"I regret that this time will, of necessity, be swift. I have a hankering to go home, but don't worry, there will be time later for us to indulge ourselves. You know, it's quite amazing the damage a human body can take, and a drop of dragon blood and you're ready to start all over again."
He leapt onto the altar stone and stood over her, then kicked at her legs. "Open them."
She fought then, writhed against the hands that held her, but they were too strong. Vortigen's hands gripped her ankles, parting them so he sank to his knees between her legs. She lay open to him, sobbing and panting from the exertion. He appeared some sort of devil framed in the wavering light from the portal. He jabbed her between the legs with his fingers and she screamed and bucked against the restraining hands. He smiled and began to unbuckle his belt. Lily closed her eyes.
***
Mal had watched her open the portal with pride. She was magnificent, his Dragon Princess, his mate. He had watched as his brothers went home, seen them step through the portal and been engulfed with a fierce tidal wave of envy that almost dropped him to his knees. For two thousand years, he had dreamed of nothing but returning to his homeland. Now he knew that he would never see Ankesh again. He'd made his decision in the clear knowledge that it would mean his certain death, and he accepted that, but how he wished he could fly again in Ankesh, just one more time.
Maybe if the Goddess was merciful she would let him return for one last ghost flight through the fire lakes, but he expected no mercy for what he was about to do.
He didn't fear death, but regretted that he had found Lily only to lose her again so soon. They'd had such a short time together. He'd spent his whole life alone before Lily, had moved through crowds untouched, believing he needed no one. Now he knew he couldn't live without her. He could see no way of saving them both, and so he would give up everything to see her safe.
And Vortigen dead.
He forced himself to wait. Now, he was decided, he was eager to see it through, but first, he wanted his people home safe. Once he made his move, the portal would close to them. Forever.
At last, only Vortigen and his four sons remained. Still Mal waited, hoping for what he didn't know, maybe for a few more moments in a world that held Lily. A miracle, perhaps. He almost made his move when the sorceress attacked, but held himself back. He watched as they laid Lily upon the altar, her hair hanging like a living flame. Then Vortigen knelt between her open thighs. Lily screamed. At the sound, he closed his eyes and reached deep inside for his true self, and for the first time in over two thousand years, he let his dragon go free. The change came easily, smoothly, with a fierce wave of exultation that made him roar his delight. He heard the sound of shots as he broke free of the chains but the bullets glanced from his scales as he launched himself into the sky.
***
The crackle of flames filled her head as she lay with her eyes closed, her body tight with anticipation. Then she heard gunshots. Mal.
Her eyes flashed open. Vortigen knelt poised above her, horror and disbelief flashing across his face as he gazed across the circle. The hands restraining her were no longer there, and she jerked herself upright. She looked across to where Mal had been chained. He was gone. A scream tore the night sky and she stared upward, a sense of wonder filling her as she saw the beautiful creature. Its long lithe body scaled in iridescent black, gleaming with a multitude of colors in the flickering light.
The huge wings beat as he soared into the air. Mal, as she had seen him in her dreams, behind her closed lids as they made love. He had changed and he was going to save her.
Vortigen still knelt on the altar, gazing upward, Lily forgotten. She kicked out with all her strength, knocking him to the ground. He cursed, but scrambled to his feet. There was a flash of flames and she glanced at the arch to see two of her guards disappear to the safety of Ankesh. Of the other two guards, one was down, the other standing in the shelter of the guardian stones, his face raised in horror.
Mal had flown high, as if reveling in his freedom. Now he turned and swooped toward them, his streamlined form piercing the sky like an arrow. He stopped above the stones and circled almost lazily, a dark shadow against the star-strewn sky. He called out to them in some language she didn't understand, and Vortigen gave a howl of enraged fury. She turned to him and then backed away as she realized what was about to happen. One moment the king stood before her, the next he was gone, and in his place was a golden dragon with a long body and a huge crested head. Jaws opened, revealing jagged teeth. Fire exploded as a roar of fury rent the night. It turned to her and dark blue eyes blazed in hatred. Then it launched itself into the sky towards the black dragon that hung effortlessly in the air above them. Lily held her breath waiting for the clash. At the last moment, Mal flicked out of the way, easily evading Vortigen who turned clumsily and charged again only to have the black swoop once more from his grasp. The battle followed a pattern. The black almost seemed to be playing, teasing, until the other attacked, then evading the charge with ease. Lily watched in awe as Mal dove and spun, at one point flying low over the stone circle so she could see his gleaming golden eyes. Vortigen's long tail lashed in fury. She recognized the moment the black stopped playing. He rose high into the sky, higher and higher until he was almost out of sight and then fell. Vortigen rose up to meet him and they clashed with a scream of rage, flames leaping from their wide-open jaws. Their long bodies coiled together, black with the gold, twisting and turning as they hurtled towards the Earth. Then, when it seemed impossible that they wouldn't crash, Mal's talons gained a hold, sinking into the flesh of the golden dragon's belly. With a scream of triumph, they raked down, piercing beneath its armor of scales, ripping the skin, tearing an opening and showering the stone circle with a rain of dragon blood. Then the black reared back and lunged. Lily heard the crunch of flesh and bones as he took the golden dragon's throat in his huge jaws. He shook it and the long body lashed out, then with a final vicious twist, he hurled it to the ground. It landed across the circle from where Lily stood, its vast bulk unmoving. Lily edged closer. The dark eyes were open and lifeless, and a wave of euphoria washed over her.
The black swooped down and landed lightly on the stone altar, his huge shape silhouetted against the glow from the arch. As she approached, he lowered his massive head. The heat of his breath brushed against her face, the smell of smoke filled her nostrils. His eyes glowed, flashing with flecks of red. She stroked her hand across the gleaming scales of his nose. They were warm, full of life, and smooth under her fingers. They were alive. Vortigen was dead.
"Thank you," she murmured.
Then Mal stood before her, human again, and she hurled herself into his arms. He pulled her tight against him, stroking the length of her body, crushing her to him until she wriggled away in protest.
"Sorry," Mal said. "But I thought I would never get to hold you again."
She pulled back so she could look up into his face. "Why didn't you tell me what you planned? I thought it was over."
"I wasn't sure I would go through with it. I waited for your miracle, hoping I wouldn't have to, but in the end there was no other way to stop him."
Something was wrong here, something she didn't understand. The euphoria drained away leaving a cold sickly lump in her middle. "But is it so bad? You won. You beat him. We're together, and the gateway is open. You can go home."
"No," Mal said. He dropped his hands from her arms and stepped back. "I can never go home now."
Chapter 19
"I don't understand," Lily said. "The portal is open." But even as she spoke, the fires grew dimmer. The fierce buzz receded to a gentle hum as though the land of Ankesh was fading into the distance.
"What's happening?" she asked. "Why is it closing?" She ran around the altar and stood before the arch. Nothing happened. "Mal, tell me what to do. How do I open the portal?"
Mal didn't meet her eyes for long moments. When he did, she could sense a sadness in him, but also acceptance. "Come here," he said.
She came to him. He held her against him then lifted her into his arms and sat on the altar stone with Lily cradled in his lap. Suddenly, she wanted to close her ears, shut out whatever he was planning to say, and cling to him.
Mal stroked her hair back from her forehead. "I told you once that our most sacred law is never to take dragon form while on earth. If one of our kind breaks this taboo, then the portal will close forever. It was the only way that the god of men would allow the dragons access to Earth. Lily, I can never return to Ankesh."