by Crymsyn Hart
“Why, Wyeth, what are you doing? Making more money off my investment in your family?”
He turned and saw Drake leaning against the doorway with a smug smile on his face. “You’ve returned to the land of the living. I take it you’re the one to blame for Savanna crying?”
“That’s none of your business,” Drake replied.
“Actually, it is. She’s our mate.”
“Keep telling yourself that, Wyeth. Once I’m gone, this infatuation will fade as I leave this place. And then you will go back to normal. You won’t need to worry about me ever coming back into your life. Although you might want to put your money away, because I’m not sure how your fortunes will fare once I leave.”
“How can you be such a dick?” Wyeth couldn’t believe what he was hearing. Something was off about Drake. This wasn’t the same man that he had seen be caring and declare his feelings for Savanna. “What the hell happened to you?”
“Probably the best thing that’s happened to me in years. My bleeding heart dragon has always gotten in the way. Now I can enjoy your world, for the little time I have. The storm approaches. I’ll be back by the time it hits, but until then don’t wait up.” Drake brushed past him as though he dismissed him and didn’t even acknowledge their mate outside.
Wyeth stepped onto the balcony and wrapped his arms around Savanna’s waist. He understood a little bit more why she had wanted to be alone. She leaned against him as she quivered from the cold.
“He’s gone,” she stated flatly.
“Yes. What did he say to you?”
“He kept me from his mind. The one who walked out was Drake, the man, the one that we’ve come to know is trapped, the dragon Meruke, inside of him.”
“But he is the dragon.”
“Not anymore,” she said. Her voice remained distant. “Something’s happened to him. The pressure of this world and using magic has made it so that he started separating. Now, two different creatures are living in one body. He said I was the only one who could bring them back together.”
“How do you do that?”
“I don’t know. I was able to break through his mind and talk to Meruke. He was the one that we’ve been talking to before he shut us out.”
“So if they’re two separate beings in one body, what happens if they can’t get back together?”
“I can’t answer that, but I can’t think of Meruke lingering and not being able to get out. He’s the one... here, I’ll show you. Close your eyes.” She twisted in his arms and pressed her forehead to his, and he closed his eyes and relaxed. This was something they had practiced, and it was easier each time she had done it.
Wyeth had become used to it and almost welcomed it. He wasn’t sure how to admit how much his life had changed since they had come together. The past three weeks had opened his eyes, and he couldn’t think of a life without Savanna. Even if Drake made it home and their link faded, Wyeth wasn’t going to give up the woman that he loved. The images and the conversation of what Savanna had experienced with Meruke and Drake flooded his mind. It was so much easier than having to tell him. Once she was done, he opened his eyes. He wondered if they could do this when they made love and made a note to bring it up the next time to try it. Now that he saw what she had experienced he understood more of what was going on.
“Where do you think he went?” he asked.
“I don’t know. He’ll be back when the storm hits. He needs me to help him get home, and he knows it.”
“I thought all he had to do was say the spell you wrote down and shed a little bit of blood or something.”
Savanna shook her head. The despair that lingered in her eyes made his heart hurt. He wanted to be there for her to fix it so she wouldn’t hurt. There was no way that was going to happen until all this ended. “No. He needs me to connect to Kestrel, and I need to tell her what happened. She might have a way to help me with this.”
“Can you bring me with you? I’d like to meet her,” Wyeth suggested.
“I don’t know if I can, but I can sure try.”
“Should we try now?” He wasn’t sure if he wanted to talk to this other woman, but he did want to see her. If she was the one who assisted Savanna and had an insight into whatever was going on, he wanted to know.
“Okay. Some place dark and quiet. We need candles. The ballroom, I think. It’s where Drake landed when he first came here.”
“How do you know that?”
She shrugged. “I don’t know. I guess maybe I picked up a few things when I was sharing Drake’s mind.”
“Okay. Let me get the candles and a lighter. I’ll meet you in the ballroom.” Wyeth rushed off into the kitchen where he had kept the supplies while they were working on the house. He grabbed an armful of them, along with the lighter, and moved back into the ballroom. Savanna placed them in a wide circle on the marble floor. He stepped inside the circle and she lit them.
“I need you to focus on the link that we have.”
He took a deep breath. Wyeth sensed her prescience like a warm candle next to him. The more he concentrated, the more and stronger she burned. He smiled. “I can feel you breathing. You’re like a purple flame. I can’t see you, but I can see the energy that surrounds you.”
Savanna took his hands. “Good. I want you to breathe with me. It feels like a tug and I haven’t tried to do this when I’m conscious. I’ll try to take you with me. I can’t promise anything.”
“I know, but it’s worth a try.”
Chapter Sixteen
Drake sat at the bar and stared into the mirror, sipping his beer. It had never tasted better. He tasted a hint of blueberry as he drank it down and took in the scenery as women walked in. A few were attractive, some were mediocre, most were downright ugly and beneath him. He was looking for a queen among the filth and the peasants. There might have been a few duchesses or countesses among them, and he could deal with that until he returned home to find the woman that would be with him forever. He was royalty, a king, and soon he would retake the throne.
“You look like you could use a date?”
He turned and saw the blond leaning on the bar. His gaze raked her breasts as they arched out from her back from the angle of her stance. She looked familiar and had nice eyes. “If you’re propositioning me, then go away.”
She laughed and ran her fingers along his knee. He enjoyed the sensation, but there was also another part, buried deep, that showed its revulsion for what he was doing and for this woman. He ignored the dragon and focused back on the woman. Her smile lit up her face, but he noticed the light of craziness in her eyes.
“You’re funny. I like you. What’s your name?”
“You seem familiar. You wouldn’t happen to be Savanna Collins’ roommate?”
Her eyes widened, adding an innocent look to the crazed one that danced in them already. “Why yes, I am. Do you know her?”
He set his beer down and trailed his finger along her arm. Her smile grew. “I do know her. We met the night I came over for dinner and she stuck me in the shoulder with a carving fork. And she ended up eating with your date, who called you crazy.”
“Right. Drake. I thought you were dating her. Why are you hitting on me?”
“Dating Savanna? Are you kidding? I found out she was fucking Wyeth and I dropped that fat bitch. Maybe we can give it a go, show them what it means to betray us.”
She grabbed his beer and wrapped her lips around it, sucking it into her mouth showing him how much of the neck she could take in. “I’d like that. My place or yours?”
“Yours for sure.” Drake got up and threw his tip on the bar. The bartender nodded at him. He looped his arm around Chastity’s waist and walked out with her. They got into her car and drove to the apartment building. All the while her hand worked over his cock trying to get him hard. He enjoyed her touch, but something bothered him the longer he was with her. Drake shoved it aside and kissed her lightly as they went up into her apartment. He turned her around and sl
ammed her up against the door, kissing her throat and tasting the lemon on her skin. She tasted good, but it felt wrong. It felt as though he was desecrating the link that he had. She wrapped her leg around his waist and undid his jeans. He pushed Chastity off.
“Don’t want to fuck me now?”
He pushed the hair back from his face and smiled. “I didn’t say that. I was hoping to be on a bed, or at least inside.”
“Right. Not much of an adventurer, are you?” Chastity teased. She opened the door and dragged him into the living room. The memory of sitting at the table and telling Wyeth and Savanna about what he was came over him, but it was almost like an echo from a dream. He shook it off and focused his attention back on Chastity. She was a warm body and smelled good. Anything to drown out Meruke. Ever since he had woken up from the shedding he had felt much different. Along with the skin, the emotions and the burdens he had associated with the dragon had vanished. He finally was experiencing the life he was always meant to live without the burden of the dragon. He had felt the change first when she had started asking about what had happened the night that he been sent to this world. He, or Meruke rather, had been in control most of the time when it came to her. Right after Meruke made love to her in his own way, he had been vulnerable. Drake had pounced and taken charge.
When Savanna had come back to him tonight and burst into his mind, he had tried like hell to get her out. However, she had gotten to Meruke, and the dragon’s feelings for the woman overwhelmed him. The dragon believed the woman was their mate and Drake couldn’t believe that. He had to get Savanna out of his mind. She was just the conduit to get him home.
“I’m more of an adventurer than you know.” He kissed her lips lightly and threw her back on the sofa so she bounced a little bit.
Chastity lifted her blouse over her head and flung it into the floor. “Savanna is such a hard ass. All she does is complain. ‘Chastity, don’t let your boyfriend smoke in the apartment. Don’t let him leave his shit all over the place. Don’t leave your clothes in the guest bathroom. Make sure you replace anything of mine you eat.’ Like I’m going to touch her shit. Whoever heard of eating soy ice cream? Yuck.”
“If you don’t like her, why do you put up with her? You could live anywhere you wanted. How did you end up in this tacky tourist town?”
She shrugged and ran her hand over his cock, trying to arouse him. “Need a little help getting it up? I wouldn’t think a guy like you would have trouble, but I have some pills in my room. I can get them if you...”
He grabbed her hand and moved it to his chest. “Of course not. I plan on fucking you until you can’t walk.”
“Not if I have my way. You won’t ever be able to perform with another woman ever again,” Meruke growled in his mind.
“Shut up,” Drake replied. “You can’t keep me from every female. Your infatuation with Savanna will pass.”
“She is our mate. This whore is nothing like the woman I love. If you continue down this path, then I will make sure you are emasculated every time you even look at another female, be they human or dragonkin. You may have me pushed down in your mind, but there are certain aspects of our physiology that you can’t keep me from. This happens to be one of them.”
Drake gritted his teeth and tried to push Meruke out of his mind so that he could work on getting hard, but nothing worked. “Fuck,” he screamed.
“Well, that’s what I want to do, but you seem to be having trouble in that department. Sure you don’t—”
“Shut up, bitch!” He slapped her across the cheek and propelled himself off her. Drake growled and punched a hole in the wall. The little bit of pain didn’t register as he paced and tried to connect with his inner dragon, but Meruke was silent. Chastity jumped on his back, making him stagger backward from the added weight.
“No one hits me. Asshole.” She scratched his cheeks, trying to get to his eyes. He grabbed her hands and flipped her over so that she landed on the carpet. She cried out, but after another second Chastity got up and came at him again.
Drake danced out of the way and headed toward the door. The rage came upon him and he felt the fire rising. He turned around and let the fire go that came out of his hand. It shot past Chastity and struck the curtains. They went up in flames. She screamed as the fire singed her arm and the side of her face. Smoke filled the apartment. He dashed out and ran down the steps, trying to catch his breath. Meruke chuckled in the back of his mind at the failure that Drake had turned into.
* * * *
Savanna felt Wyeth with her as she stretched across the void and tried to hold onto him as she plunged ahead. It sucked all of her strength with her. It was like forcing her head through a frozen lake, head first and it shredded her skin, but she kept going. Wyeth lent her his strength, and she forged ahead until she broke through. When she did, she stood in the same bedroom as before. This time she didn’t see Kestrel, but her son and another man from the library.
“You came back!” the little boy said.
“Dravik, who are you talking to?” the other man asked.
“The lady that Momma talks to. She was here before.”
The other man was the little boy’s father, glanced around the room. “Where is she?”
“Over there, by the window.”
“Show yourself.”
Wyeth was with her and squeezed her hand, but it registered as a gentle pressure. He might not be able to cross all the way, but it seemed he could hear what was going on. “I’m sorry. I can’t. Coming here is difficult. I need to talk to Kestrel. It’s important.”
“She says she needs to see Momma and it’s important.”
“If you’re going to hurt her...”
“No. It’s about Meruke. Something has happened, please.”
“She said it’s about uncle Meruke.”
“I’ll get her.” The man left the room and the little boy came over to her. She knelt down to his level and Wyeth came with her.
“What’s your name?” Savanna asked him.
“Dravik. I’m the prince.” He waved his hand through Savanna and she sneezed.
Wyeth laughed.
“Who is that with you? I can’t see him, but I can hear him,” Dravik answered.
“He’s my friend Wyeth. He’s helping me. You look just like your mom.”
“Thank you. Are you going to help my uncle Meruke come home?”
“Dravik, that’s enough. Go with Ralag for your lessons.” Kestrel kissed him on the cheek.
Savanna stood back up and looked up at Kestrel. “Andrik said you had some information on Meruke. Did he tell you anything about the storm? We’ve been doing everything to prepare, but it’s coming in just a few days and...”
She held up her hand. “No. He didn’t tell me anything and I’ve asked him repeatedly. He shut down three weeks ago. He started shedding. When he came out of it, he was different. He had turned back into a man, but he blocked me. I pried my way into his mind and found that Meruke was the dragon and Drake is the man. He had somehow separated from the dragon. They’re sharing the body, but it’s like they’re two different entities. Drake is a pompous asshole and Meruke is the one I’ve been...that I’m in love with,” she whispered, realizing it was true. She had been denying it the past few weeks because she didn’t know him, but she did love him. The same way she loved Wyeth. “He said I was the only one who could help him go back together. I need your help because the way he is, I can’t let him come back there.” She explained to Kestrel what else the dragon had told her.
Kestrel sighed and sat back. “I’ve never heard of it happening before. Andrik, have you heard of where the dragon and the human separate?”
The king scratched his neck. “It’s a rare occurrence. Only a great event can unite them again.”
“What kind of event?” Kestrel asked Andrik for Savanna.
“Something that will force them to come back together. It’s a decision both sides have to make. An understanding has to come between
the two of them. I don’t know all of it. But I think that’s it. Anything on the storm?”
Savanna closed her eyes and tried to pick up any thoughts from Meruke regarding her being in his mind. “I tried to ask him, but he wasn’t telling me anything. I know a few things. There was lightning, like great stalks of trees hitting the land in branches all around before the storm started.” She struggled to remember other things. Flashes hit her, but it was taking all her concentration to even think of it. “And there was movement. The earth moved and one of the mountains toppled. He could see it from the high peaks.” Wyeth grabbed her hands and gripped them tight.
“Who is that with you?” Kestrel asked.
“Wyeth, he’s my other mate. I needed his help to get here. I can’t stay much longer. Any advice on what else is going to happen to get him together, or what we need to do with the storm?”
“Ralag gave you the words and the instructions. If Meruke can’t transform into his dragon form then he can’t cross. He has to go into the eye and you have to be with him and shed blood. Say the words and the gateway will open.”
“Me? I don’t plan on coming here,” Savanna said to Kestrel. The link between them was starting to fade as she lost the strength to hang onto the connection, even with using Wyeth.
“You’re the only one who can initiate the spell. He needs a spellcaster to open the portal on his end.”
“But I’m not a—” the world fell away and she slammed back into her body. It felt as though she had been hit by a steamroller. She opened her eyes and saw she had fallen onto her side. Wyeth was on his side also, but he was clutching her hand. A moment of fear held her, but she saw he was breathing so it eased. As she sat up, then he opened his eyes and gave her a tight smile.
“We did it, right?”
She leaned over and kissed him. “Yes, we did it. I couldn’t have done it without you. Thank you.”
He sat up and put his hand to his head. “I think I had too much to drink. Dear God, what happened?”
