Savage Beauty

by Casey L. Bond

I shook my head. “I’m glad I could entertain you.”

  Mischief glittered in her eyes. “We could do it again.”

  “No! No, I’m… not that glad.”

  She just smiled and held me as we flew through the air, just above the trees now.

  “Your heart is finally slowing,” she whispered, staring at the moon. When the unearthly green orbs of her eyes fell on me, I swallowed, sure she would hear it roar again just from being so close to her, in her arms. Her skin was warm, but it wasn’t burning to the touch.

  When the broom started to slow, I knew we were close to an ingredient. None would be pleasant to collect, and some, I didn’t know how we would retrieve them without being killed. For example, a dragon’s egg.

  “How will you steal a dragon’s egg?” I asked curiously.

  “Very carefully,” she replied solemnly. “And let’s hope that the only female dragon I know of has recently laid one. But that isn’t what we’re here for. I’m here for the spirit.”

  She set us down gently in a field beside a small village. Just beyond was a cleared area with pile after pile of stone. “It’s a boneyard,’ she explained. “I need you to stay here. Ghosts can be frightened of the living.”

  “But you are one of the living,” I pointed out.

  “I am also fae, which they love,” she gloated with a smirk.

  I held the stick of her broom and waited as she walked among the stones and bones. Never looking down, she rifled around in the bag tied to her waist and withdrew something, but in the dark, I couldn’t tell what it was. As she slowly crept closer to a cluster of grave sites, I noticed the stones on one of the graves were fresher than the others. No moss grew on the north-facing sides of them.

  Like a predator, she stealthily and quietly prowled forward, muttering something I couldn’t make out. A spell, no doubt. Holding out a small glass bottle, I watched a spirit manifest before her, white and translucent. It was a young woman wearing a dress with skirts that fluttered around her. The ghost smiled at Luna, who urged her forward toward the bottle.

  When she came close enough, Luna used her power to suck her into the glass, corking the top before the woman’s spirit could escape again.

  But Luna lost her smile. As she returned, I saw that a cold mask had clicked into place, one filled with regret. I saw it every time she mentioned my brother’s name, as well as when she spoke about what she had to do to Prince Terigon of Ringsted, and of the dark fae she met last night. The one who marked her.

  Malex, she’d called him.

  Malex, who was deceitful. Did he lie to her about some of these ingredients being necessary? Was he trying to get her killed?

  Was giving up part of her soul and happiness worth all this? Because every time she hurt someone or something, a piece of her chipped and fell away. It hurt my chest to watch her wage an internal war with herself. Inwardly, she was shredding herself to ribbons. Outwardly, she was stone.

  She tucked the spirit back into her bag and grabbed the broom from my hand without looking at me. If this was the simplest ingredient to obtain, I worried how she would handle the most difficult.

  LUNA

  “Luna?” he asked tentatively.

  “I’m not sure what you saw, but I retrieved a spirit.”

  He nodded. “I saw.”

  Of course he did. He always saw too much. My fists tightened around my broomstick. “Are you ready?” I said curtly. “I have a long list, and the night is always too short.”

  He pursed his lips together. “I’m ready.” Holding tight to my waist, he settled on the broom behind me. I ignored the way his hands felt, the warmth that radiated from him, and the concern that rolled off him in waves, threatening to drown me.

  I didn’t want his pity or concern.

  And something else was bothering me. I couldn’t get it out of my head. Just now, he was worried for me. But back at the cottage, he was angry. He was barely able to contain whatever it was that he felt, accusing me of using magic on him. I didn’t, but I wondered if something in the spell I worked to heal him had gone awry.

  I went over it in my head and confirmed I’d left nothing out. The words were right. The ingredients were what his body needed. Whatever it was, it was gone almost as soon as it reared its head.

  Truthfully, I preferred his rage to his worry. Though he’d acted seemingly out of character, I had to remind myself that just because I knew his brother, didn’t mean I knew him. I didn’t know much about him at all, truth be told. Maybe beneath the calm surface was a volcano ready to explode. Some men hid their tempers well until they burst forth, burning everyone around them. Phillip may be one of them. It didn’t seem that way based on what I’d seen, but I’d only known him a couple of days.

  I pushed the thoughts away. It didn’t matter if he was an explosion waiting to happen, or the kindest man alive. I would protect him until I ended Luna, and then I would send him safely home to Grithim.

  Not long after we took to the sky, I felt Ember tense. I pulled on the thread between us and flew toward her as fast as I could. As much as Phillip enjoyed flying above the trees, flying between them made him nervous. I couldn’t help but smile as curses flew from his beautiful lips.

  Zooming fast and dodging tree trunks, I found my familiar. She’d cornered a wolf and held it at the bottom of a cliff. Its powerful teeth snapped at her, but Ember held her ground. His claws sliced through the air, coming frighteningly close to tearing into her.

  “Ember,” I muttered. “Careful.”

  I landed far enough away that the prince would be safe.

  The wolf let out a low, rumbling growl as I stalked forward. I would hate this task even more than I hated the last. Capturing an innocent spirit was one thing, but taking the eye of a living creature – who needed his vision to survive – was another.

  The wolf’s attention was split between me and Ember as we walked toward him and he backed away from us, becoming pinned against a small cliff. With the rock at his back, he knew there was no other way out than to fight, and his instincts kicked in.

  His hackles raised and he snarled, baring his canines and biting the air at both of us, first Ember and then me. He charged forward, but before he could reach Ember, Phillip was there, brandishing my broom like a sword, cracking the hard wood down on the wolf’s massive paw.

  I couldn’t have been more surprised.

  Regaining my wits, I stared at the dangerous and agitated animal in front of us and told Phillip, “Take Ember away before he tears her apart.”

  I heard it when he gripped the broom handle tighter. “What about you?”

  “I’ll be fine. Check her for injuries, please.” I kept the wolf in my sight at all times. He was restless, prancing left and then right, looking for a way out of the corner we’d backed him into. Before he made the decision to strike out again—which was exactly what he was going to do until there was no strength left in him—I extended my hands to calm him.

  Phillip’s footsteps eased behind me. He stayed close enough to help me if I needed it, but he held Ember protectively in his hands. I could feel her contentment and thankfulness for what he’d done to protect her. Those emotions resonated through me, as well.

  The wolf let out a whine as he watched me slowly approach, hands up in surrender. “Hello, friend,” I said calmly. “I need something from you. I wouldn’t do this if there was any other way.”

  The wolf snarled and backed away, baring his teeth and snapping at me as I withdrew my knife. “I won’t kill you,” I said, staring at him. “I just need your keenness of sight.”

  I knelt down before him. “I need it, or else I would never ask. Now, look at me.”

  As he stared in my eyes, I knew I had him.

  “Watch me now, do not fear.

  Your end time is not near.

  Share with me your gift of sight.

  I will leave you and take flight.”

  The wolf whimpered, knowing what I asked, but in the end, he allowed me
to approach. I stroked his head and apologized again, placing a kiss on the coarse fur between his eyes. I took all of his pain as I eased the knife around behind his lid.

  It only took a moment.

  I stroked his fur and whispered a spell that would speed his healing while Ember made her way back home. When the wolf laid down to rest, I tucked his eye into my bag and called for my broom.

  Phillip’s eyes were scathing when I strode back to him. When he held my broom out to me, I took it and climbed onto the broomstick, waiting to see if he would climb on behind me without being forced. I wasn’t leaving him in these woods at night, and not because of the wolf, which would be healed within a few hours. Phillip took a deep breath, giving the wolf one last look. He was sleeping comfortably, his chest rising and falling. Tomorrow, he would wake with no pain, but his vision would forever be impaired. One day, having only one eye might damn him. And it would be my fault.

  As soon as the broomstick dipped when he sat behind me, I took us into the air. When we were above the trees once more, he placed his mouth at my ear, his warm breath sending a shiver down my spine. “I’m sorry.”

  I swallowed thickly. “So am I.”

  This time, he wrapped his arm around my waist and held my back to his chest. I let him comfort me. I felt sure that after our next task, it was I who would comfort him. We were about to enter a dragon’s lair, and especially with regard to their offspring, dragons were an angry breed.

  The cave bore scorch marks, reminding me that dragons were my least favorite creature on earth. Quick to anger, slow to forgive, and very protective. Everything a beast like them should be, and nothing I wanted to contend with.

  “You aren’t going in there,” Phillip said with a steely voice.

  “I am, and I will return with a dragon’s egg,” I answered with a confidence I didn’t feel. “You’ll have to carry it and be careful not to drop it. They’re huge, and it won’t fit in my bag.”

  “Oh, they are, huh? We’re worried about the size of the egg, but not the retrieval of the thing?” he asked sarcastically. “I see. Very well. Go get your dragon’s egg. I’ll wait here to carry it home for you.”

  I smiled and curtseyed to him. “Thank you, Prince.”

  He grabbed my upper arm as I stepped away from him, turning me back until our eyes met. “Be careful.”

  “Easy, Prince. It almost sounds like you care about me.”

  “I do care.”

  “You shouldn’t.” And William shouldn’t have, either. Look where caring about me got him. “If something happens, Ember will see you home. I promise, you’ll be fine with or without me.”

  His brows furrowed. It was the same look William once gave me before he said something heartfelt and sappy. “Save it for when I return. And be ready with the broom.”

  “Don’t you dare send me into the air,” he growled. He was still stewing a little about hovering above while I dealt with the wolf.

  “I won’t. But if something does go wrong, take my broom and run.”

  “Why would I need the broom? I couldn’t fly with it.”

  “No, you couldn’t, but you might have to beat a dragon away with it. Like you walloped the wolf’s paw.” His mouth dropped open. Likely he was contemplating his own death by fire-breathing dragon, and the fact that my broom would do nothing to protect him against a beast ten times larger than the one he’d faced earlier tonight.

  I eased from his grip and took a deep breath as I stepped into the cave, skirting along the right side, hopefully blending with the stalagmites. Most dragons slept near the entrances of their cave, but this dragon had to be difficult. This dragon decided to make things complicated by nesting deep inside the cave.

  It was dark as pitch, the air damp and chilled. Seeing in the dark had never been an issue and it wasn’t one now, but dragons could also see well in the darkness. They were large and fast, their teeth sharp as razors, their tails as lethal as their fiery breath.

  I wound my way through the twisted labyrinth until I could see a large room. The nest lay just ahead. I crouched behind a large formation and watched the beast as it slept.

  I just needed it to stay that way. Asleep.

  “Weary mother,

  Take your sleep,

  Ignore your nest,

  So I can reap,” I whispered.

  The magic flowed from my fingertips, glowing green and swirling around the enormous animal. She breathed in the smoke and fell farther into a sleepy trance.

  Dragons’ scales were so hard, even magic sometimes couldn’t penetrate them. But she’d inhaled it, giving me a chance. I just hoped this worked long enough for me to get in and get out.

  I eased toward the nest and reached out to take one of the eggs inside. There were several. Surely, she wouldn’t miss just one...

  The beast shifted just as I touched one of the eggs. Two great yellow, slitted eyes opened and a thunderous boom burst forth from her chest as she saw me. The scent of smoke filled the room as a rumbling began in her broad chest.

  How is she still awake?!

  I took the closest of her eggs and ran like the wind. Fire exploded around me, smoke choking my lungs as I pushed harder, faster. She broke through the cave formations as she pursued me and bits of stone stung my skin. She was right on my tail; stumbling and staggering in her exhausted state, but still able to keep up. I would have hated to see her awake and alert. If she let out another fiery breath, I was a goner.

  “Run!” Phillip shouted just ahead, holding the broom out for me.

  He’s too close! “Run, Phillip! Into the forest!”

  He shook his head, knees bent and ready. “I won’t leave you behind!”

  Stubborn prince. Damn his morals.

  I pumped my arm, clutching the egg tightly, and nearly tackled him.

  He took the egg and ran with me at his side. We pumped our arms, our lungs expanding and contracting with every harsh breath, and our feet flew as she chased us into the woods. Right until something jerked me backward.

  Chunks of hair tore from my scalp. The dragon’s claw had caught hold of my hair and was tangled in it. She threw me to the ground and roared in my face. Her eyes glanced all around, searching for her egg.

  “Let her go!” Phillip shouted. The she-dragon raised her head, spewing a stream of fire at him. He crouched behind a large oak just in time to avoid her flame.

  She turned her attention back to me, sniffing me for the scent of her offspring. Her eyes flashed in anger. She knew I’d taken it, but couldn’t find it anywhere.

  Footsteps cut through the fallen leaves as Phillip made his way closer to us. His stubborn bravery was going to get him killed. “Stay back!” I shouted.

  The loud cracking sound of wood breaking set my teeth on edge. “Was that my broom?” I screeched.

  The dragon rose to her full height. She was going to attack him.

  I pushed myself up and crouched before her, pushing against her thick, tough scales and willing them to soften. “Throw the broom!”

  Phillip hesitated, creeping closer.

  “Phillip, for the love of the moon, throw my broom to me now!”

  It landed beside me and I angled the now-broken stick at her heart. The great lizard tensed when she felt the sharp edge at her chest. She glanced down at me, her heart racing faster.

  “I will kill you now if you don’t stop this,” I said softly, lethally. “You have other eggs, but your offspring will have no mother to help them navigate this world when they hatch if I end you.”

  She snorted, her nostrils flaring, smoke trails filtering out of them.

  “I don’t want to hurt you, but I will defend myself. And him.”

  She took her claw out of my hair and took a step back. I stood up straight, keeping the broom close to her chest in case she changed her mind. “Phillip,” I said, motioning for him to come close. I knew what the animal was thinking. He ran to the tree and retrieved her egg. The she-dragon’s chest rumbled as he ran to me.
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  We hopped on the broom and took to the sky just as the dragon let out another fiery roar. The bristles of my broom caught fire, but we were flying so fast, they burned out quickly, leaving tiny smoke trails in our wake. The dragon didn’t follow us into the air, thank the goddess. I flew farther away until I was sure she wasn’t going to find us, and then released my breath and gently handed the egg to Phillip. He took it without question. We would need to take it to the cottage so it wouldn’t break. I steered us there and when his feet hit the ground, Phillip began to pace.

  “We need to put that inside,” I said, ticking my head toward the egg.

  “You were almost incinerated!” he sputtered.

  “You broke my broom,” I deadpanned.

  “Your br—… You’re worried about your damned broomstick? It’s a bloody broom! Make another!”

  “You’re being dramatic, Prince.”

  “Dramatic? Did you see that thing? It could have eaten you! It could have baked you.”

  It almost did, but I didn’t tell him that. If I hadn’t been able to soften her scales so she could feel my threat, neither of us would be alive right now. She could have cooked us, or simply crushed me under her foot.

  Aura’s life force would have brought me back, but Phillip didn’t have that same assurance. If he had died, I couldn’t have helped him. He would have joined his brother in death, and there would’ve been nothing anyone could do to revive him. Not even Malex had that sort of power.

  I smiled, hid my fears from him, and tried to play it off. He truly was being dramatic. We survived and I had my dragon egg. All was well now. “Honestly, can you blame her? Wouldn’t you defend your offspring with the same ferocity?”

  He calmed then. Slightly. “I suppose I would. But I’m beginning to think that the fae you’ve been rendezvousing with is trying to kill you. Maybe he’s working with Aura.”

  I scoffed. Aura hadn’t been near Malex. He’d hated her since the first time they met. But maybe Malex was trying to kill me, or test my mettle, at the very least. The fact of the matter was that he was one of the most powerful fae in the forest, and the only one willing to help sever the bond. I had no option but to do as he asked. But there was something other than concern in the Prince’s voice. Something interesting.