by Donna Grant
His head began to throb at the temples with each step he took. He knew he should stop and wait for her, but his temper had been unleashed, and he didn’t trust himself around her right now.
But he couldn’t continue without her. He turned and found her not far from where he had left her. She looked lost as if she couldn’t decide where she needed to go. He started to call out to her when a dragon roared overhead.
His gaze flew to the sky. This time he was able to detect the black scales on the body the dragon flew so low. Dartayous had a feeling the dragons also played a part in their role here, but he wasn’t about to inform Moira of that.
He looked and found her huddled beside a tree, her hands over her ears. Terror pooled in his stomach. He ran towards her and forced her gaze to his.
“Look at me, Moira. Who am I?” he asked.
She slowly lowered her hands. “Dartayous.”
“Don’t fear the dragons.” He sighed and pulled her to her feet after him. “Come. We’ve no time to argue.”
She followed but there was no mistaking the fact that she kept distance between them. Had he become so repulsive that she couldn’t stand to be near him? What had he done other than see to her safety?
He pushed thoughts of her from his mind and concentrated on what was ahead of them. He had no doubt that they would encounter the evil force that had taken over this world once they reached Lunadell. Moira would be in danger then, and he’d have to keep his wits about him if was to get her out of here alive.
A glance over his shoulder as he stopped to look at the ground for signs of travel showed him that Moira wasn’t coming near him. It irked him, but his pride kept him from asking her what he had done.
It was better this way, he told himself. They wouldn’t be able to be together. Dartayous wouldn’t allow himself to watch her die. It was why he’d already decided to leave the Druids. She’d become too precious to him.
Much too precious.
He shook his head to clear it and stood. They had a small climb to the top of the hill before they reached the base of the mountain. If they were lucky and the trail well made they could reach the top of the mountain by dusk.
Without a word to Moira, he began the steep climb up the hill. There were times she needed his aid, but she didn’t ask for it. He continued but stayed close enough so he could reach her if she needed him.
They topped the hill and he got his first glimpse of the trail that would lead them to the top of the mountain. It was just as he’d hoped. No debris or foliage littered the smooth path. If they hurried they just might make it to the top.
* * * *
The sun was setting behind the mountains when they reached the top of the great mountain. Dartayous had needed to help Moira along the way even though she hadn’t wanted to accept it.
She hadn’t said a word to him, not even when he would ask her a question. He sensed that if things didn’t change between them that they would be in a world of trouble when they reached Caer Rhoemyr.
He sat her bag down and watched her crumple beside a tree. After he dug in his bag he handed her a piece of bread. “I don’t want to chance a fire tonight. If we find shelter tomorrow I’ll hunt for our dinner.”
Her response was to shrug and reach for the bread. He bit back a retort and took his bread to the edge of the mountain. He could still see the bridge they had first crossed and the waterfall. He longed to be back in the city with Moira in his arms.
When he turned back to her she was curled up asleep. It wouldn’t do any good to wake her and try and talk. She wanted distance between them. He’d give her the distance she wanted.
He propped himself up so he had a clear view of the area in front of him and dozed. He wasn’t like Gregor who could go days without sleep, he mused. His thoughts turned to Gregor and Conall who he had come to know very well over the past months. He enjoyed their company and found himself wishing they were with him.
An immortal life meant being alone, but he had never liked it. He found himself loathing it. At least he could go to the Fae now. After the prophecy he would return here and see if he could find something of his parents.
His sleep was interrupted by a sound very near him. His eyes flew open to find Moira standing in front of him with a dagger to his throat. The dagger he had given her to protect herself.
“What are you doing?” he asked trying to sound calmer than he felt.
Her eyes were wild with fear. “Go away.”
“I cannot. I’ve given my word that I would see you safely through this world.”
She laughed. “I’ve had enough, Lugus, or William or whatever your name is. I want nothing to do with you.”
His entire body jerked. “You think I’m William.”
“You told me last night your real name was Lugus. Which is it?”
“Lugus of course,” he replied smoothly. “I’ve used so many that I forget sometimes. What did I say last night?”
“That you wanted me.”
Out of the corner of his eye he could see dawn streaking the sky. Slowly he rose to his feet. “Why do you fear me?”
“You know my secrets.”
Now that hadn’t been what he expected to hear. “What are your secrets?”
“I want you to leave me alone.”
“I cannot,” he said and took a step to his right.
She followed to keep the blade near his throat. “You will if you want to live.”
“It will take more than a simple slice from that dagger to end the life of a Fae.” He took another step and nearly smiled when she followed once again. He was almost there, just a little farther.
He kept his gaze locked with hers and his hands by his shoulders. He didn’t want her to think he was going to attack her. It would take nothing to disarm her, but he wanted more information from her before he did. Another step brought him to where he wanted to be.
“Stop,” she screamed. Her hand was steady as she pointed the dagger at his throat.
He held still and waited. “Put the dagger down.”
She shook her head wildly. “You cannot have me. Nothing you will say will make me change my mind.”
“All I want is for you to put the weapon down.”
“Nay. My secrets are my own.”
The more she talked the more desperate she sounded. Dartayous began to worry about just how strong a hold Lugus had on her mind.
“Moira,” he said and stepped out of the way as the sun rose above the mountain peak to blind her. He dove for the weapon when she covered her eyes.
They rolled until he was on top of her with her hands above her head. She screamed and kicked trying to break loose.
“Moira,” he yelled near her ear.
She stilled and opened her eyes. They filled with tears. “Dartayous? Is it really you?”
“Aye, love,” he said and released her hands. “Tell me what happened?”
She shook her head. “Nothing.”
Her lack of trust shouldn’t bother him, but it did. “Who is Lugus?”
Her body shivered at his name. “He is the one who has imprisoned the Fae. How do you know his name?”
“You thought I was him.”
“It must have been a dream,” she said and tried to rise.
He allowed her to get to her feet. There was much she wasn’t telling him, and he knew he wouldn’t get any more out of her now.
* * * *
Lugus rubbed his hands together in anticipation as he looked out over Caer Rhoemyr from atop the throne room. His hold on Moira’s mind was increasing the closer she came to him. She might deny it now, but she wanted what he offered.
He licked his lips and yearned to have her in his arms. She would be wild, matching his desire like no other had ever done. She was made to be his queen, ruling by his side for eternity.
“MacNeil,” he called.
In moments the Scotsman walked to him. “Aye, my king.”
Lugus smiled. “’Tis almost time. Are you rea
dy to prove yourself to me?”
“Of course, my king.”
“Then ready yourself to kill Dartayous.”
For a moment Lugus thought MacNeil might balk, but in the end he bowed his head and moved away.
Soon he would have all he ever wanted. Moira would be by his side, he’d have the thrown in this world and the human’s world. He’d rule every living thing.
The beat of powerful wings sounded from above him. He looked to the sky and found a great black dragon with claws outstretched. He waited for the beast to land before walking towards it.
“Did you find them?” he asked.
A roar was his answer.
“Good. Now gather the others. It's time we took control of the skies.”
In the dark recesses of his mind something told him he should have learned more of the Death Dragons before he released them, but he was the most powerful Fae to ever life. Surly it would be of little effort to control the dragons.
* * * *
Moira stared at Dartayous as he paced in front of her. She was becoming more paranoid with each passing moment. She didn’t know if it was really Dartayous with her or someone else. It wouldn’t help her if she asked. Regardless of who it was, they would say they were Dartayous.
She would just have to keep a close watch on him and not let him close. It was disheartening to know she hadn’t stood a chance against him. He’d taken the dagger from her as if it were nothing but a flower.
“You don’t trust me.”
His words, spoken so softly, frightened her. She shook her head. “Just as you don’t trust me.”
“We’ll never defeat Lugus unless there is trust.”
“You have given me no reason to trust you.”
He took a step towards her. “And the sharing of our bodies? Did that mean anything to you?”
She looked away. “It meant a lot.” She hated to admit it, but it was the truth.
“What do you think it meant to me?”
She jerked her head up to find him very near her. “How do you do that? Are you part cat that you can sneak up without anyone hearing you?”
One corner of his mouth lifted. It was the smile she loved to see, and it melted her heart. She almost told him everything then.
“What do you think it meant to me?” he repeated and stroked her face with the back of his knuckles.
“I don’t know.”
She tried to pull away from his touch but his other hand had taken a hold of the bottom of her braid. He rubbed her hair against his cheek and smiled.
“Shall I tell you what it meant to me?”
It was an offer she wasn’t about to refuse. “Aye.” She was hypnotized by his glowing blue eyes.
“You touched me like I have never been touched. I have kept everyone at a distance, but you managed to worm your way in,” he said and took her hand to rub his chest.
Her body responded immediately. Her breathing quickened, her breasts swelled. She tried to swallow as her nipples hardened.
“You drive me wild with pleasure with the simplest touch,” he continued. He leaned down until his mouth was near her ear. “Your tongue traces paths of desire along my body. You smell of heather, desire and forever.”
His words had melted her resistance. When his mouth placed a kiss on her neck she leaned to the side to grant him more access. He groaned and pulled her into his arms.
He pulled her back until she looked into his eyes. “Making love to you meant sacrificing my soul that I’ve guarded for centuries,” he said before he claimed her mouth.
The kiss was hot, demanding. Moira wrapped her arms around his neck and threaded her fingers through his hair. She lost herself in the kiss, giving him everything he wanted.
They couldn’t get enough of the other. The kiss became more heated as their bodies flared with desire. His hands found her breast and squeezed. She pulled his tongue into her mouth and began to suck. He moaned and nipped at her lips before plundering her mouth for more.
A loud roar broke them apart. Clasped in each other’s arms they looked to the sky to see hoards of black dragons. She gazed at them as they passed over them.
The black dragons had thin bodies with stubby tails and necks. Their limbs were thin with three digits on each foot that ended in sharp claws. Gigantic wings ran from their shoulders to their lower back while a row of tendrils ran from the shoulders to the tip of the tail. They had small mouths with multiple rows of teeth, small white eyes and spiky, bony knobs surrounded their mouths. Wing-like bony plates projected from the back of their heads while two long horns extended backwards from their foreheads.
They were a frightening, dark sight in the bright blue of the sky.
“What are they doing?” she asked Dartayous.
He took her hand and grabbed their bags. “I think we’d better find some shelter.”
She held onto his hand as he pulled her into a clump of trees. “There are so many.”
“Look,” he said and pointed in the opposite direction.
The dragons they had first seen upon entering the world flew towards the black dragons. Green and yellow dragons dived and attacked the black ones.
“They’re at war.”
Dartayous’ words chilled her. She knew this was the work of Lugus. Despite what her body felt she didn’t know if it really was Dartayous with her. She couldn’t trust anyone until she found out for herself. Then, and only then, would she confide in him.
“We’ve got to get out of here,” he said.
She nodded and took his hand as they ran down the other side of the mountain. The roars of the dragons followed them. Every now and then she would look up and see a dragon fall from the sky. She lost count of the green and yellow dragons that died.
“Don’t look up,” Dartayous cautioned her as they ran through and open field.
“Just keep running.”
She didn’t know how long they ran or how far. When they finally stopped she could barely breathe. In the distance she could still hear the dragons at their war, and she wondered who would be the victor? And would their victory be connected to the Fae’s?
With a hand to her side and her breath ripping through her lungs she turned to Dartayous. “How far until we reach Caer Rhoemyr?”
“Another day or two. Depending on how fast we travel.”
“We need to hurry.”
He straightened and looked deep into her eyes. After a long moment he nodded. “We’ll travel until you tell me you need a rest.”
As long as she didn’t sleep she would be fine.
Dartayous knew she was frightened, but it wasn’t the dragons, it was Lugus that frightened her. She had the right idea though, the sooner they reached Caer Rhoemyr and faced Lugus the sooner this would be over.
They traveled the rest of the day, stopping often to rest. Her fatigue showed when she didn’t say a word as they crossed over a narrow bridge. By nightfall they had reached a dense forest. Out of the corner of his eyes, he saw her sigh when they reached the safety of the trees.
She dropped her bag and followed it to the ground. Exhaustion ate at her, and she didn’t want to stop but he wasn’t about to go another step this night.
“Where are you going?” she asked when him when he began to walk further into the trees.
“To find some food. Can you start a small fire?”
She nodded.
“Good. I’ll return shortly.”
Dartayous stopped beside a tree and watched her. Where once the forests soothed
her and brought peace, it now left her empty. Her soul was restless. Lugus had brought whatever her secrets were to the surface. But exactly how dangerous were those secrets?
Chapter Fourteen
Moira’s eyes drifted closed despite the fact that she was walking. She had managed to take a short nap after Dartayous had returned with some animal that he had already skinned. She didn’t ask what the animal was and didn’t want to know. It was delicious and that’s all that matte
red to her empty stomach.
Now, however, she wished she had gotten a little more sleep since she had been too afraid to sleep during the night. As far as she knew, Dartayous hadn’t slept at all, and she didn’t know how he did it.
She bumped into his back. “Oh,” she gasped and staggered back.
He looked over his shoulder his brow furrowed in a questioning frown.
“I didn’t see you,” she explained. No need to tell him she had been walking with her eyes shut. “Why have you stopped?”
“Look,” he said and stepped out of the way.
She followed his finger and found herself staring at a city. It rested at the top of a plateau, and if she calculated correctly they could reach it by this evening.
“Is it...Caer Rhoemyr?”
He nodded. “We both need to be ready before we reach the city. You are in no condition to meet any kind of adversary.”
“What is that supposed to mean?” she asked with her hands on her hips. Lack of sleep had made her jumpy and snappish to anything that her eyes landed on.
He raised a dark brow. “You are dead on your feet. Do you deny it?”
She sighed and turned her face away. “Nay.”
“’Tis almost noon. Can you continue on until then?” When she nodded he said, “Good. We’ll both rest then.”
She stretched her back before following him. It might be almost noon to him, but to her it was three lifetimes away. She just hoped she could keep her word and stay on her feet until then. She wouldn’t want to fall on her face, literally.
He looked back at her and she quickened her pace. She knew she was lagging, but it was taking every ounce of her strength to keep walking.
Once again they had left the safety of the forest and walked in the open. An occasional tree dotted the rolling hills of green as the sun shone brightly above them. A shadow passed over her, and she looked up to find a dragon flying towards Caer Rhoemyr.
The dragon was alone, but it dampened her spirit not to see the green or yellow dragons above her. Her eyes lifted to Dartayous’ face to see that he too had noticed the black dragon.
