by Tara West
Tan’yi’na did this to several more gnulls before the pod retreated into the icy lung of the glacier. Lydra helped him pull five charred gnulls to shore. By the time the boats had sailed to the continuation of the Danae River on the other side of the lake, the dragons were nearly finished feasting on charred flesh.
They sailed past a smaller colony of gnulls, but the beasts scattered when Tan’yi’na flew above them with a roar. They continued their journey.
Tan’yi’na, thank you for saving us. Please don’t leave, Dianna pleaded.
I won’t, little witch.
She slid into Simeon’s arms, shoulders falling as the weight of her worry slipped away. Knowing the dragons were close by not only eased her mind, but she was finally able to find a small amount of peace. Markus was still in Madhea’s clutches, and she still had to face down the evil bitch, but the dragons and her fellow passengers were safe—for now.
She was able to shut her eyes and succumb to an overwhelming fatigue. What she needed was rest. After that, she’d regroup and plan her next attack.
Chapter Nineteen
Madhea rested her head on Markus’s shoulder, relishing his warmth and manly scent, a mixture of leather and herbs, herbs from the love-potion she’d force-fed him, but a pleasing smell nonetheless.
When she felt him stir beneath her, she sat up, pinching her cheeks and rubbing her lips together to add a touch of youthful color to her flawless face. She pulled her pale hair forward, letting the tips fall across his bare chest, knowing he wouldn’t be able to resist her beauty.
When his eyes flew open, she batted her lashes, coyly biting her lower lip. “You’re awake.”
He blinked up at her with cloudy eyes, his full lips stretched into a thin line. Madhea didn’t like the look. It reminded her of Rowlen, moments before he’d walked out on her.
He flipped her over so fast, the air whooshed from her lungs. He circled her throat with meaty hands, his dark eyes alight with fire. “What have you done to me, you wicked bitch? I should kill you right now.”
He clutched her neck so tight, she could hardly breathe. The predatory gleam in his eyes should’ve frightened her, but it only made her lust for him rise. He was a magnificent beast! She relished the task of taming him.
“But you won’t,” she choked out. She could’ve thrown him off with a bolt, but she enjoyed the game too much. Besides, she hoped to appeal to his masculine chivalry by pretending to be a weak female.
To her surprise, he tightened his hold. “Name one reason why I shouldn’t.”
She tried to pry his fingers off her neck, but ’twas no use. She grabbed his wrists, zapping his arms with just enough magic to shock him.
He released her with a hiss, tumbling off her and cradling his hands to his chest. He turned from her when she reached for him, but she was not to be deterred.
“Because you love me,” she whispered at his back, resting a hand on his arm.
He curled into a ball, burying his face in his hands. “What curse have you put on my heart?”
“Curse you?” She draped herself over him, running her fingers over his broad chest. “Why would I curse the man I love?”
He spun toward her, growling like a bear caught in a trap. “You deceptive shrew! I’m a married man.”
She refused to give up. She placed a gentle hand over his pounding heart, forcing her eyes to water. “But you love me more than her.”
He looked away. “You’re too sure of yourself.” The hollowness in his voice was belied by the flush that flamed his face like wildfire.
“Don’t deny our love, Markus.” She leaned into him, resting a hand on his heart once more. “I can feel it here.”
His eyes filled with unshed tears as he trembled beneath her touch. Good. He was breaking. “What do you want from me?”
“Oh, Markus.” She took a chance, planting a soft kiss on his lips, inwardly smiling when he didn’t push her away. She buried her fingers in his coarse, thick hair, so much like Rowlen’s. “I want everything.”
THEY STOPPED FOR THE night along a shoreline that was shrouded in shadows from a canopy of pines. The air was warmer, and the distant mountain was barely visible behind its blanket of clouds, which meant they were getting closer to Aloa-Shay. Ryne had said the river would take them straight into the part of the ocean near the seaside town.
Tar chased a cluster of fowl who’d been resting on the shore, disappearing into the forest with eager barks. Dianna sensed the dog was happier to be on land than to have discovered dinner waiting nearby. The dragons soared above them, wingtip to wingtip, before landing downriver. The ice dwellers warily watched the pair while setting up primitive tents and preparing a fire.
Dianna and Simeon helped Ura get comfortable in the shade of a pine. The ice girl had hardly spoken on the journey, preferring to bury her face against her father’s chest rather than look at anyone. Dianna didn’t know if ’twas from grief or the sickness that accompanied expectant mothers. Either way, she worried for the girl. She pressed her hand against Ura’s forehead to ensure she wasn’t feverish before leaving her with a bladder of fresh water, promising to return with food after the campfire was lit.
She was getting used to Simeon shadowing her as she marched up to the dragons. Though the warmer weather didn’t bother her, her heavy clothes were too restrictive, so she slipped off her fur vest. “Where have you been?” she demanded of them.
In the Werewood Forest, Tan’yi’na answered with a raised brow, waiting as you commanded.
When she leaned into Lydra, wrapping her arms around her neck, she was stunned and a little hurt when her dragon arched away. Lydra refused to look her in the eye.
“Why didn’t you answer when I called to you?”
Lydra’s answer was a grunt. She nuzzled Dianna’s neck and then scooted back, pressing her hindquarters against Tan’yi’na.
How odd. What was going on with these dragons?
Dianna’s glare shot to Tan’yi’na. “Well?” she asked impatiently.
We were preoccupied, Tan’yi’na answered, looking away. His behavior was surprising for such a proud monster.
The stones giggled, rattling her collarbone. What was so funny?
She should’ve shrugged off Simeon when he settled a possessive hand on her shoulder, but he’d been a source of comfort to her. She didn’t want to drive him away. She turned back to Tan’yi’na. “Preoccupied doing what?”
Lydra turned her head into the golden dragon, nuzzling his neck, which was surprising considering it hadn’t been too long ago that Tan’yi’na had tried to kill her. Even more shocking was that Tan’yi’na returned Lydra’s affection, purring against her like a cat. A giant love-struck cat.
Simeon let out a hearty laugh. “Tan’yi’na, you wicked monster.”
His response was a low growl that reverberated in the marrow of Dianna’s bones. Mind your brazen tongue, sand dweller.
Dianna’s chest and cheeks flamed with heat when Simeon flashed her a devious grin. Oh, heavenly Elements! How could she have been so blind? “You know what?” Dianna kicked up dirt. “Never mind. I don’t want to know.”
She left Simeon behind and went to the edge of the river, assisting with chopping off perch heads while trying to push images of little baby fire- and ice-breathing hatchlings out of her mind. Then she wondered how a dragon could breathe fire and ice at once. She supposed it didn’t matter, but she made a mental note to have a talk with Tan’yi’na. That would be one terribly awkward conversation.
She straightened at the sound of a commotion in the center of camp. Tar was racing around a cluster of people. Simeon was already there, shaking his head and waving her over. She wasn’t Simeon’s obedient puppy, but she was curious, so she washed her hands in the river and joined the gathering crowd, ignoring Simeon’s outstretched hand. She peered over a few heads, surprised when she saw Ryne and Jon pulling two men apart, but not just any two men: the old prophets Dafuar and Odu.
The brothe
rs released each other with feeble groans, trying to claw each other’s faces like cats. Their canes were lying in the mud, and their robes and faces were covered with grime.
Not this again. Sindri groaned.
I was hoping they’d forgotten their rivalry by now. Neriphene clucked her tongue.
Apparently not, Aletha answered.
“What is going on?” Jon stood between them, wincing as he pushed them apart. “You’re brothers! You’re not supposed to fight.”
“Brothers!” Dafuar raised a crooked finger. “He’s no brother of mine. He stole my woman!”
Odu tossed up his hands with a feeble shrug. “I didn’t steal her.”
“She was my soulmate,” Dafuar cried, tears streaming down his leathery face, “and you took her away with your persuasive magic.”
“She was my soulmate.” Odu nearly fell over backward as he pounded his chest. “And she preferred me to you. You were too hardheaded to see it. She’s waiting for me now beyond the Elements. If these old bones are ever granted rest, we’ll be reunited again.”
Ryne stepped forward, observing the two men with disdain. “Who are you talking about?”
Both men looked at him and then at each other with blank expressions.
Finally, Odu rubbed his bearded chin. “I don’t remember her name.”
Ryne laughed. “She was your soulmate, and you don’t remember her name?”
“Yes, my soulmate.” Odu’s bottom lip quivered. “Large golden eyes, beautiful ebony skin. She looked like my mother.”
Dafuar waved him away. “You don’t remember our mother, you senile old fool.”
Odu thrust a fist in the air. “I remember her from paintings!”
Dafuar shook his head. “Don’t get your twig and berries in a twist, you ugly old crow!”
Odu lurched for his brother so slowly, he looked like a slog stretching for a nest of mites. He nearly fell face-first into the mud when his brother stumbled back. “You impotent cross-eyed kraehn!” Odu snarled.
Simeon whispered in Dianna’s ear, “Do they realize they’re twins?”
Dianna shrugged, turning back to the fight, which was so awkward, it was painful to watch.
“You always had control of all the women.” Dafuar shook a fist at his brother. “Just as you had control over all the stones.”
Odu pulled back his shoulders, flashing a toothless grin. “I can’t help it if women prefer me over you.”
All three stones heaved audible sighs.
“Brothers, stop, please,” Jon begged, trying once again to step between them. “Can’t you see your fighting is upsetting everyone?”
She wasn’t sure whether people were upset or amused, but the latter seemed likely, as the crowd of onlookers smirked at the quarreling prophets. Even the dragons hung close by, watching the epic battle with fanged smiles.
Time seemed to stall as the brothers lurched for one another, their limbs tangling like mangled tree roots. They toppled over into the mud so slowly that Ryne and Jon had time to ease them to the ground.
Tar sniffed the old men, then gazed at Ryne, his ears turning in confusion.
Ryne scratched his head. “It’s like watching two slogs trying to mate.”
It was the most awkward and painful thing Dianna had ever had the misfortune of witnessing. The brothers twisted in each other’s arms with a groan, and three smooth stones rolled from Odu’s robe pocket.
“The goddess stones!” She pushed through the crowd, scooping them up before the brothers rolled onto them.
My sisters! Neriphene cried. I hadn’t sensed their presence.
They must have gone silent, fearing Madhea would steal them, Sindri answered.
Dianna glared at Odu, who stared up at her with a frozen expression, like a petrified corpse. “You had them all this time?” She didn’t bother masking her anger. “I thought these had been buried with the Ice People.”
“Oh, I forgot about them.” He sat up, flinging mud from his hands and sharing a baffled look with his brother. “Did you know I had them?”
Dafuar blinked as Jon helped him to his feet. “Had what?”
Ryne stepped behind Odu, helping him up with a curse. “She could’ve used them when she was fighting Madhea or the gnulls.”
Odu craned his neck at Ryne. “Used what?”
Ryne swatted mud off his trews. “Some days, Odu, I swear you fake senility just to test my patience.”
For once Dianna was in agreement with Ryne, but she bit her tongue, lest she say something she’d regret. Not that the prophets would remember anyway.
Bored or distracted, Tar left the old men, running back into the forest. The others scattered as well, shaking their heads and casting wary glances at the two prophets, who gawped at each other as if they’d forgotten their fight.
Dianna and Simeon sat on a log beside the riverbank and cleaned the stones. She removed the decoys from her satchel, slipping them into a pack. Then she placed all six goddess stones inside her satchel, blanketing them with the scarf.
The stones warmed and vibrated on her hip. No doubt the sisters were having a tender reunion. She didn’t dare interrupt, though she hoped to meet the new stones soon, even if that meant she’d have six nosy sisters teasing her about Simeon’s muscular chest.
“Only one stone left to find,” Simeon said. “Kyan.”
“If I had all seven, I would defeat Madhea for sure.”
Jon walked over, then bowed before her as if he was addressing a queen. “My lady....”
She emitted a very unladylike snort. “I’m simply Dianna.”
“Very well.”
She noticed how he favored one arm, cradling it as if he were carrying a newborn babe.
She held out a hand. “Let me see.”
When he placed his hand in hers, she was shocked at the way his arm curved at an unnatural angle.
“What happened?”
Jon hung his head. “The guardians.”
“Oh,” she breathed. She wondered how long the poor man had suffered with a broken arm. The stones were still buzzing in her pocket, and she didn’t want to bother Aletha, so she decided to heal him herself. She shut her eyes, drawing on her healing magic. In her mind’s eye, she saw a split in the bone going from his wrist to his elbow. She threw her spirit out, roped her magic in, and felt the bone fuse.
When she was done, she smiled at Jon, who turned his hand. “Thank you, my lady.”
“Call me Dianna,” she said with a wink. “We are in-laws, after all.”
He answered her with a wide smile. “Thank you, Dianna.”
Behind him, Ryne cleared his throat, looking sheepish, with his hands thrust in his pockets.
Simeon stood, hands clenched. “You’re not going to blame Odu, like you did Dianna? Tell him he’s the reason the Ice People are dead, since he kept the stones from her?”
Ryne glared at Simeon. Then his gaze softened as he turned to Dianna. “I was upset, and I acted like a fool. It was wrong of me to blame you.”
“Damn right it was,” Simeon grumbled.
“Look, I apologized.” Ryne’s face turned a deep purple. “So you can get off my back.”
Jon placed a hand on Ryne’s shoulder. “Easy, Son. We’ve had enough battles for one day.”
Simeon jumped to his feet, raising his fists. “If you were truly sorry, you wouldn’t have said it at all.”
“Let it go.” Dianna stood, squeezing his arm.
The two men stared each other down before Jon pulled away his son.
“I still owe him a punch to the face,” Simeon grumbled.
Though Dianna wanted to be frustrated with Simeon for nearly causing yet another fight, she only felt admiration and gratification toward her defender. Simeon had been loyal to her through every battle, staying by her side and risking his life to help her. She’d never forget his kindness. She thought of Odu and Dafuar, and how they’d forgotten the name of their soulmate. She prayed to the Elements she’d never get s
o old and decrepit she forgot Simeon, for she was starting to realize he was quite possibly her soulmate.
“THIS IS ALL YOU GOT?” Madhea shrieked, throwing the flimsy bushel of herbs at her pixies.
They dodged the object with squeals, flying to the top of the ice ceiling in a frenzied swarm, communicating in their primitive telepathic language.
Madhea understood enough to decipher that the freeze had destroyed most of the bushes or buried them deep under the snow.
“Then fly farther south. Go deeper into the forest,” she commanded.
They buzzed again, speaking so fast Madhea could only make out one word—trolls.
“I don’t care if a voracious troll army is on your tails!” She jumped into the air, waving an angry fist at the little demons. “Come back with more herbs or don’t come back at all!” She snatched the flimsy bushel off the ground. It wasn’t much, but it would make enough to last a few more days, enough time for the pixies to hopefully find more. She prayed they would, for now that she had Markus’s love, she couldn’t imagine life without it.
Chapter Twenty
They’d come so close. Just as their kisses became more passionate, and Madhea knew Markus was on the verge of proclaiming his love for her, the potion began to wear off. She found herself on her back with Markus’s meaty hands wrapped around her throat again. Like before, she’d been forced to knock him back, this time with a stronger jolt, for he seemed determined to squeeze the life out of her. After that, while he twitched and sputtered beneath her, Madhea poured sleeping potion down his throat. After she fell on the furs beside the sleeping hunter, she touched her tender throat and winced, knowing there’d be bruises come morning. She could’ve healed the bruises, but she chose to keep them as a brutal reminder she needed to fight harder for his love.
The pixies had not returned with the herbs. Madhea feared they would never return, for she recalled her stupidly telling them to come back with the herbs or not come back at all. In doing so, she’d inadvertently released them from their bonds. Curse them! Speaking of curses, Madhea had been sorely tempted to curse Markus’s heart against that idiot ice girl, but she couldn’t risk the dark magic destroying her newfound beauty and power. If only she had someone else to curse him for her. An idea took root in her mind.
