Of Steel and Scale (The Drakkon Kin Trilogy #1)

Chapter 7.2

Can help you through. She paused. Not him. Not kin.

“Huh.” I refocused on Damon. “Kaia says she can get me past the barrier but not you.”

“Separation isn’t a good idea, given we have no idea what waits beyond the barrier. Just because the tunnel appears to be empty of threat doesn’t mean it is.”

“I’m aware of that, but we need answers fast, and this might be the only way of getting some.”

“We could backtrack and take another tunnel.”

“That’ll take hours we might not have.” I paused. “Once I’m on the other side, I can look for the pins you mentioned and destroy them. That should bring the barrier down, shouldn’t it?”

“Unless they’ve countered that possibility with another spell.”

“Why would they?”

“Why would their first attack be on an outpost like Eastmead? These people are not following expectations when it comes to the tactical rule book.” He studied me through narrowed eyes. “If you can’t break the pins, how long will it take you to reach the Beak from the other side of the barrier?”

“Presuming there’re no further traps or waiting guards? Half an hour.”

“If you’re not back in an hour ten, I’ll be taking the other tunnel and heading up to find you.”

“I’ll inform Kaia not to eat you, then.”

He did not look amused, and I somehow managed to contain my grin. “I’ve been roaming these tunnels for years, Damon. I really will be fine.”

“The gilded birds and their riders haven’t been here for years, though, have they?”

“No, but a fire hot enough to burn the body of a drakkling should be able to cinder a rider, with or without their golden armor.”

And I hoped that in saying that, I hadn’t snagged Túxn’s interest. The goddess of luck could sometimes be very fickle with her favors.

“And how much fire do you actually have left after everything you expended in that cavern?”

“Enough.”

“That is not a comforting statement.”

I smiled. “I have a drakkon to heal, remember, and besides, there’s the promise of hot passionate sex to claim.”

“I love that the drakkons come first over everything else.” He shook his head. “We really will have to find an active aerie for you in Zephrine, won’t we?”

“Well, it would not only get me out of your hair, but also your father’s. A double bonus, I’d say.”

He raised his eyebrow again, the movement somehow both mocking and amused. “I don’t keep enough hair to worry about these days, so don’t let that bother you.”

I laughed and gripped his arm. He slid his hand briefly over mine and gently squeezed it, and I did my best to ignore the desire that surged at the simple touch. But there was a big part of me that wished I’d taken time to explore the muscular perfection of this man before... I shut the rest of that thought down.

There was plenty of time ahead for such exploration. Besides, sexual arousal wasn’t uncommon after a near death experience, and this “surge” could surely be put down to that.

And if I kept telling myself that, I might even end up believing it.

“If I can’t break the barrier, I’ll return as fast as I can.”

“I would prefer you be as careful as you can, but given the propensity of your family to throw themselves headfirst into the middle of trouble, I won’t be waiting with bated breath for that to happen.”

A statement I didn’t bother refuting. I tried pulling away, but his grip tightened, preventing me. I frowned up at him, saw the devilment and desire in his eyes.

Fires sparked within, a deep-down heat that had nothing to do with flame.

“What?” I said, voice edged with a huskiness I couldn’t quite control.

Though he hadn’t appeared to move, he was somehow so much closer. “I believe the custom you started in Esan’s courtyard should be continued.”

His breath brushed heat across my lips, and I swallowed against the sudden rush of wanting. It was insane to be kissing this man right now, given we had no idea what dangers might even now be approaching, and yet... and yet, was that not also a good reason for doing so?

I softly cleared my throat and said, “What custom would that be?”

“A kiss goodbye before you fly away with your drakkon.”

“I’m not?—”

His lips met mine, stealing the rest of my words away. Stealing thought and breath, leaving nothing but sweet sensation as the kiss deepened and our tongues tangled, tasted, teased.

God, the man could kiss .

The deep-down fires burned to life once more, and I pressed my body harder to the length of his, wanting more, needing more, wishing we were flesh-on-flesh so I could explore the glorious length of him. But leather lay between us, and that was probably just as well. A cold stone tunnel really wasn’t the best place to consummate our marriage.

As if he’d heard that thought, he groaned and pulled back. His blue eyes were afire with desire, but there was amusement there, too.

“This kiss confirms desire will never be a problem between us, but I believe our timing could certainly be better.”

“I believe you’re right. Perhaps we should—” I paused and waved a hand at the seriously impressive erection visible even through the leathers. “—discuss your current inconvenience once we return to Esan.”

“I believe the same inconvenience affects us both.”

His voice was dry, and I grinned. “Yes, but mine’s a whole lot less obvious.”

“I shall enjoy exploring and tasting your less... obvious... inconvenience once we have the time.”

“I believe I would enjoy that.”

“I shall ensure that you do.” With the smile of a man well used to pleasuring women, he bowed and stepped back. “And you had best be on your way, before your drakkon becomes impatient again.”

I laughed, but turned to the barrier we couldn’t see and said, Ready when you are, Kaia.

Deepen bond , she said. Must be one.

I frowned. To share immunity?

Mesh with young. Protects them, will protect you.

I blinked. When have you had to protect drakklings against magic?

The only magic we ever employed against them these days was from the weather mages, and that was simply a means of forcing them into retreat on the few occasions they did fly over.

The white ones use.

The white ones being the Mareritt, according to the image that accompanied her reply. I had no idea drakkons flew into Mareritten.

Good hunting in warm times. Risk worth. Bond.

I drew in a breath, then deepened the connection between us. Her mind was deep and vast, alien and yet not, and it opened to me like a flower, as mine did to her. My connections with other animals had been surface level only, so the difference here was to be expected. But this was much, much more than deepening the ability to read thoughts and feel emotions. It was a sharing of our very beings —of all that we were, all that we had been, and all that we could be. It was a sharing of memories, of power, and of joy, but it was also pain—of friends killed, love betrayed, and dreams diminished on my part, and on hers, mates and drakklings lost, some to humans, some to wind and weather, and some who simply weren’t strong enough to survive the harshness of the lands we’d driven them into. Grief rolled through me, through us . Then there was a brief twist of senses and mind, and I was looking through her eyes and she through mine.

We were one.

It was a weird sensation, and my brain scrambled to cope with the multiple points of view now hitting me—not only what I was seeing and sensing here, but what Kaia was, both here and in the aerie, where Gria slept with the bloody remnants of a capra scattered around her.

Kaia obviously wasn’t having the same difficulty as me. But then, if she’d done this with drakklings, she was obviously familiar with the dual points of view.

Walk now , she said.

I did so, every sense I had—hers and mine—tuned to the barrier I could now see. It was a fierce golden wall through which hundreds of fiery ribbons shimmered and roamed.

Magic , Kaia said. No stop.

I hit the barrier. It briefly resisted my presence, then the threads on either side of me melted away and I stepped through. It felt like what I imagined walking through a tar pit would. It enveloped me, smothered me, making breathing difficult and forward movement harder and harder. Fear rose, as did flames. I clenched my fingers against the need to react and forced my feet on. Kaia remained a bright presence in my mind, and there was no concern in her thoughts.

I’d trusted her before. I could do no less now.

I moved on, each step slow and steady, for what seemed an eternity. Then, with a suddenness that tore a gasp from my throat, I was through.

I stopped and scanned the tunnel ahead for any sort of threat, then drew in a deep, somewhat shuddering breath and turned. The barrier continued to burn bright, and there was no sign of Damon through it.

“Bryn?” he said, voice sharp and very distant.

“Here, safe,” I replied. Thank you, Kaia.

Welcome . She retreated from my mind enough that we regained our individuality, but not so far that I couldn’t see the barrier. Not felt this magic before.

They didn’t use it on you when they attacked?

No.

Perhaps their magic was protection-based rather than attack, and if that were true, it was at least one point in our favor. Right now, they seemed to have too many other advantages.

Damon said if we can find the pins that keep this barrier in place, we might be able to bring it down.

Who he to you?

I hesitated. He’s my husband.

Husband?

Mate.

No cinder?

I smiled at the slight note of amusement in her mental tones. Definitely not.

Will tell Gria. He magic?

Thank you, and yes. Protective magic, not attack. He won’t hurt either of you. I promise.

No like them, but trust.

Men, she meant, rather than Damon. And I could hardly blame her. Women might long have been a part of Esan’s military might, but in truth, we were but a fraction overall. It definitely took a certain mindset to want to risk life and limb in order to protect greater society.

“Have you spotted the pins?” Damon asked. “They’ll likely be on either edge, hidden from obvious sight. Destroy one, and it should short the spell and take out both.”

I wrinkled my nose and studied the nearest wall for several seconds. After a moment, I realized there was a pattern to the swirl of ribbons or whatever the hell those things actually were—they dove down into the corner, swam back up the wall, then raced across half the barrier before turning around in the middle and doing the whole loop again. I drew my sword and cautiously moved forward. In a crevice at the point where the wall met the floor was a small metallic feather. The threads were rolling around the outer edges of the feather before crawling up the wall.

“I think the pin is one of those metallic feathers,” I replied. “I can’t think of any other reason for it to be shoved into a hole in this tunnel.”

“Are you able to get your sword into the crevice?”

“Yes.” I paused. “What sort of reaction can I expect?”

“Unknown.”

“Well, that’s always fun.”

“Cleave it from a side-on angle if you can. If the pin is set to explode most of the force will go to the front rather than the sides.”

“‘Most’ is not a comforting word right now.”

He laughed. “Best I can do under the circumstances.”

I stepped sideways until only half of the feather was visible, then knelt and pressed the tip of the sword into the crevice, onto the feather. There was no response, but then, I hadn’t yet tried to damage it.

With one of those breaths that didn’t do a whole lot to calm the inner nerves—I really would rather fight a half dozen Mareritt than do something like this—I thrust the blade tip through the glittering leaf, hitting the base of the rock underneath. A sharp, bell-like chime rang through the air, and the movement of the ribbons became chaotic. Then, with a surprisingly soft and yet powerful whoomph , the barrier exploded. The force of it was a foul wind that sent me tumbling.

I landed on my back a good ten or fifteen feet away, staring up at the dagger-like rocks only inches from my forehead. Fuck, I’d been lucky— so damn lucky—that I hadn’t ended up in the same damaged state as Randel.

“Bryn?” Damon dropped to his knees beside me. “You okay?”

“Yeah, just winded. Move back so I can get up.”

He shuffled back and rose with me, one hand hovering near my elbow, as if ready to catch me should I waver.

“I’m fine, Damon, really.”

“You look fine, but magic can sometimes have detrimental effects that are not obvious at first glance.” His gaze swept me critically and came up looking relieved. “I can’t see any evidence of post-spell fragments clinging to you.”

“Which maybe suggests they didn’t expect us to be able to break through.”

“And we wouldn’t have, if not for your drakkon.” He reached out and plucked something from my hair. “There is this, though.”

“This” was a semi melted, blackened remnant of the gilded feather. “Is there magic clinging to it?”

“Enough to tell they are using blood magic, so it is strange that I cannot see it.” He raised the fragment a little, allowing the blue light to flow across it. “If this remnant is anything to go by, they are not restricted to mere protection as we are.”

“You said your magic could also alter—isn’t that what they’re doing with the gilded birds?”

He shrugged. “It’s possible that’s the birds’ natural state—perhaps they are their country’s equivalent to our drakkons.”

“Theoretically, though, it is possible to physically alter a living being such as these birds?”

He hesitated. “Theoretically, anything is possible with enough will and skill, but such wide-scale alterations on such large creatures might well require more blood than the mage can spare.”

Which wasn’t much of a problem when you could use the blood of others. “Then, presuming the birds are altered by blood—could you or your Angolan kin undo them?”

He dropped the remnant onto the stone and ground it underneath a heel. “Not to kill—as I said, our blood magic is protection based rather than attack. It is possible that if we caught one, we could figure out what has been done to it and maybe even return it to its natural state, but that is an unrealistic task if we are dealing with a squadron or more of them.”

I adjusted the position of my pack, picked up the one that had slipped from my shoulder when I’d been thrown, and then moved forward again. Despite the quiet fierceness of the explosion, it had caused a fair bit of damage to the walls either side of the crevice. Chunks of blue glowing stone lay scattered throughout the tube, along with multiple bits of the black rock’s “teeth.” No wonder Damon had asked me if I was okay. By rights, the explosion should have blown me apart as easily as the rock. And might well have, had I been standing in front of the crevice.

We made good time and soon reached the point where the tube met a much older system. From here, it was only a ten-minute walk through a small cavern, and a sharply inclined but shorter tunnel to reach the Beak.

We paused at the edge of the tunnel and studied the small cavern. At first glance, it appeared empty, then Damon lightly nudged my arm and pointed to the right, near where the entrance to the Beak’s runner tunnel was.

I studied the area, initially seeing nothing but a series of odd-shaped rocks. Then I noticed their oddly formal structure. They weren’t rocks. They were concealment cloaks hiding what looked to be a series of differently sized boxes.

“They’ve obviously started setting up some sort of supply depot,” I said.

He nodded. “There doesn’t seem to be much here yet.”

“It might also be but one of a number scattered across the Black Glass Mountains or even the Throat. With winged access, there’re plenty of places for them to use.”

And it wasn’t like we could find every one of them, given how large—and how dangerous—the range was. Besides, it would take far longer than we probably had.

“True.” He paused. “There’s no sign of a guard here. What does Kaia say about magic?”

None came her immediate response.

She was still following along with our adventure, obviously.

Bored , she said. You more interesting .

What did you do before I came along to relieve said boredom?

Fly. Dangerous here. Can’t leave Gria too long.

A good point, given the stash we’d just uncovered. I returned my attention to the cavern. “Kaia isn’t sensing anything.”

“Good.” He rose. “Let’s go investigate those boxes.”

I nodded and padded out after him.

We were five steps into the cavern when I heard the voices.

Damon grabbed my arm and pulled me back into the tunnel. I knelt in the deeper shadows, keeping close to the wall to present a less noticeable shadow, one hand clenched against the fire burning at my fingertips and the other on my sword’s hilt. Damon knelt beside me, pulled his knife free from its sheath, and sliced open a fingertip. He rapidly spelled, his singsong words so soft I could barely hear them despite our closeness. As the blood dripped onto the ground, shadows roiled up from it, deepening and thickening as the spell reached its peak. He closed it off with a sharp motion, but this time there was no explosion.

“The veil will prevent them seeing us,” he murmured, his breath a sweet caress across my ear. “But do not move, as the spell will ripple in response, and that might attract attention.”

I nodded, my gaze on the still empty cavern as the voices grew closer. I had no idea what they were saying, because it wasn’t any language I’d heard before. While there was a common language shared by Arleeon and all her trading partners, this was something else altogether.

There were at least ten in the group, which normally wouldn’t present much of a problem given there were two of us and I could take out at least half of them with fire—presuming, of course, their armor wasn’t fireproofed. But killing or capturing these men would only warn their commanders that we knew of their existence, and both instinct and common sense said that wasn’t a good idea. Their unawareness gave us the chance to learn more about them and prepare, whereas reacting now could lead to an immediate and full-scale attack on Esan and maybe even Arleeon itself.

We needed time.

Time we didn’t have , instinct whispered yet again.

The voices stopped with an abruptness that made my skin crawl. I didn’t move, barely dared to breathe, as tension locked my body and heat pressed harder against my fingertips.

Then, on the soft stirring breeze, came the sound of footsteps. Two men appeared, each holding what looked to be narrow tubes of very thin metal. A small pouch was connected to the base of the tubes, and inside this, visible thanks to the sheerness of the metal, was some sort of dark liquid.

They were both wearing the chain armor Kaia had shown me, but only one had a helmet on. The other had it lashed to his waist belt, revealing brown features with a flat wide nose, high cheekbones, and a mouth that was a thin dark slash. His hair was short, spiky, and a rather shocking green.

Definitely not a race we’d ever traded with.

They scanned the cavern carefully, their weapons raised and their fingers resting on what I presumed was the release button. The helmetless man’s gaze paused at the entrance of our tube for several incredibly long seconds before moving on again.

The first man growled something in that guttural language we’d heard earlier, and then two of them took up sentry positions, one remaining near their tunnel, and one walking across to the right side of ours.

He looked in briefly, his gaze skittering across the deeper shadows that surrounded us, then grunted and turned around, the tube still held at the ready. But this close, I could smell the stuff, and it very much reminded me of that faintly sweet but musty scent evident whenever I entered the cages holding our gray hawks. That suggested it was a liquefied form of their gilded birds’ shit. After what it had done to the boat, I hated to think what it would do to human flesh....

In a two-by-two formation, six more armor-clad men moved into the cavern, each pair carrying a large box. The first pair flipped the concealment blanket back, then placed their box on top of the nearest. The other two pairs followed suit, then, after pulling the blanket back down, they all retreated. Conversation faded as they moved deeper into the other tunnel.

We didn’t move, not for another five minutes. Then, warily, Damon dismissed his shadow spell and rose, offering me a hand. I placed my fingers in his and allowed him to pull me upright, even if it wasn’t really necessary.

Except it somehow was, because there was a part of me that hungered for his touch. Any touch, however brief. A part whose demands had only increased after our last kiss. We just needed time... but instinct was whispering that if I wanted this man in my bed, I had best get him there soon, before the world blew apart around us.

I pulled free from his grip and flexed my fingers. Mom’s seeress abilities had never really been a functioning part of mine—at least to date—so instinct’s warnings were probably based on nothing more than fear.

Probably.