Claimed by the Dragon King (4 page)

Chapter Six

“You can’t be serious! It won’t solve our problem, it will probably just make it worse. If you die before the celebration…”

“I don’t care!” a deep voice snaps back. The sound of it gives me the chills. My body feels like it’s floating. A soft numbness snuggles against my tired muscles. I couldn’t open my eyes even if I wanted to. The blackness behind my eyelids is oddly comforting. The people in my head sound like they’re fighting. I wonder what they are so mad about…

“She risked her life to get out of there,” a much softer voice whispers. “What do you think she would do if you got yourself trapped?”

No one says anything in response, instead someone lets out a heavy sigh and footsteps pace the length of the room.

“Fine. But the minute she wakes up we are leaving.” His voice sounds strained and my heart hurts. If only I could just tell him I’m okay. I try to move something, a finger, an arm, if I could just open my eyes. The more I try, the fainter the voices get. The numbness grips me more firmly and I drift off into the darkness again.

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“You wouldn’t believe it. We actually have a plan!” the soft voice says. I can just barely feel something warm running over my forehead. “Well, it’s not much but it’s something! Our insiders at the castle said that Arralt is going to lead the spell himself! So he will be there at Renewal day! We had to hold an emergency session to figure out what we are gonna do.”

“Oh Lindy, it is so exciting! You know, being able to blend into the crowd is our main advantage so Cera and I volunteered to take the lead on getting everyone costumes!  We just have to get everyone as close as we can to the castle without attracting attention and then we will have like waves of attack.” Hands gently fluff the pillow behind my head.

“Anyways, it’s the only time the council has been able to agree on anything Lindy! Of course Madame Hazel was a little argumentative but what can you expect from someone who works with the dead. That lady gives me the creeps!” I can feel her body shudder against my shoulder.

“Georgia would tell you that she doesn’t like being the new leader of the council but I think she secretly loves it. Don’t tell her I told you though!” Ruby giggles. “Plus it was the only way that Asher would agree to work with us.” Her voice trails off at the mention of my love. “He’s out there talking to them now, well, bossing them around really. He can be so pushy! But it’s sweet that he’s really worried about you. We all are…” Her soft lips press against my cheek. “But I know you’re okay in there. You’re the strongest witch I’ve ever met.”

Am I though? I was so close to Arralt but I didn’t even figure out anything else about that damn spell. I think I could probably open my eyes now if I wanted to but I don’t. I don’t want to have to face these people, to tell them that I failed. Maybe if I could just recall that little bit of spell that I memorized...

At first the memory falls through the gaps in my mind like sand in an hourglass but eventually I string it together. The lines of dragon magic swirl through my head. When Arralt used magic the lines of the spell were fed into one of the orbs before any magic was released. Those orbs must be converting the dragon magic into something he could use. I bet that’s annoying for him. He’s got to be limited by it though… I mean in the few seconds it takes the dragon magic to convert to Fae magic there’s an opening where he’s defenseless. The spell on Asher works just the opposite. It binds him and prevents him from accessing the magic around him. He has some magic within him, but it’s unpredictable. If Asher didn’t have the spell on him he would be able to take in magic from around him. Like when we were in the Fae park and he sucked the magic out of the tree. I didn’t have time to really think about it then but Asher can take in magic from his surroundings. He is a dragon after all, what better treasure to horde than magic? Maybe he can even take it from other people…  His magic works in the way that the spell on Arralt works, he just does it unconsciously but the cursed spell prevents it from happening! If Asher could just get close enough to Arralt, I bet their spells would counteract each other. Arralt’s spell would try to soak up Ashers… Arralt had to keep Asher alive but trapped so Arralt’s spell has to be tied to Asher in some way. If the two spells came together would they counteract each other? But, if Arralt’s spell soaks up dragon magic then Asher could be in big trouble during Renewal day...

Bingo! That has to be it.  If they could get close enough to each other then I bet I could reverse the spells! Arralt would automatically start to take in Ashers magic. It hasn’t been able to feed off of him for over a week so Arralt’s curse is weakening even faster and desperate for it’s source. But I’m the only one who can see the spells. Damn, Asher is not going to be happy about that...

A soft melody brushes against my rushing thoughts. My mind immediately quiets to listen. I can’t pick out the words but I recognize Ruby’s voice. I soak in the tune and the numbness from before crawls through me. Is she singing a spell? I never heard of anyone doing that before! Her song shifts into a slower lullaby and I feel my mind slipping away. I wish I could tell her how beautiful it is but sleep seems so much more important...

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My leg is cramping painfully. I try to move it but I can’t. Something is wrong with it. I open my eyes and-- Asher is using my leg as a pillow. I shift just enough to stop the cramp in my leg without waking him up. His brow is furrowed and his face looks exhausted. There’s no way I’m waking him up, especially if he plans on taking off just as soon as I’m awake.

I never imagined that we’d be in this situation. It seems like ever since I helped him escape we’ve had one problem after the next. Almost like he’s less free now that he’s not imprisoned. In so many ways it was much simpler to be with him inside the dreamworld where we met. Don’t get me wrong, I would never trade away him being here just for something easier, but I just wish we could get out of here. Fly away and never look back. Magic tingles at my fingertips and I realize that maybe we can.

I brush my fingertips across his forehead and lay back against my pillow. In some ways, his mind is more familiar to me than my own. It’s not hard to break into his dream but it is difficult to still my mind and find sleep once again.

I can hear the steady echoing drip drip of the catacombs and I know that I’ve done it. Of course he would be dreaming about this place. It’s been his nightmare for thousands of years and the prospect of getting thrown back in here has got to be on his mind now.

I don’t have far to go before I hear the slither. The gooseflesh on my arms is involuntary but I know that they can’t hurt me. This isn’t Arralt’s cursed reality, this is just a dream. This time I can look the basilisk right in it’s red eyes and not turn to stone.

“Arghhhh!” Asher cries, slamming into the beast. His strong arms wrestle the snake into submission. He wrenches the fang from its mouth and tosses casually onto the floor as his chest heaves with the exertion. “Another one is coming,” he says without looking at me.

“Asher, it’s really me. I’m here.” His eyes flash up at me in surprise. I guess he’s still dreaming about me but maybe it doesn’t always end the way he wants it to. This is a nightmare after all.

“It’s you? It’s really you?” His sad eyes look disbelieving.

“Yes,” I respond with a warm smile. “Let’s get out of here.” I walk forward and grab his hand.

“Get out of here? I… I can’t,” he frowns again, “I don’t know how.”

“Lucky there’s a door then, huh?” I don’t know how I’m doing it but I’m changing his dream. I’m so comfortable here, in the place where we fell in love-- and made love, repeatedly-- that I must be able alter the environment. Maybe he’s letting me. I don’t know the logistics but I don’t care. I grab his hand and he grips it firmly, almost too firmly but I let him. He needs me and I need him. There’s no way I’m letting him go.

I push the door open, it’s pure darkness on the other side but I can hear the sound of waves crashing. It’s one place that I’ve always wanted to go. I think of everything I’ve ever read or seen about the ocean and step through the door.

The beach comes to life as soon as my foot hits the warm sand. A light salty breeze blows my wild hair haphazardly. I gaze out across the water and marvel at the way the water looks like it goes on forever.

“How is this possible?” Ash whispers looking around in awe. “I’ve been here before, a long time ago…” So maybe he had this in his head all along and I just plucked it out.

“I’ve always wanted to go to the ocean,” I say. “Is it true that the water tastes salty?”

He laughs and finally starts to relax. “It is. But I do remember it being very pleasant to swim in.” His grin reaches his eyes and there’s an inkling of mischief there. He suddenly scoops me up in his arms and rushes towards the water’s edge.

“No!” I screech playfully. He stops in the ankle deep water and gently sets me down. His arms wrap around my waist and pull me into him. He hugs me deeply, like he’s afraid that I’m going to disappear like the sun that’s slowly sinking below the horizon.

“I’m not going anywhere,” I whisper into his chest.

“I thought you were lost…” He looks away sadly and starts to walk down the beach, pulling me with him. “You just disappeared out of the circle...did he hurt you?”

“Not really. He just wanted information.”

“You would have died for me,” he says without question. “I’ve never met a woman like you before Melinda Merrick.

“Oh Asher,” I murmur. He’s been through so much in his life and then he thought he lost the only person he had left. I pull him to me and he kisses me firmly. We wrap ourselves around each other barely coming up for air. I know what’s coming next. He pulls my shirt over my head and tosses it onto the sand. Even in the dreamworld the air is brisk enough to give me goosebumps. He grabs my breast gently and plants kisses along the length of my collarbone.

“Asher,” I whisper grabbing his hand and placing it in between my thighs. He growls in frustration and moves his hand back up to my stomach. Why isn’t he trying to ravage me? “Please Asher,” I moan, wrapping my legs around his waist and pulling him towards me. “What’s wrong?”

His brow furrows as he skims his fingers across my hairline. “You have bruises on your face in real life. And your wrists. Your knees...”

“I do?”

Nodding, he buries his face into my shoulder. “The witches healed them, but I can’t do this yet. You need rest.”

“We aren’t really doing this,” I laugh, sliding my nails across the back of his neck as he shudders. “And I am resting. I’m fast asleep, safe in your arms. You can’t really hurt me.”

“I…” He hesitates, so I lean back and arch my spine, pushing out my bare breasts. “That’s a little unfair,” he chuckles, eyeing me.

“What if we changed it up a bit?”

“How so?” he breathes, his eyes darting up to meet mine.

“Maybe I can be in charge this time?” I ask playfully. He smiles back sheepishly and runs his hand nervously through his hair.

“We’ve tried that before. It never stays that way once I’m inside you.”

“Exactly.”

I kiss him gently at first, letting it build into something more intense. I take his hand and guide it to my breast and he massages it gently. I want him more than ever and I now I have as much time as I want to get exactly what I need from him.

I push him back into the sand and straddle him, my mouth working it’s way lower as he fumbles with taking off his shirt. I release a gentle spark of fire into the cotton and it flames off of him in an instant. His tattoos glow red for a moment as my spell fades.

“You got that trick from me,” he growls while he undoes the button of his jeans. We roll around in the sand in a heap of giggles. This is going to be fun.

Chapter Seven

“Ash,” I say squeezing his hand. It’s been a few hours since I left him sleeping peacefully on our dream beach. I wanted some time to myself to think about everything before anyone came to check on us. Ash stirs and I run my hands through his hair gently, waking him. His eyes blink open and a smile creeps across his face.

“So it wasn’t just a dream?” he asks with a yawn.

My face flushes red at the memory of the beach. He stands up and stretches before planting a kiss on my forehead. I hope I don’t look too beat up.

“Ash, I’ve been thinking…” I start to say but I pause trying to find the right words. He looks at me with worried eyes and sits back down in his chair. Good, I have his full attention.

“We don’t have a lot of time to talk privately so I’m going to just say it. What if you didn’t have to be King?” I ask tentatively.

“What do you mean?” he grumbles. “I thought you wanted me to be King?”

“Look you can still be a King but just not… just hear me out, okay?”

He drops my hand and crosses his arms over his chest defensively. I knew this wasn’t going to be easy but damn.

“When I was in the castle, I got a good look at the spell on Arralt.”

“Your point?” he hisses.

“Look, we’ve been over this it wasn’t your fault so stop being defensive and just listen to me,” I say. He uncrosses his arms and runs a hand over his face.

“I’m sorry. Please, continue,” he says with a sigh.

“Do you think we could just give it back? The magic, I mean. Couldn’t we just reverse the spell and give it back?” I ask nervously.

“Give it back?” He shakes his head dismissively. Is his brow furrowing in anger or is he thinking about it?

“The spell on you works the opposite way that the spell on Arralt works. Your magic naturally pulls in magic from outside of you and then you can use it. The spell prevents you from being able to pull in magic and use it. His spell allows for magic to be pulled in and converted to Fae magic so he can use it.“

“But I don’t use magic Lindy, I don’t need spells like you do. I thought the curse was preventing me from accessing my true power?” he asks.

“I thought so too, but not anymore. You’re right about the fact that you don’t use magic the same way that Witches do, but your power…. it all comes from using the same source.”

“I don’t understand,” he says dejectedly.

“Remember when we were running from those Seekers in the Underground and you walked through the barrier?”

“Yes. I wanted to go through and so I did,” he says matter of factly.

“Right but do you remember, you touched one of the trees right before you went through? I didn’t have time to think about it before but I’m pretty sure you were able to take the magic from it and used it to get us through the wall.”

His lips part and he looks down at his hands.

“You’re a Dragon Asher. I think magic is just another treasure that you can horde.”

“I’ve never thought of it that way before…” he says sadly. “That sounds logical though. But how would that stop me from being a King?” 

“I didn’t say that you wouldn’t be a King, just not the King of the Underground. If I’m right, the vast stores of power that the Dragons have was taken from other creatures. I bet you could give it back.”

“Lindy, I don’t think it works like that…” he says sadly. I feel terrible but at least he isn’t angry. “I can’t…”

“Asher I can, I know how. I got a good look at the curse, I think I can-”

“Lindy,” he growls warningly. 

“You’re awake!” Ruby says bursting through the door. “Yay!” she screams in delight, throwing her arms around me. “I brought you some clothes! I hope they’re okay,” she says handing me an awkward bundle.

I hold up the low cut shirt that she brought and suppress a chuckle. “Really?” I ask sarcastically.

“But that color will look so good on you!” She snickers and Asher raises an eyebrow. “Don’t worry, everyone knows she’s all yours,” she says rolling her eyes at him. “Hurry up and get dressed. Everyone wants to talk to you before you guys take off again! I hope you use the front door this time, I don’t think we can afford to fix the ceiling again.”

She goes back through the door and I swing my legs over the edge of the bed.

“Here, let me help you.” Ash rushes over and holds out his arm.

“I’m fine,” I say but I take his arm anyways. My legs are a little wobbly but I still manage to get changed quickly.

We start the short walk through the beautiful blooming plants of the atrium. It really is a spectacular place. I can see the platform looming in the distance.

“Lindy I…” Asher says slowing his pace and grabbing my hand. 

“Ash it’s okay,” I interrupt. “I know, I was out of line back there. Of course you should be King, you’ve been waiting a long time for this! I’m sorry for overstepping.”

“Don’t be sorry my love,” he croons, pulling me into his arms. “I need to think some more about what you said. I don’t want to be a tyrant like my father, but... Keep this between us for now.”

“You don’t want the council to know?” I ask, pointing to the platform just ahead of us.

“No,” he says firmly. “If they knew the truth they might try to take advantage of it.”

“How?”

“Think about it Lindy. They would likely try to persuade me to give the magic back and perhaps to only a select few. There are some among them that would relish a rise to power.”

“I guess that is true,” I say. My mind snaps to Madame Hazel and the Giant. Those two having more power could do more harm than good.

“They might also try to use you to get me to do what they want.”

“But I wouldn’t let them! Asher I--”

“They already have Lindy! I’ve tried again and again to rid myself of this council and yet somehow you persuade me to come back here.”

“I’m sure I was really persuasive while I was unconscious,” I snap back.

“I had no other option!”

“I know,” I say with a sigh. “The council may not be very effective but they’re all we have Asher. We have no other option. I won’t let Arralt take you away from me.”

“You are the most infuriating woman Melinda Merrick,” he says, running his hands roughly through his black hair. “I should be the one worrying about that Fae bastard, not you.”

“Asher, I have just as much to lose as you. Stop treating this like it’s just your problem.”

“I know, I know!” Ash groans.

“And there’s a whole group of Magicfolk who have continued to risk their lives and the lives of their people to help us, help you. This is probably their last shot at achieving some semblance of freedom. They want the same thing that we do and we can’t ignore their sacrifice Asher.” My voice cracks and a tear slides down my cheek. I had pushed away the memory of Fee and Billius up until now. “I won’t let them die in vain,” I whisper, wiping the tear away quickly. 

“Well said,” a familiar voice calls down from the stairs. Georgia stands regally at the top in a long green gown. “I do not mean to interrupt, but many of our plans require haste,” she says with a smile.

“Were you listening?” Asher says in an accusing tone, his eyes narrowing.

“Yes,” Georgia admits honestly. “I will not share your information with the others but let me say this-- we are all filled with our share of fault in this war. What our ancestors are guilty of does not transfer to us. All we can do is learn from their mistakes and then choose to make our own decisions.”

“So you believe I should give the magic back too,” Ash snarls.

“Actually no,” she says with a grimace. “I think that could be dangerous. Our people have not had that kind of access to magic for such a long time, I fear it could cause a whole new mess of problems. Come, let’s discuss the one at hand. And I do hope you will forgive me for speaking so boldly.”

“If Lindy didn’t speak so highly of you I would not have allowed it,” Ash replies. We follow her up the stairs and across the wide platform. The council members sit stoically, watching us find our seats. Georgia alone remains standing.

“Your majesty. As you know, I have replaced Izor as Chairperson of this Council. What you may not know is that we have a new mission and that is to defeat Arralt at all costs. We have asked you here today to merely offer ourselves to your cause. We have no desire from you--” Madam Hazel shifts uncomfortably and Georgia shoots her a daring glance as she continues speaking. “--other than to allow us to help you dethrone the Fae King.”

“What, exactly, do you have to offer me?” Ash asks.

“For starters,” she says indicating her fellow council members, “we have ourselves and a few others willing to accompany you to and fight along your side.”

“You are the true King,” the elf declares. Georgia nods at him as he stands and she takes her seat. “We would fight for the truth,” he says imploringly.

“We would fight for your strength,” the giant says standing awkwardly. “The dragons of myth had legendary strength of will and spirit.”

“We would fight for honor,” the cat says arching his back and standing on his chair. “We owe a debt to you that we will pay in blood and bone.”

“I fight for death and those who have slipped from his grasp for far too long,” Madam Hazel’s monotonic voice calls out. She doesn’t stand like the others but bows her head respectfully.

“We may be old,” Izor starts, leaning hard on his cane. “But the wizards fight for the pursuit of pure knowledge and in order to accomplish that might feat, a pure source of magic.”

“And there are more, including the witches, gnomes, and sprites who will fight because it is the right thing to do.”

Ash looks at all of them in turn. “You have a plan?” he grumbles.

“We have the beginnings of a plan,” Madame Hazel answers, getting to her feet. “But we could just bring the fight to Arralt. We know where he lives, we could end this now.” Everyone stirs at her words. The passion from a moment before seems fleeting. I guess they didn’t expect it to be so soon, neither did I.

“You speak out of turn Hazel,” Georgia chides. “Sit down. We have discussed that plan and have already voted against it.” Madame Hazel crosses her arms over her bosom and sits, although it looks like it pains her to do it. Hah! Go Georgia!

“My apologies your majesty,” Georgia says. “Our spies were able to gain some valuable knowledge. We know that Arralt will be speaking at the celebration. We must assume that he will be casting the Renewal spell during his speech. Our best chance at getting to him should be just before that time.”

“Yes,” the giant answers. “We can infiltrate the celebration. Wearing disguises, we should be able to move amongst the crowd with ease. We may even be able kill Arralt without you having to lift a finger.” The giant chuckles with a hollow, echoing laugh.

“No,” Ash says curtly. “He is mine to kill.” The council members shoot each other quick glances.

“It has to be Asher,” I speak up. I think about the spell that binds them both. Not a single one of the council members could even come close to hurting Arralt, let alone killing him. Not to mention what I suspect will happen once their spells get close enough to each other. “And I have to be the one to break the spells.” I gulp down my nervousness. Everyone is looking at me, now. I can feel my face blush with embarrassment.

“I got to look at Arralt’s spell. If Asher and I can just get close to him I can reverse the curse,” I say with a shaky voice. I hope I can reverse the spells, it’s a long shot but it’s probably my only hope of Asher letting me come to the Renewal Day. “After the spells are reversed, Arralt should be essentially mortal again.”

“Lindy I will not allow you--” Asher starts to say but I cut him off.

“I’m going,” I say, hoping my confidence will cut off any chance of negotiations. “I am the strongest Fire Witch in the last three millennia, and the leader of my own coven.”

“We will discuss this later,” Asher says with a growl. I can tell he’s mad but I don’t care. I’m going to stand by his side at the end of world. I just hope we come out on top.