Chapter Eighteen

Jericho wanted to punch Sadiq in the face. He could have kept Karina inside but had chosen to let her come out. It had been impossible not to hear their conversation with the kitchen window open.

It disgusted him how eagerly he’d listened, hoping to hear Karina say she had feelings for him. He really was pathetic. But none of that mattered. The biggest job right now was to protect her.

She was his, and she was being threatened. The urge to jump forward and rip Birch’s head from his shoulders before roasting his dead body with drakon fire was almost overwhelming. The only thing stopping him? She needed answers that only this man could give her.

They had time. Not much, but hopefully enough to get her what she needed. Enoch and Khalil were taking care of the men creeping through the woods. There were none better than those two when it came to being silent and stealthy. He and Sadiq tended to be noisier and a bit more blunt when it came to such things.

“I’m here to rescue you,” Birch insisted. Jericho crossed his arms over his chest and deepened his scowl when the man looked his way. They were spread out, distracting him, pulling his attention in different directions.

“Save me.” Disgust was evident in her tone. “You’ve let Svetlana hurt me my entire life.”

She was angry, and rightfully so. He couldn’t imagine his friends betraying him in such a matter.

“Karina.” Birch held out his hand. “You need to come with me. I don’t know who these men are, or who hired them, but you’re not safe here.”

“I’m not safe anywhere.” Her words hit him like a hammer to the head. Everyone, himself included, had threatened her. She had nowhere to go and no one to turn to that she could truly trust.

“Karina,” Jericho began, but she shook her head, keeping her attention on Birch. He knew she was right. They couldn’t afford to lose concentration. He glanced at Sadiq and made a signal behind his back. His friend nodded and slowly eased away.

Birch saw the movement and tracked his weapon toward Sadiq. Karina stepped in front of it.

“Get out of the way,” Birch ordered.

“No. I trust these men more than I do you. We have an understanding.”

Was that how she saw their sleeping together, as having an understanding?

“You offered them money?” Birch nodded as though that was a logical and expected step.

“We don’t need money.” It was time he took control of the conversation. As he walked toward his adversary, he smiled. From past experience, he knew that particular expression was enough to make some men piss their pants. But not this one.

Birch reached inside the vehicle and brought out a larger weapon—a tranquilizer gun. The Knights had potions that could render a drakon almost powerless and unable to shift back to their human form. “I know what you are.”

Jericho yanked his shirt over his head and tossed it aside, displaying his tattoo, his drakon birthmark for all to see. “Do you now?” With Birch’s attention on him, Sadiq slipped away, merging into to the surrounding woods.

“You’re a dragon.”

“He’s a drakon,” Karina corrected. “One who’d planned to kill me.” He’d never live that down but couldn’t regret it since it brought her into his life.

“Then get over here.”

He had to hand it to the man. He knew he was in a precarious position but was calm and unshaken.

“No.” That single, quietly spoken word fell with the force of a nuclear bomb. “I’m done being controlled. You work for Svetlana, not me. You answer to her. I’m done with all of you, with everything.” The finality of her words made Jericho edgy. He feared he was included in the “everything” she was done with.

He needed to get rid of the Knights. Then he and Karina could work things out. There would be plenty of time after they were safely away from here.

“I’m sorry.” Birch spoke to Karina but shot at Jericho. He ducked out of the way, avoiding the dangerous dart.

Karina yelled his name, and he instinctively reacted to the fear in her voice, his dragon bursting outward, demanding release. This time, he didn’t hold back, giving that side of his nature free rein.

His jeans ripped as his body expanded and changed shape. It only took a blink of an eye, but Birch, the bastard, was fast, firing again. Jericho knew he was at risk, but it wasn’t a big one, not with his brethren in the woods surrounding them. They’d have his back.

Karina dove toward the man, knocking his hand at the last second, deflecting his aim so the dart hit the hard scales of his body and not his more vulnerable neck. He roared, the sound thundering through the air. The entire world around them went silent.

But Birch was no idiot. He grabbed Karina around the neck and jammed the gun against her throat. The dose of sedative in the vial would kill her, and they all knew it.

Jericho was fucked.

…

Stupid! It had been foolish to put herself in Birch’s reach, especially knowing how good he was at his job. But she’d had no choice. In those few seconds he’d been changing form, Jericho had been vulnerable.

Her only thought had been to protect him. For all his sins—and she certainly wasn’t in a position to cast judgement—she had deep feelings for him. In truth, she was in love with him.

There was no other reason to get between a man with a gun and a drakon. Birch was a killer all the way to his soul. She’d always been called cold, but she was warm-hearted compared to her bodyguard and mentor. And Jericho was a drakon, able to shift into a powerful dragon. Jumping between them was the height of stupidity.

Yet she’d done just that, forfeiting her life for his.

It made no logical sense, but there was no reasoning with the heart.

But by her actions, she’d given Birch a weapon to use against Jericho and his men. Karina had no intention of allowing herself to be used in such a manner.

“Go,” she ordered. As a man, he exuded a powerful presence, one of danger and command. As a dragon he was too primal to be considered truly beautiful. Compelling, awe-inspiring, deadly. He was all those things and more.

He tilted his large, broad head to one side. Smoke flared from his nostrils, and when he smiled, she caught a glimpse of giant, razor-sharp teeth. With the red and black scales flashing in the sunlight, his long powerful tail curled around him, and his wings folded at his back, he was magnificent.

He was also amused.

“You want me to go?” It was odd to hear a human voice coming from a dragon. It was deeper, more guttural than normal, but not by much.

“Yes.” She tried to move, but Birch’s forearm pressed harder against her throat for a second, a silent warning to stay where she was. “There’s no need for you to get caught up in this war.”

That seemed to surprise both men. “Karina?” Birch’s grip loosened slightly but the gun never wavered. It might be filled with tranquilizers and not bullets, but with the dose involved, she’d be dead before she hit the ground. At least she’d have a chance with a bullet.

Jericho huffed out a breath and seemed to settle more comfortably where he was. It was official. Men were idiots. Apparently, it didn’t matter the species.

“Just go. I’ll deal with Birch and my grandmother.” Using Svetlana’s title was a reminder to all of them that she was related to the evil woman who’d harmed so many people, including her own granddaughter.

At least if Jericho and the others left, she wouldn’t have them on her conscience. “You know I’m right,” she continued. “If you think she didn’t have someone following Birch, you’re deluded. I imagine right this second there are teams moving into position, ready to kill me, and possibly Birch, and take you.”

“I was careful,” Birch began, but then sighed. “She claimed to believe you were dead, but she also knew I’d never stop looking.” He released his hold on her neck, instead shackling her wrist with his fingers. “I never wanted to hurt you.”

“Why?” Maybe it was silly and didn’t matter in the bigger scheme of things, but she needed to know. “You’ve been with me since I was a teenager. Why did you let her do these things to me?”

Birch simply shook his head, depriving her of any explanation. Jericho was watching them intently, letting events unfold, but she had no doubt he could swing into action in a heartbeat. Drakons might be huge in their dragon form, but they were faster than most people suspected.

“I’ll go with you,” she blurted. If she could get Birch and his men away from here before Svetlana arrived, she’d never have to know about Jericho and the others. “If you keep your mouth shut about the drakons, I’ll go with you.”

Jericho growled. The powerful sound came from deep inside him, causing the ground beneath them to actually vibrate. “It’s too late.” He tilted his large head as though listening intently. “She’s brought enough men for a small war.”

“Damn her,” Karina muttered. It was unlikely she’d get the opportunity to face down Svetlana, as she preferred to direct events from the shadows rather than being a part of them.

Birch pulled her close and slightly behind him. “I’ll protect her,” he told Jericho.

“I’d prefer you talk to me.” Her tone was icy, her words precise. “I’m right here.” The men thought they’d talk around the little woman, did they?

In a move he’d taught her years before, she raised her arm and spun under it, forcing Birch to release her. She dove behind the vehicle before he could fire, yanked open the door on the other side, and grabbed the gun he’d discarded earlier.

Armed, she faced her former bodyguard and friend. “Drop the weapon,” she ordered.

He shook his head, his pale blue eyes filled with regret. “I can’t.”

She hadn’t really expected him to. He’d always told her never to surrender her weapon. Better to die fighting than to go down meekly. In spite of everything he’d done, she owed him a great deal.

A terrified scream ripped through the air. It was quickly followed by another and another. Gunfire erupted. Svetlana’s men had arrived.

…

Jericho wasn’t sure if he wanted to kiss Karina or paddle her backside. Order him to leave her, would she? Did she imagine he’d simply turn and walk away?

Probably. In spite of all she knew about drakons, and the fact they’d made love, he didn’t think she fully comprehended what she was to him. She was used to betrayal, to those around her doing what was in their own best interests.

But he couldn’t leave her, wouldn’t leave.

She’d been created to be his, the one woman in the history of the world who could ease the emptiness inside him and give him renewed hope for the future.

He’d bitterly cursed fate for not bringing him a woman. Then he’d damned it again when it had brought him the leader of the Knights of the Dragon as a mate. With both their lives on the line, he truly understood what a gift she was.

She’d moved so quickly he could barely believe his eyes. One second, she was a captive, the next, she’d freed herself and was now holding a weapon on Birch. Pride had his chest puffing out. He’d momentarily forgotten what a dangerous woman she was.

It was a hell of a turn-on.

“Karina, come here,” he ordered. The safest place for her was behind him. His scales were as good a shield as existed in the world.

She shook her head. “I can’t.”

His head felt as though it might implode. “What do you mean, you can’t? Get over here.” He took a step forward, but Birch turned that damn tranquilizer gun on him again. Around them, fighting raged. It wouldn’t be long before it reached them. In spite of his friends’ best efforts, some of the mercenaries would breach the perimeter and bring the fight to them.

He whipped his head around when he heard footsteps. Inhaling sharply, he allowed the blistering fire to build inside him, energizing him. He was a fire drakon, one who’d pushed his limits for years, refining his techniques until he was the ultimate weapon.

Releasing his breath, he aimed the powerful flame like water from a hose. The men screamed and were practically vaporized on the spot.

“Holy shit,” Birch whispered under his breath. Jericho doubted he’d seen a fire drakon in action before.

The sting of a dart slamming into him coincided with the retort of a handgun. Birch had taken advantage of his second of inattention. He jerked the dart away from his neck, but not before about half of the tranquilizer had entered his bloodstream.

Without hesitation, he directed a focused stream of his fire inside himself. It raced through his bloodstream, coursing through his veins. Agony burned through him as the fire also sought to obliterate blood vessels and veins, not to mention his internal organs. But he was a drakon, and his fire could not kill him. His organs would regenerate, but the fire would destroy the foreign substance inside him. He’d learned and harnessed his power through centuries of ruthless control and brutal experimentation. It might hurt like hell, but it would also save him. He might be weakened, but he was still a drakon.

“You bastard.”

At first, he thought Karina was talking to him. It was difficult to concentrate. His reflexes were slow as the poison burned off. But she was standing over Birch’s body, her weapon aimed at him. Blood flowed from the wound on his shoulder, and he wore an expression of complete disbelief. Jericho might have enjoyed it if he weren’t in such pain.

“You shot me.” There was shock in Birch’s voice.

“What did you expect me to do? You were hurting him.”

The “him” had to be, well, him. Jericho shook his head, glad his thoughts were beginning to make sense again. Whatever had been in that dart was more powerful than any sample of the drug he’d ever gotten his hands on over the years. He wasn’t sure he’d still be standing if he’d gotten the full dosage.

Several more men ran into the clearing, automatic weapons raised. They all wore black and appeared to be well trained. Not that he expected anything less. He didn’t see any more tranquilizer guns, but decided it was best to play possum for the time being.

“Lower your weapons,” Karina commanded. Several of the men actually started to follow her orders before catching themselves and raising their guns again. “I gave you an order.”

“We don’t work for you,” one of them told her.

Karina stalked over to stand in front of him, ignoring both Jericho and Birch, who was still lying on the ground.

“Where is she?” Karina demanded. “Or is she too much of a coward to face me. Is that the kind of leader you follow? One who is too afraid to show her face?”

Jericho had no doubt Svetlana was monitoring from somewhere nearby. That’s what the top Knights tended to do. And Karina knew that, as well. She was not only taunting her grandmother but undermining her authority with her men.

Very smart.

“My grandmother is brave when she’s ordering other people around. At heart, she’s a bloody coward.” She turned to the first man and stalked forward, shoving the barrel of his rifle aside with a swipe from her arm. Even now she was thinking, careful not to touch the hot metal with her bare skin.

Jericho was amazed and enthralled.

He heard the vehicle coming down the road before Karina did, but she eventually noticed the sound and turned her head to watch.

An SUV with darkened windows pulled up. Two men jumped out, weapons drawn. A third man opened the door on the far side. A woman stepped out, giving him his first glimpse of Svetlana Azarov.

She was tall, about the same height as Karina. Their builds were similar, although a few threads of silver laced through the older woman’s hair. He knew it had to be intentional. It lent her a regal air. Her classic beauty hid a rotten soul and an evil heart.

As though she didn’t have a care in the world, Svetlana strode around the front of the vehicle with her men flanking her. “How dare you call me a coward? I made you.”