Web Of Bones: Book II of the Dragon Mage Series (16 page)

Winging away from his mate to join the melee, Solan felt the rage of his dragon grow.
After watching his mate fight so often on a field where he could not follow, he longed for the bloodletting to come. He could see the explosions of earth and magic working their way down the mountain peak fortress of Isolation—his own senses sharpened and his blood moved faster in his veins. He could feel Furee and Prince Ladon close behind him, but it was the call of the warrior that had him now. Dragon fire and roars of rage led them to the heat of battle. Fires spewed from the crumbling rocks while dragons fought nightmares. But he did not see Eben Kinkaid, or more importantly, Lord Graedon.

He plunged into a hole in the wall and got his first good look at the creatures they fought.
He had seen something like them before. When Lord Bochus had been under the influence of the blood mage poison, he had looked much as these mutilated creatures did. They looked and felt wrong, and it was almost a demand of nature to remove that blight from the earth. That it was a dragon that perpetrated these heinous crimes was even more of a violation to his Knight’s soul.

No biting.
He sent out the call to his men.
They are created with the dragon poison. Do not let them get close, and do not bite them.

Now he tells us.
Solan turned to see Lux fighting beast-to-beast with some twisted creature that resembled a giant bear, with tusks, and razor sharp six-inch claws.

Fire is having no
effect on these creatures
, Aarion warned from another room.

Furee blasted a large mutated lion that was coming at him.
His was significantly hotter than most dragons, and the strange catlike creature wailed a high-pitched scream and backed, kicking and thrashing, through a blast hole in the mountain. They could hear his screeching for quite a distance down as he burned.
Mine seems to be working fine.

Then perhaps you would be so good as to share the love.
Even his head voice was pure booming Lux
.

Swords
,
Solan commanded.

Tried that.
They just won’t die.
Aarion was shoved through a wall by another mutant bear even as he was talking.

Cut them to pieces and leave them floundering if you have to.
He looked around at the fighting and saw everyone but the person who he really wanted to see.

Prince Ladon landed among them and transformed into a knight in full
armor that fairly glowed with shimmering gold power
.
He moved through the dozens of mutants joining the fight through the torn walls like a scythe through corn. When he had a good size pile of body parts twitching in piles around him, he turned to join Solan with his battle gold’s bathed in blood. Seeing the other man watching him, he shrugged. “I’m better with a sword in my warrior form.”

Solan did not have time to question the Lord
’s battle prowess. No doubt sharing the memories of Eben Kinkaid had something to do with his knowledge with the blade, but he would have to ask later. He picked up a mutant ox that was pounding its head against the ground and preparing to charge Lux. Lifting him, Solan swung the thousand-pound creature through the crumbling wall.
Where is Graedon and Eben Kinkaid?

Running.
They were talking when these creatures showed up and distracted us,
Aarion said, ripping the arms off a gorilla-type beast with three heads.
Graedon ran for the lower levels, and Kinkaid followed.

The last I saw of them,
Lux added.
I was thinking quite happily that I would rather stay and face an entire battalion of mutated monsters than Eben Kinkaid, in that kind of a rage.
More monsters poured into the room, and Lux’s laugh ricochet in Solan’s head, making him wince.
Looks like I got my wish.

Then you know where I will be
,
Solan said, but was stopped in his quest by the overwhelming numbers. Graedon had picked his distractions well. He sighed, pulling a sword out of thin air and whacking off the head of another cat creature heading for Aarion. Shifting to his own warrior form, he stood a few feet shy of the creatures he now faced—but then again, size only mattered if you knew what you were doing. For several minutes he did nothing but twirl and slash in his fighting leathers, his sword a deadly arch that cleaved flesh and bone like butter. Even the armored creatures could not stand before it. Finally, after making his own little piles of deformed body parts, he cleared away the dangerous blood with dragon magic and shifted, heading for the main staircase. Ducking a hirsute ox-like creature that Lux threw at Prince Ladon, Solan saw him slice one smooth chop down its center in midair. It landed in pieces amongst the growing piles. Looking around, Solan knew they had this battle well in hand.

Now for Lord Graedon.
Solan could feel his blood lust rising with each level of descent.

He finally heard the battle raging farther below and picked up even more speed, only to arrive when Eben Kinkaid in warrior form had Lord Graedon down and was removing his great dragon head from his body.

Solan watched with mixed feelings as the head dangled and the body twitched its last—satisfaction was a distant second.

Then death magic twisted around them
. Rather than the big gold and brown dragon that led the House of Earth, the body was another from that house, young and half-finished, just past its first molt by the look of him.

They both cursed, watching it happen and knowing what it meant.

Illusion.
With gold wings and shimmering greens and blues up its sides, it was probably from the House of Earth, but Solan did not recognize him.

“
Foolish,”
Eben said, kicking the dead dragon off his sword. His movements barely disguising the fury he contained within. “I was not looking for it, or I would have known. But it has not been seen in dragon kind since before the dark horde was vanquished.”

Then where is Graedon?
Solan gnashed his dragon teeth and snarled, wanting nothing more than to stomp the body into the ground.

My guess is he set this distraction and ran, the second we arrived.
The disgust could have been for the cowardice of their foe, or his own culpability at being tricked—either way Solan had other concerns.

Melly!
Solan sucked in a breath, roaring his rage as he turned and blasted his way out the side of the mountain. Eben Kinkaid followed suit, jumping through the new hole before the walls could collapse around it, and shifting in free fall to join him in furious flight back to the women.

Melly, Lord Graedon escaped the castle.
Are you safe?

We are fine.
The soft sound of her in his head was a balm to Solan’s rage, but he would not be content until he had her in his arms and
knew
she was safe.

Keep your eyes open.

I have sent out the wind, but all I sense is you and Eben returning.

Keep looking.
We will be there in seconds.
Already he could see the ledge where they rested, waiting out the battle.
Eben?

I see nothing to cause alarm.

They both landed and a second later, Melly was in his arms, her cheek pressed to his leather, while Morgan threw herself at Eben Kinkaid.

“
He got away?” Melly asked. Solan looked over her head at the fire mage. He knew the fire that burned in his eyes because he was feeling the same thwarted rage.

“
He used illusion and mutated animals to distract us. Eben thought he was fighting him, but it was another young dragon we ’didn’t recognize.” He kissed Melly’s hair and held her tighter. “I will have Aarion see if he recognizes him from House Earth.”

“
Ladon says the battle is over and Furee is burning all that remains of the poisoned creatures.” Eben skimmed his hand over his mate’s cheek, then moved it to the baby bump at her belly, resting it there. “Ladon will be coming soon; he has the creature’s blood on him and will wash and transform before he comes.”

“
You weren’t touched by the poison?” Morgan asked, running her hands all over him.

“
If I was, I would hardly be hugging my mate,” he said, his brow arching disdainfully.

He saw Melly smile, and knew what she saw.
That pragmatic voice, paired with the love shining from dragon gold eyes of aged power. All for his mate. Solan watched them for a moment with Melly; then, running his hand through her hair, he fisted it there, turning her face up to his. He showed her his eyes, frosted and turbulent. “He is still out there.”

“
But now we know who he is,” she whispered, palming his cheek, her other hand over his heart. “And he cannot hide forever.”

Solan looked up and met the cold fury of the fire mage, who still hovered over the dragon female Asha as she slept through her pain.
Then he was drawn to eyes of antique gold that promised cold hard justice would be served. “No. He cannot hide forever.”

H
e has picked the wrong enemies to do battle with,
Solan thought, holding his mate closer, looking out at the others with eyes of iced death.
Because we will not stop until he has paid in blood.

Home.
More than once Melly had wondered if she would ever see it again. Forsaken Mountain was the tallest mountain in Dracon and the incredible, seemingly never-ending castle inside formed long ago by dragon dreams. It was foreign, elegantly grand, and daunting in the extreme, much like the man who had created his home there, deep in the mountain fortress. And like the man himself, it offered safety. Melly never thought she’d feel as safe anywhere else as she did here, until she met Solan Fire-Eater.

They landed on the lip of the highest balcony,
overlooking all of Dracon. Before they were even through the massive doors that guarded his treasures, Rhune and Clare were running at them.

“
Melly!” Rhune called, almost as loud as Lux in his excitement. But they both slowed to a cautious walk when they caught sight of the onyx dragon that carried her. Solan set her down carefully and shifted to his warrior form. Both of them narrowed their eyes in almost identical looks of suspicion when he ran his hand down her braid and she turned and smiled at him.

Are they afraid I will attack, or planning their own?
he wondered through their bond.

With Rhune, expect anything.
Melly laughed, and opened her arms to her siblings.

Rhune yelled out a whoop, and rushed into her arms.
Clare was slower, clearly wanting to go to her sister, but busy watching the rest of the dragons land, and keeping one eye on Solan. They both looked exactly the same as when she left. At times she had wondered if she would be gone so long, they would have grown while she was not around to see it.

“
Did you obliterate the blood mage and win your freedom?” Rhune yelled into the silence, and Melly had to shake her head at his understanding of events.
So much for keeping him in the dark.
“Did you fight monsters and thieves, and ride dragons into battle?”

She laughed, pulling him tighter.
“
We,”
she stressed. “We obliterated the blood mage and won my freedom. But how could you possibly know that?”

He looked at her
as if she lacked sense. “I can be anything.” He backed out of her arms, but fisted his little hands in her skirt and swung them, playing with the wind that always gathered there. “The animals tell me all the secrets.” He scrunched up his nose. “Even the icky
Love
ones.”

She blinked, while everyone was suddenly looking their way.
Morgan moved from where her and Ladon had just landed and met Melly’s eyes. Then looked back at her brother. “Are you saying, you can talk to the animals?” she asked carefully.

“
Sure, so can Clare.” They all turned to look at Clare who was looking at the sky, clearly seeking patience. “Tell them, Clare.”

She speared him with a look of exasperation.
“Yes, Fine. Yes. I can talk to the animals, but only since we’ve come to Dracon, and only while I wear their form.” She looked around at all the adults staring at her, finally landing on her sisters and General Solan, who was still at Melly’s back. “It’s not as if you don’t keep secrets from me,” she muttered.

Melly breathed out
. It was an astounding gift, and she could practically hear Solan planning all the ways it would be useful in a battle, but she sensed now was not the time to discuss it. Instead, she smiled at Clare. “It is good to see you, little sister.”

Clare dropped her determined look and rushed into sister
’s arms. “I was afraid you wouldn’t come back,” she whispered into Melly’s neck. Her arms tight around her waist.

Melly bent her head over her hair and breathed in the scent of wild thyme and roses that was so inherently her baby sister.
“Turns out I might have inherited the same stubborn as the rest of my family, and I told you ...” She squeezed her tighter. “I will always come for you Clare. No matter what.”

The girl sniffed and then looked up, catching Solan with a gimlet stare.
“Why are all these dragons here?”

Melly backed up and turned to face Solan with her arm around her sister
’s thin shoulders. “Clare, of the House of Fire and Water, allow me to introduce General Solan Fire-Eater.” She smiled up at his eyes as they swirled and danced quicksilver. “My mate.”

Clare backed up, away from them.
“Is this because of the laws?” She looked around with near terror in her eyes. “Why are all these males here?”

Melly and Morgan both looked from each other to the warriors and then back to their young sister.
What had she been hearing while they were gone? “Of course not; they are our friends,” Melly said. “Clare...”

Eben stepped forward.
“No one will claim you, little mage. I give you my word I will allow no man, dragon or otherwise, to claim you against your will.”

Solan spoke next, his eyes on the girl
, his voice a steadfast rumble. “We did not mate because of the laws. Your sister is my fated mate. Nor will we allow these laws to stand.” He met her eyes and held them. “We will fight them, little one. Until you are once again safe in your own home.”

Prince Ladon stepped to Morgan
’s side next. “Lord Graedon was behind these laws, Clare. And he has been proven a villain. You will be safe here, until we can get this taken care of—then we will write new laws that support the equality of mage in Dracon. You will never be forced into a mating, not by anyone.”

Clare bit her lip and breathed through her nose.
Her eyes traveling the room, and hit on Lux, Aarion, and Furee. Braedon stepped around them with Asha in his arms. “I know this is important, but the girl needs healing, food, and rest, and I want to see my sister.”

From within the great doors
, a woman stepped forward. “I am here, Braedon; bring her to the couch.”

Melly looked at the woman, and had to wonder if her mouth was hanging open.
She is beautiful.

With the long black hair and exotic topaz eyes she shared with her brother, she was indeed lovely.
Her skin was lighter than his, though it still glowed golden from the sun, and she was long-legged and graceful when she moved. She wore pants and boots, similar to what Clare liked to wear—in fact, she looked only a few years older, having left behind the coltish stage that Clare was presently in. She moved with a grace that showed she was comfortable in her own skin, but there was a dewy innocence about her that bespoke a woman new. Probably seventeen or eighteen. Although, when Melly finally got a good look at those amazing eyes, she could see the maturity of an old soul. She was certainly taller than she looked covered in soot and in her brother’s arms. Standing beside Clare, she topped her by at least five inches.

Melly looked around for Furee, and caught him watching the mage healer with a naked hunger that made Melly want to step between them
... and, at the same time, never want to be between Furee and what he wanted. A second later, his face turned to stone and he was just another dragon watching the healing mage work. Melly turned to catch Braedon spearing a look of warning his way. Whatever they had worked out between them, she would lay odds that the beautiful young healer had no idea.

“
Move back, Braedon.” It was a soft command, but her brother seemed to be having difficulty stepping away. Finally, his little sister elbowed him back with a roll of her eyes that made Melly laugh and then clear her throat when the fire mage looked her way with a glare.

Melly had seen a mage healer work before, as both her mother, and more recently
, Rhune had the gift, but the power of the green mage light that swelled around the healer and her patient was extraordinary. Rhune had moved closer and was staring with the same slack-jawed wonder as Melly and Morgan. The dragons, besides Furee, seemed oblivious to the incredible gift that the girl was showing. They moved back in a lose circle to discuss the battle and the repercussions of Lord Graedon’s treachery. She would have listened as they discussed some poor young earth dragon that had been killed, but she was completely engrossed in the power being displayed before her eyes. The girl was amazing, and young. She looked at Morgan who gave her wide eyes back. How much more power would she have when she fully matured?

“
Riva?” Braedon’s voice was sounded as awed as the rest of them felt, so she must have grown in power since he had last seen her use it. “How is this possible?”

The power built, while she ignored them, and then she gasped and took a step back her magic sputtering as a look of shock passed her face.
Braedon caught Riva before she would have fallen, and Furee was suddenly across the room beside them. Melly noticed absently how his hands reached for the girl, and then fell back fisted at his side. But she was more concerned with the look on the healer’s face, while she blinked down at the newly healed Asha.

Asha opened her eyes in the confusion, and looked at the green mage light fading from between her and the healer.
She panicked for a minute, looking around for a place to hide, but Riva grabbed her hand before she could jump up.

“
No! You are safe. I am a mage healer sworn to protect the life and secrets of my patients. No harm will come to you here.”

Asha looked at her for a long time, while something passed between the two women.
Then she licked her lips and nodded, closing her eyes and breathing out the panic that had held her tight. When she opened them again, it was Riva she looked at. “Thank you,” she said.

Riva smiled, and if
possible, she was even lovelier. “You are most welcome.”

When she turned to step away
, Furee was already back across the room.

Melly shrugged it off and Morgan stepped forward and smiled.
“I’ll get you some food.”

Asha looked between the two sisters.
“You are the ones who saved me. Thank you.” She shuddered and her eyes closed, as if she could block out whatever horror she was remembering.

Melisande knew enough about nightmares to take the
lady’s hand and squeeze it. “You are safe here with us.” She could feel Solan coming to stand at her back. “You never have to go back to that.”

“
My mother,” she said. Her voice broke and she started again. “You said she was safe, but she isn’t, is she?”

“
She is safe from Lord Graedon’s torture, Milady. She has faded.” He did not elaborate on the horror of her death and Melly was not going to either. The girl had been through enough.

Asha
’s eyes filled with tears that she held back with will alone. “I always knew one of us would have to die for the other to be free.” She looked off into the distance, her tears falling over, but she ignored them. “He used us against each other.” She looked at Solan and the other dragons that were coming closer, her chin tilting defiantly. “She never would have helped him if he hadn’t threatened me. If she refused to give him a prophecy, he would make her watch, while he ...” She shuddered and then glared at them through her tears, “She did what she did for me.”

“
The Lady Laksee was always of the light,” Eben Kinkaid said softly. His hand went to his mate’s hair, as if he needed the touch. “The loss of her is a blow that will be felt by all dragons, and anyone who had the honor of meeting her.”

Asha swallowed.
“I know you must have many questions about what
he
was doing, but I have been a prisoner and a bargaining piece for as long as I can remember. All I know is that he was using my mother for prophecies, and he had plans to re-instate the order of Kings, and claim the throne as his own.” The disgust and hate in her eyes was fresh when she talked of her father. Melly could hardly blame her for it. She had met the man once in a dream, and she hoped never to again. Clearly, his daughter felt the same way. She looked at Eben Kinkaid and Prince Ladon. “I know there is more to remember, but I cannot seem to think right now.” Since she looked beat down and confused, had nearly been killed after years of imprisonment, and had just found out her mother died, no one argued. Riva interrupted.

“
She needs food, and sleep.” She turned to Morgan. “Where would you like her?”

“
My room,” Melly jumped in. “Overlooking the garden.”

Clare gave her a searching look, then glanced at Solan and away.
“I will take you.”

Before anyone else could speak, Braedon hefted the girl into his arms, ignoring her protest.
“Enough, girl. You can barely keep your eyes open.” He followed Clare, and ignored any further protests. Riva close behind, and Morgan headed to the kitchen for the promised food.

Melly turned and buried her face in her
mate’s chest, wrapping her arms around him tight. They were all safe and home, at least for now.

My home is not as grand as Forsaken,
he murmured in her thoughts,
but it is a part of the ocean peaks to the West, and when you sleep in my arms you can hear the Sea as it beats time on the rocks. And there is plenty of wild where you can wander and grow your flowers.

It sounds like paradise.
She smiled against the soft leather at his chest, feeling his arms close warm around her, even as his power did the same.
But anywhere sounds like heaven if I am in your arms.