"For now, a few emotions, memories and the goodness that lies deep in your heart, but you will get it all back once you’re honest with him and yourself," he replies and I start stretching my fingers, knowing that I can't keep withholding the truth any longer. Jorgen deserves to know what happened.
"Let's make a deal," I say and extend my hand and he shakes it.
"The venom is going to work, but you have to go back to Rivenna. Make sure you tell him the truth before.”
Chapter Twenty-One
The Return.
"He wants your passion? What kind of game is he playing with us, Astri?" Jorgen asks several minutes later, sounding angry while shaking his head like he can't believe that I've already agreed to the druid's terms.
I had to explain to him earlier on that he would need to drink the venom in the Decaying Mountains, near the wild shifters where Bratlav performed the cutting of the mage ritual in order to reverse the effects of the spell. He’s disappointed, but trying not to show it.
Zain left me earlier and went to see what’s going on with the female dragon, so me and Jorgen could discuss everything. We both thought that Jorgen would get his magic back as soon as he drank the venom, but nothing is ever that simple.
"It's not a game, Jorgen. It's a deal and this won't affect me in any way," I lie, feeling like a coward that I have to keep lying to him, but soon everything will be out in the open and Jorgen will understand that I did it in order to protect him.
"So, that's why he wanted to talk to you alone?"
"Yes, because it’s some sort of bonding agreement between me and his dragons. He will give us the venom as soon as we make a deal," I explain. Right now we can't afford for anything to go wrong, and yet Jorgen still has to travel back to Rivenna in order to become a mage again. Hans knows that Jorgen’s with me, but he has no idea that his only son has chosen me as his mate. This might come as a shock to many people, not only Hans.
I'm concerned about Emilia. I tried to get in touch with her earlier on, but she didn’t respond again.
"I don't know Astri, I'm worried that this may come back on you later on," he says.
"It's my decision or we won't get the venom and Jetli’s going to die without it. Trust me. Nothing bad is going to happen to me," I say, as we head over to the cottage to collect our things.
I feel so refreshed and the temperature in my body isn't jumping up and down anymore. Life is good right now. I have a mate and I never have to worry about that damn heat season ever again. Thankfully, it only took one long night to flush it out of my system–and for the most part, I don't remember any of it.
"Astri, have I told you that you’re amazing? You’re willing sacrifice part of yourself for me and I can't thank you enough. Cassandra would’ve never done anything like that for me," he says, and his words are only making me feel even worse about myself. It's true Cassandra was selfish, but she would’ve tried to help him when Bratlav was taking away his magic.
In the cottage, we pack everything back up, and get some food supplies. Jorgen’s silent and I know that he’s still angry about my agreement with Zain, but soon he’ll be a mage again, and that won't matter anymore. We say our goodbyes to the dragons and I rush to the cave, hoping to see Kami one last time. He allows me touch him again, and when I start walking away, he growls lifting his head, saying a silent goodbye.
The druid’s waiting for us out in the main house; it's time for us to complete our deal and head back to Rivenna.
"The venom is ready. You need to make a blood oath, so I can take away your Wyvern's passion, then our deal will be complete," he tells me, pointing at the table, where I spot two small flasks filled with thick, black liquid. It's the venom. I smell its essence even from where I'm standing. Some shifters would be willing to kill someone in order to get their hands on it. Zain asks me to place my hand on his thick, black book and then think about our deal. I don't question this process or his belief, still aware that Jorgen’s growing more anxious.
"Are you sure that she’ll be all right?" the duke finally asks, but he shouldn't interfere. I'm doing everything that I can in order to fix my terrible mistake.
"Jorgen."
"If she follows through with my advice, it won't affect her in any way. At the end of the day, we both get what we want," the druid states, and then asks me to give him part of my passion and to repeat a sentence three times.
I sense the energy sliding through me, heating my blood and causing my heart to pound faster. I shut my eyes and wait several moments until the slight discomfort passes, then I have two flasks of dragon venom in my hands. I feel the same, so Zain is right. I might not feel anything until I’m around people that I care about in Rivenna.
"No one else will ever will be able to get their hands on the venom, not unless I come to the end of my life. You saved Kami and now I'm rewarding you, Astri. I hope that the two of you can save your Pixie and that you, Jorgen are able to get your magic and dragon back," he says.
"Thank you again, we’ll never forget you," I say and then Jorgen shakes his hand and several minutes later we walk towards the mountains, leaving the druid behind. The dragons are watching us, a few releasing fire and snarling loudly. Zain’s secret is going to stay with me forever, and I'm sad knowing that once he’s gone, no one will be around to take care of his dragons. The sun’s shining as we walk through the snow until we’re a good distance away from the valley.
The journey back will be exhausting, but this time around we both know what to expect.
Now and again, Jorgen gives me signs that we should have another moment alone together. He doesn't realise that nothing’s changed and that my feelings for him are still raving, but we can't delay our return.
He steals a passionate kiss from me right before I shift, and that helps to calm me down a little. I no longer have to worry about a hormonal imbalance in my body, so it's easier to transform into a dragon.
My body starts expanding; muscles and joints beginning to stretch. This time I shift quickly, and in the matter of minutes I turn into a red dragon, not experiencing any pain or discomfort. The weather changes, and a light snow starts falling from the sky. My instincts register real dragons nearby, then Jorgen approaches, and moments later he climbs over my back.
I rise into the sky, already knowing that I should head back towards the south, leaving behind the Suranu Mountains. My dragon skin is thick, so the cold temperature doesn't bother me, but Jorgen still needs to wear his furry coat in order not to freeze to death. He nearly paid with his own life trying to get to the druid.
I rise higher, drifting in the air above the clouds, leaving the valley and part of my soul behind.
I keep flying high, keeping an eye on the ground, remembering the humans and their weapons that nearly knocked me out of the sky, killing Calvin. This time around we aren't disturbed and the journey’s going smoothly. For the next several hours we keep flying through the Asian World, passing villages that are still under the jurisdiction of General Ming–the shifter pretending to be a human.
Then the sun goes down and I become tired. I ignore it for as long as I can until I’m nearly exhausted.
We stop just over the border of the Eastern World, after I make sure that it’s safe for both of us to touch down. It's dawn when I shift back into my human form. Jorgen must be stiff, and he looks tired too. My exhaustion isn't as severe, but I'm all right to walk on my own.
"We’re going to sleep by that rock for a few hours. I don't think we’re far from home now," Jorgen says, stretching his muscular arms. I slowly start to realise that soon enough things are going to change.
He wants to tell the world that we’ve mated, but I don't know if it’s such a good idea. I still feel nervous about everyone in the castle knowing that I'm no longer just his assistant.
"All right, I don't sense any humans or shifters nearby, so we shouldn't be disturbed," I say, agreeing with him.
We walk for a bit, carrying our belongings until we reach
the rocky hill. We find a low spot that shelters us from harsh wind and Jorgen makes a fire. The temperature spikes and it's no longer bitterly cold. Jorgen takes off his fury jacket, creating a comfortable bed for the both of us.
We make a small camp and then go to sleep embraced in each other’s arms. We’re both too tired to even consider trying to be romantic. There will be plenty of time to catch up later on, once he’s mage again.
I drift away and then jump straight into one of my visions.
I'm back in the dark chamber again, and I hear a loud laugh, then hear my name being called a few times. Small ripples of fear are creeping into my stomach, and my heart keeps pounding away.
My fire magic rises, reaching out to my beast. This is my chance to use it, but what if I get hurt again? Maybe I should wait.
"I knew you would come to save him," says the voice that I recognise and instantly reach for my sword.
Ruscal leaves the shadows, and begins approaching me slowly from the other side of the chamber. He looks so much like Jorgen, and it's almost painful to face him now. The eyes, and all of his features are exactly the same, apart from that vicious smile. He’s my enemy and he needs to die a long and painful death.
Heated anger starts rising in my veins.
"Let him out first and then you can have me, this is our deal, you scum!" I shout, imaging how I can slice him up, scar him or use my fire magic to make him suffer. Ruscal licks his upper lips, and then laughs.
"He has already been let go, scar face, but he won't survive long alone. He is special, that one, like you, but sooner or later, I will kill him too. He doesn't deserve to be spared," Ruscal states and then before I know it, darkness starts shading me.
I feel pain on my side …
Then I was up disorientated and lost, breathing hard.
"Astri? Astri? What's wrong?"
I keep breathing hard, staring at Jorgen with my eyes wide open. A bead of sweat rolls over my back, and my chest heaves with panic. I haven't experienced my visions for a very long time. Not since that night when I woke up in my aunt and uncle’s basement.
My thoughts are racing when I try to remember every small detail. I was in the dark chamber again and then Ruscal showed up. I made some sort of deal with him. He must have captured someone, but who? Was it Jorgen or Edvard? I have no idea, everything happened so quickly. I wipe the sweat off my forehead, taking long deep breaths. My visions always reflect reality, but this is impossible. I would never make a deal with that murderer.
"Nothing, I'm fine, it was just a bad dream," I lie again to Jorgen. We aren't far from home and I need to speak to Emilia about this as soon as possible. She would know what my vision might mean. This can't be right, and Ruscal must still be with Ming.
"Are you sure?" he asks with concern.
"Yes, it was a nightmare. We should head back, are you all right?"
"You shouldn't be concerned about me, it's you that has to shift into a dragon again," he tells me. I smile, trying to understand why I would go and see Ruscal on my own. Where was Jorgen then?
Once I start packing, I keep thinking how uncertain our future really is, going over this vision in my head. I don't know if I should be worried. I would never make a deal with Ruscal, but my vision is hardly making sense. Emilia injured him with her magic, but maybe he found a way to heal himself.
"I can't wait to get back to Rivenna. I'm already planning a celebration, and people are going to love it," Jorgen states, sounding excited and I keep my mouth shut, feeling like I'm letting him down by withholding the truth about everything that’s been going on in the city lately. He will hate me for it, but he can't lose his focus, not until he’s a mage again. I have to keep him on track and protect him until then.
When I shift back into a Wyvern dragon my transformation is much more painful and it takes longer than expected. I’ve rested, but my magic hasn't accumulated just yet. I rise up into the sky with Jorgen on my back in the blazing hot sun, and start heading towards the east.
Something keeps niggling at me and I can't put my finger on what it is. The vision is concerning, especially knowing it's been a while since I experienced one so vivid. Soon we start passing several other neighbouring cities in the Eastern World. Several more hours later, we finally start seeing the familiar landscape and warm fuzzy feelings begin rushing through my veins.
I circle around the Decaying Mountains for a little while, trying to sense the wild shifters, but they must have moved further inland. I touch down in the field, right on the edge of Black Forest when the sun is slowly beginning to set, and the clouds are filling the crimson and orange sky.
I shift back into my human form and then lay on the grass for several minutes until the world around me starts spinning. My whole body’s tingling and I sense shifters nearby, but we still have time to hide. Jorgen keeps giving me water, but for a long while I’ll be drained, because I don't have any more energy boosting potions. I gave my last one to Jorgen.
It takes me another long hour to be able to walk on my own. The shifter in the forest keeps moving closer, and I can't tell if we should concern ourselves with his or her presence.
"Someone is coming, Astri," Jorgen says all of a sudden, and I follow his gaze. In the distance between the trees we see two people emerging. One of them is a shifter, but not the other and it's a woman. My heartbeat spikes, and excitement starts flowing through my body when I finally recognise their source of energy.
"Edvard and Aria. They must have been waiting for us," I say, and sit down on the ground to rest.
"Thank Hommis, because I really thought that we were in trouble," Jorgen says. Moments later, Aria launches herself at me and hugs me tightly. They both look good, and Edvard seems happy to see me.
"It took you guys long enough to return," my uncle says, giving me a short awkward hug too.
"It's a long story but we managed to get to the valley and most importantly we have the venom," I say, and Edvard looks shocked and proud at the same time.
"You should’ve gone to Rivenna. My father would’ve welcomed you in the castle. He’s been fighting against injustice for the Wyvern's line his entire life," Jorgen says, but then Edvard looks at me and I instantly know that something’s wrong.
"We would have, but Rivenna has been invaded by wild shifters and other foreign troops. They’re all led by your brother, Ruscal. He has claimed his right to the land."
Chapter Twenty-Two
Jetli and Lenin.
"Impossible, Ruscal wouldn't dare come back to the city. My father banished him from this land," Jorgen shouts, clenching his fists in anger. Veins bulge along his throat and then his eyes darken like ink’s being injected into his bloodstream.
Emilia was right, things have progressed fast in the city and now Ruscal took control of the castle. He must have made some sort of deal with the leader of the wild shifters after he found out that Jorgen had left Rivenna. I should’ve known that he was planning to come back.
Aria places her hand on my shoulder, and her warmth starts dancing over my skin. I truly hope that Lenin managed to hide his sister before things started to go wrong. For Hommis, I hope they’re both okay.
"My magical portal took us to the Western World, but at least we were safe. We had to travel mostly in the night, avoiding shifters and humans. Once we reached the city, it was obvious that something was wrong."
"Ruscal invaded the castle and imprisoned his own father with the help of General Ming and the leader of the wild shifters. We saw his warriors in the city, they’re working alongside each other, locking up anyone who tries to rebel against their order. People are scared, and they all think that you abandoned them," Aria explains, looking at Jorgen. Fury envelops his features.
"We need to use the venom, Astri, I need to get back to the mountains and become a mage again," he says. "So I can kill my brother, he’s been getting away with his crimes for far too long now!"
There’s no point in hiding the truth from Edvard and Aria.
They must suspect that there was another reason that forced me to find the druid in the first place.
"Jorgen you can't rush anything. The Decaying Mountains is riddled with wild shifters and we’ll be walking straight into their trap," I say. "Ruscal must have forced Ming to cross the border and head through the Eastern World, straight to Rivenna. We have no idea if the other cities have been sieged too."
Edvard keeps staring at Jorgen with his bright blue eyes. I don't have time to explain what happened to the duke. Time isn't on our side, and we have to come up with a plan.
"Astri is right, but you're no one without your beast and you’ll be walking straight into a trap. The wild shifters are claiming Rivenna back as their city now," Edvard says.
I suspect that he still doesn't trust Jorgen, but right now we don't have a lot of options. We all have to work together to bring that bastard down. Jorgen still has many allies around the entire Eastern World.
"Just give us two seconds," I tell Edvard and pull the duke to the side. He’s angry, but we’re all in the same boat. I try to convince him that he should leave with Edvard in order to reverse the ritual. I trust that my uncle can protect him when he’s the most vulnerable. And in order for him to defeat Ruscal, Jorgen needs to be a mage.
"I have to find Jetli and no one in the city knows Aria. I know this isn't what you wanted to hear, but my Pixies need me right now," I say, touching Jorgen's face. He’s staring at me and I see fear in his eyes.
He’s torn between helping me and getting his magic back. It's a difficult decision, but Jetli's life is hanging on me. I still have no idea if her condition has worsened. Edvard reluctantly agrees to accompany Jogren towards the mountains. It's a risk, but we need to be a few steps ahead of Ruscal. Jorgen can fight him once he gets his magic back, and his people will follow him once we spread the rumours in the city that he’s returned stronger. I keep thinking about my vision, Ruscal’s looking for me. He knows that Jorgen’s with me and that we’ll show up in the city sooner rather than later.
Wyvern's Passion Page 16