Gavriel was lying against his dragon, Solara, bleeding out.
All he could think about was Serena. Was she safe?
That was the only thought that mattered. She had saved their lives in the throne room, bleeding out herself, unable to breathe, still standing between them and death.
Every time he turned around, she was in another situation. He chuckled at the thought.
He had grown to care for her. There was no question. He couldn't get his mind off of her, dying or not.
The mark on his arm was still burning.
No. Not burning.
Screaming.
He had a hunch. She was the chosen one they were sworn to protect. It was a blood oath taken by all dragon bloodlines in Drakenfell since the dawn of time. It was a hidden brotherhood, never spoken of, and one decided at birth.
Technically all Drakenfell bondeds would need to be initiated. So she was already a member even if she didn't know it yet.
Except Serena was a girl.
So they might need to rethink the name.
Then he noticed his dragon light gold, the same color as the magic surrounding him. He smiled, knowing exactly who had done that.
He was not sure how much time had passed. His consciousness drifted in and out, the world blurring at the edges.
Then he sensed someone approaching.
He knew it was her by her scent.
She grabbed his hand. Elara was beside her, silver magic spilling from her palms. He felt warmth from it, a faint pull toward life, but it was not strong enough.
He wanted to say, since when can you do that?
No words came.
He smelled tears on Serena and saw her crying, and something in his chest cracked. He wanted to make her laugh.
He opened his mouth to say something, anything. But he choked on his own blood.
Then darkness.
It held him for a minute.
Then pain returned.
It surged back all at once. Wounds that had already numbed as his body shut down, preparing to die, flared back to life. He felt all of them again, sharp and unforgiving.
Then warmth followed.
It spread through him slowly, deliberately. He felt wounds begin to close. Flesh knitting. Blood slowing.
His broken back cracked back into place. His ribs shifted and reset with sickening pops. His lungs sealed, breath coming easier. His heart steadied, finding a rhythm again.
And then he tasted it.
The sweetest thing he had ever tasted.
It came from the scent that had been driving him insane for two weeks, but stronger. Deeper. More intoxicating than smell ever could be. It filled his mouth, his chest, his veins.
He could not get enough.
He sucked from the source, greedily drinking.
Warmth flooded him with every pull, stronger than anything he had ever felt. Sensation rushed back into his hands, sharp and sudden, and his fingers curled instinctively. He grabbed the source and held on, refusing to let it move.
Sparks danced across his skin where he touched it, crackling and alive, sending shivers through him as the energy continued to pour in.
He groaned and opened his eyes.
Serena's face came into focus above him. Her expression shifted instantly, worry melting into relief. Only then did he notice he was gripping her hand.
Oh, fuck.
He let go of her immediately, the realization hitting hard. That taste in his mouth had been her blood. It still lingered on his tongue, sweet and intoxicating and wrong because he'd just—
He'd just fed from her.
His wolf surged, snarling and desperate, wanting to surface. Wanting to mark her. He had been fighting it since the first moment he caught her scent weeks ago. He'd been pushing it down constantly, until it bordered on madness.
And that just made it so much worse.
Serena fell forward onto him, and he caught her weight against his chest.
Shit.
Elara said something he could not quite hear. The words were muffled, distant. Her silver magic flashed over Serena's hand, sealing the wound.
Serena was panting, still draped forward across Gavriel's chest.
He would have moved. He would have said something. Anything.
But his eyes slid shut as he fought his wolf for control, forcing it down, holding it back while Serena's weight rose and fell against him.
Gav felt Elara's silver light pour into his chest. She clearly thought his eyes were shut because he was not healed yet.
Cute, he thought faintly.
The magic felt warm. Unnecessary. But it eased something in him anyway, smoothing the rough edges left behind.
He knew he was still too weak to shift into his wolf form to protect them. Even if his wolf took control to mark Serena, it would happen in his human body. That did them no good if they were attacked.
His dragon was tired, and in no position to fight either.
"Wow. Look at that. Two healers and I still almost died," Gav said, eyes still shut.
They both burst out laughing.
Serena pushed herself off him with shaky arms. He would have much rather had her stay right where she was. On his lap. If they were not in the middle of an attack.
Bad timing, he thought. Impressively bad timing.
Elara's breathing changed. Faster. Shallow.
Gav's eyes snapped to her.
Bronze flickered in her irises. Just for a second.
His blood went cold.
Elara's hands clenched into fists. "It's... I can't..."
Her voice cut off with a choked sound.
Her body trembled and a sob broke free from her chest.
"Serena, run!" she screamed, panic tearing through her voice.
Then bronze flooded her eyes completely.
Serena was on her feet instantly.
"Elara, breathe," she said, steady and firm. "In. Out."
"It is fighting me for control," Elara gasped, teeth gritted.
At inhuman speed, she grabbed Gavriel's dagger and drove it straight into Serena's core.
The mark on Gavriel's arm exploded with heat.
Serena staggered back, shock freezing her in place. She looked down at the blade buried in her, then back up at Elara.
Blood spilled from her mouth as she coughed, choking on it.
Her knees buckled.
Gavriel was there in an instant, catching her before she could fall forward. He eased her back, laying her across his leg.
Before he could stop her, she pulled the dagger out.
"Shit," he muttered, immediately pressing his hand over the wound.
The heat in his mark grew stronger with every heartbeat. He knew it now without a doubt, she was who they were sworn to protect.
Panic and fury twisted together in his chest. He was supposed to be keeping her safe. Not holding her while she bled.
Velkaris roared in the distance, the sound thick with rage.
Gavriel looked up sharply. "Elara," he said, forcing his voice to stay level, "can you heal her?"
Unlikely.
She had, after all, just stabbed her.
Elara did not answer.
She was gasping for air, bent forward like she was fighting for her life. Her chest hitched violently and a sob tore out of her.
At inhuman speed, she grabbed the dagger again and lifted it.
Gavriel caught her wrist mid-swing. Her arm shook violently in his grip, muscles locking and spasming as she fought herself for control.
"Please kill me," Elara gasped through clenched teeth.
Gavriel was unimpressed.
"That is dramatic."