Love of the Dragon (Her Dragon's Bane 4) (12 page)

“And how am I going to get there? You can’t carry me in your talons all that way.”

“We’ll have to get you onto my back.”

Zoah had managed to sit up. He was certain there was no way he was going to be able to climb onto Connor’s back. “I can’t.”

“I’ll lift you onto a rock and then you can just climb on.”

“I doubt I’ll be able to hold on long enough to get to Spellholm.”

“You are going to have to try. If I fly fast, I could be there in two hours or less.”

“I can’t even raise my head up for that long.”

“We’ll use my blood.”

“What?”

“It’s the only thing I can think of.” He went to find a knife, returning with an ancient dagger. “This will do. Our blood heals.”

“I refuse to be smeared in your blood, Connor.”

“How are you going to stop me?”

He had a point. “It’s disgusting.”

“Tough.” Connor cut the palm of his hand and allowed the blood to drip onto Zoah.

“It worked.” Zoah said. He flexed his fingers.

“I can’t cover all of you. So let’s get your hands and arms working.”

“I think I’m going to puke.”

“Remember when we could sell this stuff for a king’s ransom?”

“Those were the days,” Zoah said, looking away while Connor used his blood to heal his brother.

Zoah’s skin absorbed the blood, leaving no trace, which made things easier. It stopped Zoah from looking like some kind of zombie. His fingers flexed and he could move his arms. He had fresh hope that the trip would be possible.

“There. Any more and I’ll be too weak to fly the distance. Let’s go now in case it wears off. I don’t know if this is some kind of magic, so the cure may only last for a short time. Night is nearly upon us – it will be safe enough.”

So Zoah began his trip back to Spellholm. He never thought he would have to endure the embarrassment of riding on his brother’s back. As they flew fast and straight for the forest, he grew melancholy. Not only had his mate disappeared, but also, if his dragon never returned, this was the only way he would ever fly again.

Azure fluttered above the fire like a butterfly about to settle on a flower. He was drawn to it, diving into the dancing flames only to rise again like the phoenix. At first, Charlotte had gasped in fear, now she watched him playing with a smile on her lips. There was something so innocent about him.

Despite the dragon's fun, she still couldn’t erase that other image from her mind. The one where he was limp and lifeless. It had shown her what it would be like if Zoah died. They were so similar in appearance that it freaked her out. She stretched out her senses into the world, testing to see if he was near to her now. Wondering if she would ever be strong enough to find him, wherever he was. Which was nonsense. It appeared even a dragon couldn’t do that. It was the reason they had created Azure instead. Was Zoah so controlling that he always wanted the ability to find her?

“Here,” Fin said, handing her a blanket. She wrapped it around herself gratefully. “I’m sorry I don’t have any clothes you can borrow.”

“That’s OK. You’ve done enough tonight, Fin. That was very brave of you.”

“Not just bravery. Those mewling cats drive me mad. They think themselves so irresistible. Yet it is only their voices that gives them their power over humans. If it was down to their nature they would be lonely old maids.”

“I take it you don’t get on with them.”

“We have had animosity for over a hundred years. At first, they kept away from Crete. Then, as ships got bigger and contact by radio easier, they were no longer able to lure sailors to their deaths. Now they try to seduce the tourists who are silly enough to go too far from shore. They have a wider hunting ground these days, but they always return here in the summer months.”

“Did you know you wouldn’t be able to be turned by them?”

“I had an idea. They may never have sung for me, but that doesn’t mean I haven’t heard their song. Many times I have witnessed their misdeeds.”

“I wonder if I can get any phone reception in here.” She went to pull her phone from her pocket and groaned. It would be wet after her swim in the sea. She wouldn’t be able to let Serena know where she was. How stupid of her. However, when she put her hand in her pocket she found it wasn’t there.

“Oh no. I must have dropped my phone. Or it fell out of my pocket when I dived into the water.”

“Let me go and look for it,”

“No. I can go.”

“No. You need to stay here by the fire. It won’t take me long and I can see well enough in the dark. One thing about living in an underground Labyrinth is that you have great night vision.”

“Always look on the bright side," she said, huddling closer to the fire.

He disappeared outside. His footsteps disappearing until all she could hear was the faint crackle of the fire and the rustle of Azure’s dry wings.

“Don’t set yourself on fire, little one.” The little dragon headed her way, swooping down to buzz past her head. “You don’t like being told what to do, do you?”

He came and landed on her shoulder and eyed her possessively. “Just remember who the boss is here.” He took off again and Charlotte watched the fire.

How long had passed she didn’t know, but as her eyes grew heavy she dozed off. When she opened them, there was still no sign of Fin. Where was he? Had the sirens returned for him?

Her clothes were still damp and she hated leaving the fire, but she had to see if he was alright. Looking around for a torch, she was disappointed not to see one. “You’ll have to light my way, Azure.”

The little dragon was still dive-bombing the fire, but as soon as she walked to the entrance, he caught up to her. Fin was right; anyone who had him in their possession would be able to locate her. Why did he look like Zoah, though?

She didn’t need to think about him right now. It was more important to find Fin and, hopefully, her phone. With that firmly in her mind, she went out through the rough passageway that led to the beach. Her eyes slowly adjusted to the dark. Not wanting to draw attention to them, she told Azure to stop shooting his little flames out. He seemed to understand but was reluctant to stop.

“We might be seen,” she told him.

The waxing gibbous moon lit the beach up as she moved away from the cave. She didn’t call out, her fears that something had happened to Fin were too strong. The incident with Samuel came back to her. What if someone had followed her here? What if Tara had sent her here to her doom?

A figure moved across to her right. Where she had been standing earlier. He stood in the moonlight, the eerie half-light illuminating his body. He was magnificent. His torso toned and sculpted in the most perfect way. With his head half covered in the shadow of night, it didn’t distract from the rest of him. For the first time she realised how cruel a curse it was to be desirable in so many ways but repellent in others.

“Fin,” she called quietly.

“Charlotte. You should have stayed inside.”

“I was worried about you. I fell asleep and have no idea how long you were gone.”

“I came back and saw you were asleep. I wanted to come and take the night air. It’s always my favourite time.”

“I can see why.” She reached him now, scrabbling over the rocks.

“Here. I found your phone. It’s a bit wet but it’s still lit up.” He handed it to her.

“What are you doing here?” She took her phone from him. It still worked but there was no signal. She would have to accept Fin's offer to lead her back through the Labyrinth.

“I come out at night. It’s the best time because it’s so quiet. When I stand here, I feel normal. As if I could walk from this beach to the others and no one would yell, ‘freak.’”

“Are you lonely, Fin?”

He turned and looked at her, his face full of sadness. “It didn’t use to bother me. Not before Serena came. She has taught me that we are not meant to be alone in this world. But who would have me?”

“You would fit in back in Spellholm.”

“Spellholm is full of people who can change from one thing to another. Not that are stuck like this for ever.”

“I know. But they are used to weird things. They’re good people. Serena and Connor are so happy there.”

“And yet you stand here beside me, having run away.”

She shook her head and clutched her arms tightly around her body. “I can’t believe I was so stupid. I think Serena is right. I’m still immature.”

“Then let’s get you back home. We’ll go up through the Labyrinth. Make your call and Connor could be here before morning. They’ll be glad to see you safe.”

“Do you mind? I’ve been such a trouble to you.”

“Charlotte, you will never know how much it means to me that you came here. When you thought you were in trouble you decided to put your trust in me. I feel exceptionally proud.”

“Does that mean you accept the name?”

“Yes. I think it does.” He smiled in his bull-headed, grotesque way. “Now let’s get you home.”

Charlotte flung her arms around him and buried her face in his big chest. “Thank you,” she said tearfully. “I only hope they all understand. You know, stealing Azure and everything. Running away. I can’t believe how much I’ve messed up.”

He stood rigidly within her embrace. Shocked to stone. Then he carefully lifted his hand and patted her back, a little too hard. But she didn’t complain.

“What did you do, beat the crap out of him to get him to come home?”

“This isn’t my home, Tara.”

“You know what she means, Zoah.”

Connor had carried his brother into the witch’s room. Zoah felt more and more like an invalid. There was no part of his dignity left. Now he had the witch looking at him. Prodding him until he cried out in pain and generally making him feel like shit. Not that he didn’t already.

“So?” he asked, through gritted teeth, when she stood back from him. “Can you make me better?”

“Yes. And no. I can deal with the pain; I can get you back on your feet.”

“But?” Connor asked, looking at her fearfully. Zoah knew exactly what his brother was worried about, the unasked question. Would he ever be the same as he was?

“The other part of it is psychological.”

“Of course it is. I want to be this feeble shadow of my former self.”

“It gives you an excuse to lie on your back without doing anything.” She spoke bluntly, as usual. “Who can expect you to go off and rescue Charlotte and commit to being her mate if you can’t fly?”

Zoah clenched his fists, one of the only parts of him that didn’t hurt and lifted himself up on his elbow. Wincing he drew a deep breath and shouted at her. “You have no idea how I feel. Now get on with it.”

“You’re lucky I care about that girl or else I’d leave you there to suffer.” She turned to retrieve some herbs from a shelf. While she was rummaging, the door opened and in came Dòmhnall.

“What is happening? Were you attacked?”

“I don't know. I was flying and then I was crashing.” Zoah lay back down, fatigue threatening to overwhelm him.

“Connor?” Dòmhnall asked, obviously thinking there was more to it than that.

Connor shook his head. “I don't know. I found him like this. I managed to use my blood to give him some movement. Tara is going to try to heal the rest of him, or else we might all have to help him.”

Zoah wrinkled his nose. The last thing he wanted was to be covered in the other dragons’ blood. Imagine how beholden he’d feel. But if he had to, then so be it. It didn’t mean he would have to like it.

“When?”

“When what?” Zoah asked. His temper was fraying ever so slightly at being spoken about as if he wasn’t there.

“Did this happen?” Dòmhnall asked as if Zoah was an imbecile and should be able to answer his one-word questions.

“A couple of nights ago.”

“Tara?”

Tara still had her back to them all. Zoah watched her shoulders rise and fall before she turned to face the Dragon Lord. “Yes?”

“That was the night Charlotte left.”

“You know that as well as I.” She placed her jars and vials down on an already cluttered table.

Dòmhnall was there by her side in an instant. His bulky size never slowing him down. His hand came down hard on the desk. “Speak.”

She looked up at him and glared. “She found the charm.”

“What charm?”

She turned and looked away. “I made a tracker charm so we could find her if anything happened.”

Dòmhnall frowned. “She is safe here; why would you need to do that. How did you make it?”

Opening her jars, she began to measure different herbs into her pestle. “It doesn’t matter.”

His grip on her chin was quick and painful. “What are you hiding?”

“Nothing.”

He squeezed harder until she cried out in pain and slapped his hand away. “I used Zoah’s blood and a strand of Charlotte’s hair. One of the coven members gave me a book and the spell was in there.”

“Why? If Zoah wanted to know where his mate was, he should have completed the Moon Rite. If not, she is free.”

“She is still under my protection,” Zoah said. “I want her to have a life of her choosing, but she is still my responsibility.”

“When was this thing created?”

“Two weeks ago.”

“Again, I will ask you why?”

“Because Tara thinks the person that kidnapped Charlotte before is still alive.”

“Why didn’t you share any of this with us, Tara?” His was voice hard and accusing.

Tara bowed her head, unable to meet his eyes. “Because I believe someone here is a traitor.”

This time they all looked at her. Dòmhnall let out a ragged breath. “Is there anything else you’ve been keeping from us?”

“I shouldn’t be long,” she said quietly to Fin at the entrance of his Labyrinth.

“I will wait here for you.”

She poked her head out and checked there was no one around. The entrance was so well concealed in amongst the rocks and in such a remote location, she didn’t expect there to be. But she had to be careful for the Minotaur’s sake.

“I should get a signal further along the road.” Ducking out of the entrance, she kept low and worked her way further down the hillside. Then she headed straight across from the entrance, trying to make it harder for anyone to see her tracks. Once she was a few metres away, she began the climb upward. By the time she got to the top, her legs ached and her breathing was laboured.