by Dawn Brower
“Tell me about the ring of fire.” She motioned toward the wall and the towering dragon before them. The wall’s height was enormous, and the dragon even more colossal. “Is it the one the Athair spoke of?”
Lulu flapped her wings and held herself in the air before Elodie. Then flew up toward the wall unexpectedly—a gust of wind the only reply she gave. Elodie glanced upward and watched Lulu soar. She stopped at the top and landed. The bird wasn’t more than a speck in the distance and her actions difficult to ascertain.
“What is she doing?” Daire asked.
Cale had been right. Whatever emotions he’d been working through had dissipated. The normally jovial prince was back and ready to help.
“I don’t have a clue,” Elodie said. “I asked her about the wall, and she took off.”
What had made the bird decide to travel to the top of the barrier? Was it the answer to Elodie’s question without using words? She hated playing guessing games to figure out what the hell everything meant in Malediction. Taking a deep breath, she turned toward Cale and said, “She likes you. See if you can figure out what is going through that little head of hers.”
Cale nodded and whistled loudly. The bird dove from the wall, heading straight for him. Her trajectory and speed had her falling fast. If she didn’t pull up she’d impale him. As she started to reach him, she flapped her wings wide and floated to his shoulder.
“Yes, my knight?” Lulu nuzzled his ear as if petting him. A weird flutter spread through Elodie as she bore witness to the signs of affection the bird bestowed upon him. Why had Lulu become attached to Cale so fast?
“Can you enlighten us on what all this means?” Cale asked.
Daire stepped closer to Elodie. They both stared at Lulu expectantly, and then at Cale when she failed to answer him. When had Lulu become so closed-mouthed? She was always yapping about something. One little question about the ring of fire and she forgot what words were.
“Lulu, dear,” Cale urged. “Please tell us about it. You’re so much wiser than us, and we wish to understand.”
“The fire is dangerous,” Lulu finally said. “Too risky for you to use. I can’t let you do something so foolish.”
That was something at least. Elodie was beginning to believe the bird would refuse to answer them. What was so dangerous about the wall?
“Explain it to us,” Elodie said, stepping forward. “It’s our lives, and our choice to make.”
“The wall looks fine to me,” Daire said as he stared at it. “Is climbing it what makes it hazardous?”
Cale brought his hand up and stroked Lulu’s back. The bird preened as he pet her. A blissful sigh fell from her beak and she closed her eyes. Elodie was almost jealous watching her knight give the bird attention. It was weird, but she could not help the feeling.
“Lulu,” Cale said coaxingly. “Tell us about the wall.”
Her eyes fluttered open and she stared at Cale longingly. “The wall itself is harmless. Climbing it could be treacherous, but it isn’t what will ruin you.”
Elodie refrained from rolling her eyes. How many times did she have to explain to everyone that no risk was too big to take? They had to find a way home. “If the wall isn’t the problem, what is?”
Lulu stayed silent until Cale stopped stroking her back. She turned to stare at him expectantly. He raised a brow in response, as if saying, tit for tat. “The ring of fire is in the dragon’s mouth. It has magical properties and is rumored to have the power to traverse worlds.”
Traverse worlds? Those two words were perhaps the sweetest she’d ever had the pleasure of listening to—well, perhaps there had been better, but those were the ones they had been waiting to hear. Elodie practically bounced in place as she stared up at the dragon’s mouth. “Then we need that ring,” she said turning toward Lulu. “How can we retrieve it?” Excitement spread wide through her, and she was having trouble holding it back. The ring was the answer to their problems. If they could claim it, home wasn’t far behind.
The bird shook her head. “It’s not wise to recover the ring. The power is transforming. In order to control it, a person must wear it. Once it is slipped on, the wearer is forever different.”
That must be the part that Lulu was trying to warn them about. Wearing the ring might alter them or something worse. She did not want to think about what that might actually be. She squared her shoulders and said, “It’s a risk I’m willing to take. Please help us figure out how to retrieve it from the dragon’s mouth.”
The bird sighed and flew up toward the dragon. Was she going to get it herself? Oh, what a lovely helpful little bird she was! Elodie grinned wide as she stared up at the sky. Lulu soared higher and higher until she reached the dragon’s mouth. She wasn’t more than a dot entering it.
“Do you think she’s going to actually bring it to us?” Daire asked. “Do we take the risk of wearing it?” Kalypso remained silent and sat next to the prince, waiting with them for Lulu to return.
“Yes,” Elodie said. “I’m willing to risk whatever I have to. My stepmother will not rule in my stead.”
Cale remained silent as they waited for Lulu to return. Seconds ticked by and grew into minutes. Worry spread like wildfire through her gut. Had she sent Lulu in to die? No, she wouldn’t believe that. The bird would come back to them with the ring in her beak. After several moments of sheer anxiety, something exited the dragon’s mouth and descended toward them. Lulu’s silver and white frame came into view by slow degrees. She landed on Cale’s shoulder, and in her mouth rested a silver ring. A small white globe swirled blood red on top of it. Cale snatched it from Lulu’s mouth and held it between his fingers.
“Give it to me,” Elodie said. “I’ll wear it.”
She was to be queen, and it was her risk to take. A ruler put her people first and made sure they were all safe. Technically, she wasn’t that person yet, but she believed it was still her responsibility.
Cale shook his head. “I’m sorry, Ellie. I can’t let you do that.” Then he slipped the ring on his finger. His whole body thrashed heavily as the magic spread through him. He fell to the ground continuing to shake wildly as he hit the hard earth.
“Damn you,” Elodie screamed. “It wasn’t supposed to be you.”
Tears streamed down her face as she watched him wracked with unimaginable pain. His face was contorted and turned several shades of red. Breathing was a struggle as he gasped for breath. The sky grew darker with each passing second. Elodie glanced up and then back down at Cale. Was he trying to control it, or was it the power inside overtaking him? There had to be something they could do for him.
“Lulu,” Elodie screamed. “Help him.”
“He is beyond us now, princess,” she said sadly. Her gaze seemed to say: I tried to warn you. “Our knight won’t be here for long.”
“What?” Was Lulu implying that Cale would die soon? “That can’t be.” As angry as she’d been at him, she never once thought she’d truly lose him. If Lulu’s statement was correct, she was on the verge of it. Sadness multiplied inside of her until she was misery personified.
“Don’t leave me,” she begged Cale. Panic filled her with each breath.
His gaze met hers and he whispered, “I’ll always be with you.” Then he disappeared before her eyes. The dragon statue and the wall surrounding it vanished with him. None of it made sense, and in a strange way, it did. A roar that put Kalypso’s to shame echoed around them. The tiger leaped to her feet and stared up into the distance. The hairs on her spine stood straight as a shiver rolled down her back.
Tears streamed down Elodie’s face and the sky lit up with lightning. The thunder rocked the ground with earsplitting booms. Wings as wide as the horizon filled the sky as it flew over their heads. Elodie’s tears were as torrential as the rain falling around them. The magic infused within her from the river monster finally found an outlet. Emotions ruled her and brought devastation on the world around her. Wind and showers punished everything in its
path as the storm raged on.
The dragon disappeared from view. Its massive, dark wings nothing more than a whisper of a memory. She dropped to the ground and made a promise to her knight. She’d do what she should have done from the beginning and actually try to figure out the prophecies. Elodie had to find the objects lost and discover who she could trust. Cale was not lost forever and she would do everything in her power to find a way to undo this new curse. No matter what the cost, she’d pay it. He’d done this to save her and she’d not allow his life to be sacrificed.
About the Author
Dawn Brower holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, a Master of Arts in Education, and a Master of Arts in Liberal Arts with concentrations in Literature, History, and Sociology. She works as a substitute teacher and enjoys the flexibility it gives her to concentrate on her other endeavors.
Growing up she was the only girl out of six children. She is a single mother of two teenage boys; there is never a dull moment in her life. Reading books is her favorite hobby. While she loves all genres she focuses most of her writing on historical and contemporary romance.
There are always stories inside her head; she just never thought she could make them come to life. That creativity has finally found an outlet.
For more information visit her website at:
http://www.authordawnbrower.com/
Books by Dawn Brower
Broken Pearl
Deadly Benevolence
Don’t Happen Twice
A Wallflower’s Christmas Kiss
There You’ll Be
Marsden Romances
A Flawed Jewel
A Crystal Angel
A Treasured Lily
A Sanguine Gem
A Hidden Ruby
A Discarded Pearl
Novak Springs
Cowgirl Fever
Dirty Proof
Unbridled Pursuit
Sensual Games
Christmas Temptation
Linked Across Time
Saved by My Blackguard
Searching for My Rogue
Seduction of My Rake
Surrendering to My Spy
Spellbound by My Charmer
Stolen by My Knave
Coming Soon
Separated from My Love
Scandalized by My Prince
Heart’s Intent
One Heart to Give
Unveiled Hearts
Heart of the Moment
Ever Beloved
Forever My Earl
