“Hot… need me.” Taco said so softly Cobra damn near didn’t hear him.
“Wait!” Rylee shouted. “I know why he won’t do the transfer.”
Looking at Rylee, Cobra’s voice reflected the desperation he was feeling, “You know why?”
Nodding, Rylee looked at Taj, “Babe, do you have those herbs you used when you went into dragon heat?”
“Of course.” Taj stated.
“Can you get them.” Rylee asked.
Taj left the room to do as his sentience asked, Cobra saying, “Dragon heat?” Shaking his head, Cobra said, “No one is in dragon heat. Taco and I were confused about it, but for some reason none of us have gone into heat.”
Rylee gave a small smile. “I think neither you nor Taco went into heat, but Gio did.”
“He’s shown no signs of it since we’ve been together.” Cobra softly argued.
Jude finished hooking up the IV, saying, “It might have something to do with this multiplex elemental thing.”
Nodding, Rylee quickly added, “I was thinking the same thing. When that guy attacked us today he was trying to create a tornado. The air had become cooler and the rain and the clouds, then there was the funnel trying to form. However, Gio lifted his arms and the air warmed a bit and things got better. As an elemental, Gio has the ability to call on all the elements and I think he went into the dragon heat, but his body adjusted his body temperature, and that’s why he showed no signs of it. Remember, Jude, when he was shot and you were working on him he spiked a fever, but then his temperature started to go down when he started getting better.”
“Yeah I do.” Jude replied.
“So, what you’re saying is that his body has been regulating his body temperature, masking the dragon heat, but if that’s so, why isn’t it doing that now?” Sparky asked.
Jude looked at Sparky, replying, “Because, Gio used all his energy in the battle, and his body is too tired to regulate anything.”
Taj rushed into the room and handed the herbs to Rylee. Rylee walked over and handed them to Jude, saying, “Taco, Jude is going to give Gio the herbs to help hold off the heat. Now transfer so Bren can look you over.”
Taco didn’t move, so Cobra pushed past Jude and Rylee, looking down at his dragon, “If you don’t transfer off Gio you’re going to die. I can feel your energy draining fast, damn it. You have to transfer off Gio. Trust Jude to take care of Gio, because if you don’t and you die, it will kill not only me, but our sentience as well. We love you, Taco. You can’t just allow your death because you think you have to save our mate.”
When Taco still didn’t move, Cobra snapped, “If you die, Gio will be in pain. He will blame himself and gods knows what will happen to him and me. You have to transfer, Taco. Do you want Gio to blame himself? Do you want him to go through the rest of his life feeling as if he is the reason for your death? Because he will. You know I’m right, Taco. You know he will never forgive himself. Are you willing to allow our sentience to suffer for centuries to come?”
Taco opened his eyes and slower than before lifted his head, rasping. “To-too w-weak.”
Cobra gently placed his hands under Taco’s head, and just as gently peeled the maharishi from his mate’s arm like a sticker on a bottle.
Feeling his maharishi’s life force fading, Cobra didn’t know what to do. His dragon was more than just his best friend, he was part of Cobra’s very soul. They had been through so much together, fighting side by side, laughing at small pranks they would play on each other, and working together to bring down the bad guy.
Taco was more than just a fierce dragon. He had a brilliant mind and could see angles on a case that the other D.O.A. agents might miss or just not consider.
“Let me take a look, Cobra.” Bren said softly, his voice filled with compassion.
Cobra felt tears filling his eyes, rasping, “I don’t think there’s anything you can do for him Bren.”
“Maybe not, but…”
Bren wasn’t allowed to finish before Azul peeled himself from his mate and grew to Cobra’s height, then quickly snatched Taco from Cobra’s hands, rushing out the bedroom door.
Cobra gasped, “Hey!”
Cobra went to follow, but then remembered Gio. Turning towards his sentience, Cobra was torn. He needed to stay with his mate, but he needed his maharishi. If this was the last breath his dragon was to take, damn it, it should be in Cobra’s hands not another maharishi.
Jude had just hung up an IV bag and started taking Gio’s vitals. Feeling a gentle hand grip his forearm, Cobra looked up to see Bren’s sad eyes as he said, “There’s nothing you can do for Gio at the moment. Jude’s got him. Azul said Taco is in the back yard with the other dragons. Go. Taco needs you more right now.”
Cobra turned back to look at his mate, “Take care of him. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
“Of course.” Bren whispered.
