Pain ripped through him when his bones snapped and reformed. Despite his resolve to stay silent, a scream tore out of him until his voice changed, became deeper, louder and changed from a human sound to a beastly roar. Throwing back his head, Lian gave a dragon howl.
* * * *
Nevair's mouth dropped open. A red dragon with gold wings crouched in the middle of the fire, the flames reflecting on the scales. Lian had transformed.
"I am disappointed you lacked faith in me, my Nevair."
Nevair dropped to his knees as the sparkling form of his goddess shimmered before him. "Forgive me, goddess. My faith isn't strong enough." Tears dripped down his cheeks as he caught sight of the beauty of his mate through the translucent goddess.
The goddess gave Nevair an understanding smile "Your faith is fine, my dear. Even I would hesitate before I sacrificed my beloved son. Goddesses are a fickle lot. We might not always do what you want us to, but we never betray the faithful."
Nevair nodded, humbled. "At least he'll believe in you now."
The goddess laughed. "Yes, he kind of has to, doesn't he?" Her laughter filled the courtyard before she vanished all together.
"I'll kill you!" Nevair turned around to see Tres running towards him, brandishing a sword. "You aren't blessed," he shrieked. "You'll die, just like the others."
Nevair wondered how Tres escaped and where he'd found a sword. He knew the guards were too far away to save him.The goddess gives and the goddess takes away.
"Why do you want my death?" Nevair asked, trying to stall. He didn't have time to transform, not before Tres could stab him in the heart.
"Because dragonkin are unnatural. You all think you're a better species, but we'll get you. We'll kill you all and take over this planet one dragon at a time."
Tres's eyes had a fanatical gleam in them. Nevair wondered how he'd missed it before. The sword rose before him only to be smacked away by a giant red paw.
Tres's eyes widened as he took in the sight of Lian. "No! No! The goddess didn't change you! You're supposed to die!"
Lian opened his mouth, exposing dagger-sharp teeth. With a swipe of dragon-Lian's paw, Tres flew across the courtyard and landed in a heap on the other side where the stunned guards finally took action.
Watching as the guards carried Tres off, Nevair turned his attention back to the dragon butting him with its head for attention. Its gold eyes gleamed as it regarded Nevair.
Nevair scratched the dragon behind its eye ridge just to watch his eyes cross. "Later, I'll take you for flying lessons. Right now I need you to shift back."
He got sleepy blinks.
"No! You don't get to take a nap. I need my Lian back. Transform."
It took a long moment where Nevair thought Lian might defy him and go for that nap anyway. Instead the large, beautiful beast shrank into a smaller stunning man who collapsed in tears in Nevair's arms.
"I'm so proud of you," Nevair whispered, holding Lian close.
Lian sobbed, the stress of the fire and transformation ripping away his usual calm veneer. "Let it all out, sweetheart, give me all your tears."
Several minutes later, Lian ran out of tears and relaxed against Nevair's body.
A helpful guard came forward and gave Lian a white robe to wear.
Lian quickly donned it, hiding his body from the crowds.
"Come on, let's go to my room." Nevair rubbed Lian's back trying to soothe the distraught man.
Lian nodded, still not speaking.
People parted as they walked by. Some tried to touch Lian as if to make contact with a man blessed by the goddess. A soft whisper of words followed them as they entered the cathedral.
Nevair helped Lian up the winding staircase, each stair feeling taller than the one before. Relief made his grip tighter than necessary on Lian's arm but the fear of losing him still grabbed Nevair's throat like a hungry beast. His inner dragon growled with the need to bond with his mate, to reclaim their mark, and his back itched like sand fleas were nesting under his skin.
When they were finally alone and the door closed behind them, Nevair took a good look at his mate. Lian's blue eyes now had silver streaks running through them like a sparkly summer sky.
