Rian could only nod in agreement as he looked at Drago lying unconscious with no physical signs of having spent several long minutes in a blazing inferno, but also another man of the same Force the dragons had memorialized close to a century ago. Kayne’s shoulder-length white-blonde hair was stringy and matted but still matched the color of his majestic golden beast. His body had many scars that had his dragon been allowed to, would’ve been healed, but their brethren had apparently been cut off from his dragon for almost as many years as he’d been lost to his kin. It was the only explanation Rian could come up with and it also explained why none of them had known their brethren was trapped in the body of a hellhound.
Groaning, first Drago then Kayne rolled over and sat up. The Assassin squinted then laughed aloud. “Leave it to you to make a grand entrance. Always had to live up to your birthright didn’t you?” Just before a pair of sweatpants that Kellan had retrieved from his bag hit the golden dragon in the chest, followed by a mumbled “Cover up, my man.”
The group erupted into laughter as Kayne looked at each Guardsman with utter disbelief until his gaze landed on Audrey. His lips opened and closed several times. He cleared his throat then tried again to no avail. Declan tossed a bottle of water to Drago, who opened it and handed it to his brethren.
Downing it in one gulp, Kayne again cleared his throat and this time got a deep, scratchy growl to emerge. Shaking his head and coughing, he tried again, and this time was able to say, “You killed the bastard,” before managing a crooked smile.
Guess as a hellhound, he’s outta practice.
Smiling one of her beautiful smiles, Audrey stepped forward after Kayne had stood and pulled on the sweats and stopped in front of him. “Thank you. I owe you my life. In between the beatings and the cages of the last month, I realized how many times over the years you did your best to keep me out of harm’s way, even when my mouth insisted on pushing every one of Adramelech’s buttons. I know you did what you had to do to survive, we all did. But you always tried to do it so that I wasn’t hurt, unlike Bás and the other hounds, who took pleasure in anyone’s pain but their own.”
She looked over her shoulder at Rian. Without speaking a word, he knew what she was asking and nodded for her to continue. Turning back to Kayne, the princess leaned forward and hugged the golden dragon. Normally, seeing his mate in the arms of another man, especially a dragon, would’ve sent both man and beast into a jealous rage, but this time Rian understood and would thank the brethren in his own way when they were safe and topside.
“All right people, we can all hold hands and sing Kumbaya when we see sunshine and green grass.” Then to the other golden dragon in the room. “Kayne, I’m damn glad you’re back. Life was getting really boring being the only golden left. We’ll catch up later, ‘kay?” Not waiting for an answer before calling to everyone, he added, “I don’t know if y’all noticed, but thundering hordes are headed this way. I’m thinking they’re not taking too kindly to us killing their Chancellor. It’s just a guess, but let’s not hang around to find out, cool?” Lance already had his pack on his shoulder and was heading toward a tunnel at the back of the chamber.
“Do you know something we don’t?” Rory hollered.
“Yeah, where ya’ going, you big pain in the ass?” Royce added.
Answering over his shoulder, Lance yelled, “The opposite way of the beasties after our asses. Care to join?”
Brannoc laughed aloud while grabbing his gear. “The big jerk is actually going the right way. Go figure.”
“Then let’s get the hell outta hell,” Declan said, making everyone laugh while he looked confused at their amusement.
Rian stopped beside Drago and Kayne and asked the Assassin while grinning at the golden dragon, “Think we oughta take this guy home.”
“Damn straight, lead the way, boy.”
Rian had to laugh as he grabbed Audrey and lifted her into his arms. Who other than another dragon would call a hundred and sixty-five-year-old man ‘boy’? His mate struggled a bit while complaining, “Put me down, Rian. I can walk.”
“I’m well aware you can, but we’re gonna be doing more than walking and not only will you not be able to keep up but your poor feet have seen enough abuse.” Kissing the tip if her nose, he continued, “Just let me do this, please?”
Sighing loudly, Audrey said “Okay,” a second before the Dragon Leader swung his mate around until she was riding piggyback and yelled, “Hold on.”
Using their enhanced speed, the dragons followed Lance and Brannoc as they led them down one long, dark, passageway after another. They passed all manner of creepy crawly beings and beasties that defied all the laws of nature, but none tried to stop them. As a matter of fact, more times than not the evil little creatures cringed and backed away.
Even traveling almost faster than the eye could track it seemed to take forever for the group to reach the large granite statue of Hades sitting on his Throne of Skulls with Cerberus, the King of hell’s three-headed dog, at his feet. Setting Audrey down, Rian pulled out the journal she’d stolen from Adramelech all those years ago and opened it to the last page. With no way to communicate with the witches topside, the Dragon Leader had to hope they’d remained nearby and would feel their dragon magic working the spell.
Just to be certain, he asked, “Lance, Jace, Royce, Liam, Drago—can ya’ll try to contact your mates. Tell them we’re here and we’re about to blow this pop stand.”
Nods from them all and the familiar buzz of their mate mindspeak had Rian trusting in the Universe and Fate to take care of them as he prepared the exit ritual just as Kyra had taught him. Unwrapping the bronze mesh from the silver box holding the Focus Stone, the Dragon Leader opened the lid and placed it at the feet of the statue of Hades. He then poured the Mountain Ash and purified salt mixture from the leather bag Kyra had given him in a circle around the huge sculpture and box.
He looked around, found Kayne, and said, “Come on over here, you big demi-god, you. We were supposed to have to call your given name to free you from the silver coffin, but you took care of that on your own. A story I’d like to hear when we get home and you can actually speak more than a few words at a time. For now, I’m thinking we’re gonna need that name as the catalyst for this spell. Kyra said I’d know it when I found it.”
“I believe you are right,” Maddox agreed from somewhere behind the Dragon Leader.
“Oh! And your fire is said to be the only thing that will light our way topside. You up for it?”
Kayne nodded and moved to stand beside Rian. Moving on, the Dragon Leader turned to Audrey, knelt down, and squeezed Adramelech’s blood from what was left of her cotton frock into a tiny brass cup he’d pulled from his pack. “This seems like the most powerful demon blood we’re gonna get. Thanks, sweetheart.” He kissed her quickly on the lips as he stood and referred to the journal and the piece of paper Kyra had written his instructions on.
“Shit!” He spat.
“What’s wrong?” they all asked, pretty much in unison.
“I forgot to get the hair from the belly of a hellhound,” he ran his fingers through his hair trying to come up with any other answer than going back to the cavern where they’d just slayed Adramelech.
Deep in thought, Rian’s eyes shot to his youngest brother when Rory laughed aloud. “Lookie here. I have just what the witch ordered. Hair from the hound that tried to eat me.”
