A faint red glow appeared beneath her hands, threads of light running down from her wrists to the tips of her fingers, spilling out of her into him, growing brighter until the trickle of light became a torrent.
Samuel's eyes snapped open wide. He gasped.
The flow of blood slowed, then stopped. The ragged wounds on his chest started to close at the edges. Theresa pressed down harder. She felt as if all her strength was running out of her along with that flow of red light. But that didn't matter at all. Samuel was healing. She'd give him all her strength, everything she had.
The wounds were closing, his flesh knitting together beneath her eyes, first the little cuts and then the big ones, faster and faster, until there was nothing but whole, unbroken skin beneath her hands. And still the light was running out of her, filling his entire body, until his skin seemed to glow from within: health and strength filling him to the brim.
The light went out. Theresa fell back onto her hands, gasping.
Samuel stared at her with his eyes wide with awe. "My mate," he whispered.
He rose to his feet, his wings stretched out wide and sheltering above her. The golden glow of transformation surrounded him again. She could see him silhouetted against it, his shape changing, his wings growing, until a dragon was standing where Samuel had been. He was big, bigger even than Severin. His scales were dark as the night sky surrounding them, but the red glow still limned his wings.
When he roared, it seemed to shake the earth.
Severin launched himself into the air. Samuel followed.
They clashed in mid-air. Theresa watched, wide-eyed. From the corner of her eyes she could see Vivienne watching, too, her chest heaving, just as drained by the use of her powers as Theresa felt herself. Neither of them could do anything to help now.
It was a terrible fight, the dragons tearing at each other with claws and fangs; tails lashing, wings beating the air so hard trees bent all round them.
But this time Samuel was the stronger one, and he still had the advantage of speed. He forced Severin to the ground beneath him, his enormous jaw closing around the soft, unprotected underside of Severin's neck.
Viviene made a low, keening sound of despair. Theresa was on her feet before she even knew she'd moved.
She put a hand on Samuel's jaw, stopping him before he could close his fangs on Severin's neck.
"Don't."
"He tried to kill you," Samuel said, turning his great head to look at her. Severin didn't move. His enormous body lay defeated beneath Samuel's, bleeding from a dozen slashes and cuts.
"He's your brother," Theresa said. "You're a better man than he is. You don't need to do this."
She stroked her hand over Samuel's face, the scales smooth and warm beneath her hands. "He's your brother," she said again.
Vivienne came running up to them. She threw herself over Severin as if she could shield him with her own body. "Please," she whispered. "Please."
"You've won. You're the alpha now. Things are going to change," Theresa said. "But you don't want to kill him."
"No. I don't," Samuel said. His voice was very tired. "Severin? Swear you won't try to hurt her again."
Severin twisted his head around with obvious effort. "I won't ever hurt your mate again. I give you my oath," he said. The words rang in the silent night air like a bell. Theresa could feel them resonating inside her chest.
This was magic, too, she was pretty sure; a dragon magic that she didn't yet understand. Somehow, with those words, Severin had bound himself. She'd be safe from him forever.
Samuel took a step back, taking his paw off Severin's side. Severin changed back. He seemed very small now, a slender young man in a blood-soaked tux, shivering from cold and blood loss.
Theresa knelt down next to him, reaching out one hand. Vivienne flinched, shifting in between them protectively.
Theresa shook her head. "I won't hurt him," she said. She caught Severin's hand in hers. There wasn't much left in her, but she forced out a last few trickles of that warm red light. Severin's wounds stopped bleeding.
Samuel caught her when the world started spinning around her. He was back in his human form, cradling her against his chest.
"He'll be okay," Theresa said.
Vivienne closed her eyes for a second. The cool facade was gone from her face. Theresa could see the naked relief in her eyes. "Thank you," Vivienne said. She pulled Severin's body into her lap, rocking him gently.
"Come on, let's get out of here" Samuel said quietly. He gathered her up in his arms and carried her to the car. It had deep scratches on every side, and the fender was crumpled and dented.
"What on earth did you do to that poor car?" Theresa asked.
Samuel shrugged. "I had to get here in time." He looked down at the ruined paintwork, the dented sides. "I'm going to have to buy Gregor a new car."