Page 63 of The Black Dragon
The noise in her head grew louder and louder, a flap of wings. Not the crash of vehicles, but wings. Wings like Justin’s.She turned toJustin.
His mouth opened. “Ariel…”
“Crushed to death. All for being a dragon. Her last act was to save me, Justin. I lost my mother because of a damn dragon hated her mated to a Mage. The dragon killedher!”
“I promise, I will find out and give you justice. Not what your father wants. That’srevenge.”
He took a step forward. She watched, bile rising inher throat, hatred festering in her heart. Justin could walk. Fly.Escape.
Because of his species, she could not. She’d lost her mother to a dragon. Her foot. And herfather.
Her entire life had been a lie, believing she was a Mage. Believing that her mother’s death was anaccident.
Never had she hated Leo more. Ariel felt something inside her surge with pure power. She willedit to surface, and then saw her palm glow with redenergy.
Not pausing to think, she flung it at her father, the source of her rage. The glowing ball sailed through the air and smacked Leo in the chest. He staggered back, dropping thespear.
“You’re selfish, wanting to grab power for yourself and all the while telling me it was to restore my missing limb.” Rage engulfed her, so muchrage and power she felt giddy withit.
She sent another tendril of power straight for Leo. This time he smacked into a rock, his lipcut.
Leo held up a hand. “Stop, please. I did it for you, Ariel. I had to find a way to use dragon magick to give you a way to protect yourself, while hiding the fact you were half dragon. Your Mage powers weren’t strong enough to shield you. Dell,my assistant, insisted that if we altered Justin’s blood and injected you with it, it would infuse you with new strength but the Mage familial DNA would override the dragon abilities. I was wrong. He waswrong.”
“Your experiments nearly cost me my life. Your days in the lab are over, Leo. You fucked with me and screwed me up.” Justin’s voice wenttight.
“I gave you powers beyondthat of any normal black dragon. The ability to breathe fire whenever you wished. And to heal.” Leo coughed, wiping blood from hislip.
Strength filled her. Justin was right. She had to choose her own path and destiny instead of living in shadow. “I can’t live like this any longer. I won’t marry Parker and you’re not going to kill Justin. I never want to see you again.” Ariel spread herarms wide to protect him, but Justin stepped in front ofher.
“No, Ariel,” he said quietly. “Don’t do this. He may be an ass, but he’s your father. Don’t destroy your relationship with him. At least what he did he did for you. My guardians who took care of me after my parents died were cruel and uncaring. Your father loves you, and you lovehim.”
Gently he clasped her shoulders andstared down at her with intent. “You deserve to be loved and have someone sacrifice everything for you,sweetheart.”
Her heart swelled with love for him. Justin was honorable and noble, and damn brave, and he cared. She didn’t know why he’d left, but that didn’t matternow.
Justin’s laugh sounded bitter. “You’ll find this hard to believe, Harrington, but I forgive you for everythingyou did tome.”
“You can’t hurt him, Father. Never again.” Ariel stared up at Justin, cupping his face with one palm. “I won’t allow it. Put the spearaway.”
“It’s not for him.” Leo gasped. “It’s to do what I should have done years ago – kill Chase. I did some checking with Mages in the Mystic Shores community and Chase is the Drogmire. An iron spear will take him out. Nothing elsewill, except dragonfire”
Both she and Justin looked up to where he pointed – at the rock they’d justdescended.
“The Silver Wizard turned him into the Drogmire as punishment for killing Marian. He put him in charge of guarding the baby dragons. It’s time I destroyhim.”
“You can’t. The Drogmire is the guardian of the cavern and baby dragons. The Coldfire Wizard will destroyyou.” Justin glanced down at her. “Not that I give a damn about that, but Arieldoes.”
The spear shook in Leo’s hands. “I must do this. All these years I’ve promised to avenge my Marian. It’stime.”
“Go home, Father. It’s over, and done with. Don’t mess with the affairs of wizards anddragons.”
Shoulders slumped, Leo turned and headed back toward the parkinglot.
Tremendousweariness hit her. Her father couldn’t climb well, and there was no way he could access the cavern. Justin slid his arms around her waist. It felt so good to be held, she merely leaned againsthim.
“My whole life has been a lie. He denied me my heritage, Justin. My mother did, too. Why couldn’t they tellme?”
Justin kissed the top of her head. “He did it to protect you, little bird.I get it now. I believe if I had a daughter, I’d do everything in my power to keep her safe,too.”
