ARC

Edit: We reached our quota far faster than I expected. If you haven't received an email, best of luck next time. Look for the book on June 3

I'm finally ready to release the ARC for Secrets Bound By Sand. I know a few of you have been waiting so here it is. 

I'm giving away 30 copies. Once they're gone, you'll have to wait until the book comes out on June 3 to read it. For those who wish to, you can preorder your copy of Secrets Bound by Sand on Amazon. You can find it here.

This is going to work the same way as it has in the past. It will be first come, first serve. Once there are no more slots, that will be the end and there will be no more copies given.

Below is a link. Click on it and fill out the form. Once you've finished and submitted your email, you'll receive an email from me containing the link to download. I suggest keeping an eye out for the email as the first thirty people to download will receive a copy. Sometimes more links are given out than there are copies since some of the applications come so closely together. 

One note - once the limit is reached I will break the link and include an edit to the post saying no more ARCs are available.

Good Luck!

Link to ARC

Secrets Bound By Sand

It has been a difficult week. For those of you who follow me on Facebook, you know I hurt my hands on Tuesday, which has made everything more difficult. I meant to have this book up for preorder on Wednesday. Unfortunately, having the use of only three fingers on either hand makes typing and using my mouse difficult.

For this reason, the arc will have to be postponed until I have the full use of my hands back.

Until then you can enjoy the cover, blurb and second parts of the first chapter. If you haven't read the first part of Chapter 1, go here.

I hope you enjoy. I had a lot of fun writing but Ilith and Tate's adventures.

When the past forms the future, how does a woman with few memories survive?

No longer nameless or alone, Tate has put down roots in the city of Aurelia. She’s found a home, friends and a misfit family. When an assassination attempt leads to a dangerous loss of control over her dragon, Tate is sent to the farthest reaches of the empire on a mission she can’t refuse.

It isn’t long before Tate stumbles into her usual brand of trouble. Kidnapped and separated from her closest allies, Tate will have to find a way to survive old enemies and new acquaintances.

Piecing together the tattered remnants of her past might be the only thing separating her from death. Enemies long thought dead are returning and they won’t be satisfied until they have Tate’s head.

Preorder from Amazon

Do not read if you haven't read part one. Go here for part one.

Chapter One Part Two

Ilith surged to ascendancy, muscling through the pain as her skin split and reshaped until a dragon crouched where Tate had once lain.

The shift was a blaze of agony, the wrongness from the poison blunting her thoughts while stripping her of reason and intellect, leaving behind nothing but rage.

She became a creature of instinct, driven by the need to survive.

Her gem-like eyes fixed on the creature who'd come close to ending them. She sprang forward, the motion one of endless grace.

Her jaws closed on one head. She ripped it from the monster's shoulders in the next moment. It lashed her with its tail, its needles striking her hide. She ignored it all, raking her claws along the monster's side. Blood hit her mouth and then the one known as Ilith was gone.

She became fire and death, ripping the creature apart as she gobbled down bits of its meat. Only when it lay in pieces around her did she lift her blood-stained snout and show her teeth.

The prey had mostly flown while she was occupied with her meal.

Her head swung around until she spotted one last prey still panting with fear in the corner.

Ilith pawed silently over the bloody marble, her scales rasping against stone.

She darted forward, her gaze fastened on the wounded prey.

A small furry creature landed between her and it.

The creature roared at her. It stood on its hind legs and swiped at her nose. Pain blossomed and Ilith reared back momentarily before roaring at the impudent creature.

She liked the sound so much she did it again.

The creature behind the smaller one bleated, distracting her from the beautiful sounds she was making.

She growled and snorted at it.

The small furry creature swiped at her again, making a pissed-off sound, different from a roar. It was an angry yowl.

Ilith cocked her head. She hesitated as the smell of family wafted up to her. Some of her rage receded—just a little.

Drawing her lips back, she exposed her fangs as her head lowered in threat. The small creature didn't back down, showing her his fangs as well.

Intelligent eyes gazed back at her as a slight pressure brushed her mind.

She hissed in displeasure as the pressure became more insistent. She shook her head fiercely.

The bright light from above distracted her again and she forgot the furry creature protecting the hairless one. She craned her head back, noting the endless patterns above as they framed the sky.

She snorted and stretched her wings. Flying would feel good after that meal.

She leapt, scrabbling for purchase on one landing before leaping for the next. Stone crunched under her weight and more than once something clattered as she knocked it over. She paid none of it any mind, focused on that dome high above and the sky beyond it.

Running footsteps and shouted words pulled her attention momentarily to below. Men poured into the room, stopping short at the sight of the slain creature on the marble. It didn't take them long to find Ilith where she clung high above, her tail dangling off her current precarious perch as she wedged herself against the wall.

She stared disdainfully down at them. They wore clothes with an image emblazoned on the front, that of a dragon wrapped around a sapphire-blue jewel.

Jealousy and covetousness tempted Ilith to descend, to rip that stone off their chests and keep it for her own.

She ignored the urge, a single scrap of reason whispering that the stone on their chests was a lie. It wasn't real.

She turned from the deceivers, waddling up the stairs, around and around, as she ignored the shouts and angry chatter below. She had sky to reach.

A force hit her side, ripping a roar out of her. She looked down just in time to see another rock levitate and zip toward her. She dodged out of the way, now bounding up the stairs several at a time.

Violent food. She should rip them apart.

Energy bolts zipped toward her, changing her mind. She wasn't in the mood for a hunt after just eating. This meat was too difficult. She'd wait.

The bolts hit her hide, causing little more than irritation. She wanted out and away from the violent creatures, to stretch her wings and leave the things threatening her behind.

Reason had begun to beat back some of the blinding rage, but the renewed attack was making the ability to reason gossamer thin as she descended into primal fury.

She reached the top of the stairs and launched herself at the wall, sinking her claws in for purchase.

She climbed toward the dome high above, moving faster as the sound of those below pursued her.

Her hind quarters bunched and her wings spread as she leapt, bursting through the window and onto the roof as glass shattered around her.

Once on the roof, she hesitated. The sky called to her, whispering of freedom.

A glint in a tower next to the roof she perched on distracted her, quieting all thoughts about the power and freedom in the sky.

Light bounced off something shiny. It was like the stone on the men's chest, only real.

Mine.

Ilith bounded across the rooftop toward the jewel, easily scaling the tower and wrapping herself around the stone perched in its casing.

She purred as she warmed it with her body.

She sat with her jewel for a long time until she became aware of the creatures massing on the rooftop below. She growled at them, warning them away from her prize. She'd found it. It was hers.

She tried to lift it from its setting, chattering at it when it refused to move. She dipped her head closer to peer at it. Small metal claws like dragon paws held it in place.

She snorted fire on them, softening the metal before inserting one claw between it and the stone. She carefully bent the prongs away.

She gently plucked the stone from its setting, almost dropping it when an alarm screeched through the air.

Fire flared, encircling the tower. Ilith fled down its side, attempting to duck into the nearest window, tearing a hole in the stone framing when it wasn't wide enough to accommodate her body.

Once inside, she found herself in a narrow room with stairs leading down. Within the room, gems rested on the shelves along with gold and other shiny things.

Her eyes widened in glee. Mine.

She carefully set down her gem in the center of the room, then moved through the room pulling treasures off their shelves and storing them next to her gem. She lifted a necklace from its bed of silk and set it over her head, preening at the sight of the large center jewel shining lusciously against her scales.

Once the shelves were stripped of their shinies—all of them placed in a pile in the center of the room—Ilith wrapped herself around them, purring, as her tail curled around her to complete the circle.

A short time later, there was a whisper of movement from the stairwell.

Ilith remained still, her head down, only the tip of her tail flicking as a man stepped into view, his attire as shiny and beautiful as the treasure she protected.

"Well, now. This is a surprising turn of events." He held out a hand as another man stepped up to join him. This one was as dark and forbidding as the shiny man was bright.

Ilith lifted her head, her gaze suddenly fastened on the crown on the first man's head. That would look very fine on her horns. She wanted it.

She forgot the other man, as her world spun down to that crown and all the jewels encrusting it.

She wanted it. It was hers.

She moved, snaking through the room. Power gathered at the shiny man's hands as the other man stepped forward to intercept her, a roar swelling from his chest.

Ilith was faster, leaping into the air and twisting at the last minute to avoid their attacks. One claw lashed out, snagging the crown and knocking it from the shiny man's head.

She caught it in the next second, retreating up the wall. She clung to the ceiling, her tail and wings drooping down to brush the floor before she scuttled back to her pile.

She dropped from the ceiling and lay down, flaring her wings to protect her treasure, before raising the crown to her head.

The two men regarded her with nonplussed expressions as she again wrapped herself around the treasure.

Another man pounded into the room, sliding to an abrupt stop. "Is that dragon wearing your crown?"

"Yes, she is," the shiny man said.

Ilith ignored her admirers, warming the jewels by blowing a small lick of fire over them. The third man made a strangled sound.

"This is going to be difficult to explain to the council," the shiny man said.

"Yes, the dragon making herself at home in the treasury is not going to go over well," the third man said, not taking his eyes off Ilith.

"Careful, Ryu, she doesn't seem to be in her right mind," the shiny man said as the dark man moved closer.

Ilith didn't do more than flick her tail at him. He was different than the other two. Dangerous. A threat.

If he tried to take her treasure, she'd have to hurt him. She couldn't let anyone take what was hers.

A small furry form dropped into the room between the two of them. The creature from before landed silently. He observed the room for several moments before padding toward Ilith. She tensed, then relaxed when he curled up by her side and put his head down.

The one called Ryu relaxed slightly, moving in a circle around her, careful not to get too close.

"I'll watch over her while you deal with the rest," he told the shiny one.

The shiny one sighed and shook his head. "This is going to be a headache from start to finish."

"You're the one who wanted to rule. Deal with it," Ryu said, with not an ounce of sympathy.

"Make sure she doesn't go anywhere," the shiny one said, pointing at Ilith. "And for Saviors’ sake make sure she doesn't add any more of my treasury to her horde."

Ilith lifted her head at that. More treasure? Where?

"No," Ryu told her in a firm voice.

She blew a cloud of smoke at him before putting her head back down. She didn't have plans to go anywhere anyway. She was entirely too comfortable right where she was.

Dragon 4 Teaser Part One

I meant to get this up Friday, but an unexpected visitor in the form of my sister called to tell me she was five hours out. She and her husband decided to surprise my mom for Mother's Day. I spent most of Friday rushing around getting things semi presentable since we still are not totally unpacked. The rest of the day was spent getting the ingredients I needed to make Korean barbecue since her husband had never had it.

It was a great visit, but it did mean plans for writing and books stuff got delayed. It's Monday again so it's back to my regularly scheduled programming.

It seems everyone was split right down the middle of what they wanted. I am going to post the first half of the teaser now, with the second half to follow once the cover comes out. I've also included the blurb as a few have been asking for it.

Note: This hasn't finished it's round with the proof reader so there will be minor grammatical errors.

Enjoy!

Dragon 4 Blurb

When the past forms the future, how does a woman with few memories survive?

No longer nameless or alone, Tate has put down roots in the city of Aurelia. She’s found a home, friends and a misfit family. When an assassination attempt leads to a dangerous loss of control over her dragon, Tate is sent to the farthest reaches of the empire on a mission she can’t refuse.

It isn’t long before Tate stumbles into her usual brand of trouble. Kidnapped and separated from her closest allies, Tate will have to find a way to survive old enemies and new acquaintances.

Piecing together the tattered remnants of her past might be the only thing separating her from death. Enemies long thought dead are returning and they won’t be satisfied until they have Tate’s head.


Chapter One Part One

Deep breath. Patience. There was no reason to lose her head over someone else's stubborn stupidity. For one thing, it'd undo all the progress she'd made on her reputation. Worse, it wouldn't reflect well on Night, her companion for this little excursion and the entire reason they were here.

Tate tapped her foot while chanting to herself. I am nice. I am kind. I don't want to throw this woman out of a perfectly good window to see if she can fly.

Tate had done that once and it had been impressed upon her by several individuals that tossing people off high objects wasn't an appropriate reaction to any circumstance. She disagreed. She could think of at least three situations off the top of her head necessitating such drastic measures.

Tate gave the woman in front of her a stiff smile, quelling the frustration, anxiety and touch of fear knotting up her insides.

A deep breath later and she felt no more relaxed, just slightly light headed. She pressed her back harder into the chair behind her as she tried to project confidence and control.

Night was more successful than Tate, the epitome of regal remoteness as he stared unblinking at the person across from them. The only hint at his inner turmoil was the barbed tail flicking back and forth behind him in agitation.

For a being whose body looked like a cross between a barbed tail cat and a sunbear, a creature designed for war and destruction, he appeared deceptively cuddly.

Only, Tate had seen him crush a person's skull in his jaws after ripping out another's throat. Any thoughts of how adorable he was had died after that.

A golden ring of fur surrounded amber eyes perched above a broad, flat nose. His front legs were covered in black rosettes which gradually transitioned to brown and black gold stripes along his back.

His ears flicked, the tuft of fur sticking out of them inviting Tate to touch. A mistake she'd only made once. Night might allow children to paw and tug, but adults were a different story. They knew better and touching without permission was a good way to have your hand taken off.

He yawned, displaying the incredibly sharp teeth of a carnivore.

“Night,” Tate warned. If she had to behave, so did he.

Those who didn't know him wouldn't have guessed his yawn was anything but a sign of tiredness. Tate knew better. Night didn't show his teeth unless he was serious.

The last thing she needed was for her friend to attack the magister who'd been appointed by the Emperor to help him with his application for sentient rights.

The woman across from them flicked a glance at her friend before focusing on Tate. She was tall and projected a no-nonsense attitude. Her hair was pulled back into a chignon. Her clothing was expensive and well-tailored, draping over her figure perfectly. She'd spent a lot of money to get that kind of quality. Tate had begun to understand such things since she'd formed a friendship with a women's clothes designer.

"We're at an impasse if he can't speak," Lisa said crisply.

Tate shifted in her seat, uncomfortable at the way Lisa had ignored her friend since they'd stepped into the room, addressing all questions and comments to her instead of talking to Night.

She glanced at the bearcat out of the corner of her eye, noting the way his mouth was partially open as he stared at Lisa with half lidded eyes.

"You should really be talking to him," Tate started. It was the third time she'd had to direct the woman's attention back to Night. Frustration at having to repeat herself was beginning to make her snappish.

The sound Lisa made was half scorn, half frustration. "You do realize the opposing side will want to question him."

"I told you I could act as interpreter."

"Not good enough," Lisa returned. "They'll claim you're faking the answers to help the creature. Your friendship with the emperor won't help you in this situation. We have these laws for a reason and not even he can circumvent them. Not without losing considerable support in his own government and angering a lot of powerful people."

Tate didn't know where Lisa had gotten her information, but she wasn't friends with the emperor. She'd only met him twice and both times had left her deeply unsettled and slightly confused

Night rumbled as his attention left the magister for the first time since they'd entered the room. He looked up at Tate, his mouth parted as his whiskers twitched forward in his version of a laugh.

"Oh, shut up," Tate said waspishly. She focused back on Lisa. "I'm not sure what you think you know, but I barely know the emperor."

Lisa folded her arms and sat back in her chair, lifting an eyebrow. "I suppose you're going to claim you have no connection with Lord Ryuji either."

"No, he's definitely an acquaintance," Tate admitted. It was actually a little more complicated than that. Ryu was dragon-ridden like her, capable of taking on the form of the dragon residing in his soul. He'd also made it quite clear he wanted something more from her.

"You realize the emperor considers him family," Lisa asked, her tone arch.

Tate pulled a face. Yes, she was aware. It was a recent discovery that she still hadn’t quite processed.

Lisa lost patience. "The emperor asked me as a personal favor to take on this case, Lady Fisher. I don't appreciate having my time wasted on your whims."

"You think I'm lying," Tate stated, the situation and Lisa's brusque manner finally making sense. "You don't think Night is sentient or can communicate."

"That is an animal, Lady Fisher," Lisa said, stabbing her finger at the animal in question. "They might communicate but they're incapable of higher thought."

"You may not eat her," Tate said calmly as the muscles in Night's shoulders bunched. As an afterthought, Tate tacked on, "Don't scare her either."

He settled back down with a grumble.

Assured Night wasn't going to start trouble, Tate fixed Lisa with a hard stare, some of her previous anxiety falling away. This was a problem she could solve; something she could fix. That steadied her in a way her previous feeling of helplessness hadn't.

Lisa rolled her eyes, unimpressed with Tate's posturing.

It made Tate revise her previous assumption of the emperor recommending Lisa as a favor. She was getting the feeling he hadn't bothered to give Lisa many details, or shared much of Night's situation at all.

She wondered if the other woman even knew Tate was dragon-ridden. Her lack of fear would certainly support that theory. Most tended to treat Tate with extreme caution once they learned about the dragon she shared her body with.

Ilith inspired many reactions in people, fear being primary among them.

No, not a favor, she decided. More likely a punishment, but for who? Tate or Lisa?

Tate sighed. There was an easy solution to all this. One glance at Night told her he was unlikely to cooperate. His entire tail was now whacking the carpet, shouting his mood for anyone paying attention. Unlike dogs, an active tail wasn't necessarily a good sign in felines. While he might have bear in him somewhere, Night definitely favored the feline half of his ancestors.

While Night could communicate mentally, it often took time for the connection to develop. The first time he'd started talking in her, his voice had been broken and disjointed, only every other word making it through. Couple that with the fact some people were naturally resistant to mind speak and her makeshift family had decided it would be best for him to take an interpreter just in case.

Now he’d decided to be difficult because the magister was being deliberately rude and insulting. This entire situation had disaster in the making written all over it.

At least she was here and not Dewdrop, their other friend. Dewdrop and Night together would have probably alienated the poor woman so badly she would not only have refused to help them, but she would have made it her mission to have them blacklisted among her peers.

"There are many different levels of communication beyond verbal," Tate tried, still trying to salvage the meeting. Night's appointment for his hearing was coming up and it had been impressed upon her by several individuals how important it was to have someone who knew the intricacies of the empire's law on their side.

"Would you call a child incapable of speech an animal?" she asked.

"No, I wouldn't, but humans have long been accepted as part of the accords," Lisa returned. "One or two exceptions will not affect their status. Your friend is different. He has a much more challenging road ahead of him. It's harder to prove sentience than it is to disprove it once it has already been established."

Tate sat back. Much as she hated to admit it, Lisa had a point. Perception was everything, and most people upon seeing Night for the first time, automatically assumed he had no more intelligence than your average animal. To them he was simply a beast the Creators had designed for one of their endless wars, a rarity, sure, but no more than that.

"If we're done, I have important matters in need of my attention." Lisa's smile was wintry, the dismissal clear.

Tate leaned forward and slapped her hand on the desk over the papers Lisa had been reaching for. "I'm sorry my friend’s situation isn't important to you, but it's pretty damn life threatening for him. I'd appreciate you giving it your full attention."

There. Diplomacy. Dewdrop would be so proud. She hadn't threatened the woman or done anything else that could be considered unfit for polite society.

Lisa's expression didn't shift from her cool look of dismissal as she continued to tug on the sheets.

Tate didn't make it easy for her, keeping up the pressure as they slid ever so slowly out from under Tate's hand. She was left with the choice of pressing harder and watching the sheets rip or letting Lisa have them.

She lifted her hand, keeping her smug delight to herself when Lisa nearly hit herself in the face with the suddenly free papers.

"You can show yourself out," Lisa said, already focusing her attention on her next task.

"Come on, Night. We'll find someone else to help us," Tate said. "I guess the Emperor was wrong. She's not as skilled as he said."

There was the faintest stiffening in Lisa's shoulders as Tate's jab landed. Good. The woman was as closed minded as some of those in the Black Order.

Night stood, his shoulders as tall as Lisa's desk. The other woman stilled, caution tightening her lips as Night stared at her for several long seconds before padding after Tate.

She held the door for him before following.

That could have gone better, Night told her once they were out.

Tate sighed. "You think I handled it wrong?"

He shook himself all over, his coat sliding before settling. Tate took that as a no.

"We still have choices. I'll talk to Ryu, see if he knows any other magisters who can help us," Tate said, trying to inject a little optimism in her voice. It was hard. Lisa was the third they'd tried.

Maybe we should just give up, Night said, his mental voice crisp and deep. Nobody will hunt us while we're part of your household. Our situation is stable right now. There's no need to upset the balance.

"No, we're not giving up. This is just a setback." Tate automatically rejected his suggestion as she had several times before. Letting the rest of the world reduce Night to an animal was wrong. He deserved the same rights and privileges as any of the three main sentient species of the empire. She'd settle for nothing less. "Remember, we're not just doing this for you. Willa and Pax may wish to explore the world when they're grown. They may want to own land or have a family. They'll have more opportunities as fully recognized citizens of the empire."

Not to mention as the most recent member of the dragon corps and the only female member, Tate's position wasn't as stable as she would like. Recent events had shown her how politics might serve to take everything from her. If the worst should happen, she wanted Night and the others protected outside of herself.

He made a small sound, whether of agreement or boredom, she couldn't tell.

Their footsteps echoed against the marble floor of the vast hallway as they made their way through the palace.

Tate's hopes for this meeting had been high due to its location in the emperor's home. The fact Lisa had an office in the palace and hadn't been relegated to the basement with the rest of the clerks told Tate she was good at her job. A fact, which coupled with the emperor's recommendation, had given Tate hope. It should have made this a done deal.

Instead, they were leaving defeated.

Frustration and failure left a bitter taste in her mouth, but Tate refused to give up.

The murmur of conversation grew to a dull roar as they approached the rotunda where several vaulted corridors joined. It was the central hub for this section of the palace, set aside primarily for government officials and their staff. If you wanted to leave the palace, you'd eventually have to walk under its dome.

As a result, it impressed an emphatic statement on all those who passed through. This was the seat of Aurelian power. Behold its grandeur. It was meant to humble and compel admiration, both of which it did successfully.

Everything in the palace was beautiful, even something as simple as a hallway, the ceiling vaulted, the floors made of pale marble. Each piece of its architecture was crafted by master artisans, priceless art overlooking everything. It held a timeless elegance. No matter how much time passed, this palace would stand testament to the ingenuity and expertise of those who built her.

Tate and Night traveled under one last arch, exiting the hall and stepping into the wide-open area of the rotunda. To their left, stone stairs wound up the side of the circular space to the three floors above, all of which had balconies overlooking the ground floor. The stairs framed the dome high overhead, the stained green glass creating slight patterns on the walls and stairs as the sun shone through it.

Clusters of people were interspersed throughout, some in the distinctive uniform of government officials. Others were dressed simply but with dignified precision. Not nobles, but not common folk either.

A trio in the midst of it all caught Tate's attention. They held themselves with eerie stillness, their predatory focus locked on the hallway Tate and Night were exiting. No emotions moved across their faces; their gazes dark and blank. They were three lifelike statues that hadn’t been there on Tate and Night’s way to the meeting with Lisa.

The trio was dressed all in black and looked like triplets, their coloring and features identical. They stood so close to each other their shoulders touched. With their long, black cloaks, it gave the illusion they shared a body.

"Tate Fisher," they said in unison.

Tate didn't pause. "You've got the wrong person."

Night prowled to her left, putting space between them. It was a move designed to force the trio in front of them to split their focus. If they attacked, they'd have to separate to go after both of them.

The faintest sign of confusion touched their faces. Her denial had thrown them off balance. Good.

Tate kept moving, keeping one eye on them to see how they'd react. The trio had become the focus of the atrium, conversations sliding into silence as those present began to take notice.

"You are Tatum Allegra Winters," the one in the middle stated.

Alertness jolted through Tate. There were only a few people who knew her real name. These three weren't among them. None of her friends would have told them either. Which meant they were sent by an enemy.

She paid a little closer attention to the three. They were dressed so people would assume they were from the Black Order, a guild of thugs ostensibly meant to protect the populace from threats, but only if someone had the money to pay them for their work.

While the all black outfit was right, it lacked the military precision the Black Order was known for. The cloaks lacked the bright silver buttons or the crest the Order normally wore. Their unnaturally placid expressions and uncanny stillness made her think perhaps their appearance was meant to deceive not just her but their audience as well.

"I think you may be confused," Tate said, still trying to find a way to deescalate the situation. She didn't want violence if she could help it. There were too many civilians around to risk a confrontation.

She scanned the space for the emperor's guards. A few of them would come in handy if her suspicions about these three proved correct.

"It doesn't matter," the one on the right intoned. "She is the one. Her companion confirms it."

The sound of high heels against marble alerted Tate to someone approaching from the rear.

"What is going on here?" Lisa asked.

There was no time to answer. The trio moved, their cloaks rustling, several small dark objects flying at Tate’s face. She dodged, her heart in her throat.

Lisa squawked as several oblong thorns hit the stone next to her.

Careful Tate. There is something wrong with their smell, Night cautioned.

"Protect her," Tate said, not taking her gaze from the three in front of her.

Ilith shook awake inside her, Tate's adrenaline alerting her to danger. She crouched in the back of Tate's mind, silently watching.

"You will die here," the one on the left said. For the first time, some hint of emotion touched the three's faces. They yearned for her death, the more painful and bloody, the more exciting.

"Someone needs to get the palace's guards," Tate said, raising her voice so those listening could hear. No one moved, remaining motionless as they gawked at the spectacle taking place.

She didn't take her gaze from the three in front of her, knowing their attack had been just an opening salvo—a test to draw her out.

Cloaks ripped as the creature they'd been hiding came out to play. A large, massive body rose in front of her, its muscled torso attached to powerful legs. A spiky tail uncurled from around its waist, lowering until it swept the ground.

The most disturbing thing about it was the heads. What Tate had taken as three people was in fact one monster with three heads perched across its massive shoulders.

Tate couldn't tell if the monster was one being or if three people had been given one body.

"You don't want to do this," Tate cautioned as the creature rose and rose. It was at least nine feet tall.

In response its three mouths dropped, a piercing scream echoing off all the marble. Tate's stomach dipped.

"I've heard better," she told it.

"You will hear nothing soon," the creature promised, its three heads speaking in tandem.

"Prove it," Tate challenged.

Is antagonizing it really your best move right now? Night asked.

Yes, it was. She needed to keep whatever this thing was focused on her and ignoring the bystanders. None of whom had moved. This time it was horror coating their faces and keeping them motionless.

The idiots needed to run, Tate thought sourly. They were just going to get in the way once it started its attack.

Its tail whipped, spikes flying toward her. Tate grabbed Lisa’s arm and dragged her out of the way. She wasn't quite fast enough. Two of the spikes embedded in her shoulder and chest, a few inches under her collar bone. Numbness spread from the wounds, followed by the feeling of burning before shifting to a cold so deep it felt like it dove straight into her very bones.

Tate fell to her knees, her head suddenly heavy.

Poison. The spikes had poison.

"Night," she tried to say. Her effort was weak, the words barely audible.

There were screams from all around her as Tate collapsed to her side.

Night roared, the sound a challenge answered by the horrendous shriek of the creature.

Coldness invaded. She was dying, Tate realized. So careless.

A woman sobbed in the distance.

Tate blinked once, the sun against the windows in the dome distractingly blinding as the color danced in it. So pretty.

Pain bloomed along her shoulder and chest, chasing the cold away. Tate screamed as the thorns sank deeper into her skin, sending out little veins of wrongness. Black lines spread across her skin.

A presence rustled inside her. Ilith's mind brushed against her, the dragon hissing as it sensed Tate's pain.

Stupid mistake, Ilith said.

Tate couldn't respond, paralysis locking her in place. Even her thoughts felt weak and sluggish. She could feel herself slipping away and no matter how she fought or struggled to stay, she was losing the battle.

Sorry, my friend, Tate thought at her other half. The dragon whose soul resided in hers. Her mistake came at the cost of two lives instead of one.

She sank into the deep black of night.