Katie MacAlister - Playing with Fire

I released the box just as Gabriel understood what was happening. A look of panic filled his eyes as he tried to shove it back at me. ‘‘No, May-’’

‘‘It can’t be undone,’’ I said, wanting more than anything else to kiss him. Just one last time.

‘‘One last-’’ Gabriel read my mind, his eyes going dark as the full repercussions of my act were driven home. ‘‘No. I will not allow this. Mate-’’

‘‘She is no longer your mate,’’ Magoth snarled, jerking me out of Gabriel’s reach. ‘‘She is dybbuk. She is mine to let live or destroy as I desire.’’

His hand was cold on my arm, an icy pain piercing my flesh and sinking deep into my soul.

Gabriel stood shaking his head for a few seconds, anger and pain and confusion taking turns on his face. ‘‘Why, little bird? Why would you do this?’’

‘‘I meant for things to be different. I meant for you to take the phylactery, so I could not be charged with an outright refusal to do Magoth’s bidding. I thought there was a chance for us. I wanted to believe there was a chance.’’ I let the full depth of my feelings show in my eyes, praying he could read beyond mere words to what was in my heart.

‘‘Do you know, I’ve had a thought,’’ Magoth said, his voice suddenly normal. The hand that held me in such an icy grip relaxed, his fingers stroking an intricate path down my skin. ‘‘I originally thought to destroy you-slowly, over several centuries, so you would not be mistaken about the full depth of my wrath-but I do believe I have a better idea than even perpetual torment. I have long thought it was time to take a consort. And it would be a stupid act indeed to overlook the perfect candidate, which not so coincidentally has just dropped into my lap.’’

Magoth wrapped an arm around me, pulling me close to his body.

Gabriel gathered himself as if to spring, but I held up a hand to stop him, knowing without any doubt that Magoth would destroy him if he tried to free me. ‘‘Do not, Gabriel. It’s not worth it.’’

He stopped, a stunned look of disbelief nearly bringing me to my knees. Pain unlike anything I’ve ever experienced lashed through me, the last fragments of my heart shattering completely. Did he not understand? Did he not see that this was the only way out for us? Did he not know just how much I was willing to give up in order to have a future together? ‘‘You wish to remain here?’’

I nodded, unable to speak, searching his face for signs that he understood that this was the only way out of a very dangerous situation. I sent a mental plea to him to understand, to not take anything at face value, to know that my heart belonged to him, now and always.

‘‘Tell me,’’ Gabriel said, his lovely velvet voice now hoarse with emotion. ‘‘Say it, May. Say the words so that I may understand.’’

The effort to speak cost me more than I could have imagined. ‘‘I will stay here with Magoth. Take the phylactery. Use it to achieve your goals.’’

The image of him declaring that the phylactery was a treasure to be guarded, not used, was fresh in my memory, and with it, a light flashed in his eyes. I knew that at last, he understood that I had taken the only path available to save him and the dragons from Magoth’s wrath. His eyes were bright with a promise, one that warmed me to the tips of my toes.

Magoth laughed, the sound causing a layer of plaster from the ceiling to crumble to our feet. ‘‘Oh, yes, this promises to be greatly amusing. A consort who was once the mate of a wyvern. Come, sweet May. We have many plans to make. Many, many plans.’’

I stumbled backward out of the room, my eyes on Gabriel as Magoth hauled me off. I wanted desperately to tell Gabriel that I loved him with every bit of my being, that nothing Magoth could do would ever change that, but I didn’t dare. Magoth might suspect my feelings for Gabriel, but he would not act without assurance of them… and I would not give him the ability to destroy Gabriel.

‘‘I will do as you ask, little bird,’’ was all that he said as Magoth dragged me out of the doorway. Gabriel’s eyes, his beautiful expressive eyes, glowed with emotion so brightly, it made my soul weep. ‘‘Just remember that I am a dragon, and I do not give up what is mine.’’

My heartache eased despite the finality of the door closing between us. I had faith in Gabriel. I had faith in us both. My life spent in the shadows was over; now it was time to step out into the light and take my place at Gabriel’s side.

I took a deep breath and followed Magoth into the depths of Abaddon.

Fans of the dragons and Otherworld are welcome to visit both at www.dragonsepts.com, where you can play dragon games, read up on dragon history and lore, join a dragon sept or Guardians’ Guild, visit with Katie and others in the message forum, listen to behind-the-scenes podcasts, consult the Otherworld Encyclopedia, and much more.