Blood Is Thicker: Chimeria, #2

By Meredith Mansfield

In the sequel to BLOOD WILL TELL, the newlyweds, Rolf and Valeriah, face a new crisis. 
Born half-werewolf, Valeriah's life has never been simple. Her recent marriage to a dragon has led to a transformation--Valeriah is now a dragon, too. But, taking the form and knowing how to actually be a dragon is not the same thing. Her life has even more complications than ever. So many, in fact, that she doesn't recognize the signs of her own pregnancy until Rolf rushes her to the Hatching Grounds to lay their eggs.
But then things only get worse, because something's wrong on the Hatching Grounds. The underground source of heat that sustains the eggs is slowly dying. Valeriah and Rolf have to scramble to discover what's gone wrong and find a way to fix it before their eggs die.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Meredith Mansfield
• Release date: Jun 12, 2017
• ISBN: 9781386309727

Book preview

A Little History

For those who haven’t read BLOOD WILL TELL

Or those who did and want a refresher.

Chimeria is a parallel world to ours in which magic is real and technology has developed more slowly because magic fills most of the same needs. Thousands of years ago, the dragons connected Chimeria to our world with portals. Only five portals now remain. One of them is on the outskirts of Los Angeles.

Chimeria strictly prohibits the importation of drugs, weapons (apart from the sharp, pointy kind), and technology that runs by anything other than magical or mechanical means from our world. This law is enforced by the Portal Watch.

Dragons are the most powerful creatures of Chimeria and the natural rulers. Several centuries ago, they started an experiment. They gave all of the magical beings of Chimeria the ability to take human form so that they could talk with each other. The dragons then created the Council of Magical Races and eventually ceded government to the Council.

Unfortunately, during the course of BLOOD WILL TELL, the dragons were forced to take a leading role on the Council again when Zobran, a wizard and leader on the Council, tried to import forbidden technologies in order to make himself the first King of Chimeria.

Even in human form, there’s usually some physical indication of the true identity of the magical races. Unicorns tend to be pale and have long faces. Dragons, if they don’t mask their appearance with magic, have a blush of scales across their cheeks and slit-pupiled eyes. And so forth. When all the races could take human form, it turned out that there was more that they could do with each other than just talk. As a result, a few hybrids exist and they nearly always have to make accommodations for the incompatible sides of their nature.

Valeriah is one such hybrid. Her mother was a werewolf. Her father was a hybrid himself, the son of a wizard (human) and a unicorn. Though she can’t take wolf form, Valeriah’s personality is dominated by her werewolf half. She’s filled with manic energy at the full moon. Also, though she likes her meat rare to raw at the full moon, her unicorn heritage asserts itself at the new moon and forces her to be a vegetarian for a few days. However the healing abilities of her unicorn blood saved her life when Zobran tried to kill her by infecting her with rabies.

At the end of BLOOD WILL TELL, the Matriarch of the gold dragons accepted Valeriah as the mate of her son, Rolf, and named her a red dragon. And, if the Matriarch says you are a dragon, a dragon you are. That doesn’t mean it’s all roses and lollipops being a dragon, though.

Chapter 1: Flight School

Rolf? Valeriah pronounced his name carefully, even though it didn’t have any of the soft ess sounds that were so difficult for a dragon’s tongue and throat to produce without hissing.

Hmm? Rolf answered, opening one eye. He lay stretched out on the beach, dozing and digesting the cow they’d shared for lunch.

How long iss thiss going to take? Damn, those esses were hard.

Which this is that, sweetheart?

Show off. He didn’t have any trouble with his esses. Then again, he’d been a dragon from birth. He’d had a lot more time to practice. Learning to be a dragon.

Rolf stretched out his huge golden wing to embrace her and reached out with his long neck to rub his chin along her back. Signs he knew she wasn’t going to like the answer. She felt herself tensing, subconsciously balancing her weight in preparation for a fight. As if she could fight a kitten, clumsy as she was in this unfamiliar body. That was another source of frustration. She’d been athletic in her human form. Not anymore.

Most dragons take about ten years to master a new form, Rolf said.

Ten yearss! She jerked upright, half unfolding her wings in outrage, and clunked Rolf’s jaw with the top of her head. It likely didn’t seem that long to him. Rolf was two-hundred-and-fifty years old, give or take. Valeriah would be twenty-six next month and ten years seemed like an impossibly long time to her.

Rolf pulled his head back but continued to rub his wingtip along the edge of her wings. It’s not just learning to fly and speak Draconic. You’ll have to learn dragon magic. And, because you’re a red dragon, you’ll have to learn to breathe fire, too. That’s one I can’t teach you. Golds don’t breathe fire.

Ten yearsss! By dragon law, now that she’d taken it, she had to keep dragon form until she mastered it. The reasoning was sound. Valeriah knew perfectly well if she was permitted to go back to her human form to have a conversation, she’d never learn Draconic. It’d be too much easier to speak her native language. Hells, at the beginning, she’d have changed back just to walk across the room. Suddenly having to remember to move four feet in the proper order hadn’t been as easy as it sounded. It had thrown her balance completely off. She still wasn’t exactly graceful on the ground. She was a little better in the air, but only because Rolf drilled her mercilessly.

Rolf ducked his head. Maybe I can persuade Mother to give you a break on the dragon magic. You can learn and use that just as well in either form. And, since you’re part human anyway, you won’t need the magic to mask your appearance among humans. It’s not like you’ll have slit-pupiled eyes or scales.

If she’d known that it would take ten years when he’d goaded her into taking dragon form, would she have done it? Rolf had been so excited at the prospect she probably would have. Besides, it really wouldn’t have been very diplomatic to refuse his mother’s wedding gift to them. Giving a half-werewolf the ability to take dragon form was no small gift. Normally, diplomacy was not Valeriah’s strong suit. She was much too blunt for that. Still when your mother-in-law is the Matriarch of the gold dragons, arguably the rightful ruler of all Chimeria, a little tact is probably called for.

The trouble was, at least so far, Valeriah didn’t really much like being a dragon. Flying was nice, at least when Rolf wasn’t drilling her in aerobatics. But there were days when she wanted to weep with frustration at just not being able to communicate clearly. She might have, if only dragons could cry. The Common Speech was incredibly difficult to pronounce with a dragon’s snout, forked tongue, and long throat. And Draconic was a completely foreign language she was only beginning to learn.

You’ll learn quickly, Vallie, Rolf said soothingly. Maybe it won’t take you that long. Look at Drake. He hasn’t been a dragon much longer than you and he can speak perfect Draconic.

Drake understood Draconic already. He grew up hearing it. He just couldn’t speak it until he took dragon form. She spoke slowly in Draconic, only substituting a few words of Common Speech when her limited Draconic vocabulary failed her.

Rolf cocked his head to the side. That’s true. But you’re learning to fly much faster than he is.

Valeriah snorted at that—a very impressive sound from a dragon’s lungs and snout. It communicated her thoughts on that just fine without any language problems. Nobody had been pushing Drake to fly the way Rolf pushed her.

Rolf tried to look contrite, not a very convincing look for a dragon. Is it so very bad?

Was it? It was more than just the speech, as if that wasn’t bad enough. Even Rolf hadn’t anticipated the dietary problems. That shouldn’t be an issue right now, near the full moon. Both her new dragon nature and her werewolf half craved meat and lots of it.

But becoming a dragon hadn’t changed her essential nature, only added to it. The trace of unicorn blood she’d inherited from her grandmother Elsibel still compelled her to a vegetarian diet at the new moon. Dragons just weren’t meant to be vegetarians. Their teeth were all wrong and the diet gave her horrible indigestion at every new moon, until the moon waxed and she could handle at least fish and poultry. One more complication. As if her life hadn’t had enough already. Matter of fact, the heartburn still hadn’t gotten better. If anything, it was worse.

Indigesstion, she said in the Common Speech, not wanting to make the effort to form a complete sentence.

Still? The spiny crest on his head stood up as his eyes widened in surprise, making him look like a startled iguana. I thought that would get better when you could switch to eating meat again.

Valeriah shook her head. Comess and goess. She didn’t even try to keep the hiss out of the sibilants.

I’m sorry, sweetheart. Nobody could have predicted that. I’m sure your body will adjust before long.

Valeriah snorted again and laid her head back down on the sand.

~~~

Valeriah huffed irritably as she beat her giant leathery wings to gain altitude for the next pass. This flight school boot camp was not what she’d had in mind when Rolf suggested the isolated villa for the remainder of their honeymoon.

The full moon and the manic energy it brought out in her never did improve her mood and having indigestion to go with it wasn’t helping any. Used to be, she’d run for miles to calm that madness. Or engage in practice fights. Now she’d do well to run anywhere without tripping over her own feet or tail and fighting was out of the question. She used to be able to take care of herself, not have to depend on Rolf to catch her food and take care of her. No doubt he was enjoying it, but she didn’t like the feeling at all.

Of course, Rolf was always ready to help her work off the full-moon energy in other ways. In human form, that would have been fine with her. While she’d never say this to Rolf, on the whole, she found the mating of dragons unsatisfactory—not unpleasant, but far from breathtaking. He’d been a much more versatile and exciting lover as a human. Hanging upside down, wings folded, clutched in Rolf’s talons, while he slowly circled the lake just didn’t have as many thrills. It was like trading the most spine-tingling rollercoaster at Magic Mountain for the merry-go-round. You were still moving but it just wasn’t the same. Thank the Goddess that he was more than twice her size as a dragon and strong enough to carry her. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have even that. It was going to take her a while to master flying upside down.

She reached her intended altitude in a bad mood. Rolf had been drilling her in aerobatic maneuvers for hours and she was sick of it. Well, let’s see what he thought about this. She folded her wings back for the dive, pulling out only at the last second into a perfect barrel roll.

Rolf’s trumpeting crow of delight echoed back from the surrounding mountains. You’re ready!

Ready for what? she asked as she landed in front of him.

For me to show you how it’s really done. Fly with me.

As soon as they lifted off, Rolf darted in and grabbed her talons in his own. Well, that wasn’t what she’d thought he’d meant when he was so excited about her aerobatics, but all right.

Rolf gestured skyward with his chin. We need to go higher.

Maybe this was going to be a little different after all. Any change would be a good thing. They climbed, talons still joined and wings beating in unison. Up and up until even dragon lungs could barely suck enough oxygen from the thin air. Then they hovered for a moment.

Rolf shifted his grip on her talons to draw her closer, so close she had to curtail her wing beats. His much wider wings continued to beat, nearly encompassing her completely at each stroke. He pulled her closer until their bodies met. She could feel the heat of him against the delicate scales of her belly and then, with one sharp movement, the heat was inside her, too.

Valeriah pressed against him, wrapping her neck and tail around his to bring him closer. In spite of the minor inconveniences, she really did love Rolf. Moments like this helped to remind her how much. She started to let her weight fall backwards, but Rolf pulled her back up.

Not this time. Fold your wings and dive, Rolf said.

She did. They plummeted, necks and tails entwined, wings clasped. Yes! This was what she had been missing. The rush of freefall sent a tingling sensation surging down the length of her body. She shivered and that sent another wave exploding outward from her center and then back again until she felt she would break apart if he were to let go of her.

They pulled out only at the last second, rolling together, which sent altogether new and delectable sensations through her body.

Up again? Rolf asked.

Up! Yess! Valeriah answered.

They climbed and plunged again, still joined. When they pulled out, Valeriah screamed, Up!

Rolf obliged. This time, when they dove, they were above the deep lake behind the villa and they did not pull out. They plunged into the waves, continuing the dive until their lungs were near to bursting. Only then did they finally separate, each driving for the surface and air. They paddled over to the beach and lay, wing-tip to wing-tip, utterly spent, wings extended so the afternoon sun could warm them as they sucked air into their starved lungs.

Goddess! I’ve never gone for three falls before, Rolf said, gasping.

Valeriah raised her head. Her grin exposed rows of serrated, razor-sharp teeth. I’ll try for four, if you want.

The rumble of his laughter made wave-like ripples in the sand of the beach. Mercy! I fear that would burst even my heart. He stretched his wing so that he could caress the edge of hers. Do you forgive me, now? For driving you so hard to learn to fly?

Her laugh sounded more like a purr. Oh, I think sso. Yess. Definitely. Just now she was very glad she’d slowed down enough to let him catch her last spring.

~~~

Valeriah woke with a groan. The pain in her gut was back, sharper and stronger than ever. Rolf stretched a wing over her. She rolled closer to him, trying to ease the pain, but that only made it worse. Her indigestion seemed to have moved lower during the night. She took a deep breath and moaned at the knife-like pain that caused.

What is it? Rolf asked. Your heartburn again?

Can heartburn move down here? Valeriah asked, pressing her paw to her belly.

Rolf cocked his head to the side. It really was an impressive gesture with a dragon’s long neck. Not usually. Does it still hurt?

Valeriah was silent for a moment. No. It seems to have passed.

Gas bubble?

I’ve never had a gas . . . Ah! She took shallow little breaths to keep from making the pain worse.

Rolf sat up. That bad?

Valeriah nodded mutely.

Rolf put his big taloned forepaw gently on the spot. The muscles of her abdomen shifted under his touch. His eyes widened in surprise and distress. Goddess! I am an idiot.

What is it?

That’s not indigestion. He leapt to his feet, wings tucked tight against his back, and made a complicated series of movements with his hand-like forepaw. The air shimmered in front of him.

A portal. Just as soon as she could speak clear Draconic, she was going to have him teach her to do that.

He reached down and pulled her to her feet. Come on. We don’t have any time to lose.

Responding to the urgency in his voice, Valeriah stepped into the portal and stepped out into a strange, almost lunar landscape. She stood in the middle of a vast volcanic crater. She could make out the steep walls of the crater only by the absence of stars, which appeared suddenly above the rim. Steam stinking of rotten eggs escaped from vents and cracks all around her. Odd little rings of dark volcanic rock were scattered near those vents. Rolf stepped out of the portal behind her and it closed.

Where are we? she asked.

Chapter 2: The Hatching Grounds

No portals in the Hatching Grounds! an irate voice said. A matronly black dragon stood up, shaking her wings in irritation. Curled up in the moonlight she’d looked like just another rock formation. You might have crushed somebody’s eggs doing that.

Apologies. It’s an emergency, Rolf answered with a courtly little bow.

Valeriah groaned in pain.

The black dragon shifted her focus to Valeriah and reared back in alarm. Why did you leave it so late?

Rolf backed off in alarm. She hasn’t been a dragon for very long. She thought it was indigestion. And I . . . I didn’t think . . . It’s so soon. We’ve only been mated a few months.

The black dragon huffed. Only takes once when your cycles match, fool boy. She put her wing around Valeriah and guided her away, toward one of those odd stone circles.

Rolf started to follow. The black dragon swiveled her head around on her long neck. You’ve done your part. Leave the rest to the females. She tossed her head toward the edge of the crater. You belong up there on the rim. Out of the way.

~~~

Rolf paced on the edge of the crater. Somewhere below, Vallie bellowed in pain. Every cry was like a knife lancing through his own flesh. He stopped his pacing and stretched his neck out as far as possible over the Hatching Grounds. It didn’t help. He still couldn’t see, hear, or smell anything. No one came to tell him what was going on or if Vallie was all right. He reached up one forepaw to comb the spiny crest on top of his head back and then started pacing again.

He’d never know how the word spread. There were only Vallie and himself and the black female dragon here, in the middle of the night. But somehow it did. Within an hour, his father and mother showed up. His father opened the huge talons of his right forepaw to reveal Rolf’s sister in human form. His brother Drake flew in close behind them, landing a little clumsily.

Mother and Kamara went on down to the hatching grounds, where the males couldn’t follow. Mother flew down, of course. Kamara, constrained to keep human form until she mastered it, scrambled down the steep crater wall, somewhat less than gracefully.

Why don’t they tell me what’s happening down there? Rolf asked of no one in particular.

They’re busy, son, his father said.

How long does it take?

Father chuckled deep in his throat. As long as it takes. There’s nothing more you can do but wait.

Down below, Vallie bellowed again, louder than before. Rolf trumpeted in sympathy and extended his neck out over the crater again, wings raised in alarm. He’d have flown down to her if his father hadn’t thrown his neck against Rolf’s chest to hold him back. If Father hadn’t been the only dragon larger than Rolf, he’d have been swept off the rim by the force of Rolf’s need.

She’s in pain! Rolf roared, every protective instinct aroused to full.

The females will take care of her, his father answered. They know what they’re doing. Well, at least the Watcher and your mother do. Kamara will likely only get in the way.

Valeriah roared twice in quick succession. Rolf pitched forward so violently even his father couldn’t hold him back alone. Drake had to throw his weight in to help keep Rolf on the rim. Rolf swiveled his head to nip at Drake, but his father smacked him sharply with his tail. Stop that!

Rolf strained forward as far as their combined weight would allow. He saw a small figure picking its way across the crater floor toward the rim and settled back on his haunches to wait, wings twitching restlessly. Kamara reached the wall and looked up, sighing heavily. She trudged up the steep slope to the rim.

This would be a lot easier—and quicker—if you’d let me fly again, she said, puffing with the exertion.

What’s happening? Rolf asked, not wasting time on sympathy for his sister.

Kamara looked up at him. Someone’s testy. Mother said you wouldn’t have any sense of humor.

Rolf roared, causing Kamara to throw her hands up over her ears.

Kamara, Father’s tone held a definite warning.

All right, all right. There was definitely a twinkle in Kamara’s eyes, though. Valeriah’s laid two eggs, both red.

And Vallie? Rolf asked.

Kamara’s brows knit. She’s still in some pain. They’re taking care of her. Mother will call when they’re ready for you—.

Kamara was interrupted by a trumpeting from below, longer and more shrill than anything that had come before. Valeriah’s voice. His father and Drake combined couldn’t hold Rolf on the rim one second longer. He dove forward and extended his wings only in time to break his fall.

He back winged and landed carefully, craning his neck to see. The black female Watcher and his mother still blocked his view. He stretched his wings to lift himself higher. Just then, the Watcher stepped back.

Vallie lay as flat against the crater floor as it was possible for a dragon to get. She raised her head and stretched her neck out towards Rolf. He slumped, wings drooping to the ground, in relief and pity.

Vallie’s sides heaved and her tail curled limply around three eggs. Three! Two ruby-colored eggs speckled with gold, as Kamara had reported, and one golden egg mottled with swirling red streaks, larger than the other two put together.

Kamara puffed up, having run back down into the crater. Wow, another one! The red eggs are a lot smaller, aren’t they?

Valeriah let her head fall back to the rocky ground. If that golden egg was any bigger, they’d have had to cut it out of my dead body.

Rolf reached his neck forward to rub his chin over her head and neck.

Wonderful! Mother said, laying her forepaw possessively on the golden egg. Better than anyone could have hoped for.

Pushing the others aside with his body, Rolf wrapped himself protectively around Vallie and the clutch of eggs, twining his neck with hers and covering both her and their eggs with one golden wing.

Time to rest, he said.

The others began to drift away to the edges of the crater. Except for the black Watcher dragon. She settled back into her place, watching over the clutches of eggs through the night.

Chapter 3: The Dragon Cliffs

Valeriah groaned and blinked awake at Rolf’s persistent nudging. The sun peeking above the rim of the crater had just reached their nest, but a glance at