The Dragon Legion Collection(83)

She heard Thad laugh in triumph and Ladon snarl in frustration. She watched Ladon closely and targeted each of his mouths in turn, stopping the fire he would have breathed. Her efforts gave Thad enough relief from the fire that he could fight back harder. The air glowed between herself and Thad, and sparks danced wherever she touched his scales.

It soon became clear to Aura that Ladon was older or less used to fighting his own kind, while Thad was a warrior accustomed to battle. Ladon had started out fighting hard, but he was fading quickly. Thad was consistent, pacing himself so that he could sustain a longer battle. There were a flurry of punches exchanged, then Thad’s claws tore through Ladon’s wing.

Ladon lost altitude, but bit into Thad’s wing with one set of teeth. He tore the leather and Thad cried out in pain. Ladon breathed fire with another head, moving so quickly that Aura didn’t manage to put out the first spurt of fire. It burned Thad’s wing so that it smoked. Aura extinguished the blaze with a gust of wind, then blew beneath Thad’s wings to keep him airborne.


Ladon bellowed with fury. “Interfering nymph!” He lashed at the air with his tail, as if he would injure her, and his tail cut through the glow of light generated by the firestorm.

Thad’s eyes blazed. “The fight is between you and me!” he cried.

“Then keep her from interfering!” Ladon shouted back.

“Stop, please, Aura,” Thad said, just before he flew directly at Ladon and sank his claws into the other dragon’s chest. Ladon’s blood flowed over his scales from the wounds, and he breathed fire with new desperation. He struggled and bit, even as Thad’s scales smoked, and Aura hated that she couldn’t help.

Would Thad’s sense of honor be his undoing? Ladon took a deep breath and breathed fire with all nine mouths, creating a blaze so bright that Aura couldn’t look at it.

“No!” she cried, but Thad slammed the other dragon into a tree. He held him there, and punched each head until it sagged on its neck. He left one, then cast Ladon high into the air.

“You’re no better than a viper,” Thad declared, sending the other dragon flying through the air with a thump of his tail. “No other dragon would dare to interfere with a firestorm. No other dragon would think to injure a mate!”

Ladon fell heavily and the ground shook with the impact. Thad dived after him, but the other dragon held up a claw.

He coughed and considered Thad. “A firestorm?” he echoed, looking between Aura and Thad. For the first time, he seemed to notice the radiant orb of light between them. His eyes widened as he considered Thad. “You are Pyr.”

“Aren’t you?” Thad demanded. He was still agitated, still ready to fight. He flew in restless circles around the other dragon, and his eyes were narrowed to watchful slits. Aura noted the blood that stained his scales and winced that they were so singed.

“I am a dragon through and through,” Ladon said with audible regret. “I have no power to change shape.”

Aura could see that, for there was no alternate guise visible when she looked at Ladon. Thad, though, was clearly surprised.

“I’ve never known a dragon,” he admitted.

“I’ve never known a Pyr,” Ladon countered and Aura would have laughed out loud at their mutual astonishment if she’d had a better idea what to expect from the guardian of the garden.

To her relief, Ladon held out a claw in concession. “Help me up and show me this firestorm of legend.”

Thad lifted Ladon bodily from the ground and eased him into one of the more sturdy of the apple trees. The dragon sighed contentment to be there and coiled his tail immediately around the trunk. His wings fluttered to his back and his chins settled on various boughs.

Aura shifted shape and stood at the edge of the forest, close to Ladon. She saw the eyes close on six of his battered heads, but one of his gazes remained locked upon her. A second head watched Thad, while a third surveyed the garden at large, seeking intruders. Thad flew overhead, circling the garden as he peered in every direction. Aura frowned at the delay, but Ladon chuckled.

“They are said to be more protective than the rest of us,” he said softly. “But the treasure held most dear by a Pyr is not a golden hoard or even an orchard of golden apples.”

“What then?” Aura asked, curious.

Ladon smiled, revealing many sharp teeth. “His mate.” Aura’s heart skipped a beat and she couldn’t hold Ladon’s knowing gaze. She turned to watch Thad circle back toward her. “You are fortunate, Aura. It is said that there is no woman better loved than the mate of a Pyr.”

Aura smiled, remembering Thad’s words. Let me love you.

The glow around her heart made her think it might not take very long for her to love him back.

But a son.

Thad landed with that athletic grace, shifting shape just before his feet touched the ground, and Aura realized to her dismay that his injuries followed him between forms. He strode toward her, blood staining his strange clothing, and Aura ran to him in her concern. The firestorm’s light brightened as she approached him but he smiled, obviously noticing her fears and appreciating them. “It’s not so bad as it looks. I just need to wash out the wounds.”

“A fierce glow,” Ladon murmured. “Does it hurt?”

“Hardly,” Thad said.

“But it burns,” the other dragon said. “I can see that it must.”