Dragon's Prize (Dragons Awaken Book 2)

by Maya Starling

  Sometime later, Olivia floated in the air. She was disoriented. It did remind her a bit of flying with Kaden, so she mumbled, “Kaden?”

  She heard a soothing voice speak into her ear, “It’s Damien. Go back to sleep. I’m taking you to your room.”

  Olivia simply nodded against his chest and wrapped her hands around his neck for support. She let him carry her into her room and onto the soft bed.

  “Goodnight. I hope this nightmare ends for you soon.” He whispered before he kissed her forehead and left.

  Chapter 13

  A day later they were traveling on the border of the Forbidden Forest. There was a lot of dispute whether or not the border of the Kingdom included the forest, and the barbarians living in it, because the barbarians just didn’t care where they belonged.

  They knew they belonged to the forest and no one ever dared confront them. People thought them wild and primitive, as they lived in tribes and away from civilization. They were deemed mighty warriors, as they protected the Kingdom on that side from the No-Man’s- Land. There were also rumors, old rumors that were now thought of as myths and legends, that the barbarians and the dragons used to live together.

  There were no villages or inns on the fringes of the forest, so the Prince’s party would have to spend some nights under the stars, using the forest as their source of food as well. They settled in their makeshift camp, with Olivia and Charlie huddled close to the fire. Theo and Damien were out “hunting” and scouting the area around their campsite. The night still hadn’t completely blanketed them, but the first stars were out and the sun had set.

  Everything was quiet… almost too quiet. An uneasy shiver trickled down Olivia’s spine. She felt for the dagger hidden under her skirts and it provided some comfort.

  Donovan was over at the wagon, which was now covered and turned into a tent, re-dressing the wounds of the knights. They were all recovering well, even Reed.

  Olivia stood up, facing Charlie. “I am going to get some water, are you thirsty?”

  “No, I’m –” Charlie’s eyes widened as she shot up to her feet.

  In front of her, Olivia stood with terror in her eyes. Magnus had snuck up behind her. He wrapped one arm around her middle, and trapped her hands tightly against her body. He covered her mouth with his other hand. Overcome by terror, she didn’t even feel the pain of her broken hand being squeezed.

  “Hello there, my Princess…” Magnus’ whiskey tainted breath tickled at Olivia’s neck. She tried to struggle but he only squeezed her tighter against his chest. “Tsk, tsk, Princess… Is that the way to treat your future husband? I think it’s time I sampled some of that sweetness, don’t you think, Puppet?” He licked her neck. Olivia gagged behind his hand. She tried kicking him, but he ignored her attempts.

  “My Prince…” Charlie spoke up; she didn’t want this to happen to Olivia, not now, not ever. She put on her flirty mask. “Wouldn’t you like to have some fun with someone who knows what you like? You’ll have plenty of time to play with the princess… but… I’m, sure that after such a long day, you would want to sample some real pleasure. Don’t you want your Queen to be pure for your wedding night?” She stepped forward and invitingly reached her hand out toward him.

  “NO! She’s mine! This has been prolonged for too long. I will make her mine tonight!” He yelled by Olivia’s ear, and she winced.

  “May I join you then?” Charlie tried a different tactic which surprised both Magnus and Olivia. “You could have some fun with both of us?” She figured she could help Olivia through the ordeal.

  Magnus’ eyes switched to something behind Charlie for a second and then back at her with a wicked smile. “You want to have some fun, too?”

  Charlie nodded, unsure.

  “Then I cannot deny you, Puppet. You shall have some fun too, but not with us.”

  Magnus dragged his future Queen toward his tent. Olivia’s scream was muffled by his hand. She bit down hard enough to draw blood, and yet again, he ignored her, and chuckled at her attempts. Next, she went limp in his arms, but he only tightened his hold on her, making her eyes tear up from the pressure on her broken arm… and from the fear and terror of what was about to happen. He nipped at her neck, hard enough to leave a mark.

  As Charlie took a step forward to stop Magnus, she was spun around by a firm hold on her upper arm. She found herself facing a broad chest. She was afraid to look up but the voice that spoke made her freeze on the spot and shiver.

  “Charlie…”

  She hadn’t seen him much or heard from him since he got burned. She was out of luck as well.

  “Look at me.” Reed demanded but Charlie refused. She hoped against reason that if she didn’t acknowledge him, he wouldn’t be real. He let out an angry growl and grabbed her chin in his meaty palm and forced her to look up at him.

  She gasped. His dressings were off. The left part of his face was completely intact. There was some hair left, above his right eye, covering only a third of his head. The rest was gone. The other side of his face was a gruesome sight, the burn scars started just where his left eye ended. His lower eyelid slightly turned outwards. There were no eyebrows or lashes.

  Her gaze followed the edge of the burns lower to his jaw and towards his mouth. The edges of it were fused together. The burned skin was an angry red, raised and wrinkled. She pulled back slightly and then noticed that his left ear was gone as well, in its place only a hole that had probably been cut open by Donovan. She knew his wounds would heal overtime and look less horrid, but now the sight made her stomach turn. It was made even more gruesome by the addition of an ointment covering it, giving it a greasy and pus like appearance.

  Charlie brought a hand up to her mouth, trying not to heave at his feet.

  Reed laughed at her discomfort. The smile pulled at the scar on his face, and only half of it stretching into the grin. It made him look sinister, reflecting his personality.

  She couldn’t hold it any longer. She was too close to him, and from the fear that had lodged itself deep inside her, Charlie turned her head to the side and vomited.

  When she was done, he again grabbed her roughly and pulled her close. “Now, for some fun times, eh?”

  Charlie opened her mouth to call out for Theo and Damien, but Reed stuffed cloth into her mouth. She struggled to get the precious air in, shocked at the sudden intrusion. Panic entered her eyes because it took her a moment to realize that she could still breathe in through her nose. She felt relieved when the air reached her lungs.

  Her relief was short-lived for Reed grabbed her by hair and dragged her to the side and into the shadows.

  Rendered immobile by fear, she didn’t fight back. She let him drag her and bind her to a tree.

  Reed’s face appeared, when he crouched in front of her. “First, I’ll let you enjoy hearing that pretentious bitch’s screams… and then… I’ll be the one to enjoy hearing you scream all through the night.” He stood up and walked away.

  Charlie’s eyes darted toward the tent where Magnus had taken Olivia. Shadows struggled behind the fabric of the tent. Magnus raised his hand. Olivia recoiled from his strike. Charlie tugged at the bonds, but they were too tight. Her eyes searched for a friendly face, but none was found. Tears ran down her face and sobs shook her body. Her nose clogged up, it was getting harder and harder to breathe…

  One person, ignored by all, was watching the horror unfold. Cassiel found himself in a painful dilemma. He was either to follow the family tradition or the family honor. He could not do both, as the two were now in conflict. He knew that the decision he was about to make would change his life. But he could no longer ignore the injustice Magnus had been inflicting on those around him. Especially to Olivia. She was the epitome of what Cassiel was taught to protect and cherish. She was the one who lived life so very similarly to his own personal code.

  Olivia struggled against Magnus’ hold. Just when she was about to snap her head back in an attempt to break his nose, she was thro
wn down onto the floor of the tent.

  The only source of light was the oil lamp burning in a corner. She looked toward Magnus who had a sinister look on his face as he unbuttoned his pants. When Olivia opened her mouth to scream, he threw his body on top of hers, and muffled the sound by forcing his mouth on hers.

  Olivia’s eyes widen in shock and disgust, but she quickly recovered and bit his lip, drawing blood yet again. Magnus pulled back and looked down at her with an angry fire in his eyes.

  “Feisty little thing, aren’t you?” He spit the blood to the side as he held her hands above her head.

  “Let go off me. Please, Magnus…” It was the first time Olivia used his name as her eyes welled with tears.

  “Only if you promise not to struggle. We can do this two ways; one that is pleasurable for both of us or the other where I’ll be the only one enjoying it. But I’ll make sure you’re wide awake and aware of my every thrust into you.”

  Panicked, Olivia fought him for control again. She would not give herself freely to him, and would not give up without a fight.

  “No! No! No! Let go!” Her voice rose as she bucked her hips in an attempt to throw him off.

  Again, Magnus smashed his lips against hers, straddling her, pinning her legs down with his shins. He was much stronger than her.

  His blood mixed with her saliva, and bile rose in the back of her throat. She swallowed it down. Her esophagus burned as she coughed for breath into Magnus’ mouth.

  He pulled back again. “If you try to scream again I’ll shove my tongue down your throat making it hard to breathe, understand?” Magnus’ face was now covered with a sheen of sweat. He absorbed her every move against him and returned it doubled.

  Olivia looked him straight in the eye. “I will never give in to you.” Then she spat into his face.

  Magnus retaliated immediately, he swiftly let go of her broken hand and backhanded her across her face.

  With her arm broken, he had easy control over her. As he had her pinned beneath him, he used his free hand to push down his pants. Olivia bucked. Magnus just smashed his body against hers and he clamped his hand over her mouth again.

  She knew she couldn’t keep this up for much longer and had to try something else. She relaxed and stopped fighting, suddenly remembering…

  Magnus kissed her neck. “You all surrender to me in the end.” He hesitantly raised himself off of Olivia’s, enough to bring a hand up cup her left breast. He squeezed gently.

  Olivia kept her face blank as she let him unbutton the top of her dress. After the plan was made in her mind and she had gathered enough courage, she asked Magnus, “Can I help you? May I touch you back?”

  She surprised him, but he figured that she realized it would be easier on both of them if she cooperated. Still wary, he slowly switched his hold on Olivia’s hands. He freed her good hand, but kept her broken arm pinned above her head, his touch now gentle.

  “Don’t do anything stupid,” he warned as he squeezed the now broken splint on her hand.

  Olivia gritted her teeth against the pain.

  “Nothing stupid. Truly,” she said. Their truths, though, were different. What she was about to do she considered smart and brave, he would probably think of it as stupid.

  Magnus let her hand slide down her body.

  When she started hitching up her skirt, Magnus’ eyes glazed with lust. “You’re such a good girl now… My favorite Puppet.”

  Olivia’s hand slid up her bare thigh. Strapped around it, in a makeshift scabbard, was the dagger the stable master had given her. Easily hidden but still within reach.

  Magnus was kissing up her neck and over her jaw, making his way to her lips. With Olivia nonresponsive, he pulled his lips away from her skin. He saw the look of concentration on her face.

  “What are you up to, Princess?” He narrowed his eyes. When she looked down so did he, moving slightly just before her dagger made contact with his soft flesh.

  They wore similar expressions now; wide-eyed and shocked.

  Olivia couldn't believe she had just stabbed him.

  Magnus sat back on his calves and kept his eyes locked with Olivia’s. She scrambled from underneath him and stood on trembling legs. She covered her mouth so no sound would escape her.

  The skirt of her dress was drenched in Magnus' blood.

  The prince was the first to break their staring match as his gaze drifted to his lap. Olivia followed. A dagger stuck out from between his legs. His hands trembled as he brought them closer to the dagger and stopped before making contact. He was afraid to pull it out, to even touch it. He looked back up at Olivia with a pain filled expression on his face.

  He tried to say something, to call out for help, but all he could manage was a croak.

  That was it, her chance at escape.

  Olivia scanned her surroundings. She spotted one of Magnus' own daggers. Fast to react, she made a cut at the back of the tent. Once out, she hid in the shadows, leaving a still stunned Magnus inside.

  She had to act quickly. She looked around the camp, seeing only Reed's form drinking by the crackling fire. Concentrating on the sounds around her, she heard the night dwellers of the forest waking up, a howl hoot in the distance and some rustling from the nearby trees. And a sob and a sniff.

  She turned to the left, and saw Charlie bound to a tree on the side. Olivia snuck towards her friend, making sure to stick to the shadows.

  “Charlie…” she whispered.

  Her friend’s tear strained face snapped up in surprise.

  When Charlie saw Olivia’s state; the blood on her skirt, the tears in her eyes, new bruises on her face and blood on Olivia’s mouth, she struggled to get out of her bonds even more fiercely… Olivia quickly closed the distance between them.

  “Shush, Charlie. I am alright. I am getting us away from them.”

  Charlie immediately stopped and looked at Olivia with wide eyes. She watched her friend use the dagger to cut the ropes binding Charlie to the tree.

  Olivia removed the gag from Charlie’s mouth. “I need you to be quiet now. We do not have much time,” she whispered in Charlie’s ear.

  Once she was free, Charlie asked in a whisper, “What’s going on?” She scrambled up to her feet, trying to overcome the shakiness in her legs.

  “I do not have time to explain now. We have to run.” Olivia grabbed Charlie’s hand and pulled her along. They headed toward the forest, thinking that since Magnus had been wary of coming even close to it, nobody would dare follow.

  They ran, stumbling but keeping each other up, until a form of a man suddenly appeared in front of them. Olivia didn’t hesitate in pushing Charlie behind her as she held the dagger up, her hand shaking.

  “Olivia? Charlie? What you doing here?”

  They both relaxed at the sound of Theo’s voice. Before Olivia could respond though, Magnus’ scream echoed throughout the otherwise peaceful forest.

  “Shit! What did you do, Olivia?” Charlie asked.

  “What’s going on?” Theo demanded as he took a step closer. That was when he saw, under the light of the moon, Olivia’s condition. “What happened? Is the camp under attack?” He quickly reached for his bow, readying an arrow.

  “No! Shhh… They cannot find us. Charlie and I are running away.” Olivia frantically looked around, waiting for one of Magnus’ loyal men to jump out at them.

  Theo rubbed his forehead worriedly. “What happened, Olivia?”

  “I stabbed Magnus.”

  “You did what?” Theo and Charlie chorused together. Before Olivia could answer, Damien stumbled upon them.

  “What’s going on? I heard... shit! Olivia! What happened?” Damien immediately walked over to Olivia. He tried to figure out where all the blood was coming from. “You’re bleeding!”

  “Shush everyone! It’s not my blood, Damien,” Olivia said.

  “She just told us she stabbed Magnus, love.” Theo laid a comforting hand on his lover’s shoulder.

  “You
did what?” Damien said, making Olivia sigh.

  “Can you all please shut up? We do not have much time!” Olivia commanded. They were surprised by the calmness in her voice.

  “Magnus… he tried. I couldn’t let him. I stabbed him with my dagger. He couldn’t even cry out so I quickly seized the opportunity and snuck out. I found Charlie bound to a tree. I cut her loose and decided this was the time to run away.”

  “You’re crazy.” Charlie said terrified. “He’s going to kill us.”

  “He will not, I promised to get you to safety and that is exactly what I am going to do.” Olivia laid her broken arm on Charlie’s shoulder. She was high on adrenalin and her body was not yet registering the pain. “We need to be coolheaded now. There is no place for panic.”

  Charlie nodded and gulped.

  “Where did you stab him?” Theo said.

  “I… ummm… I stabbed him, you know, between his legs.” Olivia felt her cheeks heat up despite the circumstances. She was glad that the others probably couldn’t see her flushed face.

  Theo and Damien both instantly put a protective hand over their private parts and winced.

  Olivia nodded to confirm their thoughts.

  “Definitely no going back now. You two go and we’ll lead them on a false trail. We’ll get you some time.” Theo paced, trying to come up with a plan.

  “Where did you plan to go?” Damien said.

  “Deeper into the forest. Since Magnus has been talking about those barbarians quite harshly and with a hint of fear, I figured it the best place to go.”

  “Last place he’d expect you to go…” Theo added approvingly as he stopped pacing. “It’s a sound plan, but… you two shouldn’t go alone.”

  “And you two can’t come with us now…” Olivia continued as Theo walked over to a very quiet Charlie and wrapped a protective hand around her. She hid her face in his chest; looking for reassurance that everything would be alright.

  “They won’t be going alone.”

  Cassiel approached them. He was leading Starlite with him by her reins; the saddle wasn’t on though.