by test
Chapter Five
She was drowning in the world between life and death. Wild wind whipped around the cottage, thunder rumbled the landscape, while lightening lit up the house.
Sheets of rain pounded against the windows.
“Grania?” He gently laid her down upon the sofa in the small living room. “Can you hear me? It’s not time to doze, sleepy head.”
Pain lanced through her wound. The dagger that had stabbed her must have been laced with poison. Her lungs burned. She was wreaking havoc on the elements, causing the surrounding lands to be draped in stormy weather. If she weren’t careful it would be snowing in July.
“Go into the powder room, and open the medicine cabinet.” She felt another
coughing spasm working it’s way through her. She was growing short of breath. Soon, she would be forced into a hibernating state.
“What’s happening?”
“I’ve been poisoned.”
“Shite.”
“It will be far worse than that if we don’t nip it in the bud. I’ll be put into a trance-like state probably for the next six months.”
“Okay … I’m with you. What do I have to get in the medicine cabinet?”
“There’s a jar that says witch hazel on it. Get it. When you rub it on the wound it will draw the poison out.”
“I’m on my way.” She felt his presence leave her. She attempted to sit up, but found that she was weaker than she thought.
She heard him wash his hands and then start rattling the bottles in the medicine cabinet. His hands probably had been covered in her blood. She’d have to change and wash the slipcover on the couch. Here she was, seriously injured and she was thinking about of all things—housekeeping!
“I have it!” The triumphant tone in his voice caused a smile to touch her lips.
“That’s good. You’ll have to take off my shirt and rub the balm on me.”
“There’s nothing in it except for the poison right?”
“James threw a dagger at me, which I immediately pulled out … it wasn’t a
bullet. You don’t have to worry about digging anything out.”
He carefully unbuttoned her blouse and helped her out of it. “Good God! You
are still bleeding—I’ll have to put pressure on it, to stop it … or try a healing spell on you. I’m not a healer but I do know basic first aid.”
“Just don’t do anything. Get the balm and apply it liberally to the affected area.
Not only will it draw out the poison, but it will also cause the blood to clot. Please.” Her voice turned weak. She could feel herself slipping away—she had to hold on.
Nodding his head, he reached into the jar and took out what looked to be a
handful of ointment and started to gently rub it on her wound.
It stung and chilled her at the same time. Gritting her teeth, she sucked in a deep DRAGON’S HEART Marly Mathews 170
lungful of air.
“I can feel it seeping into the wound—it will take a few moments to work.” A
huge wave of drowsiness hit her. Closing her eyes, she opened them again at the sound of him snapping his fingers.
“Stay awake! What if the medicine hasn’t worked it’s magic yet?” he asked
anxiously.
She chuckled. “Well, it is working magic on me as we speak.” She looked up at him. His eyes flickered with worry. “You handled yourself quite efficiently back there—I’m inclined to think that you don’t need me at all. You use unethical tactics, but they did have the desired effect. You killed James and Orion in a way that will certainly serve as a scare tactic to my kind. You will be known as the scourge of our kind.”
“I didn’t think James and Orion were still a part of your kind. Didn’t they go to the other side so to speak?”
“They were still my friends.”
“Gee, they could have fooled me—especially since James had no reluctance when
it came to taking you down with a poisoned dagger!”
“Nonetheless, your actions were extreme. Couldn’t you have taken them down in some other way?”
“I don’t think so. I was faced with a dire situation, and I acted in the only way I thought was possible at the time. You saw yourself, how many rounds I did with Denys before even coming close to taking him down. I didn’t have the luxury of trying to decide how to act when it came to your life hanging in the balance!”
“That was the point—I was supposed to be protecting you! You weren’t
supposed to be taking care of me. You certainly had your drinks mixed!”
“I’m not confused at all! You are the one that’s messed up! You think I’m
supposed to sit back and idly watch you take down all of the bad guys without even contributing! I don’t think so! I’m a man, not a pussy.”
He realized his faux pas when it was too late. “Well, I guess I know where I
stand. You are just an egotistical chauvinist with a big mouth! You need to learn how to shut it. I might not have a set of balls at my ready disposable, but I sure as hell know how to protect you!”
“We’re in this together! I won’t have you thinking I’m a helpless sniveling little twat! I won’t have any of that tosh!”
She turned her face away from him, and started to examine the beams in the
ceiling.
“You are stubborn.”
“I’m stubborn right down to the bone.” He smiled. “But then, you should know
since you’re just as set in your ways as I am.”
“I should take offense at that—I won’t. I appreciate people that can give tit for tat.”
“Well, you’ve come to the right man in that case. How are you feeling now?”
She inspected her wound. His eyes lingered on the wound right above her breast.
She was sitting in her bra in front of him, and surprisingly, she didn’t feel exposed. His presence comforted her—no matter how hard she tried to say the opposite.”
“So close to your heart.”
“A few millimeters in the other direction and he would have finished me off.
DRAGON’S HEART Marly Mathews 170
Even as a dragon shifter I can not live through a direct wound to my heart.”
“My point exactly. You were trying to have compassion for them—it was
misplaced.”
“Misplaced or not—I couldn’t in my right conscience take their lives.”
“Your father knew it and he’s cashing in on your vulnerabilities. You have to fight it—you have to fight fire with fire.”
“Not a problem. I have a lot of that at my disposal.”
“So basically, what you’re saying is that it’s a renewable source,” he laughed.
She chuckled. Brushing her hair out of her face, she watched his attention fixate on her hand.
She drew it away quickly. Had he seen it? Before she could react quickly
enough he’d grabbed her hand and flipped it so he could study her palm.
“You lied!”
He said it in an accusatory manner, flaring at her with indignation. “I had no choice. I couldn’t very well align myself with you—you are barbaric.”
“Your kind isn’t exactly all honey and sugar when it comes to attacking their
prey. I have heard many tall tales about the attacks on wizards and witches during our Great War.”
Her eyes filled with shadowy sadness. “I think we should leave that conflict
between our peoples in the past. We can’t undo what was done—we must rise above it and try to forge a new future for both of our kinds.”
“Inspiring words. Too bad you didn’t believe in them,” he pointed out, sighing.
“I wasn’t the one that balked at the prospect of having me as your mate.”
“You were just as shocked as I was. Don’t deny it, it’s written as plain as day across your face.”
Lightening streaked through the sky once again, lightin
g the living room up in an ethereal glow.
“Could you please quit that? I see that the ointment has started to help you—why don’t you just tighten the reign on your wayward powers?”
“I happen to like storms. They make me feel at peace.”
“Well, they give me the willies. If you’re not careful you will cause the cottage to crumble down around us. Those winds are brutal.”
“Not likely. This cottage was blessed by magic, and held together by magic.”
“Speaking of which, why do you think this place is so safe? If your father was as intelligent as you dragon shifters like to think you are, he would have already sent a strike force here.”
“He doesn’t know about this place. It was my secret. Hence, the reason why we are here and not up at Rowan Hall.”
“I see.” He sat down on the chair beside the sofa. “We should be going to bed …
it’s terribly late, and you look like death warmed over.”
“Thank you. I just can’t believe how sensitive and considerate you are.”
“It was my fault. I never should have gone traipsing off without you. From now on, where I go—you go.” He nodded.
“No … you have that backward. Where I go—you go.”
“Here we go again, knocking heads. We’re both too pigheaded for our own
good.”
DRAGON’S HEART Marly Mathews 170
“By morning’s light, we could have a situation on our hands.”
“By situation, do you mean I could be in your bed, keeping you warm?”
“Oh, that’s too rich. You think you’re going to get into my bed after what you did tonight? Not only did you kill James and Orion in a horrible way, now you think I’m going to give you a shag? You really are living in a dream reality.”
“I’m not. You said yourself that the mating fire was going to get us. I tend to believe in that now. I heard your telepathic voice in my head during the battle.”
“You did not.”
“I did.” His gaze met and held hers.
“It can’t be—it usually takes days for two mates to develop that sort of a bond.
This isn’t good. I could be jumping you without even knowing why.”
“Jumping my bones doesn’t sound like such a revolting idea at the moment.”
She was beginning to breathe easier now.
"I’m sweaty, tired and filthy. I don’t think the chances of me getting amorous with you are all that strong.”
She stood up, her balance started to go on her. She teetered for a few minutes and then had to sit back down.
“I need a shower—then, I need sleep.”
“I’ll help you get up the stairs,” he offered.
“I’ve been walking for a long time—I think I should be able to make it.”
He watched her try to stand again. Before she knew it he was by her side,
clasping her arm. She reveled in the electrical current that flowed between them. Their combined energies were a wonder.
“If you insist, then, you can help me up the steps. Why don’t you just transport me with your magic? That will be painless, and quick—plus, you won’t have to touch me in order to do it.”
“Don’t you like my touch?” His eyes dropped to her breasts. She shivered.
Dampness swept through the cottage. “If you’re cold, I can warm you up.”
“You already gave me that proposition once tonight. It’s starting to get old. Let’s just say, I wouldn’t cuddle up to you if you were the last bloody man on Earth!”
“If your father gets his way—I just might be. How many will he kill in the name of his cause?”
“He will destroy anyone that defies him. I don’t know if he intends to enslave the human population—or if he intends to massacre them.”
“He’s a real touchy feely kind of guy, isn’t he?” he said, trying hard to make a joke.
She looked over at the television. Blinking her eyes, she squinted them to make out the vision in the screen.
Her weird actions caught his attention. “What is it?”
She shook her head. Tremulously, she spoke, “I think I need to get some winks in, now I’m seeing things.”
“What sort of things?”
“I thought I just saw a man in the television screen, and it’s not on."
“Oh … well, you might not be going wonky. That could be my old mate,
Nicholas.” He stood up, so he could gain a clearer view of the screen. “Yep … that’s Nicholas.”
DRAGON’S HEART Marly Mathews 170
“Well, tell Nicholas, to stop freaking me out by showing up uninvited in my
television screen!”
Grumbling, she stood up and was immediately consumed by a wave of dizziness.
Off balanced, she had no choice but to flop back down on the sofa.
“I feel so disjointed. I guess that dagger injury is still taking its toll on me.”
“Well, sit down. I don’t mind you hearing what Nicholas might have to say to
me. You have to be in the know from now on, anyway.”
“Is it safe, so to speak?” Nicholas’s image grew brighter. He actually looked like he was acting in a television program. “I only have a few seconds until I’m due in Cheltenham. We’re holding a last minute meeting of the council. Our spies in Dragonia are getting restless .…”
“Spies?” she muttered beneath her breath.
“Long story—I’ll explain in a minute.” He gave her a fleeting glance. “It looks to me like I’ve been left out of the loop on both sides of the wand … with my people and with yours.” He looked about as happy as she felt. They'd both been left out of the loop, and that rankled Grania to no end.
Could it be that her king and queen were wary of her relationship to Draco? The Queen was her mother’s sister—Draco might spare her when and if he finally took the palace, but there was no certainty in that.
He shook his head, placing his finger to his lips. Startled, she pulled back, suddenly realizing that he'd heard her thoughts. This was going to be a thorn in her side, if he kept listening in on everything she was thinking. She'd have to guard her thoughts more closely from now one whenever he was in telepathic range.
“Am I interrupting something?” Nicholas’s voice sounded more than curious.
“No … not at all, Nicholas. We’re just winding down for the night,” Dylan
muttered, giving her a serious look.
“My day is far from over. Lucky you. I haven’t had sleep in thirty-six hours.
I’m so buzzed out on my Auntie’s hot chocolate that I won’t be able to sleep for a month.”
“Well, that’s what you get for drinking that sort of a magical brew.”
He laughed. Sobering, Nicholas looked directly at Dylan. “Get a move on with that spell, Dylan. We don’t have the time to lose—the forces are mobilizing as we speak.
Your mother consulted the Warrior Wizard of Defense and told him to start getting our warriors ready for combat.”
“Warriors? Are you telling me you have a cohesive fighting force and you’ve
stayed out of the conflict for these last few years?” She was appalled.
“We are an advanced society—we might live in the mists, veiling ourselves from humans most of the time, but we do know how to run our people. Unlike you dragon shifters, we are a diplomatic society. Our monarch has to consult the parliament before she can make any executive decisions. Don’t worry; our forces have doubled their might since our last war with your kind. We’re more than a match for your father’s forces.”
“I’m getting a learning experience on your culture and customs, then.”
“Our magical community spans the entire globe—it’s not an easy business
keeping everything in order and the facts straight. We’re most concerned with keeping our society a secret. Mortals suspect that we exist, but we aren’t going to let them see proof of that though. Sure, the odd human sli
ps through the security cracks—we usually DRAGON’S HEART Marly Mathews 170
alter their memories, or enlist them as our operatives.”
“How good and kindhearted of you.”
“We tend to think so. Humans can be morbidly nosy, you know.”
She sighed. “I think I’m going to allow you to chat alone with Nicolas.”
“No worries about taking your leave, dragon shifter. I’m off soon. I just wanted to make contact with Dylan, and appraise him of our current situation.”
“Well, jolly good. Dylan, I’m off to bed.”
Nicholas made a hooting noise. “So, are you already shagging her? Rumor has it that you and she are going to light up the world with your collective passion.”
Her ire rose. “You should keep those thoughts to yourself, Nicholas. It’s rather rude to discuss such subjects in front of me. You wizards can be most vulgar. Your crassness does not become you. You might be an advanced society but you leave something to be desired when it comes to social etiquette. Think of me no more. I’m off.” Standing up, she fought the woozy sensations flooding her and carefully made her way to the staircase.
DRAGON’S HEART Marly Mathews 170
Chapter Six
Dylan watched her leave, worry jumping in his heart. He desperately wanted to follow her. He couldn't stand the thought of her being out of his line of sight. She could fall and hurt herself. “I—look, Nicholas, try not to be a prick. I have to go now—you have fun at that council meeting. Give my regards to the representatives.”
“I will. She’s feisty. You are going to have your hands full with that one. Just make sure you guard against the fire she can breathe out at you. I know that you can be just as charming as me when it comes to dealing with the fairer sex.”
“I can’t listen to you, right now. She’s been wounded, and she needs my help.”
“I sort of think that a woman like her doesn’t require anyone else’s help—but
you’re right, the clock is ticking and I can’t turn back time in this instance. See you at the next meeting of our club.”
“See you—if we’re both still alive. You get some sleep … being a spy among the dragon shifters requires your full attention. I’m ordering you to go home and sleep after the meeting of the council.”