Huntress: A Paranormal Romance

by Alexandra Christian

  As she allowed Bella to dress her in the layers of silk and lace, Thalia thought that sacrifice was a concept not truly understood by most. Most would not put other people so far ahead of themselves that they were willing to accept grave consequences to spare the ones they loved. It was supposed to be painful, terrifying, and uncertain. Otherwise, it wouldn’t be a sacrifice. Markus had understood sacrifice. He had loved Thalia so much that he was willing to sacrifice his young life to protect the life of his mentor. The more she thought about it, the more Thalia was convinced that Markus had understood his fate before he ran into the fray with that bull dragon that would ultimately take his life. He’d known that in that fight, one of them would fall, and he had not been willing to let Thalia be the one.

  Now as she descended from the safety of her bedchamber to the castle below, Thalia realized she had never sacrificed herself in all her life. The Huntress was an arrogant machine. She’d gone into battle with those dragons never thinking for one second that she would not emerge victorious. It had never truly been a sacrifice because she had never felt the danger. Tonight, as she made her way through the labyrinthine halls of the castle, she could most definitely feel the danger. Tonight, she was a sacrifice.

  The layers of heavy fabric weighed her down as she descended the stone steps into the bowels of the castle. Belladonna trailed behind her holding the skirts as if she were some twisted sort of bridesmaid. Perhaps that was indeed her function. After all, according to the mythology behind Sheakhol, tonight she would be made the dragon’s bride. “Be unafraid,” she said over and over in her head. Malik had been nothing but kind to her up to this point. If he’d wanted her dead, he could have eaten her a month ago. It should make her feel better to know that the human form of her prince lurked beneath that suit of scales, but it actually made her feel more uneasy. Thalia’s intense attraction for her dark friend was infinitely more frightening than a dragon. He had awakened something inside of her, and she wasn’t sure what was going to happen should it be unleashed.

  “Are you certain this is going to work?” Thalia asked as they reached the doors to the Great Hall.

  “Not at all.”

  Thalia whipped around, staring wild-eyed at the chambermaid. “You mean you’ve never done this before?”

  “Well… I never really had much cause to test the theory. The onion that Christophe gave the queen had many layers. I can only assume that the curse gave the prince many layers.”

  Thalia sighed and hid her face in her hands. “I hope you don’t mean that figuratively.”

  Bella smiled and pushed open the doors. Thalia braced herself for the chill of the ruined hall, but was pleasantly surprised. The stones at her feet had been covered with a rug that ran the length of the hall, and the tapestries upon the walls all looked as if no time had passed. No longer were they moth-eaten and faded but vibrant and beautiful, telling the story of a young king and his exploits. In the last one, two lovers embraced amid vines of ivy and roses. “Bella, who is this?” She turned to find that she was alone. The thunder of the doors closing seemed to accentuate her solitude.

  The Great Hall was also changed. It seemed almost warm with the rugs, heavy drapes, and the distinct lack of holes in the ceiling. A blazing fire had been built in the pit, and massive and inviting couches had been arranged strategically around it. Malik lay in the corner, filling up half of the room with his enormity. Thalia felt sorry for him. He couldn’t stand up straight here lest he bring down the walls, so he appeared to be hunched over. “Good evening, my lord,” Thalia said, bowing low as he opened his great eyes. “You’ve been gone a rather long while.”

  Malik cocked his head to one side, staring at the girl as she negotiated around the fire, approaching him. Clearly he was confused by her sudden appearance. “Thalia, what a surprise. I suspected you would hide yourself away as much as possible. I told Bella that she might serve your meals in your chamber.”

  “Don’t be ridiculous, my lord. Why would I deny myself the favor of your company?”

  Malik heaved a harsh chuckle that was almost a snarl. “I can’t imagine that most humans would feel obliged to keep company with a dragon. Especially not the fearsome and ferocious Wyrm of Gwynfir.”

  “On the contrary, my lord. I find your company rather agreeable. Would you mind if I sat?”

  Malik shook his head, obviously somewhat confused by her sudden change of heart. He watched closely as she made herself comfortable on the chaise nearest him. It wasn’t an easy task given the layers of garments Mab had forced upon her. Thalia would never get used to the niceties of court ladies. She was quite happy with the garb of a warrior: leather breeches and a tunic with her crossbow strapped to her back. The only accessory a dagger strapped to her thigh. Mab had insisted she wear a full gown: underthings, chemise, corset, kirtle, and surcote. It had seemed like a good idea at the time, but now that she was here she found that her movement was severely restricted. She also had the ridiculous thought that she couldn’t put her arms down fully at her sides. The entire situation was awkward. “You seem a bit… encumbered.”

  “Your chambermaid insisted I dress like a proper lady.”

  “Bella has strange ideas about things. You will learn to ignore her.”

  “Indeed. Of course, she did let me in on a few tidbits of information that had escaped the breadth of my knowledge.”

  “Oh?”

  “Yes. She informed me that the ritual of Sheakhol was not complete.”

  Malik chuckled. “How so?”

  “Well, the ritual itself was designed to offer the dragon a sacrifice that would become the serpent bride.”

  “And so it did.”

  “Yes, but that was only part of the story, wasn’t it?”

  “I’m not sure I understand your meaning, Mouse.” Malik stretched and stood as much as he was able, slithering to where she sat and wrapping his enormous body around the couch and draping his tail over the end. “But I like bedtime stories. Do enlighten me.”

  “According to legend, the dragon took the maiden, and if she went to him willingly with faith and love in her heart, then he would shed his skin and reveal the lord underneath. If she showed any fear or had evil intent, then the dragon would devour her.”

  “An intriguing story. I’m not exactly sure what any of this has to do with me.”

  “I will stay here willingly, for the rest of my days. I will live here with you and do whatever you ask of me. I will be your bride…”

  “My bride?” This time the dragon laughed long and loud, shaking the stone walls with the force of it. “For a dragon to take a human bride… truly take her… would be, at the very least, unpleasant for the human.”

  The innuendo was not lost on Thalia, and she couldn’t help but smirk. “That’s why it is called a sacrifice, my lord.”

  “This is ridiculous…” he began.

  “Am I not to your liking? Perhaps there is another woman in Osghast that you would find more pleasing?”

  “No.”

  “Then perhaps you fear me? The great Huntress of Tarkin?”

  “I fear nothing!” Malik exclaimed, clearly insulted.

  “Then what have you to lose? I am the only one who will surely die in this exchange.” Thalia stood and crossed her arms defiantly over her chest. She stared into the eyes of the dragon with a haughty resolve. Bella had explained that she would have to bait him into it. That he would be resistant. She could only pray that the fairy was right. “Come on then. What are you waiting for?” He growled deeply in his chest and slinked closer. She could tell by the way the dark slitted pupils contracted that he was examining her closely. He raised his snout, sniffing her out. Thalia willed herself to be still. She couldn’t show any fear, no matter how much she might want to. He was so close now, almost on top of her. She could feel his heat, and it was almost overwhelming.

  “Have it your way then,” he snarled finally. Stepping back, he stood watching. It was a predatory stance. “Take off your d
ress. I wish to see my human prize,” he said gruffly.

  “Not so fast, my lord. Surely you haven’t forgotten the ritual. For every layer I remove, you must match it.”

  “Hmm…and how do you propose I do that?”

  “Your skin. Dragons are as lizards, are they not? Shedding a layer of skin as they grow larger?”

  “Of course.”

  “Then for each layer of clothing I shed, you give me one layer. That’s the way it must be done.”

  Malik laughed. “You’re very strange, Mouse.”

  “Do you agree?”

  “Fine. Whatever you want,” he said with a sigh of derision. “If that is the way it is done, then that is how we must do it. Go on.”

  Thalia bowed and pulled the silver comb from her hair, letting her hair fall down over her shoulders. With shaking fingers, she began to unlace the bodice of the surcote. Bella had tied the strings so tightly that she had a difficult time getting her fingers beneath the knotting, but she was finally victorious. The heavy, embroidered fabric practically fell from her shoulders as the ties were loosed. She bent over, picking it up and throwing it aside. “Your turn.”

  The dragon raised up on his haunches, stretching his wings behind him. He raised a single talon, dragging it down the middle of his chest. Thalia was fascinated as the skin split, at first just a little and then cracking all the way down Malik’s front. He growled and groaned as he twisted his body, working the tough and hardened scales away from his body. Once it had split in one place, it split in others until all of the skin seemed to slide from his body like water. Thalia stood back as the great, dried-out pelt fell away and disintegrated into ashes as it hit the floor. “Is that what you wanted to see, Mouse?” he rasped. Obviously, the molting was a difficult process.

  Thalia nodded. Suddenly she was filled with a strange urgency. She wanted to see what was going to happen next. The kirtle was heavy, and she struggled with it. This must be why noblewomen had maidservants. Getting in and out of these clothes unassisted was no easy task. She finally managed to pull the yards and yards of linen and lace over her head, only getting lost once or twice. By the time she was able to throw it aside, she was almost certain that Malik was laughing at her. “You try taking off a heavy dress over your head sometime!” she snapped.

  “A few well-placed fireballs could make short work of your clothing,” he said with a sneer.

  “No, thank you,” she replied. “Quit stalling.”

  Malik nodded and once more began to peel his skin away. This time was more difficult than before as he gave a tremulous roar as the skin split down his back and gave way. Once more the pelt seemed to dissolve and blow away before it could hit the ground. Thalia reached out at one point, wanting to keep a scale or two for herself, but the skin was mere dust on her fingertips. When he was done, she could have sworn that he was smaller than before, but she dared not mention it.

  Twice more they carried on their dance, each of them shedding their clothing until only one layer remained. Thalia stood in naught but the simple linen underthings that covered her most private of places. Her modesty and the chill of the castle were conspiring to kill her nerve, but as Malik shed another layer, she noticed that the iridescent scales had grown thin. Nearly transparent. Beneath she could see pale flesh. His eyes, which had once been orange fire with glints of green like an autumn forest, were now the strangest shade of aquamarine with flecks of gold. He panted and hissed, now so exhausted that he lay on the floor nearly unable to lift his head. “This is some ploy to kill me, is it not, slayer?” He tried to move toward her, but the pain of it was too much, and he collapsed at her feet. “Well go ahead… stab me through the heart. Take back my head to your king!”

  Thalia knelt, taking his head in her hands. “No… please, my lord. You mustn’t give up.” She stroked her fingertips along the ridge of his nose, feeling the loose skin there. “It is an evil curse that will take great pain to break. You must trust me.” The weakened dragon closed and opened his eyes in reply.

  “Then let us be done with it.”

  Thalia stood, trying to keep from trembling as she slowly pulled the final slips of fabric away from her body until she stood before him naked. Straightening her spine, she was almost displaying herself for him. Her mind raced with what might happen next. Perhaps Bella had been mistaken, and she had gone through this for nothing. Had put Malik through this for nothing. Looking down at the creature, he no longer seemed fearsome but pathetic. Weak. A draft of breeze kissed her skin, and she shuddered. “It… is your turn… my lord…” she stammered. Her teeth were chattering now, and she was sure that if the dragon didn’t devour her that she would die of a fever in a week’s time.

  “Come closer, Mouse,” he rumbled. “My body,” he panted. “It seems wracked with fever, but I will warm you.” Using all the strength he had left, he raised up and opened his arms. Thalia went to him and allowed him to wrap her up in the muscular wings. His body swirled around her, offering a protective embrace that quickly chased away the cold. She slid her hands along the scaly shoulders and found that the scales were not hardened or wet, but soft and warm like a man’s flesh.

  “I know you,” Thalia whispered. As she said it, his skin split once more and began to fall away. Where it opened up, a silvery steam emerged, wrapping around them like a glistening veil. Suddenly, Malik broke away from her with a roar unlike anything she’d ever heard. His body twisted and contorted, rising into the air as if carried by the mist. She was thrown backward with the force of the breaking spell and struggled to keep her eyes open. She wanted to see him. She needed to see if it was true. With a bursting of light, the dragon was gone, leaving behind a man. He lay there on the cold stone before her. His naked flesh was marked with scarring left by the shift, but as Thalia watched, it healed and disappeared, leaving behind perfect alabaster skin. His black hair fell in waves over his shoulders. The sharp edges of his cheekbones, the downturned strangeness of his eyes, and slope of his nose were reminiscent of the dragon’s face, but indescribably beautiful. She wanted to laugh or shout with unadulterated glee at seeing him finally in the flesh. Fully awake. The dark prince she’d known all her life.

  Chapter Twenty

  Thalia wasn’t aware of how long he lay there, unmoving. For a moment, she thought that perhaps he hadn’t survived the change from dragon to human, but the steady undulation of his chest reassured her. “My lord?” she whispered finally, creeping toward him. He didn’t respond or even move. “Are you well?” As she got closer, she could see the final pelt of his dragon form, laying mangled on the floor behind him. It had not disintegrated like the others. She knelt down, running her hands along the discarded scales. Instead of dry and crumbling like a snakeskin, they were thick and soft like leather. She tried picking it up, but it was so large and so heavy that she nearly fell down.

  “Stealing my scales, are you?”

  “Um… no…”

  “Who could blame you? They’ll probably fetch a fair price in the market towns. Armor made of dragon scales is a rare thing indeed in these times.” He tried to sit up, using his arms and legs as if he were still a quadruped, unsure where to put them to make his body do what he wanted. Thalia went to him, kneeling to help him to a sitting position.

  “Be careful, my lord.”

  “Why won’t my legs work? Why is my body betraying me?”

  Thalia grinned. “You’ve never used it before.”

  “This is preferable to my old form?” he grumbled as he tried to reach for Thalia’s cloak still laying on the floor. His fingers were clumsy as he attempted to grasp the fabric between them. “I can’t even lift this cloak!”

  “Here, my lord… let me help you.” Thalia pulled the heavy cloak around his shoulders. She knelt in front of him so close that she could feel the heat still emanating from his body, as if the fire of the dragon was still there within, burning brightly. This close, she could really see him, and his gaze was arresting. It was so overwhelming that she
immediately felt dizzy and her chest ached. She held the cloak around his throat. The breadth of his shoulders was such that the fabric offered little protection from the chill of the room, but perhaps it would stop his shivering. His eyes cut deeply, and they did not wander from her face. He was studying her, gauging each reaction with a clinical eye.

  “You know me?” he asked.

  “Of course, my lord,” Thalia answered, faltering under the heavy gaze of the dragon prince. “I have walked with you many times.” She paused, her words sounding silly and childish to her ears. “In my dreams.”

  “Are you certain it was a dream?”

  She shook her head. “No. No, I’m not. I’m not certain of anything anymore.”

  “Perhaps you were wandering,” he began, his voice a rough growl deep in his throat. It was obvious that this new form was very strange to the prince. “Wandering in Faerie. A place where those of your kind can only venture in sleep.”

  “Perhaps,” Thalia replied with a thin smile. His gaze was more than she could take, and she looked away, moving her hands away and backing off.

  “Are you still afraid of me, Mouse? Even in this… pitiful state?”

  “You’re hardly pitiful, my lord. You’ll find your strength soon enough.”

  “And when I do, will you still be afraid?”

  “More than I have ever been.” Thalia was suddenly very aware of her nakedness and crossed her arms over her chest in an attempt to cover herself.

  He laughed again. “I’m surprised. You’ve known me your whole life. There’s really no point in fearing me now. Come, help me to the chaise.” He pulled the cloak from around his shoulders and offered it. “Perhaps this will make you feel more comfortable.” She was now very aware of his nakedness, and the notion of comfort dissolved. She put her arms around his back, allowing him to lean against her as they stood. His body was heavy, and she felt dwarfed by his stature. Slowly the couple, looking like some great beast, moved together toward the wide sofa by the fire pit. They collapsed awkwardly in a tangle of limbs and fabric. “Oh, sorry,” Thalia stammered.