Dragon Blood

Chapter 17

"I have long since stopped caring what you do with the creature. My concern is for Nolan. He deserves a chance to live outside his influence."

"Nolan isn't your yfeerie anymore, Soleil. He is a vampire. He answers to Constantine."

Quin closed his eyes. For a moment, the snow around them was suspended, hanging perfectly still. Static filled the air, and little golden arcs of magic flickered between the flecks of snow, causing the snow to rapidly expand, boil, and freeze simultaneously. After a deep breath, the weather continued as normal. "And who do you think I have to thank for that?" he asked, voice colder than her magic.

Luna stood up and stretched. "If you're expecting another apology, you're going to be disappointed. I've tried making peace. As the human's say, the ball is in your court."

She started to walk away, a large bronze hand wrapped around her wrist, pulling her back. Warm fingers traced the lines of a seemingly delicate wrist. He almost laughed at the idea. Luna delicate? Yeah... as delicate as cannon fire. He looked up, searching her silver eyes for any sign of regret... remorse... anything. How many times had he looked into those eyes and professed eternal love for her? How many millions of years did he dedicate his life and his kin to her? Twenty thousand years was an eternity for even the elves... but for them it was nothing. Was that why he still thought of her, even after everything she'd done?

"Give me a reason to trust you again." he whispered.

Luna narrowed her eyes. "I have begged you for a second chance. You have always denied me. Why now?"

"No, Luna, I'm not offering you a second chance. We can never be what we once were."

Luna looked up into the grey sky. She always knew that was the case. She did not know that it would hurt so much to hear it. "Then why do you need to trust me?" she snapped.

His thumb gently stroked the base of her wrist, feeling her pulse and the magic flooding through her veins. "Perhaps I have a lead of my own." He said carefully. "And perhaps... it's the lead we've been waiting for."

Luna crouched next to him and looked deep into his eyes. She probed for a mental link that would help her understand what he was feeling. He blocked her, none too gently, and waited for her response. Carefully, she reached out and touched his chest over her heart. "Do you?" she asked, trying to keep her voice steady.

His free hand covered hers. His eyes were glistening with emotion. "Give me a reason to trust you." He almost begged. "This has to be done carefully. Your usual tactics of breaking down the door will not get us what we need. This is going to happen my way. If I can't trust you, I can't have you here."

A chill ran through Luna's spine. She looked up to see over a dozen of his kin behind them. Wyverns. Specially trained wyverns. Quin's relationship with his kin was what stood him apart from the other dragons. His control was absolute, and their loyalty was unwavering. To a degree that they would even attack other dragons or kin at his command. She had never seen him make such a command, but looking into his eyes now, she knew he wouldn't hesitate to do it now.

A single wyvern wouldn't have the power to take her down, generally being about half the size of their dragon masters. But there were fifteen of them and only one of her. Being smaller, they were able to turn faster. Then there was Quin himself. As much as she hated to admit it, he was much stronger than her.

She moved the hand already on her wrist to her heart, lowered herself to her knees, and found his eyes. "I cannot fix what Constantine did." She breathed. "I know I have lost you forever for my part in it. There is nothing I can say to make you feel like you can trust me again. But you know me, Soleil. You know that I would move heaven, hell, and all other realms for my brother. Trust that and give me a chance to earn yours back."