One Good Dragon Deserves Another by Aaron Rachel

Author:Aaron, Rachel [Aaron, Rachel]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Aaron/Bach, LLC
Published: 2015-08-01T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 13

Justin woke to cold water splashing over his head.

He came to with a start, opening his mouth to bite whoever would dare only to find that he couldn’t. He was back in his human shape, dressed in what looked like spare medical scrubs and bound on his knees to a damp stone floor with chains large enough to hold an ocean liner. He couldn’t even turn his head thanks to the metal cage that had been fitted over his skull, its lower half and sides sharpened so that if he opened his mouth more than it took to speak softly, he’d slice his jaw open.

Another time, the overkill security would have struck him as a sign of respect. Now, though, the unwelcome obstacle was nothing but an annoyance. Every muscle in his body hurt, and his burned throat was spasming in pain. All he wanted to do was go back to sleep, but that was impossible thanks to the magic.

Strange, cold power covered him like tar inside and out. Even if he hadn’t used up all his fire on Vann Jeger, he couldn’t have gotten enough out to light a candle under these conditions. As it was, he could barely lift his head, but considering he’d been one ax blow away from losing it, Justin supposed he should count this as a step forward. Quitting was for pathetic dragons who’d lost their ambition, anyway, and so, summoning up all his pride, Justin forced his throbbing head up to take stock of his situation.

He was in what appeared to be an underwater cavern. An obviously fake one since Justin was fairly certain natural caverns didn’t have tasteful recessed lighting, but it was still impressive if only for its size. The cave was as large as an aircraft hangar, though aside from the little stone island in the center where he’d been chained, it seemed to be mostly water. Lake water from the smell, which only made him more wary. So far as he could tell, though, the giant room seemed to be empty. There was no scent of Vann Jeger, and he was pretty sure he couldn’t miss the leviathan. He was wondering if this place was meant to be a prison when a voice whispered.

“Welcome.”

He froze, eyes darting. The voice had come from everywhere and nowhere, but while that was unnerving, Justin was having a hard time being alarmed by something so beautiful. Just the way the sound of it had flowed over the words reminded him of floating weightlessly in placid waters. He was about to ask it speak again when it ordered. “Lean forward.”

Justin set his jaw stubbornly. Beautiful voice or not, he didn’t obey anyone but his mother. But just as he resolved to never move again, magic crashed into him like an iron rod to the back of the head.

He resisted on principle, but after his fight with Vann Jeger, he couldn’t even slow himself down as the magic forced him to lean over until he was staring straight down at his own reflection in the dark water.

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