Legacy: The Niteclif Evolutions, Book 1 (36 page)

“Dragon or not, you’re a woman and I count myself lucky to be your
Trékkor
.”

“Is that like a spouse?” I asked…yet again. I had to stop with the questions. I was beginning to annoy myself.

“It is. You’ll be my
Trékkar
. But don’t fool yourself, Maddy. It’s more serious than human wedding vows,” he said gravely. “There’s no such thing as divorce in the clans. Once you’ve committed to me, and I to you, we’re together until one of us dies. Then there are rules about remarrying. Really you should have a crash course in this, but there’s just no time.”

“I hate to ask another question, because all my conversation seems to be punctuated with a question mark today, but if that’s the case, what about the prophecy?”

Bahlin’s eyes hardened. “We’ll beat it somehow. I don’t know how, exactly, but we’ll have to find a way to change the nature of the thread on Clotho’s spindle, my love.”

All I could think was,
Damn straight.

We went up to the rooftop deck, Bahlin jamming the door lock with a reverse version of his breaking and entering show from only a week ago. The hotel was one of the tallest buildings in this part of town, minimizing the threat of being seen. He stripped down to his skin and shoved his clothes into the same messenger bag we’d carried days ago. He smiled at me and then ripped through the change, one minute a man and seconds later a full-sized dragon. He took a deep breath and was suddenly cloaked, appearing as nothing more than a vaporous smudge on the night air.

“Feeling frisky tonight?” I laughed before I stepped into him. He scooped me up in his arms, and I was instantly wrapped in the miasma of his cloak. He clutched me tight and shot up into the air without hesitation, the buildings falling away. I realized that, for the first time, he was acting like a dragon with me. No apologies, no coddling, just all animalistic behavior. It was liberating and terrifying.

We flew to the northwest at breakneck speeds, the land and lochs blurring by in the clear light of the nearly full moon. If we failed, the full moon would be upon us and Tarrek’s power would be stronger than since this had started. He’d have Imeena’s heart, and his own evolution would be complete.

Over the sound of Bahlin’s booming breath I heard the flap of other wings. Looking out across the sky I saw nothing in the moonlight, but I knew we weren’t alone. And then a figure darted below us, and Bahlin bellowed with rage. He began to swoop toward the offending dragon when he drew up, seeming to remember I was there. He grumbled deep in his chest and I imagined that, for whatever the offense, when he caught the other dragon there’d be hell to pay.

We arrived at the predetermined spot about an hour before we were supposed to be there. Already the clearing was teaming with life despite the remoteness of the location. Men and women in robes stood segregated from the most beautiful creatures I’d ever seen. They seemed to glow in the moonlight, and I knew Imeena’s vampire kiss had shown up to either save or avenge her. To the other side of the clearing were groups of dragons. How did I know? Some of them were still in dragon form—the rest were in some state of undress. I knew if I saw Leith or Aiden without clothes I would have to bleach my brain. I couldn’t see my in-laws naked and come out unscarred.

“Niteclif,” boomed out a disturbing voice.

“Oh good. Hellion’s here already,” I muttered, schooling my face into polite interest before I turned around. What I failed to remember was that all but the witches and wizards had exceptional hearing and there were some snickers from both crowds.

“Something funny?” he asked frostily.

“Definitely not,” I answered.
Honest.
“Glad you made it.”
Not as honest.
While I knew we needed him, I didn’t feel we could trust him.

Bahlin was speaking to his mother, gesturing in an agitated manner.

“Hold that thought, Hellion,” I said, walking toward Bahlin and Adelle. Reaching Bahlin’s side I asked, “Problem?”

“The Elder isn’t here,” Bahlin hissed, staring across the clearing at his father. “Apparently
someone
felt he’d be safer at home.”

“Ah, I see,” I said, and I did. I pulled off the knives with which Bahlin had been coaching me. He’d improvised harnesses from his own leather belts, boots and duct tape, and I threw them to the ground. Next I undid my own belt, ejected the clip on the Colt 1911 and dropped it to the ground. Yes, guns were illegal in the UK. But hello? It was owned by a dragon. Obviously the officials weren’t asking the
right
questions.

“Maddy,” Bahlin said, the warning clear in his voice.

“Sod off, Bahlin,” I snapped, storming toward the
Glaaca
. “Leith.”

“Niteclif,” he answered coolly. “Problem?” he asked, repeating my comment with sarcasm.

I got right up to him and waved him close to me. Being an arrogant ass, he bent at the waist and got close to eye level with me. I gathered myself and, in a perfect single motion, dropped a roundhouse kick on him that would have snapped the spine of a lesser monster. Okay, so he stood perfectly still while I wound up and he didn’t know I’d had three years of kickboxing and one year of karate, but really? Talk about arrogance.

My foot would be bruised tomorrow, but it was so worth it to see him trying to determine up from down as he lay sprawled in the heather. He stumbled as he tried to get up and I set up for another kick, but Aiden was in front of me.

“No, Maddy. You get the one, but not another,” he said, and I thought I saw approval dancing across his features. Brylanna was at her father’s side, helping him up. I backed away from the group of them, watching the blue dragons gathering around their fallen leader.

Leith made it to his feet and spit, discarding a useless tooth. “I imagine you’ll pay for that.”

“Send me the bill.” I turned my back on him and walked back to Bahlin.

We milled about, waiting on the last of the vampires to arrive. Imeena’s kiss had called in some favors and we had two other kisses joining us, one from Ireland and one from Galway. It wouldn’t be long before our ragtag bunch was together, for better or worse. Leith stayed away from me, and I from him, until it was time to begin tactical planning. He stormed over to our group and announced that he’d have nothing to do with fighting with a human and wouldn’t hold his weyr to a war he, himself, intended to avoid.

Bahlin stepped away from the group and said to his father in a low, carrying voice, “Da, what’s the meaning of this?”

“Yeh’re blinded by yehr cock, boy, and yeh can’t see beyond the cunnie standing in front of yeh,” he hissed, standing to his full height in a long-practiced move that reeked of intimidation. It was the first time I realized he was slightly taller than Bahlin.

“Yeh’ve crossed the line, Da. Say such again and I’ll knock yeh on yehr ass for the second time in a night, old man,” Bahlin said in a conversational voice. “Or I’ll let her have at yeh again.”

Several of the weyr laughed, but some of the older members looked shocked first, pissed off a second later.

“Speak to me that way again, boy, and yeh’re forsaken.”

There was an intake of breath, and Bahlin froze. It didn’t take much to figure out his dad had just threatened to cut him off.

“So be it,” Bahlin said. “When this is over, we’ll settle who is
Glaaca
of this wyvern. But tonight, we need every able-bodied warrior we can have to put a stop to the crazed fae.”

No one moved. If I’d thought being forsaken was bad, this was far worse. The other clans looked on with great interest, and even the other supernatural groups watched curiously.

“So be it,” Leith said. “Let all stand as witness that from this point forward, Bahlin Drago is no longer my son. He is forsaken, and none must offer him aid.”

I walked to Bahlin’s side and took his hand. “Really?” I asked for the second time tonight. “Over a kick?”

“It’s been a long time coming,” said Aiden, standing at his brother’s side. Adelle was weeping softly behind her husband, and Brylanna was nowhere to be seen in the crowd.

We pulled together quickly after the drama with Leith and Bahlin. Just before we were getting ready to depart for Castle Duncan, Leith announced he was leaving. He offered again to take any of his wyvern that didn’t want to fight with him. He ordered Aiden to his side and the young dragon had to go. Bahlin said he wasn’t old enough, or strong enough, to do otherwise.

“Brat’s the one who did the fly-by on us earlier,” Bahlin muttered. “Stupid sod was supposed to stay home,” Bahlin said, looking down at me. His hair hung loose around his shoulders and, in the moonlight, cast shadows across his face. A feeling of foreboding skittered down my spine, and I reached up to push his hair from his forehead so I could see his eyes. He looked at me questioningly, and I just smiled.

“It’s nothing,” I said. “Just nerves.”

“It will be over before you know it,” he said.

“Did Aloysius ever fight in such a winner-take-all battle?” I asked.

“Truth? No,” he said, sighing. “But times were different then.”

That didn’t give me any hope for the future.

The plan was that Bahlin would fly a shape-shifting wizard and me in to the edge of the castle grounds. The shape-shifter’s alternate form was a horse. He’d shift and carry me to the castle on the hoof. Bahlin would follow in the air, watching for any dragon support Tarrek might have. I didn’t like it, but all the arguing in the world hadn’t changed anyone’s mind that this was the best option.

Leith departed with one final offer to take any of his wyvern with him, but other than four members—two males, two females—and Aiden, he left alone. Even Adelle stayed, despite his order that she accompany him. Little Adelle stood her ground, and I was impressed. A few changes were made after Leith departed since we were an odd number now, then we were good to go.

Bahlin packed us up and we were off, the wizard riding behind me on Bahlin’s back since it was easier to carry passengers astride than in his arms. He set down in a copse of mature trees just east of the castle. Lights were clearly burning in several of the downstairs windows.

“Take care,
mo chrid
, and I’ll be with you again in no time.” Bahlin took to the air and the wizard, a spritely little man named Henley, changed in front of my eyes. He was a gorgeous dapple gray, and he knelt to help me up on his back. I’d ridden for years as a child, and it really was like riding a bike. After a couple of false starts and one harsh reintroduction to the ground, we set off at a good pace toward the castle.

I felt it the minute we crossed the magical plane. Someone had set some type of wards around the house, and my wizard friend stumbled. I leapt to the ground just as he changed back to his human form, his robes strangely intact.

“He’s got magical folk inside,” Henley said, “though I cannot tell what flavor they are. His wards are strong. Could be fae, could be other witches or wizards, or it could be dragons. I’m just not sure.”

“No worries,” I said, putting a hand out to stop Henley. “Go back twenty paces and flag down a dragon. Make sure the others know about the wards before they get here. Maybe Hellion’s gang can do something to circumvent them.”

“Good idea,” he said and turned to head back without argument.

I wonder if I can train my dragon to do
that. I smiled.
But then he wouldn’t be Bahlin.

I approached the front door of the castle, astounded that they actually had traditional doors. I knocked, and it swung open ominously.

“A little overdone, Tarrek,” I called out.

“So you’ve found me out, little Niteclif,” his voice rang out. “Pray tell, what gave it away?”

“Seriously, who else could it have been? Remember, I come from a long line of sleuths. You didn’t stand much of a chance.” I looked around the barren entry hall, surprised at the detailed woodwork and the beautiful parquet floors. I was going to feel bad about destroying the castle.

“What have you done with Imeena?” I asked, taking a further step into the entry.

A sultry female voice chuckled and I was jerked around only to find her teeth pressed to my throat. “I thought you came from a long line of sleuths, Madeleine,” she said, scraping the skin just enough that it stung. Supernatural creatures of every flavor began coming out of the woodwork like roaches in the dark.

My heart thundered in my throat, ironically, just where she wanted it. “I thought you’d be part of the rescue mission, not one of the casualties,” I said with bravery I didn’t feel.

“Foolish little mortal. What did you think you were walking into?”

“I’ll answer that,” said Leith.

How many bad guys
were
there?
I demanded of Tyr, knowing he could hear me.

“You should be able to,” I said, “since you were at the pep rally.”

He looked confused and I said, “Forget it. It’s an Americanism.
This
you’ll understand. How could you turn on your son?”

He strode across the floor, grabbed me from Imeena and slapped me twice in quick succession, my head rocking back. I tasted blood in my mouth and, feeling around with my tongue, felt a couple of loose teeth. I could feel panic beginning to build in the back of my throat and I worked to keep it held in check. If I reacted or screamed before the cavalry arrived, it would be a death-sentence for Bahlin who was circling close by in case of trouble. I was pretty sure this qualified, but I’d wait it out and try to keep Bahlin safe as long as I could.

Leith threw me across the floor, and I crashed head first into the wood paneling I’d admired moments ago. I was less impressed now that it had cracked my skull and left me seeing double. No, make that triple.

I heard a slithering sound and watched in horror as a shambling horde of bodies began coming down the main staircase and making their way into the hall.

“Tarrek,” bellowed Leith. “Get in here. Your dead ha’ come callin’.” And he laughed. He
laughed
. There were all manner of people and supernatural creatures with sightless eyes and slow, uneven gaits. They were like zombies, but worse, they’d never died.