Devoured Innocence

by Michelle Marquis

  “Yes, I realize I told you I would let you go, but things have changed,” she said running her gaze up and down Harlan. “His Royal Highness Megolyth is passing through to visit his cousins in the Triumvirate and has requested to take you with him. I see no reason to refuse him.”

  “I can think of a million reasons to refuse him,” she said trying to remain calm. “Why would Megolyth be coming here anyway? This isn’t exactly along the way, in fact it’s at least a day’s ride in the opposite direction. Perhaps he’s coming to make more donations to your hospitals." Harlan’s voice split the air between them like a battle axe.

  Nineveh seemed amused by her anger, which just enraged her further. “What Megolyth does with his money is his business. His visits here are not infrequent. He would have come whether you were here or not. I do apologize for not keeping to our agreement, but he does hold a higher station in the civilized realms than you do, doctor.”

  Oh, my god, she’s fucking him and probably has been for years. “Now listen…” Harlan was just about to launch into a pissed off tirade when the throne room doors burst open. In marched Titan, followed by two angry looking guards. His stare fixed only on Harlan.

  “Forgive us, Great Mother,” one of the guards said. “This male just appeared, demanding entrance. When we refused he disappeared with some kind of mind trick. We will remove him at once.”

  Titan’s gaze never wavered from Harlan, but his nostrils flared and one of the guards rushing up behind him melted into the floor, leaving a shiny, colorful puddle. The other jumped back and swore.

  “You’ll not touch me, little bitch,” he commanded.

  “What...what...is happening here?” the Queen sputtered. She stood with her mouth gaping at the intruder, who kept coming at Harlan. “Who is this man?”

  Harlan barely heard the Queen as she turned back to stare at Titan. She was as shocked as everyone else. The wizard looked even worse than he had yesterday. He was thin and for the first time a few gray streaks colored his hair. Normally he slithered around in the shadows to remain inconspicuous during his covert meddling. For him to charge in here like this meant something must be very wrong.

  “His name is Titan and he is my husband’s estranged father,” Harlan said. It amused her that he had the balls to disrupt Nineveh’s court like this.

  “Why is he here? What does he want?” the Queen demanded loudly. A few more guards scrambled into the throne room but didn’t approach.

  Titan ignored the Queen and stopped less than a foot away from Harlan. She really hated being this close to him. “I need to speak to you alone.”

  Harlan made an off-hand gesture to the Queen. “I’m in the middle of something. Can’t this wait?”

  The wizard stomped his foot like she was being a disobedient wife. “I will speak with you now!”

  The Queen was so angry Harlan could hear her teeth grind. To avoid escalating the situation she looked at Nineveh and said, “May I please just speak with him for a moment? He doesn’t mean any insult. He’s just a little...” she twirled her finger next to her head.

  To Harlan’s great surprise, Titan didn’t make a snide comment or turn Nineveh into a spider. He simply stood looking spooked. Really, really spooked. Harlan hated to admit it, but the whole thing was making her giddy with joy. Finally, this colossal asshole is getting some back.

  “You have one minute,” the Queen barked.

  Harlan walked through the double doors into the hallway. Titan joined her. Turning she placed one hand on her hip and pointed at him with the other. “If this is about Dragon, I’ve already thought about it and the answer is no. I have got bigger problems than your petty insecurities. Now leave me alone!”

  Titan’s eyes grew narrow and mean. Hatred whiffed off him like a foul stench. “No more games. You will come with me and get that abomination to come out from behind his whore’s skirt and face me. If you don’t, not only will I take a sledgehammer to Gavin’s stone carving, but I will abduct your daughters and do unspeakable things to them.”

  Bile rose in her throat. There was no one in existence she hated more than this enormous prick. “Okay, I’ll go with you. But I’m not promising you anything.”

  “We’ll just see about that.”

  * * * *

  A flash of light and in an instant, they were outside a cave with a wooden door. Harlan swooned for a moment, disoriented by the unexpected teleportation. Titan gripped her upper arm impatiently, to steady her. That was when she noticed a dusty semi-circle surrounding the entrance.

  “What’s that?” Harlan asked.

  “Witch’s nonsense. Call to Dragon.”

  "No. I am not going to stand out here and yell at a cave like some kind of a nut." Harlan stepped forward over the gray circle to go and knock when Titan yanked her back next to him, still holding her arm.

  With an ominous creak the door opened inward and Dragon emerged. Bare chested and wearing only pants and tall brown boots, his presence gave her an unexpected wave of comfort.

  The dark pants contrasted pleasantly with the light and healthy glow of his viridian skin. Looking like he had just tumbled out of bed, his straight, dark hair shined with good health as it hung in shaggy locks around his face and shoulders. His gaze was accentuated by his vibrant green eyes that seemed to sizzle with cool, confident intelligence.

  Wow. Who’d have ever thought that Dragon could look sexy?

  “How are you, Harlan?” His eyes explored her face, running with bold interest down her body. “I have missed you.”

  With a smile, she replied, “I’ve missed you too. You look great.”

  Harlan wasn’t lying. It was good to see him. He looked so much healthier and stronger than when she’d last seen him. The transformation was nothing short of inspiring.

  Titan was visibly irritated by the pleasantries. “Step over the line.”

  “Why?” Dragon asked casually.

  “Because I think you’re nothing without your bitches to protect you.”

  “You’re wrong, father. I am something. I am the son you created me to be.” Dragon walked over the ashy border and right up to Titan. No hesitation, no fear. He stopped when they were only a few inches apart.

  Titan didn’t yield any ground, but he was clearly uncomfortable. Taking a small step back, he released Harlan’s arm, obviously flustered by Dragon’s new bravado.

  The pinched strain in Titan’s face calmed into something colder. “This is over, son. Come back with me.”

  Harlan’s mouth gaped incredulously. Seriously? Son? He’s called Dragon many things over the years, but I can’t remember him ever using the term son. The manufactured concern in his voice was disturbing. She couldn’t imagine anyone falling for it.

  “It is too late, beastie,” a beautiful young woman said in a raspy voice.

  She and another woman, a bit older, had come outside. They leaned against the cave on either side of the threshold, wearing smug smiles. Both were naked and tousled, but not concerned with their exposure.

  The younger woman with the raspy voice continued. “The ceremony is complete. He is not yours anymore.”

  Titan shot a vicious glance at the woman. “Your insignificant spells mean nothing. He is mine and always will be, no matter what temporary concessions you’ve granted him.”

  Dragon turned his attention to Harlan. Taking her hand, he tenderly kissed the back of it. Heat rushed into her cheeks and she looked at the ground to get away from his seductive gaze. She had never had those kinds of feelings for Dragon. But whatever was happening here, it was having a strong, supernatural influence.

  “Cross the circle and come inside,” he whispered to her. “My father can’t hurt you here.”

  Harlan glanced at Titan, unsure. He seethed next to her as a muscle twitched by his left eye. She’d never seen him this upset about anything.

  “I can’t. He said he’ll destroy Gavin and go after Gypsy and Missy. I won’t betray you again but I don’t know what to do, Dra
gon.”

  “Ignore him,” he said, tossing a glance at the two naked witches. “My new friends and I have taken steps to ensure the safety of everyone. Gavin was enchanted by me. Only I can destroy him. Titan knows that. As always, he is lying to you.”

  Harlan tentatively took a step toward the cave, despite her overwhelming doubts. She stepped over the gray ash border, fearing the worst at any moment. She could feel Titan’s glare boring into her back. She hesitated and waited to see what would happen. Am I sacrificing my entire family because of some misguided belief that Dragon will keep us safe?

  “You’re making a mistake, Harlan,” Titan warned. “Dragon may appear as a noble prince, but he is as corruptible as any man. His newly tapped power will destroy him just as surely as—”

  “…it destroyed you?" Harlan finished. The comment earned her yet another scathing look from Titan.

  The wizard pointed at her. There was a sharp tingling at the back of her neck. Dragon moved between them. With a gentle, sensuous touch, he placed his hand in the small of her back, pushing her toward the cave door. The tingling stopped.

  “Wait over there,” Dragon told her.

  “How sweet,” Titan said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “Has she always found you handsome, Dragon? Or has your newfound sanity and power suddenly made you more attractive? Perhaps if you rescue her, you’ll get to finally fuck her after all of these years. Now that you have killed off Gavin, there is no competition. This beautiful, exceptional human woman is all yours and she will gladly come into your bed. I’ve heard she is quite an adventurous and passionate lover.”

  Harlan’s fury simmered like a volcano, building toward eruption. Though he had managed to bait her into a rage, she said nothing. The fear of Titan hurting Gavin and her children still gnawed its way through her emotions. Dragon appeared unmoved.

  “Go back to your dilapidated castle, your family of ghosts and your cemetery toy box, Titan. You have no influence here.”

  “You’re a fool for challenging me. I have far more weapons at my disposal.”

  “Yes Father, I know you do. I know a lot of things. Since I was the only other resident of your castle who wasn’t dead, you have no secrets from me. We both know with no one to absorb the consequences, every act of villainy will cost you.” Dragon tilted his head slightly like he was pondering a bigger question. “You can’t hide anything from me. I understand now. All of your knowledge is mine, I only needed access. I am your creation. You allowed yourself to obsess over Gavin’s accomplishments. He was so much more than a mere curiosity to you. You had to reign supreme over all of your progeny. The only real question is; are you willing to risk everything that you have become only to be destroyed by your sinister orgasm gone awry? Magic has been a part of my existence for as long as I can remember. You told Harlan the power would corrupt me. Yet here you are, trying to deny me my freedom from it.”

  Titan clenched his teeth and glared at Harlan. “This is your doing. I’ll make you pay for this.”

  “Hold on there, asshole! I would never have met Dragon had it not been for your obsession with Gavin. Twenty-seven years ago you showed up with this sick man. You practically begged me to treat his mental illness. You played me, knowing I couldn’t resist helping him. The whole time you were going to use him to destroy Gavin. So this upheaval in your life is all yours.”

  In the next moment, Titan vanished. Dragon stepped back into the enchanted semi-circle and moved up next to Harlan, sliding his arm around her waist.

  “Don’t worry too much about him,” he said placing a delicate kiss on her cheek.

  Suddenly, everything drained out of Harlan. Her anger, strength and resolve bled from her like a sucking chest wound. She was mentally bombarded by awful scenarios with Missy, Gypsy and Gavin. Her own mind was crueler to her than Titan could ever be. It was too much. Throughout all the pain and uncertainty she had fought to stay strong, but she was finished. Before reaching the door, she collapsed to her knees in an uncontrollable outburst of sobs and tears. Where is Gavin? Where are my children? How do I save them? Her vulnerability was there for all to see, but she didn’t care anymore. The agony ripped through her, overwhelming everything but her primal ability to breathe.

  Large, strong arms wrapped around Harlan’s midsection and lifted her. She knew it was Dragon, but her mental breakdown hadn’t run its course enough for her to respond. He pulled her into his tender arms and cradled her. Dragon’s voice spoke in deep, soft tones, soothing her. She wasn’t listening to the words but they were warm and calming. The sobbing had stopped, but the tears still poured from her eyes. She tried to stop crying by closing them. Harlan thought she heard Dragon telling her it would be all right, her family would be safe. She desperately wanted to believe him.

  Harlan was so exhausted she didn’t know if any of it was real. As she drifted off into oblivion she heard Dragon say, “Whatever it takes, I will get you back to Gavin. I will get you home. I promise.”

  Chapter 14

  “Gypsy! Stop!” Kharon shouted.

  Gypsy stayed focused and kept sloshing through the river. Her eyes ached like someone had splashed vinegar into them as she scanned both banks, looking for a broken twig, torn bush or hoof print…anything that would hint at where the bounty hunter had gone with her sister. This is my screw up. If I hadn’t tackled the other hunter, I would have still been mounted when Makara took off. Because of me, she’s gone.

  Kharon rode up. His hyperia hissed, keeping a high gait in obvious distaste for the cold water. “We’ve been out here for hours. We need to meet up with the others. Krull needs to get to the hospital. The bounty hunter could have followed this river for miles. We’ll catch up to them but not today. We need to do this with our heads.”

  The thought of giving up and going back made Gypsy’s stomach feel like it was being ripped in half. It was not an option for her. Doesn’t he understand what could happen to Missy? Is he fucking crazy?

  “I will not stop,” she yelled, enunciating each word. “Missy is all alone with that criminal. Go, if you want. Not me!”

  Trajan joined them. “Gypsy, I know you’re worried but I don’t believe Makara will hurt her. He is not some psycho or pervert. All he wants is his bounty and the sooner the better. He will keep her safe so he can collect. Being saddled with a small child is risky and burdensome and he knows it. But understand this, he is just as good as I am. You won’t find him like this.”

  Gypsy reined her beast away from them. Talking was wasting time and there wasn’t any to waste. Her baby sister was out there being subjected to gods know what.

  Twisting her torso around, she looked at both of them. “What am I supposed to tell my mother at the Queendom? Sorry, your husband is probably dead, and by the way I lost Missy to some fucking bounty hunter! And what if my father is revived? What the fuck do I tell him? I was supposed to protect her and I failed!” She was screaming at both of them, her voice laced with tremors of hysteria.

  To add to her torment, the mirthful telepathic banter she’d had with Kharon just before they were attacked replayed over and over in her head, further infecting the wound. Why didn’t I listen to him? Missy would have been safer riding with him and I should have known that. But instead I teased him for his caution and now I probably just got my sister killed. The obsessive delirium muted out the rest of the world. She had to find Missy.

  Kharon grabbed her hyperia’s bridle. A flash of rage exploded in her head. Releasing her reins, she slammed her palms into his chest breaking his grip. He lunged for her and they both tumbled into the water. Like a wildcat she went berserk, hopelessly fighting against his greater strength.

  She knew he wanted to calm her but it was impossible. Frantically fighting him, she punched and kicked until he finally gave up. Holding up his hands in surrender, he stood up out of the water. Gypsy almost slipped in the knee deep water before she gained her footing.

  Fighting her threatening tears, she collected her mount. It was no
use. A few feral tears ran down her face anyway. Rubbing her soaked sleeve against her face she coughed out a choppy breath. No one spoke. She settled for a second, collecting her thoughts before speaking. “I am not going to the Queendom.” Gypsy turned and stared at Trajan. “I’m taking you and we are going to keep searching.” Looking at Kharon she said, “Go back and tell my brother to go on without us. Afterward you can try and catch up if you want, okay?”

  “Would it matter if it wasn’t okay?” Kharon spat back. Breaking eye contact, he slogged through the water and snatched his hyperia’s reins. Kharon tapped his temple with his index finger and glared at her. “Stay in touch.”

  Kharon’s anger and despair hummed inside her as she watched him ride off. He didn’t want her to blame herself for this, but Gypsy couldn’t help but feel responsible. The last time she saw her mother she had been told to take care of Missy. What an outstanding job I’ve done.

  Gypsy snatched up the reins of her own mount, looking at Trajan. “You know this miscreant. Where do you think he took her?”

  Trajan thought for a moment. Then he said, “Probably back to the empire. The nearest town will have gossip so we can get more details. We have a two to three-day ride back, but there is only one town in between in which to get supplies. We won’t have to worry about him recruiting more men because he won’t want to divide up what may be a very small bounty.”

  Chapter 15

  Without Trajan it had taken them almost six hours to reach the Razorback Queendom. The border crossing was through a rarely used lower mountain trail patrolled by only two guards. Desmond was sure they weren’t going to let him in, if not for his uniform, then because of his sire. His broken ribs ached with each step of his hyperia and he was desperate for some relief. Desmond was glad he’d refused the pain medicine because Krull needed it more. From what Scarlet had told him, the Kirillian doctor’s wound was severely infected despite her precautions. Now Krull was pale and feverish. The pain etched on his face with each movement made Desmond feel better about his own wounds. He was amazed the man had managed to stay conscious and mounted.