by test
Chapter Thirteen
Her heart thundered in her ribcage. She felt him drawing near. Turning to Dylan and the rest of the party, she motioned for them to leave. “Get out! Now!”
The urgency in her voice must have sent off major warning signals for Dylan.
“I’m not going anywhere. You said the survivors were in here … we’re going to find them and render them the necessary assistance,” Dylan said, speaking with firm resolve.
“You have to go ....” Her voice trailed off.
It was too late.
She turned to face him.
“It did take you long enough to show up.” The slick smooth voice flustered her right down to her bones.
If she thought her mouth had been dry before, now she was dying of thirst.
“Blaze.” She nodded at him. He didn’t come forward to embrace her, not that she expected him to. He’d betrayed them all. She prodded his mind, he wasn’t all there. She knew if she could save him, it would have to be soon or he’d be completely lost to them forever.
“I wasn’t expecting to meet such resistance. They are quite plucky these wizards and witches that you’ve grown so fond of.”
“They have their moments,” she relented, watching him as he strode toward her
with the grace of his forebears.
“Did you watch them kill your mother and father?” she asked, nearly choking on the question.
Sadness flickered across his face. Shadows of misery glinted in this eyes. She knew he’d been taken over by someone much stronger than him … someone like her father. Was he orchestrating this entire thing from his safety zone in Dragonia? Her father knew how to make his subordinates dance like puppets for him.
“I do not wish to harm you, Grania. Step aside, so I can finish off the man you’re supposed to be protecting.”
“I can’t allow you to do that. That man now happens to be my husband.”
“You married him? How desperate could you be? You should have fought the
mating fire, I’m sure you would have succeeded. Denys tells me what a frigid bitch you were with him.”
“Frigid bitch, my ass. Why don’t you let Blaze go?”
“Has she lost her marbles?” Leo asked behind her. Dylan quieted him with an
elbow to his side.
“Blaze has your mother’s blood running through him … I couldn’t end his life,
nor could I allow him to stand as a testament against me. Unfortunately, though I tried to destroy his mind, he was always quite proficient in guarding against me. Right now, he’s in a metal cage inside of his mind, possessing his body with my consciousness was the only way I could make him see how superior in skill I am to him. He can see past my DRAGON’S HEART Marly Mathews 170
illusions, so I thought I’d use him to destroy that which is his last hope. It is true justice.”
“Why are you doing this? You must end this!” she demanded
“The time will soon be mine.” That familiar power hungry look entered Blaze’s
eyes. She sighed.
“You don’t understand, father. You will never overpower England. It is
protected by an old magic that even we can’t think to conquer. The witches and wizards are far more powerful than they once were. They have adapted, they have learned from their defeat at your hands. Your forces were driven back here. Do not be so foolish to think that a second wave will do the job that the first wave failed to do.”
“You always did think too logically for your own good. You are just like your mother in that way,” he said mournfully.
“Do not speak of mother. You are not worthy to talk about her, especially to me.
You just did the unthinkable sin against her by killing her dragon shifting twin.”
“Is that what the reports have told you? It is quite stunning to realize how twisted the news can become when seen through the enemy’s eyes. I would never kill your aunt.
Your uncle on the other hand ... well, he is long gone.” He let out a cackle of glee. Her blood ran cold. Shivers stretched throughout her body.
“What have you done with her?”
“That’s none of your concern, daughter. You should learn your place when it
comes to me, unfortunately that’s another failing of yours that I can never quite come to terms with. You are so independent minded that you couldn’t see the error of your ways, even now. I will still kill your husband … he holds the key to that damnable spell, a spell that could only ruin our kind!”
“I will not have this speech with you, we are in a holy house.”
“Aye … I know. I was here when the first stones were laid for this abbey. I’ve seen far more on this land than you could possibly understand. I will take back the land that those filthy humans took from us. My power grows, even while you stand arguing with me, my power builds. Soon, you will not even be able to stand against me.”
“Why don’t you just stop before you become known as Draco the Butcher?”
He tilted his head to the side. She saw Blaze standing before her, but the eyes that stared at her belonged to her father.
“You are still in Dragonia. Return there, and do not darken this land again.”
“Is that a threat, daughter?”
“It is no threat—it is a statement. I will never return to you as your daughter, father. From here on in, you shouldn’t think of me as such.”
“As much as I hate to admit it, I will never be able to break the bond that you and I share. You are a great disappointment to me, Grania. When you were born, the seers destined you for greatness. You were the first white dragon shifter with flame colored hair born into our noble family for over two thousand years. You were our treasure. Our pride. Now, you have forsaken me.”
A flame died within her. “There’s only one way to get you to leave Blaze’s
body.” She ran up to him, he drew back. Dylan called her name. Blaze fought her father’s hold on him. Trying to not focus on what she was about to do, she pulled Blaze close to her. Her father’s eyes widened, as she pressed her lips to Blaze’s lips.
Her father was gone.
DRAGON’S HEART Marly Mathews 170
* * * *
Dylan couldn’t believe what he’d just seen. “Well, that’s one way to get rid of uninvited guests. Just get my wife to kiss you.”
She released Blaze, catching him when he slumped to the ground. He had been
released from his mental prison.
“Tell the others they can come out of hiding now.” She held Blaze steady.
“Leo, tell the others they can come out of hiding now,” Dylan ordered.
“Blaze, listen to me, can you speak?”
Dylan watched the once vibrant young man, nod his head. Hesitancy gleamed in
Blaze’s eyes.
“Don’t do that again,” he rasped.
“Not unless he gets into your head one more time.” Tiredness blanketed her
voice. She needed to rest.
He wanted to pull her away from Blaze. Even though he knew they were first
cousins, jealousy sparked within him.
“Dylan, come and help me.”
He couldn’t understand why she’d require his assistance. Her bloody super
strength would be enough to get Blaze to his feet.
He walked over and helped her hoist Blaze to his feet. The man felt as if he had an anchor weighing him down. “We need to get some food and water into him.”
“He’s a dragon shifter, I thought your kind could survive days without
sustenance.”
“Not when we’ve just seen our entire family slaughtered before us,” Grania
murmured giving Dylan a sad look.
“No.” Blaze shook his head. “Your father was telling the truth.”
Kayla handed Dylan a bottle of water. “Get him to drink this. It’s our water, so it should put a little pep into his eyes. The poor man.”
Poor man
wasn’t exactly what he would describe Blaze as at the moment. He
looked like he was in hell, so he’d call him the unluckiest man on the planet.
“What do you mean? I heard that ....” Grania's voice trailed off.
“He was never going to kill mother. He wanted her ... I think part of this entire war was started because he wanted her. Once your mother died, he cast his attention to the next best thing. He thinks my mother will ease his suffering, but she will hate him for what he has done. I’m sorry, Grania, I’ll have to kill your father the next time we meet.”
“I think he had you sort of preoccupied just a moment ago. Don’t start allowing your grief and rage to get the better of you. All in due time. My father’s days are numbered. It will only be a matter of time before we drive him back into oblivion.”
“He has my family.” Blaze was undaunted.
Dylan had to hand it to him, the man was bloody stubborn when it came right
down to it.
“I know, and we’ll get them back,” Grania insisted gently.
“I shudder to think of how my mother must feel right now … she’s being
subjected to your father’s presence, after he killed my father in mortal combat.”
* * * *
She closed her eyes against the excruciating pain welling in her heart. Numbness threatened to overwhelm her. She was sick and tired of feeling pain. She had to buck up DRAGON’S HEART Marly Mathews 170
and think of the struggle ahead of them.
“Blaze, I’ll never be able to atone for my father’s sins.”
“You don’t have to.” He’d drained the whole bottle of water, and licked his lips with relish. “I’m going to kill you father and even the score.” She almost fell backwards at the force of the hurt seeping into her body. The lashing words made her feel as if she’d been slapped.
“Hey, now, that was uncalled for, Blaze.” Dylan’s voice took on a gruff and angry edge.
“I meant every word. I didn’t think it would hurt Grania’s feelings as much as it seems to have done. I only meant that I was going out for the old eye for an eye thing.”
She heaved a great breath. “And, well you should. I understand. My father had no right to kill your father. He acted far out of his bounds.”
“He wasn’t bound to my father in any way. The link of friendship had sizzled out long ago; the only bond he shared was the fact that he was my father’s war general.
Now, that he has out mastered his king, he believes he has to assume his rank and his position. Added to the equation is the fact that your father has lusted over my mother for countless years.”
“He isn’t lusting over your mother.” She could hear her heart pounding in her
chest, and then gradually she heard it reverberating in her ears.
“Then, why did he give her an ultimatum? He told her he would spare my
father’s life if she came to his bed.”
“I don’t believe that ... my father would never do that ....” Her cheeks grew warm as she realized the obvious. Of course her father would stoop that low; he was already scraping the bottom of the barrel when it came to honor and chivalry. “You’re right. I shouldn’t be standing here defending my father when I know all too well what sort of a monster he is. He will do anything. I’m only sorry that your father didn’t finish him when they were combating each other.”
“He fought with valor and honor. Alas, my poor dear father never was a warrior at heart. His mother didn’t come from the warrior class and he inherited her
shortcomings.”
“Not being a warrior isn’t a shortcoming, your father was one of the most
intelligent, not to mention enlightened, dragon shifter of his day. He truly brought grace and beauty to Dragonia. He will be remembered as a hero and a martyr.”
“I will remember him as a loving father that would gladly give his life for his family–and most importantly, his mate.”
Her stomach did another nosedive. She locked gazes with Dylan. Her heart made her want to press herself to him and never let go, but now wasn’t the time, nor was it the place for such an outward display of affection.
Kayla moved forward and started to attend to Blaze’s injuries.
“Kayla, how is your head?”
Blaze looked up at Kayla, and she watched as Leo gave Blaze a glance of
sparkling jealousy. Blaze didn’t need to fall in love with a witch, she’d already done the unthinkable by falling in love with a wizard. Blaze was the heir to the Dragonia throne, he had to marry a pureblooded dragon shifter.
“Why?” Blaze asked the question out of thin air. It rankled her to no end that he’d been eavesdropping on her thoughts. She frowned at him. He gave her a half smile.
DRAGON’S HEART Marly Mathews 170
Her heart soared at that, to think that he was already rising above adversity. He was a true testament to his people.
Dylan gave Blaze a look of annoyance. He knew what Blaze had done, and he
was just as irritated as she was. Kayla, on the other hand, was blissfully ignorant. Leo wasn’t.
“Kayla, come on. We should go and get the others to come out of hiding. We
have to start making plans on our next course of action.” Leo walked straight toward her and stopped when Blaze stood up, successfully blocking his way. The air turned electric.
Kayla gave Blaze a look of longing. Between Leo and Blaze, Grania was trying
to determine who was superior in size and strength. By all appearances, they were evenly matched.
“Leo, I think you’re on the right path of thought. David, shouldn’t you all be reuniting with the witches and wizards that fought here?”
David moved out of the shadows of the Romanesque arches. “I’d warrant that
we’d find a good deal of Royalist dragon shifters as well.” He nodded at Blaze.
Fury lit Blaze’s eyes. He went to lunge at David, but Kayla and she stepped in his path. “Stop it, Blaze. He’s one of us! You need to reign in that combustive temper of yours. I know you’ve had a trying week. Hell, you’ve had a trying last few years, but now is not the time to rip David a new one. I tell you, he is one of us!”
“He bloody well isn’t! He’s a traitor to the crown! He watched as our king was slain in battle and did nothing to stop it from happening!”
“You were also helpless.” David’s voice turned cool and detached.
“I was chained. They only released me when the deed was done. They comforted themselves thinking it wasn’t murder because my father had been armed, so in their minds he was evenly matched against your father, but you know, Grania! You know that my father didn’t stand a snowballs chance in hell against your father. He’s superior in every manner when it comes to fighting.”
“I know. I’m so sorry.” She dropped her voice to the barest of whispers. He was having a hard time letting go, and she could understand why. Her sympathy for him knew no bounds. She was only going to add salt into his already raw wounds by asking him her next question. “What happened to make me feel as if hundreds of dragon shifters had died? What did my father do to incite such genocide?”
“He had all of the heads of parliament killed, plus their families.”
Her stomach fell again. Sourness churned within her. “He’s gone insane. I
thought before that he’d given into his animalistic nature, but now I know ... he has truly lost himself.”
“He was with it enough when you put your rosy little lips against Blaze’s,” Dylan said sardonically.
She turned to him. “If my father is right in the head, as you try to impress upon us, then he is a madman.”
“Oh, sure. This world has seen plenty of those. There’s been Hitler, Peter the Great, Napoleon … countless men of power have let it go to their head and done horrible unspeakable things … evil things.”
She sat down on one of the chairs that Kayla had conjured. The pews in the
; abbey had been knocked over or destroyed during the battle. To think that the battle had reached the inner sanctum of this holy building was beyond comprehension.
DRAGON’S HEART Marly Mathews 170
“I think you should go and leave my cousin and me in peace for a few minutes.
Go and see if there’s anyone that requires medical attention.”
“Leo and I can help, we have our magical medic training.” Kayla nodded at him, gesturing for him to follow her. David slunk back into the shadows and trailed along behind Kayla and Leo.
“Do you know what happened to Nicholas?”
Blaze looked up at the sound of Dylan’s frantic voice. “I think he escaped. I don’t know, in the entire hubbub of activity it’s hard to say. I wasn’t exactly keeping that close of an eye on him, once my family was put into the line of fire. All I could think about was keeping them safe. My sisters are still back there! They must be frightened to death.”
“Your sisters will be fine. We forget how enduringly strong the young dragon
shifters are. They also share a twin bond, they will prevail.” She managed to speak without having her voice wobble, even though her heart was racing at the thought of her young cousins left alone, vulnerable to her father’s influence. He could be awfully charming when it came to young children. He had a way of twisting their minds, molding them to believe his every word.
“If that’s what you think.” Blaze turned sullen. She didn’t know how to snap him out of it.
“You have to get your head together, Blaze. Like it or not, you are the leader of the Royalists. You are their Prince. You must be their shining beacon of hope. As the Prince Regent, you have a duty to show them that the way is not lost yet, and they will need your guiding hand when my father strikes again. Make no mistake. He has not been beaten. He will try again. He will attempt to catch us off guard and strike while the iron is hot.”
Blaze nodded. “I want you at my side, Grania.”
“Hey, she’s my wife. Don’t forget that, Blaze old boy.” Dylan gave Blaze a
sarcastic smile, but his eyes were deadly serious.
“I would never think of Grania that way. Don’t worry, my family dispensed with marrying their cousins in order to keep the bloodline pure long ago.” He gave Dylan a smart-assed grin … taking great delight in goading him to the breaking point.