Page 27 of The Black Dragon
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The moon had begunto rise high in the sky, shimmering with silver light when he stepped out onto the deck. Justin shifted and rose into the air. When he’d gained altitude, he shifted into his fullsize.
Any Other on the ground would not see him. Perhaps they’d spot ashadow the size of a military cargo plane, but that wasall.
Ariel’s laugh haunted him. He’d kept the memory of it, for it checked his worst impulses during the long nights when he felt tempted to let the darkness inside swallow himwhole.
After her father imprisoned him, Justin found little to laugh about. Leo had shown him how vulnerable he could be, despite his enormous powers.Leo had made Justin regress back to the age of twelve, when he’d been an orphan and Skylar’s parents had ill-treated him, taunting him that he held no position and could do nothing to protecthimself.
Ariel tried to stop Leo. It’s not herfault.
Dragons like him couldn’t afford guilt or compassion. They must remain ruthless and strong at alltimes.
Or they’d end up in a darkcell, subject to torture as he’d been. If he’d never let down his guard and taken pity on the stranded Ariel, he’d never have beencaptured.
Justin landed on a rock, folded his wings and stared down at the city of Sedona. Lights twinkled in the distance and he could smell someone making chili from several miles away. The scent of small animals scampering away, instinctively sensing danger,did not tempthim.
He took off, flying over homes, enjoying the fact that he could see everything and they could not see him. This was the life he’d always enjoyed. The wind beneath his wings, sky above him, forest, and homes spread out on the groundbelow.
In the air, he felt like a king. Trulyfree.
Yet tonight he felt empty instead ofjoyous.
Justin hovered aboveone spacious home where smoke from a chimney curled into the air. He landed on the lawn and crept closer to the living room window. A dog inside, sensing him, barked, but a young girl laughed and threw him a ball tochase.
Before the fire, a man and woman sat on the sofa, cooing to an infant. Other Skins were surrounding them, drinking from wineglasses and offering congratulations. Sharpdragon senses enabled him to scent the newborn’s fresh vanilla scent, the soft lamb’s wool smells of joy andlove.
A new baby, he guessed. Family and friends gathering. The scene hardened his heart. Once he had loving parents who adored him. And then everything went tohell.
Could he ever have a family of his own, a wife who would look at him with eyes soft with love? Would he everhold his firstborn in his arms, promising to protect the little one and give him, or her, theworld?
Or was he destined to wander the world alone for the remainder of his days? Sharp spikes of loneliness dug into him, making his chesttighten.
Something Leo’s assistant had said to him during those torture sessions flickered in his mind like a stock market tickertape.
Youdon’t deserve happiness. You’re an evil dragon who should bedestroyed.
Snarling, he lifted into the air and flew toward one of Sedona’s famous vortexes. After landing on a rock, he sat for a moment, stretching out his wings. Power engulfed him, so much power he thrilled in it. He felt as if he could push the entire mountain over. Justin tipped back his head and roared, shooting flameshigh into thesky.
Giddy with joy, he shifted back into Skin, conjured jeans and a sweatshirt on his naked body. From the black velvet sky above, countless stars winked like diamonds lit fromwithin.
Suddenly ten thousand sensations pummeled him, like dozens of needles jabbing into his skin. His head pounded, rail spikes driving into his temples. Justin sat, holding his head, nearlyscreaming from thepain.
Maybe this place had power, but it was scrambling him inSkin.
Hot, so damn hot. A voice spoke inside his achinghead.
“Easy now,” it murmured. “Relax and let the energy flow throughyou.”
Justin shook his head, curling tighter into a ball, too miserable to care that he was imaginingthings.
“You’re too bound up.Relax.”
He tried.Then a cooling breeze flowed toward him, easing the tremendous heat. Justin took a deep breath and after a minute, the sensations eased. But his skin still throbbed withgooseflesh.
Leo and his damned assistant did this to him. They’d experimented on him while Justin was in Skin, trying to see if he could endow him with even more power. And then drain it fromhim.
Your heart is dark.You don’t deserve the rewards of all your magick. Ariel needs itmore.
