The Bride Hunt: Lightning Dragon Part 11

No! f.u.c.k no! It wasn't possible. How had Cloud found them? Thunder pulled Tammy behind him. The female had a bewildered look, not sure why he was manhandling her in such a manner.

There was a cracking noise.

"No!" Tammy whispered, as she realized what was happening.

"How touching," Cloud said as he walked towards the foot of the bed. For a moment, Thunder was tempted to leap to his feet. To fight. To flee. To do something but what could he do against the male?

Remnants of the silver still ran through him. He was still weak. They didn't stand a chance.

"I can see by the look of shock on both of your faces that you thought you had killed me. Sorry to disappoint. Your aim was off. Not by much, you almost ended me."

"How did you find us?" Thunder asked.

Cloud smiled. "It took me a while to heal and then I followed the trail. Thanks for that by the way. You bled most of the way here."

Thunder felt like an idiot for not realizing that he had bled, that he had left a trail.

Cloud looked about the cave. "Then again, I guess I have myself to thank for making you bleed in the first place. Although, I should have made you bleed a bit more since it took me a day or two to scout the area." His eyes focused behind his shoulder. On the female. His female.

"Don't do this." Thunder had to try.

Cloud locked eyes with Thunder. He had that look about him. Tammy had described it as haunted. It was the best description he'd heard. The male laughed. "If only you had told me that. Don't do it. No. If only, my king." He gave a sweeping bow, a mocking bow. "You didn't say any of those things. You gave your blessing." His face twisted in anguish. That female ..." he pointed to Tammy and Thunder growled. Cloud ignored him. "Is mine. I will get her with child as soon as possible and take back what was ripped from me. The time for being patient is over."

"I'm so sorry Wind died."

Cloud visibly blanched.

"I should have dissuaded you. I wish I had but, in the end, it wasn't my decision to make. It was yours. Both of yours. You knew of the risks and chose to follow that path."

"Chose," Cloud spat. "It was never a choice. I went to you so that you could tell me that I was being stupid. I had to talk her into it," his voice choked up. "Did you know that? She didn't want to take the drug, but I ... she wanted it too in the end." His eyes filled with tears and he squeezed them shut for a beat. When he opened them, they were hard and fixed on him. "Childless couples are made to feel inferior. We are made to feel like losers. I am a warrior." He beat his chest. "I didn't feel like one," his voice came out softer. "You," he pointed at Thunder, "made me feel like less ... like nothing."

"I'm sorry that you felt that way. It was never my intention to make you or any other male couple for that matter to feel that way." Thunder wasn't perfect but he had always treated all of his subjects as equals. Yes, they encouraged mated couples to have young but it was a given that not all would manage it. Females were rare, a fertile pair was almost unheard of. He felt sorry for them. He would never ridicule them. Tammy was right, this was the way that Cloud saw things. It wasn't necessarily the truth though. "I should've dissuaded you that day. It is something that I must live with but that was my only form of wrongdoing. At the end of the day, it was ultimately your decision, both you and Wind's decision to go ahead. To take the chance. I'm so sorry that it didn't work out. That the cost was so great. I will do anything to help you through your suffering."

"You can't help me!" Cloud spat, his face red with anger. "You can't bring her back. What you can do is take responsibility for my mate's death and hand over that female," he pointed at Tammy who whimpered, pressing herself against his back, trying to hide away from Cloud.

"She isn't mine to give."

"It's only a matter of time before you win her. The mighty king Thunder. She is mine now." He sniffed the air. "You haven't claimed her fully yet." He smiled. "I'm glad ... not that it would have made any difference."

"Don't do this, Cloud. I might be weak now, but it won't last for forever. If you take her now, I will end you." He could see that he was not getting through to the male. Cloud was too far gone. Too angry, too sad, too crazy to see things any way but his own way. He was going to hurt his female. Force her into mating him. He would justify his actions to himself.

It wouldn't do much good but he would fight. He had to try to stop Cloud. The male had a bag slung around his shoulder. The strap was loose and the bag rode low on his body. It would pull tight when he changed into his dragon form. He saw a blade sheathed there. A silver edge, he was sure. If only he could get his hands on it, he might just stand a half a chance. He knew the bag would be filled with more weapons as well. Thunder needed to proceed carefully.

Cloud smiled. It was the smile of a crazy man. His eyes turned wild. They even glowed. "Hand her over and I'll let you live."

"I can't do that."

"Suit yourself." He lunged at Thunder, moving almost too quickly for his eyes to register. So d.a.m.ned sluggish. The backs of his fingers touched the handle for a split second. He was too slow.

Cloud backhanded him. It took a moment to register that he was flying through the air. Thunder crashed against the far wall. Pain exploded through his shoulder. The room winked in and out of focus.

Thunder shook his head to try and clear it. He staggered to his feet, trying hard to summon his power. Too d.a.m.ned weak. As Cloud came at him, he realized his mistake. Maybe it wasn't too late to change tactics. The other male punched him square in the nose. Blood gushed from the broken appendage. It ran down his throat, feeling hot and thick. He staggered backwards, his back hitting the wall. Screams flooded the cave. Pain flared.

Chapter 13.

Tammy screamed as Thunder's nose crunched under Cloud's fist. Blood. Oh Lord but there was so much blood. It ran down his face. Splattered on his chest. His eyes looked dazed. He staggered backwards, hitting the wall hard with his back but somehow managing to stay on his feet.

"She is mine!" Cloud roared. He clenched his left hand and pummeled Thunder on the side of his head, using his arm like a club.

"Nooooo!" Tammy screamed as Thunder went flying. His body actually lifted off the ground for a second or two. She was sure she heard something else crunch. His jaw maybe. His body crumpled in a heap somewhere in the shadows, she could barely make out his motionless form.

She had to do something. Cloud was going to kill him. "Noooo!" she screamed again, as the s.h.i.+fter pulled a long, sharp looking blade from a sheath in a bag on his back. It glinted in the firelight.

Silver.

Poison.

Deadly.

Thunder wouldn't survive another run-in with silver. She just knew it. He was in no position to defend himself either. She had to help him.

Cloud smiled. The guy was even crazier than she had first thought.

"Let's go," she said. "I'm here and ready to become your mate." She added the last when he didn't look her way.

Cloud's eyes flicked to her for a second before moving back to Thunder.

"Leave him," she shook her head. "We're wasting time."

"I need to make sure he doesn't disturb us again," Cloud growled.

"No!" she cried. "You're wasting time. Come to me." She opened her arms.

Cloud took a step towards her, then another and another. Just when she began to relax, he turned back towards Thunder. A look of pure hatred on his face.

It was then that she realized he would not be able to leave Thunder alive. His feud ran too deep. His madness was taking over. Tammy jumped to her feet, still on the bed. She launched herself on the s.h.i.+fter, landing on his back, her arms around his neck, her legs around his body. "Run, Thunder, run!"

It was hard to tell. The cave was just so dark back there but she was sure she saw movement.

Please get away. Please. "Run!" she shouted as she tightened her arms. "Leave him alone, you b.a.s.t.a.r.d."

"Get off." He tried to peel her off of him but she held on tight. "Let go," he growled.

"Stop this!" she shouted. "Go away. Leave us alone."

"Last chance." He stopped trying to pry her off. "Let go, female, and do it now."

"f.u.c.k you!" she shouted.

Cloud began to walk. It was like she was a tiny, inconsequential bug. It was only at the last second that she realized what he had planned. "No!" she barely managed to get the word out when he slammed her up against the wall.

Pain rushed at her. It ran up the whole of her spine. It blossomed on the back of her head.

He was going to do it again. Maybe this time he would injure her badly. He might even render her unconscious. As it was, lights flashed across her vision. She was halfway to unconscious already. Tammy let go. She slid down his back, landing hard on the ground below. She pulled herself into a ball. Blackness danced on the edge of her vision. Lights flickered in and out. She was sure that it was only the sharp pain that kept her from pa.s.sing out.

Cloud was moving again.

"No!" she whispered the word. Her lips felt dry. Her mouth felt like it was filled with cotton wool.

There was a bright flash as the light caught the blade. He had it hoisted above his hand, both hands on the hilt. Utter horror consumed her as Cloud brought it down in an arc. He hefted and slashed a second time. This time sparks flared in the dark as the blade hit rock. The blade must have rended flesh and bone. "Nooooooo!" she tried to scream but it came out in a hoa.r.s.e whisper. Don't think about it. Tammy made a squeaking noise. Her whole body felt frozen with disbelief.

"It's done," Cloud growled as he sheathed the blade. "I am your mate now. There is no denying it. No one to rescue you. Accept your fate, female." He closed the distance between then and gripped her by the wrists, hauling her to her feet.

"You b.a.s.t.a.r.d." Tears slid down her cheeks. Thunder was gone. No! Her throat felt clogged. Her chest hurt. "You b.a.s.t.a.r.d!" More firmly as she beat against his chest with her fists. It was like hitting a wall. Then there were scales and claws. Cloud had s.h.i.+fted into his dragon form. He nudged her towards the entrance with his head. She staggered a few steps and fell, stones digging into her side and one of her knees. He growled in her face. His hot, fetid breath accosting her. He nudged her again, harder this time.

Tammy rose wearily to her feet. She realized that she was still crying. She couldn't stop. Using the back of her hand, she wiped the tears away but more took their place. The dragon nudged her and growled more fiercely. She stood back up and he nudged her again. Her head hurt. Her back flared with fresh pain every time he pushed her. At least she was alive.

Poor Thunder!

Her sobs echoed around the cave. She couldn't believe it. He nudged her again, causing her to take a couple of quick staggered steps in order to stay on her feet. Nudge. Stagger. Nudge. Stagger. When she realized his intention, she tried to dig her heels in, but it was no use. Next thing she was sliding down the incline. Rocks and dirt loose at her feet. Downwards ... downwards ... then she was falling. Cloud caught her, her breath catching in her throat as his claws closed around her.

b.a.s.t.a.r.d!

White hot anger burned inside her. It churned and grew. She ground her teeth and looked up at the beast. The strap was tight, a bag flush against his belly. It looked small against his dragon frame. The sword was sheathed next to the bag. It was the same sword he'd used to kill Thunder. More anger flooded her. She reached up and clasped her hand around its hilt.

Tammy swallowed thickly. They had barely left the cave entrance. She looked down. Sweat beads seemed to form across her entire body. This time both fear and anger coursed through her. This was most likely her one opportunity to get away. There might not be another. If she took this opening, there was a very good chance she would die. If she didn't ...

The other option wasn't even comprehensible. Cloud may have been a good man once upon a time but that was no longer the case. He had killed Thunder. Her throat clogged with emotion. He was going to hurt her. Force himself on her until she became pregnant with his child. She s.h.i.+vered at the prospect of all she would have to endure. A fate worse than death?

No one was coming. It was up to her to save herself. She also wanted to do it for Thunder.

He flapped his great wings and they lifted higher. It was now or never.

Tammy pulled the sword from the hilt. The dragon seemed to tense midflight. Without thinking about it, and with no hesitation, she slashed the blade across his belly. It was much easier than she had expected. Like a hot knife through b.u.t.ter, the knife sliced the beast wide open. Intestines and gore slid from the gaping wound and all over her.

She expected him to let her go. Or to plummet to the ground. Or all of the above. He screeched. The sound so loud it hurt her ears. He did fall a few feet before righting himself. For the next few seconds he continued to flap his great wings like nothing had even happened. Then he began to lose alt.i.tude. Down ... down ... down ...

They began to tumble head over tail. Cloud didn't let her go. Not once did his hold falter. Tammy squeezed her eyes shut. Her stomach lurched with each hard roll. Any second now. They were about to hit the ground. There was no way she would survive the impact.

Bang!

Darkness.

Chapter 14.

Bright light. Pain. Eyes grainy. More pain. Her mouth tasted metallic. Blood. Tammy blinked a couple of times. She wasn't on the ground. She knew this because she was looking down at it. Her brain felt foggy. Her body stiff and sore. She was lying on something soft. Something squishy.

Tammy turned her head. What the ...? Intestines. Tammy's stomach lurched. She suddenly felt hot and sweaty. She turned to the side, gagging hard. By some miracle she managed to keep her stomach contents down. Maybe she didn't puke because she hadn't eaten. Tammy couldn't remember. Why was she here? What had ...?

Memories surfaced causing her to moan. Thunder. He was gone. Murdered. The body beneath her shuddered. Cloud was still in his dragon form. He was still alive. She needed to get away. With effort, she managed to move the fingers on one hand and then one of her legs. A couple of minutes later she slid off the dragon, landing on her feet. She managed to stay upright.

Cloud was lying on his back. His eyes were closed. His wings a broken mess. His body broken and bleeding. He had broken her fall, whether unintentionally or on purpose she did not know. He shuddered again. Blood dripped from the slice across his belly. His innards hung out in great coils. The beast was dying. He had to be. There was no way he could survive this. The fall together with the silver was too much. Tammy couldn't muster any sympathy. She only hoped that he died quickly. No one deserved to suffer.

Her head hurt. Her back hurt. Her chin felt raw. Her knees throbbed. She was covered in blood and slimy stuff that Tammy would rather not think about. It made her feel ill to do so. In short, she was bruised and battered but very much alive. She shuddered to think how this could have ended. She was lucky to have come off so easily. Tammy concentrated on putting one foot in front of the other. It was cold but not as cold as when she and Claire had been hiking together. The hunt. It seemed like a lifetime ago. The sun shone brightly warming her back.

Twenty minutes later and she was at the cliff wall. It was just as tall and just as sheer as she remembered. There was no way in h.e.l.l she would be able to climb this.

She sat down on an outcrop of rocks and put her head in her hands. She wasn't sure why she'd come back. Why was she torturing herself like this? Thunder was gone. Going up to the cave to see his body wasn't going to bring him back. Not that she would make it up there.

She had to try though. What if by some miracle he had survived? What if he was up there broken and bleeding? She let out a sob and rose to her feet. Tammy gripped the closest rock and looked for a foothold. There. She put her foot on the small ridge and hoisted herself up. Then she looked up a few feet, looking for the next handhold. There. She stretched up and gripped it. Her hands felt smooth and slippery but she ignored it and gripped tighter. Then she looked down for a higher foothold. There. It was tiny but she could do it. She put her foot flush against the rock and pushed up. Both her hand and her foot gave way at the same time and she fell down, managing to stay on her feet. She tried a second and a third time, falling on her a.s.s and landing hard.

Her teeth gnashed together. The grazes on her hands opened up when she used them to break her fall. She pulled her knees up and hugged her legs. Tammy cried with frustration. She cried because she was dirty and hungry and tired and sore. She cried because ... she was a woman and a woman had a right to cry sometimes, dammit. She cried despite the fact that she would become dehydrated quicker. Right now, she didn't give a s.h.i.+t. She cried because of Thunder. For what might have been. If only she was bolder, she could have told him that she had feelings for him too. It wouldn't have changed things but at least he would have known.

Then she stood herself up and dusted herself off. She was going to give this cliff one more go. Chances were she wasn't going to make it but she had to try. Maybe if she tried a little bit further to the right. There seemed to be more handholds. Maybe this would work better. Tammy shaded her eyes for a second before reaching for the closed ridge of rock.

"You're going to kill yourself!" a voice boomed. It seemed to come from above her. She held her breath for a few seconds. Maybe she had imagined it. She was overly tired or had hit her head harder than she thought.

She reached for the handhold again.

"Don't," an amused growl. Amused? Really? "Stay there," the voice boomed again. Closer this time.

She recognized the voice. No! Tammy rubbed her temples. She was hearing things.

"I'm on my way down!" Thunder shouted. "Give me a minute. Just stay there."

"Thunder!" she shouted, looking up.

There he was. Naked and climbing down the side of the sheer cliff. He was moving quickly, so gracefully. "You're alive!" she shouted. "Oh, my G.o.d!" She covered her mouth and realized that she was grinning. "I can't believe it."

He kept on climbing down. "Cloud didn't kill me," he said as he descended a small outcrop.

"I can see that," she laughed.