Slade and Talon’s beasts had merged together. Intoone giant beast.
Standing twice the height of their individual dragons, the beast was a kaleidoscope of black and green scales, forming patterns that were so complex it was hard to describe them. A massive pair of black wings spread out on either side of it, like a damn plane had landed in our city, but that wasn’t the craziest part of all. There weretwofreaking necks and heads. Two. Giant. Dragon. Heads. Like it was the dragon version of a two-headed Cerberus.
“Slalon,” I whispered. “This has to be the reason we remain a quintet. Two shifters, one essence.”
Hunter grunted, having recovered from thisinsanitymuch faster than me. “You might just be right, little omega. There’s only a single energy inside them in that form, which means we can form the perfect power of five.”
I felt lightheaded as I nodded. “Yeah, they feel the same to me, too. I can sense Slade’s calculating personality mixed through my bond with Talon.”
As the dragon straightened to its full height, both heads shot in different directions, which sent Jewels off in a flurry of magic, until she disappeared completely from the street—not ready to take on the super-dragon. “Slalon scared her away,” I said with a snort.
Hunter grimaced at me. “We need to work on that name, but it’ll do for now.”
With a shrug I said, “It’s better than Talade.”
“Debatable,” he replied.
“We’ll circle back to the name,” I said, keeping my focus on the sky. “Do you think Jewels is properly gone? Can I help Cora now?” My best friend was still in a crumpled heap, and while she was clearly alive, she was also hurt.
As soon as the dragon’s dominance died off, everyone in the street got back to their feet, and Kellan and Finley scrambled to me. The pair wrapped me up in a messy group hug, which included a lot of bear fur.
“We couldn’t move,” Kellan growled. “What in the actual magical bullshit is happening here? Did the witch make the dragons morph into one super dragon? Or was that them?”
I snorted, and they turned to me. “I called them super dragon in my head too. And I think that was all to do with them. I could feel my connection to Talon solidifying as they merged, like parts of his essence were being repaired too.”
All along, I’d thought the tattered nature of our bond was a result of the way we’d bonded, and that we hadn’t connected on a sexual level. But now… I was sure it was due to the disconnect between him and his dragon. The same disconnect Slade felt.
Which might have just been repaired as they connected as twin souls.
Finley hugged me to his side, and I ran my hand gently over his fur until he shifted back into a giant, naked male. “We have to kill her,” he growled, finally able to speak. “That fucking traitorous witch. I don’t care what it takes.”
“We will,” Hunter assured him, and he leaned closer to me. “Let’s check on Cora.”
Thank the goddess. As I headed for her, there was a thud from behind us, and I jumped as Slalon tried to take a step and crashed down to the ground.
“Shit,” Kellan burst out. “We’re going to need to help our brothers figure out their new giant body.”
The dragon tried to walk again, falling once more, and the ground moved under my feet as I headed for Cora. The three alphas remained right on my ass, discussing the best way to get Slalon back into their separate forms.
When I reached my friend, I dropped to my knees and brushed my hands over her arm, which was thankfully warm to the touch. As I turned her toward me, I caught the scent of magic coating her skin, and it felt like the same spell that had knocked Kellan unconscious.
Which meant we’d need Jewels to reverse it…
“It’s not the same,” Hunter said, reaching down to touch her lightly. “I believe this is just a knockout spell, but… I feel her pain.”
“What pain?” I asked, frantically scanning her. “Where is she hurt?”
The steady thump of her heart was strong, and I could see no injuries.
“It’s her wolf,” Hunter rasped, his eyes flickering with gold. “Her wolf screams in agony.”
I gasped as my eyes locked on his. “Warrick?” I whispered. “Do you think War is…?”
I couldn’t even finish that sentence, overwhelmed by the very thought, as tears burned my eyes. Kellan and Finley knelt with me, wrapping their arms around my shaking shoulders.
That was why Cora lay here alone… Warrick would have come for her if he was able. Jewels must have hurt the alpha to get to Cora, and now her wolf screamed.
For her mate.
