Tempting the Dragon

by Karen Whiddon

  * * *

  “How about we talk over dinner,” Jade suggested. “I don’t know about you, but I’ve got to eat something.”

  He nodded. “Mother Earth’s Café?”

  Shaking her head, her smile contained both exhaustion and wickedness. “No, I’m thinking more like the Brew and Chew Pub.”

  The place where other guys had bought him drinks and Earl had told him why.

  They got in his rental car.

  “No Mustang this time?” she asked.

  “Nope.” Instead of starting the engine, he turned to face her. “Listen,” he began. “Before we go there, there’s something you should know.” Briefly he outlined what he’d been told about her supposed magical powers and sex.

  The grimness of her unsurprised expression told him she’d heard it all before. “They’ve been saying that about me ever since I became Guardian. Before that, when I was in school, they said it about my mother. That was worse. Don’t pay any attention to those fools.”

  Partly relieved, he shook his head. “Your matter-of-fact acceptance doesn’t make it any better.”

  “What am I supposed to do? I can’t take on every single idiot who believes nonsense.”

  “You need a champion,” he heard himself say, wincing at the old-timey word. “Someone to stick up for you.”

  Her wry smile made his heart ache. “That would be a full-time job. Now come on, let’s go eat. If it makes you feel better, we can go to Mother Earth’s. But after the day I’ve had, I really could use a drink.”

  About to punch the ignition button, he froze. But then, what was one more temptation in an endless parade of them? He’d manage. He always did.

  Earl’s grin stretched ear to ear when they walked into the pub. Instead of taking seats at the bar, Rance steered Jade toward a booth. Once they were seated, Earl hurried over with menus.

  “Here you go,” he said, still beaming. “Glad to see you two are finally taking things public.”

  About to respond, Rance closed his mouth. They had too much other craziness to deal with tonight without taking on Earl and his gossip.

  “Do you know what you want?” Earl continued. Jade ordered a seasonal pumpkin beer and looked at Rance.

  “Ginger ale,” he said.

  Nodding, the bartender hurried away.

  “Ginger ale?” Jade asked.

  “I’m an alcoholic,” Rance told her. “I don’t drink.”

  Immediately contrite, she squeezed his hand. “You should have told me. We could have gone to Mother Earth’s.”

  “No need. I had an excellent burger in here the other night. And you said you wanted a drink, so...”

  “But...”

  “Seriously, Jade. I can handle it. There are far worse things in this world.” Covering her hand with his, he told her about Eve. “I can’t find even the slightest trace of where Jim might have taken her.”

  Expression dazed, at first she didn’t respond. “You mean she’s not dead?”

  “No.”

  She exhaled. “You’re telling me your daughter is alive and you never once thought to call me and tell me that?”

  Slowly, he nodded. “I’m sorry. I meant to. But I was searching for her, for Jim, and time got away from me.”

  “Save me from the excuses.” Voice cold, she eyed him.

  “Jade, I’m really—”

  Lifting her hand to stop him, she looked away before gathering up her purse and standing. “I’m going to go.”

  “Wait. Please, I know you’re mad at me,” he said, reaching for her arm. “But a little girl’s life is a stake. I’m desperate.”

  Though she shook off his attempt to grab her, she didn’t leave. “This guy, her father. Do you and he get along?”

  He nodded. “We always have. Jim got custody after Violet died and never minded sharing Eve with me.”

  “Despite that, Jim lied to you, for some reason known only to him. Then, knowing full well you’d travel to Houston for her funeral, he took off with her before you got there.”

  “That about sums it up.”

  She sat back down. “And you don’t have any idea why?”

  Before he could answer, Earl showed up with their drinks. “Did you decide on anything?”

  “Yes.” Jade grabbed her menu, opened it, before closing it with a snap. “I’d like a double cheeseburger with fries.”

  “Make that two,” Rance said, relaxing slightly now that Earl had begun acting professionally.

  “You got it.”

  After Earl sauntered away, Rance gave her an answer. “I have no idea why Jim would do such a thing. I don’t know if he thinks he’s trying to save Eve, or if she’s in grave danger.”

  “That’s crazy.”

  “It is. Now you see why I need Libby’s help. You said she can find things. I need her to find my little girl.”

  A shadow crossed over her face. “Libby.” Fingering her necklace, she spoke the name as if summoning the lake creature. “Yes, Libby is good at finding things. I’m sure Libby will help you out.”

  Relieved, though he wondered why Jade kept repeating Libby’s name, he took a deep breath. “Now what’s been going on with you? You said you had a lot to tell me.”

  “After all you’ve been going through, I almost hate to bother you,” she began, just a trace of cynicism in her voice. “Except I’m really going to need your help, too. Di is in the hospital—ICU—and in danger of losing her life. Two of her pregnant girlfriends are in the same condition. We know Prince Cai is the father of all the babies. And Libby—” she took a deep breath “—Libby believes the babies are harming their own mothers in order to be born earlier.”

  Dumbfounded, he stared. “We need each other,” he said. As he made the pronouncement, he had a fleeting sense of meaning much more than for a temporary situation.

  Foolish, he told himself.

  “Yet I don’t know which is more urgent,” Jade continued. “Finding Eve or helping Di.”

  Every fiber of his being wanted to answer, Eve. But actually, he didn’t know the truth about her medical condition. He knew she was ill, but realized every single telephone update he’d been given by Jim probably was a lie.

  While Jade’s cousin could actually be dying.

  “We’ll help Di first,” he answered. “And then, as soon as we have an answer, promise me you’ll take me to Libby to see if she can help me find Eve.”

  “I promise.”

  “What do you need me to do?” he asked, glad she hadn’t yet pulled her hand away.

  “No questions about what I just said?” She couldn’t hide her relief. “I know it sounds pretty fantastical.”

  “Hey, the whole Fae thing is strange by itself. I don’t doubt you—or Libby. Just tell me how I can help.”

  She gave him a lopsided smile. “We’ve got to go back to Fae and confront the prince. We need to find out if there’s some way to stop this.”

  “No problem. If you want, let’s go right after we eat. The sooner we can get this resolved, the quicker I can ask Libby to help me find Eve.”

  * * *

  When the burgers arrived, Jade lit into hers with single-minded fervor. Not only did she need the protein for strength, but she didn’t want to think about the actual reason why Rance had come back.

  It certainly hadn’t been because of her. As the undeniable knowledge washed over her, she pushed it away. Now was not the time to face the pain of knowing he hadn’t returned for her, but only to enlist Libby’s help in finding his stepdaughter.

  What had she expected? He’d made no promises, no declarations of undying love.

  Love. Did she love him? Stunned, Jade realized she might. She certainly could, given enough encouragement.

  One th
ing at a time. Libby’s voice, serene and calming, inside her head. Not everything is right there, visible on the surface.

  Whatever that meant, it still made Jade feel better.

  For some reason, it struck her as important that Rance never know how she felt. Therefore, she needed to act as casually as possible so her feelings didn’t show.

  “These are so good,” she enthused to Rance. “Thanks for agreeing to come here.”

  Her over-the-top cheeriness must have been obvious to him, judging by the sidelong glance he gave her. Still, he merely nodded, intent on scarfing down his meal.

  After they’d paid, she followed him back outside to his vehicle.

  “If you don’t mind, can we make this quick?” He swallowed hard. “I know I’m always asking for your help, but I’m desperate. I’m worried Eve’s in danger.”

  Though she felt a quiver of uncertainty, she managed to remain firm. “I understand. Right now there are a lot of lives at risk.” She glanced sideways at him, her green eyes unreadable. “I never mind helping you, you know that. But right now, this has to be my priority.”

  She was right.

  “Where to?” he asked.

  “The woods. We need to find the portal, the same one we used before.”

  He nodded and then started his engine. “Before we go, is this dangerous? If Fae children are killing the women who carry them, wouldn’t Prince Cai know?”

  “To be honest, I don’t know. It could be. Of course, someone as arrogant as he might simply scoff at us. My intent is to ask him if he will help.”

  Rance nodded, but still made no move to back out of the parking space. “What if he won’t? What do you intend to do then?”

  “I don’t know.” Libby made a tsking sound inside her head, momentarily distracting her. “I guess we’ll have to take it one step at a time.”

  Rance waited another second, as if he thought she might have more to say. Then, when she didn’t, he backed the car out and began to drive.

  When they reached the place they’d parked last time, they got out of the car and headed into the forest.

  “If I remember right, it’s a bit of a hike,” he said.

  “It is,” she agreed. “And please, if it looks like Prince Cai is trying to work a spell on me, grab my hand.”

  She felt a thrill of pleasure when he immediately captured her fingers with his. “How about we hold on to each other until we get back home? It’ll be safer that way.”

  Hiking together through the forest hand in hand brought its own set of challenges, but she found she relished them. Together, they kept to the path until they couldn’t, and then Rance went slightly ahead, pushing through and holding the underbrush back for her.

  The sense of rightness that had settled inside her might have been foolish, but for now she wanted to nourish it. Somehow, she thought this feeling of unity with him gave her strength.

  Finally, they arrived at the clearing where, earlier, they’d stashed their belongings. Since she’d merely left her purse in the trunk of his rental car, she watched as he reverently placed his camera bag on the ground using only one hand, since he continued to hold on to hers with the other. “Are you ever without that thing?” she asked, only half teasing.

  “Not if I can help it.” Expression serious, he took great care to ensure the bag was nestled snugly in the hollow tree truck. Once he’d done this, he removed his cell phone and some change as well as a small knife from his pockets, and placed them next to his camera bag. “Quite honestly, I haven’t touched it since I was told Eve had died. Now that I know she’s alive, I’m trying to get back to normal, though it’s been a while since I’ve taken any shots. I really wish I could bring it with me to the land of the Fae. That place and those people are seriously photogenic. Are you absolutely certain I can’t?”

  “Yes.” She smiled to take the sting from her words. “Others have tried. Sometimes they never saw again whatever metal item they’d tried to bring. I don’t know where it goes, but it doesn’t travel to Fae. Believe me, you’re safer leaving it here.”

  * * *

  Though Jade had spoken Libby’s name while at the pub, thus allowing her to enter Jade’s head and see the world through Jade’s eyes, Libby wasn’t certain if traveling through the portal would change that. She hoped not. She’d never ventured to the land of the Fae, though she admitted to being intensely curious to see it.

  Truth be told, she’d never seen much beyond her childhood home and Forestwood.

  They passed what looked like an ancient burial mound.

  “There.” Jade pointed. “See the two slender birch trees?”

  “How can you be sure they’re the right two?” Rance asked.

  Jade grinned. “Can’t you feel the energy?” At her words, Libby realized little pricks of energy danced along Jade’s nerve endings, electrifying her skin.

  “No,” Rance groused. “I didn’t last time, either.”

  Experiencing the world through Jade’s eyes, along with her wild rush of emotions, could easily become addictive. Libby had lived so long in isolation that the sense of completion Rance’s and Jade’s linked hands brought made her feel happier than she had in decades. Seeing the way Jade watched Rance and experiencing the thrill that skittered up the younger woman’s spine each time their gazes met reminded Libby of everything she’d missed out on in her long life.

  Jade loved him. Stunned, Libby was still trying to process this far too intimate knowledge when Jade and Rance stepped through the portal with their fingers still entwined.

  Together.

  The icy shock of the void made Libby queasy. Even worse, it seemed they were free-falling, spinning through what could only be described as the complete absence of light. Jade’s brief jag of terror brought a rush of adrenaline. The only thing solid was Rance and Jade held on to him for dear life. Libby couldn’t blame her.

  And then it all stopped.

  Still clutching Rance’s hand, Jade opened her eyes, affording Libby a scene of such stunning clarity of color it took her breath away.

  “We’re here,” Jade announced. Libby noted neither she nor Rance seemed in any hurry to unlink their hands.

  And then, through Jade’s eyes, Libby looked around. A meadow of lush emerald grass lined with a rainbow of vibrant flowers stretched before them.

  “And I assume we just start walking toward the palace?” Rance asked.

  Before he’d even finished speaking, they heard hoofbeats in the distance, heading toward them.

  “I guess the prince is coming to meet us earlier this time,” Jade mused. “Let’s just wait right here for him.”

  Libby couldn’t wait to see this prince. Or any Fae, to be specific. As a child, she’d often heard stories of their exceptional beauty and blatant trickery.

  “I don’t think that’s the prince.” A note of warning sounded in Rance’s voice and five black-clad riders thundered toward them.

  “They see us and it’s too late to take cover,” Rance continued. “Get behind me. If it comes down to a fight, at least I can cover you.”

  “We have no weapon.” Already Jade had searched the earth around them, looking for a stick or a rock or anything they could use. She knew, Libby realized, that something about the riders approaching them wasn’t good.

  “This is bad.” Rance’s words echoed Jade’s thoughts. “All we can do is stand our ground. Get. Behind. Me. Now.”

  Jade ignored the order, moving up to stand at his side and squeezing his hand. “We face this together.”

  Libby marveled at their combined strength and show of support as they stood tall and faced the riders drawing near.

  Mere yards from them, the group reined to a halt, their steeds kicking up grass and dirt and flowers. For the first time, Libby realized they wore hoods and som
e sort of veils over most of their faces. Only their eyes were visible.

  “Are you human?” the leader asked.

  Jade exhaled, noting from the timber of the voice that the leader was a female. While Libby pondered this, Jade stepped forward. “No, but we come from the human land. We’re shape-shifters and we need to have a word with Prince Cai.”

  “Not until you speak with us.” Holding out her hand, the woman in front helped Jade up on her horse behind her. A second later, another one of her group did the same with Rance.

  While Libby wasn’t too sure about the wisdom of this, she trusted Jade’s instincts.

  And they were off.

  As they rode, Jade and Rance shared a look. This was not the way toward the palace.

  “Where are you taking us?” Jade leaned forward, her mouth close to the leader’s ear.

  “To our lair.”

  The word did little to inspire confidence.

  “Are we your prisoners?” Jade persisted.

  The leader laughed. “No. Not at all. Everything will be explained once we are safe.”

  Safe from whom?

  As the trees thickened, the riders slowed their pace. The quiet felt absolute, broken only by the horses’ feet striking the damp earth and their labored breathing.

  No one spoke, though Libby could tell Jade didn’t feel any sort of tension between the members of the group. Rance, too, appeared relaxed, though his posture revealed he wasn’t about to let his guard down.

  The more time she spent with him, even if only through Jade’s eyes, the more she liked him. Plus, the sense of familiarity grew stronger.

  Ahead, a small earth mound rose between the trees. As they approached, Libby saw a large gate had been cut in the middle of the hill. Hidden from above by a canopy of leaves, no one would even know the entrance existed unless they knew to look for it.

  The gate swung open. They rode through without stopping. Stunned, Jade and Rance exchanged glances. What had appeared to be only a mound from the outside was the entrance to an underground labyrinth, complete with lighted streets and small houses. Libby couldn’t help but notice the close resemblance to what she imagined a medieval town would look like.