Dragon Awakened (22 page)

The words clutched her throat. “No.” She looked at Cyn, whose face had gone pale. “No.”

“The Dragon Prince died in Mon's story,” he said in a low, careful voice.

“But that's because he hated you. He made it up.”

“His stories were based on Brom's vision, Ruby. We can't ignore what's right in front of us.” He tapped the picture. “This is why you need me. You will need my power to succeed.”

She grabbed his arm, her fingers twisting the material of his sleeve. “Kade said visions were an approximation of what could happen.”

“Maybe so, but everything Brom saw has come true so far.”

“Cyn, you can't die. Not now that I…” Loved him? Isn't that what giving him her heart meant? “Not now,” she finished.

His mouth turned to a wry grin. “Would have been easier if you still hated me.” She could see his mind working as his embers became jagged sparks.

“Well, it's too late for that now, Cyntag Valeron. What I've given you, you can't give back.”

“Your forgiveness?”

“My heart.”

He reached out, his palm on her cheek. His mouth opened, but he seemed to struggle with the words. She suspected he changed them when he said, “Remember what I said about Breathing Dragon. Just in case,” he added, when she was going to protest. “You'll see the Dragon's essence hovering above the physical body. It'll look like heat waves over sunbaked pavement. The stronger and older he or she is, the more power. I'm old
and
I've killed a lot of Dragons, so if you Breathe me, you're going to get overloaded. This is where you really have to put logic over emotion.”

“Can't I heal you? Like you healed me?”

He shook his head. “You're not strong enough yet. If I'm killed or mortally injured, you have to Breathe me, Ruby. Because if Magda does it, you'll never win. Promise me.”

She nodded, tears making her eyes tingle. She remembered feeling Garnet's pain at being so alone and lost.

“Afterward, you should be able to tap into my Obsidian qualities. But if you let your emotions drive you, you'll be killed. It's as simple as that. And if we both die, so do a lot of other people.”

“But you're not going to die.”

“I'll do my best.” He rubbed his thumb against the side of her mouth. “Before you came into my life again, I didn't care about living or dying. But now I have a lot to live for. So believe me when I say that I'll fight like hell to stay alive, and to keep you safe.”

She kissed him fiercely, her hands gripping his face. “Don't you dare die, Cyn. Don't you dare.”

“No matter what happens, know that you brought me to life again.” He rubbed away tears she didn't know she had shed.

She pressed her hand to his chest. “I want you to know something, too. You have a good heart, despite everything you've done. When I looked past my anger, I saw everything you really are. Not just a cold, badass Dragon warrior, but a man with integrity and a sense of right.”

He curled his fingers around her hand. “Would it make any difference to tell you not to have those feelings about me?”

“No. You don't know the half of what I feel for you.”

His fingers pressed against her mouth. “Don't tell me. It'll mess with my head, make
me
fight under a red haze of emotion. Let's find Purcell and finish this.”

C
yn called Fernandez. “Are you at home?” He didn't apologize for calling at one in the morning.

Ruby leaned close to his shoulder, listening in.

Fernandez's voice was low, hard to hear. “Yes. I'm with Celia. She's sleeping.”

“I'm in your driveway now. Does she know what's going on?”

What you did for her?
Ruby wanted to shout.

“No, I haven't told her anything. Not until I have to. I'll meet you outside.”

Cyn disconnected, giving Ruby a nod. She leaned on the passenger door and watched between half-closed eyes.

Cyn got out as Fernandez approached the car. “I need to get Ruby to whatever this device Purcell has. Now. She's been feeling the effects of the fracturing, but now she's barely hanging on.” She could hear his fear of losing her in his voice. “Purcell said to get in touch with you.”

Fernandez glanced her way, though he could only see the top of her head for the most part. He pulled out his phone and started touching buttons.

Cyn rammed his fingers back through his hair. “I understand how you felt now, when Celia almost died a long time ago. And recently. I understand why you set me up to save her.”

“I'm glad, because it was the hardest thing I've ever had to do.” He focused on his call. “Purcell? It's Fernandez. The woman who was with Cyntag, she's very ill… Yes, I'll put him on.” He handed the phone to Cyn. “He wants to talk to you.”

Cyn took the phone, looking for all the world like a man distraught. “She started out feeling lethargic but went downhill fast. She…she can hardly breathe now. She hasn't eaten in hours. I've been keeping her alive by using my healing power, but I'm so weak I don't know how much longer I can do it. You promised if we backed off, you would save us…I'll be right there.” He shoved the phone at Fernandez. “Thank you.”

“Where is he sending you? Is it where we're all supposed to go?” Panic punctuated Fernandez's voice. “He won't tell me.”

Cyn didn't answer, running to the car.

Ruby sat up as soon as they were out of view of the house. “What if it's a trap?”

“The vision says you have a chance to defeat the monster. The only way we're going to do that is to get to the reactor.”

She didn't want to think about the other part.

“I think I was pretty convincing,” he said.

“Very. You broke my heart.”

“All I had to do was remember watching you walk away from me yesterday.” He let those words settle for a moment. “Purcell wants to meet at a gas station north of here. We're to follow him. Remember, he can reach into your mind, so you have to think ‘sick.'”

“All I have to do is remember walking away from you. As much as I wanted you to hurt…damn it, I was hurting, too.”

He looked at her, his expression softening. “Ruby…”

“Don't say anything.” She pressed her fingers to her temples. “It'll mess with
my
head.”

Fifteen minutes later, he pulled up to the Chevron. It was closed, but the lights were on. Purcell waited by a Rolls-Royce, his arms loosely crossed in front of him. He approached the Thunderbird, and Cyn got out.

Purcell glanced into the passenger window where Ruby sprawled. “She seemed fine earlier.”

“She's been complaining about stomach pains for the last day or so. I convinced her that you were telling us the truth. That we had to look out for ourselves. It was soon after that”—he pinched the bridge of his nose—“she got so fatigued she could barely move. I think it's hitting her hard because she's newly Awakened. Save her, and I'll do everything I can to help you.”

She could hear the strain in his voice as he begged. Cyn was not a man who was used to begging.

Purcell said, “I will hold you to your word, as you hold me to mine. But I insist that once you are there, you remain until the fracturing passes.”

“Whatever you say.”

“Follow me.”

Cyn got back in, closing the door with both hands, like he was too weak to do it with one. “We're on.”

They wound through the city, busy even at this time of night. Ruby remained slumped but watched the buildings go by. Finally he pulled into a nearly empty parking lot. A sign pronounced the place closed for renovation.

“Where are we?” she asked.

“The Devil's Ray nightclub, one of the private clubs for Crescents only.”

He parked near the entrance, going around to the passenger side and helping her out. She let her body go limp.

“In here,” Purcell said, leading the way to the back entrance of the three-story building. “I've commandeered one of the clubs to gather the Chosen. You're the first to arrive.”

Cyn pretended to stagger, though when Purcell put his arm out to help, he stepped back. “I've got her.”

“Can you still become Dragon?”

Cyn sounded weary. “I doubt it.”

He stepped into the cavernous space, and the door closed behind them. More ominous, she heard the locks click. She felt an immediate difference in the energy, similar to how Chena felt. The reactor was definitely here. She met Cyn's eyes, and he gave her a subtle nod.

Some lights were on, though they didn't illuminate the space well. She heard two men talking somewhere nearby. Stacks of cots lined the outer wall. So that part was true, anyway. Two bars flanked the large space, and in the back, an open space she guessed was a dance floor. This would be the place where the Chosen would hunker down while all the other Crescents died.

Bastards.

Purcell gestured, and a man rushed over and set out a cot.

Cyn laid her down, whispering, “You're going to be all right, baby.”

Another man came over and both remained a few feet away from Purcell. No doubt security.

Purcell held out his hand. “I will require your cell phones. No one can have access to the outside once they're here. It's for your own safety. When friends or acquaintances call, panicked about how people are dying, some will weaken and give our location. We can't allow any more than are planned for.”

Cyn slowly pulled his phone out. He wouldn't be able to call in Grayson.

“Hers, too.”

She wasn't sure how he knew she had one, but Cyn dutifully dug into her pocket and retrieved it, handing both over.

“Stay with her,” Purcell said. “I'll be right back.”

Cyn knelt next to her, but he watched the man retreat. She couldn't see from her vantage point. They agreed that as soon as they were inside, they were completely in their roles. The two guards had remained, preventing even a subtle exchange.

Purcell returned and paused by the two men. “Where is Magda?”

Ruby's eyes widened at the name. Of course Magda would be here. She was Purcell's daughter-in-law.

One of the men said, “She went to gather some provisions.”

Purcell stepped into view, taking a call on his cell phone. “Yes?…It's getting to be too much?…All right, you know where we are. I'll see you soon. We're ready.” He disconnected, turning to the two men. “People will start arriving soon.”

Cyn stood. “Ruby needs healing now.”

“The
Deus Vis
in the building should bring her around.”

“She's fading fast. If she dies…” He let the threat hang in the air. They had a small window of opportunity, with only a few men here and Magda out.

After a tense moment, Purcell turned and walked away. “Bring her.”

Cyn picked her up again and followed Purcell down a short hallway where the offices were. Purcell opened the door to the second room, allowing Cyn to carry her in.

In a wooden cabinet lined with black velvet sat a reactor roughly two feet long and six inches wide. Energy pulsed all around it, as thick in the air as her pulse was in her blood. Purcell took her hand and pressed it against the smooth surface. Its energy charged through her so intensely that she gasped.

He pulled it back. “Now, go back to the main area.”

Ruby slid to her feet, not having to pretend to adjust to the power rocketing through her. She and Cyn exchanged a nod and Catalyzed.

Purcell used his magick to throw Cyn against the wall, shouting, “Carew! Balston, get in here!” Purcell turned to her, his eyes as wild as the aurora borealis. He held out his hand, and she ducked as a fireball shot over her.

She didn't see the second one that followed right behind the first. It hit her squarely in the stomach with a fiery heat and hurled her to the floor. Cyn blew out a dark cloud that surrounded Purcell, though he was using magick to dispel it.

Ruby grabbed the reactor and raced to the door as the two guards rushed in. She barreled into one, knocking him to the side. Cyn fought the other man, fangs against orbs.

Like a football player, she tucked the reactor against her chest with her chin and ran. That was the part of the plan she didn't like, leaving Cyn behind.

Because of Brom's vision.

So she would take it away, hide it, and come back to fight with him. Except the back door opened and Magda stepped inside, turned away as she argued with someone behind her. “You have no right to be here yet.”

The man was saying, “I need to know where—”

She suddenly spun around to face Ruby. “I thought I sensed a Dragon.” Her gaze narrowed in on the reactor. “Oh, no you don't.” She Catalyzed, and the man behind her ran inside. It was Fernandez, who, unlike Magda, wasn't surprised to see Ruby. Because he'd no doubt followed them here.

Magda pointed at the reactor in Ruby's grip. “She's trying to steal the device that will save us! Help me stop her.”

Oh, hell. Of course he would. Fernandez Catalyzed, too, a black-and-blue Dragon like Cyn. Ruby couldn't fight and hold the reactor at the same time. It slipped from her grasp. Fernandez went for it as Magda charged at her. Ruby tried to dodge, but like an oncoming car in a game of chicken, Magda changed angles and rammed her.

Ruby shattered the hostess stand when she landed on it. Before she could get to her feet, Magda pounded on her. Fangs glistened as they came at her. Ruby deflected, feeling them scratch across her scales with the ear-shattering screech of nails on a chalkboard. Ruby braced against the floor and shoved Magda off of her. She rolled, coming up on her feet, ready to attack again.

Where was Cyn? She could hear thumps down the hall.

Focus.
Fearing for Cyn's safety would not help her.

Magda advanced on Ruby, whipping her tail equipped with that fatal stinger. “You killed my husband.”

Ruby sent a stream of spikes at her, trying to sever the deadly tail. “You killed my parents,” Ruby said, her voice a snarl. “My uncle. And now I'm going to kill you.”

Magda laughed. “You're a babe. Without your big, bad Obsidian Dragon, you're helpless.” She pointed the black tip of her tail at Ruby, sending a shower of small flares at her. Three hit her, penetrating her scales and sending what felt like electrical shocks pulsing through her. The muscles in her right leg seized, cramping like the worst charley horse ever.

“The. Hell. I. Am.” Ruby stretched her leg, trying to regain control of it. Magda lunged forward, and Ruby surrounded her with a firestorm the same way she'd done with the demon.

Magda screamed and shook off the flames. Before the last of them were out, Ruby sent fiery spikes at her face. Even temporarily blinded, Magda shot more of those damned darts, hitting Ruby's shoulders. Pain radiated down her arms and paralyzed her hands.

Purcell burst out of the hallway. “Where's the reactor?” he screamed.

Magda blindly pointed at the doorway as she kept her focus on Ruby. “That Guard Captain grabbed it when she dropped it.”

“Who, Fernandez? He was here?”

Was, but not anymore. He was gone. And so was the reactor.

Magda screeched, “He must have taken it!”

Purcell raised his hand and began to create an orb. A green one, like the kind that killed Mon. Cyn dove out, knocking Purcell to the ground. The orb disappeared. God, Cyn was bleeding, the red of it streaking down his chest. A huge bubble orb surrounded Purcell as Cyn lunged forward to attack. Cyn bounced back from it, then inhaled and encompassed it in black smoke. Like a living thing, it squeezed the bubble.

Magda took advantage of Ruby's distraction and knocked her to the ground, landing hard on top of her. Magda lifted her tail, like a scorpion, and readied to lance her with it. Ruby could only reach Magda's arm, but she bit hard just as the tail was coming down. Magda screamed as scales broke and bones snapped. The tip still jabbed into Ruby's thigh, sending shocks through her entire lower half. A series of seizures overtook her body, smashing over her like wave after wave. Magda crept closer with a cruel smile to deliver the final blow. And damn it, Ruby couldn't move as her body convulsed.

Cyn threw himself between Ruby and Magda, lashing out at her with his talons. Using the element of surprise, he knocked Magda down and lunged toward her throat. A green bolt of lightning hit him in the neck, tearing through the scales and into muscle. It threw him back with a grunt of pain. He sent an arrow of black smoke hurtling back at Purcell. It speared his shoulder, making him stumble back.

The bolt raced back around again, aiming for Cyn. Oh, God, it was those horrible moments at Mon's all over again. Cyn dodged the bolt and sprinted away from her, probably so she wouldn't get hit accidentally. He left a trail of blood on the floor.

Please let him be all right.

The wound looked severe, but it was already beginning to heal itself.

She saw no sign of the other two men, so she assumed they must be dead. From the corner of her vision, she saw Magda about to strike. Ruby whirled around and shot spikes of fire at her eyes. Several hit the vulnerable area Cyn had told her about, tearing away strips of skin. Magda roared, whipping her tail ominously as she circled Ruby. Hell, the aftershocks of the last attack still sparked through her.