CHAPTER Nineteen
The trouble with Loch Ness is that, despite its obvious natural beauty, there’s a distinct lack of cover. I’d been fortunate enough to find myself a tree next to the water’s edge to sit myself behind, but I knew that some of us had ended up a few hundred feet away simply because there wasn’t anywhere to hide. We couldn’t afford to let Endor know that we were here. In that scenario no doubt he’d adjust his plans, and we’d be scuppered.
It was satisfying to know that since my impromptu speech, the mages, faeries and shifters had actually, honest-to-goodness and no-holds-barred, managed to set aside their differences and work together. I’d seen them discussing plans, considering strategies and even, once, a shifter asking a mage for advice about whether it would be better to combine their attacks or to separate out their ethereal magic and their physical brawn. Both the Summer Queen and the Arch-Mage had elected to stay away from the action, although they were still monitoring everything closely from a distance. I had to admit that it was a good idea. Their presence only caused more friction – not just amongst the other groups, but from within their own ranks also. Wild horses wouldn’t have kept Corrigan away, however.
The Lord Alpha was positioned on the north edge of the loch, closest to where the kelpies’ habitat was and therefore where we thought Endor would be most likely to attack. I was on the more westerly side, some considerable distance away. It was impressive, really, just how cordial we’d managed to keep our relations with each other over the past two days since we’d all arrived. Neither of us made any mention or even subtle reference to the kiss – instead we were entirely businesslike and focused on our goal. He’d even listened to me when I’d outlined my plans for communication, agreeing that it made the most sense to have everyone in groups of three: one shifter, one Fae and one mage in each. When Endor showed his face, whoever saw him first would use the Fae to transport straight to Corrigan no matter what was happening. That way Corrigan could then use his Voice to tell all the shifters where to vamoose their arses. Only alphas could initiate Voice contact, a fact that often made life difficult for the shifters. In this instance, however, it worked, because it meant that each and every one of us was crystal clear on just how vital it was to collaborate and communicate.
I was the only exception to the group of three rule. This was because I was the only one other than the Brethren Lord who could use the Voice to start a telepathic conversation. Admittedly, it was only Corrigan himself I could talk to, but I was just glad that no-one had questioned the reasons as to why that might be the case. According to the Fae book on my heritage, Draco Wyr could initiate Voice conversations with their soul-mate alone. As far as I was aware, only Solus and Alex knew that teeny little inconsequential fact. What Corrigan would think of it if he found out, I had no idea. It didn’t really matter because he never would. Bearing in mind the wichtlein prophecy, it was unlikely that I’d make it to the end of this day alive… and I’d decided I was okay with that. It hurt like hell to imagine him with someone else – like that blonde he’d been with in London – but there was frankly not a damn thing I could do about it. As long as Endor was dead and Corrigan was safe, along with everyone else, then I could ask for nothing more.
Fortunately, the vamps had stayed out of my way for the time being. I’d convinced Aubrey to hole up in a nearby B&B and avoid coming to the loch itself. I’d also wrenched a promise out of him that in the unsurprising event of my death, he would never ever return to London again. Instead he was to find a small little country town somewhere to settle down happily for the rest of his days. It was the best I could do.
I stretched out my legs and yawned. The majority of my bruises were already considerably subsiding, and my body was in full healing mode. I had a funny feeling that the transformation exercises I’d been doing with Tom had helped. I was still a long way off being sure that I could fully shift into my Draco Wyr form and retain my own consciousness, but there was definite progress being made. If I had to become a dragon to defeat Endor, then I would. I wouldn’t be happy about it, but I was more confident that I’d manage it without killing everyone else in the process. I’d not healed completely as the heavy ball of flame in my stomach was still making its presence known, but I actually felt rather glad about it. It meant that my bloodfire was simmering away, ready to spring into action as soon as it was required.
The sound of approaching voices caused me to suddenly tense. I pulled out the palladium tipped dagger, and heat rippled through me in a burgeoning flame. Twisting around, I remained crouched and camouflaged by the tree, craning my neck to see who it was. From around the curving path, a family appeared, each one wearing matching hiking boots with brightly coloured knee length socks. They were talking and laughing. I watched as the small boy with them stumbled and tripped, landing on his hands and knees. He looked surprised for a second, then his face screwed up ready to begin bawling. The father was already there, however, scooping him up and planting him on his shoulders, distracting him from the impending tears. I turned away.
There were just too many f*cking tourists around. It was inevitable: it was the height of summer after all, but I was nervous that they’d end up getting in the way. Between the luxury cruises chugging up and down the loch with regular intervals, the cyclists and the walkers, it was going to be difficult for the mages to mask the signs of the upcoming battle. I chewed on my lip. I just had to trust that they’d manage it.
The glittering water in front of me rippled slightly, and a sleek dark head appeared. Kelpie. Its liquid brown eyes regarded me seriously, its almost impossibly long lashes blinking away the droplets of water. I scowled at it. F*cking thing. All of them gave me the creeps. They finally seemed to have come around to the idea that their entire existence was under threat, and agreed to do what we said, but it had been a struggle. And they were supposed to be keeping to Corrigan’s end of the sodding loch.
I opened my mind, ready to tell the Lord Alpha to make sure that the bloody water creatures stayed in one place, but he was already there, the familiar growl of his Voice echoing in my head.
Something’s happening.
My body froze. What? Is he there?
Corrigan’s Voice sounded strained. No, it’s the kelpies. They’re all coming up to the surface. They’re…
He broke off. I stared back at the water but the kelpie that had been there had vanished. Shit. It was starting. I sprang into action, grabbing the bike I’d hidden in a clump of bushes in case I needed to travel a long way, and tearing the leaves away from it with as much haste as I could manage. I pulled it away and jerked it up the small hill and onto the path, leaping on top of it and pedalling as fast as I could. As my legs pumped, I was aware of others emerging from their hiding places around me and doing the same. I cursed. No, that wasn’t right.
Corrigan! I yelled with my Voice. You have to get the faeries to stay where they are. If you don’t have eyeballs on Endor, then they need to be there in case he shows up somewhere else.
I threw my hands out as I whizzed past three of them. “The Fae!” I shouted. “She has to stay there!”
I didn’t look back to see whether they’d heard me or not, instead I threw even more energy into getting the bike to move faster. Screw this bloody loch for being so big. I’d practised getting from different spots around it as quickly as I could over the last two days, but somehow this time Corrigan’s position seemed much farther than had before. Air whipped past my cheeks and my palms felt sweaty and slippery on the handle bars. F*ck it, come on!
I swerved round a small boulder lying in the middle of the path, only just managing to keep the bike upright and myself on it. Flying over the handle bars at this speed would probably send me into a coma. I had to be careful. My heart was pounding in my ears, and adrenaline and bloodfire were zipping through every part of my body. Finally, I curved around and spotted Corrigan and several mages, faeries and shifters all at the water’s edge. More were arriving every second. Even from this distance the water seemed to be churning. The daylight was already draining from the sky, making the blue bolts of magic the mages were zipping out into the water appear bright and unmistakable. I hoped again that they were still holding the concealing glamour in place. I screeched up, slamming on the brakes, and jumping off the bike, then sprinted to join them.
“What’s happening?”
“The kelpies!” a young mage next to me gasped. “It’s as if they’re drowning.”
I watched, panicked. It did indeed seem as if that was the case. There were at least twenty of them, all thrashing about at the water’s surface. I went to run in, but Corrigan grabbed my arm and stopped me.
“Don’t,” he growled. “Any time we try that, it just seems to make them worse. It’s as if there’s some kind of barrier around them.” He stared at my face, and somehow I knew without asking that my eyes were glowing.
Barrier shmarrier. I yanked out the dagger again and drew it against the palm of my hand. Beads of blood sprang up. I ran into the water, palm outstretched. I’d broken through one of Endor’s wards before. I knew my blood could do it again.
As soon as the water was around my ankles, however, the kelpies began shrieking. One seemed to be being dragged under as if by some kind of mysterious force. I couldn’t feel anything though. Usually when I connected with a ward, it was obvious. This time, it was as if there was nothing. I flicked out my hand, sending a spray of blood out in front of me. Nothing. That didn’t make sense.
I looked up towards the darkening horizon, as if searching for something. Some inspiration from the gods or some kind of help. A tourist cruise ship off in the distance suddenly lit up, brightly coloured lights illuminating it from bow to stern. I glanced at the kelpies then at the boat. The creatures continued to pitch and turn, sending water in all directions, forcing every eye onto their plight. Oh shit. I knew where Endor was and it wasn’t here.
“It’s a diversion,” I shouted back to Corrigan.
“What?”
“It’s a f*cking diversion! He’s on the boat. He’s not after the kelpies – they’re probably working with him. He’s going after the tourists!”
Blood drained from his face. “We need to get there.”
I nodded, staring at the distance between us and the boat, which was getting further away by the second. I knew what I had to do. I closed my eyes, and inhaled deeply, feeling the fire rip through me, coursing through my system with the rage of a thousand furnaces. I concentrated on my little match, standing it up straight in my mind’s eye. I could do this. I had to.
Then pain scorched my skin, and I heard my bones creak and snap, and the fabric of my clothes tear and split. I pitched forward slightly at the unfamiliar weight of my tail, then managed to re-balance myself. I opened my eyes, my vision scored entirely through with a dull red haze. Clouds of boiling hot anger seethed through. Kill.
I whipped around and gazed at the group assembled on the shore. Kill. Many of them began to back away, eyes wide and fearful. A splashing side to the side of me caught my attention. My neck stretched out so I could see better. Kelpies. Kill. I opened up my mouth and a bellowing roar came out. Then I inhaled and breathed. In a sudden epileptic fit of movement, the water creatures ducked underneath the surface. No matter. I focused back on the others. Kill.
One figure was standing in front of all the others, dark and muscular. His lips were moving but all I could hear was the bloodfire pounding through me at the same rate as my heart. I opened my mouth again. He lifted his head and stared right at me, emerald green eyes searing into mine. I blinked as a small flame flickered in my mind. The figure took a step towards me. I flexed my foot and began to raise it, ready to lash out. Then an odd smell reached my nostrils, something like…sulphur. I blinked again. Mack. I was Mack.
I lowered my foot. Corrigan took another step forward and I nodded, lightly flicking the tip of my tail. He relaxed. I bent my neck down and he leapt towards me, arms curving around and gripping. The weight was strange but not uncomfortable. I turned back to the loch, took a deep breath and jumped up into the air.
Then I smashed back down again, water spraying everywhere. Damn it. I was supposed to be able to f*cking fly. I tried again, tucking my feet under me and throwing myself up and out. I bellyflopped back down yet again, Corrigan’s body slapping against mine with a painful jolt. Okay.
The boat was starting to disappear from view. There was no more time. I took a deep breath instead and ran forward, pushing against the resistance of the water then, as soon as the loch floor deepened and widened out, I dived down, and began to swim.
About three seconds later, it occurred to me to wonder whether dragons actually could swim or not. It appeared that they could, however, and in a remarkably streamlined fashion, because I was pulling through the water at a rate that even Michael Phelps would admire. I lifted my head out of the water, allowing Corrigan to take a breath of air, and realised we were already gaining on the boat. Ducking under again, even though I could barely see anything through the murky depths of Loch Ness, I continued to push forward with great sweeping strokes that cut through the water. Then I looked up once more, and saw the boat had stopped and was lurching alarmingly to one side. I thrust forward until we came up on its left side, and felt Corrigan’s weight leave me as he stretched up and grabbed hold of a ladder dangling over the edge. There were several terrified screams as the vessel tilted again, this time in my direction. Enough.
I concentrated on my little matchstick flame, bringing my entire self back as much as I was able. My body changed with another streak of pain, and then I was floating in the water with the sudden sensation of feeling small and vulnerable. I hooked one elbow around the rope ladder and pulled myself out of the loch, shivering as the cold air hit my naked skin. Scrambling upwards, I yanked myself over the side of the boat and stood upright, bare feet feeling the wooden boards underneath. I grabbed a nearby life-vest, which was thankfully oversized enough to cover the majority of my modesty, and ran forward and around the front to where the tourists, Corrigan – and Endor – were.
The necromancer was standing amongst a group of cowering people, with Corrigan facing him. When he caught sight of me, he grinned.
“Miss Smith is joining us as well. What a joy!”
I moved up and stood shoulder to shoulder with the Lord Alpha. He had the palladium sword in front of him, its silvered length glinting even in the darkness. I realised that in the wake of my transformation, I’d somehow lost my little dagger. It didn’t matter. Corrigan would stake the f*cker with the sword and we would be done.
“It’s the end of the line, Endor,” I called out.
He laughed. “Is it? How terribly distressing for you.”
He’s going to sink the f*cking boat, Corrigan growled in my head.
I nodded. He’d drown everyone on board, leeching their life-force from them as he did so, and use the fact of their watery deaths to get the power he needed from the element of Water. He probably had some kind of deal going with the kelpies for the help of their acting skills set up to distract us. Maybe he’d let them play with a couple of the victims themselves.
The boat swayed alarmingly and several of the humans clutched each other and cried out. We had to get them out of the way.
“Everyone needs to come over here.” I stretched out my hands, beckoning them forward. A few got up and ran towards us, but the rest stayed where they were, frozen in their seats.
“There’s nowhere for them to go, you know,” said Endor chillingly. “There’s water everywhere. Even if they jump in to get away, it won’t work. You know that.”
I glanced over the side and spotted several dark bobbing heads. F*cking kelpies.
“I can see why they’d want to get near you, though,” he smiled through his teeth, “charmingly attired as you are.”
I hissed. “Let them move to the front of the boat.”
A woman was at the back, sobbing loudly. Endor cocked his head for a second as if thinking, then shrugged. “Okay. They are rather distracting.” He slapped a man on the back. “Go on then. Up to prow with you. You can take photos of each other shouting ‘I’m the King of the World’ if you want. Your family will appreciate having something to remember you by.” He frowned. “Well, if your cameras are waterproof that is. Otherwise I wouldn’t really bother.”
One by one, the tourists got up and began to move towards us. Several had taken out mobile phones and were clearly trying to frantically text or call someone for help. I had no doubt that Endor had already covered that angle and they’d find they couldn’t get a signal. When the last one – the sobbing woman – was just about to pass us, Endor flicked his wrist and there was a loud splitting sound, as if the very fabric of the vessel was being torn asunder. She shrieked and ran forward, shoving past me. Then she jumped into the water with a cry that was abruptly cut off. My mouth went dry.
The necromancer looked amused. ‘So,” he said to Corrigan, “you were saying?”
A predatorily lethal look lit Corrigan’s eyes. He hefted the weight of the sword and took a step forward.
“You’ve decided to forego the were-panther look then? I can understand that. I hear cats don’t like water very much.” Endor closed his eyes for a moment and audibly sucked in a breath. A dark swirl rose up from beyond the edge of the boat and drifted towards him. Then he opened his eyes and smiled again. “That woman may have been annoying, but she felt good.”
Rage roared up inside me, and I sent two fiery bolts of green towards him. I should have known better, however, as they just bounced harmlessly off him. I stared down at my hand. Transforming into a dragon meant the cut on my palm was already healed. F*ck. I reached out and ran my index finger along Corrigan’s blade then sprang forward and smeared my blood against Endor’s ward. It crackled and smoked, then vanished. For the first time, his smile wavered.
“”I’m getting annoyed that you keep doing that, Miss Smith. Of course I know now what the reason is. A Draco Wyr, here in the twenty-first century.” He whistled. “Imagine that.”
And if I wasn’t sure that my dragon shape was so large it’d sink this boat, then you’d really know what it’s like to face me, I thought.
It’s time to end this, Corrigan snarled.
Oh, yes it is.
I took one last look at the Lord Alpha. Standing there, sword in hand, black hair sleeked back from the water, and his clothes sculpted to his skin, every muscle delineated, he looked like the epitome of every girl’s hero. I didn’t think he’d miss me too much.
Then I leapt forward towards Endor, scissor kicking in the air and connecting with his head. He reeled back with a spasm and pushed out his palms in my direction, black bolts springing forth from them and landing square in my chest. I gasped in pain and collapsed to my knees. Damn that hurt.
Mack! Corrigan yelled in my head.
I’m fine. I really wasn’t. I’m going to pitch left and catch him on his side. As soon as I do, you need to shove that sword and skewer this prick.
There wasn’t an answer.
Corrigan…
Okay.
I stumbled back up to my feet and then immediately ran forward again, this time lashing out with my fists, pushing out my energy into attacking. Endor defended himself against me with one hand, zapping me in the face with another deadly black stream of magic so that I fell backwards with a thump. He wasn’t stupid, however, and he kept his other hand free to deal with Corrigan. I lifted my head and saw him about to strike. No way. I launched myself up just as Corrigan began to cut forward with the sword and grabbed Endor’s other hand forcing it in my direction. The black magic spewed out of his fingers and into my chest, and I could feel myself falling and my own energy draining away. Corrigan, however, slammed the tip of the palladium sword into Endor’s stomach.
The answering howl of pain from the necromancer proved that the Lord Alpha had found his mark. My vision darkening, I watched as he grabbed at the hilt and began to pull it out, snarling as he did so. The sword clattered onto the deck.
But instead of falling and dying, Endor raised up his hands and muttered something. A wall of water began to rise up on either side of the boat. It climbed higher and higher and higher, until it was towering up into the sky. Then it slammed back down, curving inwards and down upon us, while people screamed and the vessel began to break apart. Sharp splinters scraped against my skin as I struggled to stay conscious. I didn’t understand. We’d used the palladium. Corrigan couldn’t have thrust that blade into Endor’s flesh with any more power than he had. Why hadn’t he died?
I could feel myself falling backwards and smacking into the cold water of the loch. I couldn’t hang on any longer. As I looked up into the sky, I saw streaks of blue mage magic zip over and converge on the sinking ship. Something brushed against my leg and began pulling me under. My life-belt resisted, determined to retain buoyancy. It was fighting a losing battle, however, as the tug on my legs was just too strong. A kelpie, I thought dully. Not Endor then. Or a vamp. Or a bloodlust crazed revenge seeker. Just a small seal-like creature. What a way to go. Then the water closed over my head and everything went dark.