Page 99 of Dragon's Honor

He roared and fell to his knees, but he yanked Tristian with him and down they went under the water. There was nothing but the rush of the sea in his ears and Tristian’s thrashing. Ash managed to get his head above water to take another breath and continue to hold Tristian against the sand at the bottom. He knew drowning wouldn’t kill a dragon, so whatever Syrena had in mind, he hoped it was going to work because if it didn’t, someone else was going to have to fight him, because Ash was spent.

He breached the waves for another breath and went back under. Tristian’s thrashing was barely noticeable. The prince was losing the battle or Grey was or maybe they both were.

Ash grabbed one more breath and waited to see if Tristian would fight anymore. He reached around Tristian’s chest and brought him back up to the surface, no gasp for breath, no movement. Gavin came into the water and helped get Tristian back to the beach.

“My mate’s a doctor. I can’t…”

Water sputtered out of Ash’s mouth. “Don’t worry about it, Gavin. I wasn’t expecting you to come help me.”

Ash collapsed next to Tristian on the beach.

“I didn’t even know I had the knife on me,” Finley cried, dropping to his side.

Syrena knelt next to Tristian and started chanting as she held her hands over Tristian. Bright blue, white, and an iridescent pearl shimmer of light ignited along his skin. It looked like his veins were lighting up.

Tristian thrashed and shook like he was having a seizure. His head whipped to the side, and his eyes opened revealing bright red eyes.

“This is hardly over. If you think this wasn’t more than just a game for me, then you’re deluded. I will get what I want. I will get what I deserve, and I’ll send all of you to the underworld without your fucking mates. Your mates will be mine to toy with until the end of time.” His cackle drowned out the ocean and the breeze leaving a frigid ring of silence around them.

Tristian arched up off the ground and a burst of red flames shot out of his mouth and then he fell back to the earth, all the lights dimming and then dying.

Everyone sat there with their breath held. No one said anything. They all stared at Tristian as if they were waiting for Grey to come back before Tristian revived.

Gavin nudged Syrena out of the way and took her place next to him. He felt for a pulse, then put his hand on Tristian’s forehead and lifted his chin with the other hand. He listened over Tristian’s mouth and then proceeded to breathe into his mouth.

After six breaths Tristian coughed and sputtered up a lake of water onto the sand. He laid on his side spitting out the remnants of the salt water.

“It worked,” Syrena muttered. “I know how to cure Dragon Fire.”

Ash fell back against the sand and closed his eyes. Finley’s hand was on his chest, her touch leaving him feeling like he could do anything, like everything would be all right.

“Gavin.”

They all looked to find Pru running towards them looking scared out of her mind.

“I’m all right, my mate.” He stood up and met her as she flung herself into his arms. “Ash isn’t. He’s been stabbed.”

“He’s not healing.”

Finley sniffled. “He can heal from a stab wound?”

“If he hadn’t exhausted himself so much,” Gavin replied.

Pru moved around to examine the wound. “This is deep. We need to get you out of here so I can clean it out before you do heal.”

Finley looked over at Syrena. “I need you to do whatever you did to Tristian to me and my sister.”

Ash jerked up. “You can’t drown her.”

Syrena chuckled. “Give me a little more credit than that, your highness.”

He let out a breath of relief.

Pru helped him get to his feet.

“Where exactly are we going?” Finley asked. “The Sea Glass is about ready to be nothing but rub…ble.”

Ash wished he could appreciate the look of shock on her face when she saw the hole in the side of the building completely whole again. They headed in through the backdoor.

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