by Kim Schubert
“I take it you found the dragon?” Garrick called in, amusement coloring his voice.
I looked toward the entrance in annoyance.
“Nope, sure didn’t!” I yelled.
Let’s take this fight outside, I can’t see what the hell I’m doing and I sure as fuck don’t know what I actually need to do with said found dragon, I told Logan.
I felt Logan’s agreement, he was not one to enjoy being caught off guard and without a plan. Neither of us had expected to find the dragon this easily. Perhaps fate was smiling on us, maybe this was our break to keep our small world safe. Or maybe we were both about to be incinerated. Fifty-fifty.
Logan unflinchingly stayed on my right side, between me and danger, even with the thundering and earth-shaking noises there.
The dragon gave a roar of clear irritation. We exploded out of the cavern, the scaly overgrown lizard still after us and fire nipping at our heels.
“Tell me what I’m after here!” I yelled toward my father, the small band of ancient and powerful beings staying clear of the entrance. The Magician stared behind me in awe, his mouth hanging open. Not helpful.
“Ride and name the beast!” he screamed at me, recovering from his earlier stupor. He scrambled back farther, Doyle bracing him against falling, no doubt feeling the heat of the dragon’s fire.
I felt Logan shift, pulling energy from the packs to make the transition seamless between one step and the next. That was a neat trick. A towering, caramel-colored lion padded at my side, far faster than my own two feet.
“Logan, go left!” I screamed in our mad dash.
NO! I’m not leaving you here to die a fiery death.
“Trust me!” I shoved him left before darting to the right. Not that one really shoves a furry cat weighing hundreds of pounds. The mate bond kicked into overdrive as he monitored me.
What hell is wrong with you?
It’s a daunting list, how much time do you have?
He growled. I couldn’t help the laugh bubbling up, this was it! I was going to get my magic and we were going to kick some Fae ass!
The ground dipped down, my speed making the descent dangerous. Well, not as dangerous as the giant lizard trying to chomp my ass. I dodged low-slung branches and fallen logs, all while trying to stay ahead of the ten-thousand-pound, allegedly mythical beast pounding after me.
I ran hard over the pine-needled ground, hoping and searching for what I thought I remembered from my last trip there. In my study of the terrain, I had found a deep ravine where I, personally, would have thrown the bodies of all those I was trying to get rid of. It was on my list to check for Garrick’s missing executioners. However, I’d found them before wasting time perusing the gorge.
Be fucking careful. I am not losing you. In fact, I will kill your father. I was pretty sure Logan could follow my train of thought on where this was going.
Such a worrier, I chided him, pushing down my own concern. Where the fuck was it? The damn fairytale beast was snapping at my heels. I took my eyes off the clear ground in front of me for a moment to look around in case I was missing what I wanted.
My foot came down wrong and I pitched forward, rolling, the downward slope rapidly accelerating my pace.
But good news! I had found the damn gorge. My stomach pitched as gravity pulled me down and off the edge. I swallowed a scream, twisting around, scrambling for purchase. This wasn’t exactly my poorly thought out plan, but hopefully the results would be the same.
I felt Logan’s screaming, but was a little distracted.
…
Logan’s heart stopped beating, he was certain of it. Cold fear drained both his strength and the warmth from his shifter hide as he watched Olivia pitch over the edge. He had been easily loping behind them, watching to see what insane, poorly put together, half-formed idea Olivia had dreamed up. He typically enjoyed her spontaneity, but not when it put her damn life on the line.
From the brief glimpses, even she must have thought it was reckless, but falling off a damn cliff, that couldn’t have been part of her plan. Right?
Yet it almost seemed like the dragon was holding back, which gave him pause to retain rational thought.
He searched the mate bond. Finding Olivia alive, he held onto her through the bond, as though that alone would keep her alive.
He heard her laugher, bubbling and rich. Relief washed though his limbs, making him weak as he padded to the edge of the ravine.
The air whooshed by him as Olie rode upside down on the dragon’s neck, yelling at it.
….
Logan’s bewildered lion face was priceless as I soared overhead, attached to the wrong side of a dragon’s neck.
My plan is working! I told Logan excitedly.
Your plan is insane, he noted.
I had been fairly certain that once I had attached myself to the scaly reptile, it wouldn’t be willing to die just to spite me.
My gamble had paid off, a whoosh of air being displaced as the large beast pumped its wings. Okay, so now I only had to hold on until we were on solid ground again. I opened my eyes and the ground spun away from us. Shit, not part of my plan.
I closed my eyes again as it did its best impersonation of a Blue Angels flier, trying to get me off with spins and dips. I slid down the long neck, but didn’t release my hold.
“Keep that shit up and I’ll be throwing up all over you,” I warned it.
I cracked an eye to see the glittering green, gold, and maroon beast give me the evil eye, its neck craned at an impossible angle.
“Wait, you understand me?” I asked, seeing intelligence in those purple eyes. The ride settled out immediately.
“I’m not moving. I let go, and there is nothing to stop you from dumping me.”
The beast huffed, angling toward the ground at dangerous speed.
“I sure as hell hope you know what you are doing,” I muttered, closing my eyes and covering my face as the branches snapped by in a painful blur.
The roar wrenched the air as powerful claws stopped our descent. I slipped off onto the ground with a thud, the world still spinning.
“That was awesome.” Rolling to my side, I patted the beast’s flank. It huffed at me.
“Okay,” I began, stumbling slightly as I walked to its head; apparently, we were playing nice now. “So my dad said I had to name you to release my true and hopefully exceptionally deadly power.” My voice dipped down, imitating my father’s seriousness.
No response.
“How about Precious?”
The dragon breathed fire and I danced out of the way.
“Ouch! There is no need for that!”
I swear the damn thing smiled.
“Fine, no Precious, how about Asshole!”
I was prepared for the blast of inferno this time, ducking out of the way, laughing. I was so close to freeing my power and giving us a true fighting chance against the Fae. He or she could try scorching me all day.
I sat on my butt, folding my legs up and pressing a finger against my lips. “Okay seriously, want to give me any hints?”
The beast lumbered down, waiting. “Did you just roll your eyes at me?” I accused. There was that damn half smile again.
“OLIVIA!” Logan bellowed, coming to a screeching halt in front of us. “What the fuck are you doing?” he demanded.
“We’ve reached an agreement. It only tries to kill me when I give it a name it doesn’t like.”
“You’re insane,” he groaned, sitting next to me, naked, his clothing destroyed by his earlier rapid shift. I wasn’t sure if we had packed additional clothing for him or not. By now we really should have known to.
“You already said that,” I helpfully reminded him.
“What have you tried so far?” he asked, his eyes glued to the impressive, deadly predator.
“Precious and Asshole.”
Logan looked at me. “Now why on Earth wouldn’t she like those names?”
“Huh, you think she is a girl,
too?”
“Why else would the damn thing chase us, then sit here waiting to be named? A male would still be trying to kill you.”
The dragon huffed and smoke curled out her nostrils.
“I think we are both offended.”
Using his hand to bat the smoke away, he coughed, “Female, definitely female.”
“What about Fluffy?” I asked with a smile.
I shoved Logan to the side as the fire blasted over our head.
“You knew she wasn’t going to like that one!” he accused me.
I laughed and nodded.
“What are you doing?” Garrick yelled, the crashing behind us announcing the arrival of our companions.
“Why haven’t you bound the dragon yet?” my dad asked.
Fluffy stood up, like a cat arching its back.
“Like with rope?” I asked.
My father looked between us, terrified and shocked.
I shrugged, “We’ve come to an understanding. I’m trying to name her now.”
“You don’t know how to BIND a dragon? It could easily destroy you, end you without thought. Why didn’t you tell me—”
I stopped him there. “I have no magical knowledge. You know this. Granted, going in without much of a plan wasn’t brilliant on my part, but here we are, figuring it out.” Like I always do, like I always have without you. I didn’t add that last thought aloud. But it hung there unsaid between us, wounds I never even knew I carried refusing to heal.
I shrugged, not meeting Logan’s gaze as my mood turned sour. “Let’s focus on the positive, shall we? I’ve ridden said dragon, and I’m working on the naming now. We have an agreement.”
“You have ridden her?” The Magician asked, apparently also agreeing it was a female.
“Yep, she set me down so I didn’t puke on her.”
My dad threw his hands up as Doyle lumbered into the clearing, bowing before the great she-beast.
“Okay, so seriously, a name.” I tapped my foot, watching those eerie orchid eyes watching my own.
I smiled. “Emerald.”
Logan jumped to the side, but I held my ground.
The dragon nodded once.
“Nice.” I rubbed my hands together, turning to my father. “Okay, I did it, how is my magic released?”
He stared at me, open-mouthed. “You make the dragon do it, that’s why you have to name her true name—to control her.”
“I don’t want to control her. I just want to unlock my magic and leave.”
The dragon peered over my shoulder at my father. Can’t lie, that was a weird sensation.
“Why don’t I just ask? She understands us.” I turned to Emerald, who was way too close for comfort.
“Hey Emerald, can you unlock my power?”
I swear she fucking grinned before her jaws clamped down on my shoulder.
I screamed, trying to pull back, “I really should have gone with Asshole!” I breathed through the pain. There was no headshaking, no death rattle, and while her sharp teeth hurt, they weren’t going any deeper. For being in a dragon’s mouth, I had to admit, I felt relatively safe.
“Stop moving!” my father demanded. “Logan, leave it, she’s fine.” I couldn’t see much, what with a giant fucking lizard head blocking my view.
Her saliva dripped into the wound like acid. I screamed in earnest, bucking against her. Evidently, my dad had a strange idea of “fine.” As quickly as the pain had started, though, it vanished and I sagged to the ground.
I cracked an eye, looking for safety, looking for Logan. I was so used to him coming to my rescue and wrapping me up in his powerful arms. Doyle was holding him back as my father watched me expectantly.
“I don’t feel anything,” I told him sadly. Maybe I wasn’t as powerful as everyone thought.
Emerald dipped her head down to nudge me.
You are powerful, little one. I have chosen to unlock your power due to your laughter. Never in my many years has a Magician’s child fought with such creativity and humor at death. I will take you at your word and leave now.
I blinked at her dumbly. “You can talk!” I scolded. She smiled, yeah, I was one hundred percent certain that toothy mouth was smiling at me.
Standing, I turned back to my father and Logan as the world spun. I hit my ass hard with a groan, dark spots coating my vision. My father’s face came into a hazy focus as he instructed, “Don’t fight it.”
I slurred a response; what it was, not even I could tell you.
Chapter 10
Logan watched Olivia intently in the rearview mirror.
“She is fine,” her father reassured him yet again.
Logan’s view cut to The Magician’s sea green eyes, mirrors of Olivia’s own.
“You know that for certain?” Logan demanded.
Garrick shifted in the passenger seat. “Red light,” he muttered.
Logan’s glare cut to the Master Vampire as he braked. He glanced at Olie again and back to the street in front of him. His fingers tapped against the steering wheel.
“You should have warned us,” Logan growled.
Her father sighed, “I didn’t know.”
“Oh, that’s not what you should tell him.” Garrick pushed himself against the car door.
Logan growled.
“Hush, I’m fine.”
Logan’s gaze jerked to Olivia as she pushed into a sitting position, rubbing her head. She reached a hand between the seats, pulling his right arm closer so she could awkwardly snuggle. Her forehead against the side of his bicep was heated.
“You’re burning up.”
She groaned, pulling him closer. It was an awkward angle to be sure, but the contact eased him. “I know.”
“What do you need?” he asked softly.
She mumbled, her head drooping. Logan bent his arm, twisting even more to hold her head against his skin.
“Tell me your plan to make this better,” Logan demanded of everyone.
“Nothing. She must walk this journey on her own.” Her father’s voice was soft.
“If this leaves lasting harm, it will become my personal mission to cause you pain. Every. Single. Day.”
Garrick huffed, “You get that from Olivia?”
Logan snarled and Garrick quickly looked away.
…
It wasn’t red, thank the fucking gods, but it wasn’t my world, the real world. I looked around with a sinking feeling. It was Fae.
What. The Fuck. Can I not catch a fucking break, without it being closely followed by more horrid shit?!
I looked down at myself. The black dress was back. I tipped my head back, seeing a perfectly blue sky. I didn’t feel panicked, which couldn’t be right. I should have been downright terrified, peeing all over that gorgeous dress, instead I was calm. Perfectly tranquil, and pissed.
“It’s your power.”
I turned, seeing an ice throne and a pale Queen looking haggardly down upon me.
“I thought Luharposn took you?”
She shook her head. “He took my twin, my half, the flame to my ice. I am dying without her.”
I squared my gaze to her. “I need my magic to fight him.”
She nodded. “That is true, and even then I fear it won’t be enough.”
Now was probably a great time to negotiate for all kinds of shit.
“Why am I here?” Still needed to unlock my power.
“This world is fluid. It creates, moves, and is easy to manipulate.” She drew a ragged breath. “I assume you are here since it’s also the birthplace of all and it will be easier here to destroy the barrier to your magic.”
“Any ideas on that?”
“Imagine it, will it, be it.”
“Cryptic much?”
“Make haste, I fear we do not have much longer. The death of the Queens will put all of us at risk.”
“Why?”
“Without us, we lose the balance of the Fae. They will be like dogs fighting for this world and will no
t hesitate to enslave yours and others for their own gain.”
I couldn’t disagree with anything there. “What is Luharposn’s plan?”
“Kill the Queens, were you not paying attention?” she drawled.
“How does one kill a Fae?”
“There are a few different ways. Poisoning with enough iron, inescapable bindings, but the simplest is to keep us away from our world. We need the energy here for survival. Without it, we perish.”
“How long?”
She shrugged, her bony shoulders causing her dress of icicles to tinkle against her ashen skin. “Time moves differently across our worlds. I know she is weak, and dying. Therefore, I am dying and our kingdoms will crumble.”
“Yeah, can’t say I have a shit to give about that. But you know, the whole enslaving my world, that I have issues with.”
Her icy gaze pierced me. I shrugged, “Keeping it real. Alright, imagine it, will it, be it.” I repeated her words. I closed my eyes, searching inside myself. Memories sprung to life, and I sifted through them until I came to a solid wall. I searched up to no end, sent my energy sideways to the ends, not finding one. I pressed my hands against the rough grey wall in my mind and pushed.
It creaked, a crack forming. I shoved again, feeling my insides mirror the tearing, searing and ripping. I locked my jaw, flexing my hands into fists. Playtime was over, the time for being nervous and uncertain stopped now.
This, what lay behind this wall, was my heritage. My birthright, and even though I fucking suck with change, this would protect my makeshift family.
I slammed my fists against the wall in rapid succession, screaming until it crumbled beneath my onslaught. I fell to my knees, the moment perfectly contained while I drew a slow breath. Before me was a magnificent sight, pinpricks of light, surrounded with pink, merging to red, wine, purple and blues. My next breath was in awe, Mine.
I stood up and walked into my birthright.
…
She came to, screaming in his arms. Light poured out of her eyes, her body vibrating, her voice not her own. He held on through the searing pain and scalding light. Turning his face away as her body convulsed, he held on. She was his heart and soul, nothing would take her from him.