"Yield!” someone shouted in a frantic, slightly trembling, yet powerful, voice. “Yield or die, dragon. I will not hesitate to slit your throat."
Gabriel blinked his eyes open in confusion, and his heart stuttered and pounded in his chest as his gaze fell on the most breathtaking thing he had ever seen. Autumn stood with her foot on the back of the dragon's head and Gabriel's sword poised over the creature's neck. Her brown hair fell around her shoulders in wild tangles and her face was fierce, determined. She looked like the strongest warrior maiden, and desire swamped him like an ocean wave.
"Autumn,” he murmured, concern for her safety causing his voice to waver slightly. “What are you doing?"
"Saving your life,” she shouted. “Let him go. You're beaten. Yield!” She pressed the blade to the dragon's neck and scowled.
The dragon heaved a sigh and rolled his eyes, then glowered down at Gabriel. “You're in luck today, warrior. Even though two against one is hardly fair."
"You serve him now,” Autumn continued to holler.
"No, actually I serve you, my lady,” he drawled. “I know the rules. Now kindly get off me before my neck bends into this position permanently."
"Let Gabriel go,” she cried, her voice losing some of its strength and taking on a slight note of hysteria.
"I can't until you get off of me,” the dragon muttered. “I am pinned here, in case you haven't noticed."
She glanced at Gabriel, then lifted the blade, and scrambled down the great beast. She kept the sword trained on him, but her hand started to shake so badly Gabriel didn't know how she was able to keep hold of it.
As soon as the blade had been removed, the dragon released his hold on Gabriel and sat back on its haunches, placid and bored-looking.
"Autumn!” Gabriel jumped to his feet and went to her.
She glanced up at him, looking mortified. “Gabriel.” The power left her voice and his name came out sounding watery and uncertain. The trembling in her hand migrated to the rest of her body.
Gabriel reached out, removed the sword from her grasp, then pulled her into his arms. “Are you some kind of crazy woman?” he breathed, stroking her hair and caressing her back in an effort to quell her awful shaking.
She buried her face against his shoulder and gripped his shirt in her fists as if she were afraid he might disappear. “I couldn't just let you get killed, Gabriel. I had to do something."
Awestruck at her bravery and touched by her concern for him, he sighed deeply and closed his eyes.
"Pity,” the dragon mumbled absently as he set to picking at his teeth again. “I was hungry."
Gabriel looked up at him. “You serve me now, dragon."
He rolled his eyes. “My name is Falconroye, and no, I do not. I serve her.” He stabbed one of his claws at Autumn. “She is the one who bested me. I only take orders from her.” Slowly, he moseyed his way out of the cave and back outside.
Autumn blinked in bewilderment at the creature, then cleared her throat, moved out of Gabriel's arms, and followed him. She put her shoulders back and raised her chin in an effort to look commanding. Gabriel smiled at her undaunted attitude. So many others would have been cowering, or would have run away from all of this long ago. Not Autumn. She stared every challenge right in the face.
"Take us to the realm of Elementals beyond the red moon,” she stated.
"I can't."
Gabriel's attention snapped to the dragon.
"What?” Autumn asked. “You have to. I command it!"
"Command away,” Falconroye continued, “but humans cannot travel to the realm beyond the red moon. The atmosphere in that realm does not have adequate oxygen for you. Elementals can create their own air. You, however, will suffocate if you try to travel there."
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Chapter Nine
A cold, sick dread slammed into Autumn's chest as Falconroye's words echoed through her mind. The old crone's words came back to her also and suddenly made sense. She looked up at Gabriel and tremendous sorrow, unlike anything she had ever experienced before, welled up within her. She reached out and took his hand, caressing her thumb across the back of it.
Gabriel's expression was so pained she almost couldn't handle it. “I won't go,” he said. “There is no need for me to go. I will build my life with you here."
Tears filled her eyes, and she shook her head. “You have to go, Gabriel. You need to know about your people, yourself, your abilities! What about the thing that happened right before you came in here to fight the dragon? What was that? You need to know these things."
He shook his head adamantly and took a step toward her. “I can figure it out. I'm sure there are other people here who know about the Elementals. Just like that old woman who was half. I will find them, seek them out. They can answer my questions. It's all right. I don't need to go."
She huffed, and even though his words warmed her heart, she knew she could never allow him to actually do what he was saying. It would be wrong of her to deprive him of his right to know about himself, his past, his family, everything. It would be selfish and cruel. “Gabriel,” she whispered, her throat constricting painfully. She reached out to take his other hand. “Listen to me. You have to do this. I will not ask you to turn your back on knowing about your past, knowing about yourself. This is something you need to do. I refuse to spend the rest of my life knowing that the sad look buried deep behind your eyes is because of me.” He flinched, and she smiled forlornly, reaching up to cup his cheek in her palm. “Yes, I see it. You can't hide it from me."
"But, Autumn, you make me happy. The happiness you offer would completely overwhelm the one tiny spot of sadness."
"But for how long?” she countered. “How many years of eating away at you would it take before you turned to stone again? I won't have it. I can't do that to you. I won't.” Somewhere deep within herself, she found a shred of stubborn strength and held onto it, knowing that she was doing the only thing she could. This was right. It was breaking her heart, but it was right.
"Autumn."
The tears threatened again, hovered just on her lashes, but she tried desperately to keep them at bay. At least for just a few more minutes. “Gabriel, you changed my entire life,” she said. “You showed me that the world my uncle so desperately wanted to believe in was real. He wasn't an old, crazy man. He wasn't a crackpot. His life was not wasted on silly things. That, in itself, is a gift."
She shook her head and sniffed, fighting the tears that desperately wanted control. “You also showed me that my life could be more than what I envisioned for myself. I will never forget that. I will never forget you.” She kissed the back of both of his hands. “And I will never, for as long as I live, forget the taste of honey wine."
She attempted to smile, but didn't succeed all that well. Letting go of his hands made her feel as if someone was ripping her heart straight out of her chest. Taking a step away from him made the pain excruciating. She forced herself to meet his eyes, sad and confused. It was a look she knew would haunt her forever. “Thank you for everything,” she whispered. “You really are so beautiful.” She put her hand to her chest and the tears broke free, ripping out of her in a muffled sob.
Gabriel started toward her, but she shook her head and stepped back. She grabbed up the backpack full of supplies and her uncle's journal.
"Falconroye, take me home to the human realm. After you have done that, come back here and take Gabriel to his. Those are your orders."
The dragon nodded and moved to stand next to Autumn. “Climb on and hold on tight. I don't need you falling to your death."
"Autumn.” Gabriel reached out to her again. “Please..."
She had never climbed up onto a dragon before. She'd never even climbed onto a horse. But she scrambled up onto Falconroye's back as if her life depended on it. She had to. She couldn't allow Gabriel to touch her or she would lose her nerve. It was almost more than she could bear to leave him, and the depth of that emoti
on frightened her. She and Gabriel had only known one another for a short time, yet her heart felt so permanently attached. She knew if that she let him touch her, hold her, kiss her, she would never be able to let him go.
"Find your people, Gabriel,” she said, looking down at him as she tried to get herself situated. “It was why we came here in the first place, remember? To get you home. At least I know I finished what I set out to do."
Biting her bottom lip, she tried to stay strong, tried to sound levelheaded, but felt as if part of her was dying slowly. She studied his eyes and knew she was hurting him but had no other option. She tried to fix him into her mind so she could remember. Remember how powerful and strong he stood, all fire-colored with his amazing wings. The most extraordinary creature she had ever known. The most incredible man to ever live.
She forced a small smile and reached her hand out to him. She couldn't help herself.
He was at her side in an instant, reaching up to touch her fingers. “Autumn, you don't have to do this,” he repeated. “We can figure out a way. I know we can."
She gave a bitter laugh. “Maybe in fifty more years when the Elemental chieftain returns to this realm, I'll come back. By then you should have been able to learn everything you need to know. Although, I'll probably look a lot like that old crone by then."
He shook his head. “You will always be beautiful to me. And I would love you then as I love you now."
His words made her chest tighten to the point that she could barely breathe. Her tears spilled over her cheeks silently. “I'm going to pretend you didn't say that,” she whispered. “Otherwise, I'll never be able to leave."
His fingers tightened over hers. “In that case, I'll say it again. I love you, Autumn. From the moment I first saw you. I always will."
She sniffled, not bothering to wipe her tears, and she met his blue gaze. “Know that, no matter where you are, I'll always carry you here.” She put her palm over her heart and took one more long look at him. He was extraordinary and had made her whole world special. He had given her a fantastic adventure. He had given her his heart. Even though she couldn't keep him, knowing she'd been able to have him at all was better than nothing. She would try to hold onto that. “Good-bye."
He tried to protest, but Falconroye lifted his wings and took to the sky. Autumn's fingers detached from Gabriel's. If it were possible, she swore she could both feel and hear her heart screaming in pain.
* * * *
Gabriel was shivering by the time Falconroye returned. The cold had come over him almost as soon as Autumn had disappeared from sight. He tried to rationalize it away, tried to be strong, but it wouldn't subside. His chest felt like a cavern, like Autumn had flown away with his heart. It was worse than the first unbearable cold he'd felt so long ago. Much worse. It didn't make sense to him. Stubbornness was the only thing that kept him from giving into the slumber his body so desperately sought. He had to find his people. They were the only ones who could tell him what was happening to him.
Falconroye landed and surveyed Gabriel with an inquisitive expression. “You seem a bit ... blue,” he stated.
Gabriel glowered at the creature as he pushed himself into a standing position. “I don't find your humor amusing, dragon,” he grumbled. “Did Autumn return home safely?"
"I returned her. She was safe, but not looking much better than you. I imagine if she could change color, she would have been blue also. Get on. I don't have all day."
Gabriel snorted. “And what better things do you have to do? Sit around in your cave and eat challengers?"
"Exactly. I skipped a nice, hearty Elemental lunch because of an impulsive little human woman."
Gabriel smirked in spite of himself as he climbed onto Falconroye's back. Autumn had saved his life. She had been so brave. An overwhelming wave of cold washed over him and he clutched at his chest as he shivered. He squeezed his eyes shut and concentrated on staying awake while Falconroye flew. He had to make it to his people. He had to know what was happening to him.
* * * *
Autumn barely had enough strength to make it down the dirt road leading up to her uncle's castle. Her legs felt like they were made of lead, and she was shivering uncontrollably. Falconroye had dropped her off about three miles away from her home to avoid being seen by anyone, and walking the distance had been almost impossible. With each step she took, she grew more weary, more exhausted, colder. Her chest ached. She just wanted to sleep. Sleep for about a century.
She climbed the few steps to the front door and rifled around in the backpack until she located a spare set of keys Curtis had packed. With tremendous effort, she managed to unlock and push open the door.
Once inside, she let the backpack drop to the ground, and she leaned against the door, laboring for breath.
"Autumn?” Curtis's voice came from somewhere near the kitchen, and he poked his head around the door frame. His eyes lit up. “Autumn! Oh thank goodness you're all right!” He flew into the room and grasped her by the shoulders. “What happened? Did you get Gabriel back to his people? How did you get back home? You have to tell me everything."
All she could manage to do was groan and shove at him half-heartedly. “Later. I need to go to sleep. I'm exhausted."
He blinked in confusion and seemed to take in her appearance for the first time. “You look terrible. Your skin is ... gray. What happened to you?"
His voice took on a frantic edge, and she pushed at him again, unwilling to tolerate his mothering at the moment. “Please, Curtis, just let me go to sleep. I need to go to sleep.” She stumbled her way past him and managed to make it to the staircase, but all she could bring herself to do was stare at it. It may as well have been Mt. Everest. Slowly, she sank down to the ground and leaned against the banister.
"Autumn!"
She had heard Curtis and knew he was approaching. She wanted to reassure him, but she couldn't even open her eyes. A vision of Gabriel flashed through her memory, and a pain shot through her heart so profound she wanted to cry. She felt Curtis heft her up into his arms, and she was dimly aware of him talking to her, saying something about a doctor, but she gave into the beckoning darkness before her mind could even formulate a response.
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Chapter Ten
"I think he's coming around. Noble sir? Sir? Can you hear me?"
Gabriel groaned and tried to open his eyes. That simple movement was monumental. The woman sounded so far away. He just wanted to be left in peace.
"Sir?” the woman continued. “You must arise!"
A surge of heat traveled over his body, momentarily dispelling the awful cold to the point where he could take a full breath and open his eyes to his surroundings. He was startled to see somewhere around seven Elementals standing around him, radiating heat in his direction. He imagined that was the reason for his being able to function. They were keeping the cold at bay, keeping him from slipping back into slumber.
He blinked several times to try to gain his bearings, and he pushed himself up on his elbow. “What happened?” he croaked. The last he remembered, he had been flying to the Elemental realm on the back of a dragon.
"You passed out cold,” Falconroye's ever-drawling voice answered. “Right as we passed through the portal. Almost fell right off. It was a miracle I got you here in one piece."
Gabriel frowned. “What are you still doing here? You fulfilled your end of the deal."
He moved one of his massive shoulders in what appeared to be a shrug. “Wanted to see if you kicked off. I am still hungry, you know."
The corner of Gabriel's mouth twitched upward because he got the feeling that the dragon, in all his cynical sarcasm, may have actually been concerned for his welfare. Perhaps he had a measure of respect for the couple who had bested him when no one else had ever come close.
"You may dim your fires now,” the woman's melodic voice commanded. “He is awake. Our companionship should be enough to keep him thus."
The other Elementals surrounding Gabriel diminished the glow they had been producing, and almost immediately, the agonizing cold returned. Gabriel gasped and clutched at his chest while his head swam nauseatingly.
"Quick! More fire!” the woman ordered. She frowned and took Gabriel by the shoulders. “Sir, what is your name? How have you come to be separated from your people?"
"My name is Gabriel,” he rasped. “I was separated long ago, as a boy, when the wolves attacked."
The woman's eyes widened in surprise. “That ... that was over five hundred years ago."
He nodded. “I fell into a slumber. I was a statue for most of that time.” As the resonating heat touched him, Gabriel found it easier to breathe, and the terrible ache in his chest subsided. He let out a long, slow breath and looked up at the woman. She was beautiful, with long, golden hair that sparkled with orange and red. Her eyes seemed wise. “A trader took me to the human realm. I remained there until a woman found me, cared for me...” He grimaced and doubled over in pain at the memory of his beautiful Autumn. The cold washed over him like a glacier.
He gasped as a jet of fire suddenly engulfed him, shocking him back to reality. When it abated, he blinked in bewilderment up at Falconroye. The other Elementals seemed just as surprised that he had interfered.
"Keep it together,” he snapped. “You can't find anything out about yourself if you turn into a statue again. And I can't eat rock."
The woman Elemental facing Gabriel turned her attention back to him. “Gabriel, this woman, did ... well, did anything happen while you were with her?"
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