Spindle

by J. E. Taylor

  What I thought had been water was actually an acid pool. My heart thundered as my grip slipped from the small outcrop. I slid down the facing until I caught another small outcrop. I cried out and I kicked the wall to find enough purchase on the rocks to get back to safety, but my shoes were too slippery.

  I was too close to the surface and my fingers ached. The quiver on my back slipped off and when it hit the surface, a splash of acid doused my ankle. I screamed as pain nearly paralyzed me.

  “Help!” I cried. Tears blurred my vision. I couldn’t hold on much longer. As if fate was laughing at me, the grip I held tight to crumbled and I slid further toward certain doom. I scrambled for purchase and luck was with me this time. I caught a crevice and although it bit into my skin, I screamed my triumph until acid engulfed my foot, and then my scream turned into a wail of agony.

  Panic turned my breathing into harsh panting as I tried desperately to climb back up the rock high enough not to feel the burn again. If I perished in this acid bath, no one would know what happened to me. Marabel, Felicity, and Autumn would search forever and never find my body.

  “Please help me,” I whispered through a fresh set of tears as my fingers, now slick with blood, started to slip on the small fissure. My life flashed before my eyes. All the hunting trips with Autumn. All the delectable treats I baked with Felicity, and all the stories Marabel and I created. Memories of my green-eyed ghost swarmed, along with every dream of our future. All gone in a pouf of pain and fire.

  The moment I lost my grip, something grabbed me around the waist and lifted me from my pending death. My foot still throbbed, and from what I could see, it was a bloody, charred mess. But the pain faded with the sudden thrill of flying over the forest. I had a moment to wonder whether I died and then the flap of wings stirred the air around me, making my foot feel as if I had dipped it straight into the fires of hell.

  Strong leathery talons held me, and when I glanced to the side, the edges of bright red, orange, and yellow wings filled my vision. The wings reminded me of bonfire flames. Stunning and dangerous all wrapped into a single image and my breath labored in my chest.

  We descended into a field of white flowers and moss, and before I knew it, I was face down on the soft ground. The sweet scent of lilies swept over me, and I rolled, looking up at what had saved me.

  My eyes widened and I tried to scramble away, but my foot was too damaged from the swamp. I gasped and fell on my back, grabbing my leg as tears marred my vision. The dragon dipped his magnificent fire-orange head and sniffed me. His sharp green eyes shimmered with golden flecks, giving me such a strong sense of déjà vu. His snout traveled over my bloodied hands and my injured foot.

  I couldn’t tell whether he was going to finish what the swamp started or not.

  When his gaze moved to mine, I think I stopped breathing. He lifted his head and then brought his talon-like claw to his mouth. His sharp teeth ripped his own flesh. I didn’t have time to register shock before a drop of his blood the size of one of Felicity’s pies splashed down over my injured foot and a second bathed my hands.

  I cried out as paralyzing pain gripped my foot. It was far worse than the acid’s burn had been. My breath caught in my throat and then I started panting because I couldn’t draw in enough air. All the while, the dragon watched, as if amused by my pain. I wanted to shoot an arrow right through one of his golden-flecked eyes.

  Rolling onto my belly, I curled up with my forehead to the soft ground so the dragon could not witness the tears that bathed my face with warmth. I clasped my hands to my chest and silently prayed the beast would give me a quick death.

  The agony faded into a tingle and I glanced at my hands. My fingers were no longer shredded from the rocks. There wasn’t even a trace of my blood. I pushed back on my knees in case the tears in my eyes were showing me a trick. I turned them palms up and then palms down to make sure. But even with the sunlight shining down, my hands were pristine.

  I uncurled my legs from beneath me, expecting the pain of my ruined foot to flare, but nothing happened. Sunlight warmed the unmarred skin of both feet. What had been a bloody, burned mess when we landed was now fully healed. I reached down and ran my fingers over the skin to validate what my eyes were seeing. The flutter of my fingers tickled, and I let out a surprised laugh.

  A huff behind me stiffened my back, and I slowly turned toward the dragon. He still stared down at me, but this time he actually looked as if he smiled.

  My gaze jumped to the talon he tore to bathe my wounds in his blood. His bloodstained talon. The gash he created had mended as surely as my hands and foot had.

  Awe filled me and I met his gaze. “Did you just...” I waved at my foot.

  He dipped his snout and sniffed me again, but this time he seemed to rub the side of his nose against my cheek. I reached up and cupped his chin, pushing him away with a laugh. This encounter was nothing like the nightmarish stories Marabel had described.

  I climbed to my feet and made my way around him, studying his stunningly vibrant colors. The entire time, his magical green eyes followed me.

  When I settled back in the spot in front of him, I smiled. “Thank you.”

  Glancing at my surroundings, I had no idea how far off the path I was. I didn’t even know which way home was, and my heart sank. I bit my lip and looked up at the dragon.

  “You wouldn’t happen to know the way to the fae village?” If I could get to the village, I could find my way back to our cottage.

  He pointed his chin behind me, and I turned in the opposite direction of where we had flown from. I glanced back at his unique green eyes. A part of me wanted to stay with this beast, but I knew I had to get home before the three fae sent out a search party.

  “Thank you again.” I backed away.

  Sadness filled his eyes as I moved away from him. I finally turned in the direction of my destination once I had crossed most of the flower field, but turning away from the dragon had yanked at my chest.

  I sighed and kept going, ignoring the pull of the beast.

  Chapter 3

  Before I stepped into the woods at the far side of the flower field, a shadow hid the sun, and I glanced up at the underside of the dragon. His magnificent wings took him high enough to block out the light and then he veered in the opposite direction, away from where I was headed. A ride would have been more convenient, but I could just see the fairies faces if we were to land in the small courtyard outside our cottage.

  Marabel would fall in a dead faint. Autumn would grab her quiver of arrows and Felicity would start a fire in the oven to cook the dragon. I chuckled at the thought. I no longer had slippers and I wasn’t sure if I lost them to the swamp or to the dragon flight, but one thing was for sure, the forest floor was much less forgiving than the field had been.

  The woods were thick, and by the time I reached the next poppy field, I was ready for the soft ground. This field was blue and gold as opposed to white like the one the dragon left me in. It was stunning and the sweet floral scent blanketed the air, giving me a sense of relaxation and peace that I did not realize existed outside of our little cottage.

  The ground felt fabulous on my feet after the forest floor and I took my time crossing, eyeing another set of woods with trepidation. By the time I reached the cottage, my feet were bound to be torn up enough that even slippers would hurt. So much for being comfortable at the party at the palace.

  The next set of woods ended in a thick wall of thorn bushes that reached at least ten feet into the air above me. I followed along the bushes, but could not see a way through. When I doubled back, the same barrier held true. Sighing, I bent over and ripped some fabric from the hem of my tunic and wrapped each hand. I did the same to my feet and then stared up at the thorns.

  With trepidation building in my chest like a lead weight, I reached up to grab a branch. The moment my fingertips touched the wood, the bush came alive. I yelped and tried to escape becoming entangled, but it was futile. Before I knew i
t, vines wrapped around my arms and legs, pulling me into the sharp shards. Prickers pierced my skin in over a dozen places. The more I struggled, the more I bled.

  “Let her go!” A deep, barking voice came from behind me.

  The vines receded. I stumbled back, right into the strong arms of the stranger who commanded the thorn bushes. He steadied me and I turned to face my savior.

  Green eyes with golden flecks. I blinked at those familiar eyes. It wasn’t just a mirror of the dragon’s eyes, either. They were the eyes of my green-eyed ghost.

  As he studied me, a crop of dark hair fell onto his forehead. He was built like the farm boys I saw tilling the fields on the outskirts of the fae borders, but his nails were as pristine as mine after a good scrubbing. He flashed a smile at me, and my knees nearly gave out. Something regal about him screamed royalty, and I fought the urge to bow.

  My gaze fell on the equally familiar sword at his side. “Zee?” I finally squeaked out.

  A dimple appeared in his cheek. “It’s actually Zachary. I never got to finish telling you my name before your fae friend happened along.” He glanced at the thorn vines. “These vines have a mind of their own.” He nodded toward the thorny thistles and then glanced down at my exposed arms. “And it seems they have shown you no mercy.” He reached for my hand. His touch was soft and tender as he inspected my wounds.

  I was too thunderstruck by him to utter a word. My brain was still stuck on the fact his eyes were the same as the dragon’s. But each stroke of his finger seemed to dull the pain of my cuts. It was as if he were magically wiping them from my skin. It took me a moment to get my senses back, and I pulled my hand from his grip.

  I had the feeling that if he hadn’t come around, the vines would have strangled me to death. “Thank you for stopping them.”

  He licked his lips and shrugged as if it were no big deal. “What are you doing roaming around in the Dragon Realm?” He raised an eyebrow.

  I gasped and stepped back, right into the sharp prickers, wincing as I arched away from the shards. “D-Dragon Realm?”

  “Yes.” He cocked his head. His eyes sparkled with the same kind of interest I remembered him looking at me with before. “Did you know you smell like sunshine and morning dew?”

  I wasn’t quite sure how to respond to his sweetness, even with the alarms going off in my head at the fact I was in the Dragon Realm. In every story Marabel had told me of dragons, they were vicious murderers that killed for sport. But considering I had been saved by one, I couldn’t reconcile the stories with the real thing. Especially with the golden flecks in his eyes sparkling in the sunshine, just like the dragon’s eyes.

  “Were you the one who saved me from the acid swamp?” I asked, instead of acknowledging his strange compliment.

  His cheeks turned rosy and he glanced away with a nod.

  Holy cow. My green-eyed ghost was a dragon. That explained so much. “And you were keeping an eye on me as I crossed through the poppy fields?” I asked, remembering the shadows he created when flying overhead.

  He shuffled his feet. “Yes.”

  “Why?” I blurted. “Why didn’t you shift before and tell me who you were? You scared the hell out of me.” I swatted his arm.

  “My fierce little huntress scared?” he teased with a grin that was swoon-worthy. “Besides, I could always tell when you were close. Your scent is intriguing and very, very unique. I just never imagined you would be on this side of the wall.” He looked up at the prickers and then down at me. “So, beautiful one, why did you come to my kingdom?”

  Heat rushed to my cheeks. It was my turn to shuffle my feet. If I could have scrambled over the wall of prickers, I would have just to get away from this overwhelming pull in the center of my stomach. The sudden image of being caught in his arms with his lips on mine was too tempting. I stared at the ground as the rest of his words sunk in. “Your kingdom?”

  “I am Prince Zachary of the Dragon Realm.” He waved at the surroundings. “So yes, my kingdom. Why, dear Rory, did you breach the wall?”

  “I was just following a hunting trail,” I said softly, lost in his piercing gaze. “I did not know I crossed into the Dragon Realm.”

  He hooked his finger under my chin and tilted my head so I would meet his gaze. He stepped closer as if he had the same rampant thoughts I was. His thumb brushed my bottom lip.

  “You are forbidden.” He breathed the words as he dipped his head down toward mine.

  Forbidden? His whispered words smacked sense into me, and I placed my hands on his chest and leaned back to avoid the kiss he was about to deliver. As much as my inner voice screamed at me for putting this moment on pause, everything I had been taught rushed back, and along with it came my sense of self-preservation.

  “I need to get home.” I sucked my lower lip between my teeth.

  His eyes widened with surprise at my rebuff. From the looks of him, no one ever refused the prince. He blinked and then inhaled and stepped back with a nod. “Now that you know who and what I am, will I ever see you again?”

  The longing in his eyes sent my heart beating more frantically than it already was. I opened my mouth to say I hoped so, but nothing came out. I wasn’t sure what would happen if he got caught crossing into fae lands. Dragons were not welcomed, and I didn’t want to start another war, especially considering it had been the dragon queen who cursed the princess, if Marabel’s stories held any truth.

  The prince took another step back and his features hardened. “Do you not wish to see me again?”

  I sighed. “You are the green-eyed ghost that haunts my dreams. I always want to see you,” I said, and the hard lines of his jaw softened with a grin. “But if you ever get caught in the fae lands, I’m not sure what would happen to you.”

  His gaze traveled up the thorn bushes. “I have rarely been beyond this wall. It is just as forbidden as letting you leave.” His eyes found mine. “But you would not survive a night here, either.” He reached his hand out beyond my head and winced as he laid his palm on the sharp prickers. “Let her pass,” he said.

  The bushes parted, leaving an opening a little wider than my shoulders. I hesitated at the sight of blood dripping down his wrist. Instead of darting through the hedges, I took his cheeks between my palms and pressed a kiss to his lips.

  His free arm wound around my waist, and he pulled me against his well-chiseled body. Our lips parted and our tongues mingled in a slow dance that left me breathless. If I didn’t stop right now, I would never leave this bliss.

  I pulled away and darted through the bushes before I changed my mind.

  “I will see you again, Rory,” he said with conviction, and then removed his hand from the bush.

  It closed like the slamming of a door and my heart squeezed. I took a step closer to the thorny wall and the vines started to reach toward me in that malignant way that spelled death.

  Chapter 4

  Each step away from the thistle bushes crashed through me as if a boulder were being slammed into my stomach. I kicked at the dirt, wincing at the stub of my bare toe.

  I trudged through the green field until I found a road and then headed away from the direction of the Dragon Realm. But all I could think about was Zachary and the way his kiss had made my entire body tingle with desire.

  I only knew the horror stories that Marabel, Autumn, and Felicity had recounted. The dragons had once ruled half of the kingdom, but after the dragon king died, war broke out. Villages on both sides were destroyed and the barrier Zachary let her through had been erected. But the stories said a wall built by fae magic had been erected so the dragons could not leave their lands.

  But if the fae had built that wall of thorns and vines, why had a dragon commanded it? Why had dragon blood opened the wall?

  My steps faltered. I stopped in the middle of the road, mulling over all I had been fed over the last twenty years.

  “There you are!” Felicity’s sharp voice carried on the wind.

  I looked up t
o see the three fae rushing down the road toward me, their faces masks of relief. As they neared, that relief changed into concern.

  “What in the name of the king happened to you?” Marabel asked as she flitted around me.

  I glanced down at myself. My arms still had bloody welts. My feet were bare and nearly blackened with dirt. My tunic was ripped, and the swaths tied around my hands were stained with blood from the thorn punctures.

  “I was hunting,” I said, still staring at my hands.

  Autumn pulled something from my hair and waved it at me. “Where did you go?” Her voice thundered in my face.

  I licked my lips and scanned each curiously angry face peering at me. “I... uh.” I shuffled my feet, unsure why I wasn’t being honest with them. I glanced down at the ground.

  Autumn stepped close and sniffed my hair. She nearly stumbled backward. Her mouth popped open, almost as wide as her eyes. “You smell like dragon blood.”

  I let out a high-pitched laugh. “Funny story,” I started, trying to wipe the horror off her face. “Dragons aren’t quite as awful as you three have painted them to be.”

  It was as if the world stopped spinning. All three fae stood rigidly, staring at me with eyes like saucers and chins dangling.

  “One saved me from an acid swamp,” I blurted.

  Three sets of eyebrows arched.

  “And he healed my wounds and let me go,” I added, trying to erase the panic flitting in their eyes. “And then he saved me from the thorn wall. And let me pass through.” I rubbed my hands together, peeling off the fabric wraps so I didn’t have to look at the shock on their faces any longer.

  “You went through to the Dragon Realm?” Marabel squeaked.

  “That is what I am trying to tell you. I have no idea how I got over there. I didn’t cross through the thorn bushes to get there.” I chewed on the inside of my mouth, trying to remember how I had gotten in if the thistle barrier truly surrounded the land, but all I remembered was following a wildlife trail.