The Dragon Legion Collection(36)
Katina felt her cheeks heat with pleasure.
The Pythia cast the pieces of scale into the fire on the altar and the boys gasped in unison. The flame on the sacred hearth burned high with sudden vigor, the orange light reflecting off the scales of the dragons who watched.
When the flames died down again, the Pythia reached into the fire and removed the scale with her bare fingers. “The Pyr protect mankind,” she told Lysander. “And so this scale will not burn my mortal fingers.” She reached out, placing her other hand on the gap in Alexander’s armor. “All four elements must be present to heal a scale.” She looked at Katina. “Water, sister.”
Katina summoned the power of the element within her. She was aware of Alexander’s admiring gaze as she let her body change into a rippling cascade of water. The Pythia passed Alexander’s scale through the stream and it hissed slightly as it cooled.
She offered it to Alexander even as Katina took her human form again. “Fire,” she said, and he breathed fire on the scale, controlling the plume of flame so that it didn’t touch the Pythia’s fingers. She smiled at this, then held the scale toward Katina again. “Air,” she commanded, and Katina blew on the scale.
“And earth,” the Pythia concluded, scattering a handful of dust from the floor of the temple over the scale. She then pressed the scale firmly to the gap on Alexander’s chest where it belonged. He bared his teeth and tipped back his head, and Katina knew it hurt.
“A gift from you,” the Pythia demanded, extending a hand to Katina. “A gem to make the scale adhere.”
Katina impulsively pulled off the gold ring Alexander had given her years before, the one she’d never removed, and pressed it against the scale. The carnelian set in the gold shimmered for a second, winking like a small dragon eye. Katina felt the scale soften and the ring melted into it with a shimmer. Then it was just a stone, just a ring, just a circle of gold embedded in the deep amethyst scale on Alexander’s chest.
The Pythia stepped back and flung out her hands. “All hail, your new commander!” she cried and Katina heard a rumble like thunder.
“Old-speak!” Lysander said with wonder, turning to look at the young Pyr around him. Katina realized they were hailing Alexander, as commanded.
Alexander stretched his wings wide, displaying the perfection of his repaired chest, then shifted shape quickly. The other Pyr in the temple changed shape in the same moment, becoming strong young men who stood at attention once more. The temple looked as it had when they’d entered, except for the golden light of the firestorm.
Alexander caught Katina’s hand in his and the light flared between them. She felt the heat of the firestorm slide through her body, making her keenly aware of Alexander standing strong and tall beside her. It was more subdued than it had been before, but the radiant glow between them couldn’t be disguised in the comparative darkness of the temple. Her future was with Alexander, here in Delphi, ensuring that the Pyr were prepared for the challenge of their future.
The Pythia smiled secretly. “I told you before that your future was with fire and earth.”
“Alexander,” Katina breathed.
“No more pots,” Alexander agreed, a twinkle in his eye.
The Pythia glanced down at their interlocked hands and the sparks dancing between them. “A gift, to one of Apollo’s faithful,” she said. “Use it wisely.” She smiled, then returned to her tripod, even as Katina planned the conception of their second son.
She turned to face the man she loved, knowing that she would seduce him so completely on this night that even the darkfire wouldn’t be able to steal him away again.
Alexander smiled, as if he’d read her thoughts and agreed, then kissed her soundly right in the sanctuary of the temple.
* * * * *
[pageKiss of Darkness
The Second Dragon Legion Novella
by Deborah Cooke
They will sacrifice anything to regain the loves they’ve lost...
Damien, the heartbreaker of the dragon shape shifter warriors called the Pyr, can’t forget Petra, the only woman who could both captivate him and destroy him. He’s haunted by their firestorm, the prophecy that compelled him to leave her—and her subsequent death. When the darkfire crystal takes the Dragon Legion to the underworld, Damien seizes the chance to save his son. To his surprise he finds Petra just as enticing as ever...and still pregnant. When his kiss makes their baby stir to life again, they both hope for a different future. Can they learn from the past and trust each other? Even if they solve the riddle of the prophecy, will they be able to escape the underworld, claim the promise of the firestorm and save their son?
]Chapter One
When the light of the darkfire crystal faded and its wind had stilled, Drake and his men found themselves in a sunny but empty plaza. It was early in the morning, dew fresh on the flowers in the heavy planters that were scattered across the space. One man watered the flowers, starting when he turned to find eight men had silently arrived in the space. A large fountain was in the middle of the square, water splashing from it and sparkling in the sunshine. There were buildings around the square, their windows shuttered or dark.
They had manifested in the shadows near what was clearly a restaurant. It was closed now, but the tables and chairs were still set up under awnings on its patio. The company of warriors pulled together a pair of tables and sat down together, flicking anxious glances around themselves.