Dragon's Prize (Dragons Awaken Book 2)

by Maya Starling

  As Charlie neared the witch, the sounds around her were drowned out. She heard nothing but her own shallow breaths and the beating of her heart. She didn’t hear Theo and Damien yell after her as they took down the last two guards defending Lilith. Neither did she notice Bast’s distraction while Galor added a new cut to her already carved body. She also didn’t perceive Olivia, as she rushed by to Cassiel’s aid.

  Magnus slammed his armored fist into Cassiel’s jaw. The knight stumbled to the side but before Magnus could fell him, Olivia embedded her own axe, with all her might, into prince’s back.

  Time slowed for Charlie.

  She reached the witch, and the shaman’s words echoed in her mind when.

  Remember… her blood flows just as red as your hair.

  She knew what she had to do. Grasping the long dagger in both hands, she raised it high and took a deep breath. Her heart pounded fiercely and her grip quivered.

  Remember… her blood flows just as red as your hair.

  Charlie closed her eyes before bringing the weapon down to strike at Lilith.

  She didn’t see Olivia stumble back as Cassiel had to make his choice between his prince and his lady. The prince no longer had his trusty sword in his hands as he stood paralyzed before his former knight. Cassiel blinked and glanced over Magnus’ shoulder at Olivia. She had clamped her hands over her mouth. Her face was dirty, only the tears leaving clean trails down her cheeks. He blinked again and his eyes settled on his beloved Delilah, slowly being drained of life.

  For them.

  Cassiel’s axe broke through the armor on the side of Magnus’ neck, sinking deep, almost beheading the prince.

  Unseeing, Charlie plunged the dirk down just as Lilith realized something was wrong with Magnus and swiveled around.

  The long dagger went straight into Lilith’s heart.

  Charlie’s eyes snapped open and met the witch’s, the blackness in Lilith’s orbs slowly dissipating.

  Lilith threw her head back. She released an ear-piercing scream toward the sky.

  The fighting ceased and all heads turned to look at the witch and the red-headed girl. Her control over the innocent people was broken.

  Charlie watched the witch’s gaze trail down toward the hilt sticking out of her chest. Lilith pulled it out and blood spilled forth. She looked up into Charlie’s eyes, smiled wickedly one more time before using her last vestige of strength to stab Charlie in the stomach. The witch twisted the dagger and crumbled onto the ground.

  “NOOO!” Bast screamed when Charlie fell to her knees. Charlie couldn’t look away from the dagger sticking halfway out of her belly.

  Charlie’s hands hovered over the hilt, uncertain as to what to do. Bast, Olivia, Theo and Damien ran to her, and Cassiel ran to Delilah.

  Only Bast reached Charlie, laying her softly on the ground, cradling Charlie’s head in her lap. She glanced up and saw everyone staring at the witch’s body.

  As blood pulsed out of Lilith’s wound with her final heartbeats, so did a swirl of bright light.

  The orb of white smoke took a shape of a person. Slowly its outlines solidified. Before them stood a ghostly visage of a woman.

  “Lucia?” Kaden’s voice surprised Olivia as he came to stand by her side. His eyes shifted toward his beloved, scanning her features. Olivia nodded and Kaden pulled her into his arms, turning to face the angelic form of the woman again. She looked so much like Delilah, with long flowing golden hair, but her eyes were completely white.

  “Yes… I don’t have much time. I will finally have some peace. My dear sister…” Lucia sighed and looked at Lilith’s body at her feet, “She was much troubled. When she wove the first curse, before my spirit left this plane, she bound me to herself as she bound the dragon to you. She didn’t know what she had done, that I was trapped. I was angry with her for being so stupid, for meddling with necromancy, and it fed her grief. My powers and my magic became her own. I realized Lilith was only mourning, but there was nothing I could do. I wanted to comfort her, I wanted to tell her it was alright, that she was not alone, but I couldn’t….”

  Lucia looked up at Kaden. “And it was not your fault. It never was. That whole night was an accident. We could all be blamed, but there is no need. It was all meant to be, it was fate… and she has much more planned for you all.”

  “My sweet, sweet niece.” She turned to Delilah who looked up at the visage of her aunt.

  Delilah’s eyes were wide and mouth gaping open. She couldn’t get up; Lilith had completely depleted her magic and almost drained her of life. The only thing she managed was to lean back into Cassiel’s embrace as he held her upright.

  “Such innocence, but so damaged. You will heal now. You will grow, you will thrive. I won’t fear for you anymore. I’ve watched you grow, kept you company for as long as I could, but now you have others to lean on.”

  “My amulet, my journal?” Delilah croaked; her throat dry and raw.

  Lucia smiled benevolently and nodded. Her glimmer wavered.

  “I have so much more to share but the last grains of sand are slipping through. You have one last important feat to do, my sweet Delilah.”

  Delilah nodded.

  “You need to save your sister now,” Lucia said as she glanced at Charlie.

  Bast brushed the stray strands of hair away from Charlie face. She murmured in a soft voice. “Come on Spark. Hold on. Just… don’t go. Don’t leave me. I told you I love you, you can’t leave now.” Bast held back a sob.

  Charlie wanted to speak, but only managed to cough blood. She gathered whatever strength she had left and spoke while smiling up at her warrior Goddess, “You made me happy.”

  Olivia shook off the daze of seeing Lucia and ran to Charlie’s side.

  “My sister?” Delilah said. A bout of newfound energy coursed through her body. Her heart beat stronger.

  “Yes. I have given you enough clues,” Lucia’s voice distorted as her form slowly dispersed. “Hurry, she doesn’t have much time. And remember Delilah, I love you.”

  As Lucia vanished, Delilah tried to get up and go to Charlie… her sister, but she only crumbled back to the ground. Cassiel picked her up into his arms and carried her over.

  “Thank you,” Delilah murmured and kissed Cassiel’s cheek before he set her down gently.

  “Please, don’t let her die.” Desperation overwhelmed Bast.

  Delilah nodded, unable to speak as she took in the sight of the dirk embedded into her sister’s stomach. She put her hands around the weapon and nodded to Bast.

  Bast gripped the hilt of the long dagger.

  Delilah inhaled, closed her eyes and let the warmth gather in the pit of her belly. She sent it flowing through her heart, garnering strength, and into her arms. The healing magic tingled in the tips of her fingers and the heavenly glow poured into Charlie just as her eyes drifted shut.

  Delilah nodded once more and Bast pulled the dagger out. The young witch-healer pushed as much as she could into her sister, and when she had nothing left, she sacrificed of herself.

  She gave all she had until blackness took over.

  Chapter 51

  Charlie watched a beam of sunlight peek through the curtains, reaching the foot of the bed. Such a peaceful sight, but such a contrast to the merciless throbbing behind her eyes.

  She wondered what had happened last night to leave her feeling so groggy and tired. She had no recollections. As hard as she tried to remember, nothing came to mind. Her heartbeat picked up speed when she realized she was missing an important memory. Her breathing grew labored as panic fluttered in her belly.

  She couldn’t remember.

  Charlie snapped her head to the other side. Bast’s peaceful face as she slumbered eased her worries. But why was Bast sleeping in her bed? Not that I mind. The butterflies of fear in her belly took a different flight, one of excitement and love. A smile crept onto Charlie’s face, as it always did when she looked at Bast.

  Her hand felt heavy as she
raised it. Her fingertips peppered soft kisses over Bast’s cheek. Bast subconsciously leaned into the touch and Charlie’s grin widened, the pounding headache forgotten. Her eyes caressed Bast’s features, now softened with sleep. The thought of just leaning forward and kissing Bast’s inviting lips made Charlie remember. She remembered the last kiss they’d shared before the battle with Magnus ensued.

  A horrified gasp slipped from her lips as the memories slammed into her like angry waves crashing into a rocky cliff. The fighting, the blood, the death… Giant’s death. More blood. Olivia fighting Magnus. Bast killing Reed. Bast’s eyes filled with rage. Everyone fighting for their lives. Her walking towards Lilith with the weapon in her hands. The shaman’s words in her head. The feel of the dagger sinking into Lilith’s chest, breaking the skin, the flesh, grazing the ribs and finally piercing the witch’s heart. Lilith’s scream echoed in the back of her mind.

  Charlie had killed. She’d taken a life… there was blood on her hands and it made her sick. She quickly sat up and yelped as sharp pain pierced her stomach. A new memory flashed in her mind. She remembered Lilith plucking that same dagger from her own heart and stabbing Charlie in her belly, twisting. After that, everything was hazy, the sounds distorted. She remembered her last words to Bast as life had seeped out of her body, leaving her cold and frightened. Warmth enveloped her soon after, and beckoned her forward. It had felt familiar, and safe. She had barely held onto it and then she was tumbling down again, into the dark abyss of her mind… or was it death?

  “Charlie!”

  Bast’s voice snapped Charlie out from the onslaught of emotions and recollections. A callused finger wiped away the tears rolling down her cheek. Tears she hadn’t realized she was shedding.

  “It’s alright Spark… you’re alright. Thank the Gods you’re awake!”

  Charlie choked on a sob and coughed. She tried to speak but her throat was raw and dry.

  “Here… take a sip.” Bast held a cup of water against Charlie’s lips and tipped it lightly.

  Charlie took a few sips, quenching her parched throat. She looked up at Bast, eyes red and brimming with tears.

  “I killed her, Bast. I took a life.”

  Bast pulled Charlie into her embrace and laid them down again, holding Charlie nestled in her arms.

  “Shh….” she murmured into Charlie’s fiery tresses.

  Charlie cried, the sobs quaking her body as she clutched the front of Bast’s brown-cotton shirt in a tight grip, her face buried in the crook of her beloved’s neck.

  “Shh... Spark. I know it’s hard now. You feel the loss of that innocence, but you saved so many lives,” Bast crooned soft words of encouragement into Charlie’s hair. “You saved Kaden, you saved Delilah, you saved so many more…” She continued with tender words of reassurance and love.

  After a while, when the words of comfort finally settled in her mind, Charlie’s sobs subsided and her breaths evened out. She sniffled, wiped the wetness off her cheeks and looked up at Bast.

  “Olivia? Tell me she’s alright.”

  “Olivia is fine, as are Theo and Damien, Cassiel too. Disa and Pup are recovering.”

  Charlie nodded and settled back against Bast’s shoulder. Her fingers played with the buttons on Bast’s shirt.

  “I saw them kill Giant.” Charlie’s voice was quiet and soft, a few fresh tears escaping her. She couldn’t seem to stop their flow. Her heart felt as if it were pierced by many tiny arrows. “Who else died?”

  “Maybe we shouldn’t talk about it now. You’re still healing, you don’t need the burden. You’ve been asleep for four days. I… I…” Bast paused and closed her eyes. The relief still needed to settle in her soul. She had been so terrified, felt so helpless, her heart so lost. Just as she’d discovered love, it was almost wrenched away from her, and so violently. She had spent the last days and nights by Charlie’s side, helping to get her cleaned up, and feeding her what little they could. The time had passed excruciatingly slowly and the tight coil in her stomach never loosened.

  “I was so afraid Charlie. So afraid to lose you.” Bast tilted Charlie’s face up and kissed her forehead. “I’ll never again shy away from your affection, from your smiles, you can flirt your fiery heart out with me. I’ll take it all, just don’t leave me. You complement me. You balance me out.”

  Bast cupped Charlie’s cheek in her hand and kissed her tenderly on the lips. The knowledge of Charlie’s injuries was strong in the back of her mind, making her cautious. Charlie responded eagerly, her hand caressing the side of Bast’s neck as she slipped her tongue past Bast’s lips.

  It was a kiss of passion, of survival, of love.

  Charlie ignored the dull ache in her belly, the pounding in her head as she maneuvered her body to lie on top of Bast.

  The door creaked open without them noticing and Olivia tentatively poked her head in.

  “Charlie!” Olivia squeaked and dropped the tray she had been carrying, filled with food for Bast to break her fast.

  “Livvie!” Charlie squealed back while Bast blushed profusely, still trapped underneath her.

  “Charlie!” Olivia repeated, jumping over the scattered remains of food, cutlery and bowls. “You’re awake!” She ran forward and climbed onto the bed, completely disregarding Bast and the position in which she had found them.

  Charlie was just as happy to see Olivia alive and well. She met her halfway, sliding off of Bast and embracing Olivia in a tight hug. They drenched each other’s hair with tears of relief.

  Bast climbed off the bed and picked up the mess Olivia left behind. She glanced over her shoulder and saw the two still embracing with Olivia soothingly running her hand over Charlie’s copper hair.

  “Easy girls… Charlie is still not fully healed,” Bast said after she picked everything up from the floor and put it back on the tray, leaving it to rest on top of the cupboard.

  “Oh!” Olivia said, “I forgot… I was too excited to see you awake.” She unwound herself from Charlie’s embrace and sat back on her heels. Her attention was solely on Charlie’s face. Olivia couldn’t help the grin on her face and released a deep sigh of relief after so many days of mourning and worry. She knew that Charlie still needed to recover, judging from the dark circles under her still tearful eyes, and a yawn that had escaped her.

  Charlie wiped her eyes and scooted back against the headboard, the movement making her wince.

  “Here, this will be more comfortable, do you need anything?” Olivia fluffed up a pillow and put it behind Charlie’s back.

  “Just some water.”

  Olivia turned back and saw that Bast was already pouring water into a cup.

  Charlie took a few more sips, smoothed down her unruly hair and leaned back with a tired sigh.

  “I just woke up, but I feel so exhausted.”

  “I am not surprised, after everything you went through,” Olivia said as she settled more comfortably on the bed, sitting cross-legged, facing Charlie. “Maybe we should let you sleep?”

  “No. Not yet, I want to know what happened,” Charlie looked at Bast. “Come sit by me?” Bast obliged by sitting next to Charlie, entwining their fingers. Charlie rewarded her with a grateful and loving smile.

  “I’m afraid to lift up my shirt and see what’s causing me the pain.”

  “It is not that serious… well, not anymore. When Lilith died, some things happened, but it is Delilah’s story to tell. I can tell you, though, that she risked her life for yours. She healed you enough to keep you alive before she lost consciousness. Lilith almost completely drained her of what she calls her life-force. She had so little to spare for you, I was so afraid we would lose you both. I do not know if I could have handled that. Not after all the other...” Olivia’s gaze strayed down at her fingers as she fought off the tears.

  She inhaled courage, and lifted her gaze. “We realized, fast, you were both still barely alive. We did not know what to do or how to help Delilah, and Cassiel was so torn, he would not let go
of her… and you, you were still bleeding, but not as much. I think Delilah kept you from crossing over that edge of life and Donovan pulled you back.”

  “Donovan?”

  “Yes. Seems the boy had a change of heart after seeing all that Magnus and Lilith did. And he felt sorry and guilty for you, I think. He was quick to check on you and stitch you up. In the meantime, Rylan and Luke gathered the bandits who didn’t get away. The brothers did run away though.” Olivia sighed. “It worries me, but Bast said one of them was seriously wounded so they might not have gotten far.”

  “Yes. I think it was one of them that lost the arm,” Bast deadpanned and both Olivia’s and Charlie’s eyes widened.

  “Ummm… well… so… Rylan and Luke gathered those who did not manage to escape, and they were intimidated by Órva'ar and others not to speak the truth of what had transpired, but to take some of Magnus’ things, deliver them to someone important and spread word that the prince and his men had been attacked by bandits, that they arrived too late to save the prince but fought off the rest of them. We thought it the best way to deal with the fact that we have killed the prince.” Olivia’s shoulders slumped. She then lifted her eyes to the ceiling.

  “I have no remorse about Magnus being dead. Him or Reed. They deserved it. And Lilith as well, after everything we found out. And that scares me… That I feel… that I do not feel anything for them.” Her gaze dropped again, eyes welling up with tears. She scoffed. “We won, but we have nothing to celebrate. I lost my mother because of him. I almost lost my father… and –”

  “It’s not your fault Olivia, the others risked their lives willingly,” Bast interrupted, she didn’t want Charlie to be more upset by remembering and learning about the people who had died. “It wasn’t about their loyalty to you anymore… it was much broader; about personal freedom, about letting someone as conceited as Magnus telling us how to live, to bow down to his every whim. That’s not a true leader, not when he puts himself first. He was to blame for everything. He brought it on himself.”