He actually had the audacity to smirk at her. Smirk! Ugh. He was the most annoying being she’d ever met.
“I meant no offense.”
“Yeah, right. Anyway.”
“My presence seems to agitate you. Once your dragon arrives and gives me a peculiari scale, you won’t have to suffer my appearance anymore. I’ll leave you to fume privately.”
Phlox did indeed fume, but worry for Rubrum was at the top of her emotions. She should have known that was what the warlock was after.
Taking his one peculiari scale would…well, she wasn’t sure what it would do to Rubrum. It would definitely give Arden a lot of power. Like, a lot. Too much power. Especially for a warped, annoying kidnapper. Rubrum would never give up his scale to such a dangerous warlock.
She thought back to his warnings of danger the night before and wondered at the coincidence. Had she misunderstood him? Had the danger not been because of the handsome young man? Had Rubrum been prophesizing about today instead?
She drew on her magic, straining like never before, but still couldn’t break through the warlock’s hold on her. She’d known she wasn’t powerful enough even before she tried, but she had nothing better to do.
Even though Rubrum wouldn’t give his scale to Arden under normal circumstances, he would give it up for her safety, wouldn’t he? She couldn’t let that happen. She had to escape. She wouldn’t let him give up something so precious because of her carelessness, her incompetence, her failings as a magical being. Hopefully, he wouldn’t find her, she didn’t see how he could, and the jerk would eventually get tired of waiting and let her go.
The door opened and she hoped it was her captor bringing her something to eat. She didn’t know how long she’d sat alone in the small room, but her stomach rumbled angrily reminding her she hadn’t eaten breakfast due to her frantic need to find her friend.
Her eyes bugged as she stared unapologetically as the handsome young man, rather than the scarred and equally handsome but annoying man, stepped inside.
“You? Aaron?” It was all she could think to say in her surprised state.
“I don’t know what’s going on,” he said and looked around at his surroundings as if seeing them for the first time.
The warlock must have been spying on her for days and had gotten the wrong impression of the man who’d returned something he’d thought belonged to her. Good gods, Arden must have assumed that Aaron was someone important to her and Arden was using him as an extra pressure-tactic to get what he wanted. She wondered what other tricks he had up his sleeve.
Bringing non-magicals to Otherworld was a big no-no. Doing so was total disregard for the laws of the land. Whatever Arden wanted the scale for must be incredibly important to him.
“I’m supposed to give this to you,” Aaron said as he handed her a goblet and a plate of berries and cheese.
Right on time, her stomach grumbled. Loud.
“What are you doing here?” she asked as she took the offered food and drink. And, she wasn’t a bit embarrassed to start pigging out right away.
“What is this place?” he asked as he took a seat across from her.
“He didn’t tell you? How did he get you here?” And then it dawned on her. Actually, it hit her like a ton of bricks pelting her in the head and knocking some sense into her.
“You work for him!” she accused. “For Arden! You spied on me.”
A range of emotions and expressions crossed his face before he answered. It was as if he was searching for an answer, so it was a good guess he was about to lie in her face.
But, maybe this would work in her favor. She was pretty sure the attraction she’d seen in his eyes when they’d met had been real. Maybe if she played up to him, he’d side with her instead of the warlock. It was a long shot, but long shots were all she had at the moment.
He hung his head. “I did. I was offered a great sum of money to find out where you lived. I had no idea any ill intent was part of it. Then, when I saw you, met you... You were just so beautiful. I’d planned to warn you at coffee, but you didn’t show up.”
A little tingle curled around her midsection at him calling her beautiful. She wasn’t above a little giddiness at an attractive man’s compliments, but she couldn’t shake the feeling of familiarity about him. It was like something just below the surface was something she knew, but that didn’t make sense. It had to be because of their previous encounter and nothing else.
Even though he’d spied on her, she felt for his plight and wanted to make sure they both escaped unharmed.
She offered him some of the food before she ate it all, but he refused.
“What did he tell you?” she asked. “About why you’re here?”
“He said he was hopeful you’d open up to me. That you’d be happy to see a friendly face instead of his hideous one. I can’t fault that logic. He is hideous. And, something about needing a scale of some sort? I have no idea what that means, but I’m wondering why you don’t just give him what he wants.”
She sighed. “What he wants won’t be good for my friend. And, even though Arden is a crap person, it’s not nice to shame someone based on their appearance. Anyway, he’s not hideous. He has scars, but they’re barely noticeable next to those dreamy eyes.” Had she seriously just said that out loud? Dreamy eyes? Maybe the food had been drugged.
His shocked reaction to her words both embarrassed her and made her angry. Regardless of Arden’s agitating personality, he was handsome.
“Um.” A blush crept into his cheeks. “What harm will it do your friend? He said it wasn’t a painful thing. Sounds easy enough to me. Then I could go home, you could go home. We all get what we want. Wins all around.”
“Well if you hadn’t agreed to spy on me, you wouldn’t be in this situation to begin with.”
“Yeah.” He lowered his gaze. “That wasn’t my finer moment. Forgive me?”
“No, I don’t think I do forgive you. Anyway, the scale isn’t mine to give. Besides, he has no idea where I am.”
“Can’t he find you through your bond?”
She eyed him, even more suspicious than ever. “Bond? What do you know of bonds?”
“Oh, uh. I mean. Arden mentioned a bond. I really don’t know what’s going on here, but I know enough to know this and all of you are not…normal.”
“And that doesn’t freak you out? You’re not curious? You seem awfully calm for someone discovering a whole new world.”
She liked to see the good in people. To focus on that. But, she wasn’t stupid. This guy was no stranger to her world as she’d first thought, and she was pretty sure he knew exactly why Arden wanted a scale. Hell, maybe it was for him. Maybe he was a black market seller of magical items or worse.
Whatever it was, she was no longer awed by his attractiveness. As a matter of fact, she didn’t find him attractive at all. Didn’t know why she ever had. She’d take Arden over this guy any day. At least Arden was real. A real jerk, but still.
“Okay. That’s it. Drop the BS. I’m done with you, with Arden, with all of this.”
Suddenly, Aaron’s face faded, like the peeling off of a mask, and then she understood. It was Arden. He’d been using a glamor. Her magic was so lame she couldn’t even see through a simple glamor.
Or maybe it wasn’t that simple. He was no doubt powerful, especially being bonded with a griffin. There was no telling what kind of fantastical things he could do.
She silently chastised herself but saved the majority of her anger for Arden. He really wasn’t a good person. She thought on that a moment. But, was he actually that bad? He hadn’t hurt her. Kidnapped her, yes, but not hurt. He’d wanted to steal from Rubrum, but it hadn’t happened yet. And, he obviously knew how to love if his relationship with Amica was any indication.
Just when she was about to start playing along with the warlock to see if she could work him enough to make her escape, a thundering, angry, fear-inducing roar, alerted her to her best friend’s presence.
Chapter 13
Rubrum roared, roared again, roared some more, and then roared one last time for good measure. The fear, the anger, and frustration tore at his insides. How dare that warlock steal Phlox from him? How dare he use his pitiful magic on such a beast as himself?
Phlox knew Rubrum was powerful-–all dragons were-–but she didn’t know how powerful. Hell, he didn’t even know the extent of his power, because he hadn’t used it as much as he might have had he grown up with other dragons teaching him, playing with him, challenging him. But, he definitely felt it, especially now with the rage burning inside him and fueling his power.
He had to find her, but even as powerful as he was, he couldn’t quite follow the warlock’s teleportation trail. It dissipated at a certain point and scattered every which way. If he had properly bonded Phlox, it wouldn’t be an issue. It would have allowed him to follow her magical trail. But, she’d refused. She always refused.
If…no...when he found her, he would do so whether she liked it or not. And that warlock was as good as dead. Rubrum would burn him within an inch of his life, let him suffer a minute, and then finish him off.
Rubrum had never intentionally killed anyone before, but the time had come. The dragon-fire boiled inside of him and demanded vengeance. He should have killed him when he’d shown up at the house in the realm of Humankind.
Oh, yes. He’d known they were one and the same when the warlock had approached him at the border of Dragonkind. He could disguise his looks, but he couldn’t disguise the signature of his magic. Not from a dragon.
Rubrum roared again. He didn’t know which way to go. But, as if a power from above recognized his pain and decided to step in to console him, butterflies and bees swarmed him, flitted about, and bombarded his mind with images. Images of Phlox.
As far as he could decipher, the images weren’t in present time. They were past. He hadn’t known the fluttering creatures could share such knowledge. Maybe they could only share it with him—one of the special red dragon gifts he hadn’t known he’d possessed. He didn’t know and didn’t really care at that moment. All he cared about was that he now knew the path to find her. His best friend. His confidant. His everything.
If she was harmed… No. He wouldn’t think it. Couldn’t think it. He spread his wings and flapped harder and faster than he ever had. Phlox was the only being in the world that cared for him utterly and truly, and that made her the most precious thing in his world. Even more precious than his gold and other treasures. For a dragon, that was saying a lot.
He shot into the air and flapped his wings with urgent purpose and didn’t stop until he reached Phlox’s location.
Chapter 14
Phlox’s gut twisted in anticipation and fear. Rubrum had found her. His roars shook the very foundation of the warlock’s home.
How had he done it? Did he possess abilities she hadn’t known about? With their limited communication ability, she supposed it was possible, but that didn’t make sense. He’d been unable to find her before. He’d been scared and worried for her.
And now, she was worried for him. Again. Who knew a quick trip to Humankind would have resulted in such a cluster-fudge of crap?
“I knew you lied,” Arden sneered.
It wasn’t a good look on him. Why did he have to be such a jerk?
“I didn’t lie. I have no idea how he found me. But, I can tell you for certain, he is angry, and you probably better let me go calm him before he sets your house on fire.”
He strode toward her and she thought that’d been a little too easy.
“Stand.”
She didn’t appreciate his bossy tone, but she stood anyway.
What she hadn’t expected was him using his magic to tightly secure her hands at her waist and binding her ankles together too. She almost toppled over, but he caught her and scooped her into his arms.
A warm, tingly sensation curled around her stomach at the close contact. Totally inappropriate timing. And person. Maybe she really was starved for that male attention Goldi was always going on about if she was letting a guy like Arden get under her skin.
“Put me down,” she demanded.
“I think not.”
He carried her through his house and then out the front door where Rubrum was making a ruckus. He immediately quieted when he saw the pair of them.
“I mean her no harm, dragon,” Arden shouted. The shouting was totally unnecessary with Rubrum’s dragon hearing being exceptional, but she didn’t bother wasting her breath on Arden.
“Give…her...to…me!” Rubrum said between puffs of smoke and flame. She knew he was holding back his fire to ensure her safety. She also knew it was a helluva strain for him. His eyes glowed red and steam rose from every inch of his body. She’d experienced him angry before, but never this angry.
Phlox.
She thrilled at hearing him say her name with great relief.
“I’ll not harm her if you give me a scale,” Arden said. “I only want a trade.”
Rubrum roared.
“One peculiari scale,” Arden said. “That’s all I ask.”
“NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!” Rubrum roared the word with such ferocious anger, Phlox’s ears felt as though they were bleeding.
He lifted his snout to the air and spewed a stream of fire that must have spanned half a mile. Wow.
“You don’t value her life?” Arden asked incredulously.
“SHE’S MINE!”
Okay, well, considering the current predicament, she supposed the possessiveness was just fine. “Please stop yelling, Rubrum. My ears,” she said.
He cut his eyes at her for a split second and then turned his menacing glare back to Arden. He finished his previous possessive sentiment by whipping his tail at a nearby tree and snapping it in half. Birds and pixies scattered, flying this way and that. She hoped the pixies didn’t hold a grudge. They could be nasty, little creatures when provoked.
“We’ll be inside,” Arden said. “Let me know if you change your—”
Amica appeared from around the corner and effectively shut everyone up. Walking toward them seemed to be an incredible effort on her part, but she was graceful and majestic all the same.
Rubrum’s eyes bugged, the fiery red from his anger dimming as he gazed upon her.
“Red Dragon,” Amica said in greeting and bowed her head.
Rubrum blinked at her a few times before doing the same.
The griffin closed the space between them, and Phlox’s heart almost stopped. Would the griffin hurt him? She walked slow circles around him, closely inspecting him, her expression growing more distressed with each step until she finally stopped.
“Let her go, Arden,” Amica said in a flat but commanding tone.
“What?” Arden asked. His incredulity was palpable.
“He cannot give you what you want.”
“What?” Arden asked again.
“He only possesses one peculiari scale,” Amica said. “He will not give it up. He cannot. Not for me.”
“What?”
The griffin narrowed her eyes in obvious frustration. “Have you lost your hearing from the dragon’s screams?”
Her jibe snapped Arden out of his one-worded stupor, but if his ears hurt as badly as hers, she assumed Amica wasn’t totally off the mark.
“If he won’t give it, I’ll take it,” Arden said in an unattractive and childlike manner.
Rubrum roared so loud Arden almost dropped Phlox. Amica extended a wing to Rubrum, and he quieted instantly. The two beasts shared a long, meaningful gaze. Phlox was certain something extraordinary passed between them. Seconds passed, then minutes. Nor she or Arden interrupted whatever moment they were having. They simply watched in awe as something private transpired between two magnificent creatures.
“Put the girl down, Arden. I was never a fan of this plan to begin with. It’s gone too far,” Amica said.
Arden’s grip tightened almost painfully on Phlox for a moment, but he eve
ntually did what the griffin said.
Once on her feet and free from Arden’s magical bonds, Phlox slapped him hard in the face before running to Rubrum and hugging one of his big, beefy legs. He lowered his face and nudged her with his snout. Safe now. Forgive me.
“Forgive you? For what?” Had she misunderstood him? She couldn’t imagine what on earth or in Otherworld she’d need to forgive him for. If anything, she should be the one asking forgiveness for making him worry.
Suddenly, Rubrum’s magic stirred around her so intensely, her hair stood on end. What the? He popped out his one and only peculiari scale.
Her heart lurched in her chest. “Rubrum no! Don’t. I won’t. I can’t. We can’t!”
He lowered his face farther and pressed an oddly sweet kiss on the corner of her mouth.
Must.
Tears welled in her eyes. What he offered her was the most sacred gift a dragon could offer any being. In a metaphysical sense, their lives would be entwined, tied to one another. Forever.
He didn’t hesitate as he slammed the scale into her skin just below her collarbone.
A mixture of searing pain, power, and euphoric ecstasy blasted through her, out of her, back in, and around. Every inch of her burned. Inside and out. It felt as though a river of lava flowed through her veins instead of blood.
A blinding light shot from her eyes and she feared they were melting. She couldn’t see, couldn’t breathe, but somehow suddenly, she didn’t mind. She felt everything and nothing at the same time.
As the blinding light subsided, the sky slowly appeared before her. It was the bluest sky she’d ever seen. The pink and purple fluffy clouds swirled magically and fantastically above her. That’s when she became aware she was flat on her back. When had that happened?
Slowly her entire awareness came back. Not back to normal. No, it was enhanced normal. The butterflies and bees she’d communed with earlier, she could now sense them as never before. She instinctively knew she could summon them with a mere thought now.
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