by S. E. Smith
Another amused chuckle escaped him and he shook his head. He hadn’t felt this alive in centuries! And it was all due to a mesmerizing woman named Carly.
Chapter 5
Later that evening, Drago stepped out onto the balcony as the sun was setting on the horizon. He silently stood watching it disappear into the sea. It had been over a decade since he’d seen it.
A wave of sorrow held him in its grasp. In his mind’s eye, he could still see the majestic dragons of his people silhouetted against the brilliant, fiery sky as they flew and the sounds of their laughter rising up from the village below. Young dragons would be learning how to land on the cliffs while their watchful parents murmured encouragement. Music would fill the air as residents settled down for dinner and to share their day's adventures. Theron and the other guards would be jesting with each other and boasting of their exploits. Tonight, there was nothing but silence.
Well, except for the crashing of the surf against the rocks and the loud clatter of Carly dropping yet another item and muttering curses under her breath, he thought, turning to face the opened doors.
“I got it! Damn it, no I don’t,” she said in exasperation as another clatter struck the marble floor. “I need to get another set of silverware.”
“Let me take this. The floors are exceptionally clean after your rigorous scrubbing. I’m sure the set can be used,” Drago stated. He walked forward and took the tray of food from Carly and carried it out onto the balcony.
“I thought we could eat out here. I don’t know where you found all this food. It is amazing that you did because I could have sworn this place looked like no one has lived here for at least a year,” Carly exclaimed, bending to pick up the fork and knife that had fallen from the tray.
“Over a decade,” Drago corrected, turning to the small table and chairs that Carly had dragged outside.
“A decade! Wow, that’s like… a really long time. How come you are still here? Where did everybody else go?” she asked.
“Gone long ago,” he replied.
Drago placed the tray on the table, focusing on the colorful array. The plates were laden with the fresh fruit and vegetables he had harvested from the forests and overgrown gardens. The vegetables were sautéed to perfection. On another platter, fresh fish that he had caught earlier lay perfectly grilled to a golden brown on a bed of fresh greens. It had been a long time since he’d eaten such a feast.
Carly had insisted that while she might not be good at exercising, she was a master in the kitchen. From the delicious smells teasing his nose, he would have to agree. He pulled out one of the chairs and waited for her to sit down before he walked around the table to sit down in the chair across from her.
“Tell me about the place you come from,” he requested, picking up a spoon and adding some of the vegetables to his plate.
“Yachats? That conversation will take all of about two minutes. There isn’t a lot to it,” she responded with a wiggle of her nose.
“Then I look forward to an informative two minutes,” Drago replied in a dry tone.
Carly stuck her tongue out at him. Drago’s lips twitched. That had to be another first. He couldn’t remember any woman ever sticking her tongue out at him. He liked that Carly appeared completely at ease with him – enough even to tease him. With a shake of his head, he slid a piece of fish onto his plate. He began eating, savoring the burst of flavors from the fish and vegetables.
“Yachats is a tiny town. There are less than seven hundred people within the city limits. I can’t believe it was voted as one of the ten best vacation spots! There’s hardly anything there. Still, I guess it is pretty and there are some beautiful homes, cool shops, and a marina. I wish the homes weren’t so expensive. Jenny and I were thinking of going in together to buy a house, but what would we do if we fell in love with someone and got married? It would make it awkward, and there’s no way I can afford one on my own,” she added with a sigh before taking a bite of the vegetables.
“Where do you live then?” Drago asked, pouring the wine that he had retrieved from the cellar into their glasses before setting the bottle down and lifting his glass to sip from it.
“We’re renting a little house along Main Street. It’s really cute and we’ve got it decorated up. The landlord is a sweetheart and doesn’t mind as long as we pay the rent on time. Jenny teaches at the local school and I work at the bank. We don’t make tons of money, but we do alright,” Carly replied with a shrug, lifting the glass of wine to her lips and taking a tentative sip. It was a light, white wine, dry instead of sweet and surprisingly good considering she didn’t care for wine. She replaced the glass and pierced a piece of fruit with her fork before continuing. “The local Farmer’s Market on Saturdays is about as exciting as it gets. They have all kinds of fresh produce, seafood, and crafts for sale. I have a booth there and sell the jewelry that I make. I do okay during the tourist season. It gives me a little extra money. I’ve been saving it toward the purchase of a house. Once a month, they also do a movie under the stars since we don’t have a movie theater. Of course, they never show any of the newest releases. I told you, Yachats is about as exciting as watching grass grow. So, what’s your story? How come you stayed behind after everyone left?”
Drago glanced down at his empty plate in surprise. Placing his fork on the plate, he sat back to stare out over the city. The sun had set, but the edge of the world still had the glow from it. He hadn’t planned to tell Carly anything, so when the words slipped from his lips, he was surprised.
“Many years ago, the seven kingdoms were at war with each other. My guards and I were completing a last inspection of the isle before a storm arrived. The wind and sea had become turbulent, but in the distance I saw a familiar figure. It was Orion, the Sea King,” Drago murmured, looking out at the ocean.
“You mean there are others like you?” Carly asked in a hushed voice.
Drago shook his head. “Not like me – not a dragon. Orion is king of the Isle of the Sea Serpent. They live in great cities under the ocean but have homes on the island above them as well. They are merfolk, sea dwellers who breathe under the water,” he explained.
“Mermaids! Are you saying that mermaids are real?!” Carly exclaimed, pushing her chair back and standing up so she could stare out at the ocean in awe.
Drago pushed his chair back and stood up as well. He walked around the table to stand next to Carly. Together they stared out at the horizon for several moments. A cool breeze swirled up from the cliffs, and Carly shivered. Drago glanced down at her. He reached out an arm and pulled her against him. He raised an inquiring eyebrow when a grin curved her lips.
“If your mermaids are merfolk, then yes, mermaids are real – though, I don’t think Orion would appreciate being called a maid,” he chuckled, turning to stare out at the ocean again.
“Yeah, I guess a guy would take offense to that. So, you were doing a last inspection and you saw the merman,” she encouraged.
“Yes,” Drago replied. “Orion requested a truce between us. He told me the other kingdoms had agreed. The war had been instigated by his cousin. Magna was – is – a very powerful witch. She was much more powerful than Orion or I realized.”
Carly turned to face him. “What happened to her?” she asked.
“I don’t know what happened to her, only what she did to my people,” Drago replied, staring out at the ocean and thinking of that fateful day. “I heard their cries first. I felt their horror. Mothers and fathers watching their children become cold and lifeless, yet helpless to stop the spell. Even as they reached for loved ones, the spell overtook them as well, encasing them in stone. The warriors had no enemy to fight. They could not see the magical threads. We had fought the people from the Isle of Magic before, but this was different – alien to us. Our own powers, in our dragon forms, give us some measure of protection, but nothing could stop this. Magna’s magic was darker, stronger, and unlike anything we had ever encountered before. Many of my people fell
into the ocean as they tried to escape. Others were frozen in their homes or as they were making their way along the streets. By the time I made it back to the isle, they were all gone. I could no longer hear their quiet murmurs or sense their presence.” Drago turned his head to gaze down at Carly with glittering, rage-filled eyes. “Magna stood on the cliff. The sound of her insane laughter danced upon the winds of the storm, mocking my inability to stop her annihilation of my people. She disappeared into the ocean before I could kill her.”
“Oh Drago, I’m so sorry,” Carly whispered, her eyes filling with tears. “I can’t imagine what it must have been like. What did you do? How could you survive such devastation?”
Drago lifted his hand and brushed it along Carly’s cheek, capturing the tear that escaped. “I cast a spell to protect my kingdom, moved my people into a safe place, and found solitude in the caverns far below the castle. There I slept, daring any to try to take the last stronghold of the dragon,” he murmured, gazing down into her liquid brown eyes.
She lifted a hand, brushing aside a lock of his hair that had fallen forward when he looked down at her. He liked the way she touched him. It was gentle, tender, yet hesitant. He slid his hand up to cup hers, raised her hand to his mouth, and pressed a warm kiss to the center of her palm.
“I wish there was something I could do to help you,” she said.
“You already have. You have awakened me.” His hand engulfed hers in a possessive hold and his eyes burned into hers. “I claim you as part of my treasure, Carly. I will never let you go,” Drago stated, watching her eyes widen at his declaration.
Carly gazed back at him for a second before her lips curved up into a brilliant smile. “What girl in her right mind would turn down a seriously cute dragon when he says something like that? Does this mean you’ve forgiven me for the broom incident earlier?” she teased, a mischievous twinkle brightening her eyes.
Chapter 6
Carly bit her lip as she finished washing the dishes and placed the last one on a dish towel. Drago had disappeared shortly after he had told her what had happened. She had sensed that he needed to be alone. She wasn’t going to argue about his leaving because she could use a few minutes to get her head straight.
“I can’t be in a magical land, but I am. This is crazy, Carly. You need to find the way back home. Jenny has probably called out the National Guard by now. I can see it plastered all over the news – ‘Assistant Branch Manager of small bank goes missing – foul play or stupidity? More at eleven,’” Carly muttered under her breath.
Wiping her hands, she glanced around the kitchen. It was obvious the room had not been used very much. Despite the layers of dust, there wasn’t a speck of evidence that the cooking utensils, pots, or pans were ever used. With a sigh, Carly knew what she needed to do.
“Well, I know what I want to do. I want to stay here,” she said, jutting out her chin. Then she took a breath and firmly shook her head. “I can’t leave Jenny wondering what happened to me, and I can’t leave poor Drago alone again. So, first thing is to tell Jenny what’s happened so she doesn’t worry. Once I’ve done that, I’ll come back and see if I can help Drago.”
She turned and bit her lip again. It was dark outside. There was no way she could find her way down the trail – if she even found her way back to it – in the dark. There was nothing else for her to do tonight. She would have to wait until morning.
Satisfied with her reasoning, she wiped her hands down her pants. She had discovered her backpack in the living room earlier. Walking into the other room, she picked it up and placed it on the couch. She opened it and rummaged inside.
There were three packages of peanut butter and honey crackers, a bottle of water, a flashlight, a small first aid kit – she’d learned the hard way that she needed to always carry one of those – and a pair of gloves. Nothing fantastic, but she was proud she had the essentials: food, water, light, and medicine – if you counted Band-Aids and aspirin as a first aid kit.
“Tomorrow I’ll search for the passage back home,” Carly said with a large yawn.
She rubbed her eyes. After all of her adventures today, she was exhausted. She glanced at the closed doors, worried because Drago was still out. Surely dragons could see better in the dark than humans….
Sinking down onto a long couch, she dropped her backpack onto the floor, pulled off her shoes, and stretched out. She would just lie down for a few minutes. Reaching up, she pulled her jacket off the back of the couch and spread it over her upper body before rolling onto her side.
“I’ll just rest my eyes for a minute… or until Drago returns,” Carly murmured, already more than half asleep.
Drago pulled in his wings and stretched out his lower legs, landing on the railing of the balcony before jumping down. He shook his head and turned to look up at the waning crescent moons and the brilliant stars above. He sniffed the clean, fresh air blowing in from the ocean.
He had been gone longer than he’d planned. He had wanted to check over the isle one last time before he settled down for the night. He wanted to be sure he hadn’t missed anything. He had even returned to the cavern below to reassure himself that no one else had found a way in to the treasure.
All his wards and spells were still in place, as strong as ever. A thorough search had revealed no breaches. How Carly had found her way to the treasure room was still a mystery to him. He did not know of a single creature that had the powers to break through his magic. Not even Orion, the Sea King, or the King and Queen of the Isle of Magic possessed that type of magical power.
With a mere thought, his body shimmered and he shifted. He glanced up at the night sky before he turned and walked toward the closed doors. Soft lights glowed from the interior, but he didn’t see any movement.
Pulling open the doors, he stood in the entrance gazing around. It had been a long, long time since he had felt warmth in his home. The room was spotless and the faint aroma of the meal Carly had prepared earlier still hung in the air. He had started a fire in the fireplace before he had left to rid the apartment of the chill that had crept into the very walls of the palace.
His gaze narrowed on the plush couch when he heard a soft sigh. Pulling the doors closed behind him, he quietly walked over to gaze down at Carly. His lips twitched. She was lying curled up on her side with her hands tucked under her cheek. She snored softly.
“If you are a thief, you are the strangest one I have ever met – and not a very good one either,” he murmured with a rueful shake of his head. “A bed would be much more comfortable than this piece of furniture.”
He bent and slid his arms under her. A fierce wave of possessiveness swept through him as he held her close. This soft, warm thief was now tied to him by the ancient creed of the dragon – what a dragon claimed, he kept – and Drago had claimed Carly. Whether she understood the implications of that or not did not concern him. She would understand it soon enough.
Drago chuckled when Carly snorted in her sleep and snuggled into his warm body. He turned and strode through the living room and down the long hallway to his bedroom. With a whisper, the covers magically drew back. The fresh scent of clean linen teased his senses. Carly had managed to get so much accomplished in one afternoon; it was no wonder that she was exhausted.
He laid her down gently. He sighed in exasperation when she immediately rolled onto her side. Reaching down, he carefully removed her jacket. Another soft chuckle escaped him when she blindly swatted his hand away.
“Go away, Jenny. Today’s Saturday,” she sleepily mumbled.
“I’m not this Jenny and I am not sure what day it is,” Drago replied.
“Saturday… so’s I don’t have to go to work,” Carly muttered in a slightly slurred voice filled with exhaustion before she started snoring again.
“A thief that works,” Drago replied with a shake of his head. “You continue to amaze me, little one.”
He ruefully reached down and gently removed her stained trousers. He chuckle
d again when she rose up enough for him to pull them off before blindly reaching out with one hand to search for the covers. Drago reached down and pulled the covers over her shivering form.
Straightening, he glanced around the room. The fire in the hearth had not been started so there was still a chill in the air. With a flick of his wrist, Drago sent a small fire ball to the logs. Blue, red, and yellowish-orange flames danced over the enchanted logs that would never burn down.
“If only I could have enchanted my people to protect them,” Drago said, staring at the flames for several long seconds before he pushed the melancholy emotions away.
He slowly removed his long, black coat, bent and picked up Carly’s jacket off the floor where he had dropped it, and carried them over to several pegs on the wall. After hanging them up, he removed his boots and socks and unbuttoned his soft, silk shirt.
It had been such a very long time since he had done the simplest tasks that even undressing felt odd. Drago carried his discarded clothing over to a woven basket inside the bathing chamber. He unfastened his trousers and pushed them off. Catching the soft, leathery trousers with one foot, he tossed them high enough to grab them and deposited them with his other clothing.
After crossing the smooth stone floor to a shower built into a corner of the room, he stepped inside and turned the tap. A smothered groan escaped Drago when a rain shower of warm water, supplied from deep beneath the castle, fell on him, caressing his broad shoulders and running down his body. It seemed like an eternity since he had felt anything remotely warm in his life. Bowing his head, he stood under the flow, losing himself in the enjoyment of the moment.
The water soaked his long hair. His hands rose to thread through it before running down along his face. He grimaced when he felt his beard. He would need to trim it.
