Treasure Lane Dragons: Complete Series (BBW Paranormal Dragon Shapeshifter Romance) (51 page)

The flames were red, but the tips were black as they consumed one twig, scrap of paper and item of clothing after another, slowly moving closer to her and picking up strength. Now Jade truly felt that she might not make it, might not have a way out. She bit her lower lip and squeezed the dragon stone in her palm so hard she thought it would crumble into dust.

I love you,
she thought.

Just then, in time with the first notes of Death Wing’s next song, a duo of eardrum-shattering screeches filled the sky. Jade looked up, and her heart just about stopped. Two brilliantly golden bodies swooped down from the inky blackness, circling around each other as they headed for the ground in a dizzying swirl.

The crowd watched in stunned silence at first, but then scattered with frightened screeches when they understood that the dragons would land right in their midst.

“Apollo! Alexander!” Jade called desperately, the smell of burning filling her nostrils.

Her feet were already getting far too hot, the flames so close that they would soon catch onto her clothes. The dragons landed with a heavy thud where the countless fans had just stood. Jaws bared in snarls, one of them turned towards the stage while the other came for Jade.

She looked up at him, and she knew that it had to be Alexander. His golden eyes considered her with worry, the huge head coming close to her. Jade held her breath, not sure of what he would do. It’s not that she feared him, it’s just that when faced with something the size of a condo complex and capable of breathing fire and flying, one finds herself hardwired to worry a little. Softly, he blew on the flames.

The circle of fire around Jade grew even bigger, but this time, it was Alexander’s fire that added to it. His flames made a quick, tight circle around Jade. They were tinted with gold, not black, and when she felt them close to her, it wasn’t the fearsome heat of impending death, but more of a welcoming warmth. The flames reached her binds, undoing them easily and leaving them scattered at her feet without hurting her.

Stay here,
Alexander said, his voice echoing in her mind.

Jade looked at him, bewildered.

“Where do you think I’d go? I’m surrounded by fire!” she said to the retreating back of the large beast with more than a little bite to her words.

As she looked up, Jade saw both Cameron and Colt turning into those black, horrific dragons that had started it all. She gulped. They were as big as Apollo and Alexander. Like light against dark, the gold and black dragons stared at one another, their muscles tense and ready for action.

Cameron snarled. He was slightly larger than Colt and his horns were a loose crown around his face, while Colt’s jutted out haphazardly on either side of his maw. Jade’s stomach twisted. She knew that whatever happened next, it wouldn’t be an easy fight. And it was certain that a fight would have to take place – the way the dragons stared at one another, ready to conquer and destroy, left her no question of that.

The crowds had retreated to a safer distance, considering the situation with wide eyes full of wonder. The blackness swirled in their eyes, and Jade was half-surprised none of them had grabbed rocks and tried to uselessly pummel the gold dragons. The allegory of it all was ridiculous.

Once again, Jade had to wonder if this was reality or a twisted fantasy. How does someone like her manage to go from living a perfectly acceptable life, to being in the middle of an ancient dragon war as the damsel in distress? It bewildered her.

Colt finally roared, the dragons having stared at one another for far too long in tense silence. Jade was sure they were communicating wordlessly with one another, but now, Colt had reached his boiling point. She gulped.

Please let them be okay,
she begged, but she wasn’t sure if there was anyone there to hear her.

CHAPTER TWENTY

Alexander

Alexander blazed, inside and out. The fire tingled at the roof of his mouth, itching to douse the insolent Blackscales. Not only had they had the gall to abduct his and Apollo’s bride, but they were honestly expecting to get away with cooking her alive for the viewing pleasure of their sick, twisted fans? There could be no mercy.

You Goldplains have always thought you were better than us. All that time ago, you stole our lands, and ever since, it has been a series of insults. We won’t take it any longer,
Cameron hissed, his low voice carrying through the consciousness of each dragon present.

Only a dragon as petty as you could think that territorial battles between our ancestors have any sway in a situation like this. You’ve taken our mate before the gold moon. Even lowly lizards like you two should understand that it is an unforgivable offense,
Alexander projected.

You will pay,
Apollo added, his thoughts stern but surprisingly calm.

Alexander had to admit that his hotheaded little brother had shown admirable self-control and spirit in the difficult situation. Not only had he remained cool and collected through the whole ordeal, he could also stand against the Blackscales without doing anything rash – not that rash wasn’t entirely called for, if one were to ask Alexander.

Gladly,
Colt finished.

Alexander took flight just as Colt roared, spewing his dark fire at Apollo. One after another, all four of them took off. Alexander careened down just in time to knock Colt to the side as he tried to put distance between himself and the ground, sending the black dragon into the stage. It crumbled under his weight as Colt skidded to a halt and then jumped into the air again.

Horrifying screeches filled the air as Apollo and Cameron faced each other. They climbed higher, circling one another, their fire lighting the sky in the deathly fireworks of battle. Alexander’s eyes narrowed, flying upwards quickly, knowing that Colt had to have been just at his heel. He steadied his long tail, the mallet of a tip ready to strike.

Just as he’d hoped, Apollo kept Cameron busy enough to allow Alexander the element of surprise. By the time Cameron noticed him approaching, it was too late. With fantastic force, Alexander whipped himself around in mid-air, bringing his iron tail flying into the soft underbelly of the black dragon.

Cameron’s fire stopped mid-breath and he tumbled backwards, crouched over as his wings flapped twice as fast to regain control. While the Blackscales may have been burlier and of more solid build, the Goldplains were faster, leaner, and as the situation called for it, meaner. It wasn’t just a fight for them, a squabble over something trifle – it was a matter of life or death. They would do anything in the name of their mate. And the Blackscales would simply have the misfortune of finding out just that.

Apollo bolted after Cameron, catching him and ripping his bladed teeth into the black dragon’s wings, tearing at that most valuable part of a dragon’s body. Alexander heard Cameron’s desperate cry and Apollo’s fearsome growl as they tumbled through the night sky, but he couldn’t go and help his brother. Sharp pain raged through him, making him thrash and flail in the air. Colt had come up behind him, and his jaws were now locked firmly around Alexander’s long, golden-yellow neck.

He felt the jagged jaws ripping at his scales, and then, an intense heat – as Colt held on, the fire from his belly bathed Alexander’s neck, scorching and burning where the teeth opened flesh. Alexander’s fire lit the gruesome scene, and he heard gasps from down below as thick, golden drops of blood fell to the ground, gathering the sand as they pooled.

“Alexander!” he heard, the cry of the sweetest voice he knew – Jade’s.

With double the determination, he lashed at Colt, digging his claws into the black dragon’s underbelly where the scales were the weakest. With a sudden yelp, Colt let go as Alexander’s back legs dug in deep and thrashed down, opening up a long gash on Colt’s stomach. Black, tar-like blood mixed with Alexander’s gold on the sand.

They both drew back a little, breathing massive plumes of fire at one another, merely hampering the other’s attack. Alexander glanced around himself, looking for Apollo. He caught the exact moment when Apollo managed to tear himself free of Cameron’s hold, Apollo’s right wing scorched with dragon fire and bloody cuts running down his back where Cameron had ripped into him.

Swiftly, Alexander flew down to Apollo, taking his side. Both Cameron and Apollo were flying lopsided now, nursing an injured wing. Colt came down as well, and the four of them faced one another for a second, maws twisted in growls, all the ancient hate between the two families coming to the surface.

No remorse,
Alexander heard Apollo’s voice in his head, just as his younger brother dove for Colt.

They will get what they deserve,
Alexander echoed, sprinting after Colt.

Alexander knew it was a gamble. Focusing their attention on only one of the Blackscales – the one who remained stronger for now – could mean they’d take big blows themselves. But the tides were much too even and needed to be turned in their favor. Without something unexpected happening, they might wear the Blackscales out first. Alexander’s careful, scheming mind gave way to the brutality of it all, deciding to trust Apollo’s method. After all, were they not one now? If they were to share their life with one woman, it was about time Alexander learned to trust his brother.

Jaws wide and their golden fire creating a dazzling, deadly cloud before them, both of them went for Colt. The Blackscale managed to dodge them a little, but not enough. Apollo caught him by the shoulder and pulled him back, and then, both Alexander and Apollo clung to one of his wings.

Immediately, Alexander felt Colt’s powerful jaws lock on his front leg, tearing scale from muscle and muscle from bone. The pain was excruciating, and when his black fire burned through the injured flesh, Alexander had to fight for his consciousness.

His vision went red and gold as Apollo breathed fire, his jaws ripping at Colt’s wings while trying to get Cameron off of himself. Cameron had attached to Apollo, his claws tearing through Apollo’s sides. Like a meteor surrounded by black and gold fire, the four of them plummeted towards the desert floor, snapping, tearing, ripping and destroying any flesh that got in their way.

Alexander crunched down at the same time as Colt, and with a satisfying, eardrum-bursting crack, Colt’s wings broke. Colt screamed out, his ruby eyes glazing over with pain. The ground was so close, and Alexander managed to peel himself from Colt just in time as the Blackscale’s jaws let go of him in a desperate roar of a scream.

Alexander hung maybe a hundred feet above the ground, panting. He wasn’t the only one who had managed to let go. Cameron was flying under him – slow, weary and with one wing flapping more raggedly than the other, but he was still in the air. Alexander’s breath caught in his chest.

Apollo?
he called, receiving no answer.

A giant dust cloud covered the earth where Colt had crashed down, most likely taking Apollo with him. The silence was deafening, but Alexander couldn’t go and check whether his brother still clung to life.

Cameron veered down right above Jade, and Alexander’s heart just about stopped. Like chased by the hounds of hell, he ducked down and flew as fast as he could, leaving a dribble of blood on the ground to mark his path. Cameron touched down right in front of Jade, and without second thought, raised his front leg to simply squish her like a bug.

“Alexander!” she called frantically, trapped by the fire that blazed around her.

For a moment, everything slowed down around Alexander. He didn’t know if his brother still lived – though rationally he assumed he would have felt the loss had he died – and he was faced with the possible loss of his mate to his greatest enemy. All his determination and power focused, honing him into a blade that would cut through anything that stood before him.

Like a bullet, he came careening down, wings tucked by his sides. He made no attempt at slowing himself down, and with Cameron’s foot only inches from the crouching Jade, Alexander plowed into the black dragon.

They went tumbling through the desert, right into the rubble of the stage. Distantly, Alexander felt something breaking, something crushing, something crackling. Still, his anger fueled him. Before Cameron could get a good hold on him, Alexander’s teeth locked around Cameron’s lower jaw and squeezed without mercy. He closed his eyes as black fire doused him along with desperate cries from the flailing black dragon.

The last thing Alexander remembered before darkness claimed him was how Cameron’s body fell limp in his grasp, collapsing on top of him.