Healing Fire (12 page)

“Jules. My prince. My dragon. My master.”

“Your love.” He knew that. Knew it.

The pleasure that bloomed across Lem’s face was beautiful to watch.

My love
. The words weren’t spoken. They echoed everywhere.

“I will spend, Jules.”

“Yes.” He wished to as well.

“Soon,” Lem insisted, driving deeply into him.

Something deep within him was touched, lightning flaring inside him. He cried out, and Lem pushed harder, hitting the same spot. Seed poured from him, sending him spinning. He could feel Lem spending as well, filling him even deeper. The connection between them seemed to get deeper and deeper.

Lem collapsed onto him, gasping softly. “My prince. My love.”

“Yours.” He had nothing left. Nothing.

Lem held him tight.

Maybe nothing was enough.

Lem had to admit, he didn’t have a plan. All he knew was that there had been smoke still at the castle when he’d flown to check. He would not lead Jules back there until he was sure it was safe. Nor would he risk his own skin to check more thoroughly because he wouldn’t leave Jules alone in the mountains.

He had found more game early this morning, and it was cooking in the coals. Now that Jules had found his dragon, he would need to eat a lot more. And Lem still wanted to go to the caves on the north-facing mountain. They were bigger. There would be more game.

A tiny voice inside him whispered that they could make a life there, build a home. It was so tempting. It was beautiful and fun, and he and Jules were free out here to do as they liked.

Jules’ dragon had come to life here, so beautiful, so special. Very special. His Jules was destined for greater things. It was clear in every purple scale.

He’d never seen a purple kin that wasn’t a healer. And never a purple like this. He knew the color denoted a soul healer. A soul healer. The highest magic possible.

Lem couldn’t understand why Jules had been tossed aside, locked in his rooms and made to feel like nothing. Perhaps someone had suspected. Had tried to hide it.

Jules should have been revered, taught by the elders. A soul healer. There hadn’t been a true soul healer in thousands of years. Jules’ purple had been deeper than any he’d ever seen, even in pictures.

He’d known that it was important to protect his prince. Now it was more important than ever.

He went to the mouth of the cave, looking out again, making sure they were still alone. They weren’t though. Someone was coming. He felt it in his bones. Friend or foe or something in between, he didn’t know. But that someone was coming he knew.

They should move. Go north. Head up before the snows got too deep. He nodded to himself and went back to wake Jules up, get him fed and moving. They’d make the trip much, much faster if they shifted.

Jules was curled up in his cloaks, a happy look on his sleeping face. Again, that voice whispered in Lem’s head that they should stay in the mountains and never go back.

He ignored the voice and went to Jules, fingers lingering on the soft skin. “My own. It’s time to wake.”

“Already?” Jules woke with a smile. He turned his head, kissed Lem’s fingers.

Lem’s shaft responded immediately, Jules fanning the fire of his need immediately. “Yes, we have a busy day.”

“Okay.” Jules sat up, tried to brush his fingers through his hair. “Oh, tangles.”

“I need to get you supplies.” He thought the wild look was stunning.

“Where? Are we going home?”

“No. Not yet. It still isn’t safe. But you need a brush for your hair. More clothes. A pillow and blankets.” Lem looked at Jules. “We need to go north. It’s safer.”

“North? Up?”

“Yes. There are caves there. Bigger within but hidden, and with a smaller mouth. More defensible.”

“Okay. Yes. So long as we’re together.”

“I will not leave you, Jules, I swear it. Not even if you no longer wish to be with me. It is my life to be yours. My destiny”

Jules nodded, the smile just blossoming.

“Then eat, my prince, and we will fly.”

“You make the most interesting food.”

“I make what I catch.” That it pleased Jules was a happy coincidence.

“I can’t imagine...”

“You don’t have to. It’s roasting over the fire!”

Jules started laughing, the sound so merry.

He grumbled again, but now it was just for show. “Laughing at me.”

“I didn’t. I was laughing for us.”

“I don’t mind, Jules. I love the sound of your laughter.”

“Love.” Jules murmured the word over and over.

“Yes, Jules. I love everything about you.”

Jules spun in a circle, hair flying around. Lem watched, utterly entranced.

“It’s not flying, but it’s fun,” Jules told him.

Lem laughed again. “Eat, Jules. Save your strength for our flight.”

“Are we going to fly again?”

“Yes. To the caves. Once we’re settled, we can dance in the sky.”

Oh, thank goodness Jules looked so excited, so pleased.

“Come eat. You need your strength for our flight.”

“Yes, Lem. Food and flying.”

Lem took the meat off the spit, placing slightly more than half on a flat rock for Jules to eat, before devouring the rest himself. Jules ate more delicately, enjoying each bite. It was good to see his prince with an appetite. Of course, he was making Jules do much more than Jules was used to. Flying took a lot of energy.

Still, there was a happiness in Jules now, a health and energy that was addictive. He would happily play and fly and love on Jules for all their days, but they needed to find higher ground. Safety first. Then they could explore their world.

Excitement was building in him again, and he stood. “We should go, Jules. While the day is still young.” He could make a packet of Jules’ clothes and carry them in one claw.

“Yes, Lem. Will it be a good place? Where we’re going?”

“It will. The mountain takes care of its own, and we belong to her.”

“We belong to her,” Jules repeated after him.

“Yes, my prince.” It felt right, hearing Jules say the words.

“I like that, the way those words sound.”

“We belong to her or yes, my prince?” he teased.

“We belong to her.”

“Yes, my prince, we do.” He laughed and wrapped Jules in a hug.

Jules threw his head back, throat working. Lem couldn’t resist taking a bite.

“Lem!” Jules’ cry was happy, wild.

He bit harder and sucked, leaving a dark mark. His mark. It made him growl. Yes, his. Jules didn’t tense a bit, offered himself easily. He sucked and sucked that spot, then pulled back and looked, rumbling happily at what he saw. He gave the mark a lick, then began to gather Jules’ robes.

“Are you ready to go?” he asked.

“Yes. Yes. I would follow you anywhere.”

“Those are my words.” Grinning, Lem kissed Jules.

“Our words, yes? Ours.”

“Yes, my prince.”

Taking Jules things, he led the way out the cave. Jules followed him, watching him closely.

“Are you ready?” Lem asked.

When Jules nodded, he shifted, letting his dragon have him.

Jules looked at him, watching him, then blinked. “I don’t know how without your touch, Lem.”

He called out to Jules, his roar gentle. 
*Jules*

Jules’ eyes began to glow immediately. Oh, so good. He called again, letting his wings spread and flap at the air. Jules began to shimmer, began to shudder and reach for him.

*My dragon lord*
He was so proud of Jules, of his beautiful prince.

Jules was on the small size, but so lovely, so unique, so fine. It made him happy just to watch Jules take to the air. Pure glee seemed to follow Jules like smoke, his prince come into his own.

He took to the sky, encouraging Jules up and up. Then he took the lead, moving toward the north, knowing they’d find safety up in the caves there.

The winds were stronger here, the weather forbidding. Jules stayed close, fighting the gusts. Lem made sure his prince didn’t fall behind, but he pushed them hard. They needed to get to the north mountains caverns today.

*Hard*
Jules called silently to him.

He knew. He knew this was difficult, but Jules would be safe above. He wanted to get there in one trip, no stopping, no being out in the open overnight.

*Faster, Jules*

*Yes*
He felt Jules roar out as he fought.

He took them a little higher, searching for a place where the thermals would help them. Jules began to worry, the tendrils of panic escaping. It was just a bit more. Not much. He knew Jules could do it.

He sent back love and strength. His knowledge that he believed Jules could do this. Jules roared again, this time the sound was proud. It put a shiver of pleasure through him.

The rain began to pour down on them, and he kept the clothes close to his body. His prince would need them when they got there.

They flew and flew, and he only had to bolster Jules once or twice.

Finally, late afternoon found them landing on the north most mountain face, right by the caves he remembered from his boyhood.

Jules landed in a heap, curling into the tiniest ball, wings sheltering him. Lem moved close to Jules, covered his wings around his exhausted prince. He would have to check the caves soon, but Jules needed to recover first.

*Safe?*
The question came, the mental touch wavering.

*Yes*
They were safe enough as they were. For a while.

Jules relaxed, sleeping hard, and Lem was so proud. He was so very proud. And he would protect Jules with every fibre of his being.

***

Jules felt someone shaking him, growling low, and he growled back. Tired. He was tired. He’d never worked so hard, not ever.

*Snow comes*

Snow? That would be new. Interesting.

*Jules!*
The voice was insistent. So was the shaking.

He peeled his eyes open, his body cold. Everything was different again.

“My prince. We need to go to the caves. I’ve checked them. It’s safe.” Lem handed him his clothes.

“The caves.” He handed Lem one of the cloaks. They needed to share.

“I’m fine.” Lem wrapped him up. “I’ve checked them. There are hot springs that keep them warm. And I found us food.”

“Yes? Thank you.” He followed automatically, running on his reserves.

“You did so well today, Jules. I’m so proud of you.”

“I was tired. I tried.”

“You did more than try. We’re here. You did it.”

They came to the mouth of a cave, the warm glow of a fire deep inside. This cave was huge, but the doorway was tiny, keeping the cold outside.

“It’s a good place to make a home.” Lem brought him to the fire where there were smooth rocks to sit on.

“A home?” Jules cuddled into his robes, looking about. The place smelled like stone and grasses, like wood.

“Yes, a place for us to live.”

“Oh.” He didn’t know if a place without a book could be a home, but Lem knew things that he’d only read of. “Yes, Lem. Will there be a bed?”

“There is a bed. A smooth, flat rock inset into the wall of the cave with the most soft of mosses on it.” Lem offered him a bowl fashioned out of wood, full of berries.

“Did you make this?” Jules asked.

“A long, long time ago.”

“This... this was your home?”

“When I was very young. I would come here with my master to practice survival.”

“Oh...?” Suddenly the place was so much more interesting.

“Yes. I would be left out here to fend for myself.” Lem gave him a fierce grin. “I survived.”

“You liked it here or no?” He didn’t want to stay in a bad place.

“I love it here. The mountains are a wonderful place.”

“Excellent. I want to be somewhere good.”

“Anywhere you are is good, Jules.”

He chuckled, but he knew that wasn’t true. He suspected that the castle was attacked because of him. Because he did things that were forbidden.

Lem pushed the food toward him. “Please eat, Jules. You need it.”

He looked at the food, almost too tired to eat, too sad.

“My prince.” Lem knelt by him and grabbed a piece of meat, offering it to him.

“Is it my fault? That Mabon died?”

Lem didn’t hesitate in his answer at all. “No! No, my prince, not at all. It was the Graithen who attacked.”

“They came for me, though. I’m afraid that’s a truth.” One not even Lem could deny.

“The fault is still theirs, not yours. Do you blame an apple for being eaten?”

“No. No, but...” He pushed the food out of the way and moved into Lem’s arms.

Lem held him immediately, but didn’t back down. “There is no but. It is not your fault.”

He nuzzled Lem’s jaw, throat. Everything was different now. Odd.

Lem nuzzled right back. “I want to hear you say it.”

He shook his head, pouting.

“My prince!” Lem glared, but he could see it didn’t reach Lem’s eyes. “You must say it. You must believe it.”

“I do forbidden things.”

“What did you do that was forbidden when they first attacked?” Lem clearly had no intention of letting this go. Of course, his Lem had a point.

“Nothing. Nothing at all.”

“Then that has no bearing on Mabon dying while protecting you. The Graithen attacked, the Graithen killed him. You are not at fault and lucky to be alive.”

“Not luck. It was my guardians and these.” He held out his hands and gasped. The marks! They’d changed!

Lem’s eyes went wide. “Jules...”

His hands had deep purple swirls on them now, covering the palms. He pressed his hands to his chest, hiding them. “I’m sorry.”

Lem shook his head, tugging his hands away. “They are beautiful.”

Lem touched his palm, and something flared between them, an invisible spark that had both him and Lem gasping.

“Lem. Be careful.”
Do it again
.

“Did it hurt you?” Lem didn’t wait for an answer, though, before touching him again, tracing the swirls.

The sparkling feeling continued as long as Lem touched him.