by Jana Downs
Chapter 3
The hot desert sun beat endlessly down upon them as Devon walked through the sand and dirt, trying to keep up with the group. It had been hours since they’d left the luxury of the palace confines earlier that morning, and his ankle was throbbing under all the traveling they had been doing. Apparently, they didn’t believe in motorized vehicles here. Why would they? They could turn into dragons and fly anywhere they needed to be. Unfortunately, their trip required some extra luggage like the food and tents that needed to be handled carefully. Devon glanced around the group to see if anyone else was nearing the point of exhaustion. The other men appeared to be fine. If they were as miserable as he was, they most certainly weren’t showing it. His foot caught on a rock and sent Devon tumbling forward. He couldn’t suppress the wince as he hissed from the pain that radiated up his leg.
“Would you like me to carry you for a bit?” Abraxas offered as he grabbed Devon’s elbow just in time before he lost his balance.
Devon smiled up at him. “Thanks, but I think I can manage.” It was a lie but he didn’t want to seem helpless compared to everyone else.
“We should be getting close to the Azure clan kingdom. We can rest by the lake since the map says this was the last place the stone was located,” Druis called back to them from the front of the group.
“There’s a lake here? As in actual water?” Devon asked. He wiped the trickle of sweat from his brow. The thought of diving head first into a cool pool of water sounded good right about now.
“Yeah, we’ll camp there for the night and then begin our search in the morning.” Dru nodded in affirmation.
Oh thank god, Devon thought as he reached for his water skin and gulped down the remainder of its contents.
They walked for another hour until the sun began to set on the horizon. Hues of orange and pink filled the sky, reflecting off the shimmering blue water up ahead. The sight was beautiful against the harsh backdrop of the dried wasteland as a cove of trees and life seemed to appear out of nowhere.
In the distance, there was a rocky mountainous range, and Devon suspected that they were probably near the edge of the desert wasteland. That suited Devon just fine. The cool refreshing lake was much more appealing than the heat of the sun anyways.
“We’ll stop here for the night,” Druis stated as they neared the lake’s edge. Devon was tempted to leap into the serene water, but refrained. Instead, he settled for the bottle of water Abraxas handed him and listened to Ezekiel’s insistent demands that he rest his ankle and leave the tent pitching to the others.
It wasn’t much longer until the last remaining hints of daylight disappeared entirely and the first shimmer of stars began to show in the cloudless night time sky. The temperature dropped dramatically and Asher conjured a fire for them with his draconian powers.
Devon rubbed his sore feet, desperately wishing for a warm bath to soak in.
“I had Layden and Brax set up your tent, so if you want you can go on in and get some rest.” Dru’s voice brought him out of his thoughts and he looked up. The glow of the fire danced across Druis’s bare chest as he stood next to him and Devon couldn’t help but notice just how massive Druis really was compared to him.
“Thanks but I think I’m going to sit here a bit longer. I’m too wound up to sleep.”
“I understand,” Druis said with a knowing look. “I’m gonna go work on some plans for tomorrow myself.”
“How’s that going by the way? I mean, what exactly am I supposed to be doing?”
Druis ran a hand through his messy hair. “Eh…well. I brought us out here in hopes that you might pick up something on the stone. From what Maeva told me, the gems return to a resting place, usually near their original location, after the Ceremony is complete. Only people that are of the king’s lineage can locate them. Supposedly, it’s like a signal that allows them to pinpoint their location as they near the gem. This was probably a safeguard set in place way back when with the first King of Draconia in order to ensure that commoners didn’t run off with the gems or try to steal them. I’m hoping the temporary powers that the late king passed on to you will work as though you were a direct descendant and you’ll be able to pick up on the stone’s presence. I don’t really know, though, since you’ve never used draconic magic before, but it’s all we’ve got to go on.”
Devon thought for a moment and tried to see if he felt anything different or unusual about their current location, but nothing came to him. “Well I don’t sense anything now,” he offered.
“There’s always tomorrow.” Dru sighed. “I think we should go look at the cavern the stone was last reported to be at. Maybe you’ll feel something then. If not, I guess will have to track these suckers down the good ole fashion way. I just hope we can do it in two months’ time.”
Devon flashed him a reassuring smile. “I’m sure we will. I have confidence in you.”
“That makes one of us.” Druis yawned, stretching out his muscles. “Anyways, I’m going to get back to work. I’ll be over there if you need me.” He pointed to the area they had covered with a tarp to keep the rest of their belongings and the few camels they had brought with them to carry their stuff dry.
Devon watched Druis head back to his makeshift work station, grumbling and cursing along the way. Everyone else said their goodnights and headed to their respective tents, leaving only Layden and Devon sitting around the dwindling fire.
He hadn’t spoken much to him on their journey, but Devon couldn’t help but stare at him now. The man was downright gorgeous. Between him and Abraxas, Devon was sure he’d be ruined for all future men back home.
“Is something wrong?” Layden’s husky voice went straight to his cock.
“N–nothing,” he answered, grateful for the dim lighting to hide his embarrassment.
Layden stood stretching his arms, and Devon caught a glimpse at just how built he was. He watched as the fire danced shadows across his exposed muscles. When he stood, Devon’s gaze fell to his tight ass. His faded black pants clung nicely, and it took conscious effort for Devon to avert his gaze before Layden noticed him staring at him yet again.
“I’m going down to the lake. Care to join me?” His offer caught Devon off guard as he looked up at him dumbfounded.
“Sure.” Devon beamed. He stood, slipping on his shoes and following Layden down the short path to the water’s edge.
They stood in silence for a long while, taking in the beauty of the dark, calm waters glistening in the light of the stars.
“Beautiful, isn’t it?” Layden’s voice was barely a whisper, and there was a touch of sadness to his expression as he stared out over the water’s edge.
“Yes,” Devon agreed.
A moment of silence passed between them as they listened to the water splashing against the embankment.
“Pathos. That’s the name of the lake,” Layden said, interrupting the silence. “It is derived from the word paschein, meaning to suffer. This is the Lake of Suffering.”
“Why would they choose a name like that for such a beautiful lake?” Devon asked as he watched Layden remove his shoes and step into the pool of water.
“My people used to have their burial ceremonies here many centuries ago. It was a tradition that when a water dragon passed on from this life into the next, their body would be sent to the waters as their eternal resting grounds. There used to be a big gathering, right over there in that clearing.” He pointed to a spot off in the distance that Devon could barely make out in the dim light. “That’s where all the men in the village would come together and build the raft that would carry the deceased out into the lake. Once placed in the water, the raft was ignited and the people would watch as the burning embers turned their loved one to ash. The wind could carry them, forever immortalizing their life in the depths of the waters below.”
The way Layden spoke about the ritual painted a picture for Devon as he imagined the beauty in the tragedy.
“You like it out her
e.” The statement was more of an observation than a question as Devon noted how calm Layden appeared standing ankle-deep in the water, staring out at the full moon’s reflection.
“Yes. I used to come here often when I was younger. It was the only refuge I could get from my parents and their incessant need to push me to be like them, to hate like them.” The somber tone in his voice made Devon wonder just what kind of family Layden had to dislike them so much.
Devon quietly slipped off his own shoes and moved to stand next to Layden in the lake. The coldness of the water caused him to hesitate as he slowly placed his first foot down into the cool liquid until he felt the silken bottom beneath it.
“It’s a bit chilly,” Layden warned too late. “This water comes from the springs of the rivers from the mountain tops.” He held out his hand to help Devon get his balance on the slippery ground below.
They stayed like that, holding hands, despite the fact that Devon no longer needed his steadying hand. For the first time since he’d arrived in Draconia, he felt at peace. Whether it was because of the comforting hand that clutched his own or because he’d finally quit worrying over his work long enough to enjoy seeing the world his father had dreamed about finding, he didn’t know. All he knew was that he finally felt like this was where he was supposed to be, standing next to Layden hand in hand as they both stared out across the Lake of Pathos. They watched the moon’s ever-changing reflection against the glass surface, listening to the cicadas and the gentle splashing of water against the shoreline as though it were a song being played just for the two them.
* * * *
The image of Layden and Devon displayed before her enraged Maeva as she clutched her magic mirror in fury. Things were not going according to her plan, and if moments like this kept happening between her and the Azure clan heir, Devon was sure to pick him as the new heir in no time. She couldn’t let that happen.
Shifting through the images of their travels, she searched the mirror’s history for some clue, some weakness about Devon or Layden that she could exploit. She stopped, pausing the screen as she smiled devilishly.
That’s it.
It was subtle, an unnoticeable longing stare that would have been missed by someone without her well-trained eye. The tender look reflected in Abraxas’s gaze as he apologized for Devon’s injury was all the help Maeva needed in deciding her next move.
The Night clan heir clearly had a thing going for the young human. She’d never seen him act so thoughtful toward another person, and while it may be nothing more than innocent affection now, she was sure she could manipulate their chemistry to suit her own needs. Maybe cause a little mayhem in the human’s love life?
A little binding spell should do the trick.
If sweet and caring was what the human was drawn to, Maeva would make sure to bring out the beasts dwelling inside Abraxas and Layden. Jealousy was the quickest way to cause a dragon to lose his temper, especially if the competition was his family rival.
She flipped through her spell book until she found what she was looking for. Summoning the images of Abraxas, Layden, and the human, she began chanting.
“O beautiful moon, O beautiful star, O brilliant night which guides my plight.
I summon thy forces to cast my seal and bind their souls against thine will.
Blood to blood, soul to soul, combined these three and make them whole.
Consume with passion, and lust devour, within the last of daylight’s hour.”
Maeva finished the incantation and smiled triumphantly as the last traces of the binding chain she summoned dissolved into her mirrored portal, surrounding the images of the two dragons and the human before vanishing completely. Come tomorrow night, the passion would ignite, sending the two dragons warring with one another for the hand of the fragile creature summoned by the late king, and with any luck, her spell may even lead to the untimely death of the Azure clan heir. Yes, her lover would be very pleased. Everything they’d worked for, including the annihilation of the white dragon race and ultimately the death of Adonis would finally pay off. Her Reign of Terror would soon begin, starting with the demise of the beloved Night and Azure clans and ending with the naming of her Master as King of all Draconia.
* * * *
Devon awoke with a smile on his face as he stretched against the Egyptian cotton sheets on his soft down feather mattress. He was beginning to appreciate draconian magic as he looked around the lusciously decorated room inside his tent. It had come as a surprise to him the night before when Layden had walked him back to the rather small, rickety-looking tent and found an entire bedroom on the inside.
Swinging his legs over the edge of the bed, Devon stood up. He hesitated briefly on his choice in clothing before deciding on his freshly cleaned pair of blue jeans and white tank top.
He ran a comb through his tousled auburn hair before finally admitting defeat and leaving his unruly hair spiked. The smell of breakfast surrounded Devon as he stepped outside the tent.
“Good morning, Devon,” Ezekiel greeted. “I hope you like eggs and toast.”
He held out a plate for him, and Devon took it.
“Yeah, this is perfect. Thanks.” He walked toward the campfire where the rest of group was sitting. Daylight was just beginning to break on the horizon, and the heat from the sun hadn’t quite reached them.
“Ah, good morning, Devon,” Druis called, interrupting his own conversation with Cerilius and Asher.
“Morning, hot stuff,” Asher said playfully as he winked in Devon’s direction.
“Can’t you ever be serious?” Cerilius said with irritation. “I mean you won’t even let me offer to help him and here you are flirting with him before he’s even had a chance to eat his breakfast.”
Asher raised his eyebrows. “That’s because everyone knows you’re only offering to suck up to Devon so he’ll choose you as heir. I actually think he’s cute.”
Devon’s cheeks felt warm as he hurried past them to the empty chair he spotted. Asher’s bold statements took some getting used to even if they were complimentary. Devon wasn’t used to people being so direct. Usually, with the rich business associates he frequently interacted with, he’d spend thirty minutes just trying to figure out what they wanted.
“Just ignore them. Asher has no filter and Cerilius is cranky until he’s had his morning tea,” Abraxas offered as Devon took the seat that separated him and Layden.
“That’s okay. I don’t mind. I prefer it to some of the people I deal with on a regular basis.” Devon’s lips curved upward into a smile as he remembered one particular nasty fight he had with his brother simply because Brandon hadn’t had his morning coffee.
“Hi,” Layden said. His voice was low and quiet compared to the rather loud conversation Druis was having with Cerilius over their next move.
“Hi back,” Devon said with a smile on his face as he remembered the moment they’d shared the night before. Devon was all too aware of Layden and Abraxas’s gaze on him, watching his every move as he finished the plate of food in front of him.
“So I think we’ve decided to go ahead and enter the cave where the stone was last located,” Dru said, interrupting the awkward silence that had fallen between the three of them.
Cerilius nodded his head in agreement. “Yeah, I think that’s the best place to start.”
Devon looked up at Druis, grateful for the distraction. “How much further till we reach the cave?”
“About a half of a day’s walk from here, so we should have time to reach the cave a do a little exploring if we head out now.”
“That sounds like a good idea. My scrying still hasn’t turned up anything, and Devon said he couldn’t sense anything last night,” Ezekiel chimed in as he joined the rest of the group.
“Scrying?” Devon asked as he looked to Ezekiel.
“I’ve been using the ancient crystals my family passed down to try to pinpoint the gem’s location on the map just in case you can’t use Adonis’s magic. S
o far, I’ve seen nothing of significance, which either means we aren’t close enough for my magic to detect the gem or its presence is masked by the wards protecting it. My money’s on the wards, but I won’t know until we get closer.”
“Oh.” Devon had heard of such magic being used in his own world, but had never encountered someone who practiced it until now.
“So we agree then,” Layden stated as he stood, surprising everyone in the group due to his lack of involvement in their journey until now.
“Uh, yeah I guess,” Druis said, obviously unsure of how to take Layden’s sudden interest in their plans. “Is that cool with you, Abraxas?”
Abraxas shrugged. “I guess. I’m cool with whatever.”
“It’s settled, then. After breakfast we’ll pack up and head out.” Druis motioned for Cerilius to help him with loading the camels as everyone else took to taking down their tents. Abraxas helped Devon, and when it was all done, they began the walk to the cavern.
* * * *
The entryway to the cave looked daunting as Abraxas eyed the jagged rock surrounding the passageway. Caving was not something he’d ever been good at. In fact, his last caving trip had resulted in him becoming violently ill for almost two weeks after he’d spent the night in the cold hole in the ground. Not to mention he hated dark places. He never understood how the rest of his kind had actually made a home out of the cavernous mountains, but still, it wasn’t like him to complain, so he shrugged it off and followed the others inside.
Ezekiel conjured some lights that were able to illuminate a path for them to walk. They searched for what felt like hours, running their hands along the damp walls for any hint or clue. It was at that point Abraxas determined that Druis was a slave driver. His muscles felt tired, and his body ached in places he didn’t know it could.
