The Dragon Realm (Dark World: The Dragon Twins Book 2)

by Michelle Madow

  “That’s not an answer.”

  I stared at him in challenge.

  “You do trust me.” He smiled. “Don’t you?”

  I searched my mind for an answer that wasn’t a lie… and one that wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of my saying yes. “I trust King Alexander and Queen Deidre,” I said. “And they trust you.”

  “That means you trust me.”

  “Are you always this infuriating?” I asked.

  “Do you always avoid answering questions?”

  “So, yes,” I said. “You are always this infuriating.”

  “I prefer the word charming, but I suppose ‘infuriating’ will do for now,” he said. “Anyway, you’re still avoiding my question.”

  “Why do you care?” I asked. “After I get to Avalon, we’ll probably never see each other again.”

  Good riddance to that.

  “Never say never,” he said. “But I know you trust me. Otherwise, you would have said no.”

  “Why’s it such a big deal?”

  “It wasn’t a big deal until you made it one.”

  I huffed in annoyance. He obviously wasn’t going to back down. “I clearly trusted you enough to let you take me to the entrance of the Angel Trials,” I said. “So are you going to take me there or what?”

  “I told you—I need you to stay here for a moment.” He zipped down the steps in a blur before I could argue, leaving me staring in shock at where he’d been standing.

  What in the world had just happened between us?

  I didn’t have time to think about it, because a bright yellow light started glowing from below. It was like a bomb went off, and I turned away, closed my eyes, and used my arm to shield my face. The light was warm, and it enveloped me completely.

  The warmth died down, and I lowered my arm.

  “You can come down now!” Rohan called from below.

  I hurried down the stairs, into a cave-like room, then froze. Because behind Rohan, a purple vortex swirled on the cave wall.

  “A portal,” I said in disbelief. “But what was that yellow light?”

  “It was a security measure,” he said. “We can’t just leave the portal down here for anyone to find. As a royal of the Vale, I needed to unlock it for you.”

  “Great.” I stared at the portal and took a deep breath in anticipation. I’d teleported all over Earth, but I’d never gone to another realm. “So, we just… go in?”

  “The portal goes to an anchor island off of Avalon,” he said. “To Sir Gawain’s Cove. The Angel Trials begin there.”

  “So you’re not coming any further.”

  “This is where I leave you,” he confirmed, and surprisingly enough, he sounded sad about it. “Once you get to the cove, it’s up to you to figure out how to start the Trials. Good luck, Harper.”

  “I’m a witch and a vampire. I don’t need luck,” I said. “But thank you.”

  “You’re going to do great.”

  He still watched me sadly, like he wanted to say more. And something tugged at my chest, pulling me closer to him.

  It was like the Universe didn’t want me to leave.

  But I resisted. Because I was here for one reason—to go through that portal and enter the Angel Trials. I didn’t need some guy I’d just met holding me back… no matter how ridiculously gorgeous that guy might be.

  What was it about Rohan that was so magnetic? It was like he had a supernatural hold on my heart.

  “You’re a gifted vampire,” I realized. “Aren’t you?”

  “What makes you say that?”

  “Nothing.” My cheeks heated, and I shook the thought away. Because what exactly was I going to say? That he was gifted in the art of seduction?

  All it would do was feed his ego. And his ego certainly wasn’t in need of any feeding.

  He cocked his head to the side. “You’re blushing.”

  “I’m not,” I lied, and I stepped closer to the portal, as if the purple glow could cover my red cheeks. “Bye, Rohan. I’ll put in a good word for you once I get to Avalon. Maybe they’ll reconsider and let you in.”

  “I don’t think it works like that,” he said. “Besides, the Vale is my home now. If I had an option, I’d choose to stay here.”

  “That makes one of us,” I said, and then I tore my gaze away from his, spun around, and walked through the portal.

  23

  Harper

  I woke up slowly, my head heavy and hazy. I felt drugged, and only half awake, still unable to open my eyes.

  From the gentle rocking beneath me, I assumed I was in a boat. I breathed in, surprised to find that the air was damp, like I was surrounded by mist.

  Where am I? What happened?

  Images and feelings flashed through my mind. A beach, a boat, a trident, rolling hills, a wyvern, some kind of monster I’d slain, a dark forest, a castle, and a tough decision to be made.

  As I grew more and more awake, the memories disappeared. They were as impossible to hold onto as the mist in the air surrounding me.

  Finally, I was able to open my eyes. Just as expected, I was surrounded by fog.

  I sat up—I was in a wooden rowboat—but the fog was so thick that I could barely see a meter in front of me.

  Is this it? Am I in Avalon?

  I moved to the front of the boat, placed my hands on the sides, and glanced down at the water. It was dark, and it looked cold. I dipped a finger in it, unsurprised to find that it was as icy as it looked. But while I could tell it was cold, the cold didn’t bother me.

  One of the perks of being a vampire.

  After about a minute, the mist parted.

  I was in a forest. One with trees similar to the ones in Canada. Snow-covered mountains towered around me, so tall that they looked like they could reach the stars.

  My stomach lurched.

  It can’t be possible.

  The mist continued to clear, until it was gone.

  I was at the end of a river.

  Rohan stood at the riverbank, waiting for me. He watched me sadly as my boat floated up to the rocks and planted itself there.

  He didn’t move toward me. It was like he was afraid to get closer.

  “I shouldn’t be here,” I finally said, holding tightly to the edges of the boat. “Something went wrong. I need to go back.” I glanced behind me, but the mist was gone. It was just river, forest, and mountains as far as I could see.

  “There is no ‘back,’” he said. “But there is a grand plan. Which means you’re exactly where you’re meant to be.”

  “I’m meant to be on Avalon.”

  He said nothing.

  Because what else was there to say? I looked up at the moon, which was a sliver away from being full, and felt Hecate’s magic watching over me. I trusted Hecate, and I trusted Fate.

  So why were they doing this to me?

  I reached for my key necklace, wanting an answer. But in my heart, I already knew the answer.

  My destiny wasn’t on Avalon. If it were, I would have passed the Trials.

  But that didn’t make me feel like any less of a failure.

  “How far are we from the Vale?” I asked.

  “A few kilometers,” he said. “Not a far walk—or run. Unless you want to teleport us back. Whatever you prefer.”

  “We can walk,” I said, and I hopped out of the boat. “But I don’t feel like talking.”

  He nodded, then led the way, respecting my wishes and walking back to the Vale with me in silence.

  24

  Harper

  I woke before sunset—again.

  Despite the room fit for royalty that King Alexander had given me in the Vale, with a plush canopy bed far more comfortable than what I’d had in Utopia or the Haven, I was barely managing a few hours of sleep each day. I’d spent more time tossing and turning than actually sleeping.

  In the precious hours that I did sleep, I dreamed of the Trials. But when I woke up, the memories always faded.

  No o
ne remembered the Trials. Not even those who’d passed them.

  Giving up on falling back asleep, I picked up the book on my nightstand and opened it to the marked page near the center. It was a science-fiction book about a group of people who’d been transported by plane to a bleak future. I’d chosen it out of the many in the Vale’s library because the main character shared my name. It seemed as good of a reason to choose a book as any, and reading it was keeping my mind off the fact that I’d failed the Angel Trials.

  I’d failed the Trials.

  I still couldn’t believe it.

  I read until there was a knock on the door. My morning glass of blood, always delivered at the same time by Lucy, a non-royal vampire who worked in the palace. She had a chipper attitude that no one should ever be allowed to have in the early morning.

  I placed the book down and walked to the door, preparing myself for Lucy’s bright smile and peppy greeting.

  But Lucy wasn’t there.

  Rohan stood in her place. He held two glasses of blood, and he didn’t look happy.

  “You’ve been avoiding me,” he said.

  “I’ve been busy.”

  “Busy brooding in your room.”

  “What can I say? I’m good at brooding.” I glanced at the glasses of blood in his hand. “I only need one.”

  Newly turned vampires oftentimes had less control over their bloodlust, so they were allowed more blood as they adjusted to their new life. But not me. I’d been doing fine with regular portions.

  “These aren’t both for you.” Rohan gave me a devilish grin. “One’s for me.”

  “Tell me you’re not inviting yourself into my room for breakfast.”

  “I can’t, because that would be a lie. And if there’s one thing I’m not, it’s a liar.” He strode into my room, placed the glasses on the table, and made himself comfortable on one of the plush chairs. “Lucy’s coming over any minute to drop off the pancakes,” he continued, as if he hadn’t just barged in without an invitation. “I heard you’ve only been living off blood. And while it’s true that vampires don’t need food to survive, the food here’s amazing. Especially the pancakes.”

  I didn’t have time to reply before Lucy rolled a breakfast cart inside. Not only were there pancakes, but there was bacon, hash browns, and maple syrup that smelled like it had been freshly drained from the tree.

  Lucy was abnormally quiet as she arranged the plates on the table. She kept glancing at Rohan, and every time he met her gaze, she looked away and blushed.

  “Smells amazing.” He inhaled dramatically. “Thanks, Lucy.”

  “My pleasure.” She smiled, as if speaking to him was a precious gift. “Is there anything else I can get for you? Orange juice, maybe? And some champagne? It’s never too early for a mimosa.”

  “Great idea,” he said, and he looked to me. “How do you feel about mimosas?”

  It took every effort to stop myself from smiling. Because I loved mimosas with brunch. And margaritas with Mexican, and wine with Italian, and basically any drink meant to pair with a fun meal.

  But I didn’t want to give Rohan the satisfaction of knowing he’d arranged something for me that I liked. Because I didn’t like him barging in without an invitation—no matter how much I loved a good boozy brunch.

  “I have work to do today,” I said instead.

  He frowned, then looked back at Lucy. “We’ll have mimosas—with the best champagne you’ve got,” he told her, as if it wasn’t a crime to ruin an expensive champagne by mixing it with orange juice.

  “You’ve got it,” she said, and she hurried out with the cart, closing the door behind her.

  Rohan leaned back in his chair and watched me mischievously.

  “That wasn’t fair,” I finally said.

  “What wasn’t fair?”

  “You used your gift on her.”

  “What gift?”

  “You know what gift.” I pointed to the door. “The one that made her act like… that.”

  He chuckled, amused. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

  I rolled my eyes. Did I have to spell it out for him?

  Apparently so.

  “You made her all skittish,” I said.

  “Are you saying that you think I have a gift to intimidate people?”

  “Not intimidate people.” I nearly stomped my foot at how aggravating he could be. He was definitely trying to make me say it out loud.

  And I’d worked myself into such a corner that we both knew there was no getting around it.

  “Then what, exactly, do you think I did to her?” he asked.

  “You…” I moved my hands in exasperation, unable to meet his eyes as I said the next part. “Mesmerized her.”

  He studied me and smirked, getting more of a kick out of this by the second. “You thought I had this gift after I walked you to the portal to the Angel Trials,” he said. “Does that mean I ‘mesmerized’ you, too?”

  I shook my head, like he was being ridiculous. “Of course you didn’t.”

  “Then why else would you think this was my gift?”

  “Because you tried to mesmerize me. I resisted. Clearly.”

  He raised an eyebrow. “Did you?”

  “Of course I did. You’re the one who apparently can’t resist me, given how you barged in here and insisted on having breakfast with me.”

  “Brunch,” he said.

  “What?”

  “We’re having mimosas. That means it’s brunch.”

  “The sun just set.” I motioned to the window, where the final pinks and oranges of sunset were disappearing behind the mountains. Because of the Vale’s nocturnal schedule, sunset here was the equivalent of sunrise in the human world. Everyone was just waking up for the night. “It’s nowhere near lunch time. And that’s what brunch is—a combination meal between breakfast and lunch.”

  “You’re really combative, aren’t you?” he asked.

  “Only because you’re so…” I paused to think of a word.

  “So what?”

  “So frustrating.”

  Not wanting to talk about it anymore, I walked over to the table and picked up my glass of blood. It was still warm, but soon it would start to cool. We couldn’t have that. And, since drinking meant I wouldn’t have to talk to Rohan, I finished it as quickly as possible.

  Rohan picked his up, but he sipped it much slower than I did.

  I’d just placed my glass back down when Lucy knocked on the door and rolled in another cart—this one full of champagne, an assortment of juices, and two glasses.

  “Is there something wrong with the food?” she asked.

  “No,” I said. “Why?”

  “Because you haven’t sat down. Is there something else you need?”

  My stomach rumbled, as if answering the question for me. Because I hadn’t eaten actual food since being turned into a vampire. And now that it was right in front of me, smelling absolutely delicious, I was famished.

  “No, I’m good,” I said. “I was just waiting for the mimosas.” I quickly sat down, avoiding meeting Rohan’s eyes.

  Lucy left the champagne cart next to the table. “So you can mix your own,” she explained. “I know everyone prefers their mimosas differently. Now, if you don’t need anything else…”

  “This is perfect.” Rohan shot her a movie star grin. “Thanks, Lucy.”

  She beamed in return. “Any time,” she said. “Enjoy!” She hopped around and hurried out of the room, closing the doors behind her.

  “You did it again,” I said once she was gone.

  “Mesmerized her?” he asked.

  “Yes.”

  “Maybe I did.” He shrugged. “But I don’t have a gift. It’s all natural.”

  From his amused expression, I had a feeling he was telling the truth.

  He was beyond frustrating.

  No good response came to my mind, so I stood up, walked to the cart, and picked up the bottle of champagne. It was an expensi
ve brand I’d only had once, for my sixteenth birthday.

  “No way am I ruining this with juice.” I easily popped the cork and poured myself a glass, not stopping until it reached the top.

  “For someone who was iffy about having mimosas, you’re sure going heavy on that champagne,” Rohan observed.

  “It’s champagne—not vodka,” I said. “I’ll barely feel a thing.”

  “Is that a challenge?”

  “No,” I said, since I didn’t want to let my guard down too much around him. “But I bet I can eat more pancakes than you.”

  “Challenge accepted,” he said, and then we both dug in.

  As we ate and drank, I ended up telling Rohan everything that had happened since Gemma, Mira, and Ethan had arrived in Utopia.

  He was good, fun company. And it was refreshing to chat with him. I’d tried to spend time with the high witches of the Vale, but they’d been standoffish from the beginning.

  They hadn’t said it outright, but I knew it was because I was a vampire. Even though I could use my witch magic, they didn’t consider me to be one of them. I was an outsider, and they’d made sure I knew it.

  Breakfast with Rohan was the most relaxed I’d felt since getting to the Vale. Which was crazy, since a few weeks ago I never would have thought it possible that I’d feel at ease around a supernatural male. But after being rejected from Avalon and rejected by the witches, it felt nice to feel accepted.

  Even if that acceptance was from an arrogant male vampire with more charm than should be legal.

  “So Lilith has the Dark Grail and the Dark Crown, and Lavinia has the Dark Wand,” he said once I’d finished telling him everything. “Who has the Dark Sword?”

  It was a good question—one I was surprised I hadn’t thought of yet.

  Maybe he’d been right, and I’d been spending too much time brooding in my room instead of trying to do something productive.

  “I don’t know,” I said, and just like that, an idea started forming in my mind. “But maybe…”

  He leaned forward, intrigued. “Maybe what?”

  “We know Lilith and Lavinia are trying to find the Dark Sword,” I started. “But what if we got to it first?”