Sanctuary, Texas: My Dragon Masters Part 8

Then when escape was within our reach, she'd been s.n.a.t.c.hed from our grasp at the last second. Another reason we fought with Rose against Xerxes. He was the one responsible for taking our mate from us and leaving us trapped in the earth realm.

Eli reached across the table and touched my shoulder. "Vengeance will be ours, brother."

"Yes." I nodded, grimacing through the phantom pain in my chest. "They will all pay with their lives."

I looked up at him. His eyes were completely brown again and gla.s.sy, though not one tear rolled down either of his cheeks. "I need to hold her, Miles. It's been so long. She needs us and we can't go to her. We could lose her if those d.a.m.n smugglers don't give her up," Eli growled low in his chest.

The front door burst open and Travis appeared. "Won't happen. My brother and I will find her. I give you my word." Garrett entered a moment later and nodded. He'd only been in Sanctuary a few months, but the two Lycan males understood my brother and me better than anyone else in town. They knew what it was to share a mate ... and lose her. Theirs had been killed, along with most of their pack, after the riots of 2046.

Sharing a mate was uncommon among Lycans, but not unheard of. For Drakonae though, it was customary. Drakonae brothers shared and treasured one mate for their lifetime. No one outside of the Drakonae race, besides Rose now, knew how permanent the bond really was.

Eli and I would literally cease to exist without her. And that would leave Rose and the Sisters of Lamidae unprotected and vulnerable to Xerxes, and vulnerable to us. Our dragons would terrorize anyone and anything until we were killed.

If finding Diana wasn't at the top of Rose's priority list a week ago, it was now. Diana's death could spell the end of Sanctuary and everything we'd fought for centuries to protect.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN.

DIANA.

The door across the room shuddered and finally sprung open. Bits of ice flew across the room and I struggled to open my eyes. I still burned with the heat, but exhaustion had weakened me to the point that it didn't matter. The entire male half of the pack could stroll through my room and I would not bat an eyelash. Tremors racked my body with each labored breath. Death was reaching for me.

Eira came in and sat on the edge of my bed. I blinked a few times before trying to smile at her.

"I'm so sorry, D. I wish there was something I could do."

"I need t-to remember who I am, Eira. Please. You said y-you had a friend. A witch." Even if I died, I wanted to know the truth of my past. Who was I leaving or who had I already lost?

The vampire shook her head. Her blue eyes were despondent. "Hannah already came by while you were sleeping yesterday. She said you're too weak to do the spell. It requires more energy than you can give. It was all she could do to stem the flow of your blood. Your wounds aren't healing, D."

I ignored her last statement. "We are in Ada?"

"Yes." Eira nodded. "You saved the pack. We found an old van and got you here as quickly as possible. The rest of the group will be here in a few days."

They'd risked exposure crossing into the Texas Republic in a vehicle to try and save me. But death was embracing me quickly. I could feel the life slipping out of me. Even the beast inside me was heavy and sluggish.

"Please. Ask Hannah to come back." I tried to lift my hand, but it didn't budge. My arm felt as though it was made of stone.

Hurried footsteps in the hallway led my gaze to Charlie in the open doorway. "Those Lycans from Texas are back. They're demanding to see her." Charlie's voice was low, but I could still hear every word. They were back. Someone who knew something about me.

"How do they even know she's here? Manda wouldn't have told them we were bringing her to Ada." Eira growled and her eyes brightened.

I gasped for another breath. "Eira, let them in. Please," I begged. "It is not like they can make it any worse for me."

"Fine." Eira waved to Charlie and the Lycan female hurried off.

Moments later, two large males entered my room and approached my bedside. When they were about six steps away, Eira motioned for them to stop and they did, though neither looked pleased to be ordered about. They were handsome men. Not the ones that haunted my dreams, but pleasant nonetheless. They both had s.h.a.ggy hair the color of wheat and enough scruff on their chins to say they were considering a beard. Their eyes were blue-gray and I saw flashes of gold appear the second I caught their gaze.

"My brother, Garrett, and I have come from Sanctuary to fetch you." The man on the right spoke first. "Your mates would've come themselves, but cannot leave their charges unguarded."

"Mates? Charges?" Eira's lip curled, showing a hint of fangs. "You're not taking her anywhere. She can't be moved anyway. She's too weak."

"That's exactly why Diana must come with us. If she doesn't, she will die. Miles and Eli were quite clear her injuries would be fatal if they were not allowed to heal her through their mate bond."

"Diana?" I let the name slip between my chapped lips. No matter how much water they gave me, I sweat it out within minutes. Even the ice I continued to throw off was barely cooling the room anymore. Most of it had melted.

"I guess we were on the right track calling you D, huh, sweetie?" Eira dabbed my forehead with a cold cloth and I took another shuddering breath.

Miles and Eli Blackmoor. The names didn't mean anything to me. The name Diana didn't, either. I needed to see their faces. If they are the men in my dreams, I would know for sure I had found a piece of my missing past.

The other Lycan s.h.i.+fted his stance and frowned. "What do you mean? Right track?"

Eira turned to the werewolf. "She has no memories. She didn't even know she was a dragon until she turned into one."

"She s.h.i.+fted?! Did anyone see her?" The first man sucked in a breath and came closer.

"Of course they did," Eira scoffed. "Why do you think she's lying here with three 55-caliber holes in her chest? Only a dragon could take those sized hits."

I opened my mouth and tried to speak, but only a whisper left my lips. "I have to go, Eira."

She turned back to me and growled. "You can't be moved. I won't let you die because these two wolves think you're their pals' long-lost mate. They don't know for sure. Miles and Eli should've come themselves if they were so worried."

"They would move heaven and earth to have come, but they couldn't. They sent us to bring you back, Diana."

"No." Eira stood, her eyes flashed red. "The trip would kill her. And I don't trust you."

The one who called himself Travis spoke again. "She will die for sure if she doesn't and then we will have two very p.i.s.sed off dragons in Sanctuary. I don't know how scary this one is," he said, throwing a thumb in my direction, "but those two fire-breathers can cause more damage than you ever want to see."

"T-tell me what they l-look like." Speaking was getting harder and the pain was starting to make me lose consciousness again. I could feel myself slipping back into that dark hole.

"They're identical twins, both as big as a brick house with long, black hair and brown eyes that turn to flame when they're upset. Believe me, honey, they're about as upset as I've ever seen them. It's driving them mad knowing you're only three hours away and they couldn't come to you." Travis took a breath and knelt to the floor beside my bed.

I glanced to Eira. She nodded. She knew.

They had described the men in my dreams perfectly.

"I go with her. She's been in my care this whole time. I want to make sure everything's as you say," she said, glaring at Travis who was on eye level with her now.

"Good. Let's go. There's a bus parked a few blocks away. We can lay her out in the back so she's comfortable."

"A bus?" Eira frowned.

Travis chuckled. "Cops rarely bother to pull over buses, so we usually travel that way."

"I see."

"What's with all the ice in the room?" The other Lycan, Garrett, spoke from behind Travis.

"She does it. And get ready for more. We get a thick layer every time she falls asleep or slips into unconsciousness," Eira answered.

"She's an ice-breather?" Travis asked, standing.

"Yep. Don't touch her, though; she's burning up with a fever like she's made of fire. We have to carry her using the bed sheets. I'll tell Charlie we're leaving," she said, hurrying from the room.

Both Lycans stared down at me and I fought for breath enough to speak, but couldn't manage it.

Travis leaned down to touch my sweating forehead and pulled his hand back quickly. "d.a.m.n, that vampire wasn't kidding. She's too hot to touch, even for us."

"Is she going to make the drive?"

The other wolf thought he was whispering too quietly for me to hear, but he wasn't.

"I hope so, for all our sakes. I know Miles, Eli, and Rose are hiding something. I get the feeling if she dies, we're all in for a s.h.i.+t load of trouble in Sanctuary," Travis replied.

I refused to die, yet. Answers were so close. At least now I knew my name and that the men I remembered through my dreams were still alive, but I wanted more.

"Travis, what's that scent? She smells so-"

"I think she's in heat.

I nodded my head and glance up to meet Travis' gaze.

His blue-gray eyes were filled with compa.s.sion. "We will get you to them. I promise. Just hang on. Do you hear me?"

I nodded again and tried to swallow, but my mouth felt like it was stuffed with wool. He reached for the cup on the bedside table and put the strange tube up to my lips. Eira had called it a straw. It was strange to suck water from the reed-like thing, but it did allow me to drink without straining and for that I was grateful.

The cool water coated the inside of my mouth and throat as it slipped down. "Thank you."

"This vampire, Eira, do you trust her?" Travis asked, leaning closer.

"Yes," I murmured.

"What about the female Lycan? The one in charge called Charlie?" Travis continued, helping me get another sip of the ice cold water.

"Yes."

I hadn't at first. But after Charlie's heartfelt admission and thanks, I did. She and the others really were trying to save people. Nothing more.

My eyes fluttered and I struggled against the black spots filling my vision.

"Diana." Travis' smooth voice rumbled beside me.

I opened my eyes again.

"Fight," he ordered. "You're a freakin' dragon. You can fight this." Travis set the water gla.s.s on the table and stood as Charlie and Eira appeared in the doorway.

The three Lycans stared at each other for a moment before Eira began barking out orders on how to move me from the bed. But I'd seen the flaring nostrils and I could smell their arousal when Charlie had entered the room. No wonder they hadn't been interested in me, even with my heat, they were already focused on Charlie.

I grimaced as they lifted me from the bed, using the sheets as a sling to keep from touching my fiery hot skin. Each took hold of a corner and they carefully walked me outside and up into a large vehicle. One bigger than I'd seen, yet. At least there were no metal weapons fixed to the top of it. I'd had quite enough of those.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN.

DIANA.

They situated me at the back of the vehicle, propping rolled up blankets around my body to help keep me in place as the vehicle started to move. Eira was arguing with one of the Lycans. I couldn't tell which one, but their faces betrayed their emotions.

I knew Eira was worried, but I had no intention of slipping away until I at least saw my mates. Two mates? Husbands? Who in their right mind would marry two men at once?

My mouth felt as though I'd swallowed sand. "Eira-" I gasped for a breath, but what I really needed was water.

She was by my side in an instant; whatever she'd been arguing about with the Lycans was forgotten.

"Water?"

I nodded.

"She's sweating it out faster than she can drink it," the Lycan named Garrett said from his position behind Eira. "d.a.m.n, why is the air conditioning on so high?" He rubbed his arms and visibly s.h.i.+vered.

"It's not the bus, it's her. Remember her room?"

"Yeah, but you said that was when she was unconscious. She looks awake to me."

"Unconscious just means it ices faster. She can't control her powers so she's constantly throwing off ice and cooling the air. Look at the windows." Eira inclined her chin above my head.

I couldn't see the windows, but I knew what they looked like. The Lycans' eyes widened with understanding.

"We need to hurry," Eira said, her voice heavy with concern.

The male turned and walked to the front of the bus. I heard him tell the driver to "step on it." It must've been a signal to go faster, because I felt the vehicle accelerate and shudder as it was pushed harder. The noise of the road beneath me became soothing and drowned out the voices of my companions.

I knew I might die. I didn't need to hear them argue about it for the entire three hours of the journey. Eira roused me from my semi-conscious state every few minutes, urging me to drink as much water as I could.

Even as my energy waned, I could feel that same pull I'd felt when I first crossed through the ring of stones. The closer we came to the place the Lycans called Sanctuary, the stronger that feeling became.

It had to be them-Miles and Eli. They had somehow felt my presence in Ada and sent their friends to get me. I knew we were heading in the right direction, too. I'd just been too ill to really notice it through the heat that consumed my body and my injuries. But now ... we were so close. Even the beast within me struggled and fought against the darkness that was closing in on us.

Every b.u.mp in the road sent pain shooting through my aching body. And with each jolt, my tension grew and I felt the temperature drop further inside the vehicle.