She refused to go. “You need me, beast.”
In his human body, Dash refused to listen to her. “I know how to fight a dragon, and I have your fire.”
“Who better to fight them than one of their own?”
“But you’re not a dragon right now. You’re human, Tanis.” Dash cupped her face in his hands. “Please... I don’t want to watch you die. Do you understand?”
She glared at him. “I’m a warrior. Fully trained.”
“I know that. This isn’t about your skill. It’s about my staying focused during this battle. I will lose if I know you’re under fire.”
“Yet you expect me to standby while you’re in harm’s way? How fair is that?”
Dash winced at the fury he heard in her tone. He respected that anger, just as he respected her skill. But this wasn’t about either of those. “I’m not asking you to be fair, little dragon. I’m asking you for my sanity. I can’t fight if I’m worried about watching you die.”
Tanis ground her teeth, needing to argue with him. But the turmoil in those dark green eyes made her ache. She more than understood the pain she saw there. Because she felt it, too.
One of them had to give ground.
If she were a dragon, she would stand strong in this. But she wasn’t.
He was in the form that he was used to fighting in. She wasn’t. His powers were whole, and her powers weren’t.
If he was more worried about her safety than his, he would die in battle. Or be severely wounded. He wouldn’t be focused on those attacking him. He’d be more focused on those running at her.
Only an absolute, selfish moron wanting to die would continue to argue, and she loved him too much to do that. “Don’t you dare break my heart, beast. I swear to the gods if you do, I’ll have Ambrose bring you back from the dead just to torment you.”
He gave her a tumultuous smile. “I know you will.”
She fisted her hand in his hair and pulled him close to kiss those irresistible lips. “Remember, I don’t love my sister as you do Renata. I will shed no tears for her. Do whatever you have to and use my fire to keep yourself safe. A dragon’s throat glows for a few seconds before they emit fire. Slit it when it glows, and they’ll die easily.”
Dash turned to Marthen. “Keep her safe, wizard. Whatever it takes.”
He inclined his head to Dash before he led her toward their underground shelter.
Dove and Ryper gave him a curious stare.
“Should I ask about that kiss?” Ryper asked.
“Shut up. I need to focus.”
The dragons had taken to the sky again and were circling above while the elves were conjuring water to soak everything that could catch fire, including themselves.
Their elders were working spells to protect them from dragon fire.
Tova, Baldur and Hinrik met Dash in the center of the courtyard. Baldur let out a low growl. “They’ve trapped us here. The dragons are above, and centaurs have us surrounded. My gryphons are standing by, but we don’t have enough to counter the dragons, and I’m not sure if they’ll fight for us... or the dragons.”
That was a good and valid fear.
Dash led the elves along with Dove and Ryper toward the parapets.
“Tanis said there were other troops with them.” Dash climbed the stone steps so that they could see how many stood outside the gates.
“Looks like it’s just mercenaries. At least from what we can tell.” Tova was right behind him. “They’ve positioned fairy archers in the trees.”
“And Stonemen,” Hinrik added. “Not many, though. I’m thinking these are all mercs. Except for the centaurs, it doesn’t look as if they’re actual armies or soldiers sent by the kingdoms.”
Dash agreed as he reached the parapets and saw the motley bunch of warriors who were gathering outside the gate.
