He paused, as if collecting his thoughts. “Your manner of arrival here led me to believe that danger threatened you in your world. I saw you when you first arrived here and sensed your need for escape. Those who have passed on drift in here like a leaf falling from a tree. They are taken to another part of the Otherworld, that part that is set aside for those who are truly dead.” He gave a small bow. “We can talk more later. Now, if you’ll excuse me. . .”
And he disappeared, gone out of sight!
“How–where–?” Once more, Rowan exchanged a perplexed look with Allegra. He sighed. “We’ll just have to accept that this is a strange place. But we knew that before we came here, didn’t we? Or at least I did, after reading that book about the Otherworld. So far, everything has proved to be peaceful and pleasant, a respite from the danger you faced in our world. So let’s enjoy the time we have together and explore this exotic land that’s so full of surprises.”
“And hope we don’t meet with any dragons,” Allegra said with a nervous laugh.
He turned her to face him. “Didn’t he say it was a rare occurrence for a dragon to come this way? So let’s not worry about something that is unlikely to happen.” He squeezed her hand. “Let’s just enjoy ourselves and get to know each other better.” Very much better. He eased her closer to him, wrapping his arm around her waist. “–as I have wanted to know you.”
* * *
Time passed, whether night or day, Rowan didn’t know, for the sky remained the same brilliant blue, streaked with undulating streaks of pink and green. He and Allegra found ample foods to eat, fruits and nuts and an odd type of brown bread that grew on trees. Now and then, they fell asleep on the soft ground, locked in each other’s arms. When he awoke, he felt as if he’d had a full night’s sleep, although he had no idea how much time had elapsed. Allegra usually woke up about the same time he did, each of them exchanging smiles of satisfaction.
Now and then, they met the old man–Kalevi–by the lake and exchanged greetings with him. Often, he disappeared as he had the first time they’d seen him.
Now, she awoke and leaned back on her elbows. “How long do you think we’ve been here in the Otherworld?” Ah, if she only knew what a provocative picture she presented, a vision of beauty and allurement, of temptation almost too great to be borne.
He lay, his hands locked under his head, forcing himself to talk as if all was normal, as if he wasn’t driven out of his mind with desire. “I have no idea and I don’t care. I could stay here forever.” He sat up, running his hand along her arm. “How about you?”
“Oh, me, too.” She stretched and yawned. “I never want to go back.”
“Nor I,” he whispered. He eased her down next to him, looking long and fully into her eyes, those violet eyes that lured him, drew her to him like a magnet. He gentled a few locks of hair from her face as desire stirred inside him, a need to make her his own. Did she feel the same temptation he wondered. Did she want him as much as he longed for her? Helpless to fight his deep need, he brushed his lips across hers. He drew her closer to him as they lay locked in each other’s embrace. His kiss deepened, his hands exploring her body. Like warm wine, passion flowed through him, a yearning to know all the joys of her body. He wanted her now, now, now! But he couldn’t–must not–continue with his lovemaking, for she was a princess and innocent, not one to be taken like a common pleasure woman.
“Allegra, Allegra!” With a greater regret than he’d ever known, he released her and sighed, feeling as though all the joy, all the good things he cherished, had left him forever. Yet the promise of a bright future for them remained. “Dearest,” he murmured, “when we return to Avador, we must find a druid to marry us.” His gaze met hers, and he wished he could fathom her thoughts, hoping she felt the same. He placed a soft kiss on her cheek. “Will you marry me, sweetheart?”
She smiled that dazzling smile that lit up her face. “Yes, you know I will.” She licked her bottom lip. “It’s odd, is it not? We must return to our world–the real world–to marry, yet I could stay here for the rest of my life.”
He wrapped his finger around one of her dark locks. “I feel the same. How long have we stayed here? Hard to know, but we must go back.” He sighed. “Yes, we can’t remain here for the rest of our lives.” He held her close in his arms as they lay on the grass, discussing their future, the happiness that would surely be theirs.
She eased out of his arms and stood. “But before we return, I want to explore more of this world here. I want to store memories of our sojourn in the Otherworld, tales to tell our children and grandchildren.” She looked his way. “How about you?”
An overwhelming lassitude came over him, and why, he didn’t know. Despite his desire to go with her, his body would not respond. “You go by yourself for now. Later, we can explore this world together.” He yawned. “We have plenty of time.”
“Very well, then. I will see you later.” Giving him a little wave, she left him and walked on. He watched her walk away, thanking all the gods and goddesses for this lovely woman who had come into his life.
Past the trees and bushes and beyond the lake, Allegra walked, her gaze absorbing the beauty of the Otherworld. The scent of a fruit tree drew her to its luscious bounty. Plucking a fruit from the tree, she bit into it, musing that it combined the taste of an apple and a strawberry. She munched on the juicy fruit while she strolled along, her glance moving from left to right. She recalled what the man by the lake had told them, that farther beyond this part of the Otherworld another area began, that place reserved for those who had truly passed on. As she walked farther on, she noticed a subtle shift in the atmosphere, a slight haze that drifted around her.
Soon, she reached an invisible barrier, a hindrance that prevented further exploration. Nor could she see beyond this obstacle, for all was a smoky haze beyond.
Sighing with disappointment but accepting her exclusion, she turned to go back, wanting only to be with Rowan.
Too late, she heard the noisy flapping of wings.
Too late, she saw the dragon diving toward her.
Too late!
Chapter Fourteen
A scream pierced the silence. Rowan jerked awake and jumped to his feet. Oh, no,no, no. A dragon clutched Allegra in its forefeet; its flapping wings created a draft. A numbed terror consumed him, a greater fear than any he’d ever known. He gulped again and again, his heart beating wildly.
He won’t have her! He raced around the lake, then on to the distant hills. He touched his sword as he ran, determined to fight the dragon, kill it! He must save Allegra; he couldn’t live without her. Find the beast first! He followed a path that was studded with gemlike crystals, a trail that led upward to the hills. He climbed higher and higher, his booted feet continually slipping on the crystal. His breath caught in his throat as he ascended, a terrible fear inside him that he would be too late. But no, he wouldn’t even think that. His heart pounded so hard, he felt each beat in his eardrums.
At the crest of a hill, he heard her scream again and followed the sound. Rushing past trees and understory, he pushed bushes out of the way, near stumbling in his haste. Goddess, goddess, let me find her in time. Her screams became louder as he neared the source. Gasping, he stopped before a cave. Inside, a dragon held Allegra in its forefeet, her screams echoing throughout the hills.
“You let me go!” She stepped on the dragon’s foot, but Rowan saw her efforts were useless. She might as well be brushing a feather across its skin. “Damn it, let me go!” She pounded on its scales, her knuckles coming away torn and bloody.
“Let her go!” His skin iced, his heart pounding, harder, harder. He clutched his sword, too well aware the flimsy weapon would be no match for the dragon. He breathed deeply, every muscle tense. As if a dragon could understand what they said!
The dragon was the most monstrous creature he’d ever seen, its scales gleaming despite the cave’s darkness. Spikes traced a path down its back, its pointed tongue flicking in and
out, its tail flapping on the cave floor.
Rowan stepped closer. “Allegra. . .”
“You can’t have her. She’s mine.”
“What?” A dragon that talks? Now he’d seen and heard everything.
“I found her first.” The dragon spoke in a deep, gravelly voice, its mouth wide and fierce. Knifelike teeth glittered in the dark, webbed wings grazing the cave’s ceiling. A flamelike gas erupted from its mouth with every word it spoke. Sharp claws topped its toes, and when it moved its foreleg, the cave shook, stones falling to the floor.
Pretending boldness, Rowan glared up at the beast, his head raised so high his neck ached. “You have no right to her. She doesn’t belong to you.” Had he lost his mind, talking to a dragon? “And no, you didn’t find her first.”
“I want her.” The beast hung its head. “I get so lonely here. Often, I don’t even see other dragons. I just wanted to make friends.”
“Well, you’ve picked a mighty peculiar way of making friends.”
As they talked, a hopeful expression came over Allegra’s face, and she tried to wiggle out of the beast’s clasp, but it merely tightened its hold.
Rowan stepped closer. “Let her go! Do you hear me?” He jerked his sword from the scabbard, hoping it might scare the dragon.
“Hah! Try using that sword against me. My thick scales would break it in two.”
“I can’t make it any plainer to you. You must release her. She is not yours.”
“There now, are you happy?” As the beast loosened its hold, Allegra eased away and ran to Rowan.
“Allegra, if something had happened to you. . .” Rowan held her tight, his heart beating with joy. He kissed her over and over, vowing never again to let her out of his sight.
She returned kiss for kiss, touching his body, tracing her fingers across his back. “Ah, dearest!” She turned around and glared up at the dragon. “Who--what do you think you are? You can’t just grab people and fly off with them!”
The beast laughed. “I did, didn’t I?”
“Well, don’t do it again.” Allegra reached for Rowan’s hand. “Come on, let’s get out of here.”
“Yes!” He stepped outside with her, into the fresh air, thankful for their escape.
“Wait!” The dragon stepped from the cave into the sunlight, dragging its tail behind. It fixed its beady eyes on them, its scales glistening like metal. And no doubt as hard as metal, Rowan mused, keeping a wary eye on the monster. He gasped, viewing the dragon in the bright sunlight, its massive build seeming to cover the entire hill. Away from the cave’s darkness, it shone a bright green but was the ugliest animal he’d ever had the misfortune to meet.
A look of sadness came over the dragon’s face. “Can’t you stay awhile? Talk with me? What’s your hurry?” It shook its head. “I promise I won’t hurt you, either of you.” Huge tears ran down its scaly face, dropping onto the limestone, where it hissed like acid. “You didn’t even ask my name.”
Allegra blew on her bruised knuckles and exchanged an amused glance with Rowan. “Very well, then, what’s your name?”
“Grenalda,” the dragon replied. “Get it? Grenalda, the green dragon.” Her thick lips peeled back in what must have been a smile. “And what are your names?”
They introduced themselves, then Rowan asked, “Where are the other dragons, or aren’t there anymore up this way?”
“Oh, I see other dragons now and then, but they usually fly off somewhere. They don’t stay in one place too long.”
Apparently reconciled to the beast, Allegra patted her foreleg, the dragon’s cheek obviously too high to reach. “And you? Don’t you ever fly away, visit other places?”
“Oh, yes, I can fly anywhere I want. I can even fly to your world, where the humans live.”
Thinking hard, Rowan looked at Allegra, then back at Grenalda. “I never see you or any other dragons in my world.”
“Of course you don’t see me. I fly to your world only at night, when it’s dark. I stay away from places where people live.” She shrugged. “I just get tired of staying here. I like to see other places, another world.”
Thoughts churned in Rowan’s head. “Could you . . .could you take us with you?”
Grenalda smiled. “Of course I could. What do you think I am–helpless?”
“Rowan!” Allegra tugged at his sleeve. “Are you out of your mind? Don’t you know any other way to get out of here?”
He turned toward her, his face set in resolve. “Listen, dearest. We have to return to our world. Much as I’d like to stay here with you, we have to go back. And yes, I do know another way of leaving this place, but I fear it may involve some risk.”
“And this doesn’t? Riding a dragon?”
Grenalda stepped forward, shaking the ground. “Oh, I assure you it’s safe to ride me.” She jerked her head back. “You see those spikes? Plenty of room for both of you to ride me. Just hold on to the spike in front of you. I promise I’ll be careful.” She laughed. “And I promise I won’t perform any flying tricks, like I do when I fly by myself.”
“But how will you know if it’s day or night?” Allegra asked, her gaze covering the perpetual blue sky. “It’s always daylight here.”
“Not to worry. I’ll go and check first. In no time, I’ll be back. It’s easy for me to fly from this world to your own, and it won’t take long.” She raised a foreleg, gesturing toward the lake below. “You wait there for me. Now, move aside, and I’ll be on my way.”
Grabbing Allegra, Rowan hastened backward, nearly tripping on a rock.
Grenalda motioned with her foreleg. “Back farther. Don’t you see my wide wings?” As she flew off, she waved her wings, the air whooshing. She soared into the sky, and within minutes became a tiny speck in the far distance.
“Let’s go back down the hill.” Rowan took Allegra’s hand, leading her to the path that led downward. Watching his step, he continually looked back at her and released a deep breath as he led her down the trail. Only now did he recognize his fright, his vast relief that they had escaped what might have been a horrible fate. Grenalda could have devoured them both, leaving no trace of either of them.
Soon, they reached the bottom of the hill and saw Kalevi sitting by the lake. Waving to him, they circled the blue expanse of water and soon made it to the opposite side.
The old man stood and greeted them. “So you’ll be leaving soon?”
Rowan blinked. “How do you know that?”
He smiled. “I surmised that much. From here, I could see both of you with the dragon, standing outside the cave. And may I say I’m so very glad the beast didn’t harm you. I saw the dragon fly off, as if on a mission. So I’m right, am I not? You’re returning to your own world?”
Rowan nodded. “As soon as the dragon comes back,” he said, explaining about the need to determine if it was day or night.
“But how do you know if the danger is past?”
“We don’t know, but we can’t stay here forever.”
“We will face whatever comes our way,” Allegra added. “As much as we love it here–and we have been happy, believe me–we have a life to live, duties to perform.”
Kalevi bestowed a benign smile on both of them. “Very well, then, my children. May happiness be yours for the rest of your lives.” He disappeared, just as when they had first met him.
Rowan and Allegra exchanged smiling glances. “Nothing surprises me anymore,” she said. “I’ve seen and done enough here to last me for the rest of my life.”
He squeezed her hand. “Me, too.” And I want you with me for the rest of my life.
Hand in hand, they waited by the lake, its smooth surface glassy and sparkling. Colorful birds flew overhead, diving and soaring, warbling beautiful music.
* * *
“There she is!” Minutes or hours later–she wasn’t sure which–Allegra was the first to see Grenalda’s return. First appearing as a dot far, far away, she became bigger and bigger until it looked as if s
he dominated the entire sky. She landed on the opposite side of the lake, the ground shaking beneath her massive body, her wings settling on the grass.
Her hand clasped in his, Allegra and Rowan rushed to the other side of the lake. She caught the sweet scent of flowers that flourished along the water’s edge, but all she could think about was having to ride this gigantic creature high in the sky, and for how long, she had no idea.
“You’re in luck,” Grenalda called as they neared her. “It’s nighttime in your world. So shall we go?”
“Uh, don’t you want to rest for a while?” Allegra asked, playing for time. How she dreaded mounting the dragon. What if she fell off?
Grenalda smiled, her sharp teeth gleaming. “No, I’m fine, plenty of energy left. Best that you leave soon, else it might be daylight when we arrive in your world.”
Allegra and Rowan exchanged anxious glances, prompting her to suspect that he harbored doubts, too, but wouldn’t admit it.
“Come, come now,” Grenalda said. “Don’t worry about riding me. You see I’ve landed next to a tree, very close. You can climb the tree and then step onto my back.”
“Very well.” Allegra hadn’t climbed a tree since childhood, but with Rowan’s help pushing from behind, she stepped up onto the lowest branch, then climbed from one branch to another. She caught her breath with every movement, too well aware the slightest misstep could send her plummeting to the ground. This will involve split second timing and the utmost dexterity, she thought. High up in the tree, she hitched up her skirt, then stretched her leg across and mounted Grenalda’s back, the dragon’s scaly skin rubbing against her legs.
“I’ll sit behind you,” Rowan said, following her onto the dragon’s back. “That way, I can keep an eye on you, catch you if you start to fall off.”
She jerked her head back. “You trying to scare me?”
Settled behind her, he patted her upper arms. “Just looking out for you.”
Allegra's Dream (Avador Book 4, a Books We Love Fantasy Romance) Page 8
