Chapter 29

TWENTY-NINE

B eside Talon, Asher’s transformation was more elegant but no less impressive. Her silver-white scales shimmered like starlight, electrical energy dancing between them in mesmerizing patterns. Though smaller than Talon, her form was perfectly streamlined for swiftness and nimbleness. Lightning arced between her wing tips, and her tail ended in wicked barbs that crackled with power.

Levi’s deep bronze dragon materialized to Talon’s right, his battle-scarred scales telling stories of countless fights. His muscled bulk spoke of immense strength, and the easy way he moved showed why he’d earned his position as second-in-command.

Enforcers Garrison and Devon took up flanking positions - Garrison’s copper scales rippling over coiled power while Devon’s steel-gray form promised lethal speed.

The contrast when Revon and his mercenaries shifted was stark. Their dull gray and brown forms looked almost sickly in comparison, lacking the pristine shine and magnificent proportions of the royal clan’s warriors. Revon, though larger than his men, was still dwarfed by Talon’s presence.

“ Last chance to retreat ,” Talon’s thoughts rumbled through their shared consciousness, his mental voice thick with promised violence.

Revon’s answering roar was filled with hate. “ Dimitri sends his regards - and a promise. Your mate will make an excellent test subject when we’re done here .”

They launched into the air with devastating force, rock crumbling beneath his back legs from the power of his takeoff. Asher moved in perfect sync beside him, their mate bond singing with shared battle fury.

“ Levi, take the flanks ,” Talon commanded through their mental link. “ Garrison, Devon - contain any that try to escape. No mercy today.”

The battle erupted in chaos. Levi struck first, his massive form slamming into Revon’s second-in-command with bone-crushing force. The smaller dragon attempted to rake his claws across Levi’s chest, but centuries of combat experience showed as Levi twisted midair, his jaws finding the sensitive joint where wing met body.

The sound of crunching bone echoed across the valley as Levi’s teeth sheared through membrane and muscle. Blood sprayed in an arterial arc as he ripped backward, nearly tearing the wing clean off. The mercenary’s agonized shriek cut off abruptly as Levi’s tail whipped around, catching him across the throat with a wet snap.

Two of Revon’s dragons dove for Asher, scales glinting dully as they tried to flank her. “ The little hybrid first ,” one snarled in their shared mental space. “ Break her, and the alpha will fall.”

Their mistake.

Asher tucked her wings close, dropping into a roll that displayed her natural grace. Lightning exploded outward from her body in a devastating surge, catching the first dragon directly in the chest. The smell of charred scales and flesh filled the air as electricity coursed through him, stopping his heart mid-beat. His corpse plummeted like a stone.

The second dragon banked hard to avoid her attack, straight into Garrison’s waiting claws. Garrison’s roar of triumph turned to pain as another mercenary raked his flank, opening deep gouges that wept crimson. Devon’s retaliation was swift and brutal - his powerful tail caught the attacker across the spine with a sickening crack.

Above the melee, Talon and Revon clashed in a brutal display of aerial combat. Though Revon was quick, darting in to strike before retreating, each time Talon’s massive claws connected they left deep furrows that leaked crimson trails through the air. Steam rose where Revon’s blood hit Talon’s superheated scales.

“ Your clan grows weak, Draker !” Revon’s thoughts held desperate bravado. “ Taking a half-breed mate, letting humans near our sacred places ?—”

His taunt cut off in a shriek as Talon’s teeth closed inches from his throat. White-hot flames erupted from Talon’s maw, forcing Revon into a desperate spiral to avoid being incinerated. The heat was so intense, it warped the air, creating shimmering waves that distorted vision.

Through their mate bond, Talon felt Asher’s position without looking. Her thoughts brushed his, a perfect blend of scientific calculation and dragon instinct. “Three o’clock, coming in fast.”

He banked right as her lightning struck, driving another mercenary straight into his path. The smaller dragon tried to backpedal midair, terror evident in his yellow eyes. Talon’s jaws snapped closed around the dragon’s shoulder and chest, crushing bone and scale with devastating force. The mercenary’s scream ended in a wet gurgle as Talon threw the broken body aside like a rag doll.

Below, two mercenaries tried to double-team Lev. He caught one dragon’s tail, using the momentum to swing him into his companion. The sickening crunch of their collision was followed by Levi’s flames, so hot they burned blue. Both dragons fell from the sky, their wings shredded and bodies smoking.

One of Revon’s men had broken away, diving for the sacred site with single-minded purpose. Destroy.

“The sanctuary!” Asher’s mental warning crackled.

Garrison, despite his wounded flank, intercepted with lethal precision. His copper form slammed into the mercenary from above, claws finding purchase in the softer scales of the neck. They tumbled together, but Garrison’s superior strength prevailed. When they separated, the mercenary’s head hung at an unnatural angle, nearly severed.

Revon, seeing his forces decimated, unleashed a mental howl of rage. “Dimitri warned me about your mate’s power.” His thoughts carried malicious intent as he suddenly turned toward Asher. “Let’s see how she handles cold iron!”

The metallic glint caught the sunlight as something launched from Revon’s foreleg. Asher began her dive, but Revon had anticipated her movement. The cold iron projectile struck her left wing with devastating force, shattering bone and tearing through membrane. Dark tendrils of poisonous magic spread instantly from the impact site.

Her mental scream of agony ripped into him as electricity sparked uncontrollably around her convulsing form. The cold iron’s toxin attacked her hybrid system violently, forcing an uncontrolled shift mid-fall. The sickening sound of bones snapping echoed as she hit the rocky ground hard, tumbling over the uneven terrain before slamming into an ancient stone pillar.