Healed by Fire by Catherine Banks

words.” His lips were pressed to mine
before I could say anything else.
    I pulled back from him and stood between him
and Achilles so that each could hold my hand. Their powers began to
flow between me and I could feel the wound Ares neglected to inform
us about. I placed my hand on his side and he grunted in pleasure
and pain as the wound knitted itself together.
    I looked up at the Council standing near us
and said, “Thank you, dragons. I am in your debt.” I pulled away
from Ares and Achilles and walked to the center to turn and look at
each dragon. “I will always remember the great honor that you have
given me.”
    The Council bowed their heads to me. “We
will always remember you, Hatchling. It has been an honor to keep
you safe over the years.”
    I turned to Blu and bowed until my forehead
touched the ground. “Draco-Blu, you have been my greatest friend
and guardian. I am forever in your debt.”
    Blu dropped his head into a bow. “There is
no debt to be paid, Artemis. Just remember who your allies are and
never forget the kindness of a dragon.”
    I held up the dragon scale which was secured
on a string around my neck. “I will always remember you, my
friend.”
    Blu wrapped his head around me and hummed
against my body. “I will miss you.”
    Tears sprang to my eyes and I latched on to
his neck. “I will miss you as well. Tell Fira goodbye for me.”
    Blu hummed louder and then pulled away. Ares
and Achilles each grabbed one of my hands and I exhaled in relief
as their touch eased the ache in my body.
    I turned from them to find Victor, who was
standing off to the side smiling at us. I walked to him and hugged
him tightly. “Thank you for everything you have done, Victor.”
    Victor hugged me back and kissed my cheek
lightly. “I am glad to see you whole and safe Mon
papillon .”
    I pulled back and wiped at the tears under
his eyes. “I thought vampires weren’t supposed to cry?”
    He smiled and whispered, “It had been so
long that I dreaded we would not find you. I am just…often in my
experience these types of things end badly and I feared the worst
might be true when we finally did find you.”
    I laughed. “Victor, you know me. I never get
into trouble.”
    That received a round of laughter from all
of the men gathered. I looked at Victor curiously a moment and then
asked, “When did you gain so much power?”
    Victor’s tears forgotten, he smiled
arrogantly, “Rhea gifted me for assisting Ares.”
    I looked at the lighter tint to his aura and
asked, “Did she make you more human? Your aura is less black.”
    Victor shrugged. “I feel more like a vampire
than I ever have before. I don’t question what was done, just enjoy
the powers that I’ve been granted.”
    Ares pulled me into his arms again and
nuzzled my hair with his nose as he inhaled long draughts of my
scent.
    “Where are we going now?” I asked.
    “We are going to prepare for the war,”
answered Victor.
    I groaned. “You know, I’d hoped you would
have taken care of that, not let the world fall into darkness as it
has.” I pulled out of Ares’ arms and asked, “And what is going on
with all of the halfbreed kidnappings? I was scared out of my mind
these past sixty or so years that I’ve been with Selene.”
    Ares sighed. “We have much to catch you up
on. I’d prefer if we could make it at least to our base camp before
we discussed it though.”
    Base camp? Since when had they started
talking like military men?
    Victor changed into a bat and screeched at
us as he took off into the sky towards the Lair’s exit. I turned
and bowed to the Council one more time and then let my wings out
from my back. Achilles and Theseus let out their wings and then
Achilles picked up Ares and Theseus picked up Koda.
    I giggled as I joined them in the air and
said, “Koda that is so cute that your son can carry you!”
    Koda stuck his tongue out at me. “I may be
happy that you’re back, but I will still kick your butt.”
    I