Chapter 30
Keira’s parents had been given a guest bedchamber on the same floor as Anna, and it was here that Keira and Aaron found them a short while later. Father lay on the bed, propped against a pile of pillows, with a thick quilt covering his legs. Mother sat in a chair beside him; she held a damp cloth in one hand and a cup of wine in the other. Father looked up with a wide smile as the pair walked in.
“It’s good of you to join us, Keira,” Mother said. “And Aaron! I was wondering what happened to you. We didn’t see you again after you left to find the dragon. You didn’t run away, did you?”
Keira looked at Aaron, startled. She’d forgotten that Mother didn’t know Aaron’s true identity, and from his expression, she guessed the thought had slipped his mind, too.
“Well, er,” he stammered. It was the first time Keira had ever seen him at a loss for words. “By the time I returned to the clearing, everyone was gone, so I made my way back to Storbrook.”
“Why didn’t you return with the dragon?” Mother said. “It carried us on its back. Surely it could have carried you, too.”
“Oh, no,” Aaron replied. “A Drake cannot be carried by a dragon.”
“Oh?” Mother said. “Why not?”
“Tradition,” he said. Mother frowned as Father watched in amusement.
“I’m sure there’s an explanation beyond our comprehension, Jenny,” he said gently. Mother looked at Aaron with narrowed eyes and pursed lips.
“I’m sure you’re right,” she reluctantly agreed.
“Aaron,” Father said, turning to look at him. “Son. Thank you for all you’ve done. You were forced into a difficult position, but your actions were honorable. I’m proud to have you in my family, and hope you’ll consider me part of yours.”
Keira looked at her father in astonishment before turning to Aaron. He stared at Father for a moment, then strode forward and clasped the injured man’s hand in his own. “I am honored to be called your son, and my blood ensures you’ll forever be bound to me and my family.” A look of understanding passed between the two men before Aaron stepped back and glanced around the room.
“Where’s Anna?” he said. “I thought she’d be with you.”
With a flash of guilt, Keira realized that she had forgotten her sister.
“We haven’t seen her,” Mother said. “We thought maybe she was with you.” Aaron threw Keira an amused glance, and she looked down as a flush rose in her cheeks.
“I think they were otherwise occupied, my love,” Father said with a laugh.
“I’ll go look for her,” Keira said, suddenly anxious to leave the room. She heard amused laughter trailing her as she turned and fled, while Mother’s confused voice demanded to know the source of the humor.
Anna was not in her chambers, nor in any of the common rooms. Vexatious girl, thought Keira. There were many smaller rooms where she could be hiding within the castle, or she could even have gone to the chapel; but as the light was beginning to fade, Keira decided to search the gardens first. She made her way through the low hall and headed into the kitchen garden. It was a small enclosed area, with a low bench against the wall. Anna wasn’t there, and Keira turned towards the pleasure gardens. She had just started searching through the trees, calling Anna’s name, when she heard footsteps behind her. Turning around, she saw Aaron approach through the lowering light.
“No sign of her?” he asked.
“No,” Keira said. “I’ve looked in all the obvious places, but nothing. I thought I’d search the gardens before the light is completely gone, and if I don’t find her, head back inside to search some of the smaller rooms.” A rustling sound made her turn to search the shadows, but she saw nothing.
“Come out,” Aaron called. “I can see you hiding in the brush.”
Keira watched in surprise as a young girl crept out of the bushes towards them. She glanced at Aaron warily before turning her attention to Keira.
“Excuse me, mum,” she said, her voice quavering. “I didn’t mean to spy on you, it’s just that I was in the gardens and you came this way, see? And I couldn’t help but hear you talking about Mistress Anna.”
“You know where she is?” asked Keira.
“Yes, mum,” she said. “I mean no, mum. I mean, I saw her leave the castle earlier today.”
“Saw her leave?” Aaron said, his voice harsh after the girl’s timorous utterances. She shrank back a little as she glanced at him, then turned back to Keira.
“She wasn’t leaving with anything, mum. She just looked like she was taking a walk. She left the castle gates and headed down the path.”
“What time was this?” Aaron asked impatiently, and Keira shot him a look of annoyance.
“Um, I’m not sure.”
“It’s all right,” Keira said. “You did the right thing telling us. What were you doing when you saw her?”
“Coming back from the stables. I’d taken a message that you wanted the horses saddled, mum.”
Keira felt the color drain from her face as she looked at Aaron. “That was hours ago. Where could she have gone?”
Aaron nodded at the girl and flicked his fingers to indicate her dismissal. She turned and ran, disappearing into the shadows.
“Keira, there is something you should know,” he said. “When we returned with your parents, I smelled something. I thought the scent had been carried by your parents, and didn’t pay it much mind. But in light of your sister’s disappearance, I believe it’s significant.”
“What, Aaron? What did you smell?”
“Did you notice someone missing at the clearing?” he asked. “Someone who would’ve jumped at the chance to see me at a disadvantage?”
“Edmund,” she breathed, shocked that she hadn’t noticed his absence before.
“Yes.”
“We must go find her,” she said.
“Not we, I,” he said, folding his arms against his chest.
“No Aaron. She’s my sister, and I need to see her safe.”
“Keira, we’ve already gone over this. I’ll find her and bring her back, but it’s not safe for you to be with me.”
“Why not? It is only one man. A boy. He’s no threat to me with you nearby, and certainly no threat to you.”
Aaron shook his head, his expression closed, and Keira grabbed his arm.
“Please, Aaron,” she said. “This situation is not like before. Don’t make me stay here, wondering whether you or my sister are safe.”
“You know I’ll keep her safe.”
“Please, Aaron.” She looked up at him beseechingly, and he let out a sigh.
“Very well,” he said. “Against my better judgment I’ll let you come. But promise me you’ll stay away from Edmund.”
“Thank you.” She threw her arms around his neck.
“Don’t make me regret this,” he growled in her ear. “Now, let’s go, before we waste any more time.”
Aaron and Keira paused only to tell Keira’s parents that Anna hadn’t returned from a walk and they were going to search for her, omitting any mention of Edmund. In their bedchamber Aaron removed his shirt before strapping a sword around his waist. Keira watched in surprise as he fastened the buckle.
“You’re going like that? Why?”
“You do know that I’ll kill Edmund, don’t you?” he asked, grabbing a dagger and shoving it under the belt.
“Yes,” Keira said.
“Edmund will know the man that is sending him to his grave, and I’ll look him in the eyes as his lifeblood drains away.” Keira shivered at his words, and he turned to look at her. “He’s brought this on himself, Keira. He’s tried to harm not just you, but now your sister as well. Given the chance, he’d take your life without giving it a thought. He does not deserve the life he’s been given, and now it will stand as forfeit for his deeds.”
Aaron finished arming himself and jumped onto the window ledge, reaching out a hand to pull Keira up as well. He wrapped his
arms around her and threw himself from the ledge, and his wings unfurled behind to catch them in their descent. It was already too dark for Keira to see more than a few feet ahead of her, but she knew that Aaron could see movements in the forest even from this height. Below them was the path leading from the castle, and Aaron followed it until it disappeared under the trees.
“She passed this way,” Aaron said into Keira’s ear. “I can smell her.” He swooped downwards, and Keira tightened her grip around his neck as he skimmed the tops of the trees.
“There,” he said, pointing with his chin. “I can hear noises.” Keira strained her ears, but the wind whipped away any sounds. A few more moments went by until she heard a cry, and Aaron picked up his speed and headed towards the sound. Through a break in the trees Keira could see Edmund dragging Anna by the arm as she tripped and stumbled behind him. He jerked her back to her feet angrily.
“This is your sister’s doing,” Keira heard him shout, the dragon blood in her veins sharpening her hearing. “She was supposed to be my wife. She thinks she can leave me and marry someone else, but she’ll soon learn that I’m not a man to be trifled with. She’ll pay for her insolence. And when she finds your lifeless body, she will know that she should never have crossed Edmund Hobbes!”
He yanked Anna’s arm again, and she fell to the ground with a cry. Her knees were already bloodied, and long scratches ran down the length of her cheeks, with tears, blood and dirt mingling in brown streaks.
Aaron closed his wings against his back as they drew closer, and dropped silently towards the forest floor, releasing Keira when they were just a few feet above the ground. He plowed into Edmund, dragging him away from the traumatized girl as she lay helplessly on the ground. Edmund rolled over, shock written across his face as he stared up at Aaron.
“You,” he spat. His face was twisted in anger, but as Aaron rose to his feet, the expression was replaced with horror. Aaron stretched his wings to the fullest extent allowed by the trees, while his inhuman eyes blazed with flames.
“Who are you?” Edmund gasped, pushing himself away.
A stream of flame curled from Aaron’s mouth and brushed against Edmund’s skin. “I’m your worst nightmare,” he said, his voice low.
Kneeling beside Anna, Keira gathered her sister in her arms. She pulled Anna against her shoulder as sobs wracked her frame. The girl seemed oblivious to the scene playing out before her, and Keira shifted herself so that Anna could not see what was happening.
“You’re the dragon!” Edmund exclaimed, fear making his voice rise in pitch.
“Exactly,” Aaron said. Edmund trembled, and Keira felt a flicker of pity for him, but it was quickly gone. Aaron took a step backwards.
“Stand up,” he said. “I could kill you in an instant, but I have a very strong sense of fair play. Since you were unaware of my true identity, I’ll fight you not as a dragon, but as a man.” He pulled the sword and dagger from his belt, and holding them both by the blade, extended the handles to Edmund. “Choose your weapon.”
Edmund chose the sword, leaving the shorter dagger for Aaron. Despite the longer reach of his weapon, Edmund did not look very confident as he faced his opponent.
“I’ll kill you quickly, to save my wife’s sensibilities,” Aaron said, flicking a glance over at Keira. Edmund looked at her in surprise, and Keira wondered whether he’d even realized she was there. Edmund looked back at Aaron and then, without waiting for a signal, rushed towards him with the sword outstretched. Aaron spun away from the weapon and turned to face Edmund, who charged again. The sword went wide, and Aaron brought the dagger up into Edmund’s chest as he rushed past. He collapsed onto the ground with a groan as Aaron stepped over to him and yanked out the dagger. Blood gushed from the wound and Edmund groaned.
“Look at me,” Aaron growled. Edmund lifted his eyes to meet Aaron’s, and they widened in fear when he saw Aaron’s face start to elongate as the skin pulled taut and split as it formed into scales; his eyes moved around to the sides of his head; and his hair vanished as horns grew from his skull. The last thing Edmund saw before he breathed his last was fire curling from between a row of sharp teeth while a forked tongue flicked out of the mouth.
Aaron stared at Edmund as his features returned to their human form, then turned towards Keira. He held her gaze for a moment before glancing at the girl in her arms.
“How is she?” he asked. Keira shook her head.
“She’s been badly hurt. She’ll soon recover from her superficial wounds, but it will take far longer for the deeper ones to heal.”
Aaron ripped the bottom of Edmund’s tunic, then slashed his own wrist with the dagger. Blood quickly welled up from the wound, and Aaron held the cloth against it, saturating the rag before handing it to Keira.
“Wipe her wounds with this,” he said. “It’ll help them to heal.” He turned away as Keira gently wiped the bloodied cloth over Anna’s face and arms, then lifted her skirts and wiped her knees.
Anna’s eyes fluttered open as Keira worked, and she gazed at her sister as she finished.
“You came,” she said in a whisper. “Thank God you came – he was going to kill me. He said it was all your fault – that he was going to teach you a lesson. I tried to get away, but I couldn’t.” Anna’s voice broke as she choked on a sob.
“Sshh,” Keira soothed. “It’s finished. Edmund is dead.”
“Really?” Anna whispered.
“Yes, really. Look.” Taking Anna by the shoulders, Keira turned her around to where Aaron stood over the lifeless remains. Anna pushed herself to her feet, grabbing Keira as she stumbled, then walked over to where Edmund lay. Her lips curled as she stared at the body, and she spat on it before she turned away.
“I’m glad he’s dead,” she said. She walked over to a tree and slumped down against the trunk as she buried her head in her hands.
“Come,” Aaron said, “let’s get out of here.”
“What about the body?” Keira asked.
“I’ll take it to the village tomorrow,” he said. “At least people will know what happened.”
“No,” Keira exclaimed. “You can’t do that. People will blame the dragon.”
“He was stabbed with a dagger. No one can say he was killed by a dragon.”
“Do you think that will stop people blaming you?” she said.
“What are you suggesting, Keira,” he asked quietly.
“We need to destroy the evidence. Get rid of the body.”
“Get rid of the body?” he repeated. “How?”
Anna lifted her head from her hands and gave him a sly grin. “She means,” she said, “you should eat him.” Aaron’s eyebrows flew up. “I don’t mind,” she added.
“No,” Aaron said, glaring at his wife.
“Why not?” Keira asked. “You are a dragon, after all, and here is warm flesh waiting to be eaten.”
He turned away from her, flinging a reply over his shoulder. “Absolutely not!”
“Oh come on,” Anna said, leaning against the tree as she rose to her feet. “No need to be bashful. I’ll just go wait behind those trees while you do what you have to do.”
Keira’s mouth dropped open in astonishment as Aaron turned around slowly to stare after his sister-in-law. He looked back at Keira, his gaze meeting hers.
She stepped towards him and wrapped her arms around his waist. “You are a dragon.”
“Are you sure?” he whispered.
“Yes,” she said softly.
Aaron pulled away from her embrace. “You must wait behind the trees with Anna.”
Keira nodded and turned away. As she reached the trees she looked back to see Aaron, his back to her, pulling his pants down his legs. A flash of light blazed through the air, and instead of the man stood the dragon. He lifted his head and sniffed the air, then slowly twisted his long neck around and met her gaze. She dropped her eyes and hurried over to where Anna sat on the ground, her back pressed against a tree.
Keira sank down below her sister and took her by the hand. “I’m so sorry, Anna,” she said. She blinked away the tears that filled her eyes.
Anna shook her head. “This is not your fault, Keira. Edmund was evil, and was determined to hurt us. I’m just glad he’s dead.”
“Me too,” Keira said, leaning back against the tree. “Me too.”
They sat together in silence as soft growls reached their ears from behind the trees. Anna’s body relaxed slowly as her eyes closed. Keira waited a few minutes before leaning forward to listen to her breathing. Its slow, steady rhythm assured Keira that Anna was asleep; and slowly, with as little noise as possible, she rose and tiptoed towards Aaron. When she had drawn close, she quietly bent around a tree trunk to see what he was doing. His claws were buried in the body before him as his teeth ripped off pieces of blackened flesh. She drew in a deep breath and closed her eyes, steeling herself against the sights before her, then opened them again. Low growls rumbled through Aaron’s chest as he pulled apart more flesh while Keira watched. Through the trees she could see the rising moon, and its light threw down faint shadows around the dragon.
Aaron lifted his head, and his eyes met hers. He pulled back, watching her warily, as Keira returned the gaze. Slowly, keeping her eyes on him, she inched around the tree until she was standing directly in front of him, the tree pressed against her back. Aaron continued to watch her for a few more moments, then lowered his head and tore off another piece of meat, looking back at her to meet her gaze once more. The growls from his chest grew louder, and his gaze did not leave hers except when he lowered his head to pull off more flesh.
As Keira watched, the connection in her mind between the man and dragon began to dissolve. She no longer thought of him as a man, but as a wild beast, ferocious and beautiful. She paid no attention to what he was eating and marveled at the magnificence of the creature before her – fierce and primal, silhouetted against the moon. The dragon continued to watch her as he ate, and she watched in return, with a feeling of awe. A sound behind her pulled her attention away, and fearful that Anna had awakened, she quietly tiptoed away, looking back one more time to meet his gaze before stepping behind the trees.
Anna was mumbling in her sleep, turning her head frantically as she tried to get away from the monsters in her dreams. Keira sat down beside her and wrapped her arms around her sister. Anna fought for a moment, then relaxed against her as her body grew heavy. Keira must have fallen asleep as well, because when she opened her eyes, Aaron was squatting against a tree across from her, his arm hanging loosely over his knee. He’d been watching her as she slept. She met his gaze, catching her breath when she saw his smoldering eyes burst into flames. Anna remained sleeping next to her, and Aaron and Keira stared at each other in silence as the moon made its way across the sky.
Bound by a Dragon Page 30
