Part 9 (1/2)

The thought didn't have time to form as a ma.s.sive fist smashed into the center of his face, sending him flying across the gym to land flat on his back.

Pain exploded through Char.

s.h.i.+t. He knew better than to try and train when he was distracted. Especially when his sparring partner was a six foot six half-breed dragon with ma.s.sive muscles and a burning desire to earn a place among Baine's warriors.

A shadow fell across him before a lean face with smoldering black eyes and a gleeful smile was hovering directly above his head.

”Do you give?” Vynom demanded.

”f.u.c.k that,” Char growled, surging upright to lunge toward his companion with a wicked speed.

His hands were a blur of movement as he hammered the young male with a series of blows that quickly had him retreating across the practice mat.

Fire spilled around them as Char spun through the air and landed a kick that cracked at least two ribs.

”Stop.” Vynom dropped to his knees, holding up a hand of surrender.

Clenching his aching jaw, Char leashed his beast, his body trembling with the effort not to s.h.i.+ft. He was one of the very few half-breeds who could actually become a dragon. He had to take care he didn't accidentally lose control of his inner animal.

Warily straightening, the younger male lifted a hand to touch the blood welling from a cut on his lower lip.

”d.a.m.n, dude. What crawled up your a.s.s?”

Char grimaced. ”I need to go see our master.”

Vynom shook his head, his long, dark hair that was pulled into a braid brus.h.i.+ng against his back.

”While you're at it, why don't you get laid?” the warrior-in-training suggested. ”You seem a little on edge.”

Char shrugged, moving to grab a towel to wipe the sweat from his bare chest and arms.

”Or I could come back here and kick your a.s.s again,” he suggested, drying his face before he tossed aside the towel.

Vynom headed toward the nearby baths. ”I vote for the getting-laid option.”

Char rolled his eyes, leaving the gym.

He ignored the startled gazes that followed his slender form as he marched down the wide corridor that was lined with priceless tapestries. It was rare that he ever left his private rooms without being elegantly attired in black slacks and a silk s.h.i.+rt.

He took great pride in his grooming.

At the moment, however, he was wearing a loose pair of yoga pants and his hair was mussed from his sparring. It was no wonder the natives were gawking.

Moving from the communal area of the lair into Baine's private rooms, he followed the pulse of energy to the vast library.

He stepped into the room that had towering shelves filled with books as well as gla.s.s cases that protected the more fragile ma.n.u.scripts. A quick glance revealed Baine sitting behind a large desk with a map spread across the polished top.

Coming to a halt in the center of the room, Char offered a deep bow. ”Master.”

”Char.” Baine arched a dark brow, his amber gaze skimming over his servant's rumpled appearance. ”Are you coming from the gym or the harem?”

”The gym.”

”That's a relief.” Baine's lips twitched as he deliberately studied Char's battered face. ”I'd hate to think one of the females gave you that black eye.”

With a small burst of power, Char rapidly healed his injuries.

He really was rattled not to have done it before he left the gym.

”I was distracted and Vynom got in a lucky punch,” he muttered.

Baine slowly stood. Like Char he was wearing nothing more than a pair of loose pants, but his pale skin was covered in a dizzying array of tattoos that possessed a metallic sheen in the candlelight.

”I a.s.sume the distraction is the reason you sought me out?”

Char gave a jerky nod. ”I can't sense Torque. I think there might be something wrong.”

Baine's brows snapped together, his heat blasting through the room as he closed his eyes. Char knew the dragon was concentrating on his own connection to his servant.

Since it was far greater than Char's bond with Torque, he hoped the older male could make contact and rea.s.sure him that there was nothing wrong with his friend.

Abruptly Baine's eyes snapped open. ”When did you last sense him?”

Char clenched his hands. He didn't need Baine to tell him that he couldn't reach Torque. The worry was etched on his narrow face.

”Our bond was broken when I woke up,” he said in grim tones. ”I don't know exactly when it occurred.”

Baine gave a slow nod. ”There's something blocking him from me.”

Relief exploded through Char. ”So he's not-” He couldn't bring himself to say the words.

Torque might have annoyed the h.e.l.l out of him on occasion. And there was no denying that he could be a stick-in-the-mud when it came to his rigid sense of duty. But there was no one that Char would rather have at his side.

And the thought that he might have died had hurt more than Char wanted to admit.

”No.” Baine gave a sharp shake of his head. ”Torque is still alive. But he's no longer in this world.”

No longer in this world? Char blinked in surprise. ”What the h.e.l.l is going on?”

Finn re-formed his body as he stepped out of the wall.

Instantly he swayed, nearly falling to his knees as weariness slammed through him. It'd taken even more energy than he'd expected to move through the ice. No doubt because it kept fluctuating.

More than once he'd feared he was stuck. In fact, if he hadn't possessed the ability to manipulate the ice around him, he might have become permanently lodged in the strange barrier.

Now he sucked in deep breaths, a fine layer of frost covering his skin.

Realizing that he was dangerously close to collapse, Finn tensed as he caught a familiar scent of rosemary.