The tiny gold statue hits the Dragon and explodes into the real Cerberus. He snarls, his gargantuan jaws snapping once before latching onto her neck in three places. Canines the size of my forearms puncture her flesh and start the gory process of ripping out her throat. Cerberus’s hind claws shred her stomach scales, tearing through them to expose the blood and muscle underneath. He’s strong and ferocious and completely unexpected. Sybaris’s eyes go wide and then blank. It happens fast, without even a gurgle. Dragon blood stains the bank and drains into the lake, its power stinging my skin. I absorb the magic, feeling layer upon layer of it coil deep inside my body.
Cerberus keeps chomping and maiming, apparently just for fun. Finally satisfied, he turns six burning eyes on me, growling deep in his throats. He’s horrifying. Ugly. Vicious. I’ve always liked him.
“Easy, Cerberus.” I keep my voice low.
He bays, a long, eerie howl that makes my skin crawl. It goes on and on, his three heads taking turns so that it never stops. It’s all I can do not to cover my ears and cringe. The lake smokes and hisses where his saliva splatters the surface, and I back deeper into the water to avoid the venomous drops.
He eventually quiets and stares at me, his upper lips still curled and twitching.
I ease a hand in his direction. “Thank you.”
Cerberus snuffs noisily in response and then disappears in a shudder of fur and fangs, leaving his carnage behind.
I sink into the lake, utterly spent despite the power I just absorbed. Breathing for the first time in what feels like years, I look up to see Griffin, Flynn, Carver, and Kato galloping toward the shore, leading Panotii behind them.
I wait, only my head above water, watching as Griffin leaps down from Brown Horse and splashes toward me. The closer he gets, the harder my heart hammers in my chest, beating some life back into me.
He grabs my shoulders and pulls me to my feet. “Are you insane?” he thunders.
“Marginally.” I cough because he managed to slosh water up my nose.
“You. Dragon. Falling. Giant…water hand. Cerberus. Gods, Cat!”
“That about sums it up.”
Griffin glares at me like he wants to throttle me. Instead, he hauls me up against his chest and kisses me. There’s heat and urgency and relief in his touch. My lips part in surprise, and he deepens the kiss, sweeping his arms around me and lifting me to my toes.
Wings unfold inside my chest, the feathers pulsing lightly against my ribs. I’m achingly aware of every point of contact—Griffin’s warm, firm lips moving over mine, his solid chest flush against me, his big hands splayed across my back. Before I can question the strange wings, he angles his head, and his tongue touches mine, scattering my thoughts completely.
Sensation roars through me. One of Griffin’s hands slides up my back, delving into my wet hair to cradle my head. The raw, almost desperate sound that rises in his throat makes me feel powerful in a way that has nothing to do with magic, or knives, or knowledge. Heat sizzles through me, desire scorching me from my head to my toes.
Griffin’s mouth leaves mine, gliding across my cheek and jaw, stopping where my pulse pounds in a wild rhythm. Gathering me tightly against him, he places a searing kiss just below my ear. I feel the hot press of his lips like a brand and wonder if it’s permanent.
His voice drops to a low, ardent growl. “I would have come for you.” His strong arms are a fierce pressure around me. His ragged exhale warms my neck, making me want to curl into him. “When you jumped, I thought I’d lost you.”
I blink. Does he think he has me?
The desire blazing inside me falters. I ruthlessly shake off the passion making me weak and push out of his arms, splashing back a few steps. Stumbling, really. My lips burn. My body is on fire.
I somehow dredge up the scowl to end all scowls and wipe my entire forearm across my mouth, glaring at him.
He grins.
I disappear.
Trembling and breathing hard for reasons I refuse to examine, I climb the bank, grab my bag from Panotii’s back, and then rummage for a change of clothing. Decently covered and invisible, I sit on a rock, compulsively touching my lips. I had no idea a kiss could feel like that. No. Idea.
Flynn scans the area, his hands on his hips. “Where is she?”
“Not far,” Carver says.
How does he know? Smug bastard.
“Cat?” Kato calls. “There’s no need to hide. We’re just glad you’re all right.” He chuckles. “I would have settled for a pat on the back, but you know Griffin. He’s overemotional.”