Chapter Nineteen

"Eoghan!" Ari screamed as Invictus opened one massive claw and grabbed his lover by the back of his jacket. As he looked on in horror, the iridescent, black dragon rose into the air, flapped his huge wings, and vanished over the rooftop of the abandoned restaurant with his beloved dangling from his claws. "Eoghan!" Ari shouted, feeling tears prickling behind his eyes as the man he loved was carried away. He turned to look at the second beast, noting for the first time, just how large he really was.

The dragon had to be over eight feet tall when fully shifted but it was the way he ducked his head and stared into Ari's eyes that made him tremble like crazy. "Why did he take Eoghan?" Ari screamed at the dragon. Severin's orange eyes stared back at him for only a second before glancing up in the direction Invictus had gone. Ari felt nauseous as he thought of Eoghan's plight. He'd never felt as helpless as he did at this very moment. "Where is my partner?"

The dragon turned back to him and then blinked, shuttering his massive orange eyes and then looked up, drawing Ari's attention to the rapidly lightening skies above as dawn was beginning to break. His heart nearly stopped beating as he spotted one of the beasts which had been turning lazy circles above them just moments before. He wasn't circling anymore. The thing seemed to be in a dive…coming right toward them at a fantastic speed.

Ari had just enough time to realize what was happening before Severin opened his huge claws and grabbed him, exactly the way Invictus had with Eoghan. At a speed he couldn't begin to fathom, they were airborne, flying over trees, buildings, roads, and houses at a breathtaking pace. He dangled from the dragon's claws, both terrified that he'd be dropped but at the same time, embracing the adrenaline that roared through his veins as they soared through the air.

Wind whipped at Ari's face and pummeled his body, making him feel icy fingers all the way through his clothes. He cried out, asking Severin where in the world he was being taken. He was comforted only in the hope that it was the same place Invictus was taking Eoghan. He prayed they'd be reunited soon and that wherever it was, wasn't much farther as his body began to shake from the cold. They were climbing in altitude and he had to open his mouth to pop his ears more than once.

Ari had no idea how much time had passed when he spotted the snow-covered peaks of Mount Shasta. Even in late spring, the more than fourteen-thousand-foot dormant volcano had snow at the very top. The sight of trees far below was breathtaking as was the speed at which they traveled. In the distance, he caught a glimpse of a large body of water. It had to be Lake Shasta. Clearly the dragons were taking them back home. The way the early morning sun cast long shadows over the glistening snow far below was a sight Ari knew he'd never see again. He was awed by the beauty of the mountain from this vantage point. He hung from the dragon's claws, legs moving to and fro as he dangled there.

When he felt the dragon slow his flight, he prayed they were close to their destination because he could feel the early signs of hypothermia setting in. Sure enough, the beast set him down on a rock ledge at the entrance to a cave moments later. The moment Severin released him, Ari fell to all fours, shaking violently. He'd never been so cold in his entire life. When he looked up, Severin stood before him as a man, naked as the day he was born. He came closer and bent, holding out his hand.

"Come inside. You're freezing."

Ari's teeth chattered as he clumsily lifted his hand and grasped the dragon's huge one. In seconds he was standing on shaky legs but feeling dizzy, praying he wasn't going to collapse. Severin picked up something from a basket at the mouth of the cave and a moment later, Ari was wrapped with a thick fur and the dragon shifter was guiding him into the cave. If he'd been able to speak, he would have asked where Invictus had taken Eoghan but before he could, he spotted his lover sitting hunched over, in the corner of the room.

Ari walked past piles of bones which resembled what was left of human beings, shivering as he stared at the bleached white piles. Even though he was curious about them, he instinctively knew he didn't have enough control over his tongue to ask. He noted that Eoghan was wrapped in a similar fur to the one Severin had given him. He was seated on some sort of long couch in front of a blazing fire. Relief washed through Ari, never so grateful to see anyone in his life. Eoghan looked up and smiled as soon as he saw him. He gamely tried to rise to his feet but sat back down hard, clearly afflicted with the same shaking limbs as he had. Ari sat beside him on a remarkably soft couch, then reached for Eoghan's hand.

Eoghan's ice cold fingers instantly closed around his own as he laid his head on his shoulder. Ari could hear Eoghan's teeth chattering, feel the tremors racking his body. The fire warmed him quickly and before he knew it, the room felt almost too hot. He let the fur slip from his back, but Eoghan kept his tightly wrapped around him. At home in Eoghan's bed, Ari was the one always kicking off the covers, and Eoghan was always the one snuggling under three blankets. More than once, Ari had teased him about the way he wrapped himself up like a burrito. Ari smiled at the thought of it, wishing he could pull him into his arms and hold his beautiful body against his right now.

"What the f-fuck was that all about?" Eoghan stammered, turning to him. His teeth clacked together.

Ari smiled at him. "That's what I'd like to know." He stood, testing his legs and finding them sturdy enough to hold him. He glanced around the room, finding it empty. About twenty-five feet away, sunlight poured into the room from the entrance of the cave, lighting the space up. The vast room seemed to have been honed from black rock. His gaze was drawn to the darkness on the opposite side of the cave when he detected movement. Invictus and Severin emerged from the shadows dressed in sweats and muscle tees. In the glow from the firelight, Ari noticed just how big the dragons were, towering above him by more than a few inches. Somehow in the darkened parking lot of the shuttered restaurant, they'd seemed…smaller. Maybe now that he knew them in shifted form, he had a different perspective.

"Are you warm enough?" Invictus asked, checking the fireplace before looking back. "I can add more wood."

"I'm good," Ari replied. "Eoghan?"

Eoghan nodded. "I should be okay in a minute."

Severin had been doing something in what appeared to be a kitchen area but now he came to stand beside Invictus, folding his arms across his chest. Ari noticed how his biceps and pecs bulged with muscle, straining at the tight-fitting T-shirt. His thigh muscles were well defined too. If he hadn't been so much in love with Eoghan, he probably would have studied the bulge in the sweatpants much more closely.

Eoghan finally dropped the fur to the couch and stood, walking over to them. "Would you like to tell us what happened just now?" he asked. "Why have you brought us here?"

"Did you see our enemies flying in the sky above the parking lot where we met?" Severin asked.

Ari exchanged a glance with Eoghan and when he nodded, turned back to the dragons. "We saw them. They're not part of your clan I take it."

Severin shook his head, frowning deeply.

"They are enemies," Invictus replied. "They followed us, intending on killing us and you would have been caught right in the middle of it. Let's just say, they would have burned you alive had we left you there."

A shudder went through Ari as he dragged his eyes away from the dragons and looked at his man. Eoghan was also frowning, but he could see the visible surprise on his face.

"They're part of a different clan then?" Eoghan asked.

"Yes," Severin replied. "They wish to steal what we have, which is why they keep watch on us."

Ari glanced around the great, stone hall, noting the twenty-foot ceilings as well as the way the firelight was reflected against the tiniest, bright crystals which seemed to be imbedded in the black stone. He wondered what had formed the crystals. Perhaps they'd developed inside the cave when the volcano last erupted? He had no idea.

"No offense but what do you have that's so special?" Eoghan asked. "What do your enemies want?"

The two dragons exchanged a long glance, and Ari watched them closely, wondering whether they could communicate telepathically, the way vampires did. When they turned back, Invictus gestured for them.

"Follow us," Severin said, walking to the wall opposite the cave entrance. He flipped a switch, and fluorescent lights dimly lit the space beyond. "We'll show you."

He and Invictus headed out of the room, disappearing into the gloom as Ari questioned how they had electricity. He decided they had to have some sort of generator. He'd seen a refrigerator in the kitchen, so that only made sense.

"Let's go," Eoghan said, following in their wake as Ari joined him. The dragons strode down the corridor ten feet ahead. Here too, the ceiling was very high, though, the walls of the tunnel were only about eight to ten feet wide. The stone here also glittered with bright crystals. Surprisingly, the temperature down here wasn't cold nor was it warm. Ari was very glad he wasn't walking on some sort of bridge over an orange river of molten lava rock as he would have expected in a volcano. He laughed at the folly of the thought but in truth, he was always fascinated with pictures of Hawaiian volcanos whenever the TV showed an eruption. Then again, Mount Shasta was a dormant volcano, so he shouldn't have expected rivers of lava. He decided he'd been watching way too much of the Travel Channel as he silently chided himself for being a total idiot.

After going about a hundred yards, the dragons stopped and turned to them. "This is what our enemies want," Severin said, reaching out and flipping a switch. A large light bulb, just inside another cavernous space buzzed to life. A split second later another beyond that lit followed by another and another and another brightening a huge space that was the most spectacular thing Ari had ever seen in his life. Eoghan gasped beside him as a great, green room was revealed in all its glory. Floors, ceilings, and walls were all covered with semi-sparkling otherworldly green stones of varying and breathtaking shades. They formed intricate mosaic patterns of every design imaginable. Long, low couches of a pale green shade filled a space in the middle of the room which was more stunning than Ari could have ever imagined.

"Is this jade?" Eoghan asked, walking over to a wall and reaching out to touch the stone imbedded into its surface.

"Yes," Invictus said.

"I didn't think jade was sparkly like that," said Ari.

"Hongshan jade is. It has metal streaks or specks in it."

"This is what your enemies want to steal from you?" Eoghan asked. When he turned back to them, he looked quite awestruck.

"Yes."

"So, hang on just a second," Ari said as what he was looking at finally sank into his consciousness. "This is why you wanted the jade you get from the Tahoe shifter clan?"

"Yes," Severin replied. "This is why I wanted it. Inside this mountain cave I've recreated the beauty of our ancient palaces."

"So, you don't eat it?"

Severin snorted, cracking a huge grin for the first time since they'd seen him. The man was simply stunning. His eyes flashed with the familiar circle which indicated he was a shifter. Still, seeing the orange color was freaky.

"We don't eat it," Severin said, shaking his head. He held out his hands, turning a slow circle in the room and then beckoning them to come deeper into it. "Like I said, this space is adorned with jade the same way our ancestors decorated palaces for millennia."

"I see," Eoghan said, "but I'm still confused about something." He pointed back and forth between the two of them. "It was my understanding that you were from different clans but you seem to be sharing this cave, living here together. Am I wrong?"

The two dragons looked at each other before Invictus spoke. "We are from different clans. My home is nearby but our enemies drove me off my lands more than a decade ago. I sought refuge with Severin, and he has granted me shelter. I've helped him festoon this room."

"What about the rest of your people?" Ari asked. "The rest of your clan?"

"Unfortunately, they're all dead," Invictus replied, a thickness in his voice that Ari hadn't heard before. "My mate, my offspring, everyone I loved…all dead."

"My God, that's terrible," Eoghan said softly. "Did your enemies kill them…the dragons from earlier today?"

Invictus nodded and for the first time, when his eyes flashed with that brilliant orange circle, Ari saw the sadness there. It was terrible to see the pain etched all over the big dragon's features. He couldn't imagine the agony of learning that some enemy had simply decided they wanted his land, his cave, his wealth or whatever he had, and had come in and taken it, killing his family at the same time.

"My clan was very small and my enemies knew this. They waited until I'd joined Severin to visit the grizzly bear shifters to inquire about purchasing jade, and they invaded my home, killing everyone including the babes in the nursery. After I returned with jade to begin adorning my own home, I discovered my family. I buried them and came here to beg companionship with Severin," Invictus said, glancing at Severin. "I was broken but this man has been a friend to me. He's offered me solace and shelter ever since that horrible day."

"I'm so sorry for the loss of your family, Invictus," Eoghan said. He turned to Severin. "And your clan? Where are they?"

Severin shook his head. "I am the last of my clan. My family was killed off centuries ago and I took refuge on this mountain where I was alone until Invictus came to stay."

Ari could see the pain in the dragon's eyes. He couldn't believe that both shifters had found each other in their quest for companionship. "Are your enemies the same as the ones who killed Invictus' clan, Severin?"

The dragon nodded. "Yes, the very same."

"Why can't they just come in and take your treasure away from you when you're not here?" Eoghan asked. "I know you don't stay here all the time. You came to meet us, and you've been flying over the grizzlies' reservation for the last four years. At least that's what they told us."

"Yes, we've been flying over their reservation since the breakdown in negotiations," Severin said, frowning. "Our hope is to get more jade from them to continue this project, though, it's nearly done. I already have enough to finish."

"Okay, so you don't need more and it seems like a dangerous thing to leave the caves especially if your enemies are out there waiting to kill you," Ari said. "I don't understand."

"I am stockpiling jade as well," Invictus said. "At least I was before my family was killed. Someday, I might want to build another palace and I'll use the jade I buy from the tribe."

"Why?" Eoghan asked.

"A little while ago, you asked why my rivals don't just come in and steal my treasure," Severin said.

"That's right," Eoghan said. "Why wouldn't they do that when you're busy elsewhere?"

"The jade you see here prevents entrance to the cave from anyone other than myself and those I invite."

"Protects?" Ari asked. He stared for a few seconds as the two dragons nodded before looking at Eoghan. "Magic?"

"Yes," Eoghan said. "I've heard of something like it before but I've never met anyone with a protected object, which is how I'd categorize this jade and I've certainly never heard of magic that has the power to block entrance to a cave."

"The jade possesses very specific and powerful magic for anyone who has been able to claim it," Severin said. "Colt Wilkins knew of this which is why he kept raising the price each time I went to buy it."

"Wow, that's…that's kind of crazy," Ari said. "How do you think he found out about this magic?"

"My mate told him of it," Invictus interrupted, drawing Ari's attention. "It was inadvertent but after the fact, there was nothing to be done. Wilkins kept doubling the price each time we went back after that."

"What a bastard," Eoghan said.

"In more ways than one," Ari agreed.

"I sincerely hope you can come to an equitable agreement with the rest of their tribe now that Wilkins is out of the picture…hopefully for good," Eoghan said. "So, these rivals—enemies—who are they?"

"They come from a Russian clan. They migrated east and lived in Alaska for centuries. With global warming, Alaskan snows have begun to melt…whole glaciers have begun cleaving off skyscraper size chunks into the sea, so…our enemies migrated south," Invictus said. "When they found Mount Shasta, they spotted my mate and he inadvertently led them back to our caves on the other side of this mountain. Since I hadn't protected them with jade, the beasts simply strolled on in and wiped out my family."

"It wasn't your fault, Invictus," Severin said. "You were in the process of getting the jade you needed. They were monsters and you were doing what's right. You will have your revenge someday, my brother."

"It's a terrible story," Eoghan said. "I'm so sorry that happened."

"Yes, it's terrible," Invictus said, "and now, all hope is lost unless we can find a way to destroy them. I'm afraid it will take an army of men to kill them, but no one will come to our aid. Humans are too slow, and they will burn too quickly and as you both know, we've never been friendly with other shifters."

"It's hard for you to trust others," Eoghan said.

Ari watched Eoghan but as he did, an idea began forming in his head. He turned back to the dragons. "You say the humans are too slow to be able to fight a dragon."

"Too slow and…no offense, but way too weak," Severin said.

"No offense taken," Ari said. "How about…a vampire?"

"What are you thinking, Ari? What vampire?" Eoghan asked.

"I'm thinking about John Townsend and his clan," Ari said. "Perhaps John and his clan will pay the dragon's back in kind if they help with his situation. It's why we wanted to talk with Severin and Invictus to begin with. Now that we know what's going on here, maybe we can enlist the vampires to join their cause." The more he thought about it, the more he liked the idea.

"You may have something there," Eoghan said, smiling at him.

"Please, follow us back out to the fire and tell us of this plan," Invictus said.

Ari and Eoghan both nodded and followed the dragons back out to the great hall where the fire warmed the room. Ari glanced out of the cave's entrance. It was still hard for him to imagine that there was magic happening all around him but at least it was keeping Invictus and Severin's enemies out. Just when he'd gotten used to shifters and their magic, there was a whole new thing he was expected to swallow…something like a merman healing his neck and head…and magic infused jade keeping dragons safe.

His life really was weirder than he'd ever expected it would be.

The dragons offered them seats at a large, wooden table and they sat down. Ari watched as Severin walked over to a large, iron stove which he hadn't noticed before. A low flame burned beneath a cast iron pot and he realized that he was looking at a vintage turn of the century wood stove. Severin opened the door to check the level of the fire that burned within before closing it. Seconds later, he opened the lid of the pot and the scent of something delicious filled the room. The dragon picked up the cast iron pot and brought it over, setting it on a metal trivet already on the table.

"You must eat a meal," Severin said, picking up a long, wooden ladle and dishing the food into four bowls. "While you tell us of this plan, you should have some stew."

"That's very kind of you," Eoghan said, accepting a bowl filled to the brim with a meaty stew.

Ari's stomach growled as he looked at the bowl Severin set before him, remembering they hadn't stopped for breakfast.

Invictus retrieved a loaf of bread from a cupboard and cut thick slices, handing them to Eoghan and Ari before pushing a covered butter dish toward his partner. How oddly civilized. Eoghan immediately buttered his bread and then pushed the dish toward him. The bread was as soft and fragrant as if it had been baked just that morning. Once they were all seated, Severin glanced over at Ari.

"Please tell us what you had in mind."

"The reason our chief emailed you was to see if you'd help us help King John Townsend get his Flagstaff clan back," Ari began. "It's been taken over by an evil man who's seized John's throne."

"Yes, she said as much in her email." Invictus reached into a pocket and held up his iPhone. "Email, the Internet, and a whole lot of other useless and annoying bullshit. I don't like to even carry the thing which is why it took a few days to exchange emails. I apologize about that. It wasn't an intentional snub."

Ari nodded. "No need to apologize. I get it. Anyway, in the email, did she explain why she was reaching out to you?"

"Yes," Invictus said. "She believes that someone at the Agency is not being honest with her and is working with this new king of the Flagstaff vampire clan. She wanted our help and we agreed to meet with you."

Ari was a little shocked that the chief had been so candid with the dragons but now that Invictus had said it, it almost made sense.

"I'm a little surprised that she told you all of that," Eoghan said. He pointed at his nearly empty bowl. "This is amazing by the way."

"Have some more," Severin said, grabbing the ladle and filling Eoghan's bowl.

"Yes, thank you," Ari added. "It's delicious." He wasn't about to ask what kind of meat was in the stew. It wasn't beef but it had a similar texture and was paler in color. Then again, what did it really matter? He trusted the dragons enough to hope they wouldn't give them something not fit for human consumption. Still, it did beg the question.

"It's lamb," Severin said, answering the unasked question. "And it came from a local supermarket in Redding. We don't hunt wild game other than a few rabbits and goats that we find here on the mountain."

"How did you know I was wondering about it?" Ari asked, feeling incredibly embarrassed.

Severin smiled. "I guessed. You've poked at the meat a few times. I just figured you were wondering, and I wanted to set your mind at ease."

"Thank you," Ari replied.

"Tell us about this vampire king and what you think we can do to help him," Invictus said.

"Thank you for hearing us out," Eoghan said. "The Tahoe shifter clan told us you might be willing to help, and we'd certainly do whatever we can to help you with your enemies."

"Go on, then," Severin said, sitting back in the chair and crossing his muscled arms over his chest as Invictus also set down his spoon.

Ari finished his stew and the delicious homemade bread as Eoghan told the dragons the whole story. From when the fugitive notice first went out stating that John Townsend was a criminal trying to escape tribal justice and the part about Bradshaw asking the I.S.R for help in his capture. Eoghan detailed his capture and his interrogation with the vampire in their interview room.

He explained how they'd listened to Townsend tell them his story and about how his family had been wiped out when Tillis Bradshaw had come in and stolen his throne. Townsend had not only lost his family and his clan but he'd nearly lost his own life. Finally, Deputy Chief Priest believed her contact at the Agency was in bed with Bradshaw after finding listening devices in her home and her office.

The dragons listened with rapt attention as Eoghan finished his story. "We believe this new king—Tillis Bradshaw—has not only become a dictator there on the Flagstaff reservation but we also believe he's taken over the synthetic blood bottling plant in Phoenix and has plans to take over more. He's an established dealer in methamphetamine which is what he was in prison for when he was human as a member of a vicious outlaw motorcycle gang."

"And that matters to the I.S.R. because he's still in the drug business?" Invictus asked.

"We believe he initially took over the blood business so that he could enslave Townsend's Flagstaff clan by limiting and in some cases cutting off their access to blood. But we also think he might be using the established blood distribution network to transport drugs. As you can imagine, if he is successful in taking over the entire blood business nationwide, this will become a problem for the entire human population, not only the supernatural and alien populations," Ari said.

"And if you're already not alarmed enough about the near certain demise of the Flagstaff vampire clan which is taking place as we speak," Eoghan said, "you should be alarmed by the possibility that without the protections of the Agency, all supernaturals are at risk. That means the dragons as well. I know how desperately you've tried to protect your privacy up here on the mountain. In fact, I can't imagine how you haven't been seen until now since you fly around."

"We only go out at night," Invictus said. "And our vision is better than any shifter. Don't ask me why but if a human were in the vicinity, we'd see them and if unseen we'd smell them."

"You didn't see us," Ari said.

Both dragons snorted.

"We smelled you from two hundred feet above and spotted your vehicle two miles away from the restaurant," Invictus added. "Like I said, our vision is excellent."

"Whoa," Ari said, exchanging a glance with Eoghan whose eyes were wide with surprise. Though, he knew that dogs and other animals had incredible hearing as well as a sense of smell, these dragons did indeed seem to be different from other shifters. It seemed almost impossible that there could be shifters like these which lived in legend long before written history even existed. They were truly an ancient race of beings.

"In any case, we see now why you wish to have our help," Severin said. He looked over at Invictus and stared into his eyes. To his amazement, Ari saw Severin's eyes flare with that incredible orange circle of glowing light. He was now almost certain the dragons could communicate with each other telepathically. The glow in their eyes which Ari now knew had something to do with an emotional response was a near dead giveaway.

The dragons turned back to face them, and it was Severin who spoke. He looked at the table and then up at them. "I understand and you're right. This situation is grave indeed." He glanced down, then nodded slowly as he looked up. "Invictus and I will help you. Now…you said something about vampires and their willingness to help us."

"If we ask, I believe they will help. Truthfully, they're stronger than humans and much faster," Eoghan said. "If you tell them how to kill your enemies, I believe that they'll help you."

"Having the vampires kill our enemies will keep the I.S.R.'s hands clean also," Severin said.

"There is that," Eoghan admitted. "For now, though, we need to meet with John Townsend. He might want to meet with you."

"All right," Severin said, rising from the table and holding out his hand. He smiled warmly as Ari and Eoghan shook it as well as the one Invictus offered. "Until then, you are welcome to spend the day here."

Ari glanced over at Eoghan as they both rose. "We should go," Eoghan said. "You said you don't travel during the day but we need to meet with our chief and explain everything that's happening."

Invictus held up his cell, and Eoghan shook his head. "We believe our calls to the chief are being monitored. We have burners in the car but it's back at the barbeque restaurant." He smiled. "Barbeque…nice touch by the way."

The dragons both chuckled, clearly amused with their little joke.

"Okay. We will take you back then," Severin said, looking at Invictus. "We'll just have to watch closely for humans. Fortunately, the ski lifts are closed because it's nearly summer and the snow making machines aren't operating."

"Let's go," Eoghan said, exchanging a tiny shrug and a smile with Ari before looking back at the dragons. "Um…are you going to—"

"Carry you? I'm sorry, but it's the only way off this mountain," Severin said.

"Okay." Ari joined Eogan at the entrance of the cave. The wind outside whipped around him and he checked to make sure his jacket was tightly zipped closed. As they stepped outside, he noticed how the sky had clouded over with thick, dark clouds. He breathed a sigh of relief, knowing that the cloud cover might just provide them some anonymity as they hung from the dragons' giant claws.

He waited beside Eoghan, turning to smile at him. A second later, two giant beasts stood before them and a moment beyond that, the backs of their jackets had been seized and they were being lifted into the air.