Page 52 of Dragon 7

Metallic like blood.

Bitter with some powder and other liquid.

Old in a way I had no word for, like swallowing something that had been waiting in the dark longer than my bloodline had carried a name.

What the fuck is this?

The liquid coated my tongue and went down thick and bitter, and my stomach clenched against it.

The Death Guardian signaled to Yoichi.

He pulled a blade out.

"Finish drinking, Kenji," the Death Guardian said.

I tipped the bowl and the last of the liquid hit my throat.

Oh, God.

Pain erupted at my temple.

Fuck!

A hooded figure took the bowl.

“And now to strengthen your Tiger.” Yoichi grabbed my hand, and before I could understand the motion, the steel opened my palm in one clean, stinging line.

“Ah!!” I looked at it.

Blood welled fast and bright across the skin. My jaw locked. The beast in me lunged toward the pain, hungry, ready to snap the wrist that had cut me.

The Death Guardian nodded. “Bring the Tiger over for the Dragon’s blood. It will strengthen her for tonight.”

I widened my eyes and raised my hand.

They carried her to me.

She sluggishly opened her eyes and could barely grip my hand.

I shivered. “Tora, how much pain are you in?”

“Enough.” Her fingers trembled around my wrist.

"Lick his blood." The Death Guardian's voice dropped soft over us. "For this moment, it will give you strength."

Nyomi lowered her mouth to the wound, and she licked the blood from my palm.

And it did.

I felt it happen against me. The shaking in her hands eased. Her spine drew up by a fraction.

She slowly blinked and some of the exhaustion washed out of her face. For one breath she was almost herself again.

Right when I was going to ask her what the sacrifice was, this unbearable pain surged within my body.

What?!

It climbed fast, and it was a fire racing up a fuse.