The Dragon Legion Collection(51)

Damien was shocked. “I could have defended myself...”

Petra was dismissive of the idea. “You would have been vastly outnumbered, and even if you’d gotten away that time, they would just have attacked again. They would have waited until your guard was down or you were asleep or otherwise vulnerable.” She straightened, her eyes shining with determination. “I learned young that the way to stop this kind of nonsense is to instill fear. So I did.” She looked him up and down. “I did it for you.”


“But only for a day?”

“A day and a night. They wouldn’t have forgotten. They never did, actually.”

“You protected me.” Damien was humbled—until he remembered what had happened after he left. “Was that avalanche for me?”

Petra’s lips quirked. “What avalanche?” she asked with completely unconvincing innocence. She looked so mischievous that Damien almost forgot how terrified he’d been.

“The one that came out of the mountains unexpectedly, right when I was approaching Delphi after leaving you. The one that nearly killed me.”

“Oh, that avalanche.” She failed to keep control of the smile she’d been hiding, which only annoyed Damien.

“You could have killed me.”

“Could being the operative word.”

“You have the ability to control rocks and earth...”

“I am an Earthdaughter. I told you that before.”

“So, you did start an avalanche to kill me when I left you? All that shows is that I was right about you. The prophecy was about you...” He took a step back, but Petra pursued him with purpose.

Her voice dropped to a whisper as she jabbed a finger into his chest. “If I’d intended to kill you, you’d be the one trapped in this place, not me.”

Damien didn’t know what to say to that. He had perfect control of his own powers and could kill or not depending on his own choice.

At least, he’d had control before his powers had disappeared.

He’d been so shocked by that sudden avalanche—and so hard-pressed to get out of the way—that he hadn’t realized Petra had been similarly in control.

“I thought you just started it,” he said cautiously. “Then nature took its course.”

Her lips tightened. “I finished it, too. To do any less would be irresponsible.”

Damien was so shaken by the way she challenged his assumptions that he couldn’t hold her gaze. “I don’t even know what you can do.”

“So, you ran away, abandoning me and your son, rather than finding out.” Petra’s tone was scornful. “Some dragon you are.” She pivoted and began to march deeper into the underworld, leaving Damien searching for a good answer to that. “But then, you aren’t one anymore, are you?”

Annoyance shot through Damien at the reminder and he shouted after her. “Why did you take the ferry early?”

Petra spun to face him, an answering anger making her eyes flash. “I didn’t! Your son was too stubborn to be born.”

“He came by that honestly,” Damien muttered.

“He did!” Petra replied. “Like father, like son.” She turned to walk onward as Damien struggled against his guilt.

“It wasn’t my fault!” he roared, not entirely certain that was true.

Petra just gave him a pitying glance before she continued on her way.

Damien set his teeth and strode after his mate.

This argument wasn’t half done.





Chapter Three



Petra felt alive again.

It was a strange, intoxicating feeling, and one that was more than welcome. She tingled. She felt warm. She could feel her heart beating and the blood coursing through her veins. She was keenly aware of Damien, not just because of his kiss, and recalled all the pleasures they’d shared.

She wanted to experience them again.

It was because Damien had kissed her. She’d forgotten the little glimmer of hazel in his eyes, the way his eyes looked so seductive after he’d kissed her, the little smile that quirked the corner of his mouth. She’d forgotten how strong and sure he felt, how safe she felt in his embrace.

She’d forgotten just how good it had been between them. Just as before, his kiss confused her thinking, made her forget everything except the power that drew them together. One taste of him only left her hungry for more.

What if she’d been right the first time and destiny was on their side?

They couldn’t have long to make amends. Petra guessed the influence of Damien’s touch upon her in this realm was temporary, just as the shedding of his blood would only allow him to communicate with the dead for a short period of time. She knew this newfound vitality would fade, but she wanted to make the most of it while it lasted.

The most incredible thing was that she’d felt the baby move.

Petra had chosen to take the ferry because of her dawning conviction that something was wrong with her son. He’d become still in the womb and as the days passed and her labor didn’t begin, she’d been afraid. She had no experience of childbirth and no one to talk to—after the turned-to-stone incident, the villagers had kept their distance. She’d decided that she had to be with the Mothers and on the third day that the baby had been still in her belly, she’d left. He’d been still ever since.