Page 50 of Mikhail
“Destroy, exile, whatever. Only their removal was important. But I knew that Elizabeth would never listen to my words against them if she were mated to you. I had to remove youinstead.”
“She didn’t listen to your words even after you removedme.”
The man nodded. “A failure on my part. I should have waited another decade before moving against them. I underestimated your Elizabeth, and for that I paid the price. More than forty years bound in a dark cell barred withiron.”
Mikhail noted the length of time. “You were released the same time as Iwas?”
“A fortunate clerical error. I should have rotted in there for the next century, being fed the very potion I’d helped her magician John Dee create.” Conrad left Piper now and walked toward Mikhail. “Never thought I’d get a chance to use it on youagain.”
He stopped in front of Mikhail, taking the keys to the car and dangling them in front of his face in victory. Then, with a slow grin, he swung a fist at Mikhail’s face and struck him to theground.
17
It simply isn’t an adventure worth telling if there aren’t anydragons.
—J. R. R.Tolkien
Piper screamedas Mikhail grunted and fell back, but Conrad was not through with him, not by a long shot. Mikhail tried to fight back, but it was clear he had been weakened from whatever Conrad had put in the syringe. Blow after blow struck Mikhail, in the ribs, in the head, in the back, until he finally had no energy left to defend himself. Only then did Conrad finally stop. Piper was hoarse from screaming. Conrad pocketed the car keys and stared at Mikhail’s body, his face filled withloathing.
“It’s nothing personal, Barinov. Oh, who am I kidding? It’s becomeverypersonal. But it’s more than that. You became too human. Mating for love? Mating with a human? Didn’t you learn anything from Elizabeth? She played us both for fools, but unlike you, I learned my lesson. Humans are not meant to survive, not likeus. And dragons who weaken our lines and destroy our race by settling for humans, don’t deserve tosurvive.”
Piper thrashed in her chair, finally getting the gag around her mouth loosened until it fell around herneck.
“You said you wouldn’t killhim!”
Conrad turned to her, and the chilling stillness in his eyes seemed almost dead. “I’m a politician—what did youexpect?”
“Please, untie me,” she begged. “You have what you want—just let me go. Let me see if he’sokay.”
“I suppose it would be amusing to kill him while you watched.” Conrad ran a finger along the edge of his blade and then walked back to her, slicing the ropes on herwrist.
Piper rushed from the chair and fell to her knees by Mikhail, cradling his face and wiping blood from hismouth.
“I’m here,” she whispered, choking back a sob. “I’mhere.”
She helped him get to his feet. He was unsteady and weak, leaning on her and a nearby wooden support beam that stretched from floor toceiling.
She realized Conrad was watching them. There was a hatred building in his eyes as he stared at them. A hatred born of jealousy, perhaps? It replaced the deadness that had been there momentsbefore.
“You truly love him,” Conrad said. His black eyes seemed to flash withfire.
Mikhail’s breathing was labored, and the sound sent violent shivers of fear through her. What if the drug didn’t wear off? What if he never got his dragon back? Would hedie?
“I do,” she replied. “Not that you even know what that is, you monster. You got what you came for. Just leave usalone!”
“I’m afraid it’s not that simple. There can be no loose ends.” Conrad lunged and thrust his blade toward Mikhail’s chest. Only it never hit itsmark.
Piper almost didn’t feel the blade sink into her stomach. She had hoped to wrestle the blade away, but he had been so fast…so fast. It had cut so smoothly that it left only a deep ache behind as Conrad pulled the bladeout.
“No!” The roar she heard was human, but it carried all the force of the dragon Mikhail had once been. Clutching her stomach as she dropped to her knees, Piper watched in horror as Conrad rammed the blade into Mikhail’s side twice, then twisted the blade. Conrad stood, wiping the blade and putting it away as he dusted himselfoff.
“NowI’ve got what I came for.” Conrad’s words barely registered with Piper. Already the world was beginning to feel distant toher.
“You…bastard!” Mikhail snarled, clutching his side as blood oozed between hisfingers.
We’re both…lost…
Piper fell to her side. Sounds started to become slightly muted, as though she had covered her ears. Mikhail dragged himself over, turning her head toward him. She glimpsed Conrad slipping out of the room, a cold smile on his lips and eyes black withevil.
