Burn With Me (Legend of the Sun Whisperers) (6 page)

“But what happened? Sun Whisperers are said to be the oldest, most powerful race that ever existed. Yet, you were on death’
s door last night when you appeared out of nowhere.”  Maddelyn tucked a stray hair behind her ear as she waited for Draco to answer.

“My people have spent the bulk of our existence staying out of the affairs of the universe.  It was decided long ago that we were to keep to ourselves, and let the other races develop as time and evolution dictated.” He paused for a breath before continuing. “But unrest has come to dwell among us, for there are those that believe we have kept to ourselves for far too long—
that we have an obligation to use our vast knowledge and power to help those that need it to reach their full potential.”

“But not all of your people agree?”

Draco shook his head back and forth, his jaw set. “No. There are still those that cling to the ancient ways, and stand against reclaiming our role as universal guardians. This rift among us has turned into somewhat of a civil war.”

Maddelyn watched as distress flickered briefly over Draco
’s features. She couldn’t even begin to imagine what kind of civil war these legendary beings were capable of waging. Planets snuffed out with a wave of a hand, perhaps? That thought was chilling.

“Our council of elders was discussing once again the issue of re-emergence, when a powerful enemy took the opportunity to strike. Because of our internal chaos, we were caught completely unaware, and sides were boldly drawn in warfare. I was lucky to have escaped at all.”

Maddelyn’s heart twisted in her chest at Draco’s dilemma. How horrible it must be to have lived so long, then have to see your people torn apart in war. You’d think that beings such as they would have evolved beyond that.

Draco smiled at her weakly, almost as if he sensed her thoughts.
“War apparently has no limits, in evolution, or in time.”

Maddelyn cleared her throat.
“And what side were you on in this battle?”

“I was arguing for the side of re-establishing a visible place in the universe. But I never wanted it to lead to this. Not this way. Not ever.”

Maddelyn nodded. His situation was actually not so far from hers after all. His way of life had been forever altered, just as hers. That nagging feeling that he was here to save her bobbed to the surface once again. 

Still, could she truly believe this man was who he said he was? All the stories she was told as a child swirled around in her head, yet here beside her supposedly sat the real thing. But there was no denying the mark on his hand, or the flame that he had conjured within it.

“You still stare at me like I am a ghost, Maddelyn. Do you still not believe that what I tell you is the truth?”

“Honestly, I don’
t know what to believe. I still can’t wrap my head around all this, Draco.  For all I know, you’re just a figment of my imagination.”

In one swift movement, Draco grasped her hand and brought it firmly over his heart. The beats vibrated under her palm as the heat from his body seeped into her hand and travelled slowly up her arm, lighting a fire inside her.

“I assure you, I am real—flesh and blood, not a figment of anything.”

Maddelyn
’s own heart pounded in her chest. The corded muscles under her hand flexed where Draco held it, making her breath hitch. He was real, all right. All real and definitely all man.

The outline of his chest was clear under the thin garment she had given him, but Maddelyn
’s memories of his body from the night before helped fill in the gaps. Heat flared in her cheeks as she remembered staring at his nude body as she’d removed his ruined clothing. A perfect specimen of man, despite his injuries. She now stared at her hand, the heat intensifying from his body. And when she raised her eyes to meet his, they blazed at her, like flames dwelled within them.

Something in his gaze touched her soul, a part deep down that she didn
’t even know existed. It pulled her toward him, his warmth a haven against the cold abyss her life had become.  She licked her lips and leaned closer. His gaze settled on her mouth, which made her pulse throb and her body come alive with awareness.
What other kind of magic did this man wield?

“Maddie?” Serra’
s sleepy voice filtered through the air, startling Maddelyn enough to pull her hand away from where Draco held it against him.

“I’
m here, Serra.” Shakily, she stood and half stumbled over to where the little girl sat in her bed, tiredly rubbing her eyes. “Did you have a nice nap?”

Serra nodded, her blond curls bouncing.
“Mr. Draco told me a story. Did you know suns have souls? And they talk, too!”

“That was just a story, small one. Told to help children have sweet dreams.”

Draco’s voice rumbled behind Maddelyn, and she spun to cast him a sharp glance. His eyes were back to their normal golden color, no longer blazing from within.
Maybe I imagined it?

“Sounds like our Mr. Draco here is good at telling stories.” She still wasn’
t completely convinced he was all that he claimed to be. No matter how much her heart wanted to believe him, her head was the one in charge right now. Besides, living according to her heart had filled her past with pain. No room for more of that.

Maddelyn scooped up a brush and plopped in one of the chairs beside the rickety table. 
“Why don’t you let me take care of those tangles in your hair?”

A toothy grin spread across the little girl
’s face as she scurried over to stand in front of where Maddelyn sat. She crooked her finger and beckoned Draco to follow. “You should tell Maddie the story you told me. She would like it.”

Draco
’s lips curved into a smile as he sat in the chair opposite the two women. “Oh, I believe Maddelyn has had enough stories for one day. Maybe some other time.”

Methodically, the brush made its way through the yellow nest of curls, smoothing away the tangles of sleep. Though her concentration was on Serra, Maddelyn let her gaze flicker briefly over to Draco. He watched them closely.

“How about you or your mother tell me a story instead?”

Serra crinkled up her nose.
“Maddie isn’t my mother, Mr. Draco. She’s my aunt. Mama and Papa died right after the Rag…the Rak…the Raknorg came.” Serra took a small breath with the effort it took to get the name right.

Maddelyn finished brushing the child
’s hair and set the brush on the table. Then she gathered Serra backwards onto her lap. “Serra’s father, my brother, died in an uprising against the Raknorg right after they established their foothold here three years ago. Her mother was one of the first to die of the sickness. My parents not long after that.”

Serra coughed and leaned back against Maddelyn, who wrapped her arms around the child and squeezed. The only real family she had left had limited time. Then truly, she would be alone in this world.

Draco leaned forward and took Serra’s small hand in his large one, squeezing it gently.  “I am sorry. No child as young as you should live through such loss.”

Serra sat up and leaned toward Draco. Her free hand patted him on the side of the cheek. 
“It’s ok. I was little, and don’t remember much about it all. Besides, Maddie takes real good care of me.”

Maddelyn leaned forward and inhaled the sweet scent of Serra
’s hair, doing her best to commit it to memory. This girl was wise beyond her years, an old soul. The trials of her life had forced her to mature much faster than any child should have to. Despite that, Serra somehow managed to keep her sweet, childlike ways, and Maddelyn found herself wondering once again what she was going to do without her niece when the time came.

“Speaking of taking good care,” Maddelyn started as she stood and deposited Serra in the chair they just vacated, “It’
s high time I should be getting some food ready for us.”

Tears stung behind Maddelyn
’s eyes as she moved towards the rations she’d brought home earlier. Focusing on something else would give her time to remain in control. She never wanted Serra to see her upset. She had to be strong for her niece. But as the time drew nearer when Serra’s sickness would claim her young life, Maddelyn’s strength waned.

Serra busied herself with a crayon and a scrap of paper as Maddelyn poured water from a large flask into a brown clay pot. The hunk of meat lay nearby on the table. She picked it up and began tearing small strips, tossing them into the bowl.

“It looks like the rations the Raknorg have made available to you are nearing their end.”

Maddelyn
’s gaze flitted across the table to where Draco sat, his hands clasped before him. “There is hardly any food left for those of us that remain, not that the number is great, by any means.”

“All the Raknorg essentially care about is finding a world weaker than they are, that they can control and ravage for their own needs.”

Maddelyn continued to tear the meat into strips, hoping the water would make some sort of broth that Serra could eat easily. “When the Raknorg first came to this planet, they told us that all they wanted was to dig in the unpopulated areas where there were deposits of an ore that they use for their weapons and technology.”

“And then?”

“And then, they found more ore underneath our towns, our schools, our parks. We were forced out of our homes and moved to locations more liking to the Raknorg’s wishes. Locations like the lovely house you’re in right now.” Maddelyn’s voice had taken on an edge to it, which made little Serra stop coloring and glance up warily.

Maddelyn smiled to ease her niece
’s distress, which allowed the child to return to her coloring. “Not long after the Raknorg started drilling, many of the people in town became ill. By drilling so deeply, the Raknorg unleashed some kind of bacteria into the air that morphed into an airborne sickness that spread like wildfire among the population.”

“But you do not suffer from this ailment?”

Maddelyn dropped the last piece of meat into the bowl and wiped her hands on her thighs before she looked over to where Draco still sat, listening intently with his hands clasped together.  “A select few of us seemed to be immune to the disease, so we were pressed into helping take care of all those that were ill. And after so many of our men were also killed in the uprising my brother Jared organized, it became even more necessary to just follow orders and try to survive.”

Maddelyn took the remaining empty seat and forced another smile while she grabbed a spoon and stirred the concoction in the bowl slowly.
“I’d like to be able to serve this warm, but the winds have become so forceful lately, I never seem to be able to keep a fire lit.”

“Please, let me see.” Draco unclasped his hands and held them out. Maddelyn shrugged and handed the bowl to him while Serra decided that this was more interesting than her drawing.

The bowl sat cradled in Draco’s hands, his large fingers encasing the small clay vessel almost completely. He closed his eyes and held absolutely still—so much so that Maddelyn could barely detect he was breathing at all.

A reddish glow peeked from beneath his hands, turning the brown clay pot to a warm orange color. Small bubbles popped sporadically to the surface of the liquid, then more rapidly as the liquid appeared to come to a rolling boil, steam rolling in plumes away from the bowl.

Then just as quickly as it started, the glow disappeared and Draco opened his eyes, sitting the bowl carefully on the table. Maddelyn just stared at him, her mouth hanging open in amazement.

Serra squealed and clapped her hands together, obviously delighted. 
“Do it again, Mr. Draco! Do it again!”

Draco smiled and ruffled Serra
’s blond curls a bit. “Maybe some other time, Serra. Right now, I believe your aunt would like you to eat something.”

Maddelyn slowly came back to her senses and shook her head to clear it. Still reeling from what she had seen, she managed to grab a small cup and fill it with some of the now steaming meat broth, passing it over to Serra.

“And after dinner, we can all go find out about my ship.”

Maddelyn nearly dropped the spoon she was holding.

What ship?

Chapter Four

“
I think you must have been hit on the head a little
too
hard, Draco. There was no ship in sight when Serra and I found you last night. Nothing but the ‘beautiful’ vista you see before you.  It was literally like you fell from the sky.” Maddelyn’s voice hissed through the air in a harsh whisper as she trudged beside Draco through the desolate landscape. She hoped her annoyance at his refusal to listen to her came through clearly enough.

He paused a moment and shifted Serra where he held her in his arms, long enough to look slightly annoyed himself.
“I know what you think you saw, Maddelyn, but trust me, things are not as always as they appear. Now please, try to remember
exactly
where you found me last night.”

Maddelyn threw her hands in the air in a gesture of defeat.
“Fine. I give up.” She stomped off in the direction she remembered taking the night before, hearing Draco’s steps behind her crunch over the dry earth as he followed. What kind of idiot did he think she was? A ship out in the middle of nowhere would not only be highly visible, but it would be a magnet to the patrols of the Raknorg. Apparently, people of legend weren’t always the sharpest tools in the shed.