Riders (Riders, #1)(96)

I finally pulled him around and tried to orient myself. The sound of the helicopters was growing louder and the bluff was becoming more visible as Alevar’s darkness dispersed. I put Riot in a walk, keeping my sword at the ready as I searched for Bas or Shadow.

I didn’t expect to see him just seconds later.

Sebastian walked toward me through the darkness. He didn’t look like he was under Samrael’s control. He didn’t look stiff or unlike himself, either. It was him. I felt that it was him through the cuff.

“Bas.” I dismounted and approached him, sword still at the ready. It was him, but I wasn’t taking any chances. “Tell me it’s you, Bas.”

“It’s me. It’s me, look.” He stared into the darkness. Shadow came trotting over to him. Sebastian put his hand on her neck, and the mare settled at his touch. “See? It’s me. Alevar came out of nowhere. He smashed into me when I stepped outside, and hit me right across the head. Next thing I knew, he’d brought me—” His eyes flew open. “What’s around your neck? Oh, no. Gideon, is that—”

“Mount up, Bas.” Now wasn’t the time to explain. “Let’s get out of here.”

I heard a shrill whinny behind me.

Riot.

I spun as my horse twisted into flame and shot away.

“Riot!” I didn’t understand—until I saw the massive form of a dragon emerging from the darkness.

Ra’om stepped forward, his claws pressing deep into the earth under his immense weight.

I had seen him in my mind once, thanks to Samrael’s help. But I’d never seen a dragon in person before. It shook me.

Ra’om’s red eyes were as I remembered them. As I’d seen them in my nightmares. In shadows. Penetrating. Evil. But his enormous body—scaled, serpentine, powerful—was more terrifying than I recalled. He was a thousand times my size.

“Gideon,” Bas said behind me. “The key.”

We definitely weren’t escaping this without losing something. The key. Our lives. Possibly all.

Ra’om came to a stop, his long neck arcing high. Wings were folded at his back, liquid silver like the rest of him, and his thick, ridged tail settled on the grass behind him. He lowered his head, bringing it closer to my height, and opened his mouth slightly. Through his fangs, I saw the flick of a black tongue. And deeper, the orange glow of heat. A low growl rumbled from inside his throat and the glow of fire brightened.

As I stood, I felt him piercing my mind, pushing his way into it.

How are you, Gideon?

His cavernous voice echoed from deep within my head.

Samrael was right, it seems. You’ve caused us more trouble than we expected.

I felt the presence of other Kindred. Malaphar, Ronwae, Bay. I thought of Bas, behind me. I didn’t know if he was in danger. But I couldn’t help him even if he was. I couldn’t even help myself.

Perhaps we should recruit you. I think you would make a good addition to my Kindred. It would be so rewarding to see you and your horsemen on my side. It’s where you belong, I think. As one of us. Simply say the word, Gideon. And I can make you strong, like Samrael.

Then there he was—Samrael—striding toward me across our practice field.

He looked smug as he walked up to me. Ra’om’s looming presence made me feel insignificant, but Samrael looked powerful. Victorious.

“I don’t think so, Ra’om,” he said, but he was looking me dead in the eyes. He brought his knife up and laid it under my chin, resting the cool blade on my neck. “He’ll never be as strong as me.”

The roar of the helicopters grew louder. They were close now. And I felt Jode and Marcus approaching, sensing them through the cuff. But I knew nothing would help now. It was too late.

Samrael drew the knife away. He hooked the point under the silver chain around my neck, lifting it up over my head. Into his hands. He smiled. “Thank you for this.”

The dragon let out a hiss of satisfaction—a horrendous, chilling sound.

What do you think, Gideon? I could give you power unlike anything you’ve ever known. Will you join us? Will you become our kin?

I pushed against his hold on me—and felt him ease back, relinquishing control. My body came back under my own power. My ability to speak restored. I swallowed, clearing my throat, and looked from Samrael to Ra’om.

“Interesting offer,” I said. “How about I kill you both instead?”

Samrael lunged, slashing for my neck—but I’d expected it and twisted away. The blade sliced my shoulder, splitting skin and muscle. My hand opened and my sword dropped to the grass.

I braced myself for Samrael’s next attack. Then Ra’om threw his head back and roared, spewing a cloud of fire into the air. Everything went white. I staggered, blinded by the sudden brightness, waiting for the knife to hit me again. To bite into my heart, my neck. But it didn’t.

The brightness faded. Samrael wasn’t even facing me. He was turned toward Ra’om—toward where Ra’om had been. The dragon was gone.

Not gone—changed.

Samrael was watching the shadowed figure of a man standing in the distance. He was nothing more than a dark shape but I knew it was Ra’om, and that he and Samrael were sharing a silent exchange. The man turned and walked into the night, and Samrael looked back at me.