Spirit (Legend of the Dragons Book 1)

by Denelle Elison

  Briahnna looked up at the sound of a cane coming from around the corner and panicked. Desmond. She couldn’t get his eyes out of her head. The intense look he gave her when she was belaying his sister. This look was not a look of distain like the ones she had gotten so used to. This was…she didn’t know what it was. But it made her heart pound and her stomach quiver. That was something she wanted to stop thinking about.

  Seeing the supply door slightly open to her left, she quickly stepped in, careful not to close it tight because the lock was on the outside.

  . . .

  Walking down the corridor, Desmond stopped instantly upon hearing voices near his study.

  “Excuse me, Rowan,” Enielle crooned. “Have you seen Prince Desmond?”

  “He was just here, My Lady,” Rowan answered. “I believe he was headed in the direction of the kitchens.”

  Desmond would have chuckled at how deep Rowan’s voice suddenly turned had it been anyone but Enielle. He looked ahead and cursed his cane. There was no way he would be able to make it to the next fork in the corridor to lose her. Looking around he saw a door slightly ajar to his right and stepped in to see panicked bright green eyes staring at him. She was about to say something so he clamped his hand over her mouth and quietly shut the door behind him, diminishing any light.

  “No!” she said reaching for the door behind him.

  Desmond heard her muffled plea under his hand and whispered, “Shhh. I’ll release you, but you have to be quiet.” He felt her nod and dropped his hand.

  “What are you doing in here?” Briahnna asked in a frustrated whisper.

  Desmond closed his eyes and released his breath. “It’s clear that we’re both avoiding someone and though you may have failed, I will not.”

  “I wasn’t–”

  Desmond put his hand on her mouth again, although it probably wasn’t necessary because she was still whispering…nonetheless. “No sense in lying, Princess.” He could actually feel her eye-roll and chuckled. “But you must understand my urgency. Can’t you hear her persistent footsteps? Can’t you hear her loud, annoyed thoughts?” he asked. “She’s going to roam up and down these corridors, bugging every sentry and sentinel in sight until she gets what she wants.”

  Briahnna took Desmond’s hand from her mouth. “You are as ridiculous as your sister.”

  He let out an amused grunt and leaned away from her, his back against the door. “If she is trying to avoid Enielle, I am as cunning and smart as my sister.”

  Briahnna shook her head. “This woman has everyone shaking in their boots.”

  “And she would be proud to hear it,” Desmond said, sliding to the floor. “She is a hunter and a savage one at that. If she would only shift that ability to something worthwhile, I would welcome her with open arms into my army.”

  Briahnna snorted and slid to the floor opposite him.

  “Ah,” he said, smiling. “You’ve decided to get comfortable.”

  “I might as well,” she said, leaning her head against the wall. “You locked us in here. And since I no longer hear Enielle’s persistent footsteps, I’m pretty certain we have no one near enough to hear us yell out for help.”

  “I didn’t lock us in.”

  “You did,” Briahnna said. “It locks from the outside. It’s a supply closet.”

  Desmond chuckled. “Oops.” He studied her for a bit. She looked tense.

  Briahnna concentrated on her breathing. She did not like being enclosed in small spaces, especially with so little light. Bouncing her foot on the floor, she rolled her head around trying to relax her neck muscles. Itchy, that’s how she felt. Her magic was barely contained under her skin. She hadn’t really used it in so long. She ached to release it for some time now.

  Desmond placed a hand on her knee. “Your making me agitated.”

  Briahnna exhaled a large breath and closed her eyes. “Heaven forbid,” she said sarcastically. “I hate small spaces. I feel like I can’t breathe.”

  “All right,” he said. “You need a distraction.”

  Briahnna was breathing fast and shaking both legs now. Desmond placed his palms on her face and she froze. “Breathe, Ahnna,” he said, smiling slightly at her. “Take a deep breath in.” Briahnna did as she was told. “Good. Now exhale.” Briahnna exhaled and her magic soared through her toward him. She grasped his forearms and slid her hands to his face. This time Desmond froze and his eyes widened.

  Briahnna could feel her magic searching him. She had held everything in for so long. She wanted to heal him. She wanted to take away the aches that her magic was sensing; his pain from months of rehabilitation. She wanted to heal the bones that never really set right in his leg; the ligaments that stretched and pulled at odd angles. It was at the tips of her fingers ready to take his fractured body and make it whole again. Why not? She had been hiding who she was for too long. She knew now that if she told Desmond where she came from that he would return her. He would set things straight. But he would be angry with her for keeping it from him. He despised Jerrick so much for the powerful magic he had. Jerrick was dangerous and needed to be dealt with. She was dangerous.

  Briahnna gasped. Desmond was leaning closer and closer and she was about to let him kiss her. She dropped her hands and backed away from him as far as she could, quenching her magic as she did so.

  Desmond was frozen in shock. He slowly scooted back against the door and leaned his head on it. Briahnna watched him exhale and run a hand down his face. He didn’t know what had just passed between them. But he was fairly certain that whatever it was, she had rejected it.

  “Umm…” She began.

  Desmond held his hand up. “You don’t need to say anything.”

  “I actually wondered what your plan was for a distraction before I begin to panic again,” Briahnna said in a small voice.

  Desmond looked at her skeptically and exhaled through his teeth. He was pretty sure that he could have provided her with a very good distraction had she not pulled away. “Okay. A game.”

  Briahnna’s eyebrows rose. “I’m pretty certain we don’t have room to move for a game.”

  He laughed. “You don’t have to move for all games, you know. This is a game of questions.”

  Briahnna groaned.

  “Easy questions!” Desmond laughed again. “Questions to keep you talking. I get one; you get one. And on we go until we finally hear someone walk down this blasted corridor.”

  Briahnna’s interest was piqued, and she sat up eagerly. “Me first.” Desmond gestured for her to go ahead, and she blurted, “How old are you?”

  He grinned, not surprised. “Twenty nine.”

  “How old is Liam?”

  “Hey!” Desmond cut her off. “One question each. Remember?”

  Briahnna rolled her eyes. “Because answering that would be so difficult.”

  He shrugged. “Rules are rules, Princess. It’s my turn now. What’s your favorite color?”

  Briahnna grinned. “Blue.”

  Desmond scoffed. “Why?” Blue wasn’t the favorite color of a woman.

  Briahnna held up a finger. “Your rules, Highness. That was a question.”

  He clamped his mouth shut and nudged her knee with his.

  “What’s your favorite color?”

  Giving her a large smile, he answered, “Emerald green. How many siblings do you have?”

  “Four. What’s your favorite hobby?”

  “Rock climbing. What’s yours?”

  “Running,” she said sarcastically. “How long have you known Liam?”

  “Twenty six years. Why so interested in my personal guard?”

  “Trying to figure you both out. Do you want to be King?”

  “No. Would you want to be queen?”

  Briahnna laughed at the irony, “Not even if my life depended on it. Who’s your hero?”

  “My father. Why do you like the color blue?”

  “So you and your father are close?” Briahnna asked, scrutinizing hi
m.

  “Wow. You cheat more than I do,” he said, laughing. “Answer. My. Question. First,” he said, talking like she hadn’t quite grasped the concept of the game, “and then. I’ll answer. Yours.” His eyebrows were raised as he stared pointedly at her.

  “Blue is an ever-changing color,” she said simply.

  “That’s it?” he asked. “That’s very vague. For instance, so is green. There’s my favorite color, emerald green, then there is the deep green of a tree or maybe the light green of a bush.”

  “But blue is so much more beautiful than green,” she insisted.

  “I beg to differ,” Desmond said, staring into her eyes with a twinkle in his.

  Briahnna blushed and looked down. “You and your father are close?”

  “Obviously. Why is blue more beautiful than green?”

  “Hold on,” Briahnna said exasperated. “That’s it? I just get obviously?”

  Desmond’s grin grew. “Do I need to explain the rules again? You just asked two questions, Princess, and you haven’t even answered mine.”

  “But that wasn’t even a real answer,” she insisted. “Obviously gives me nothing.”

  “What about your sarcastic ‘running’ answer?” Desmond asked. “I still don’t really know what your favorite hobby is. Maybe you need to be more specific in your questions.”

  “Fine,” Briahnna huffed. “Where were we?”

  Desmond raised his eyebrows. “I should get about five questions in a row now.”

  Briahnna hit his knee.

  “Okay, okay,” he said, shaking his head. “Why is blue more beautiful than green?”

  “Well…” Briahnna said, hesitating, “you just gave me the colors of bushes. That’s not very fun. What about the beautiful pure blue of the sky; or the deep blue of the sea? Maybe eyes that have blue in them and are ever changing with the moods of the possessor?”

  “Like my sister’s eyes?” Desmond asked.

  “Her’s are not the eyes of whom I was speaking,” Briahnna answered. “How are you and your father close?”

  Desmond sighed. “He taught me everything I know. He trained me in combat. He has been a constant presence in my life, teaching me everything I need to know, everything I need to be aware of as King. When my mother died giving birth to Atira, he never blamed Atira. I watched him hold her and nurture her, always telling her beautiful stories of our mother. I strive to be like him, and if I end up being only half the man he is then I will have succeeded.”

  Briahnna was stunned into silence, and she tried to discreetly wipe her tears away.

  Desmond cleared his throat. “What would be your real favorite hobby?”

  Briahnna let out a laugh at his attempt to make her feel comfortable again. Obviously she couldn’t tell him about her magic. “I love the piano-forte. It soothes me. Are you frustrated that you are not with him? Your father, I mean.”

  “I don’t think you are playing very fair, Ahnna.” Desmond laughed. “My questions are easy.”

  “You want to keep my mind off of the small, enclosed space that tends to peak my anxiety don’t you?” Briahnna asked innocently.

  Desmond shook his head. “You are relentless. Maybe it is you that I should watch out for, not Enielle.” He waited for a response, but Briahnna sat quietly, expectantly. Desmond nodded. “I can’t stand that he is there, and I am here. I can’t stand wondering how long it’s going to take for Mageia to release that demon of a kid and send us all to our graves. I can’t stand wondering if my father is going to come back alive or in a box.”

  Briahnna hesitated. “That demon of a kid?” She knew exactly who he was talking about.

  “You haven’t heard of him? You’ve been helping your friend in the infirmary. I thought for certain that he would be mentioned.”

  “Jerrick of Tristeil,” Briahnna stated unemotionally.

  “The one and only,” Desmond said. “He is the one who sent me home in this state; unable to run with my brothers in arms. Barely even able to walk.” He ground his teeth together. “I can handle it. I can. I have. I’m learning to fight through the pain. But to see his face? He would not feel sorry for what he did. I don’t expect him to feel sorry for what he did. Injury and suffering are a part of war. It is what it is. But him… it wouldn’t be just another injury that he inflicted. He would see me and be elated that he crippled me. He would be proud. He would consider it an accomplishment. I know people. He is one of the worst. You can see it in his eyes.”

  Briahnna was shocked. Did he really see those things in Jerrick? And if Jerrick was so completely evil, how had she missed it all of these years? Growing up with him, playing with him as a child, and feeling everything he felt. They were inseparable once. Yet she felt as if she never truly knew him. What would Desmond think of her? What would he think about her being betrothed to someone he deemed as a complete monster?

  Briahnna exhaled. “Have you received word from your father?”

  “Just today I received the latest news from the warfront,” he answered her. “Jerrick blasted a wall to pieces. All on his own.” He shook his head. “How is it possible for one person to have so much power?”

  Briahnna’s breath was stuck in her throat. What had Jerrick done? “How many were killed?”

  “Hundreds. Many are still waiting to die. The injuries for some have been so severe that the healers aren’t even sure how to deal with them. Just a slow painful death.”

  Briahnna began to hyperventilate. Jerrick. It always came back to Jerrick. He was the cause of so much grief, so much pain and anguish. Did she really think that she could help him be a better person? Did she really think that she could persuade him that what he thought and did were wrong?

  “Hey!” Desmond leaned forward again, his face in hers. “Breathe with me, Ahnna. Just breathe.”

  Briahnna looked into his eyes. How had she ever thought that Desmond was the monster? That he was the unkind one? She couldn’t concentrate. She was about to snap, about to release it all. Then who would he think the monster was?

  She jumped up and began pounding on the door. She needed to get out. She needed to get away from him. She needed time alone.

  Desmond stood and tried to grasp her hands but couldn’t seem to get his balance and she shook him off and screamed at the door. She screamed as Desmond grabbed her and turned her around to face him, pinning her arms to her sides. Then the doorknob wiggled and turned and they crashed onto the floor of the corridor.

  Briahnna couldn’t catch her breath as Desmond lay sprawled on top of her. She looked around at all of the stunned faces gazing down at them and pushed him off. Sitting up, she laid her forehead on her knees and willed herself to calm down and quench her magic once again.

  “How dare you!” she heard Enielle screech behind her.

  Briahnna exhaled, shook her head, and stood to face Enielle. Desmond was shaking off Liam’s help and grabbing his cane. “Excuse me?” Briahnna asked, taking a step toward Enielle. She could see Atira’s wide eyes staring at her.

  Enielle stepped toward Briahnna, eager to engage her in this battle. “Locking yourself in a closet with the Crown Prince. You insolent piece of trash!”

  Briahnna’s magic almost collided with Enielle right then and there had she not suddenly disappeared from before Briahnna’s eyes. Briahnna looked down at a screaming princess who had tackled Enielle and started slapping her.

  “Never call Ahnna trash! Ever!” Atira yelled at her. “You are the trash!”

  Liam hauled Atira off of Enielle and shoved her back, then grabbed Enielle under her arms and stood her up.

  Desmond was impressed. Enielle shoved Liam away, ignoring the bruises forming on her face, and gave Desmond a pointed look. “Obviously this lady’s maid isn’t doing any good! Atira is just as wild and unruly as she ever was! I demand you get rid of her instantly!”

  “You demand!” Atira seethed. “You have no say here! You are nobody here!”

  “Do you see what I mean?” Eni
elle yelled at Desmond. “She would be better off with me!”

  Desmond wanted to laugh. If anything, Atira was already just like Enielle and that was the last thing he needed. “Enielle,” he said. “Atira is right. You do not have any say in this matter. I suggest you go to the healer and get those bruises looked at. As for you, Atira,” Desmond said, turning his back on Enielle in dismissal.

  Briahnna cut him off. “You need to go to your room, Atira,” she said, stepping in front of Desmond. “That was uncalled for.”

  “She called you trash!” Atira exclaimed. “That was uncalled for!”

  Briahnna sighed. “Though I am grateful to you for defending me, it was very unnecessary. I do not care what she calls me or what she thinks of me, and I do not need you to fight my battles. You need to go to your room and calm down.”

  Atira ground her teeth together and glared at Enielle standing in shock behind Desmond. “What are you going to do?” she asked Briahnna.

  “I need some fresh air,” Briahnna said. She turned and walked passed them all, not even bothering to glance at Desmond. He cringed at the fact that he was actually disappointed by it. Then he looked at Liam and gestured with his head for his personal guard to follow her.

  “I’ll come with you! I need fresh air too!” Atira insisted, about to follow her. But Desmond cut her off and shook his head. “She’s right, Atira. Go to your room.”

  . . .

  When Briahnna knew that she was out of sight, she ran. She ran up the flight of stairs that she knew led to the highest tower of the castle. She could barely hold it at bay any longer. She needed to be out there. Reaching the tower, she climbed the ladder to the night sky outside and let everything go.