Fated Hope

by Sariah Skye

  Gabriel cocked a brow. “How do you know?”

  “She mentioned it to me once, before we knew about this…spell. So if it’s not dragon then…” I gasped, realizing. “Titans?” I asked Yarrem who nodded vigorously.

  Gabriel’s mouth dropped open. “You’re saying…we are part God?”

  “Very distantly, yes. The Titans bestowed their powers amongst several bloodlines of loyal humans eons ago, before they disappeared. No one knows if they just died off, or retreated for other worlds. Over years and years of evolution, you have what you are now,” Yarrem said, motioning to Gabriel. “It genetically comes out in some, and not others.”

  Gabriel and I looked at each other in awe. “Oh my god, don’t tell Daniel,” I said, trying not to laugh.

  Gabriel snorted boisterously. “Hell no.”

  “What about merpeople?” I asked.

  “The meres evolved eventually into the various fae: pixies, fairies, nymphs. So, provided the spell was cast correctly, I have no doubt that you contain the magic needed to fight the Shadows successfully,” Yarrem said.

  I smiled uncertainly. “Great. Don’t suppose there’s any chance they’ll just go away?”

  Yarrem’s expression was warm, if not chiding. “I’m afraid not, dear child. Even if they do, it’s only temporary.”

  I pouted while grumbling. “That’s what I thought…”

  “Before you deal with Shadows, you need to work out whatever is going on between you. If your relationship is off-kilter, so will your magic be,” Yarrem said, motioning between us.

  Gabriel and I looked at each other guiltily, like scolded school children.

  “We will talk it out,” Gabriel said, with a sigh.

  “Good. Now, let’s all get rest, and I’ll see about contacting Zyanhei in the morning. You, Leorah, especially need your rest!” Yarrem gave a slight wink at me and bowed lightly. “Good night, dear children.” He turned around, with his back facing us, clearly indicating we were to leave.

  Gabriel and I stood, and he motioned for me to leave through the door first.

  “Did you get what you needed?” he asked, with a chuckle, magically shutting the door behind him.

  My feet were firmly planted to the ground, and I stared at my feet, dumbfounded.

  “What?” Gabriel asked.

  “What did he mean by I ‘especially need the rest’? Do I look that bad? Are there bags under my eyes or something? Oh geez…” I said, my gaze darting around, trying to catch a glimpse of my reflection anywhere—it was dark and there were no mirrors in the hallway.

  Gabriel placed a hand on my shoulder and squeezed. “No, Leo. You look great. Amazing even, if I can say that,” he said, adding the last part quickly and turning away so I didn’t see the blush on his cheeks. “I think he just meant that you have a lot of work you’ve had to do, and more to be done and you definitely need your sleep. If you get too tired, your pink magic won’t be as strong and no one needs that.”

  I let my anxious shoulders fall, and let out an exasperated sigh. “You’re right, of course. Not sure what my problem is…”

  “Leo, Kiarra was talking to me earlier; she said that you were feeling badly about…what happened between us. And perhaps maybe because I’ve been so distant, it’s been adversely affecting your magic and inadvertently fatiguing you,” Gabriel said, as we strolled slowly down the dark hallway.

  I shrugged with mock indifference. “Well, I mean I don’t know about all that, but…”

  “Well, she’s right. I have been distant, and I’m sorry. I won’t lie—I’ve been feeling sorry for myself. Whatever that spell was casted on us, I don’t think it subsided off me. Unless…” he trailed off, shoving his hands in his jeans pockets and casually glancing around, at everything but me.

  “Unless what? You think the love spell didn’t wear off you?” I asked, confused.

  “Unless it’s not a love spell…”

  I stopped in my tracks, and smacked my palm against my open-mouthed expression. “You—what?”

  He paused in front of me and sighed heavily. His finger attempted once again to push the glasses up his nose that were no longer there. He rolled his eyes at his mindless habit and instead opted to clutch the front of his dark brown waves. “I think I’m just confused. But, perhaps Kiarra is right—maybe by distancing myself, I’m hurting myself too. So, I will move into the castle somewhere. Perhaps not next door,” he said, with a sardonic chuckle, “but maybe in the next wing.”

  My face erupted into a wide grin. Feeling giddy, I didn’t think properly as I let out a happy squeal, and wrapped my arms around him, pulling him in for a tight hug. “Are you sure?” I asked, resting my cheek momentarily against his chest. I tried hard not to inhale his deep musky scent.

  He reciprocated the hug with his own, patting my back lightly. I pulled away and smiled broadly.

  He raised a brow and smirked. “Say, can we stop at the gardens for a bit?”

  “Uh, sure. Not too long, I’m tired, but—”

  He raised his palm. “It won’t take long, trust me.”

  I nodded, and we hastened our steps through the remainder of my family’s home and outdoors to the rose gardens, that lay still and somber underneath a heavy moon hanging in the inky sky above.

  Gabriel let out a low whistle as he admired the sky. “Wow. This is truly amazing.” Since Anarach was closer to the moon, it is twice the size in the sky than it would be on the human Earth; dressed on either side by colorful ribbons of the Milky Way as they stretched for the heavens. It was so bright, it nearly appeared to be early evening during a sunset and not a moonlit night. It was always the favorite thing of mine about living in Anarach.

  “Yeah, it’s definitely the reason why dragons, for as long as anyone can remember, have always worshipped the moon. Seems otherworldy, doesn’t it?” I said, peering upwards at the sky.

  “I can understand. Now…quickly. Have you ever heard of a blood tie spell?” he asked.

  I frowned and shook my head slowly. “No…I can’t say I have.”

  “Perfect. We’re going to try it. Can you call for your dagger? Do you think it will come to you from so far away?” he questioned, and I snorted.

  “Of course it will. Came to me in Pineville, didn’t it?” I closed my eyes, thinking of the last place I left the dagger: the nightstand beside Maxxus’ and my bed in the castle, where I’d set it after returning back from Pineville. I concentrated on its weight, and the feel of it in my palm, and before I knew it my eyes flew open and there it was, in my grasp.

  I shook it triumphantly. “See? Maxxus has some serious skills, does he not?”

  Gabriel chortled. “Yes, I’m aware of his skills,” he said, with a friendly scoff. He held out his hand, indicating that I should give the weapon to him. I started to oblige, but then pulled away.

  “Wait. You asked for my dagger, and said you wanted to try a blood spell? I’m not a fool, I know what this is for!” I admonished, shaking the point of the dagger at him.

  “Jesus, Leo. I thought you trusted me?” he narrowed his eyes in a challenge, turning his hand palm-side-up to me.

  I sighed. “Just tell me what to do.”

  “Slice my palm; doesn’t have to be a big cut, just enough to get the blood flowing,” Gabriel said, with disturbing confidence like he had no aversion to a purposeful gash spilling his blood.

  My mouth opened widely. “You want me to what?”

  He snorted. “Oh, come on. Big scary, scaly dragon is not afraid of a little blood is she?” he asked, his tone sing-song.

  I sniffed haughtily. “A little blood, no. Purposely causing bodily harm and flowing blood, yes.”

  He chuckled. “Come on Leo. I can’t cut my hand, you have to do it.”

  I whimpered, eyeing the dagger in my hand. “Are you sure?” I asked hesitantly, as he thrust his hand forward.

  “Yes Leo! Come on, just cut me!” he demanded.

  My eyes widened, horrified by his words. “S
hit, this reminds me of something out of a horror film or something. You sorcerers are weird fuckin’ people…”

  Gabriel scoffed. “Oh, come on. Do it, or else I’ll sing Taylor Swift songs at you. Over, and over and—”

  I made a gagging sound. Without waiting for another word, I swiftly—pun not intended—grabbed his hand, positioned the tip of the dagger on his palm and quickly cut a small gash in his palm.

  He didn’t even wince. I bit my lip, feeling rather ashamed as the cut started streaming a thick ribbon of red. He did look rather surprised though, as he pulled his hand away. “Damn. I didn’t think you hated her that much.”

  I grimaced. “She’s really not my cup of tea, sorry.”

  Gabriel sniggered, carefully closing his palm to slow the bleeding until it was necessary. “Now, you.”

  I groaned, and closed my eyes, holding my hand outward. “I don’t get the point of this.”

  “You will.” Before I knew it, I felt a sharp, cold sting as Gabriel rapidly cut my palm. I winced briefly, slowly opening my eyes and watching the blood pool in my hand.

  “Now. Hold your hand downward, and follow in my steps. You don’t have to speak like me, but just follow my motions. Okay?” he said, and I nodded, and did as he requested.

  Gabriel pointed his bleeding hand downward, and thrust his well hand upwards. He began speaking in low tones, in his weird sorcerer-speak. He walked slowly, carefully, and I followed, listening to his words with confusion. The blood trailed from our hands, and I watched as it formed some sort of two-sided Celtic knot as we walked.

  “What is this?” I asked, mutedly.

  Gabriel just winked one brown eye at me. After the blood traced the symbol in the dirt, he stopped, facing me. I noticed after looking down that I was in one opening of the symbol, and he was in the other.

  He spoke again, in the undistinguishable language. With his free hand, he grabbed for my bleeding hand, and smashed his own wounded one against mine.

  His voice grew larger, and his other hand reached up towards the sky again, this time sparking a white magic atop his palm.

  I gasped in surprise. With the hand that clutched mine, he threaded his fingers through mine. He spun the white magic down, and around us and finally tracing the blood symbol on the ground.

  “Holy…” I said, in awe, as the blood began to glow under the light of the magic, and the moon. It lifted from the ground, and began intertwining around our bloodied hands, up our arms, and our bodies. I felt a heavy sensation pull at my body and a surge of power before it finally rested once again at our palms before subsiding.

  In its path, it left behind a light pink glow. Gabriel squeezed my hand briefly before finally letting it drop, his chanting ceased.

  When I pulled away I noticed my hand was fully healed, except for the identical red symbol that had been traced into the ground.

  “What did you do?” I demanded, thrusting my palm towards him.

  “It will fade in about a day’s time, don’t worry. It will retrace the normal lines of your hand, though to look like it,” Gabriel explained.

  I cocked a brow. “So, what was that?”

  “Blood tie. I linked us together for all of this physical life. We are now blood family, forever and ever. Nothing—nothing—will ever change that,” Gabriel said solemnly. “If you’re ever in trouble, no matter where you are, no matter how long it’s been since you’ve last seen me…years or decades…just think of me, and this symbol and I will sense you. I will know you need me, and I will find you. No matter what.”

  “You—what? How did you—?” I stammered, dumbfounded at what he did.

  “Sometimes knights and their dragons would cast it, once reaching a certain level of closeness, or when a knight wanted to fully devote himself—or herself—to their dragon. Our blood will always flow through each other’s veins, and because of that, you will know always that I am here for you. No matter what,” Gabriel said.

  “You would really do that for me?” I asked in a small, flattered voice.

  He nodded once. “Of course. You know, Leo, just because you’re in love with Maxxus, and I’m confused right now, love isn’t always romantic. Sometimes love is friends. Sometimes it’s family. But love is love, and love never dies. Now, you know for sure. Perhaps the love spell worked exactly as intended, all along.”

  I felt my eyes swell with hot tears. Sniffling, I wiped my nose with my un-magic-ed palm. “You’re…you’re right. Thank you.”

  He nodded again, and reached for my arm, pulling me close. We hugged, and I let the grateful tears fall onto his favorite red sweatshirt as I rested my cheek against his chest.

  “Just don’t tell Daniel. He’ll be pissed we did it without him,” Gabriel retorted with a snicker.

  I laughed, drawing away from him. With a single thumb, he wiped away the lone tear that remained on my cheek. “It was beautiful.”

  “Do you feel better now?” Gabriel asked, squeezing me against him tightly.

  I nodded into his chest. “Yes, yes I do.”

  “Good. Let’s get you home now. You’ve got to be dead on your feet.” Gabriel crooked his elbow and I threaded my arm through, and we walked, linked in friendship and family, back to the castle.

  Chapter 15

  I had snuck back into the bedchambers stealthily so as not wake Maxxus from his slumber. Well, as stealthy as a dragon can be; most dragons aren’t exactly graceful unless they’re flying or fighting, so I had cringed when I used too much magic to shut the door and it slammed with a light bang, or when I stepped on Sona’s tail and she made a yeow sound as she jumped in the air and darted off under the bed.

  I had smacked myself in the forehead, shaming myself for not using magic to see. It was darker than normal in the bedchambers, I assumed that the moon must been hiding beneath the clouds now and wasn’t streaming through the single window on the wall.

  But, Maxxus didn’t stir. In fact, he was in the exact same position he was when I left to meet with Yarrem. I didn’t think much of it as I stripped down to my underwear and slid carefully into bed. Sona forgave me, and leapt quietly up on my pillow near my head. I fell asleep stroking her soft fur lightly, and listening to the relaxing sound of her light purring.

  “Leo.”

  I sat upright as a shot, startled upon hearing my name.

  “Wha…?” I mumbled, rubbing the sleep out of my eyes with my fists and groaning. I blinked repeatedly in the darkness, trying to let my eyes adjust to suddenly being awake. I growled at the mysterious voice who had interrupted. “This better be Maxxus, and he better be fucking naked.”

  A girly giggle indicated that, unless my mate had been kicked repeatedly in the crotch, it was definitely not him. “Sorry, Leo, it’s me.”

  “Kiarra.” I sighed, neither perturbed nor excited to see my future sister-in-law in my room. “Godsbedamned, I’ve only been asleep for like, five minutes? Can’t the royal shit wait until afternoon at least this once?” I groaned, lifting my arms over my head and yawning widely.

  “Five minutes? Dang, you must really be out of it. It’s 1PM right now!”

  I cocked a brow and looked to the other side of the bed. Daniel was currently trying to rouse Maxxus on his side of the bed, and not having much luck. I noticed that he hadn’t moved much since he’d fallen asleep, but was still breathing soundly; the only difference was his arm had flopped off the side of the bed and his head had turned to the right.

  “You must have really worn him out,” Daniel said, with a wicked wiggle of the eyebrows.

  I snorted. “Hardly. We didn’t do a thing last night, thank you. Too fucking tired. And I had to go meet Yarrem, and then Gabriel and I—”

  “—yes, yes, I know about the blood spell.” He clicked his tongue and shook his head. “You shoulda waited for me, but oh well, you’re linked to me by default anyhow since he’s my actual blood brother. You still have the mark?”

  Kiarra had lit several oil lamps and wall torches in the room (not
with magic, but with matches) so it was finally luminated enough for me to see. I lifted my palm to see the faded red Celtic knot still imprinted there. I raised it to show Daniel, who nodded once.

  “Should wear off by the end of the day.” The seer was pulling and prodding at Maxxus who would only snort and groan quietly as Daniel tried to get him out of bed. “Seriously, what is with him? Is he sick or something?”

  “I guess he was more tired than he wanted to admit. He didn’t even eat dinner,” I said, pointing at his uneaten meal that sat on the tray, perched on the vanity across the room.

  “It doesn’t help that it’s so damn dark in here today. What is with that?” Daniel asked, throwing up his hands in exasperation, failing to wake the green dragon. He looked at me expectantly. “Leo? A little help?”

  “I don’t know what you expect me to do.” I scoffed, pushing at his side a couple of times, and slapping his cheek. “Hey! Maxx! Get up! You are not going to make me monarch alone!”

  Maxxus rolled over and pulled the quilt over his head.

  I narrowed my eyes, fighting another yawn. “How is it one o’clock? I’m tired as hell! That would mean I slept for hours but I don’t feel like it!”

  Kiarra was bustling around the room, pulling items of clothing out of the armoire including the heavy set of robes we were to wear to official functions. “I think it’s the weather. It’s going to be a doozy of a hall gathering today; everyone’s sure to be bitching about the lack of weather control.”

  I cocked a brow. “What’s wrong with the weather?”

  “It’s been snowing all day. There’s about two feet out there!” Kiarra said, her voice amazed. “With all the dragons in the meteorological department out of commission right now, no one is controlling the weather so the snow moved in and no one is happy.”

  I groaned, slapping my forehead. “Fuck. Just what I need.”

  “Yarrem is going to convince them to finally be healed by you; when they see how pissed the kingdom is, they’ll have to cave,” Kiarra said, sounding rather hopeful. I started to speak but Kiarra interrupted. “Yes, Finnian told me about the dream-that-wasn’t-a-dream. We’ll figure out a way around it.”