Chapter 113: Tahr

I'm so proud of my mate. In twelve months, we will have a son. Our egg is beautiful and a miracle. For months after Pepper returned I wallowed with mixed feelings. Meagan's loss continued to hurt, but the joy of having Pepper as my mate and the pending birth of our child brought great joy.
Bastian, Laryn, and Sarn found love before mating. I don't know why things with Pepper are different. Now though, I love her with everything I have and realize I loved her long before I knew it. And I haven't said the words, which shames me. The truth is... I'm intimidated by her. Ashrac questioned what makes her special long ago. I've wondered about it too. The Goddess granted Pepper transcendence. She is a miracle. What have I done to deserve her? For giving me Pepper, I owe the Goddess everything.
I enter Bastian's realm and see blue and red wings in the distance. Laryn and his family must be visiting Bastian. They know why I'm here. The males approach me first and like we did when young, we charge each other and spin out of the way at the last second. The children laugh as we entertain them. It's been thousands of years since we've been happy enough to play this game from our youth.
"Congratulations, Tahr," Bastian shouts after flipping upside down to avoid my charge.
"The egg is perfect and glows brightly."
We're all laughing with their congratulations flying through my head when a burst of magic shakes us. Our merriment abruptly stops.
"What was that, Mother?" Cantor asks.
I know exactly what and who it is. After thousands of years my uncle has returned. His magic is dark and smothering.
"Drakon," I shout, "and he's going after the egg!" I head toward my lair pumping my wings faster than I've ever pumped before.
"Everyone goes," Bastian shouts. "We're stronger together and the children safer."
He's right; all of our children are in danger. My heart pounds as I think of my son. Roxy and Acasia herd their children in close with Roxy and Acasia taking the sides and Ashrac flying behind the younger ones. I fly as fast as possible knowing they can't keep up, but I must get to Pepper.
Through the clouds, I finally catch sight of my castle in the distance. My uncle's dark magic alerts me that he's in the tower with my mate and child. "No, no, no," I rage Then, I see him fly over the edge with the bright light of the egg shining from within his talons. Something burns on his back. It takes a moment to identify Henry. Most of his body is blackened, but he hasn't let go. I put on an even greater burst of speed and Henry's gaze meets mine. I read the sorrow in his eyes before he releases his hold.
"Catch the egg," I yell into Bastian's mind as I slam into Drakon.
The crunch of impact is like a loud clap of thunder. Drakon screams when he slams against the tower. I twist and manage to wrap my talons around his throat. He drops the egg in order to defend himself.
My wings pump to keep Drakon pinned and a second later, Bastian's whispered, "He's safe," gives me another burst of energy and I tighten my grip.
Then Pepper falls from above and my only chance to save her is to release my uncle. His fire catches my tail, but the pain means nothing if I don't save my mate. The fall would most likely not kill her, but I can see the damage to her underbelly and she won't be able to withstand much more.
Laryn charges my uncle and I'm able to grasp Pepper beneath her wings. "Hang on, my love, I've got you." She's unconscious and completely limp.
Laryn and Roxy pursue my uncle, which is unsafe. "Leave off and return," I send into their minds. They both grumble but return. Acasia now holds the egg with Roxy and Laryn's youngest pulled in close beneath her wings. All my focus returns to Pepper.
The wound is deep and blood covers her lower half. "Shift," I whisper, not knowing if she can hear me. Dragons are nearly impossible to kill because we heal so rapidly, but I can do nothing if she doesn't shift to human and start the process. It's instinct to remain in dragon form when injured or threatened and she will die if she's too far gone to shift.
Nothing. I can't feel her magic.
"Acasia, bring the egg here," I shout desperately.
Roxy takes over guarding the young ones and Acasia glides over and releases the egg into my arms after I shift. Our child's glow brightens like it knows exactly what is needed to save his mother. Pepper draws in a ragged breath and her eyes open just enough to see her son.
"You must shift my love. It will heal you but you haven't much time. Our son is waiting for his mother."
I can feel her pull on her magic and I project mine into her. I feel our baby's pulse of magic too. We are one-one family, one source of magic, one entity.
Pepper shifts into a bloody mess of torn flesh. She grinds her teeth and fights screaming. I'm so proud of her. I touch her beautiful bald head because it's the only part of her that is unmarred by burns, blood, or slashes.
"Shift again," I whisper and pull my hand away to back up. Her eyes are tightly shut against the pain but she does as I say. My son and I help her again and this transition is easier.
"Is everyone safe," she whispers this time.
"Yes," I lie because I have no idea if many of my humans survived. They are as important to my mate as the dragons.
"I killed Henry," she says on a sob.
"You saved our son," I reassure her. "You must shift again. Look at the egg. He helps you too. A few more times and I promise your pain will ease.
"Thank you for saving us," she says as she again pulls in our combined magic.
I place my hand on her head and lean in to gently kiss her lips. "I will always save you my love."
Her gentle smile is my answer and we repeat the process several more times. It takes hours of coaxing before Pepper is able to speak and tell us what happened. I'm cradling her in our nest beside our son. Acasia and Roxy tend to the wounded humans. Bastian and Laryn guard my lair and Ashrac is watching Cantor and baby Lex.
We all felt Drakon crash through our realms and enter the earth realm, though it doesn't mean we're safe. We should have known he was here much sooner than we did, so we remain on high alert. Betty has minor burns and twelve of my humans are dead, including Henry, who gave his life for Pepper and our child.
I am humbled over our humans' sacrifice. It never occurred to me that they would give their life for my family. I'm supposed to keep them from harm not the other way around. It's quite overwhelming to know exactly how wrong I've been. It gives me much to think about, even though my mind is filled with revenge. We remain in danger until my uncle is dead.