The Jade Dragon

by Rowena May O'Sullivan

  Gregori conjured a glass of water. Alanna took it from him, and facing the mirror, she picked up her toothbrush and began to clean her teeth.

  She was sad and bedraggled but when she looked up their gaze met in the mirror and held. He felt the tenuous link between them grow a little stronger. The slight flare in her eyes told him she, too, had felt it.

  A grunt of satisfaction passed his lips. “Whether you like it or not,” he said bluntly, “I’m here for you. But in order for us to mate, you’re going to have to let me into all the dark corners of your mind. Binding with me will not work unless you do. Don’t deny you know this. You know I speak the truth.”

  She shook her head and rinsed her mouth. He handed her a towel. Their fingers touched and a tingle of awareness flowed up his arm. The desire to be with her tugged at his core, and his body tightened in response. But she was scared, frightened, and he would not alarm her further. Not today, at any rate.

  Tomorrow, he would broach the subject of her parents again. If she knew something, then that very same something could well be the thing that would prevent him from failing to meet what the Bells of Marylebone had decreed; that he must bind his life and magic with Alanna’s in the next two weeks, or his life would be forfeit.

  Perhaps that was why his hunt earlier had eventually led him back to her studio. He had found nothing following any of the travelers driving down the old road this morning. His instinct, honed from thousands of years, told him the answers were here, in the studio.

  He studied Alanna and wondered what memories held her emotionally shut off from the world? What could make her so afraid? She’d built a shell of indifference to the world in her heart and head, with no reflection of that indifference shining in her aura at all. She didn’t realize just how special she was. Very few could control their own aura.

  She’d fooled everyone. Everyone except him.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Not twenty-four hours had passed since Gregori’s escape, yet her world was upside down and inside out. Alanna’s body was weary beyond belief. Her calf muscles hummed as if she’d walked a marathon and her head ached from over-thinking everything.

  Silence descended as Alanna switched off her bedside light and rested her head on her pillow. With no air conditioning in the room and no workable spells to keep her body temperature cool as she would have done in the past, she splayed her arms and feet wide like a starfish. It was hot, humid. Perhaps she could ask Gregori to whip up a cooling spell, seeing he was hell-bent on remaining with her. Her eyes stung behind her eyelids, her body restless as she shifted her legs and arms, trying to cool herself as well as her agitated thoughts.

  Despite the quiet, despite knowing Gregori would keep his word and not come into her room uninvited, she felt the link between them pulsing with a life of its own. She could almost see it, trace it, follow it all the way to the office where he had retreated earlier. There he was, in her mind’s eye shifting uncomfortably on the daybed. Why hadn’t he changed that to a bed as well? He could have moved everything out as he had done in her studio. He rolled over in his sleep, to lie on his stomach, revealing the wide expanse of his shoulders and back, a crumpled sheet covering his butt, the rest of him all skin, and muscle, a silhouette of magnificence that sent Alanna’s libido soaring into overdrive.

  Her eyes popped open. Witches’ Warts! She couldn’t get rid of him physically and now he was in her head as well. She tossed to the other side of the bed, sat up and walked to her window and stared out. The moon was high in the sky and with little cloud to mar its light, she could see the stars twinkling above.

  She only wished she could see so clearly into her heart.

  With sleep elusive, she padded softly out into the studio, closed the door that led down the stairs to the Gallery, and the office where Gregori slept, and flicked on the studio light. All her things were back.

  Her work, the Hinuera stone that had taken on the strange likeness of Gregori, was back to taunt her. She walked over to her workbench, picked up her smallest chisel and hammer and focused solely on the stone, allowing her instinct to guide her and before long, she forgot about the warlock sleeping in the room downstairs, about how tired she felt, about how her life had turned upside-down. All she felt were the tools in her hands and the need to free the image within the stone.

  • • •

  Early the next morning, Gregori stood in the doorway watching. He’d crept softly up the stairs, not wanting to wake Alanna, but instead, as he pushed open the door, he’d discovered her hunched over her work, deeply focused, lost in her world.

  Surprisingly, he’d slept. But his dreams had been a strange mix of images. He could have sworn Alanna had traveled to him along their connection and watched him sleep. His lips tilted upwards, pleased at the thought. She was attracted to him. He’d been around long enough to recognize the signs, but to have her visit in his dreams was good. Their connection was strengthening.

  He only hoped she grew to care for him before his fortnight was up. She was his salvation. But he would not force her to choose. He would allow her decision to come naturally.

  His skin prickled with awareness, his body hardened and he fought to quell the increasing desire thrumming through his veins. It was too soon. He had no inclination to be rebuffed this morning or to alarm her any more than he already had.

  He cleared his throat, signaling his arrival. “Good morning.” His voice was still raspy from years of not being used.

  She remained focused on her work. He spoke again, this time louder. “Good morning.”

  Alanna jumped and her chisel dropped to the floor. She spun round, her hand out as if ready to zap him, her eyes unfocused. She was still lost in her world of sculpting and it took a few seconds to register she was no longer alone. Her hand fisted and she rested it on her hip and shot him an exasperated glare.

  “What’s good about it?”

  “It’s a new day and the world is full of possibilities,” he uttered. “I’m free and I’m with you.”

  She flushed, the tide running up her neck to her cheeks. She flicked her long fiery locks over her shoulder but she held his gaze.

  The link between them pulsed with a new thread, that of lust. He knew the instant it reached her and she felt his desire. Her deep, dark brown eyes coalesced into glowing onyx-like embers, and her aura deepened in color to a rich rosy hue, enhancing the flush on her cheeks.

  “Well aren’t we Mr. Positive today,” she muttered and spun away so he could no longer see her face.

  But he wasn’t fooled. The awareness between them had increased yet again. At this rate, it wouldn’t be long before she could no longer deny its existence, even with her powers bound.

  She picked up her chisel and placed her tools on the workbench, putting more distance between them. She looked as if she hadn’t slept and when her hands fisted and she rubbed her eyes, he knew she was exhausted, ready to drop at any minute. His desire morphed into concern. He closed the distance between them, and she backed up against the workbench, alarm flaring in her tired eyes.

  “Did you not sleep?” he asked gently and reached out to tuck a lock of her amazing hair behind one ear.

  She tilted her head away from his hand. “I’m a night-owl,” she said. “I sleep while others are awake.”

  Gregori was amused at her attempt to evade him. “It’s obvious you are exhausted. Go sleep. I’ll ensure you are not bothered by your sisters.”

  Alanna shook her head. “I’ll sleep tonight.”

  “You will sleep now,” he insisted. “You are ready to drop where you stand.”

  “No.”

  He frowned as he inspected her work. It was definitely a man. Jealousy crawled its way into his head. “You will rest for a couple of hours.” He inclined his head towards the windows. “It’s barely daylight. There’s still time for you t
o rest, energize your body. If you don’t, I’ll place a sleep spell on you and it will be for much longer than a couple of hours.”

  “It’s too humid,” she declared and pushed at his chest, shoving him backward. “Get out of my way. I’ve a million things to do today, plus it’s my turn to work in the Gallery.”

  Gregori paused and sent out a silent message to Aden. Within a heartbeat, he smiled. “Rosa will work today in your place.”

  “Arrgh!” Alanna marched over to the kitchenette and snatched a glass from the sink and rinsed it out. She drank the entire glass in one burst and wiped the remaining moisture away with the back of her hand. “I’ll sleep when I want. I’m perfectly capable of organizing my own life.” She waved the glass at him. “Do not presume to do it for me.”

  “You are tired, dead on your feet. Standing in the Gallery for eight hours will not be conducive to your health.”

  She slammed the glass down on the sink, her eyes cloudy with frustration, what was left of her remaining energy firing her aura to a dark muddy gray. He was going to have to use force. He advanced and cornered her in the little kitchenette.

  “I love your headstrong, fiery nature, but sometimes it’s wise to heed advice. Since you’re not doing so, I’m going to ensure you rest.”

  Before she could protest further, he twirled a finger in front of her face, uttered the word sleep and her eyes drifted closed. He caught her as she fell. Although she was tall and strong, she was light in his arms as he carried her to the doorway of her room. The mess of tangled sheets on the bed was evidence enough she had tried to sleep and failed. A quick spell and the bed was made. To ensure she was comfortable, he crafted another spell to acclimatize the room before levitating her onto the bed from where he stood. Hopefully, the much-needed rest would also go some way to soothing that temper of hers. Satisfied she would sleep for a few hours, he translocated to the bathroom.

  It wouldn’t do to enter her room less than twenty-four hours after making a promise not to.

  Chapter Eighteen

  The morning was barely begun when Rosa made her way to the Gallery and upstairs to the studio. A trail of others concerned about Gregori’s presence in Alanna’s world converged in her studio shortly thereafter. First there was Beth. Then Goran, Zelda, and Aden. It was practically a party.

  “If I’d known you were all coming, I’d have prepared a feast,” sarcasm dripped from Gregori’s tongue.

  “Go right ahead,” Zelda encouraged. “I’m hungry.”

  “I get the distinct feeling,” he stood next to Alanna’s sculpture, “none of you are here to help me celebrate my freedom.”

  “We’re here to ensure Alanna is safe. Where is she?” Beth walked towards the bedroom door, which he’d pulled closed to give Alanna privacy and prevent her from being disturbed, even though his spell would ensure she would not wake for some time.

  “She’s asleep.” Gregori said. “I’m about to go hunting and Rosa is going to look after the Gallery for the day.”

  Rosa frowned and glanced towards Aden as if he might know the answer. “What exactly are you looking for?”

  Zelda butted in. “I for one have no interest in what you’re hunting. I just want to know Alanna is safe.” She twisted the bedroom door handle and the door swung open.

  Everyone crowded behind her to look in. Beth laughed softly. “It’s Sleeping Beauty.”

  “Where’s her prince?” Goran joked.

  “I’m up for it,” Gregori grinned. “She’s definitely a beauty.”

  They observed the soft rise and fall of Alanna’s chest. All but Beth could see the sleep enchantment floating about her. Gregori put a finger to his lips and signaled for Zelda to close the door although he liked the analogy of Sleeping Beauty. He also liked the idea of wakening her with a kiss.

  “She was up all night,” he explained before being bombarded with questions on why he’d cast a spell to make her sleep. He signaled to the sculpture. “Working on that.”

  They all looked towards the large piece of stone. Beth clapped her hands, pleased beyond words.

  “She’s sculpting again,” Rosa smiled. “That’s wonderful news.”

  “Who do you suppose it’s going to be,” Beth circled the plinth. “It’s definitely a bust, but the features are not defined enough for me to fathom who it might be.”

  Zelda, though, had guessed. Gregori witnessed the recognition flare in her eyes. He took a more discerning look at the stone but couldn’t glean anything other than it was a male.

  “I don’t know why you had to use an enchantment on her.” Rosa wasn’t so easily diverted. “She often works through the night.”

  “My arrival yesterday, the fact she worked through the night and was so exhausted this morning prompted me to craft the spell. She’s going to be incensed when she wakes, but at least her aura and energy will be refreshed.”

  Gregori was irked they didn’t trust him. “I hope you’re not all planning to appear every morning en masse to ensure I’ve not done anything dastardly to Alanna.” He was highly affronted and more than a little exasperated. “I can be trusted.”

  Zelda zapped eyes of distrust at him. “I don’t trust warlocks.”

  “Well, I don’t trust sorceresses!”

  “Warlocks’ Oath,” Aden protested. “Calm down everyone. Alanna is safe. You can all go home. Rosa will warn us if Alanna needs help.” He spoke to Gregori. “I can help you hunt. As can Goran.”

  Zelda’s lips tightened into a thin line. Beth and Alanna were intrigued.

  “Everyone knows what Gregori is hunting except us,” Beth stated.

  Rosa queried Aden. “What aren’t you telling us?”

  Aden indicated Zelda. “Ask her.”

  In unison, Rosa and Beth turned to Zelda and chimed, “Well?

  If looks could kill, then Zelda’s furious glance his way would have done the trick. “It is not for you to know. Not yet.”

  “Aden,” Rosa fixed her eyes on her husband. “Are you keeping secrets from me?”

  “It’s not my secret to reveal.” His voice filled with genuine regret. “I would tell you if I could.”

  Gregori interjected before the conversation grew ugly. “Rosa. Aden will explain when I give him permission to. Not before. Go all of you. I have work to do. Aden, continue your search in the magical world. Goran, search Raven’s Creek and ensure everyone’s safety here, I will hunt elsewhere.”

  What he deliberately neglected to reveal was he already knew where to hunt. With a wave of his hand he disappeared, leaving everyone standing in the studio, objections still forming on their lips.

  • • •

  Before following Gregori’s instructions, Goran, Aden, and Zelda met at Lavender Cottage. Goran strode backwards and forwards across the polished floorboards of the lounge. Zelda sat primly in a chair, her hands crossed and resting in her lap, her lips pursed so tight you’d think she’d sucked a lemon.

  “We must tell them,” Goran insisted.

  “We must not.”

  “They need to be able to protect themselves from Gregori.”

  “He didn’t do it.”

  Aden emerged from the shadows. “Why? What do you know that we don’t?”

  Zelda spared him the briefest of glances. “I know nothing more than you. I simply believe Gregori is innocent of the crime he is accused of.”

  Goran looked to Aden, a brief silent communication between them. The old woman was not telling them everything. Goran dared her to lie to him. “You’re so sure about this.”

  But the sorceress was crafty. She knew how to evade difficult questions. “It goes against everything I know about his character.”

  Aden nodded. “Still. I can’t keep it from Rosa. She may be new to Marylebone but she will find out somehow and then there will
be real trouble. I’m barely bound to her a few weeks. This is going to cause a rift between us if we leave it much longer. As it stands, it’s not going to be pleasant.”

  “Tell her,” Goran suggested. “She’s more resilient than you give her credit for.”

  Aden wasn’t so sure. “She carried the responsibility of her family for far too long. This is something that must be shared by all three sisters. At the same time.”

  “No.” Zelda said. “Now is not the time.”

  “How do you know what time is right?”

  “Give us a really good reason why not,” Goran added. “I agree with Aden. Secrets only breed misunderstandings and grief!”

  “I will not have them hurt,” Zelda shot from her chair so fast both men immediately created bubbles of protection about themselves. She might appear old, but she was the chosen leader of all the magic realms across earth. She didn’t get there by accident. They were right to be wary of her.

  “You’re too close to them,” Aden insisted. “You’re not thinking this through logically.”

  The old woman turned on them, a fierceness to her stance that had them both immediately crafting additional protection spells.

  “Alice was my best friend. She might have been mortal, but our friendship was a true connection. I never had a friendship such as the one I had with her. Now I have that same connection with her children. I won’t lose them too.”

  Goran smirked. He’d got under the old crone’s skin. Aden blinked but said nothing, which told him he was bamboozled by her admission. Aden’s tone gentled and he relaxed his guard. “They need to know the truth. Wouldn’t it be better coming from you than from one of us? Surely it would be better for the sisters to hear the truth from you than from Gregori.”

  Zelda put up a hand. “Stop. Granted, my heart rules my actions with these girls, but I’m also Wizardess of Winterbourne, Prime Wizardess of the Supreme Council of Magical Beings. If I say now is not the right time, then take heed.”