Witch’s Concubine (8 page)

The ostracized resided within the barren, arid region with little to no food, no water, and no revenue. No hope. The region, according to legend, had remained blessedly vacant for centuries until Dmitri’s father’s reign. Most residing within the sanded foothills were political refugees clawing and scratching toward one objective: to destroy the royal bloodline.

“Surely there’s another healer,” Alonzo stated.

“Not one strong enough to do what must be done.” Dmitri increased his speed, noting her slowing pulse rate. “And no one with enough balls to defy my father.”

Macy would live. No matter the recourse, she would thrive.  

Unseen souls, devoid of any thought but survival and vengeance watched from a distance. Their hatred flowed freely, but they stayed away.

“They’re too weak to take us both,” Alonzo commented.

“More likely their leader demanded the right,” Dmitri responded. “Vow to me that no matter what occurs here you will get her help. Take her to Petra, and do what you must to get the treatment.”

Alonzo’s jaw twitched. Resentment reflected in his eyes, but a curt nod sealed the pact.

Macy would live.

Dmitri continued up the hill to a dilapidated structure built of bone, mud, and residual debris. Shrapnel scattered the area, useless trinkets grabbed in desperation. Nothing contained value in this land. Only blood.

He paused several yards away. “She doesn’t have the time to play your games, Zivon.”

The man stepped out of the structure, large arms crossed, a glower on his scarred face. “You surprise me, Dmitri. I thought you were smart enough not to come back after the last time.”

“Heal her. We will deal with the payment afterward.”

The man stepped closer. His bored gaze regarded Macy. “The witch is dying.”

“Heal her.”

“It will require much strength.” Greed saturated his aura. “The payment will be great.”

“I’d be worried if it wasn’t.”

Zivon sighed. “Follow me.” He paused and pointed at Alonzo. “He stays outside.”

“He stays with her.” Dmitri tensed. “That is my demand.”

“Very well.” Zivon moved inside.

A small flame flickered to life in the corner. Zivon chuckled. “She is a dragon witch. Interesting.”

Dmitri remained silent. Macy moaned in pain when he set her down, moving toward him.

“So cold,” she whispered.

Her skin raged with fire. Dmitri stood beside her and forced his attention on Zivon. If the healer sensed the concern and emotion within him, Macy would suffer.

“You can heal her?”

Zivon sat beside her and moved his hands above her body. Power flickered between the two. The man paused, his eyes widened. “She is cursed.”

“Yes.”

“I assume you’d like that handled as well.”

“Might as well get my blood’s worth.” Dmitri settled into acceptance. “You can heal her?”

“I can.” Zivon stood, moving to a cabinet. He mixed a couple of jars with a vile of liquid. “Tell me how she came to be this way.”

“I know little of the curse.”

“Not that. I recognize that bitch Morva’s work by now. Enough vampires have come to me stricken with her toxic concoctions.” Zivon settled beside Macy and grasped her head. Dmitri tensed at the man’s touch, but remained still. “Tell me how she came into such power.”

Morva. The witch his father had enslaved had proven a difficult rival these past few years. Her power had amassed, rotted into evil that his father manipulated like a puppeteer would a prized toy.

“So Macy somehow became a threat to my father.”

“It would be one of the only plausible reasons for her to be cursed by the witch he enslaves.” Zivon shrugged. “Or perhaps Morva simply felt threatened by Macy’s powers. They are tremendous.”

“Neither my father nor his bitch will get near Macy.”

“What happened to her today?” Zivon asked.

Providing information to the healer went against Dmitri’s normally cautious approach to situations. Knowledge was power in this realm. But the healer had provided the face of Macy’s enemy. Thanks to Zivon, he knew exactly who meant her harm.

Now all he needed to do was figure out why. Either way, he owed the healer something in return. Given that Dragos was the reason the little dragon was on the verge of death, he really didn’t give a shit what Zivon wanted with him.

“A cursed dragon warlock attacked. Macy’s magic somehow inhaled his powers within itself.”

“And yours as well.” Zivon poured the liquid down Macy’s throat.

“What do you give her?”

“A tonic to neuter her curse.” He massaged her throat, forcing her to swallow the medicine. “In time her magic will cleanse her system of any other issues. It is the best I can do. Tell me of the dragon warlock.”

“I know nothing of him.” Unease rose within him as the inquisition darkened. Something was not right about Zivon’s curiosity. “We left when she was attacked.”

Zivon stood. “Tell me his location.”

“He has no bearing on this deal.”

“He has everything to do with this deal,” the man shouted. “Tell me his location and you live.”

Dmitri shoved between Macy and Zivon. “You could by law drain me dry for the service you performed today—a life for a life. Yet you choose to let me live for a dragon warlock’s location?”

“I made a blood vow to another long ago that I would find someone. The magic is too similar to be a coincidence. That dragon warlock is the one I’ve sought.” Determination lowered the man’s voice, sharpening it. “Make no mistake, Prince Dmitri, I would relish draining you dry for your father’s atrocities, but the vow I made must take precedence. It is our way, if you do not recall.”

Dmitri nodded. “And your intent with this man?”

“Not your concern.”

“She’s his friend.”

“I would suggest she find friends who cause less damage.” Zivon regarded Macy with disinterest.

“I’d tend to agree. We’ll discuss it when she’s better.” Nothing mattered beyond Macy’s health. “I should return her to the human realm.”

“Your father’s army is no doubt searching for you. It will take them a while to get the balls to tread into this land. Let her rest for tonight. You can have my place.” Zivon held out his hand. “For now we’ll set our differences aside for a common goal. Destroy the king.”

Though a part of him warred with the sentiment, Dmitri accepted it was time to do something more to protect his people. Latching onto the healer’s hand, he nodded grimly.

One thousand bongo drummers banged an endless thrum devised to torture her. It was the only explanation Macy could fathom for why her temples throbbed and searing pain ripped portions of her brain into two.

The last thing she remembered was the pain. Flames. Dragos.

Needling prickles wove through her magic, an unwanted strand of tonic. Goddesses, what the hell had happened? Darkness engulfed her when she blinked her eyes open. A lone flame flickered across the wall. She summoned the morsel of light to life, but it didn’t respond. The unknown tonic riddled her power useless.

Crud. This is so not good.

She pushed upward and collapsed backward when the movement see-sawed her brain into a bout of nausea she was pretty sure she couldn’t stop. She swallowed, heaved, swallowed.

Oh, crud.

“Lean forward.” Dmitri. Oh no, no, no. He can’t see this. Crud. A bucket appeared. Her stomach heaved. Her treacherous throat supported her evil gut’s decision.

Warm hands stroked her back, her arms.

“You’re okay, Macy.”

A damp cloth appeared. Strong fingers cupped her cheek and turned her head. She was lost in his grey gaze, lit with concern and something else. Tenderness? She didn’t know what she saw in his aura, but it was there, a wondrous thing that made her insides churn with awareness.

He dabbed at her mouth, a grin spreading on his face. “I can always expect the unexpected from you, little dragon.”

She swallowed, tested her voice. “Where are we?”

The squeak made her wince. He leaned over and grabbed a mug. “Here, drink this.”

She complied, her gaze remained on him, his hand supported the large, odd-shaped mug. Tentatively she severed the visual contact and surveyed her surroundings.

I know I’m not seeing bones in the walls.

Oh, crud. That’s a skull. Right there. On the ground. A freaking skull. Her gaze darted away and landed on the other wall. Ribs?

Her heart hammered, her veins surged adrenaline. Where the hell were her powers? She closed her eyes and channeled the determination, the terror. Strong emotion worked best when calling her magic. Goddesses knew she couldn’t get more emotional than now.

“Calm yourself, little dragon.”

“My powers.” She swallowed. Confusion fed her fear. She grabbed at his arms, settled into his embrace, and blinked. “They’re gone.”

“You’re safe. Calm yourself.” He kissed her forehead. “A healer in my realm saved you.”

“You shouldn’t have brought me here. I know it’s dangerous for you.” She didn’t feel safe or saved. She felt incomplete, like someone had taken a pair of pliers and pried strands of her soul loose.

“All that mattered was saving you.” His lips hovered near hers.

She claimed his lips, savoring the taste of the vampire who’d turned her inside out. Relaxing into his embrace, she trusted him to support her. For once she could relish not being the strong one in charge.

He deepened the kiss with a groan, a melding of tongues and limbs. She straddled his lap and rubbed against him, swept away in the feminine pleasure trickling through her.

She reached for his pants and severed the kiss. “Do we have time? Is it safe?”

“No and no,” Dmitri said with regret, his hand capturing hers. “I wish it were otherwise.”

“Me, too.” She snuggled into his warmth and sighed. “I suppose we’re probably in one hell of a shit storm for my being here.”

“Probably.” He kissed her softly. “I suspect you’re used to those types of storms.”

“They tend to follow me.” He tensed beneath her. “Is Dragos alive?”

“Last time I saw him he was, even though I wanted otherwise.”

“Thanks for not killing him.” Her voice was soft. She glanced up, her fingers running along a ripple of muscle on his stomach. “The curse blinded his judgment. I’ve heard it does that.”

“Your curse is gone.” Dmitri looked down at her.

“I know.” She lowered her voice, unsure of how to broach the subject again since he’d been less than receptive last time. “But so are my powers. This healer. Do you trust him?”

“I trust no one when it concerns you.” Dmitri tensed again.   

A creak startled Macy. She whirled in time to see an agitated Alonzo storm in, sword drawn. Holy hexes, blood dribbled from the sharp tip.

“Problems?” Dmitri asked, already setting her aside and rising.

“A legion of the king’s army marches this direction.” Alonzo looked at her. “Glad you lived.”

“I’m sure,” she commented. “What’s the plan?”

“Take her north, circle back after dusk and get her into the human realm.” Power flowed within Dmitri’s aura. At least she still had witchly ability to read auras. “I’ll deal with the army, hold them off for as long as I can.”

“I know you don’t think I’m running away.”

“Do what you must to get her through, Alonzo.”

The man nodded. Macy stood, shocked at the audacity. She was so going to use that itching hex on them. “Look, until I get my freaking magic back I’m on your ass like white on rice because I really don’t trust anyone else. I woke up in the freaking vampire realm, stripped of my powers and am probably the only decent din din in a thousand mile radius. Pardon the hell out of me if tromping through goddesses only knows what with someone who clearly can’t wait until I become maggot food doesn’t sound too appealing.”

Macy took a deep, angered breath and crossed her arms. She wouldn’t cry, she wouldn’t freak out. Okay, so she was already freaking out. She was entitled. He wanted to drop her ass off with Alonzo? So he could get himself killed and leave her alone in vamp land.

A man walked in, amusement and hatred in his black aura. Dread overwhelmed Macy. She edged closer to Dmitri. “Who’s he?”

“Zivon, the healer who helped you,” the man answered, a sinister grin slithered across his smug face. “Aren’t you grateful, dragon witch?”

A shudder crawled down her spine. Dmitri wrapped an arm around her. “What’s the matter?”

“The dragon witch here sees what you can’t.” The man laughed. “One small potion and my aura was unreadable. I didn’t expect you to be taken so easily, Dmitri. Really, you disappoint me.”  

“What is the meaning of this?” Alonzo moved closer.

“Simple enough, really. The king promised a year’s blood supply to all my people if we turn you over. He figured you’d crawl into my domain since no other healer would be stupid enough to help you.”

“The tonic. It poisoned my magic.” Macy’s insides felt violated. Her gut twisted.

“One has nothing to do with the other.” Guards appeared, weapons drawn and aimed on Alonzo and Dmitri.

The two men growled.

“You’re surrounded.” Zivon paced before them. “Surrender and I’ll ensure your witch makes it to the human realm. Fight, and she’ll die.”

“You will die for this,” Dmitri snarled.

“I suspect you’ll die first.” Zivon stepped forward and grabbed Macy by the hair. Guards seized Dmitri. Six battled him, beating, punching and kicking. Power flowed, battled within the confined space. Six strong shields choked and subdued him.

“I see my charms worked after all.” Zivon laughed. “I assured the king I had something strong enough to subdue you two.”

Alonzo. The man glowered from manacles, anger raced within his shielded aura.

“You’re a vampire mage?” Macy asked. “I was told you all died.”

“We survived, no thanks to your kind, witch.” Zivon slapped her hard, knocking her to the floor. Pain resonated on her cheek, along with a sheen of powder. It burned into her skin, making her bite her lip not to scream. She moved to wipe it off and he grabbed her. Menace hung in his whispered words. “Don’t touch it, dragon witch. Remain silent and all will be revealed soon enough.”