Jodi Redford - Light My Fire

She came crashing back to reality when Tony ran over a rock, jostling the wagon. Bouncing in her plastic prison, she stared at the flicker of lights in the distance. The jousting ring was ablaze, or at least it appeared that way. They drew closer and she could see the torches flanking the tournament arena. Obviously Tony was big into flashy spectacles.

He unlatched the gate and wheeled her into the corner of the field. The restraint strap released with a frippp and Tony lifted her from the wagon. She still couldn’t get over how easily he hefted her around. Maybe that pesky extra ten pounds was finally starting to hit the road. Again, something she probably shouldn’t be focusing on at the moment. “You do realize you don’t have a chance in hell of beating Aiden in a fight. He’s a freakin’ dragon, for God’s sake.”

“Any beast can be killed. It just requires the skill of a master slayer.” Tony backed her against one of the jousting ring’s tall support posts and slapped her bound wrists into the shackle dangling overhead.

Jeez, the guy must have stock in a shackle manufacturer to be able to afford so many pairs.

He walked into the center of the field and propped open the lid of the long wooden crate resting in the dirt. The blazing torches provided plenty of illumination for her to make out the fancy rifle she’d seen him with at the cemetery. She swallowed against the surge of bile rising in her esophagus. “What kind of master slayer requires a gun?”

“The kind who knows how to hedge his bets.” Tony set the rifle aside and pulled a sword and shield from the recesses of the crate. Torchlight reflected off the blade’s silvered surface, glinting wickedly. He tossed down the shield. Drawing his arms up, he parried with an invisible foe, the sword carving the night air. Faster and faster the blade swooped, making her dizzy. With a sinking in her gut, she silently acknowledged that he definitely possessed mad swordsman skills. Heavy emphasis on the mad part.

Out of the blue, the image of the tarot card from her last reading came hurtling onto her mental big screen. Other than the big honkin’ horse, the scene commencing in front of her fit the bill to a T.

Knight? Check. Sword? Check. Nasty enemy who’s off his rocker? Double check. “Haddie will never let me live this down.”

Tony abruptly stopped his whirling-dervish routine and lowered his sword. Unrestrained excitement radiated from him. Following his gaze to the eastern sky, she gasped. Six dragons raced amongst the scuttling clouds, descending toward the field with mind-boggling speed.

Oh man . She felt sorry for anyone flying the friendly skies who potentially crossed paths with that squadron. The poor folks must be thinking the stewardess slipped an extra mini bottle of gin in their tonic.

The torches sputtered, spitting fire as they caught the downdraft of the approaching Drakoni. In flawless syncopation, each dragon coasted toward a section of the jousting ring, the gossamer-like membrane of their wings ballooning with air like a ship’s sail. She easily picked Aiden out from the bunch. Besides having seen him in countless dreams, the electrical current ricocheting along her spine provided its own verification.

God, he was magnificent. Beautiful. His iridescent green scales gleaming brilliantly against the midnight blue curtain of sky.

Each dragon touched down, Aiden claiming the post directly across from Tony. He flapped his wings once before folding them against his massive body. Inhaling with a sharp snort, he slashed his gaze in her direction. Outrage flickered in his irises, accompanied a second later by smoke funneling from his nostrils. He took a step toward her and she shook her head.

“I’m fine. Just kick the son of a bitch’s ass so we can go home.”

Aiden returned his attention to Tony and adopted a smile that’d make a crocodile nervous. “Gladly.” He jumped from his perch, landing with a fluid grace that still managed to make the ground quake.

Tony staggered back and lifted his sword, his bravado armed and ready. “You figured out the clues I left in the hotel room. I knew I’d chosen the perfect adversary.”

“You’re going to regret making that choice.” Aiden lunged forward, narrowly missing the swipe of Tony’s sword, and snapped at his opponent’s heels. Caught unawares by Aiden’s unexpected location of attack, Tony stumbled. Laughing with maniacal delight, he righted himself and rushed at Aiden. His sword arced low, seeking the vulnerable target of Aiden’s underbelly. Slashing his forked tail sideways, Aiden deflected the blow and sent Tony somersaulting through the air. Tony thudded into the dirt with a grunt, dust billowing around him.

Aiden’s tail flicked in a way that was almost mocking. “This is the best you’ve got? My six-year-old cousin offers better challenge than your pathetic display.”

Tony lifted to his feet, his expression a tad less cocky. “I wasn’t completely warmed up yet.”

Aiden gave a low bow. “Whenever you’re ready.”

His mouth tightening, Tony gripped the hilt of his sword and took position. “I’m going to enjoy killing you. Immensely.”

“Likewise.”

The pair crouched in a combative pose, their nimble footwork an intricate dance as they countered the other’s strike. Tony circled to the left, keeping a safe distance from the wicked threat of Aiden’s tail. His sword swooped, glancing off the plate of scales covering Aiden’s forearm. “All hunters are going to envy me, even while they praise my name. I’ll go down in the history books as the only one of us brave enough to start the war between slayers and dragons.”

“Don’t mistake courage for stupidity.” Aiden’s front right talon scratched the earth. “Perhaps you need a lesson to remind you of the dangers of tangling with an opponent capable of flame-broiling your hide.” A warning blast of steam erupted from Aiden’s nostrils before he let loose a torrential flame. Tony ducked and rolled, grabbing for the small shield that lay discarded by the crate. He raised it in front of his face, deflecting the fire’s fury.

The flame receded and Tony lurched to his feet, charging forward with a triumphant battle cry. Aiden dove to the side to avoid the oncoming blow but miscalculated the trajectory of the sword. Its tip sank into the meat of his shoulder.

A scream rent the air. Dana didn’t realize she’d produced the sound until five pairs of dragons’ eyes swept in her direction. Ignoring the heat of their gazes, she stared at Aiden, willing him to be okay. With an eardrum-blasting roar, he swung his head, dislodging the sword and knocking Tony onto his ass. Dana’s breath gushed free, her heart descending from her throat.

Tony scrabbled in the dirt, trying to gain his footing, but Aiden’s talon slammed into the chain mail, pinning him in place. The torchlight ringing the field reflected a million times over in Aiden’s eyes, mirroring the fierce fire of his expression.

“I’ve grown tired of this bullshit.” Aiden’s gaze swept the other dragons scattered around the field. “Who’s in the mood for a crunchy, late-night snack?”

Tony’s face went ghostly white. If Aiden’s threat had been delivered with the intent of making Tony crap his pants, he’d more than likely succeeded. “I-if you kill me, you’ll only reveal yourself as the evil beast you are. Do you really want her to witness your true savagery?”

Dana could see the moment the doubt housed itself in Aiden’s mind. She started to cry out to him that she would never look upon him that way, but he released Tony and stepped back.

Aiden grabbed the sword and planted its tip beneath Tony’s chin. “Only for her will I let you live. But if you ever come near my loved ones again, you’ll discover precisely how savage I am.”