rewritten.

A battle roar ripped through the air and the angels attacked en masse. Lucius’s tail snapped out. The tip sheared one angel in half. Talk about slicing and dicing like a Ginsu knife. That thing was sharp. She caught a glimpse of surprise on the male’s face before a light flared and he winked out of sight.

The mighty tail swung at another target who managed to jump back in time to keep from meeting the same fate as his friend. Sparks flew as their swords struck drakon scales with little effect.

“Go for the neck and eyes,” the leader yelled.

To hell with this. Raine stumbled up the steps, ran inside the house, and went straight to her bag, digging down to the bottom. Her hand hit metal. Grimly determined, she gripped the 9mm and ran back outside.

The battle hadn’t abated. The air rang with curses—not very angelic on their part—and flashes of lightning lit the night sky. That had to be some protective dome around them to keep the neighbors from seeing or hearing the battle. But it was working, as the night remained eerily quiet beyond the fighters.

The remaining five warriors spread out around Lucius, trying to hit his vulnerable spots. He held them off, but for how long? He needed help.

I’m all he’s got.

Her arms shook as she raised the gun and took aim at the one nearest her. I’m going to shoot an angel. Heaven was going to be out for her if she didn’t live through this. Firming her jaw, she took a deep breath and released half of it. Lucius was worth it.

She pulled the trigger.

The angel jerked back a step. Light poured from the hole instead of blood. Her mouth fell open when the wound began to close immediately and was sealed within seconds. Crap, should have seen that coming. His head snapped toward her and the gun in her hand.

Sweat beaded her brow. Her palms grew damp. I’m in huge trouble.

The angel rushed toward her, sword swinging. She threw herself to the side. The lightning blast that erupted from the tip of the blade exploded her front door. Glass shattered. Heat singed her face. Ignoring the throbbing in her hip and leg, she rolled up onto her knees and fired, emptying the clip into his chest.

The angel staggered, the wound closing more slowly as energy bled from him. He was like the frigging Terminator. He just wouldn’t go down or die.

Lucius spun around, leaving his back vulnerable. “No!” she yelled.

Four angels soared through the air, their weapons all trained on his neck and head. Her attacker staggered closer, sword aimed. She rolled but came up solid against the house.

I’m so screwed.

It was her last thought before excruciating pain exploded in her chest. Her hand went numb. The gun slipped from her fingers.

I can’t feel my legs.

The world around her dimmed. Tears leaked from the corners of her eyes and trickled down her temples. She didn’t want to leave Lucius. Not yet. They hadn’t had nearly enough time.

“Love—” A cough wracked her body and she tasted blood. She wanted him to know he wasn’t alone. Even when she died, her love would remain. Praying he could hear her, she fought the oncoming darkness. “Love you.”

Brilliant lights filled the sky above her. So pretty. The air released from her lungs one final time. Darkness took her.

Lucius’s roar of pain followed her into death.

…

“No!” Lucius whipped his tail around but wasn’t fast enough to stop the killing blow. It deflected it, but enough of it caught Raine.

She can’t die.

Only she could. She was human, not drakon, not paranormal. A roar of pure agony ripped out of him, sending a shockwave blast in its wake. The angels flipped in midair and were slammed into the surrounding trees.

“Love you.” Her last words seared his heart as her breathing stopped.

The one who’d killed her dared to smile in satisfaction. Raine, who was all that was good in this world, had been destroyed by this male who called himself an angel.

Maybe I can save her.

His blood might be able to bring her back. His gaze narrowed on the enemy in his way. Charging, he released fire hotter and deeper than he’d ever produced. The angel had no time to teleport. It incinerated him, leaving nothing, not even ash.

Shifting, he bolted onto the porch. Her body was lifeless, her head turned away from him. The gun she’d used to try to protect him lay beside her outstretched hand.

“It’s time for you to join her,” the leader proclaimed.

He’d had it with these self-righteous types who followed orders without question. “You murdered an innocent woman, a human.”

“Humans fall under our domain.” His voice was flat, emotionless. He could have been discussing the weather.

Ignoring them, he manifested a claw and scored his wrist. He used his free hand to support her head and held the cut to her mouth. “Drink.” Blood smeared against her lips, but none of it seemed to be getting down her throat.

The four angels stood in a semicircle around them, swords pointed. “Sentence has been decided.” Four bolts speared toward them.

Lucius grabbed his mate and shifted, his huge dragon form wrapping around her. The porch collapsed under his weight and the front corner of the roof partially caved in. He took the hits, accepting the pain, greedily taking the power.

If she was lost to him, Heaven would pay.

“Aim for his vulnerable parts,” the leader directed.

He could wait them out indefinitely, but the clock was ticking. If he didn’t do something soon, it would be too late for Raine.

“I love you.” He inhaled her scent and nuzzled her. “Don’t leave me.”

“Again,” came the command. His scales were superheating. Her body couldn’t take the rising temperature. If he didn’t release her, she might burn up.

A battle cry ripped through the air, followed by the sound of metal hitting metal.

“Leave off, Viking.”

Lucius knew only one Viking. He raised his head, expecting to see Bjorn Knutson, another member of the Brotherhood. This male was the same height and build as his friend, but this wasn’t Bjorn. This stranger was wrapped in an aura of power and wielded a battle-axe as though it was an extension of his hand.

He had no idea who the man was but, since he was targeting the angels, Lucius would count him as a friend until proven otherwise.

Taking the reprieve, he shifted back to his human form, carefully laid Raine on the ground, and opened a vein with a sharp claw. Tilting her head back, he let the drops fall down her throat.

“You leave off, angel. Maccus Fury sent me to inform you that you have no authority here.” The stranger even sounded vaguely like Bjorn. “He’s currently up in Heaven getting to the bottom of this. The Forgotten Brotherhood is off-limits.”

Ignoring the drama unfolding behind him, he focused his attention on Raine. “You must drink. You must live.” The cut closed and he opened it again and again. He’d bleed himself dry if necessary. Without her, he had no life.

Two booted feet came into view. “They’re gone,” the newcomer told him. “At least for now.”

Lucius kissed her, breathing into her lungs. “Please, little one. Try for me.”

“I’m sorry. I’ll keep watch until you’re ready to leave.”

Ignoring the stranger, he lifted her into his arms, rocking back and forth. The Fates could not be so cruel, to give him his heart’s desire for such a short time. He, a drakon, whose blood had been sought for millennia for its healing properties, could not save the only person who’d ever mattered.

A cloak of numbness settled over and around him. This was all his fault. He’d broken his promise, hadn’t protected her.

Use what you are to save her. Rivka’s parting words echoed in his head. He had, but his blood hadn’t worked.His breathing deepened as he searched his memories for answers in something he’d read a long time ago.

Heart thundering, he jumped to his feet with her in his arms. There was no door and a corner of the living room ceiling was gone, but the other side of the house was intact. He carried her into her bedroom and kicked the door shut.

This was probably crazy, but he was out of options.

A papyrus scroll he’d read centuries ago had suggested that a drakon might share his life-force with his mate. Sex was supposed to be part of the deal, but that wasn’t possible.

“This has to work.” The alternative was unthinkable. He had no idea what the results would be, how it might change her, or if she’d even still be human. She loved him, but she hadn’t agreed to eternity. He was effectively taking the choice out of her hands. If she lived, she might end up hating him.

He clenched his jaw, ignoring the doubts beating at him. So be it. The alternative was to let her die, something he wasn’t willing to do, not without exhausting every possibility.

He put her on the bed and stripped away her clothes. Bruises mottled her skin, an abomination. The colorful light spilling over her from the night-light mocked him. They’d been so happy here such a short time ago.

“Don’t leave me,” he begged. “What would I do without your chatter and laughter? There’s no one else to help me find goodness and magic in this world.” There was only Raine.

Unsure how to go about this, he stretched out beside her and pulled her against him so her head rested on his chest. Her skin was cool, but retained some warmth. There was still time. There had to be.

Closing his eyes, he called on his dragon, who was unusually silent. “Share what I am with her. I don’t care if it diminishes me. Give her what she needs.” The swirls of his tattoos rippled beneath his skin. A light emanated from them, changing color rapidly, going from rose gold and pink to a shimmering rainbow.

Blood was next. He manifested a claw and drew it across his chest over his heart. “Drink.” He needed her to take him inside her. His blood. His energy. His very essence. He’d already given her his blood, but wasn’t taking any chances, trying to follow the ritual as closely as possible. He pressed her mouth against the wound, praying some of it was getting past her lips.

His tattoos seemed to rise from his skin. It wasn’t painful, more a tingling. Pink and gold tendrils of energy spread from him to her, lovingly wrapping around her. Closing his eyes, he willed it to continue.

“Whatever she needs.” He’d give the last breath in his body if that’s what it took for her to live.

Heat surrounded them. The rainbow of light bathed them. Holding his breath, he waited, listening intently for a heartbeat, a breath. Any sign to let him know his desperate plan was working.

Nothing.

He rolled so she was on her back and brushed away the damp hair that clung to her forehead. She was so pale, so still, when she was always so animated, so alive.

His vision blurred. He tried to swallow but couldn’t get past the lump. “I’ll turn to stone again,” he threatened, trying to get a rise out of her. But it was the truth. He couldn’t be in this world without her.

The taste of defeat was bitter. He’d failed the only person he’d ever loved. The only one who’d ever loved him.He pressed his lips to hers in one final kiss.

A tear rolled down his cheek and landed on her face. She twitched.

Lungs seizing, he yanked her upright in bed. “Raine?” Had he imagined it? Seen what he’d wanted to?

She rolled her lips together, her tongue flicking over the bottom one. “Tired.”

His heart was thundering so loud he wouldn’t hear a host of angels if they stomped into the room. “Open your eyes.” He tapped her cheeks lightly. “Look at me.”

Her eyelids fluttered before finally parting the smallest amount. A frown turned down the corners of her mouth. “Don’t cry.” Raising a shaky hand, she swiped at a tear. It changed as soon as she touched it. She blinked several times, looking from the gemstone in her hand to him. “I…” She trailed off and licked her lips again. “I don’t understand.”

A rare pink diamond shone in her palm as more fell around her.

“It’s a drakon tear.”

“Why are you crying?” She dropped the diamond onto the mattress and cupped his face. “Oh crap.” She clutched her chest, her entire body bowing back. “What’s wrong with me?”

Catching her so she didn’t accidentally harm herself, he held her tight. “You were…” He swallowed heavily. “You were dead. I brought you back.”

“The angels?” She tried to get up again, but he kept her wrapped in his arms. He wasn’t sure he’d ever be able to let her go again.

“They’re gone. Two of them were destroyed.”

She cried out and clawed at her chest, leaving long red marks on her skin. “Too hot.” Her breathing came so hard and fast she was almost hyperventilating.

Fuck, had he given her more of his blood than she could handle? Too late to worry now. “I had to take drastic measures.” Her whole body shook, her teeth chattered. If he hadn’t been holding her, she would be thrashing around the bed.

“Blood?” Her lips were pale, her skin flushed, feverish. Her golden-brown eyes were even brighter, the color becoming more gold with each passing second.

“And more.” He rocked her, trying to soothe them both. “I couldn’t let you go.”

“What did you do?” It was almost impossible to understand her, she was shaking so hard.

“I gave you some of my essence.” He pressed frantic kisses to her forehead and face. “Breathe through it. I’m here with you. I’ll never leave you.”

“Love you.” She gasped, as though not getting enough air. He sat upright, putting his back to the wall with her securely perched on his lap.

“I love you. Now breathe.” Orders of any kind always got her back up. It scared him senseless when she nodded and tried to do as he’d asked instead of arguing. Wheezing, she took a few shallow breaths.

Had he brought her back only to kill her again?

“Burning.” Sweat beaded her entire body.

“I’m so sorry. There was no other way.” Closing his eyes, he concentrated on drawing the intense fever from her skin. There was resistance, but he was relentless. If there was one thing he could handle, it was heat.

“Ah.” Her sigh of ease was all the reassurance he needed that it was working. He swallowed heavily and kissed her damp temple. Relief flooded him.

Her entire body went rigid and she cried out.