Eyes wide, she stared at the single tower that rose up high into the heavens, and the spiral staircase that wrapped around the outside of it, leading to a smaller tower that vaguely reminded her of the Statue of Liberty torch jutting out from its side. No doubt, that was where the castle's overlord made his chambers.
Yeah, it was fitting for this fey land of drab scariness.
"Galar. The name has a beautiful ring to it."
Cadegan snorted at her words. "Galar means 'sorrow,' love. And the place is aptly named."
Oh ...
"How screwed up is your language that something so pretty is a crappy thing, huh? You might as well be French. No matter what you say, it always sounds like a compliment."
He frowned at her. "French? What is French?"
"You know ... you get in your boat and journey across that large watery thing called the English Channel, and hit the big blob of land on the continent south of England? Them people what live there are the French."
"Ah. Normans, Franks, and Gauls." He wrinkled his nose at her. "For what it's worth, love, not fond of them either."
"Is there anyone you do like?"
The humor faded from his eyes as they started across the drawbridge. He leaned down to whisper in her ear. "You."
That simple statement sent a hot chill over her and it made her long to take a bite of him. But he'd warned her thoroughly to keep her emotions concealed.
Even so, she couldn't help teasing him. "For the record, Cade? I'm part French."
He let out a light harrumph at that. "Then I reckon I like the Franks better than I thought."
"I should hope you do."
Once again, all humor fled his face as he jerked his head toward a shadow. Before she could ask about it, he manifested a ball of fire and threw it against the ancient stone wall.
The shadow yelped and scurried away.
Cadegan continued to toss fire at it until it was well out of their sight.
As they neared the portcullis, Jo was aghast at what he'd done for no apparent reason. "What was that action? Some kind of weird Fire Tourette syndrome?"
He gave her a pained expression of total confusion before he spoke. "It was a sharoc, spying on us. They're shadow fey. You have to keep up your guard. They're very treacherous beasties."
"Ah. Hence the fire enema. Got it."
"Fire enema?"
She patted him gently on the cheek as he knocked on the gate. "Flames exploding on the rear of your trousers."
Before he could answer, the doors disintegrated to show a huge gray man with black eyes and gray flesh. He raked an unflattering look up and down Cadegan before using a more curious one with her. "Well, aren't you prompt?"
Jo drew up short as a man lifted himself off the wall in front of them.
By the sudden rigidity of Cadegan's body, she knew this was more foe than friend.
"No time to waste." Cadegan put himself between them. "Josette, meet Brenin Gwyn ap Nudd."
Now it was her turn to be baffled. "Which name does he go by?"
His gaze unwavering from the newcomer, Cadegan kept his hand on her arm. "Forgive me. Brenin means king. His name is Gwyn, son of Nudd. But for safety's sake, just refer to him as Your Majesty. And avoid him whenever you can."
The king tsked at him. "Still cheeky."
"And you're still annoying me, me liege."
Stepping back, the king made room for another shadowed male to join them. "Gage will show you to your new rooms." He narrowed his gaze on Cadegan. "And the sands are falling quick for you, boy. We begin today. You've not much time to vespers. Shouldn't you be about it?"
"I hate you," Cadegan snarled.
The king turned an evil, sinister grin to Jo. "You'll hate me even more if you miss your deadline. Oh, and I might ought to have said this to you earlier. But there's a specific order to how the items must be acquired. You needs steal the dragon's claw first."
The look on Cadegan's face said the king was lucky to still be in one piece. His eyes telegraphing loathing and fury, he turned toward her. "I'll have to leave you now, Josette. But I'll return as soon as I'm able."
When he started away, she grabbed his biceps. "Whoa, wait a sec. Why can't I go with?"
"With what?"
"With you, silly."
He glanced back to the king. "I think that would be a most prudent action, actually."
Gwyn narrowed his gaze before his smile turned cruel. "Fine. I shall allow it." He moved faster than she could blink and placed a small brass band on her arm.
Cadegan cursed. "You bastard!"
Unperturbed, the king gave him a cruel smile. "To ensure your return."
"What?" Jo asked, pulling at the band. "What is this?"
Gwyn answered for Cadegan. "If he fails to return through the portcullis by the designated time, without using his magick, you'll be missing one hand, lass. Maybe more, depending on my mood."
Her eyes bulged. "You know, Cade, I think I can cool my heels here."
"'Tis too late."
The king nodded. "You set the terms yourselves." A bell rang out. "Look, you have an hour to return here with a dragon's claw. Good luck with that." Gwyn vanished.
Breaking out into a string of furious Welsh, Cadegan took her hand and ran with her back to the bridge. Once he was out from the castle, he used his powers to return them to the forest.
"Question."
"Aye, lass."
"You're not allowed to use your powers inside the castle grounds, are you?"
"Nay. 'Tis forbidden, and any violation is punished severely. It's why Gwyn never ventures from his home. He's a coward that way."
She held her arm up to show him the band. "Is that why he wanted to make sure we came back? So he doesn't have to leave his home to come looking for us?"
He nodded as he walked cautiously through the woods. "Most likely."
Jo hated to be commanded by anything. Especially magick. So much for not believing in it. "So what's this errand we're on, anyway?"
"I must have a dragon's claw."
Not what she was expecting to hear. And honestly, it made her a little nervous. "So there be dragons in these woods?"
"Just one. Well ... there are many mandrakes, but only one true dragon that I know of. And Gwyn said dragon claw, not mandrake claw. So I'm assuming he wants a claw from the one, true dragon."
Fascinating disclosure that left her wondering one thing. "What's the difference between a dragon and a mandrake?"
"Mandrakes are fey-born creatures. They be shapeshifting bastards who can take the form of either man or draig."
"Draig?"
"Dragon. And they're all currently enslaved to Morgen and live in and around Camelot. But the one ... he's the last of his breed here. And he slumbers in yon den." He jerked his chin toward the looming mountain before them.
"Cool. I'll distract him. You knock him on the head and we'll be right out. Did you bring a pair of giant dragon-sized nail clippers?"
He gave her an adorably baffled scowl. Damn, he was the sexiest thing she'd ever met. "Sarcasm?"
She laughed at his question. "What was your first clue? The words or the tone of my voice?"
He smirked at her as he surveyed the area, and carefully led them forward without making a comment on her additional playful barb.
As they drew closer to the mountain, she began to see the number of human bones littered on the ground. And that brought the danger home with a terrifying reality.
They could die doing this.
"Um, Cade?"
"Aye, lass."
"How big is this dragon, anyway?"
He paused to consider it. "I've only seen him from a distance. When he's flying in the sky, hunting for prey. But from nip to tail, I'd say about twenty-five to thirty feet."
"Nip?"
"Mouth."
"That's a big-ass dragon. Does he breathe fire?"
"I know naught, but would assume it."
Great. A giant, fire-breathing dra
Never.
Suddenly, Jo realized they weren't entirely alone in the woods. Trying not to panic or be an alarmist, she reached out quietly and put her hand on Cadegan's arm. "What would his range be on that fire?"
"No idea, lass, why?"
She held him by her side. "Because I'm looking at him and he doesn't appear happy that he has guests."
Cadegan froze as her words hit him. The blood drained from his face as he turned to see the dragon crouched low, watching them.
"Nice, draggy, draggy," Josette breathed in a singsongy tone. "You don't want to eat the nice people. Do you?" She shook her head. "No, you don't. We're not even snack size."
His jaw dropped. Was she out of her gourd? "What are you doing, lass?"
"Shh," she snapped. "I'm being a dragon whisperer."
He was even more aghast at her words. "A what?"
"Dragon whisperer." She slid her gaze to Cadegan. "I'm assuming that if you fight him, it's going to be a bloody mess. Right?"
"Probably."
"Could result in both our guts and entrails flying?"
"Most likely."
She patted his arm kindly. "Then let's try this my way first. Shall we?"
He snorted at her offer. "I'm not sure I like your way, Josette. It seems even more dangerous than mine."
She winked at him. "Not sure I like my way, either. Just promise me that if he starts to eat me, you'll flash us out of here."
"I shall do me best."
"Cool, now shush and let me do something galactically stupid."
Amused and horrified, Cadegan held his breath as he watched her bravely and slowly make her way toward the dragon. He wanted to stop her, but she was right. Battle wouldn't get them anywhere except wounded for him and probably dead for her.
While he'd fought and won against many mandrakes, he'd never come up against this beast before. He had no idea what, if any, its weaknesses would be. And it was a massive yellowish-orange beast with black-tinged wings and a spiny head.
He didn't even know how fast it moved. As he'd told her, he'd only seen it off in the distance, and always in flight. Never on the ground.
Jo stopped before she reached the nose of the creature. Swallowing her fear, she knew she had to do this, even though what she really wanted to do was run screaming in the other direction.
"Hi, Mr. Dragon. How are you today? Feeling in a good mood, aren't you? Yes. Yes, you are. You don't want to eat people, do you? No. No, people taste icky. They're sinew and gross. No eat people." She shook her head to emphasize her words. "You're gonna be a sweetie, aren't you?" This time she nodded.
Maybe it was wishful thinking on her part, but the dragon seemed to be scowling at her as if he understood her words yet was baffled by her context. It was an expression she saw often on Cadegan's face.
She took a step forward.
The dragon actually inched back. He made a strange, rumbling sound. Not quite a growl.
"Shh, it's okay, Mr. Dragon. We're not going to hurt you. No. We like dragons. I used to draw you all the time when I was a kid. I did. I had a whole collection of dragon toys. 'Cause you're a cutie, you are."
It cocked its head.
Jo drew up short as she realized one of its wings was on the ground at a weird angle. "You got a boo-boo, Mr. Dragon?"
Cadegan drew closer to her. "Its wing's broken." He started to unsheathe his sword.
The dragon turned on him with a hiss.
"No!" she said to both of them. "Cade, keep your sword down."
"Why? Now's the time to strike."
She shook her head. "I think he understands me."
The dragon turned its head back toward her.
"You do, don't you?"
He appeared to nod.
She inched closer and closer, until she was able to reach out and touch the gray scales around his nose. Treating him like a dog, she allowed him to smell her skin. "See, I mean you no harm, little big dragon."
He didn't move as he eyed her warily. As if he was as suspicious of her as she was of him.
She moved her hand slowly to pet his head, near his ear. "It's okay." She cradled its massive head against her chest and stroked his dry, leathery skin. Then she looked over at Cadegan. "See? He's harmless."
"I wouldn't go that far. But I can understand his motivation. I'd be quiet too for a chance to rest me head on your breasts."
She blushed.
The dragon growled at him.
"Now, boys," she teased. "Play nice."
The dragon settled down and closed its eyes while she continued to soothe it.
She placed a kiss to its ear. "We just need a claw from the dragon, right? We don't have to hurt him for that, do we?"
"Depends on how fiercely he fights us for it."
The dragon growled again as if he knew exactly what Cadegan was saying.
Jo stroked his ear. "Can you heal him?"
Cadegan hesitated. "I can, but am thinking a healed dragon might eat us."
If you heal me, I won't hurt you.
Jo went completely still at the unknown male voice in her head. "Was that you?" she asked Cadegan.
He shook his head slowly. "That you?" he asked the dragon.
Illarion, and yes.
Still, Cadegan wasn't sold on it. "Can we trust you?"
The dragon glared at him. If I wanted to harm you, demon, you'd both be in flames right now.
"All right, then." Cadegan moved to the broken wing. "Stand back, lass. This might hurt him and I don't want him to harm you in turn."
You'd best do as he says. Stand near the cave.
Jo tapped the dragon on his nose. "Don't hurt Cadegan, either. I'll be very put out with you."
"And I won't be fond of you, either," Cadegan groused.
Illarion snorted as Cadegan moved to his injured wing and Jo sought cover.
As she started away, Cadegan stopped her. He pulled his good-luck medallion over his head and kissed it as a monk would a holy relic, before he placed it around her neck. "Never take it off and it will protect you always."
"Thank you, sweetie." She kissed his cheek and wished him luck.
Once she was out of the line of fire, literally, Cadegan touched the wing.
The dragon grimaced in pain.
"What did you do?" Cadegan asked him.
Fell. Now are you fixing it, or am I having Welsh Rarebit for dinner?
His snipe was as impressive as it was stupid. "Ooo, you're a bit bold, aren't you?" Cadegan summoned his powers. "Brace yourself. This will burn."
Do it.
Using his powers, Cadegan knitted the bones and sinew back into place. To the dragon's credit, he made no sound or movement at all. Not until it was done.
Then he lifted his wing to test its movement.
Cadegan had to brace himself from the stiff breeze of it.
"Can I come out?" Josette called.
"Aye, love. He's all better now."
Jo watched as Illarion lifted himself up to his impressive height and sat back on his haunches to watch them with his eerie yellow eyes.
Thank you.
Cadegan inclined his head to him. "No worries."
Jo smiled at them until her dragon became an incredibly tall man. Eyes wide, she jumped to stand behind Cadegan, who didn't react to it at all, except to put his hand on the hilt of his sword.
No longer a scaly reptile with wings, Illarion was seventy-eight inches of sex on a stick. Even more muscular than Cadegan, he had long, dark brown hair with auburn highlights, and silvery blue eyes.
"Why's he in color?" she whispered to Cadegan.
"Not really sure," he responded over his shoulder as he kept his eyes locked on Illarion.
Neither Morgen's nor Merlin's magick works on me.
Cadegan arched a brow. "Really?"
Illarion nodded as he tested his arm to make sure it was fully healed.
"I'm confused." Jo kept herself behind Cadegan. Just in case. "I thought mandrakes were the shapeshifters and not the real dragons?"
Cadegan shrugged.
Illarion offered her a patient smile. In my true and natural form, I'm a dragon--born from an egg, as all my kith before me. But, because of the magick of a Greek king centuries ago, my kith have the ability to turn themselves into humans, under certain circumstances.
"Did you know that?" Jo asked Cadegan.
He shook his head before Illarion continued. At one time, there were many races and species of dragons. We walked the human realm, and fought many battles against each other. But between our wars, and the hatred of both your species, all dracokyn have been pushed to extinction or the brink of it.
What few of us remain are either enslaved, such as the mandrakes, or, like me, they're in hiding.
Cadegan narrowed his gaze on Illarion. "What is your species?"
I'm a Katagari Drakos. As far as I know, I'm the last of my breed.
"And you can't speak, even in human form?" Jo asked.
He pointed to a place on his neck where it looked like someone had stabbed him in the throat. While I was enslaved as a hatchling, humans tried to remove my ability to make fire. But the flames don't come from my throat, only through it.
She cringed at the horrible scar. "I'm so sorry, Illarion."
Placing his hand over his heart, he bowed kindly to her. Now what is this about a dragon's claw that you need?
"It's needed for a sharoc potion."
Illarion scowled at Cadegan. Since when do they make potions?
"I'm hoping now."
"Hang on," Jo interrupted them. "If the magick here doesn't work on you, Illarion, can you leave this realm?"
His eyes dark with sadness, he shook his head. As a dragon, I'm too large for the portal, and whenever I attempt to go through as a man, I'm transformed back to a dragon and am stuck. It's humiliating. I once spent two days with my ass hanging out while I tried to get my head back through the portal.
Jo pressed her lips together to keep from laughing at the image in her head.
"Then how did you get here?" Cadegan asked.
I was brought here against my will to battle Morgen's mandrakes by a Greek sorceress who'd been bribed by her. He jerked his head to a stack of bones that had been pinned to the side of his cave in a particularly painful array. Needless to say, I wasn't very happy about it. Neither was she, in the end.
"I'm surprised you didn't befriend the mandrakes."
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