Cobra left the bedroom with an even heavier heart. He didn’t like leaving his sentience, but Bren was right. His maharishi needed him more at this moment.
Picking up his pace, Cobra rushed into the back yard and immediately stopped in his tracks. The sight of all eleven dragons standing in a long line as Taco’s small flattened form lay next to the large pool was not something Cobra expected. Wiz’s dragon stood on top of Taco and just as Cobra was going to shout for the tiny fucker to get off his dragon, the little guy leaned down and a small puff of smoke wafted from the little bugger and into Taco’s face. The tiny dragon quickly hopped off Taco, then Spirit stepped forward, careful not to step on Taco. He leaned down and again a puff of smoke was blown into Taco’s face. Cobra had no idea what was happening, but he realized whatever it was, it was important. Whether it was a ritual the maharishi did to a dying dragon or a dead dragon, Cobra didn’t know, but he justknewthat itwasimportant.
Spirit stepped away from Taco, and made his way towards Cobra as Talpa stepped forward. Once Spirit stood next to Cobra he quietly said, “Taco has lost most of his magic. We are doing what we can to send him some of ours and hopefully, it will be enough to keep him alive long enough to recharge once more.”
“I don’t understand.” Cobra said, the sound of his pain and fear coming through for any and all to hear.
Spirit sighed, “Azul told us what Taco did to help you and your sentience. He also told us about the dragon heat and how Taco refused to transfer in order to maintain your sentience’s life.”
“Yes.” Cobra whispered.
“A dragon is magic. We are the purest magic, besides a unicorn of course. Our lives are not only long, but eternal because our magic keeps us so. Our magic is constantly regenerating. Think of it like a car battery. You have the battery, but it’s connected to the alternator to keep it charged as you drive. However, if something happens to the alternator eventually the battery dies. When Taco gifted your sentience with his magic, it was as if he disconnected his alternator and now the battery is dying.” Spirit explained.
“So, blowing that smoke into Taco is like jump-starting the battery?” Cobra asked.
Nodding, Spirit replied, “Exactly. However, as with any battery, we can only hope the damage done to it is not so far gone that Taco cannot recharge. The battle that was fought must have required a great deal of energy, add to that the dragon heat… the energy Taco used for that has almost completely drained him of all his magic.”
“I understand what you’re saying to a point, but I don’t understand how the dragon heat has affected Taco at all. Gio is the one in heat.” Cobra replied.
“I know that everyone thinks that a maharishi is just wired or made to attach to the one affected by the dragon heat because of the soul link, and to an extent that’s true. However, the truth is, we use our magic to help keep the one suffering cool, and if it is the maharishi affected by the heat, the dragon can attach to the human easier because their body temperature is so much lower than ours. The only problem with that is that we can overheat the human.” Spirit explained.
“That’s why you will switch who you attach to so often when you do go into heat.” Cobra said, in understanding.
Nodding, Spirit then explained. “Taco had already gifted Gio with his powers and overextended his use of magic, then when he refused to transfer because of the dragon heat…”
“His battery drained.” Cobra whispered.
Again, Spirit nodded, then Cobra quietly asked, “Is he going to make it?”
“We have done what we can, and in an hour we will do this again. He just needs time to regain his magic.” Smoky said, as he approached Cobra and Spirit.
“Is there anything I can do to help him get his strength back? There must be something I can do.” Cobra said anxiously, as he made his way to his maharishi.
Thankfully Taco wasn’t flat anymore, but his breathing was extremely shallow and Cobra was terrified by the weak link he could feel in his soul.
Gently caressing his dragon’s head, Cobra rasped, “I need to do something. I can’t sit around and just hope for the best.”
“There might be something.” Talpa said quickly.
“Talpa!” Smoky warned.
The dragon Talpa had three heads, and it was odd to see him turn one towards Smoky, another looking at Cobra and his other head looking down at Taco. “Smoky, let’s be real. It could work. I know I get energized when it happens.”
Spirit snickered, “I get a buzz like crazy.”
Azul snickered and nodded his head, and then Gunner’s black and fire-red maharishi said in his flamboyant style, “Please, Smoky. You can’t stop flying for hours after it happens.”
The other maharishi snickered, but Cobra was confused. “After what happens?”
“Sex, silly. Every time Jude and Casper go at it, Smoky takes off on patrol and can go for hours on end. All the mated maharishi are that way after their sentiences have sex.” The skeletal beast said with a snicker.
“But Gio is in no shape to be claimed.” Cobra whispered.
“We aren’t even sure it could work, Cobra, but I have to admit, my clan is correct. Sex between our sentiences is extremely energizing to us.” Smoky admitted.
Cobra didn’t know what to do. He didn’t know if Gio was alive or not, but even if he was, Cobra knew for damn sure his sentience would be in no shape to be claimed, but he also knew if he didn’t claim his sentience, Taco most likely would die. He could lose two of the most important beings in his life.
Fuck, Cobra had faced more serialists than any of his fellow D.O.A. members, but this was the first time Cobra ever felt true, honest-to-god fear. “Can you guys watch Taco for me?”
