Page 28 of Dragon Claimed

The image went away as her teeth left Blaze's skin. Kaida stepped back; Blaze placed his head on the ground and closed his eyes. Kaida looked at the others, and they shifted back to their human forms. Enzo remained in his dragon form as he healed from his wound. Kaida glanced at him, and her dragon let out a breathy whine. Enzo glanced at her but didn't move. The wound looked aggressive as it puffed up during the healing process. It would probably be gone in an hour, but it would be difficult for him to move until then.

Kaida shifted back so she could talk to the others. They rushed to her, Arlo reaching her first. He looked her over and pulled her to him, and when he was satisfied, she was okay.

"Gods, I thought I'd see burns on you after feeling his flames scorching your scales," Arlo said into her neck.

Beckett and Esen looked her over, too, when Arlo stepped away as if he would lie. Kaida soaked up the attention but pushed them away to walk closer to Blaze. She heard the guys protesting behind her but brushed them off again.

"I need to know he is okay," Kaida said as she approached Blaze's dragon gingerly.

His body was curled into a ball, and his wings were tucked in with his head on the ground. She noticed his one eye opened to look at her when a twig snapped under her feet. Kaida halted to give the dragon a moment to recognize her. The dragon rumbled and breathed out a sigh.

He's not going to hurt me.

Blaze leaned his snout out to her as she approached. She put one hand against him, and the rumbling in his chest returned. There was nothing in the bond, but he knew who she was, which was the goal to calm him down from going berserk. It was a fight, but they got him back.

Where he belongs.

Staring into the cell where Blaze was thrown made Kaida's heart clench. A growl rose in her throat at the idea of him inside a cage, but her men convinced her that it was the best thing for them to do after the dimension infected him. They could see it inside their bonds as she did, but this was an extra precaution. They would not allow Blaze to have another opportunity to hurt her.

Blaze was in the corner, curled into a ball like his dragon was before they brought him here. The guys kept him calm the whole way here by having him ride on Beckett's back. Kaida could sit behind him and wrap her arms around his waist. Her touch seemed to be the only thing that kept him from losing it again. Once he was in the cage, he turned around and tried to lunge at Enzo. Blaze would have gotten him to the ground if it weren't for Enzo's agility. Instead, Enzo used Blaze's momentum and got him to the floor. Beckett put a ring of ice around Blaze's wrists and pushed him into the cage. Blaze crawled into the corner when the door closed and didn't move.

"I know we can't see the dimension inside the bonds, but I swear it still has its dark claws in Blaze," Enzo growled as he stood outside the door.

Blaze cackled. "Oh, you think so?"

"I think you need to fight this, Blaze. Do you remember that we are brothers?" Beckett pleaded.

Blaze glanced over his shoulder and smirked. "I know you chose that bitch over me. Or am I remembering that correctly?"

Enzo snarled. "Watch what you say about our mate."

Blaze's smirk grew. "Why should I? You aren't going to harm me. I mean too much to those three for you to be able to do that. The jury is still out on the girl. Maybe she already feels something for me. The feeling isn't mutual, but she can't seem to take a hint."

Kaida returned his smirk. "That's why your dragon relaxed at my touch. Because I feel something for you, but it isn't returned. Right."

"You can believe what you want. My dragon only did that out of pity. I think you forgot that I have fought that forsaken bond since I felt the first twinge. It has only weakened me. I don't know why you three believe it makes you stronger."

Arlo stepped forward but did his best not to touch the cage. Kaida noticed his hands went toward it initially, but he pulled them away. "I think you are the one that has this twisted, my friend. She is the reason why we are stronger. You'd see it, too, if you looked at the bonds. We can see your flame there. It's smaller, but there."

"Only because my dragon wishes for it to be there. I do not share that sentiment."

Esen shook his head. "Why? The Great Dragon has given you this amazing opportunity, and you choose to fight it."

Blaze was on his feet, even though Kaida never saw him move. "I did not ask for a mate! I don't want one! I never did, and the Great Dragon decided to override my wishes."

"I am the other half of your soul, and you think our lord has forsaken you for finding someone perfectly suited for you?" Kaida's voice remained soft throughout her small speech. She hoped Blaze could feel how hurt it hurt even to have to say these things to him.

"You are not perfectly suited for me," Blaze spat. "You are the one weakness I can't seem to shake!"

Kaida growled and stepped closer to the cage, "You are the weak one for not accepting the bond. The only people who choose to say no are those who cannot withstand having to care for another. That makes you less compatible with power if you ask me."

Blaze snarled and was against the cage before she could blink. "I have power without you. Why must I gain more with you when I can do that alone."

Kaida laughed at him. "That's what you seem to think. A bond with me is more powerful than you could ever imagine. Think of how much you would have if it were just you and me. A mating bond between pairs makes anyone stronger. Add to the fact that I have four others tied to me, and you’d have access to their power, too? You'd be unstoppable. Instead, you mock us as we gain the power you wish you could have."

Blaze swiped at her between the bars, and Beckett used his magic to throw ice at Blaze just in time to falter his attack. The icy wind blew him back as he snarled. Kaida could see that some of the ice went into his eyes as he wiped it away.

"You will regret that!"

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