Page 63 of Bite Me

He thought for a moment she was going to refuse, but then she gave him one nod. “What do you want me to say?”

That he was sorry they had such a short time together. “I love her and I’m fighting.”

“Oh god. Okay.” She read between the lines. They both knew there was a very real possibility that he wouldn’t make it through the next hour, much less get out of here.

But, he would fight. Dragon shift or no. He had the heart of a warrior, not just from his dragon lineage. His Maori ancestors had fought for their way of life since he’d been born more than a century and a half ago. He’d learned to defend himself and strike fear into his enemies before he was old enough to shift.

Back before he’d learned he would never have a mate and had built a wall around his heart.

Jada and her beautiful vulnerability, the way she let him in to her heart smashed those defenses.

Yes, he would fight. For her.

The demon dragons rattled the door and slunk into the cave.

“Now, get back against the wall, but be ready to bolt. I’ll keep them occupied as long as I can.”

Ky slumped to the side and put all his weight into his center of gravity. If they wanted to pull him out of here, he wasn’t going to be helpful.

“Up. AllFather kill you.”

“Great, but no.”

They didn’t like that one bit. They grunted and growled but backed away. One of them snapped its teeth and pointed at him like that would change his mind. “Up. Up.”

They were afraid of him. Even after the beating and the crone’s spell. They were fucking terrified that he wasn’t simply giving in to their demands.

Best news he’d gotten all day. New plan. He’d scare the shit out of these bastards and injure them the best he could. He and Azynsa were getting the hell out of hell.

Ky groaned as he got to his feet, partially because it really did fucking hurt, and mostly so they would think he was weak and not a threat to them, let down their guard.

He limped his way to the front of the cave and at the last moment turned and winked at Azynsa.

His dragon form might not be available to him at the moment, but he knew exactly how to strike fear into the heart of any being, man or beast.

The Haka.

But he chose no ordinary rugby haka. If he was going to make it through this day and get back to Jada, he needed some serious inspiration.Tika Tonu.

The ancient dance and chant would be meaningless to the demon dragons, but no matter the words, the haka messed with opponents’ heads, whether they were warriors, rugby teams, or demon dragons.

To Ky, the words would invoke Jada for him. Tika Tonu was often performed at weddings. He hoped someday to enact in this particular haka at his own joining with Jada.

As soon as he was outside of the bars, but before the bastards could shut Azynsa in again, Ky took up a fighter’s stance, legs wide and in a half squat.

“Ki aro

Kia whakaronga, kia mau!”

He’d have to chant both the leader’s words and the responses. He slapped his thighs and puffed out his chest at the demon dragons. As a group they took one giant step away.

“Hi!

Ringaringa e torona

kei waho hoki mai!

Kss Kss.”

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