~ Raine ~
Outinfrontofthe mansion, it was carnage. The bodies of monsters were strewn across the muddy grass, and rain pelted down from above, washing away the blood. None of it bothered me.
The building burned at my back, smoke trailing into the air from the crackling blue flames, and I shook hot embers and bits of debris from my scales. My tail flicked, crashing through a wall and bringing down more of the house, and I lowered my head to the large puddle in front of me. A massive beast stared back, shimmering purple scales covering a wide body, each the size of a human hand. Four pointed red horns speared out of a large head, and round glittering gems trailed along a red chest.My chest, I realized.My long snout was filled with daggerlike teeth, and each of my four paws had razor-sharp talons that dug into the ground. I snorted, my nostrils flaring as my breath made the water ripple, marring the reflection, but a shout from nearby drew my attention away.
The large wolf with golden eyes watched me carefully, but I paid him no attention as I moved to where a silver-haired male and a large demon were fighting a monster. The monster was similar to the ones I’d encountered in the house, and somehow, I just knew it had to die.Outlier.The word popped into my head, and I knew it was what the monster was called, though I didn’t know much else. Before the silver-haired male could deliver a killing blow, I snapped the outlier up in my teeth, crushing the creature’s bones with my powerful jaw.
“Fuck, is that…Sharachi?” the demon shouted, but his words meant nothing to me.
“Her eyes,” commented the silver-haired male, and his face hardened as he inhaled. “It appears Warrick got more than he bargained for when he took our dear Raine.”
Ignoring the insignificant creatures, I pushed off from the ground and flapped my massive wings, launching into the air and flying above the house. Opening my jaw, I dropped the outlier’s limp body onto the mansion and circled around, spewing fire onto what remained of the building. I doubted the dark-haired vampire was in there, but it was satisfying to see the mansion turn to ash, my fire still burning despite the rain.
But as I circled around again, my rage demanded more. The anger roiling inside me was like a living beast, and I set my sights on the rest of the city as I gave in to the turmoil.
My body sang with power, and I blew a stream of fire into the sky before swooping toward the closest houses. As I dropped low, something jumped onto my back, scampering up my left side. I stretched my neck, ready to snap the wolf up in my jaws, but two more pests leaped onto me, landing on my back and neck.
I swayed from side to side, twisting my head to snap behind me, and the wolf darted back, escaping my teeth.
“Whoa, there. We came here to rescue you, sweetheart,” said a soothing male voice as thick arms wrapped around my neck.
“I’m quite sure she just rescued herself,” pointed out another male, and I felt him lean forward and grip onto my scales.
Flying down the street, I smashed against the sides of buildings, trying to jostle them off while being careful not to let my wings suffer the impact.
“Damn, I knew she would turn into somethin’ powerful, but did it have to be a dragon?” One of the males laughed.
When I twisted my head around again, the wolf had disappeared, and a human male was now perched on my back close to my tail.Wolf shifter.
“Fight against the instincts of your creature, Raine!” the wolf shifter shouted. “Youareyour creature. You need to take control!”
I responded by bucking and trying to throw all three of the males off, but they only held on tighter. Fire shot from my mouth, igniting the cobblestones beneath me, when a soulful tune sounded in my ears, cutting through the rush of the wind. Magic tugged at me, an unnatural desire making my mouth water, but I shook my head, breaking whatever spell was trying to take control of my mind.
“She’s too strong!” one of the males shouted as the song abruptly ended. “I’ve never felt anything like it.”
“We need to get her away from here before she burns down the city!” shouted a different voice, and I lifted my slitted gaze to the vampire who flew above me. His hair was dark, but it wasn’t the same vampire from the mansion. Why wouldn’t these pests leave me alone? I snarled, altering my course and heading straight for him.
The vampire pivoted and flew higher, and I followed, determined not to let him get away. After opening my mouth, I snapped my jaws closed, but the monster darted out of reach, coasting to the side, away from me. I snorted in frustration and flapped my wings harder, but it wasn’t speed that was keeping the little vampire out of my maw. The monster spun, dived, and soared with a skill I didn’t have, always keeping ahead of me. Soon I found myself flying higher until my head broke through a layer of silver clouds, the moonlight making them look like puffs of smoke.
A hand ran along the scales of my neck. “All right, sweetheart. You don’t wanna eat our Locke there. He’s a friend, remember?” There was a pause. “So maybe he’s an ass sometimes, but he doesn’t deserve to be eaten.”
I ignored the male’s pitiful words and snapped at the air where the vampire had just been a second before.
“Mahare, your beast is driven by your strongest emotions. You need to take control,” repeated the wolf shifter.
Irritation went through me, and when I roared, fire shot from my maw, lighting up the night sky.
The vampire banked to the right, escaping the flames, and I turned sharply to follow him. A weight fell from my back as one of the males lost his grip on my slick scales. It was the one with the silver hair. Another of the males stretched out his hand, grabbing him before he fell out of reach, and I grunted in annoyance as he hoisted the silver-haired male back onto me.
The other male stroked my neck again. “Come on now, Sharachi. I know there’s a part of you that has grown fond of us,” he said soothingly.
“She’s not thinking clearly right now,” the wolf shifter growled.
The vampire stopped abruptly then, his wings shooting out wide. He spun toward me, hovering in the air. I opened my mouth, ready for a snack, but before I could snap him up, he curled his body, jumping onto my snout. He planted a flat hand on my forehead, and his tiny black eyes bored into mine. Heat swelled in my belly, and I was about to flick my nose up so I could toss him into the air and roast him when the tantalizing scents of cedarwood, ash, and spice filled my senses.
I kept my mouth shut and breathed in more deeply. Now that I wasn’t solely focused on trying to eat the vampire and destroy the city, my other senses heightened. This time when I breathed in, I scented musk and leather, sandalwood and coffee, and sea salt and patchouli. They combined to make the most irresistible aroma that made my belly tighten and had one word forming in my mind. One word that overruled my anger.
Treasure.
