by Mary Karlik
“When it’s not trying to kill me.” Buzzard closed his eyes again.
Ian turned to Layla, and his heart dropped into his gut. She sat cross-legged next to the blown-out stump. Her face was pale, her too-wide-open eyes held a vacant look. And in her hands, she held a quarter of her wing.
She turned it over as if she were inspecting a fine piece of fabric. “He tore my wing.” She raised those vacant eyes to Ian. “He tore my wing.” She looked around as if she needed to tell more people and repeated, “He tore my wing.”
Ian crawled to her and, avoiding her wings, pulled her to him. She shivered against his chest. Her respirations were rapid and shallow. She was in shock.
“Slow your breathing, lass. Deep breath. Let it out slow. That’s it.” He kept his tone calm and soothing. But on the inside, he was screaming. He wanted to tear that golden elf to pieces bit by bit. “Where is he?”
She pushed away from Ian. “I don’t know.” She released a shaky sigh and stared at her wing-piece. “He tried to kill me. When he couldn’t, he tore my wing.” She squeezed her eyes shut and a shudder ran down her back. She moaned and opened her eyes. “He sucked magic from my wing. I had to fight him to get my wing back.” She looked around. “Wherever he is, he has a good amount of my magic in him.”
She drew in a deep breath. Color returned to her face, and she raised determined eyes to Ian. “This is far from over. He may be hiding now, but he’ll try to get that crown. We need to get it first.”
Ian saw pain slice through her as she sucked in a deep breath and tensed.
“Can we fix it? Can your wing be fixed?”
She stared down at the piece she held in her lap. “Maybe. Finn has strong healing magic.”
“If your magic came back, then the others must be awake. We need to get you to him.”
She closed her eyes and scrunched her face.
His heart wrenched with each wave of pain that made her close her eyes and hold her breath. He felt so helpless—so inadequate.
His ear tingled, and he knew the dragon’s healing power was working its magic. “Is there a way I can give you my healing power? There has to be something I can do.”
“No. Finn is our best option. Let’s get the crowns. Then we’ll worry about my wing.” She winced again.
Ian peered into the remains of the stump. The center had been blasted open, but there were no crowns inside—just hard-packed dirt. “I suppose we’ll have to dig for them.” He turned to Layla. “This doesn’t seem to be going anywhere. Let’s get your wing seen to first.”
She looked like she was about to protest when he heard movement in the forest. Ian tensed in preparation to shift.
Theo led the others through the trees toward them.
“You found us.” Ian relaxed his stance.
Theo shrugged. “It wasn’t hard. There was a path as wide—” Confusion crossed his face. “Well, as wide as that plaid Buzzard’s on.”
Finn rushed to Layla. “What happened?”
“Meaban tore a piece of her wing off,” Ian answered.
Finn’s face paled. “I hope he’s dead.”
“Escaped.” Layla’s tone was detached and that worried Ian.
Jack looked at the blown-out remains of the stump. “What happened? And how did Meaban get here?”
“We’ll get to that later.” Ian looked at Finn. “Can you repair her wing?”
Finn took the piece of wing from Layla and turned it over in his hands. “I’m not sure. It’ll be painful. If it works, it won’t be a perfect fit. It’ll be smaller than the other one.”
Layla grabbed Ian’s hand and squeezed. “Distract me.”
Finn stood behind her and inspected the wing stump.
Ian stood in front and held her hands in his. He pressed his forehead against hers. “Focus on me.”
Her face tensed and paled as Finn went to work.
She dropped Ian’s hands and grasped his biceps.
Ian cupped her cheeks with his palms. “Breathe.”
She blew a long breath.
“Look at me.”
She pulled her forehead away and stared into his eyes.
He rubbed his thumbs across her skin. Tears filled his eyes, and his heart was heavy in his chest. “Your soul was bonded with mine to save my life. You feel my pain while I feel none of yours. And if I die, you will, too. I would take your pain. I would die for you if I could.”
Tears dripped from her eyes and a shaky smile formed on her lips. “You’d die for me and kill me at the same time.”
He smiled back, and a tear rolled down his cheek. “Never.”
She winced and cried out.
Ian felt as if he’d been gutted. He moved his hands to the back of her head and pressed his cheek to hers. “You can do this. Breathe.”
She blew short, quick breaths that broke off in a scream. “It feels like fire.”
Ian looked over Layla’s shoulder to Finn.
Finn’s eyes were heavy with tears as their gazes met. He shook his head, and Ian’s heart shattered.
Finn spoke softly to Layla. “I’m stopping now.”
She looked down and behind her. “Did you do it?”
“No, lass. I’m sorry. This is beyond my abilities. I can close the stump to relieve the pain.”
Layla pressed her head into Ian’s shoulder and clung to his arm. “Aye. Do it.”
Finn nodded and said, “Hold her steady. This is going to hurt.”
With one arm across her lower back and the other holding her head against his chest, Ian nodded.
Layla screamed as Finn sealed the edges of the torn wing. And Ian felt her soul move within his.
When it was over, when Finn stepped away from Layla, she buried her face into Ian’s chest and sobbed.
He stroked her hair and let his own tears fall.
Slowly, Layla’s sobs ended. She rested her cheek flat against Ian’s chest and took in long, slow, shuddering breaths.
Finn looked around the group. “Fairy wings contain magic in their structure. In the wrong hands … well we can’t leave it here.” He held it out to her. “Do you want me to keep it safe for you?”
She pushed away from Ian and took it from him. “I’d rather keep it with me.”
Ian filled everyone in on the fall to the beach, the instructions of the song, and the battle with Meaban.
When he was finished, Buzzard looked up at Layla. “I’m sorry, lass.”
She nodded, and a tear fell on her cheek. She swiped it away and took a deep breath. “Now we have a crown to choose, and fairies to save.”
“Meaban said the dragon slayer must choose the crown.” Ian looked at Buzzard. “That slayer is you, my friend.”
“Me? But I’m not magical. I hate magic. And if choose wrong, I’ll release holy hell on the world and beyond.”
Layla smoothed her hand across the wing piece. “Then don’t choose wrong.”
Chapter Twenty-Six
Layla let anger push away sorrow and pain. Meaban hadn’t killed her, but he had managed to mangle her. He’d taken away her ability to fly. He’d made her less than a fairy. He’d scooped away a bit of who she was. And she wanted revenge.
She tucked the wing section into her dress—next to her skin. It was warm and soft and made her feel almost whole.
She stood over the juniper stump. “Let’s dig up the crowns.”
Jack knelt next to the stump. “I’ll do it. He reached into the center of the stump and clawed at the dirt. He might as well have been clawing at stone because the dirt wasn’t moving.
Buzzard sat with his back against a juniper tree. “Could it be a portal? Maybe it’s waiting to suck us through the earth again.”
“Maybe,” said Finn. “But it required the wand to get us here. More likely we need the wand for this last bit.”
Layla held the wand over the dirt.
“Stop.” Ian reached toward the wand. “The dragon slayer is the key to this. Let him do it.”
&n
bsp; Buzzard scooted close to the stump and took the wand. “I can’t believe this.” He looked at Layla. “Do I tap something?”
“I don’t think so.”
Buzzard pointed the wand tip toward the center of the blown-out stump, and a flow of silver magic hit the dirt. It washed the dirt away from the center and over the edges of the hollowed-out stump.
Buzzard pulled a silver case from the stump and set it on the ground. He looked from the case to Layla. “You’d better have a look.”
She leaned over Buzzard’s shoulder to get a better view, and her breath caught in her chest.
Engraved on the top was a dragon hunched on its back legs. Its wings were open wide, and its talons were extended in front. Across from the dragon was a fairy with a sword piercing the dragon’s heart.
The sword the fairy held had writing on its blade and a dragon stone on its hilt. But what made her skin crawl and her pulse race, what made her scramble backward away from the case was the fairy depicted in the engraving. The one with a portion of her right wing missing.
“What is it?” Ian leaned over the case and straightened slowly. “I think I’m beginning to have a similar lack of affection toward magic as you.” He turned to Layla. “What does this mean? The case is supposed to hold the crown.”
“I don’t know,” Layla said. “The song said to choose the correct one. What if the wrong one frees the dragon inside you?”
Buzzard blew out a long sigh. “But how could the song predict that we would be here, much less that you would lose part of your wing?”
Jack shook his head at Buzzard. “Magic.”
Buzzard set the wand down. “We’ve gone this far. Let’s see what’s hiding inside.”
Theo stood above them and looked at the stump. “Shouldn’t we make sure there isn’t another case hiding in that hole. It did say chose.”
Buzzard moved the case aside and pointed the wand inside the hole. No sparks. No movement. He set the wand down and smoothed his hands over the dirt. “I think it’s actually just dirt. But give it a few. Maybe it’ll change its mind.”
Layla nodded. “Go on. Open the case.”
Buzzard unclasped the swing catch from the front of the box.
Ian knelt next to Layla and held her hand.
Buzzard opened the lid, and Layla held her breath.
The lid fell back on its silver hinges to reveal two crowns.
One was a plain silver band that looked as if it had been hammered from a single thin strip. The other was gold and looked like something from a royal collection. A row of pearls surrounded the base of the band. The center of the band was decorated with rubies, emeralds, and diamonds. The upper edge of the band was shaped into a cross in three places. One cross was larger than the others, and in the center was inlaid a dragon stone.
Buzzard studied the crowns. “I’m going to need some help. I’m inclined to think the simple silver crown is the one, but nothing is ever as it seems with magic.”
Layla shook her head. “Sometimes it’s exactly as it seems. The trouble is telling those times from the others.”
Jack pointed to the dragon stone. “I’d say that stone would free the dragon.”
“Or control it,” Finn offered.
Buzzard sat back on his heels. “This is an impossible decision. If there is a hint of which I should choose, I can’t see it. And even if I could, how would I know if it was a ruse to mislead me?”
“You’re right.” Layla rested a hand on his shoulder. “I think you have to go with your heart.”
Buzzard looked at the group kneeling around the trunk. “Does anybody have a better suggestion?”
Ian stood and stepped into the clearing. “Layla, draw your sword.”
She stood and shook her head. “I’ll do no such thing.”
“You have to. If the dragon is freed, you know what you have to do.”
Finn jumped to his feet. “That makes no sense. If she kills you, she kills herself. What kind of man would ask that?”
Layla bit her lip. “Ian’s right. Could any of you kill Ian knowing you’d also kill me?”
The men averted their gazes.
“I didn’t think so.” Layla held her sword with the tip toward Ian and cut her eyes to Buzzard. “Take care to not recreate the picture on the case.”
Buzzard lowered his hands toward the silver crown and then moved to the gold. “I don’t know.”
Theo picked up the wand. “Would this help?”
Buzzard took it from him, but pointing it at either crown didn’t change anything. He shoved it in his trousers pocket and reached into the case again.
Fear stormed through Layla. Through her bones, muscles, and tissues. It filled every part of her, all the way down to her cells. Her heart pounded so hard she felt every pulse. She tightened her grip on her sword and held her breath. This could be the end of everything. If Buzzard chose wrong, it would be the end of Ian and her, but it could also be the end of the fairies, of the humans, of decent creatures. And dragons would rule.
Buzzard’s hands swung from one crown to the next.
“Wait.” Layla lowered her sword.
Buzzard jerked his hands away and sat back.
Ian pulled Layla against his chest and whispered in her ear. “This is not the end. No matter what, this is not the end. We are one. Your soul is part of mine. The dragon couldn’t break that bond before. It won’t break it now.”
She tilted her head back and looked into his eyes. “We are one. If we die, we die together.”
She looked at Buzzard. “We’re ready.”
Layla kept her left arm wrapped around Ian’s back and her sword hand hanging by her side. She felt Ian’s hands tremble as they cradled her waist. She smiled and whispered, “Focus on me.”
She saw fear in his eyes and reached her soul to that little piece inside him just as she had done when he was under Fauth’s control. The moment her soul connected, she felt his warmth.
She kept her gaze fixed on him. “Stay with us. No matter what, you control the dragon. You are its master.”
Buzzard reached into the case. He lifted the gold crown and the silver one turned to dust. “No going back. God help me, I hope I’ve chosen the right one.”
Layla felt rage in Ian.
“You are the master of the dragon.” She tried to hold onto him even as his arms were pulled from her. She focused on the connection between their souls. “We are one.” She willed him to stay with her—even as she watched his face morph into the dragon.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
As soon as the crown touched Buzzard’s scalp, the dragon-spirit seethed like bubbling hot, black tar. It fought for control, for freedom. It wanted to serve the slayer with the crown.
Ian tried to push it back, but it was too strong. He thought of the painting of St. George slaying the dragon, and the dragon laughed. It tore him away from Layla and took control of Ian’s body.
Now it wanted his mind and soul, too. And it was stronger than it had ever been. Ian had to master the spirit or lose himself to the dragon just as Miranda had.
If he lost, Layla had to kill the dragon, and it had to be done fast.
The dragon roared, and his thoughts grew muddled as the beast pushed him deeper inside. Fear gripped him like a giant hand squeezing his chest. He couldn’t breathe, he couldn’t move, he couldn’t fight.
Then he heard her voice deep in his soul. We are one.
And we will die as one.
He waited to fill the plunge of her sword, the pain of it hitting its mark, but it didn’t come. Why hadn’t she killed him?
And then as he waited, he realized the dragon had stilled, too. Had she done it? Had she killed the beast? Was this the calm before he died?
Her voice spoke to his soul again. Stay with me. We’re stronger together.
He wanted to answer, but the dragon wouldn’t let him.
Reach out to me, Ian. Bring me your soul.
His soul was shrinking. How coul
d he manage to get it to her?
Feel my essence. Focus on my voice.
He thought of her face, tried to remember the feel of her hands in his, her breath against his cheek. The feeling of their bodies pressed together in the cellar, the peace of lying on the bed, side-by-side, the love shared in Layla’s moment of pain.
Slowly, his thoughts cleared, and he understood what she wanted.
He concentrated on her soul nestled in his. He let her warmth fill him until he could speak to her soul to soul. I wish to feel your pain as you feel mine. And if you die, I have no reason to live. We are stronger as one. Your soul is a part of me. Now I wish my soul to be a part of yours. I bond my soul with you.
The moment the connection was made, an energy unlike anything he’d experienced or could ever have imagined exploded within him.
He took control of the dragon-spirit and changed back to his human form. The spirit didn’t even struggle. It knew it had lost the battle. It was the servant. He was the master.
He looked at the faces staring at him. “I am the master of the dragon.”
Buzzard blew out a quick breath. “Good. That’s good. Now, do I have to keep wearing this thing, or are we finished with this nonsense?”
“I don’t think you have to wear it, but I’d keep it close by.” Finn pointed to the wand. “And don’t let that thing out of your sight.”
“Great.” Buzzard placed the crown in the case.
Frustration crossed Finn’s face. “And what’s next? We’re stuck…” He looked around. “Wherever we’re stuck.”
“And the fairies,” Ian said. “Time is ticking.” Exhaustion poured through him. He looked at his team. They were all drained. “This is far from over.”
“Maybe Buzzard should raise the wand toward the sky like Finn did,” Jack offered.
Finn shook his head. “And let the wand take us where it will? What if it drops us into the dragon’s den?”
“We can’t stay here,” Buzzard snapped.
Ian looked at Buzzard. “Wherever the wand takes us, that crown will come in handy if we meet dragons.”
“Have we agreed that I hold the wand up and see where it takes us?” Buzzard gripped the wand but pointed it toward the ground. “We could be twirling into a death trap.”
