Going Down in Flames (Going Down in Flames #1)(100)

“About time.” Bryn shifted and turned her attention to Jaxon and Lillith, ripping the tape from their mouths and hands.

Beating wings signaled a dragon coming at her fast.

She shifted and sucked in a breath, ready to roast the enemy. The sight of the Green dragon slowed her heartbeat.

Medic Williams landed, shifted, and inspected Bryn’s wounds.

“Don’t worry about me,” she said. “Take care of them.

The medic checked Lillith and Jaxon. “They’ve been sedated. The dose was too high. They won’t wake unless we act now.” She grabbed Bryn’s hand and placed it on Jaxon’s forehead. “It hasn’t reached their hearts yet. Feel for it in his blood. Reach inside with your Quintessence and destroy it. It’s the only way.”

The medic directed Quintessence through Bryn’s hand. “Follow me. I’ll show you what it feels like.”

Without her permission, Bryn felt her awareness dragged into Jaxon’s body. Claustrophobia hit as her life force narrowed into the channel of his veins. A putrid stench assaulted her.

“Neutralize that,” the medic instructed. “Send your Quintessence into his body and destroy it.”

Bryn gagged and snatched her hand away. “I don’t know what I’m doing. I could kill him.”

“Visualize your Quintessence as white light or fire and direct it at the poison. You can do this. He’ll be dead in minutes if you don’t try.” The medic turned to work on Lillith.

Seriously?

If he lived through this, he owed her big time. Her hand shook as she placed it on his forehead. Taking a deep breath, she pushed her Quintessence through his veins. The world constricted around her. She fought to breath. Damn Jaxon and his father. If she died trying to help him, she would haunt them for eternity.

Fighting the claustrophobia, she pushed forward. Rotten egg stench assaulted her. She visualized her life force as white flames burning away the tar-like poison. In the background, Jaxon moaned. Afraid to stop and check on him, she pushed forward. It felt like rolling a boulder uphill.

Sweat ran down her back. Her heart rate increased. This was hard, damn it. Maybe she’d stop and let the medic finish up. She pulled back on her Quintessence, and the tar like substance wrapped around her, gagging her.

Okay, quitting wasn’t an option. She took a steadying breath and imagined her life force as a blowtorch. Using a slow and steady flame, she burned the poison away. There was so much of it. How was Jaxon still alive? Her legs shook until she couldn’t kneel next to him anymore. Giving in to her fatigue, she tumbled to the ground beside him.

There was still more to do. With every blast of Quintessence, she felt lighter, like she was floating. She couldn’t have moved her hand from his forehead now if she wanted to. Her life force was tangled with his. What happens if he dies? No time to think about that.

Draw a breath in and burn the poison. Draw a breath in and burn the poison. Draw a breath in and…she had nothing left. Laughter sounded from far away. She was going to die and be locked inside of Jaxon for eternity. The universe had an ironic sense of humor.

“Bryn?” Medic Williams voice sounded far away. “Bryn, don’t let go.” A cool hand touched her forehead, and warmth flowed into her body. “Hold on to him, and I’ll hold on to you.”

Quintessence flowed into her body like a warm wave, reviving her, rebuilding her strength. “Can you hear me, Bryn?”

It was like waking up from a nap. “I can hear you.”

“Good. We’re going to finish this together. You’re almost finished. Ready?”

“Ready.” Tapping into the new flow of Quintessence, she focused on burning the last of the poison. Four more blasts, and the stench was gone.

“That’s it. You’re done.” Medic Williams pulled Bryn’s hand away from Jaxon but continued to channel Quintessence until Bryn could sit up on her own. She was beginning to feel more like herself when Jaxon’s eyes fluttered open.

“Mother?” He whipped around.

“She’s fine,” Medic Williams said. “Just rest.”

“Alec?” he asked.

Bryn pointed to the battle raging in the sky. “He’s up there.”

Jaxon growled and tried to stand.

“Stop.” Bryn grabbed his arm. “Your dad, Zavien, and Merrick are up there.”

“I should be up there, too.” He shook off her arm and pushed to his knees. Jaw clenched, he stood, swaying on his feet.

“Sit,” Medic Williams ordered.

Frost shot from Jaxon’s nostrils, but he lowered himself to the ground.

Together, Bryn and Jaxon watched the battle.

Jagged bolts of lightning arced through the night sky. The Blue dragons flew in and out, assisting Zavien by distracting Alec and blasting him from behind.

Alec’s desperation made him a formidable fighter. For every two hits Zavien scored, he took one. The copper scent of blood filled the air.

“Why won’t he stop?” Bryn asked.

“He’s dead either way.” Jaxon spoke with cold certainty.

Ferrin and Merrick blasted Alec from both sides. Wings iced over, he roared in rage. Zavien delivered one last blast of lighting, and Alec’s body hit the ground with a sickening thump.

Zavien lost altitude. His left wing flapped at an awkward angle. He landed hard on the ground a few feet in front of her.