by J. D. Wright
“Is that all you can say?” Sidonie got back onto her horse and rode alongside Dagan, taking the path back out of Elmber.
“She has been a trusted friend for a long time. She can help us, and we would be wise to keep her on our side. Her family has a longtime history of magic. I don’t expect you to like each other. But you agreed to keep an open mind when it comes to Cassandra…”
Sidonie frowned, remembering the promise she made to him just last night when he had told her about his history with Cassandra and her family. Even though Sid was sure he left out parts of the story, she wouldn’t go back on her word.
“I have lived in secrecy, my entire life,” she said, looking out into the forest surrounding them. “I guess that’s why it’s difficult for me to trust her, to trust anyone,” she admitted.
Dagan pulled his horse closer to hers and reached over to take her hand.
“I’m asking you to trust me, not her.”
She looked over at him and forced a small smile. She did trust him. But that didn’t mean she would pretend to like Cassandra.
“Are we stopping soon? It’s almost dark and we’ve been riding all day just to get here…” Mostly, she just wanted a break from riding. Her bottom was numb and she didn’t care for the feeling.
“As soon as we get far enough away from Elmber. I don’t want to open the portal where your sisters might find it.” He didn’t care to go through that ordeal, again.
“Portal? What is a portal?”
He gave her a brief explanation, the best he could, but it was hard to explain. She hadn’t been with the other Sabras when they captured him before, so she hadn’t seen his secret hideaway. It would be easier to show her. A short time later, he nudged their horses onto a small trail, crossing a creek and over a tall bank. Once on the other side, he jumped down from his horse.
“This should work,” he said, taking the charmed dagger from his robes.
“What will you do with that?”
“I just need to find a healthy tree,” he replied, surveying the trunks of the trees around them. Finally, he settled on a large one nearby and with a swift motion, stabbed the blade of the dagger into the tree.
Sidonie watched, curious at how a dagger could possibly open a so-called portal, as it didn’t look magical to her. At first, nothing happened. But once Dagan waved his hand over the tree, it suddenly began to expand. The roots rose up from the ground as the trunk split in the middle and created a large doorway. Looking through the door, Sidonie could see the forest behind it, as though it were merely a window of sorts. However, once she stepped through it, she couldn’t believe her eyes.
There was a clearing before her, which wasn’t there before. And contrary to the cold and bare winter forest they left behind them, this one was warm and covered with plush green grass and flowers. A tiny stream ran down the middle and a quaint little cottage stood on the other side. At once, she understood what Bree had meant when she said Dagan’s home had been a paradise. It was magnificent and quiet, like a cozy retreat from the outer world’s chaos. Even the air felt cleaner, fresher. She tried to speak, but couldn’t find the words.
“I know,” Dagan said, having watched her reaction. He understood completely. It was how he felt when he created it. And how he still felt every time he entered.
“I just want to stick my toes in the stream and smell the flowers,” she replied, taking a deep breath. “It’s so exhilarating.”
“Go ahead. I’ll get the horses and some firewood. I’ll be back in a moment.” He turned and walked out of the portal, leaving her alone to wander.
She slipped her shoe off and wiggled her toes in the stream, which was cool on her feet. Then she took the other shoe off and walked barefoot across the bridge and grass until she reached the cottage. She gave the wooden door a gentle nudge and it opened.
Once inside, she found it to be much larger than it looked from the outside. There was a hearth near the door, whose fire was mysteriously already burning. She made her way over to the kitchen area, where fresh vegetables were sitting in a bucket and glanced out of the window to watch Dagan pulling the horses into the portal, tying them to a tree by the stream. She walked past the bed in the corner and found another room leading off to the side. This room was filled with shelves of books and tiny bottles, which she now knew contained ingredients for potions. She even recognized a few of them.
Dagan entered and shrugged off his robes. He was only wearing a pair of dark blue trousers now and no shirt. He draped the robes over a nail on the back of the door. Then he walked over to a small table in the kitchen area, took the vegetables from the bucket, and began to chop them up for soup.
Sidonie walked back into the main part of the cottage.
“Where did the vegetables come from?”
“I had these from before,” he replied, gesturing with the knife in his hands. “When your sisters snatched me up.” He tried to keep his tone light, as not to irritate her by reminding her of how they met. He knew she still felt guilt for what happened when the Sabras ripped him from his home and nearly destroyed it in the process.
“And they’re still fresh? After all of this time?”
“Sure. When the portal is closed, everything inside will remain the same. Freezing time, so to speak. I am just glad it wasn’t destroyed. I wouldn’t have been able to create a new one on my own. I just don’t have the patience or the ingredients required for the spell.”
“And the pouch Cassandra gave you? What did that contain?” She realized her shoes were still in her hands and walked over to sit them by the door. The wooden floor was warm so she wouldn't need them.
Dagan dumped the chopped vegetables into a pot, added some herbs from a jar, and walked to the window. He used water magic to pull a thin line of water from the stream, which flowed through the air and into the pot. Sidonie had seen him use water magic before but found herself still mesmerized by it, every time. He picked up the pot and carried it over to the hearth, placing it over the fire.
“I wanted to be safe when we reach the summit, so I asked her to bring me a few ingredients for a spell and an amulet, for you.” He walked over and took the pouch from his hanging robes, then pulled out a small purple amulet on a silver chain. “Amethyst is used for calming magic. We usually give it to young wizards who are training, to help them learn to control their power. I hope that it will help you to control yours.”
Sidonie turned around and pulled her long brown hair to the side, revealing her neck. He slid the chain around her and hooked the clasp together, then leaned down and kissed the back of her neck. She didn’t pull away, so he wrapped his arms around her from behind and buried his head in her hair. It had been several days since they were alone together. He missed her touch and the way he felt when their magic connected.
She raised an arm behind her and ran her hand along his head, pulling the tie from his hair and tossing it on the floor. She preferred him with his hair loose, but he often tied it back. Slowly, she ran her fingers through it, making the hair raise on his arm. The air around them began to hum, which often happened when they were together. Though, they barely noticed it anymore.
Dagan ran his hands down her side and over her hips, then back up again. He put a finger under her chin and tilted her head back so he could kiss her. Oh, how he’d missed that mouth, soft and inviting. Her tongue teasing his lips, making his heart go wild. He started to loosen her gown with his hands and kissed her shoulder once he pulled it down. She wiggled out of it and turned around to face him. He could look at her bare body all day if he had the time. Her firm breasts were beckoning to him as he ran a finger around one and then the other.
She loosened the belt on his trousers, letting them drop to the floor. He kicked them to the side and pulled her to him. Their kissing became heated as they moved to the bed in the corner. He tried to control himself, to slow things down a bit since they had all night to be together. But the magic in his veins w
as pulsing through him, becoming so hot that it was hard to think straight. She gently broke away from him and sat up.
“Our connection, the fusion? I have felt it, a little bit. But what does it feel like, for you? Will I ever be able to feel it, the same way?” she asked.
It was hard for him to pause to talk when every part of his body wanted to touch her. But he knew she didn’t fully understand and probably wouldn’t until they were able to free her magic. Until then, he had to be patient with her.
He propped himself up on one elbow and took a deep breath, trying to find the words to describe the feeling.
“It’s like my blood is on fire. Like it’s burning me as it runs through my body. But it isn’t painful. Quite the contrary,” he said as he nudged her back down onto the bed and hovered over her. “As my heart pumps, I can feel it running through my veins. Like this.” He put a finger on her chest, at her heart, and ran the finger away from the center of her body, over her breast and shoulder, and down her arm. Then he put the finger back on her heart and ran it down her stomach and one of her thighs.
Once more he found her heart and guided his finger up her neck and over her lips. She kissed it, then stuck her tongue out and flicked it over the tip of his finger. He nearly collapsed on top of her as his body shuddered at the sight. She smiled, knowing how easily she could cripple him.
Then she sat up and rolled over on top of him, pinning him to the bed.
“I learned something new that I can do,” she said, grinning like a child who just found a new toy. “Want to see?”
He narrowed his eyes, curiously. But he knew better than to refuse. She sat up and closed her eyes, trying to concentrate. She summoned air magic and used it to bind his arms down to the bed. When she opened her eyes, he was smiling up at her.
“Tying me down?” Dagan couldn’t help but laugh. No other woman had ever had the courage to attempt to bind him, probably because he was a wizard. It wasn’t an easy thing to do.
“I just want to make sure I have your full attention. I know you haven’t told me the entire story, about Cassandra,” she said, then put a finger over his mouth when he tried to speak. “But I don’t need to know everything, just yet. As long as you understand that I am not the type of woman to stand by and let a hussy lay claim to the man I love. No matter who she is.” She leaned down and kissed him, gently. “And don’t ever forget who I am,” she said, pulling back so he could see the seriousness in her eyes. “Skinning a man isn’t all that different from skinning a boar.”
“I should probably be terrified right now, but this jealous side of you is actually making me want you even more. I would fight for you,” he said. And I may have to in the near future. “It’s nice to know you would do the same.”
She tried to keep a serious face, even though her cheeks were beginning to blush. It was hard to stay mad at him when those gorgeous blue eyes were admiring her. She decided to distract herself by running her hands over his toned chest and shoulders. He closed his eyes and enjoyed her touch. He stiffened up a bit more when her hand trailed down below his stomach, and he groaned when she lifted herself up to guide him inside her. He wanted so badly to reach out and grab her hips, but her power was holding his arms tightly in place. She must have been practicing a lot to be able to keep him immobile for this long.
As she began to rock on top of him, he opened his eyes and found her smiling down at him, obviously enjoying the fact that he was struggling. The magic in his body was so hot that he thought he might explode. A whimper escaped his mouth, driving her to move faster.
Lost in desire, it was becoming hard to hold onto the magic. She arched her back and let her head drop back, closing her eyes as she rode him. She tried to focus but it was no use. She moaned and released her hold on his arms. Immediately his hands were on her, holding her at the waist as he pumped into her, so fast that she could barely catch her breath. Then he poured himself into her, groaning so loudly that the horses outside were spooked by the noise.
Dizzy, Sidonie rolled over to lay beside him. She hoped the portal was thick enough to prevent sound from escaping. If not, anyone in the nearby forest would have gotten an earful. She realized she was smiling. Her sister was right. She was a Sabra, first and foremost. She was strong and capable of anything.
Dagan broke the silence, “The man you love?” He turned his head to look at her, glistening in the light of the fire.
She froze, just becoming aware of what she had said. Saying you loved someone was a giant leap for anyone to make, especially her. While she had been with a man before, she had never said she loved him. This time, however, there was no doubt.
“I said that, didn’t I?” she replied, trying to sound casual.
Dagan found her hand lying next to his and linked his fingers with hers. “Yes, you did. And I’m glad. I’ve wanted to tell you that I love you for a while now. I just couldn’t bring myself to do it.”
Surprised, she looked over at him. Knowing what she did, about the many scorned women he had left in his wake before he met her, she wasn’t expecting this reaction. Then again, she wasn’t expecting any of this.
Dagan got up and walked over to the hearth to give the soup a quick stir. Sidonie watched him walk away, admiring him. Feeling smug, she closed her eyes. Cassandra can find her own man, she thought to herself. This one is mine.
Chapter Six
Rhea received the exact response Rowan had anticipated once they reached Vale. People stopped and stared at the fairy. Men grinned at her as she passed and women balked at her state of undress, especially in the cold mountain weather. Rhea didn’t seem to notice as she was solely concerned with holding on to Rowan and staying upright on the horse. This was the second time she had ridden on a horse in this manner and even after hours of riding, she still hadn’t gotten a feel for it. The first time was also with Rowan, several years ago when he rescued her. Though she had traveled with her captors, they had kept her in a birdcage, only letting her out when they wanted to toy with her.
Rowan pulled Dragon’s reigns and stopped to wait for the gate to open, then he climbed down and helped Rhea dismount. A stable boy came into the courtyard and lead Dragon away. Rowan walked toward the castle with Rhea following closely behind him. Sir Nicholas was the first to greet them. When he tried to take her hand to greet the fairy, she quickly stepped behind Rowan and refused to come closer. Even when Rowan introduced this knight as his father, she still didn’t trust him. She had only met one man who didn’t wish to harm or take advantage of her, and this knight wasn’t him.
Nick led them into the library. Rowan chuckled. He should have guessed that Bree would be found in the library. It was her favorite place in her own castle, as well. Bree looked up and smiled when Nick opened the door, happy to see that Rowan had returned. Her smile grew larger when the fairy stepped into view. Their plan had worked! Delighted, she sat her book down and moved closer to greet them as Rowan bowed before his queen.
“Rhea, this is Queen Breestlin, the ruler of Junacave. And the lovely ladies beside her are Queen Mother Cicilly, Breestlin’s mother, and Princess Celeste of Vale. Ladies and Your Majesty,” he said, winking at Bree, “this is Rhea, Princess Fairy of Anestas.”
Bree knew of the beauty of the fairies, mostly from her books, but actually seeing one firsthand was something very few people could boast. Rhea was tall and slim but still managed to be voluptuous at the same time. Her long golden hair was partially pinned back and the rest allowed to fall in loose curls around her. She was wearing a metal ring around her neck, which looked out of place, but even that could not detract from how gorgeous she was.
“I am thrilled to see the fairies have decided to assist the pixies in their time of need,” Bree said.
“Well, not exactly,” Rowan replied, causing confusion to flash across the ladies’ faces. “The fairies refused. However, just as I was about to leave, Rhea volunteered to help us. She is the fairy I rescued years ago.”
“We are grateful for your help, Rhea,” Bree said. “I’m sure you are exhausted from traveling and would like to rest. Sir Nicholas will show you to the guest chambers and I will fetch someone to bring your supper and warm your bath, if you’d like.”
Nick opened the door and waited, but the fairy didn’t budge. Rowan knew why. Rhea didn’t trust Nick. Rowan frowned at Bree.
“Perhaps, I should escort her to the chambers, myself,” he said, which seemed to please Rhea. She smiled for the first time since entering the castle.
“Of course,” Bree replied. She could certainly understand a level of mistrust with strangers, men in particular. After the ordeal Rhea had suffered through in the past, it was understandable.
Nick led the way while chatting with Rowan about his trip. Rhea followed closely behind him. When they reached the guest chambers, she followed Rowan inside and Nick left to fetch a chambermaid and servant.
For the first time since entering the castle, she finally got a good look at her surroundings. The room was magnificent in purple and white, the royal colors of Vale. There was an enormous plush bed with over a dozen feather-filled pillows atop the quilts. Shiny purple silk hung from the banisters. Two large chairs sat in the middle of the room beside a small round table completely covered by a vase of purple and white flowers. How any human could grow flowers in the mountains during winter, was a mystery to her. The kingdom must have a wizard in its service, she thought.
Rowan finished lighting a fire and turned to see Rhea, frozen in the doorway. She looked confused and bewildered.
“Have you ever been inside a castle before?” He wasn’t sure she would reply since she had said very few words to him during the trip.
“No,” she said, walking around the room to get a better look. “This is nothing like our homes in Anestas. I share a room with my sisters.” She ran her fingers along the soft quilt.
“Do you have many sisters?” He hoped that casual conversation would help ease her nerves.