by Carly Fall
Finally, Eric announced they were ready to go and slung the backpack over his shoulder.
They walked back down through town, this time not avoiding the main square. Apparently, now that she was clothed, Eric seemed to think she wouldn’t draw much attention to herself.
As they moved past the statue of Peter Saint, she kept her eye on the large hole in the ground next to it, ready for anything that may emerge.
“That wasn’t here before … last night,” Eric said.
She nodded. “Yes. That’s the portal to the other dimensions.”
“You came through there?”
“I did, along with all the other paranormal creatures.”
The trip between realms had been both thrilling and exhausting. After stepping out into the great void, she’d spun and twisted upward, almost as if she had been caught in a tornado. She’d kept her eyes open and concentrated on landing in Saint’s Grove. Other paranormal creatures had whizzed by her at high speeds, and she’d had to bare her fangs a few times as a couple of demons had reached out to try and grab her in an attempt to take her to Hell. That’s what she assumed, anyway.
The demons irritated her to no end, and she hoped she got the opportunity to take a few of them out before the seals closed. They had been responsible for the state of her world, and if she could go to Hell and destroy their realm, she would in a heartbeat. However, she also understood that Satan could create more demons at his whim, so it was a futile waste of time and energy. Besides, what was more important? Destroying their world, or saving her own?
Her people would always come first.
They continued their trek through the town and out into the surrounding woods.
“I wish we could find someone with a truck or something that could take us up a ways,” Eric said. “At least that would get us up on the mountain a little faster.”
She glanced over at him and debated whether or not she could carry him in her dragon form, and decided that she most certainly could. When she brought up the option, he immediately shut it down.
“Why not? I can certainly transport you.”
“I’m not riding on a dragon’s back,” he grumbled as he shook his head. “Besides, you turning into a dragon will only bring attention to us if we come up on someone. They’d be likely to shoot you either in fear or to mount your head on a wall.”
She could see his point. Dragons were not native to this land, and it would be smart for her not to use her dragon form unless absolutely necessary. She wanted to remain as inconspicuous as possible.
“Unless you can fly,” Eric said, glancing over at her. “If you can fly, then it’s something I might consider. No one ever looks up.”
“I cannot fly,” she replied, meeting his gaze. “As a Protector of the Forest, it is my duty to guard the land. How can I guard the land if I’m in the sky?”
He didn’t answer, but his brow had creased as if he were in deep thought.
She once again recalled Eorricris floating on a breeze as he served his duty as Protector of the Sky—a beautiful, lethal sight. How she longed for those days when her world lived in harmony, where the two factions worked together to ensure their skies and forests remained a peaceful land.
The thoughts depressed her, and she glanced over at Eric and decided she needed to lighten her mood. “Will you not ride on my back because I am female and you’re male?”
“No, that’s not it,” he said, his voice forceful.
And with that, she was certain that was exactly it.
Eorricris had always been a very proud male, one who didn’t necessarily think of a female as the weaker sex, but did believe that the males should protect them at all costs. That’s why, when he’d come through the seams of the universe and she’d offered to go with him, he’d declined. He had wanted her safe, not wrangling with paranormal beings in another world.
It seemed he hadn’t changed at all in that regard.
“How did you get the scar down the side of your face?” he asked without meeting her gaze.
The quick change in conversation surprised her, and she brought her hand up to her face and traced the red line. The scar had stopped bothering her long ago. At first, it had because it marred her beauty, but as the social structure of her realm collapsed, it became a moot point. No one looked at her any way except as a fierce fighter.
She quickly decided to keep her answer short and not offer any details. He didn’t need to know who had given it to her and that it had been a fight to the death.
“In battle.”
They walked in silence for a long time.
“How … how bad is it there?”
She sighed, carefully weighing her words before answering. “We are at war, Eric. War is always horrible. There is nothing good that comes out of it. The death, destruction … all of it is senseless, but yet, it continues on.”
“You’re fighting over a rock, though. That seems to be the most absurd thing to me.”
When he put it that way, yes, it was ridiculous. However, it was much more than that, as wars often were.
“We’re fighting for our pride. Each side has accused the other of taking it. We’re fighting for the return of the symbol of our creators.”
“I still don’t understand why no one believed you when you said that you knew what had happened to it, that Eorricris had left to find it.”
That would be even more complicated to explain, and she didn’t want to tread into that territory.
“I guess I wasn’t a very good communicator,” she said, hoping he’d drop the subject. “I apparently didn’t do a very good job of convincing my people of the truth.”
When silence met her ears, her shoulders sagged in relief. She wanted him to know what was at stake because of the war. She needed him to understand how important it was that they found the Moonstone. However, she couldn’t bring herself to give him the details of the atrocities she’d been forced to commit.
For now, she’d keep those answers to herself.
* * *
As the sun set, Eric expressed fatigue and announced it was time to stop for the night. She could see the top of the mountain up above, but also found her body exhausted. They’d covered a lot of ground during the daylight, and she still needed to rest from her trip here. Traveling from one realm to the other had tired her greatly.
“I’ll get the tent set up,” he said with a yawn. “Then, I’ll make us something to eat.”
She’d found another blueberry bush and happily munched on the fruits. She had no desire for anything else.
“I’ll assist you with the tent,” she said, having no idea what to actually do.
“I can get it on my own. If you want to get some firewood, that would be great.”
As she walked through the forest, a pang of longing for her own home hit her chest. The air here didn’t feel as pure against her skin, nor did it seem as cleansing as it moved through her lungs. She did enjoy the smell of the trees, and when she happened on another bush with red berries, she wondered if they would be safe to eat. She’d have to ask Eric.
Returning to the campsite with an armful of sticks, she was impressed to see the tent already erected. Eric had dug a hole, as well as dragged over a large tree trunk.
“Here, I’ll take those,” he said, wiping the sweat from his face. “We’ll get the fire started, get something to eat, then turn in for the night so we can start early tomorrow.”
She turned the sticks over to him and sat down on the log as he arranged them over some pine needles and leaves, then set it all on fire.
As he settled next to her, she stared at the flames, remembering how part of the forest had gone up in a blaze that had almost consumed all of it a few years ago during the war. If that had happened, none of them would have had nourishment. She knew the sky dragons had done it, but it had been an exercise in stupidity. Why cut off the food supply for all in the realm? It didn’t make any sense.
“The fire feels nice,” he commen
ted. “It’s going to get chilly up here tonight.”
Just as she was about to agree, she heard the snap of a twig and stilled. Eric prattled on about how it seemed rain would be coming, and she laid her hand over his and brought her finger up to her mouth with her other hand to signal him to silence.
He stared at her, his eyes wide as another snap of a branch met her ears. She stood, raised her head, and sniffed the air, sensing that multiple intruders had entered the area.
She quietly lifted the dress over her head, folded it neatly, then set it on the log next to Eric. Raising her hands up to the sky, she shut her eyes.
Eric may think that she needed to be protected, but he didn’t realize they’d been surrounded and grave danger had come to their doorstep.
It was time for her to take charge.
10
Eric tried not to look as Tirvu undressed, then folded the simple garment and set it on the log, but failed miserably. He couldn’t tear his gaze away from the pale, curvy flesh, the tips of his fingers itching to reach out and touch the toned thigh just inches away.
He was about to ask her what she was doing, but then she lifted her arms above her head and a white shimmer emanated around her, caressing her skin. A second later, a bright light flashed, and Tirvu was gone. In her place stood the fierce white dragon, its scales glittering in the moonlight. She opened her mouth, and he gasped when ice crystals scattered around the campsite like snow.
He’d always thought dragons breathed fire, but apparently, that wasn’t the case.
She turned her thick neck and looked at him, her fierce, blue gaze causing him to take a step back and almost fall over the log they’d just been sitting on. Despite the cool night air, sweat began to form on his brow and upper lip. He wiped it away with his forearms as he tried to catch his breath. She was more beautiful in her dragon form than as a human, but standing next to a seven-foot beast who spit ice also had his tongue tied in knots and his limbs trembling.
Why in the hell had she shifted?
She whipped her head back around and stared out into the forest as her tail curled around him and gently dragged him in next to her side. He didn’t fight it when he realized she must have sensed something he couldn’t see. As he stood in between her and the fire, he listened closely, trying to ignore the huffs from her snout and his own thundering heartbeat.
After a moment, he heard movement to their right and squinted as he tried to see the threat through the smoke and darkness. Tirvu’s gaze followed his, her concentration intent.
Suddenly, leaves rustled all around them, and sets of red eyes emerged from the trees. He glanced behind him to see wolves come into the camping area.
Oh, shit. Would this be a war of wolves and a dragon? The images he’d seen in his dreams passed before his eyes; pictures of bloody human corpses, of black dragons ripping white ones to shreds, pools of blood …
His stomach heaved as he reached down to the fire and pulled out a stick that had a flame on one end. He held it up in front of him, hoping to scare some of them off. Not that he’d ever gone toe-to-toe with a pack of wolves, but he recalled seeing some nature show where humans had chased off the predators with flames.
Next to him, Tirvu roared, a deep, guttural sound that sent tremors throughout his body. Her tail curled around him tighter, pressing him closer to her flank. He shivered when his body met her frigid scales, despite his coat and shirt. His breath heaved in and out of his chest as the wolves moved in closer. He bent his legs, ready to lunge against any who tried to attack them. Although he knew Tirvu was the most powerful one in this mêlée, the urge to protect her overwhelmed him, and he’d give this battle everything he had to make sure she didn’t get hurt.
Three of the wolves came up on her left flank, their teeth bared, their eyes glowing red. Just as they were about to pounce, Tirvu roared again and flicked her tail, sending them back into the forest with a yelp and a loud thump as they hit the ground. A few of the others backed off, except for the big black wolf that moved forward.
He shuffled up to Tirvu’s shoulder as he eyed the beast. For some reason, it looked familiar to him, but he couldn’t place why. As its coat began to shimmer yellow, he remembered—the wolf shifter that had told him to find safety during the Event.
A moment later, she stood before them in her human form, her black, tangled hair covering her shoulders and breasts. Thin, yet very muscular, she stared at them with a mahogany gaze.
Tirvu narrowed her eyes as she moved closer to the woman, Eric by her side. Now, he worried Tirvu would hurt the woman, despite the fact the wolves obviously had no intentions of fighting at the moment. They must realize that even with their numbers, which he counted to be around a dozen, they were no match for an ice-breathing dragon.
He laid his hand on Tirvu’s right shoulder, hoping to convey that she didn’t need to eat anyone … at least not right now.
“You have crossed over to our land,” the wolf leader said, keeping her gaze trained on Tirvu’s bright blue one.
“We didn’t know,” Eric answered. “We mean you no harm.”
“My name is Celestria,” she said. “What brings you up to this elevation?”
“I’m E—”
Hell, he’d just almost introduced himself as Eorricris. Tirvu’s story had obviously gotten under his skin and whittled its way into his brain.
“I’m Eric,” he announced. “We’re looking for Devil’s Ridge.”
Celestria arched an eyebrow. “That’s up the mountain a bit. What lies in there that holds your attention?”
He glanced over up Tirvu, whose whole body began to shake. He turned his head as a burst of white light emanated from her and, a second later, she stood next to him as naked as Celestria.
In another time, another place, perhaps he would have been aroused standing between two strong, nude women, but not now. At this point, he just hoped to get through this meeting without bloodshed. They may be in the wolves’ territory, but he hoped for some type of negotiation that allowed them to stay. He was too damn tired to pack up the campsite, despite the brief jolt of adrenaline the wolves’ appearance had given him.
“We’re going to the cave because we believe there may be a clue to where we can find a relic from my world that was taken from us during the last Event,” Tirvu answered.
He noticed she didn’t ask to pass through their forest, but instead, told them she would be, and he couldn’t suppress the grin. Tirvu’s strength and dedication to her cause impressed him, and for some strange reason, satisfaction welled in his chest.
Why the hell should he be proud of her?
Celestria narrowed her gaze on Tirvu and stepped closer to her. They stood almost eye-to-eye, and it was a stare down to rival any promo for a boxing or MMA match. Tirvu’s eyes flashed the brighter blue, and he knew in a second she’d be shifting back into her dragon form and ripping Celestria’s head from her body.
One thing he’d learned in the short time he’d known her, Tirvu didn’t accept no for an answer and didn’t like anyone telling her what to do.
“Look,” he said, stepping up next to Tirvu and placing his hands on each of their shoulders.
Again, two naked women, and all he could think of was trying to come out of this without bloodshed and everyone’s limbs intact. Most men would definitely have other thoughts.
“We mean you no harm. We simply want to stay the night here, and in the morning, we’ll continue up the mountain. If you could grant us that, it would be greatly appreciated.”
Tirvu scoffed and rolled her eyes, unimpressed with his attempt at diplomacy.
“Thank you for asking me, instead of telling me, what you would like to do on our land,” Celestria growled, her eyes flashing red as she stared at Tirvu. “And if we allow you to stay, what can we expect from you?”
He had no idea what that meant. Did she want some type of payment?
“I expect my land to remain as you found it,” she said, answering her own quest
ion.
Of course. Now, he understood.
“We won’t be any trouble. I’ll make sure the fire is put out and that we don’t leave any garbage. It will be as if we were never here.”
He glanced over her shoulder and saw that some of the other wolves had also shifted to their human forms. They stared at the three of them with fierce looks on their faces, as if they waited for the signal to attack.
The legend about the pack of wolf shifters was obviously true, and he wasn’t surprised in the least bit. After what he’d seen and experienced in the past twenty-four hours, he believed every single story he’d ever heard about this crazy place.
“Very well,” Celestria said with a nod. “However, I must warn you, this side of the forest is riddled with demons. We’ve tried to clear them out the best we can, but they are a devious bunch. You will most likely meet up with some of them, and we won’t be able to protect you.”
“I can handle a demon,” Tirvu growled. “We don’t need anyone to protect us.”
“I’m sure you can,” Celestria commented as her gaze raked up and down Tirvu’s body.
“You may stay through the night, but please move on at daylight.”
“We will. Thank you,” Eric replied.
The yellow shimmer surrounded Celestria, and she once again turned into her wolf form.
One by one, the others who had shifted into humans also returned to wolves. As they backed out of the camping area, his shoulders sagged, and he sighed with relief.
He sat down on the log and put his head in his hands. So far, he’d survived a demon attack and a potential fight with a pack of wolves. Lady Luck was definitely on his side.
Glancing up at Tirvu, he found her staring out into the forest, standing in the same spot. He studied her long legs, her firm buttocks, and the mass of snow-white hair tangled around her shoulders. Visions of his hand twisting a fistful of it while making love to her played through his mind.
“I feel your stare on me,” Tirvu said and turned around to face him.
