15. Bree

15

Bree

I missed Caliel. It was lonely in this body without him.

I hadn't realized how accustomed to his presence I'd become. No, accustomed wasn't the right word. It was more than that.

Much more.

I wanted him here.

His absence was like an essential piece of me had been torn away. It didn't help that the link between him and me didn't seem to be surviving the schism—it grew weaker by the hour.

The sounds from the chamber beyond quieted as they slowly got things put back together. But then, I sensed something. An energy that skittered across my skin like a million tiny insects.

I began to pace in my cell, back and forth, while the monster inside me prowled, and Riggs poured me the sword's power to keep her under control.

My Drake wasn't the only one agitated by it—a roar sounded from the outer chamber, followed by snarling as if the two Drakes in the cage wanted to either fight each other, or escape.

The energy buildup got worse until every hair on my body stood on end, and I swore I heard chanting, although it could have just been the buzz of power pulsing through me.

And then—a surge of energy that almost physically knocked me across the room. I staggered over to lean on the bedpost, and held on as though I were in a gale, while a scream rose to a screech…

The energy cut off as though someone had thrown a switch, and I collapsed on the bed, staring up at the ceiling as the Ice Drake seethed within me.

What the heck was that? Riggs sounded alarmed.

I have no idea. Aurora, or Finn, must be up to something.

The monster within me scrabbled to be set free, and we both gritted our teeth as Riggs pushed her back. Without Caliel, she'd only grown stronger.

Riggs sent a soothing pulse along the link. Cara told me that she doesn't know how it will work with him inside this new body. You are fated, but you haven't yet physically culminated the bond. You guys are breaking new ground.

I closed my eyes. That pretty much summed it up. I'd felt an odd fascination with Slade before all this, but it had been such a disconnected thing. No sparks. When I'd looked into those captivating blue eyes after Caliel had made the jump—it was like getting hit by lightning.

I'd felt the same attraction to Riggs, and it confirmed that Caliel and I were fated. Yet his mindvoice was so weak—it had become a whisper that I yearned for. What if he lost his hold on this new body? I was desperately worried about him.

He's tough, Riggs reassured me.

He's a healer, not a warrior, I corrected. And he's in over his head. Why did I ever think this would work?

A hesitation, and then, He was dying inside you, Breana. When you acknowledge that, you will realize this was the only possible solution.

My heart twisted, but it was true. Much as I missed him, he had been growing weaker. The sword's power had boosted him, but I knew it had only been a temporary solve.

The Drakes that used to be Jaimie and Todd continued to growl, a low rumble that resonated through the surrounding stone. Then one uttered an odd, "churling" noise.

A pulse of pure heat swept through me, leaving me gasping. The thing inside me panted and spun, wanting out.

Riggs pushed it down with sheer determination and a healthy dose of sword power. But each time, it was more of a struggle.

I don't think we can wait until Caliel gets the proof we need. I caught the merest hint of panic beneath his words. We need to get you out of there.

My denial wasn't immediate this time. Because I felt the power of what was building inside me, and it was terrifying.

The bite scar on my shoulder itched. I was mated to Riggs. Destined to be mated to Caliel, too, if Fate was to be believed. Yet if the Ice Drake ever got loose, I had no control over what she would do. Could I end up bound to Victor? Or, even worse, to Jaimie and Todd, too?

Riggs was right. It was time to go.

Of course, there was the little problem of how to accomplish that.

The door to my cell flew open. I pushed myself to a sitting position and glared at the hulking shifter who entered.

I'd seen enough through Caliel's eyes to know him. Slade's father. He wasn't quite as big as Slade, and he lacked his son's rugged good looks. His father had a narrower face, and smaller eyes set closer together. They gleamed gold, rather than blue, and the cruelty in them twisted through me.

He carried a tray with a few meatrolls on it, which he lowered to the ground before kicking it to me.

"No pastries?" I asked.

"Just eat what I give you, bitch. Be glad you get fed at all," he growled.

"If she wants a pastry, get her one," said a piping, high-pitched voice as one of the male Trinity members stepped out from behind him. The other male, and the female, were there as well.

At least, I assumed it was them. It had to be.

What the heck, Riggs said with a gasp.

They were as tall as me now. One might have been taller. They had so little muscle they were almost skeletal, but they moved with the distinctive grace I'd seen in Finn, before he'd been burned to a crisp.

"…You can leave…" the tallest male told the shifter. I winced at the air of command in his voice. All three looked older than they should be, but when I looked into this one's eyes, I shuddered.

The shifter glared at him. "I don't answer to you."

"…You might be surprised…" the female said.

Slade's father didn't seem to know how to take that. Eventually, he lifted a lip from one lengthening canine and strode from the cell.

With a gesture and a glowing ball of energy, the other male shut the door behind him. All three of them then stared at me.

And, they all grinned. At the identical time. In an identical way.

Ice shot up my spine.

"…Little did you know…" the tall male said "…that when you met Isobel in that field near the Centaur colony…"

The other two Trinity chimed in to finish it, "…it would lead to you being chained to a wall…"

I stared at them. But the largest male's voice—no, it couldn't be. He hadn't even been born, then. Isobel had been there, and Rafael, along with a few Bellatis.

"…Isobel knew, even then, that Victor had limitations…" the other male said. "…But he has been very useful, I must admit…"

"…Much better than that cursed Dragon…" the female said.

The other two joined her to say, "…It is fortunate that he is dead…"

My gaze snapped between the three of them. Something was very off here. The Trinity usually spoke in an almost abstracted, disconnected kind of fashion. This was different.

Riggs pegged it. It's like they're speaking with one voice. And that tall one's face looks different.

It did. It was subtle, but there. The ice that spread through me had nothing to do with my Drake. He was right. Three individuals, but their voices were identical. And they all sounded like someone I knew too well. Where is Finn? I asked.

Riggs took a mental breath. His body was destroyed by that fire. He wasn't the type to handle that well…

No. No, he wasn't. Especially when there was a fresh, young body available.

I looked into the eyes of the Trinity as their grins widened by precisely the same amount. "…One of us has received a significant upgrade…" they said in unison. "But as we are triplets, we are all connected." All three took a deep breath at identical moments. "…And the power at our fingertips—Rindek would have been proud…" They tilted their heads. "…Or rather, he would have been jealous…"

Rindek. He was the Archmage who'd decimated the Dragon Legion. A combined army of council Sabres and Dragons had eventually defeated him.

He'd been Finn's father.

I couldn't breathe, let alone speak. What I'd felt—all that energy flying around—was Finn having his life essence injected into the male Trinity member. But as they were all telepathically connected to each other…

He was now, truly, a triple threat.

"…Life goes full circle, my scrumptious young Ice Drake…" the tall male who was now Finn said. "…With your help, Torshins will once again slaughter Dragons. It will be such fun…" He pulled his hand out from behind his back—it held a metallic half ring that seemed to glow crimson.

I swallowed. What the hell was that?

"…Time for you to receive an upgrade, too…" he said. "…We can't have our dear Drake emerging while you're in that collar. We have something much nicer prepared for you…"

The female pulled out a syringe. "…You will receive one more dose of the serum. That will ensure your cycle is timed just right…"

My pulse accelerated. I sensed Caliel heading my way.

No, don't, you'll ruin everything. They're just changing the collar.

He snarled through the link, but he stopped. I sensed his rage, as well as acknowledgment that he couldn't help me now.

The other male pulled something out of his pocket. A crystal…

Oh, no.

He grinned evilly at me, and said, "…Kneel…"

The crystal flared icy blue, and then crimson swirled through it. The merging energy reached out to engulf me. It seized hold of the Ice Drake—and my knees bent.

Riggs pounded the sword's power to me through the link, and it pushed the controlling energy back. I looked down, so that my eyes wouldn't give us away.

All three of the Trinity members frowned, and I suddenly saw another danger.

Stop! They can't know we're mated, or they might interfere with the link.

But if they inject more of the serum…

We can't stop that. If this doesn't work, they'll just dart me. We have to let them think I'm vulnerable, or I might never get out of here.

She's right. Caliel's mindvoice was filled with both anger and regret. You have to stop.

A pulse of pure rage along the link—before Riggs shut it down.

"…Kneel…" the Trinity demanded at once.

As the power of the crystal pounded at me, I dropped to my knees.

The one with the crystal now stood directly in front. Its muddied energy bound me up within it, and I couldn't have moved if I'd wanted to.

The next few minutes were nothing but a fog. They worked over me, and the metal collar fell away. And then something warm replaced it—tightening around the back of my neck and up behind my ears, before it sent red-hot tendrils shooting into my brain.

I think I cried out. When I could see again, the collar pulsed hot against my skin.

Riggs was nearly incoherent with rage, while I sensed Caliel pacing in agitation. They reattached the chain to a link at the back of the collar. Then the female injected me with the serum, and they all backed away.

My head cleared slowly as the crystal's power disengaged. I'm okay, I managed groggily. They need me alive, remember?

I will rip them to pieces, Riggs promised.

I rose on shaky legs and glared at the Trinity.

They blinked in perfect coordination, and the rejuvenated Finn raised a small device that housed a blood-red, pulsing crystal. "That collar permits you to shift form. But just in case you were thinking of embracing your Drake and doing something truly foolish, we will demonstrate its power." And he pressed a button on the side.

Agonizing pain pierced through my brain, and I couldn't help the scream that tore from my throat. When it subsided, I'd fallen back on the bed.

Finn leaned over me. "We don't need this, of course, but your guard will have one of these with him at all times." He grinned down at me, revealing pointed teeth. "Now, if you'll excuse us, we are feeling peckish for some smooth young skin and bodily fluids. We look forward to the day when you can join us, once you have fulfilled your obligations. Enjoy the remainder of your day, my dear."

All three turned as one and left, in perfect step. As the door closed behind them, my gaze fell to the tray lying on the floor.

I couldn't have eaten, even if I hadn't seen food for a week.

A tender mental stroke across my aching mind, and Riggs was there. Still vibrating with rage, but struggling for the calm support I needed. No matter how you feel about it, you have to eat. Because you are going to need your strength…

I stared at the food, and my mind snatched at what he hadn't said.

…for what is to come.

Swallowing, I rolled off the bed and picked up the tray, selecting one meatroll. With my mind spinning and heart aching, I barely tasted it. But I knew Riggs was right.

The crystal's influence had left me alternately shaking with cold and then sweating, as if I had a high fever.

I don't think it's the crystal, Caliel stated uneasily.

As if she now knew she could emerge, the Drake spun circles inside me, and I sensed Riggs's desperation to keep her under control.

It's the serum, he growled.

The meatroll sat like a lead weight in my stomach. The collar wasn't cold, like metal, but rather warm across the back of my neck, as if it were alive.

I lay back down and flung my arm over my eyes. Sleep was another thing I desperately needed, but wasn't likely to get.

And then, the barest whisper of a song in my mind. Caliel, soothing me with his music.

Sleep, my little wind dancer.

I caught a glimpse through his eyes. He was standing in a room, alone, staring out a window.

I am safe. So are you. So sleep.

The music wove through me, unwinding muscles pulled far too tight, carrying away my tortured thoughts.

I obediently closed my eyes, and drifted off.