by Meara Platt
“Of course. Nephew, come forward!” He kept his gaze on the recent arrivals even as he took a step closer to Melody. “I have a surprise for you.”
Melody stifled a sob, determined to remain motionless and learn as much as she could of Brihann’s plans.
But it was Bloodaxe who came forward first. She felt his icy, blue gaze on her, felt a dangerous chill seep into her blood and bones, as though she were being frozen alive. But it couldn’t be. It was just a glance. Was he doing something to her on purpose? Warmth flooded through her the moment he broke contact and returned his attention to Brihann. “Indeed,” Bloodaxe said, his lips spread in a malicious smile, “he will be surprised.”
Melody couldn’t tell, but she thought she detected an undercurrent of concern in his voice. No, her hopeful thinking was making her imagine things.
In the next moment, Bloodaxe shook his head and let out a hearty laugh. “It seems you’ll soon have both to bend to your will, Sire. Your victory appears at hand.”
“No thanks to you, traitor!” one of the Dragon Lords cried. Since he was injured and glowering venomously at Bloodaxe, she suddenly realized it had to be Lord Necros. She hadn’t recognized him in his human-like form. Indeed, all of them had now assumed human form … or Fae form—the two were so similar, she couldn’t quite tell into which shape they’d shifted.
They were all as tall and broad-shouldered as Lord Bloodaxe, but while Bloodaxe’s eyes were a cold, assessing blue and hair a raven’s black, the others were not quite as striking. Necros and Python had matted blond hair that fell in thin, slick strands upon their shoulders and dull, tawny eyes flecked with black embers that reflected nothing but oblivion. It should have made them seem more frightening, but quite the opposite was true. They appeared to be mere puppets whose strings were pulled by their high king, Brihann.
The last Dragon Lord, known as Mordain, seemed more dangerous. His hair was as black as Bloodaxe’s, but his eyes were a bold gray flecked with red embers that reflected the fires of Hades. He now stood beside Bloodaxe, his gaze slowly taking in every nuance of her body as though waiting for her to make a mistake and move.
She held her breath, afraid to bat so much as an eyelash.
Fortunately, the vicar decided at that moment to protest the delay in gaining his riches. “Have you forgotten us?” he griped, dragging a limping Lord Babcock along at his side. “We’ve been waiting long enough for our reward.”
“Silence, you vermin!” Brihann roared. “Do you wish to join her with your heads on a pike?” He poked a gnarled finger in Melody’s direction.
Melody braced herself, expecting another blow, but was saved by another commotion in the hall. Her heart sank as Cadeyrn stepped forward and drew back his fancy cape. He looked as magnificent as she’d ever seen him, and prepared for battle—wearing chain mail and hauberk beneath his royal tunic and gripping a silver shield with a black dragon emblazoned on it. In his other hand, he held his battle sword … the same sword she’d seen dripping with green ooze after each demon encounter. His hair was lightly ruffled. His breaths appeared relaxed and evenly measured despite his swift descent into this dank and stifling hall. He stood poised and eager, relishing a fight.
Ygraine and Fiergrin both also removed their capes to reveal themselves. They wore the long, white robes that marked them as members of the royal Fae council.
A tear escaped Melody’s eye. Brihann was going to kill them all unless she managed to stop him. “Cadeyrn, run! It’s a trap!” she cried, struggling to her feet, her movements awkward for her arms and ankles were still bound.
Cadeyrn took one look at her and glowered. He was furious.
She didn’t care. They’d work it out later … if there was a later.
Before there was time to think about it anymore, Brihann gave the order and Python and his demons charged Cadeyrn and his council elders. “Bloodaxe! Mordain! Help them. Finish him. Destroy him!”
He’d forgotten Necros.
But, no.
Brihann growled another order. “Necros! Kill the mortal girl!”
Necros lunged at her, his sword raised and the look of murder in his eyes. She jumped away as his blade came down on the spot where she had just been standing, the might of his steel striking the marble floor with a teeth-rattling clang. He lunged at her again, but missed as she hopped back and whirled her bound hands in a frantic attempt to break the silver threads that held her fast.
Was anyone going to help her? Could anyone help her?
Cadeyrn was fighting for his own life and wouldn’t reach her in time, no matter how desperately he tried. Was he even still alive and fighting his way toward her? She dared not take her gaze off Necros. He was crazed and determined to do horrid things to her.
She was shaking, barely managing to keep her wits about her as she hopped and whirled to avoid his every onslaught, which only made him madder, wilder. His shrieks filled the hall—demonic shrieks, high-pitched and painful to her ears, shrieks that mingled with those of Brihann’s frenzied minions, their talons scratching against the slick floor as they leaped over and around her to swarm the entrance where Cadeyrn, Ygraine, and Fiergrin were surely trapped.
Chaos reigned in Brihann’s rancid underworld.
The metallic clash of swords, the screams of wounded demons … the whoosh, whoosh of dragon’s wings once more circling high above her, were all a confusing blur to Melody. She saw two shadows, recognized them as Brihann and Python. Where were Bloodaxe and Mordain? Killing Cadeyrn?
She had to break these blasted bonds! But she couldn’t, and staggered backward instead, landing painfully on her hip and shoulder as she hit the ground hard. The breath blew out of her with a mighty ooof.
Necros, still in the shape of a man—an ugly, revolting, obviously-hadn’t-bathed-in-years-and-stank-worse-than-a-feast-of-rotten-eggs man—was now standing over her, sword raised, and hollow black eyes reflecting nothing but hatred.
She was done for.
She raised her arms in a desperate attempt to fend off his fatal blow. It was a feeble and useless act, she realized, as Necros lifted the blade over his head and aimed it straight at her heart. He was going to hit his mark this time … unless she stopped him. Closing her eyes, she thought of Cadeyrn, recalling his words. Believe in yourself. You can do this. You’re the only one who doubts your strength.
No longer. Her body began to tingle and heart began to pound as a wave of energy shot through her limbs, a radiant wave of inner strength that encompassed her in a circle of golden light. The power emanated from her fingertips to create an impenetrable barrier, one strong enough to rattle Necros’ own rotten teeth when he lowered his blade full force and hit that wall of light. He tried again and again to strike her, slamming his sword down with increasing fury and frustration at each deflection.
He wouldn’t stop, continuing to strike harder until he’d hurled everything he could at her, until his sword finally shattered in his massive fists. A shard of flying steel caught him in the shoulder. He let out a roar that would have shaken rafters, had there been any in the cavernous hall. He clutched his shoulder as a dark green ooze began to seep from it. “I’ll kill you! Worthless human! I’ll kill you now!”
Enraged beyond reason, Necros shifted into his dragon form, his wings a dazzling amber gleam except for the one injured area still covered in green ooze. He reared on his hind legs and drew in a breath … dragon’s fire! In that moment, Melody realized he was about to swallow her up in flames.
The Draloch Prophecy! In fiery death shall she conquer the dragon’s darkness.
This was the moment of Fae salvation! And in her ashes shall Fae king triumph to reign glorious in the Garden of Light.
Her life, every precious breath she’d taken since entering the world, every precious moment she’d experienced since meeting Cadeyrn, their kisses, their coupling, and her ultimate betrayal of Cadeyrn—indeed, she’d betrayed him by agreeing to marry Lord Babcock—all of it was meant to lead her to thi
s moment, to this clarity.
“Do it, Necros!” She lowered her hands, which were still bound in silken threads, no longer afraid, but at peace and ready to face her destiny, for it would save Cadeyrn.
To love someone means you would die for them. That’s what Cadeyrn had told her. He was right. He’d said it to her. He’d set her free and come to Brihann’s lair knowing it would mean death for him, but he did it anyway because he was prepared to die for her.
He’d never told her that he loved her.
No, he’d done something far more important—he’d shown her what true love meant by willingly sacrificing his own life. She hadn’t believed him, hadn’t understood at the time. She was so sorry. This would make things right between them. It simply had to. “I love you, Cadeyrn,” she whispered, allowing the golden barrier that protected her to melt away.
She was no longer scared.
She loved Cadeyrn.
She would love him forever.
A smile spread across her face. “Do it, Necros!”
“No, you fool!” Brihann shouted, knocking Necros off balance so that his blast of fire landed well to the left of her and torched a column of demons instead.
“No!” Cadeyrn cried out at the same moment, and began to chant a Fae spell that knocked her off her feet.
She was suddenly lifted and carried out of harm’s way by an invisible force, a pair of strong, loving hands that held her and shielded her. Demons began to flee the hall, fearing they were about to be incinerated along with their unfortunate companions.
“Come back, you cowards! Come back and fight!” Brihann roared, but his minions were abandoning him, howling and whimpering as they fled for their lives through choking heat and layers of black smoke into the infernal pits from whence they’d emerged.
The hall was alive with light, not only from the afterglow of her golden aura but also from the red-green flames emitting from the unfortunate demons who’d been struck by Necros. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Lord Babcock and Vicar Axwell climbing up the Razor Cliffs, frantic to return to the safety of England.
“You! Fools, so easily bought and never to be trusted. Think you will escape my wrath?” Brihann dispatched the pair with an angry blast of dragon fire, so intense and prolonged that it should have roasted her sensitive human skin as well, though the blast was not aimed at her.
Heat radiated throughout the cavern, seeming to gain in intensity as it struck against the razor rocks. Without her protective barrier of golden light, the overwhelming heat should have choked the breath from her and smothered her. She should have been dead or on the verge of it, except that Bloodaxe had chilled her blood and … wait! Had he done that to protect her?
Thud! Thud!
Two lifeless bodies landed beside Melody, narrowly missing her. She heard the crack and crunch of bones as they hit the ground hard and recognized the vicar’s charred and broken body to her right. Lord Babcock had landed half atop him, but any thought that he might have survived the fall off the cliff was quickly squelched.
His neck was broken.
Well, that solved one problem.
She and Lord Babcock were no longer betrothed.
*
With Brihann momentarily distracted, Cadeyrn fought his way to Melody’s side, refusing to allow himself even a glimmer of hope that any of them would make it out alive. Yet Brihann’s demons were on the run, and Bloodaxe and Mordain were standing apart from the battle with arms crossed over their chests and looking more and more as though they were not going to interfere. Necros was injured and still dazed from Brihann’s blow. That left only Python and he now appeared to be wavering.
Cadeyrn slew the last three demons now standing between him and Melody. Three quick plunges into their withered hearts brought them down. Suddenly, Melody was before him … still alive, though not by her design. She’d wanted Necros to set her afire! That blasted prophecy! What a time for her to find her strength! He reached forward, lifted her into his arms, and crushed her against his chest. “Don’t ever do anything so foolish again!”
He breathed in her apple and roses scent, took in only that warm and silken allure while the rank odor of fleeing demons and charred demon flesh swirled about them. Her body felt so soft against his, so good against his. So right. He was lost. Mindless. The girl overpowered his senses.
“Your Majesty, get her to safety,” Ygraine warned as she and the other Fae council fighters who were now streaming into the cavernous hall took battle positions around them, tense and vigilant in expectation of the next wave of demons who would soon rise from the depths.
Cadeyrn allowed himself this fleeting moment of serenity in the midst of battle, knowing Ygraine and Fiergrin were beside him to protect him as they had been these five thousand years.
Melody’s eyes widened as she drew out of his embrace and recognized the other members of the Fae council who’d joined Ygraine and Fiergrin in surrounding them. She was looking at Beogrin, Lothair, and Edain.
“Edain! She brought me here! She betrayed you, Cadeyrn!” Melody cried and hurriedly explained what had happened.
Edain took a step behind Beogrin, as though fearing Melody’s wrath. “She lies! The human hates me and wishes to destroy me.”
Melody gasped. “It isn’t true!”
Cadeyrn grabbed firm hold of Melody’s hands and held them fast to his side. They were still bound, which was probably a good thing, for she was angry as sin and held murderous thoughts against Edain. By the Stone of Draloch! Had Edain’s jealousy caused her to betray the Fae? He couldn’t believe it, yet Melody was no liar. Had it been a trick? A demonic being disguised as Edain?
He’d sort it out later. Right now, he had to get Melody to safety. He wanted to free her of her bonds, but dared not until Edain was out of her reach. He would be powerless to stop her if she truly meant to harm Edain. No, Melody was a healer. She wouldn’t harm any of his subjects.
Melody tensed in his grasp, her beautiful eyes a whirl of confusion. “You still trust her?”
“Yes.”
Pain shot into her eyes.
“I also trust you. None of this makes sense yet, but have faith that I will sort it out.” He hoped she would believe in him, for there was no time to explain the plan that he and Ygraine had concocted, a plan that would end in death for one of them … just not Melody. “Let’s get you out of here.” With a sure, quick motion, his sword sliced through the threads at her wrists and ankles, freeing her to run.
He drew her toward the Razor Cliffs. “There’s no other way out. Fae portals don’t work in the underworld.”
Still, she resisted. “How did you manage to break my bonds when I tried and couldn’t?”
He shot her a hard, angry look. “You didn’t believe in yourself.”
“But I did. I found my inner strength and protected myself from Necros with a shield of golden light.”
“Come on, Brihann’s finished kicking Necros while he’s down and is about to come after us.”
“Why wasn’t it enough to break my bonds?”
“I don’t know. We’ll figure it out later.” He grabbed her by the waist and shoved her up the Razor Cliffs, the feel of her slender body against his hands sending a pang to his heart. This could be the last time they ever touched, the last time they ever would be together. The last time they spoke.
He should tell her.
Brihann and Python, still shapeshifted into dragons, were circling overhead, about to swoop in for their kill. The words he wanted to say, needed to say, would have to wait until he’d led her to safety.
He spared a glance at Mordain and Bloodaxe. To his surprise, they still hadn’t made a move to join Brihann. Would they? Bloodaxe, for whatever strange reason had earlier iced Melody’s blood, protecting her from certain death as the temperature in the hall soared to a heat beyond the endurance of any human. Perhaps he’d done it because he had once been human or perhaps because he enjoyed enraging Necros. Whatever the reason, he’d sav
ed Melody.
What would he demand in return for that favor? Cadeyrn could have done the same to save her, and would have, had Bloodaxe not beaten him to it. Did he mean to claim Melody for his own? Cadeyrn cursed softly. He’d kill Bloodaxe if he tried.
A black dragon with the Draloch blue eyes soared past them, its tail striking the rocks above Melody with enough force to make the entire cliff wall shake. Brihann. He was back and he was angry.
Cadeyrn covered Melody with his body as several large rocks tumbled down and harmlessly bounced over them. They wouldn’t be so fortunate next time. He pushed Melody faster up the sharp rocks, hoping to distract Brihann while the others got her safely into the English moonlight.
“Nephew! Why leave so soon? Stay a while longer.” Brihann’s black, spiked tail whipped out and struck Cadeyrn on the shoulder.
Cadeyrn grunted as the spikes slashed through his hauberk and chain mail, cleaving through them as easily as a knife cleaved through soft butter. Damn, that hurt! He drew farther away from Melody, fearing the soul catchers now burrowing into his body would latch onto her if he stayed too close. They would die harmlessly within him in a matter of moments. But if even one soul catcher found its way into Melody’s body, it would destroy her.
Brihann made a lazy circle around the Razor Cliffs, his wings hardly flapping as he soared with a practiced ease. “I’ll grant the girl safe passage back to her world … on one condition. You fight me. You and me, one against one.”
“Agreed,” Cadeyrn said at the same moment Melody shouted “Never!” and enclosed him in a circle of gold. She then did the same for their Fae companions, encircling Feogrin, Beogrin, all of them, even Edain … no, not all. Where was Ygraine? His most trusted elder was missing. A glance at Melody revealed that she was searching for her, too.
Suddenly, he understood … Ygraine meant to … by the Stone of Draloch! “Melody, let me out of your golden light. Now!”
“No. Your uncle means to trick you.”
He slammed his shoulder against the golden barrier, just as he’d done on their journey into the past when he’d wanted to kill Brihann at the beginning of their Fae Dark Time. “Damn it, Melody! Let me out!”
