Page 15 of Dragon in Denial
Without any additional warning, he pushed her away. She gave him a quick glance and then turned and ran, summoning the magic as she did so. Her dragon roared in her head, its powerful, leathery wings already spread wide in her mind.
The tingling sensation raced down her spine, like putting on a sweater loaded with static electricity, as her body began to transform. Her tailbone elongated, her skin turning into scales while spikes formed at the end. Her fingers and toes grew and curled into razor-sharp, black claws, and she pulled them close to her body as wings sprouted from her shoulder blades and began beating faster and faster, lifting her from the ground and taking her toward the clouds.
A moment later, a different sort of magic washed over her, something she’d never experienced before. Antoinette had lived in New Orleans for her entire life, so she was well aware that dragons were not the only supernatural beings in existence. Gargoyles and witches were also plentiful in this area. She’d even run into a few over the years in her quest to destroy the dragon’s blood trade. But she’d never come into contact with whatever sort of magic they possessed.
Was that what this was, this foreign sensation now encompassing her entire body? It felt like she was on fire, but it wasn’t painful. It was actually quite…sexual.
Ketu, Ketu, Ketu, her dragon chanted between pants.
What the hell is wrong with you,Antoinette asked the beast.He’s right behind… She glanced over her shoulder, and as soon as her gaze clashed with his, she forgot to keep beating her wings for long seconds.
Antoinette, another voice shouted in her head. A masculine voice.
Her dragon didn’t have a masculine voice.
Antoinette, what the hell are you doing? Fly!
She finally became aware of the fact that she was falling toward the ground at an alarming rate, and willed her wings to flap. They caught air and lifted her, and she allowed herself to be distracted from the fact that, first, she could hear Ketu talking in her head, and, second, she was so outrageously attracted to him at the moment she was desperate to get them both to the ground so she could have her wicked way with him. Wherever the hell they landed didn’t matter. She planned to not even magick her clothing back onto her body when they shifted into human form. She would jump into his arms, wrap her legs around his waist, and—
Incoming, someone yelled in her head. Not someone—Ketu. That was definitely Ketu’s voice, and since they were in dragon form, he couldn’t very well be talking out loud because dragons couldn’t talk. They could speak telepathically, but in all of her life, the only dragon’s voice she’d ever heard was her own.
Until now.
Why can I hear you speaking to me?
You aren’t going to like my theory, Ketu replied.But let’s deal with the more pressing issue first. Dragons, coming up quick, and they look ready to fight.
She glanced over her shoulder. Oh shit! Four scaly, red dragons were bearing down on them. One spewed a ball of fire from his massive jaws, close enough that Antoinette could feel the heat.
Fight or run? Antoinette asked.
Am I gonna have to worry about them taking you down?
Hell no.
Then let’s do it.
As if they’d discussed the plan more in depth, they turned as one to face their adversaries, and as soon as the four dragons were close enough, Antoinette and Ketu both breathed fire at the same time. One dragon was hit hard enough that he yelped and pulled out of formation, presumably to tend to his wounds. Another simply shook off the singeing heat and continued pressing forward with the other two.
Focus on that one, Ketu’s dragon said in her head as he nodded at the one with a minor burn on his snout.Together. We knock him out and the odds are much better.
Got it.
They both turned their heads slightly to the right and breathed fire at the same time, but the object of their attention twisted to the side and avoided a direct hit. A scant second later, the fourth dragon slammed into Ketu, sending him spiraling through the air like an out-of-control bowling ball.
Ketu!Antoinette veered left and flapped her wings as hard as she could, chasing him. When he righted himself, his thoughts penetrated her head.
I’m fine. Quit worrying about me and focus on taking these assholes down.And then another thought hit her with such force she obeyed without thinking:
Duck!
A fireball rolled past her, so close it scorched the horns curled over her head.
Damn it, let’s get this fight under control, she thought.
Hover and let them get closer, Ketu’s instructions wafted through her mind.And when they’re just about on us, drop low and shoot fire up at their bellies.
Got it.
