by Dawn Brower
“No.” The voice had an annoying, high-pitched screech laced through it. “You can’t leave.”
Elodie stopped short of reaching the tree to glance up. In one of the branches Lulu rested there. Her silver and white wings had darkened since she’d last seen the crazy bird. A roar echoed through the wind and Kalypso stepped out from the shadows. Of course it couldn’t be as easy as choosing the right tree.
14
Soul Kiss
Elodie kept the necklace firmly in her hand. They had to each place their items in the right tree so they could go home. She’d been following her gut instinct and heading toward a specific one—the fact that the bird and tiger were guarding it made her think she’d been correct. Lulu and Kalypso apparently wanted to ensure that didn’t happen. The tree wasn’t far from Elodie, both the bird and the tiger cut that distance in half. She had to find a way around them both and she couldn’t see an easy way to do that. Daire, Cale, and Donia were behind her, ready to step forward to help and also go through the tree back to Zelnon. She still wasn’t sure how Donia planned on slipping through.
“Why did you do it?” she asked Lulu. “Pretend to help me only to betray me?”
“Because it was demanded of me. I have one job in this world, and I do it well.” Lulu sat proudly on top of Kalypso’s head. “We all have a role to play—even you.”
“Hasn’t mine come to its conclusion?” Elodie lifted a brow. “It’s time for me to go home.”
“Is it?” Lulu nearly cackled those words. “You don’t know anything. I tried to tell you, but you wouldn’t listen. Hardheaded you are?”
If Elodie managed to get her hands on Lulu, she planned on wringing the damn bird’s scrawny neck. She didn’t want to be violent, but sometimes that was the only option a person had left. There were times she overreacted; however, Malediction had taught her one valuable lesson—trust her instincts, and they were telling her to embrace her violent side. She put the necklace in her pocket to keep it safe, then unsheathed her short swords. If Lulu wanted to fight, then she was ready. Her magic was fully recharged, and she had no problem with a little slicing and dicing if needed. The bird had been a friend once, and it made her sad that Lulu had tricked her, but she had to face facts. Lulu was not an ally and the bird would stop them from leaving if she could. Elodie couldn’t let sentimentality prevent her from escaping Malediction.
Daire came to stand beside her. “Is there no other way?”
She shook her head. “Lulu won’t let there be one, so fight we must.” God. She was starting to sound like the damn bird.
Donia flanked her on the other side and reached over to hand Daire some arrows. “I noticed your empty quiver. You’re going to need these.” He grabbed them then put most of them in the quiver. He kept one out and nocked it in preparation. “Cale, you might want to unleash your beast.”
Cale walked over. “No,” he replied to Daire. “I can’t pass through in dragon form. I have to do this the hard way.” He had his long sword in one hand and the ring dagger in the other. His lips formed a thin white line. “Let’s do this.”
When all of it was over, Elodie would have to sit down with both Cale and Donia to ask what had happened while they were separated. There was a story there, and whatever occurred had hardened Cale even more. She barely recognized the knight she’d known. He was no longer the man who’d trained her, but a stranger at her side—a stranger who still chose to fight by her side. Elodie didn’t know how she felt about that.
“There is no need for bloodshed,” Lulu said. “There is a more amicable way to do this.”
Kalypso was eerily quiet. What did the bird have planned, and how did the tiger come in to play? Elodie didn’t believe for one second that anything resembling amicability would happen between them and the two Malediction residents. One of them might end up getting hurt as they battled their way past Lulu and Kalypso. Unfortunately, there had already been an abundance of pain inflicted upon them as they made their way through Malediction. None of them were the same, but at least, they were all in one piece—mostly.
“That isn’t possible,” she explained to Lulu. “You’ve ruined any chance of friendly behavior when you betrayed us to the dragon hunters. What did you plan on using Cale for?”
“The dragon is important to this world.” Lulu fluttered her wings. “It must stay. I’m willing to let you leave if you abandon him.”
Leave Cale in Malediction? Elodie recoiled at the horror of that idea. She would not toss him aside like trash. Cale would always be important to her. She’d realized her love for him wasn’t the romantic sort, but she still cared a great deal for him. He had helped forge her into the woman she’d become. Nothing Lulu offered would entice her to discard someone she loved and owed loyalty to. What kind of queen would she make if she started giving into tyrants? Lulu might be a fluff of a bird, but one thing was clear: her evil soul. How Elodie had failed to see that before she didn’t know. The bird had blackness that almost poured out of her. “No deal.” Elodie kept her blades at the ready. “We are all returning to Zelnon, and you will either step aside or die trying to stop us.”
“Brave words from a slip of a girl,” Lulu taunted her. “Do you really think you’re strong enough to defeat us?”
Elodie lifted a brow. Really? That tiny bird dared to taunt her as if Elodie couldn’t squish Lulu beneath her boot. Sure, Kalypso was a tiger and formidable, but Lulu? Elodie almost laughed at the absurdity of it. “I’ll take my chances.”
“Have it your way then,” Lulu replied. A swirl of magic floated around Kalypso and Lulu. The wind picked up and spun in a cyclone around the two of them. Elodie lifted her arm to block dust from hitting her face, and eyes. Standing straight had become difficult. Daire reached over to steady her so she didn’t hit the ground. Damn bird…
The magic slowly eased until the wind died down. Elodie didn’t know what she expected to happen, but the sight that greeted her never would have occurred to her. Kalypso and Lulu no longer existed as she remembered them. In their place, a creature that blended a little of them both stood before her, and it had grown twice the size that Kalypso had been. The beast was a tiger with large, elongated wings and a beak instead of a nose—it also retained the eyepatch spot over one of its eyes. Silver and white stripes covered its back, but the wings resembled Lulu’s in design.
“What the hell…” Daire muttered under his breath. “Of course she hid that little trick from us. Damn bird…”
Elodie had to agree with that assessment. Lulu constantly surprised them, and this time was no different. They shouldn’t be shocked at the tiger and bird’s ability to merge, yet they all stared at the tiger-bird with stunned expressions on their faces. At least that is what Elodie assumed the others had etched in their features because she couldn’t be more astonished if she tried.
“We don’t have time to become accustomed to this new revelation,” Elodie said firmly. “Prepare to fight.”
“We have your back,” Donia replied as she pulled an arrow out of her quiver. She set it up to aim at the tiger-bird, getting ready to let it fly. “Tell us what you need from us.”
Elodie didn’t know how to proceed. Maybe magic was the answer, but she didn’t know what would work or if it would hold them back from reaching home. No, magic wasn’t the solution they needed. They had to play it smart and defeat Lulu at her own game. She didn’t doubt for one second that Lulu was in charge. Kalypso had been her stooge since they first encountered the tiger, and it had willingly given up Daire because Lulu demanded it. Elodie didn’t have any way to gauge the tiger-bird’s skills, but it had to have taken a lot of magic to merge. It would have to rely on brute strength and stealth to defeat them. Elodie could work with that and they would win. There was no other option she’d accept.
She turned to Donia and asked, “If we can get past her to put our items in the tree, how will you follow us?” Elodie should have asked her that sooner, but it hadn’t been important then. Now she
needed the information, and as quickly as possible.
“I have to go in with Cale,” she said. “We’re connected.”
Yes, they would be. Her blood had healed Cale when he needed it most. That created a bond similar to the one Elodie shared with Daire. She nodded at Donia and said, “You stick with Cale and as soon as you can, have him put his item in and you two go back to Zelnon. Lulu wants him more than us, so he goes first.”
“He’d disagree with you,” Donia said emphatically.
“He does,” Cale confirmed. “You go first. You’re the future queen and far more important than I am.”
“Don’t argue with me. I’m your queen, am I not? You must follow my orders.”
Donia shook her head. “One small thing before we start fighting—you don’t put your item in the tree. Keep it on you and walk straight through. If you lose it, you’ll be trapped inside.”
Elodie frowned. Donia never did say they had to put it in there. She’d assumed that was the case because of the big hole in the tree. At least she had the correct information now.
Lulu stalked around the tree, guarding it. Elodie hadn’t stopped to consider why she hadn’t attacked. She didn’t need to. All Lulu needed was to stop them from reaching their goal. To do that, she could deflect their advances—it was rather cunning to bide her time and wait for them to come to her. Elodie could use a little more of that in her life. She’d been taken for a fool way too long. The way Lulu protected the border around that tree told Elodie all she needed to know about its importance… They had to walk through that tree to go home.
“Cale and Donia,” she said. “You know what to do. Daire, you’re with me.” She sheathed her short swords and searched for his hand with hers. They had a better chance of beating Lulu if they combined their strength. The prince didn’t question her, just clasped her hand in his. She closed her eyes and reached out to him. Their magic swirled together until her soul kissed his. It shined bright and spread energy through them both. The vibrations emitted a potency that ricocheted within boosting their power. With the enhancement filling her, she was finally ready, and with Daire by her side, they were almost undefeatable. Her eyelids fluttered open and she met Daire’s gaze. “Are you ready?”
“More than ever,” he replied. His blue-green eyes sparked. Her lightning ability had supercharged him as well. He let go of her and lifted his bow that had been resting in his other hand. Daire raised it and let the arrow fly. It burst into several arrows infused with magic. All of them heading straight toward Lulu. Several hit her extended wings, flaying them—blood and feathers sprayed through the air. Lulu’s screams echoed on the wind. That had to be painful, but Elodie couldn’t feel sorry for her. Lulu could have avoided all of this if she’d have let them pass. Zelnon was beyond that tree and they would be home at the end of the battle. “Your turn,” Daire said to Elodie.
She pulled a dirk out of her boot. She didn’t want to leave her short swords behind if she could help it. As she moved toward Lulu, Donia and Cale circled around her. Lulu’s focus was on Elodie and Daire, where it needed to be. The knight and the dragon queen reached the tree. Lulu realized they were there and turned to swipe at them. Elodie threw her dirk and it hit the center of Lulu’s paw. More screams resounded as blood poured from the wound. She whipped her head around and glared in Elodie’s direction. Cale and Donia slid through the tree without incident. Now Daire and Elodie had to follow suit. They had to find a way past an enraged tiger.
“You’ll pay for that.” Lulu pulled the dirk from her paw with her teeth, and then roared. She hobbled toward Elodie leaving bloody paw prints in her wake.
Daire turned to her and yelled, “Run!”
They both darted toward the tree, barely getting past Lulu. She swiped at Elodie as she passed by scraping her claws against the side of her leg. Pain nearly screamed from the wound, but she fought through it. Zelnon was just beyond and she wouldn’t let anything stop her. Daire glanced back to check on her. “Go,” she demanded. “I’m right behind you.”
Daire hesitated but then did as she ordered. Her leg ached with each step she took. Lulu was trailing after her, but fortunately her injuries prevented her from overtaking Elodie. The tree was mere inches away and she slid through more than walked as her leg gave out. Lucky for her, Daire was there to catch her on the other side—finally, they’d reached Zelnon—at least she thought it was—she had been fooled before. There was only one way to know for certain—they had to make it to the castle and claim her throne.
15
Deep Dark Secret
They were in the field where she’d first been cursed. The night sky sparkled with stars. The moon seemed to glow even brighter than it had before. It enveloped her in its radiance and seemed familiar. The field they entered had the same patch of flowers that she’d picked from—the excuse she’d given Fiona for being out of the castle without an escort. Nothing seemed to have changed, but it was hard to tell. Had they returned to the same time they’d left? How was the time difference in Malediction compared to Zelnon? For a moment, she wondered if she’d actually left, but the pain stabbing in her leg told her otherwise.
“Easy,” Daire said. “That wound is nasty.”
Lulu’s claws had hit its mark and had left her bleeding and bruised. She might not be able to walk back to the castle. Elodie winced as she examined the abrasion on her leg. Her leather trews were ripped all the way up her thigh and blood oozed from the claw marks.
“We’re going to have to tie something around that to staunch the bleeding.” Donia reached into her bag and pulled out a gauzy scarf. Something rattled and fell to the ground when she did.
“What’s that?” Daire asked.
“This?” Donia held out the scarf. “Use it to tie around her leg.”
“No,” he said with the shake of his head. “That.” He pointed to the ground where a silver baby rattle was nestled in the grass. The handle was decorated with ruby chips swirled around a dragon’s tail. The top was a dragon with its mouth extended open and more tiny ruby chips decorating the inside that almost resembled fire.
Donia flinched as she stared down at it. She leaned down to retrieve it, but Daire beat her to it. He held it up in the moon light and shook it. “It’s a Reilly heirloom.”
Elodie was confused. How could Donia have gotten a hold of something that belonged to Daire’s family? Everything started to spin around her and she didn’t know how long she’d be able to stay awake. She was losing way too much blood, and she feared that if she didn’t stop it soon, she might not make it. They’d made it back to Zelnon for her to die at home—she grew weaker with each passing moment. At least everyone else was safe.
“That’s mine,” Donia said reaching for it. “Give it back.”
“How can this be yours? It belongs to…” He stared at the rattle, and then back at her. Daire had a puzzled expression on his face as he continued to look at her as if he was seeing her for the first time. “It can’t be.”
“Daire,” Cale said, gaining his attention. “I don’t know what is going on here, but we need to get Elodie back to the castle. She’s starting to lose consciousness.”
Daire turned his attention to Elodie and frowned. He put the rattle in his pocket, refusing to give it to Donia, but snatched the white scarf from her hands. He kneeled beside Elodie and wrapped it around her injured thigh. She winced as it put pressure on the wound, but it felt almost good. Maybe it was helping to staunch the blood flow. He stood and stared down at his handy work and nodded as if he approved of what he saw. Cale came over to stand by his side.
“Do you think you can walk?” Cale asked her.
“Maybe,” she replied. Somehow, she didn’t think she’d make it the entire trek back to the castle, but she’d try. Elodie was more interested in the baby rattle Daire refused to give back to Donia. What was it about that rattle that had disturbed him? He claimed it was a family heirloom. Who gave such an elaborate rattle to a baby? She didn’t think some
thing so valuable should be given to an infant. Had it been missing long? The way he had reacted implied something important. She wanted to talk to him about it, but didn’t think he was in a place to discuss it. “Care to help me up?”
Cale reached down and grasped her hand. She hopped up and winced as pain shot through her leg. “Don’t be afraid to lean on one of us. You don’t need to be brave. We’d much rather you reached the castle intact.”
“He’s right,” Daire said. “We can take turns carrying you if we have to.”
“I don’t think it will come to that.” Elodie hobbled over to him. “Let me lean on you a bit as we walk. It should be enough to get back to the castle.”
He nodded. “Whatever you need.”
“We’ll take the lead,” Cale said gesturing toward Donia. “It’ll be safer for Elodie that way.”
The knight was back in his element. She wondered if they retained any of their magic from Malediction or if they were completely back to normal. She reached for Daire and their connection, and it snapped into place. The bond was still fully active—which meant the magic would be too. Malediction had permanently altered them. Cale would have access to his dragon form, and a well, fully-charged Daire could heal. If they hadn’t expended so much energy fighting Lulu, he’d have been able to fix her leg.
The bright side was they were home. Her leg would mend the normal way, and Elodie would wrench her throne from her stepmother’s grasp. Fiona would be so surprised to see them. She couldn’t wait to see the look on her face when Elodie and her entourage walked into the throne room. She probably believed she’d rid Zelnon of its natural heir, leaving the kingdom to rule as she saw fit.