Many times, Amelia had asked of her rescuer, the mysterious Conner. She had never seen him again, after the night he had returned her from the woods.
“He lives on the outskirts with his brothers,” Chris had informed her. “They prefer it that way, though I’ve tried several times to get them to reconsider.” She shrugged. “They seem content by themselves.”
“I wanted to thank him.”
“He knows you’re grateful, child. Trust me.”
Her mind played over the events of that night. The intense pain in her head. The exhaustive struggle to contain the dragon. The stranger’s voice. Speak to your dragon, my lady. The creature is a part of you. It will listen, if you ask.
Who was her savior? Had he actually known what she was, or had she imagined the words? If he knew, why hadn’t he exposed her secret?
Forcing these troubling thoughts from her mind, she lay down on the bed, tension ebbing with each deep breath, until she reached the rhythm of sleep.
Chapter 28
The dragon princess stood in a burning field, throat dry from thick smoke, each breath forced into her protesting lungs. Her heart lurched as she spied the skeletal crumblings of the once lush land, birds fluttering helpless, unable to fly through the falling ash.
She walked over the charred ground, hot air stinging her dry eyes. A thick fog blanketed the land, partially shrouding the devastating aftermath. Attempting to keep her coughs to a minimum, Amelia sought the source of the flames, but as she searched, she was overpowered by a familiar sense of dismay. She herself was a creature of flame. A raw force, which consumed and destroyed; never soothed.
When she came upon a struggling squirrel, she spoke softly to the creature, which calmed at her gentle assurance. In desperation, she called on the little power she held, and light emanated from her fingers as she willed the creature to live. But as the healing radiance burst from her palms, a chilling, familiar shadow fell over her kneeling form.
Fear crawled over her skin as she forced herself to glance toward the sky.
The strange feathered dragon glared down. Fangs protruded from its open mouth, its forked tongue flicking the air, tasting her terror. Intense silver eyes stared down, causing Amelia’s heart to pound painfully against her ribs. She swallowed, dread mixing with smoke, forcing her to suppress a coughing fit.
“What do you want?” Her voice a soft whisper, but she knew the dragon would hear. “Tell me what you want.”
To her surprise, a deep, masculine voice slid silkily through her mind as the creature hovered. “The flames of Kalleen…must die.”
With those words, the creature opened his mouth, sealing her fate in a spew of golden flame.
“Elizabeth!” Chris’ voice drew her from the all-too familiar nightmare.
Eyes open, Amelia clawed her way from the bed, twisting in panic as she crossed the room before full awareness dawned.
“Forgive me, Elizabeth,” Chris addressed her again by the middle name she had given. “You were having a nightmare.”
Amelia faced the wall, drawing labored breaths, hesitant to turn lest her eyes appeared other than human. Her dragon rumbled beneath her skin, heating her flesh to a rosy flush as she struggled to contain the protective nature of the beast within.
Please, she begged silently, pleading for calm over the racing of her heart, and sweat breaking on her brow.
The dragon quieted, retiring to patience, though not to slumber.
Thank you, she said without words, before turning toward Chris. “I’m sorry.”
“Another dream? Would you like to talk about it?”
Amelia shook her head.
Chris persisted, “You get nightmares a lot. Sometimes it helps to share.”
Amelia shifted uncomfortably, wanting to trust the woman who had shown her nothing but kindness, yet cautious. If she confessed her dreams, she might be unable to prevent herself from revealing all.
“It’s all right. If you ever do wish to talk, you know where I am.” Offering an understanding smile, she moved toward the door.
Against her better judgement, Amelia decided to take a chance. “May I ask you something?”
“Of course.”
Amelia took a breath, steeling herself for unknown outcomes. “Have you ever seen a dragon who looked…different than others?”
“Different? How so?”
“Like a dragon, but with wings of a bird.”
“A bird?”
Amelia nodded. “Wings that look more like feathers, but you can see the fire inside of them, glowing embers lighting the wings from within. The front legs are also more bird-like, with claws, but the back legs have hooves, like those of a horse.”
Chris walked to the desk, moving its wooden chair to beside the bed. Once seated, the older woman met the gaze of the younger. Chris appeared pale, eyes wide as she reviewed the princess’ words. “A dragon, with the wings of a bird, you say?”
“And the hooves of a horse.”
“A dragon with…”
“Have you seen such a creature?”
“No,” she answered. “No one has. Not since…”
“Since when? Do they exist? Where are they?”
“Only in stories, songs, and glimpses of dreams.”
“Glimpses of dreams? I met a man who said his sister had seen the same creature in her nightmares.”
Chris nodded. “Those who do are sent to the temples, never to be seen again.”
“What?”
“Individuals who have dreams of the feathery dragons are always sent to the temples.”
Understanding dawned. “Where they are given potions,” Amelia finished, “to ensure they never transform.”
“Yes.”
“But why? Are the people who dream of this meant to become a different dragon?”
“Some claim that is the fear. Yet the songs, the myths, they are as old as the temples themselves.”
“What do the myths say?”
“That there was once an abundance of such dragons. Long ago, they were cast from the Kalleen kingdoms by a high priestess and queen, who stood united. They have many different names, however they are most commonly referred to as Amethystine Dragons, due to their purple coloring. Whereas the Kalleen Dragons are generally pastel-toned, Amethystine Dragons were meant to blend with darker skies. And just as it is rare for a Kalleen Dragon to be borne by moonlight, stories say it is equally rare for an Amethystine Dragon to be borne by day.”
“What happened to them, according to the stories?”
“Supposedly they attempted to wrestle control of the kingdom for themselves. When they failed, the dragons left, vowing to one day return, and vanished into the mist, never again to be seen.”
“Yes.” Amelia’s voice sounded haunted. “Something must have happened. The dragon in the dream, he has such…rage.” A chill raced down her skin, causing Amelia to rub at her arm. “I’ve never known such anger.”
“Yes, the Amethystine Dragon, raging against banishment of his people. Forced into eternal exile.” Chris leaned forward. “Is there anything else you wish to tell me, my lady?”
Amelia desired nothing more than to relieve her lonely burden by telling the truth. All of it. To explain who she was, and what her sister had done, but fear stayed her tongue. Instead, she shook her head.
“You ask if these stories are true. I do not have answers, only a caution. The temples are a powerful and ancient force in these lands. They have ruled for centuries as keepers of the realm’s most damning secrets. There is a reason they gather all those who carry such dreams. A reason they hide them from the world.”
Amelia drew a sharp breath and struggled to speak, her next word a strained whisper. “Why?”
“The temples once honorably assisted the crown in governing the land. They spoke for the goddesses, guiding those blessed by her power through the entangled path of living in two worlds, but belonging fully to neither. A spiritual bridge, if you will, between dragon and human.
“Over time, their power became corrupt. People saw the temples as a path to conquest. Those with a true calling were reduced to lesser roles, and eventually…”
“Prevented from ever transforming.”
Chris nodded. “It happened to my cousin. She had such terrible nightmares of disasters similar to those you describe.”
“I don’t understand.”
“Some say having these dreams are a sign of being divine. Others, a warning of what is yet to come. I can tell you though, the land my cousin saw was far away. A place she had never seen, yet could describe in exquisite detail. A few months after she was taken away, that land experienced a terrible fire. Hundreds perished. Yet the temples never spoke of the priestess who had predicted the tragedy.”
Amelia shook her head. The field she had seen was not a foreign land, but the forest outside her home. No, she reasoned. Surely if these visions were predictions, not even the temples would attempt to hide them. What possible benefit could there be to hiding a warning that would protect the people the temples were sworn to serve? And besides, Gwain had said nothing of his sister’s predictions coming true. This must have been a mere coincidence.
Even as she formed this protective line of reasoning, Amelia began to doubt. “I’ve had these nightmares for years. The forest in the dreams, it stands still.”
“For now,” Chris noted, furthering disturbing Amelia’s mind as she rose to leave. “I only ask you to act with caution, my lady. Those chosen by the goddesses, in any capacity, often experience hardship few shall ever know. Try to get some rest. You know where I am, should you need anything further.”
Chris did not wait for Amelia’s reply, but turned and left the room, leaving her to contemplation.
Chapter 29
Fields burned. Ground charred. Trees shriveled. Ash clung to her throat, clawing its way painfully to wheezing lungs. A plain brown bird fluttered in her hand as she desperately attempted to heal the gasping creature, toxins stealing its life faster than her magic could repair the damage.
The shadow fell, familiar dread spilling over her skin with an icy touch so unlike the flames of her suppressed beast.
The Amethystine Dragon bellowed its challenge. Silver eyes as enthralling as they were lethal in their deadly gaze.
“What do you want?” she again asked the question. “I don’t understand. Why must the flames die?”
The dragon reared back, opening his mouth with a fresh snarl as flames burst forth.
Waking from the dream with a shriek, Amelia tumbled painfully to the wooden floor, knee stinging as she fell upon it.
Angry, Amelia pulled her legs against her chest, wrapping trembling arms around her knees to bury her face against them. Mouth pressed to the cloth of her shift, Amelia groaned in frustration, both at her continued failure to resist the lethal intent of her nightmare’s monster, and her inability to rid herself of the plaguing dream.
“Why do I always cower?” she asked the empty room. “I’m a dragon princess. I shouldn’t stand there and wait for my inevitable death. Why? Why can’t I run, or fight, or…” She shook her head in frustration before reaching to grasp her mother’s ring from a hidden drawer, the cold metal a familiar comfort against her skin.
When she finally managed to climb back into bed, the low murmur of voices gave her pause. Never having heard anyone awake at this hour, Amelia grabbed a thick robe and pulled it around her waist, cinching the material with a wool belt.
After opening the door and proceeding down the hall, she realized the voices were coming from the tavern’s lower level. Quietly, she made her way down the wooden steps, grateful the creaking wood remained abnormally quiet.
Halfway down, previously mingled voices transformed to distinguishable words.
“You know what I desire,” a man stated.
“I’ve told you before, my lord,” Chris’ words were soft, but firm, “you’ve already taken them all.”
“You lie,” the masculine voice replied. “You will hand them over, and shall do so now.”
“I promise, there are no more.”
“Hand them over, or I shall take you to your brother. There’s a reward for your return, you know? You embarrassed the family a great deal when you left the lord you had been assigned to. Brought great shame. I’m sure your brother would honor your father’s promises to pay handsomely.”
“I have a few pieces of silver, but I swear, there’s nothing else left. Now please, leave me in peace.”
At the bottom of the stairs, Amelia peaked around the corner, grateful for the wall between herself and the men surrounding Chris. There were five men total, four standing in a circle, and the speaker in front of Chris, his bronzed hand holding tight to her right arm.
After a pause, the crude man said, “I’ll consider the silver. But you’ll have to throw something else in as well.” He turned to the men standing around him. “What do you say, boys? I’ve never been with the daughter of a noble house before. Have you?”
“Seth, please. Don’t do this.”
“Oh I am going to do it. Only question is if you’re going to be a good girl and let me, or force me to mark your pretty face while I do so. You’re a fine looking woman, in spite of your years. I’m sure your experience will make up for the lack of youth.”
Chris attempted to pull away, but found herself grabbed roughly by the man she had referred to as Seth. “No!” she protested as her back was forced against his front.
“Oh quiet down now, Chris,” he instructed, pulling up her skirts. “Not like you haven’t done this often enough.”
Uncertain, but knowing she could not stand by and allow these barbarians to have their way, Amelia stepped around the corner. “Wait!” she called, her appearance startling the men. “Leave her alone.”
“What’s this?” a blond to Chris’ right spoke for the first time.
“Don’t hurt her,” Amelia said. “If it is jewels you seek, I can oblige.”
All eyes trained on Amelia as she reached toward her right hand and removed her gold ring. Topped with a deep pear-shaped ruby, surrounded by diamond baguettes, her mother’s ring was of vast value, and all she now possessed of the late queen. She resisted the sentimental urge to pause, and handed it over without preamble to the man who had spoken at her appearance. “Here, this should be worth enough to clear up any misunderstanding.”
Stepping toward the firelight, the man held up the ring, the baguettes causing light to dance in multiple colors, speckled across the room.
He turned back, eyeing Amelia with a critical eye. “How did a tavern wench come into a treasure such as this?”
“What’s it matter? Take it, and be on your way.”
“Be on our way?” Seth’s voice re-entered the conversation from where he held Chris firmly against his chest. “Do you hear the wench giving us orders, Mitch?”
“I do. Some spunk in this one, and she’s much prettier than the old woman.”
“You asked for jewels, and you’ve been given them. Now I am asking you to leave us in peace.”
“Oh, we will,” Mitch replied, grinning to show several teeth missing from his upper gums. “Soon as we get to know you better.”
Amelia stepped back, causing the other men to grin in anticipation.
From her captive place, Chris offered, “I’ll be good for all of you. Like you said, Seth, experience makes up for youth.”
“Youth, yes. But a beauty like this? I think not. Bring her closer, Mitch. Let’s get a better look at her.”
“Run!” Chris screamed.
But Mitch managed to grab the princess before she could so much as turn. A second man stepped forward to seize her other arm, forcing her toward Seth.
“Let me go!” Amelia demanded, struggling against the stronger men.
She was held tight, captive hands bruising her upper arms as she struggled. Handing Chris over to another companion, Seth approached the outraged girl, and reached for her chin, forcing her to me
et his gaze, brown eyes connecting with sapphire.
“Pretty,” he said. “Didn’t know beauties such as you existed in these mountains. Thought only the shifters held such fire.” He laughed, a crude sound. “What do you say you show me how pretty?”
Without waiting for a reply, Seth pushed aside her robe, moving his dirt-caked hands to the top of her simple gown, where he ripped through her coverings. The thin material easily gave way to brute strength, and the gown opened nearly to the floor. Her rose-tipped breasts hardened as they were exposed to the frigid air.
Seth stepped back, allowing his gaze to feast on her flawless skin. “And to think I was going to settle for the old tavern maid.” He shook his head. “You’re exquisite.” His eyes swept from the bottom up, starting with her long, lithe legs, flat stomach, succulent breasts, and finally, her flushed cheeks and wide blue eyes.
Her face gave him pause; her angry expression notably lacked the fear he expected. He stepped closer, leaning enough to let his putrid breath warm her cheek. “Are you afraid, girl?”
“No,” she gave the startling answer. “Let me go, and leave in peace. I won’t ask again.”
Throwing his head back, Seth laughed. “Bravo for effort!” He clapped his hands as he turned back to the men behind him, who shared in the mockery. “Can you believe this girl is threatening me? Oh, this is going to be good.”
“Hope she keeps some of that sprit for when I’m between—” The man’s expression instantly sobered.
“What is it?” Seth demanded.
A sound drew his attention back toward Amelia. The two men holding her had stepped back in alarm.
“What are you doing?”
Returning his gaze to the nude girl, his breath caught, body stiffening as he met not the blue eyes of a human, but a sinister reptilian green. Glowing through the dark, Amelia’s dragon growled, a sound that rose unnaturally from her human throat. Blue scales burned along her skin, piercing through her more fragile form.
20 Shades of Shifters_A Paranormal Romance Collection Page 232