by Mary Auclair
“I love you, Marielle Jansen, to the Night Lands and further.”
“I love you too, Fedryc Haal.”
They stayed together like that, breathing each other’s presence like it could shield them from the horrors of the world around them. Like they could erase the pain and fear just by holding on to each other.
Then a curt knock at the door had Fedryc sighing with resignation.
“Do you have to go?” She knew he did but she couldn’t help it. “Stay, just a little longer.”
“I would stay if I could.” He pulled away and kissed her lightly on the nose. “Henron’s scouts were due back from patrol this morning, but they never returned.”
Marielle swallowed, then nodded.
He pulled himself out of bed and stood there, fully naked. His broad back was beautiful and muscular, and his buttocks were round and firm.
“I can feel you staring at my ass.” Fedryc chuckled as he grabbed a clean shirt from the wardrobe.
“I only wish you’d come back to bed with me.” Marielle forced the joking tone into her voice.
“Be careful what you wish for.” He turned his head sideways and sent her a wicked grin as he pulled on his shirt and riding pants. “I might come back and never let you get up again.”
She chuckled, but the images from last night came back, making her slightly aroused. “Who says I want to walk out of here?” She smiled when he looked at her, his shirt still unbuttoned, his eyes dark and heavy.
“Don’t tempt me.” His lips curved dangerously and his eyes trailed down her naked body. “I don’t know what happened to those scouts, but after all that’s happened, it can’t be good. It’s a mission only Nyra and I can undertake.”
Marielle’s smile faded. She knew the border between the two kingdoms was vast and hard to defend, a landscape of dry rocks and canyons where Fedryc and Nyra would have a hard time seeing an attack coming.
“Be careful. Lord Anion wants to kill you.”
“He’s nothing but a pompous, spoiled boy.” Fedryc shook his head, desire gone from his features and anger showing instead. “Nyra can take him and his dragon in her sleep.”
“He could still be dangerous.”
“Nyra and I are more dangerous than anything you can imagine.” He flashed that wicked grin again, those silver eyes full of passion and need.
Marielle watched Fedryc finish getting dressed with a sinking feeling in her guts. He came and kissed her again before leaving but it was a distracted kiss, his mind already far gone, already focused on the troubles of the kingdom.
She stayed there for a long time after he was gone. Fear twisted inside her at the idea of Fedryc and Nyra in danger. It was strange, after only caring about one thing for so long.
Feeding Devan, keeping a roof over Devan’s head, protecting Devan from the gangs of wild kids running the streets.
Her care for her brother had taken over her entire life. But now, she truly cared about another person than him. A person who cared back. A person who wanted to protect and care for her as much as she did him.
Marielle pulled the covers close to her chin, because she knew. She knew her love and happiness were as fragile as a butterfly’s wing.
Fedryc looked down at the breathtaking view of the desert but didn’t see the beauty of it. Instead, frustration built up inside him, coming straight from Nyra as they flew along the border toward the location provided by Henron.
Then Nyra screeched as smoke rose in the desert sky, far away in the distance.
“Careful now, Nyra,” Fedryc cautioned her as the dragoness flew even faster toward the smoke. She landed a good fifty feet away from a sight that sent chills down his spine.
There on the desert sand was the hover transport used by his scouts, a faster, light engine without a roof that gave his men an edge to patrol and secure his vast territory. Its metal was torn and charred, smoke rising from the ruined engine.
And next to it were the six bodies of his men—or what was left of them. Blackened bones and ashes littered the sand around the hover transport, attesting to their violent deaths.
“You know what this means.” Fedryc turned to Nyra to see the dragoness staring at the bodies. Her reptilian mind didn’t process life’s value as Fedryc did but she recognized the danger all the same. “There is a dragon in our lands and it killed our people.”
Nyra looked up to the sky, then around before staring back at Fedryc. The message was clear. She wanted to hunt.
“We don’t have time for that.” Fedryc walked back to her, then climbed into the saddle. She answered with a wave of foul temper and he sat up, shaking his head. He wasn’t sure what was going on with Nyra, but his bond’s wild temper was taking a turn for the worse each day. “Let’s go back to the castle. I’ve already left Marielle for too long. This could be just another distraction to get at her.”
Nyra turned her head slightly toward him, her pupils shrinking and dilating convulsively. She took to the sky in a flash of red scales and anger, following his instructions reluctantly. The dragoness had obeyed him but there was something else there, something Fedryc was missing. Something that made Nyra grow wilder and wilder as the days passed.
And that could easily mean life or death for both of them. Their bond, the link that had shaped their entire lives, that had been at the source of their lives, was now being threatened by something he didn’t understand.
Then Nyra’s entire demeanor changed and her head turned up to the sky. Her pupils shrank until they became almost nonexistent and a piercing screech left her mouth.
Another screech answered Nyra’s and Fedryc’s head snapped up as a monstrous brown form overshadowed Nyra’s already large frame. Fedryc stared as the large beast looked down at Nyra.
No recognition shone in the brown beast’s black eyes as he stared at Fedryc atop the dragoness’ neck. No soul behind the savage façade.
Then the beast dropped into a free-fall, howling, aiming straight for Nyra and him.
There was no time for spoken words. Fedryc bent over Nyra’s neck, gripping the pommel with both hands, his skin in contact with the red scales. Nyra’s thoughts were muddled and a new kind of secrecy shielded a part of her mind from Fedryc as she maneuvered easily away from the large, aggressive male with her smaller, more agile frame. Fedryc blinked, confused as hurt replaced the surprise inside him. Nyra’s thoughts, usually crystal clear and open, were shadowed by a desire to keep something from him.
This wasn’t good. This was life-changing and he wasn’t sure either of them would live to see it through, not with the brown dragon flying in hot pursuit behind them.
What is with you?
The direct thought reached Nyra but she stayed silent. Her wings inflated as she opened them wide abruptly, soaring high above the male. As they went from prey to predator, Fedryc got a good look at the dragon, then his mind rebelled against the information.
No rider? This can’t be.
This was a feral dragon. But there were no ferals on Earth. A feral was a creature that supposedly existed only in the most remote parts of Dagmar. Yet there it was, bestial and dangerous.
A large male who had apparently claimed his territory in the remote desert on the border of Fedryc’s kingdom with Anion’s. A danger for which neither he nor Nyra were prepared.
Then Nyra blew his mind again. She barreled over on herself, all the while sending a rolling, lulling call to the male below. Fedryc opened his mouth in astonishment, suddenly understanding her entire transformation.
Fedryc admonished himself, cursing under his breath as the brown dragon answered Nyra’s call with a seductive purring that echoed off the canyon walls. Nyra reacted with a purr of her own, alluringly opening her wings wide to show off the bright orange colors underneath.
Nyra was in heat. How could he not have noticed? It was only normal, since he’d found his Draekarra, that Nyra’s body would react this way. Her body also longed for her true mate—and this large, feral brown drago
n was responding to her scent.
“Nyra!” Fedryc spoke loudly, his hand flat on the dragoness’ scales, screaming down the link at the same time. “Snap out of it! This male is not for you!”
His words didn’t seem to even scratch the surface of Nyra’s mind as the dragoness flew down, making a beeline for the brown male in a lightning sharp challenge. The brown male evaded Nyra’s attack and the dragoness roared into the empty air. Fedryc could feel the arousal coming off Nyra in waves of female satisfaction as she came to the conclusion that the brown male was worthy of her.
This was too much. He had to take Nyra’s mind away from the feral dragon. Without thinking further, Fedryc yanked on one of Nyra’s bright red scales.
Sharp pain was shared through the link and he was rewarded with her full attention.
“We have to leave, now.” Fedryc spoke through the link as well as aloud. “This male is dangerous. We have to lose him and get back home.”
Nyra rebelled under him, refusing to accept his words. Far away to the right, the brown dragon sensed his female had taken her attention away from him. He roared, taking a swift turn toward Nyra, his fury instinctively directed at her rider.
A flow of bright white flames came out of the monster’s gaping mouth, directed at Fedryc. Deadly.
Nyra swerved down, dodging the attack easily thanks to her years of training, then she sent a reluctant agreement down the link.
Time lost all meaning as they flew, the brown dragon hot on their tail. They dove into narrow canyons then straight up at the sky only to dive sharply to the side. And again, and again, until Nyra’s thoughts were a blank and neither of them knew where they were or where they were going.
The only thing Fedryc knew for certain was that they were escaping certain death. The feral dragon, in his ignorance, wanted to kill his perceived rival in the attention of his female. That rival was him. The feral had no idea that if he destroyed the rider, he would also kill the female.
And Fedryc wasn’t staying behind to explain it to him.
Time melted away as Nyra and Fedryc flew, their minds melded to each other as they became one. Finally, after a long while, the brown dragon abandoned his pursuit, and his chosen female. The feral turned, letting out one last roar filled with wrath as Nyra and Fedryc disappeared into the sky.
It didn’t take long for Fedryc to get his bearings back and direct Nyra toward the castle—and toward Marielle.
As they flew together, resentment and longing came off Nyra in waves, growing stronger and stronger. The dragoness wanted to go back to the brown dragon.
Finally, as the sun was going down, Aalstad castle appeared on the façade of the cliff far away. A half-hour later, Nyra landed on the platform, her large form casting deep shadows over the rocks in the early evening. Fedryc jumped down from her and she took to the skies without waiting.
He watched her disappear, a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach.
Their search hadn’t just been useless. It had been destructive. He almost lost his Bound to a feral dragon, a beast without sentience but with the power to match his dragoness.
It was only the force of a lifetime of training that had made Nyra fly away from the male after he had shown his interest in her.
Now, she was flying back, victim to her own biological imperatives, and he knew she would seek the male out. Fedryc could only hope she would come back in time.
“Why the long face?” Henron approached, staring up at the sky as Nyra disappeared into the distance. “And what is that about?”
“Nyra met a feral dragon on our flight.” Fedryc didn’t react as Henron’s face slackened almost comically. “She almost dropped me to go away with him.”
“A feral, on Earth!” Henron shook his head. “How is that possible?”
“I wouldn’t know.” Fedryc walked past his friend, not bothering to hide his annoyance. “But it was there. Big, brown, moody and without a rider. A feral, for sure.”
Henron scoffed with surprise, but easily kept pace with Fedryc. “That only partially explains why you’re in this mood.” He frowned.
“I found your scouts,” Fedryc growled at his friend. “They’re dead. That feral burned them to a crisp.”
Henron stopped, and after another step, Fedryc did the same. He turned to his Captain of the Guard to see him staring back with a skeptical, confused look on his face.
“You found nothing else?”
“What else should I have found?” Fedryc paused, not bothering to hide his annoyance. He wanted to reach Marielle, and every second she was away from him was another one of torture. “As if we need the threat of a feral dragon on our territory.”
“I heard reports of civilians, mostly humans, fleeing Virhot and passing through the desert.”
This wasn’t good. Not good at all. The feral dragon wouldn’t differentiate between a group of unarmed civilians and soldiers. He would kill them all on sight for trespassing on his territory.
“Humans are fleeing Anion for Aalstad? This is new information to me.”
“That is why I sent the scouts.” Henron shrugged. “There are more reports of refugees trying to flee Virhot.”
“You have to send more scouts, then.” Just like that, his anger fell flat. Henron was like him, trying to swim in a nest of vipers without getting bitten. It was impossible and, sooner rather than later, they would have to fight.
The feral dragon was yet another problem he would have to deal with.
“There has been no word from Lord Anion since he killed all those people at the border.” Fedryc shook his head, looking at the empty patch of sky where Nyra had disappeared. “He’s preparing something.”
“I did some research on him.” Henron lifted his brows. “His family has always made Draekon matches. Only Draekon matches, never even a Delradon one. He rejected a human woman who was compatible with him a few years ago. Didn’t even meet with her.”
Fedryc grew still.
Yes, this made perfect sense.
“He wants Aalstad.” Fedryc grew stiff with a murderous rage.
“And Marielle is all that stands in his way.”
Chapter 20
Marielle stood over Rela as the girl drifted back into her artificial slumber. The bruises on her face had taken a nasty turn—dark blue, almost purplish, yellowing at the edges like a spilled beverage. Her shoulder, where the mark had been burned into her flesh, was healing nicely, but Rela would never be free of the hateful symbol that marked her very existence as impure, blasphemous even.
A cold hatred coiled in Marielle’s stomach as she pulled the edge of Rela’s medical gown back up over her ruined shoulder.
“You should let me take care of the girl, Lady Marielle.” Dr. Ylco came to stand beside her. “You must be tired by now.”
“I’m doing fine,” Marielle answered coldly. “I’m the only person Rela has who’s close to family now.”
She insisted on the name. The Delradon doctor still had to call Rela by her name instead using the term girl, or patient. It tugged on Marielle’s nerves each time, and this was one time too many.
“Of course,” Dr. Ylco answered, his usually soothing voice just a bit sharper. “But I’m afraid Rela will sleep for many hours.”
Marielle grunted, turning her back to the doctor. She knew she shouldn’t take her frustration out on him, that he had been nothing but helpful since Rela came into his care. He’d saved Rela’s life, working tirelessly on her for a day and a half, without sleeping or eating. Marielle shook her head and glanced to the side as Dr. Ylco walked away, his back straight and his head held stiffly high.
The door to the medical room opened to reveal a familiar, tall, well-built form.
“Fedryc!” Marielle got to her feet and ran, landing straight in Fedryc’s arms. “I was so worried! When did you come back?”
“I just landed.” He smiled at her but it didn’t reach his eyes.
“What is it?” Marielle frowned, and when he looked awa
y, she pulled out of his embrace. “No!”
Fedryc looked back at her, surprise on his features.
“You can’t do that.” She shook her head. “You always say you will protect me, take care of me. But that isn’t what love is about. It’s a partnership. You need to tell me what happens to you. Maybe I can help, maybe I can’t, but I sure can listen.”
Fedryc stared at her for a long time, then his features softened and the corner of his mouth lifted. “How lost would I be without you?” When his arms closed around her waist, she didn’t resist the pull of his body. Two beautiful silver eyes looked down at her, full of feelings she hadn’t seen in them before.
Only not for her.
“Tell me.” It wasn’t an order, more like a suggestion, and she kept her voice low and soft.
“Nyra is gone.” Fedryc let the words out like he had been punched in the stomach. “She’s in heat and a male found her.”
Marielle blinked and, from behind them, she heard the sound of metal objects clattering to the floor. Dr. Ylco had heard, too, and it came as a shock to him as well.
Fedryc glanced over her head to the doctor with an annoyed scowl, then back at her. Sadness and something else was painted on his handsome features. Something a lot like jealousy.
“So Nyra found a lover?” This was a lot of information, and Marielle wasn’t sure what she should say or do. “She’s out with him now? But she’s coming back soon, right?”
“I think she will.” Fedryc shook his head. “I’m not sure he will allow her to leave. The dragon was a feral.”
Marielle blinked and her mouth became dry. “A feral?” She shook her head. “A wild dragon, you mean? How is that possible? I thought for a dragon to be born, a Draekon had to be born—linked to it as well.”
Fedryc lifted his brows and nodded. He looked just as confused as she was.
“That is what everyone thinks. Rumors of feral dragons have always abounded in the remote regions of Dagmar; tales of dragons who refused the gift of sentience and kept to the wild, away from our world.” He passed a hand through his thick black hair, his eyes vague and unfocused. “I always took the stories for exactly that. Stories. But I know what I saw. That beast was larger than Nyra, more powerful, and when he stared at me, he didn’t know who I was. What I was. He didn’t understand the bond. I don’t know how, but a dragon was born on Earth without a Draekon, and it took to the wild.”