Battle on the Mountain

LOCH

Our wings blotted out the sun, casting giant shadows over the treetops. Each flap of our wings sent a flurry of wind, which shook the leaves, even though they were several hundred feet below.

Hael and I were nearing the Dusk Mountains and our subsequent reunion with Dane and Aneurin.

We’d been here once before and had left as victors. If we had our way, this time we would wipe them from the face of this earth.

This wasn’t something we wanted to do. It was a necessity.

We needed to find Maddie and try to retrieve the Dragonstone before it fell into the wrong hands.

It was just our luck that Maddie had been relying more and more on wearing her mint bracelet. We didn’t know if they’d spoken to her recently.

But these punk twins were our only hope of finding her.

Hael

I see something in the distance.

Loch

Is it the twins?

Hael

Yes, and many more. It looks like an encampment.

Loch

Their horde?

Hael

That's entirely possible.

Loch

Let's make our descent.

Hael and I drifted through the air until our massive talons dug into the soft mountain dirt. We shifted into our human forms, black leather pants and all.

There was no telling what to expect, arriving at the Dusk camp. One thing was sure—we weren't going to let them take us by surprise.

We began walking a narrow dirt trail toward the encampment.

Their setup was impressive, even for two lowlifes. Tents were set up for their followers, and a wooden platform held a couch and chairs. In the distance, hammocks stretched from tree to tree, made with vibrantly-colored fabric.

“Do you think she’s here?” Hael asked.

I sniffed the air and smelled moisture. There was a storm in the distance, but we still had plenty of time to take care of business before it hit.

“For the sake of all dragons, let’s hope so,” I said. “If not, maybe they’ve talked to her.”

“If she went to them, I’ll be pissed,” Hael said. “We’re her mates. To think that she would bypass her fated bond and seek comfort in other dragons!”

I watched as his nostrils flared with rage. Hael was ready for battle.

I hadn’t seen him like this in years. And I had to admit, I was glad to see him so bothered by Maddie’s choices.

We’d tolerated her bratty behavior for far too long. If she did steal the Dragonstone, it was the last straw.

But her punishment wasn't what we needed to think about at the moment.

We needed to get that stone back before it was too late.

***

“I can’t wait for the sunset,” Maddie said. “I hope it’s going to be as beautiful as last night’s.”

She was talking with a group of people, Dane and Aneurin among them. They had no idea we had entered their camp.

Their followers had spotted us as we entered from the trail and walked through the small village of tents. Most simply stared before going back to their own business. Others whispered with their neighbors, but no one impeded our path.

The place was littered with wildflowers, and a large stream babbled nearby. It was actually quite beautiful if one cared about such simple pleasures.

“Hopefully the incoming storm clouds won’t block the view,” a woman said.

“Yes, let’s hope that’s the case,” Hael said sarcastically.

The group of people quickly turned to see who owned the unfamiliar voice.

I spotted our former protégé Zak, and we locked eyes.

I could sense his fear and uncertainty. If Hael and I hadn’t had more important business, I’d have taught the young traitor a lesson he wouldn’t soon forget.

Dane and Aneurin shot up from the stumps they sat on.

“What the hell are you doing here?” Dane asked.

“It looks like they’ve come looking for round two,” Aneurin responded.

I looked at the twins before turning my attention to Maddie. The little mouse was absolutely in shock at our appearance.

“We’ve come to talk with our mate,” I replied. “If all goes accordingly, there won’t be the need for another fight.”

“You shouldn’t be here at all,” Aneurin growled. “So why don’t you save yourselves the trouble and leave? ~Now.~”

Hael chuckled at the weak threat.

These pieces of gutter trash hadn’t even known their potential until our mate had found them. Did they seriously think we should feel threatened?

“You don’t have to do this,” Maddie said, angry. “You don’t have to start a fight. I’ll talk to you willingly.”

“You’ll do as we say,” I retorted. “This isn’t some game. Give us back the Dragonstone.”

“It would be wise to listen,” added Hael. “Your punishment will be less severe if you obey our commands.”

“She’s not doing anything,” Dane shouted.

Another woman stepped forward. She seemed familiar, as if I'd passed her on the street.

She was beautiful in a way that reminded me of Maddie.

I shifted in place, uncomfortable with my thoughts about this woman.

She looked at us with annoyance but tried her best to win us over with a smile.

“I don’t know what’s happening,” the woman said, “but can we take this somewhere more private?”

“Stand back, Summer,” Aneurin called out. “You don’t know what they’re capable of.”

~Summer…~

Where had I heard that name before?

I racked my brain, trying to figure out the answer, but Hael was obviously less concerned.

“Listen to them,” Hael replied. “We’ve come for Maddie, and we won’t leave until we have her.”

Dane and Aneurin ordered their followers into their tents.

They believed our threats but didn’t seem afraid. Had they learned nothing from their previous defeat?

It was time to remind them what it’s like to challenge Twin Leading Breeds.

The twins motioned to Maddie, and she followed them out of the camp and into a large clearing. I looked around, expecting some sort of trap, but there was none.

“If you want her,” Dane said, “then you’ve got to go through us first.”

Before I could even react, Hael had already misted into his full dragon form.

One of us was enough to make any sane person go crazy.

But when we both shifted, we could cause full-blown bedlam.

I joined my brother and felt a significant strength surge through my body. This would be over shortly, but I would take my time ripping these punks limb from limb.

A sudden roar pierced the air, but it hadn’t come from Hael or me.

It was the twins!

Their dragons had grown since our first battle, and their scales shined brighter in the sun.

This wouldn’t be just another easy victory like I’d thought…

Perhaps we finally had a real battle on our hands.

Hael and I took off into the sky.

Dane and Aneurin were close behind.

MADDIE

~Shit. This wasn’t good.~

I stared into the sky as the four massive dragons battled each other. The first blasts of fire had been brilliant, like fireworks on a hot summer night.

The terrible roars brought me back to reality. This wasn't some light show, it was a battle to the death.

“What the fuck is going on?” Summer screamed.

She stared in awe at the scene above us.

“They’re battling…for me,” I said.

Summer shook her head, lost in her own baffling thoughts.

“We’ve got to do something,” she pleaded. “What if they get hurt? I’ve already saved them once. But this is…this is something else entirely.”

She wasn’t wrong. It would be hard for any person to comprehend such a sight for the first time. Though she had been able to save Dane before, after a similar battle.

But if Loch and Hael got what they really wanted, there would be nothing left of Dane and Aneurin but bloody skeletons.

“Dane! Aneurin! Stop this!” she screamed into the sky.

It was no use. They couldn’t hear her even if they wanted to.

“I’m sorry this is happening,” I said.

“If you’re sorry, then do something,” she replied, annoyed.

~Fuck.~

I tried to hum a tune, but the battle above kept distracting me from remembering the right melody. The songs I’d always sung to put them to sleep were somehow wiped from my memory.

Loch and Dane’s dragons swooped down, their jaws snapping at each other’s throats. Summer and I hit the deck as they flew dangerously close.

Hael and Aneurin’s dragons were chasing one another high in the clouds. Green and gold spouts of fire lapped at their scales.

“You have to try and communicate with them,” I said.

“How the hell can I do that?” she asked, confused.

That was a great question. It had come so easily for me and the Dobrzyckas that it seemed like a bad joke trying to explain it to her.

“Well, I guess close your eyes,” I began, “and try to talk to them with your thoughts.”

“What?!” she shrieked.

“Believe me! Just do it,” I said. “Try to get Dane and Aneurin to lure them closer.”

“You want them closer?!" she said, flabbergasted.

I shot her a look, and she shrugged without saying another word.

I unclamped my mint bracelet and slid it into my pocket.

Maddie

Loch! Hael! Please stop! I want you to punish me. Not them!

Loch

Shut your mouth, little rat!

Maddie

I’ll give you the Dragonstone. I’ll stay locked in a cage as long as you want. Just end this madness!

Hael

It’s far too late for that.

So much for trying to talk about our issues…

Summer would need to have more luck. But if this was her first time, I didn’t have much hope.

A shout of surprised joy came from Summer’s mouth.

“I think I spoke to them!” she said. “I don’t know which one. But I could hear their voices in my head. How is that possible?”

This must mean that Summer was branded to the twins—but they didn’t know it yet?

“Just plain luck,” I lied.

It would be too hard to explain everything to her now, but I was sure she’d figure it out in her own time.

Surprisingly, the two smaller dragons began to swoop back toward us. Loch and Hael, massive and intimidating, were right on their tails.

I sucked in a deep breath and focused my thoughts. It was now or never…

I could hear a faint melody begin to play in my head. With each passing second, the song swelled louder.

My voice was usually soft and took time to warm up, but now it was unbelievably loud. I sucked in another breath as the dragons flew terrifyingly close.

~“Dark is the wind,~

~“When it blows through the cave,~

~“And the wolf gets the poor shepherd’s flock…”~

I saw Dane and Aneurin falter first. Then their dragon bodies grew limp and fell to the earth, colliding with the ground.

Next were Loch and Hael. They tried to fly up and out of the range of my song, but I refused to let them off so quickly.

~“Loud is the blood,~

~“As it lands in the mud,~

~“When it spills from the red, cursed rock.”~

Loch and Hael’s dragon forms stopped their ascent and fell to the ground like dead birds. Their collision was much louder and sent dirt and debris raining onto our heads.

“Holy shit,” Summer stammered. “You did it!”

I looked at her with a smile and shook my head.

“No, ~we~ did it. You were able to use the mind-link to bring them closer.”

Summer lunged forward and gave me a hug, taking me by surprise. It was nice to feel the kind embrace of another woman. It had been missing for far too long from my life.

But the embrace was quickly broken as we heard the groans of Dane and Aneurin.

The fight had left them bloodied and bruised.

I wondered what Loch and Hael might look like, but they were nowhere to be seen. They were no doubt embarrassed by their fall and had already made their way toward cover.

Once again, I’d shown my power to be too much for the Dobrzyckas. They wanted to dominate me at every turn, but I could overpower any form they became.

But that wasn’t important now.

Summer would have to save Dane and Aneurin.

And I would need to go try to smooth things over with two Dragon Lords who were ~not~ happy with me.

My mind raced…

What type of punishment did they have in store?