“She’s a dragon!” Mitch screamed, scrambling around the shifting girl to rush toward the exit.
At their fright, Amelia attempted to rein the beast back inside. But this time, the creature was not to be denied. A twisted shriek escaped her lips, rising from her lengthening neck, arms transforming to wings. Rushing forward, she followed the men, managing to escape the doorway a mere moment before she would have been too large to do so.
“Enough,” she pleaded to the beast, but the running figures proved her undoing, the dragon demanding she give chase to its fleeing prey.
Scales hardened as her wings expanded, the girl replaced by the creature, awoken at last. Another roar rose, and this time, the sound filled the air, echoing through the valley as her wings expanded, causing the village to stir.
The last of her resistance was stripped away when additional bandits emerged from nearby houses, several clutching villager’s valuables between grubby fingers.
With a flap of her fully formed wings, Amelia took to the sky, each beat carrying her higher. From the air, she surveyed the confusion below, her enhanced vision zeroing in on the men she sought who ran down the valley toward the safety of the trees.
The dragon had other plans.
Plunging through frigid air, the dragon raced them, a blue streak above.
Amelia appealed to the beast, but the dragon refused to be restrained. Wings expanded, bringing the dragon to an abrupt halt as it reached the men it sought, lips parting to a snarl as menacing as the one from Amelia’s dreams.
Drawing a breath, the last of Amelia’s human consciousness gave way.
The dragon issued another dreadful roar before channeling air through a second chamber, inhaling the oxygen required to fan the fires within.
Without further warning, the dragon exhaled, blue flames streaming from between its lethal fangs.
The blaze engulfed the men, burning through clothes and haphazard armor to melt the materials along with layers of skin. Aflame, the men screamed, flailing on the charring ground, nerves unaware of the body’s inability to further sustain life. Its primary prey executed, the dragon did not watch the dying men, nor take satisfaction in their agony. Instead it turned, spying more thieves attempting to flee the inferno. With another breath, they too were set ablaze, and more screams filled the once tranquil valley as the dragon princess incinerated those who had dared to cause harm.
Vengeance exacted, the dragon paid no mind to the burning fields, nor to the villagers who rushed to ensure the fire would not spread to the village. She did not notice the farmhouse, which burned in spite of their efforts.
Swooping through the air, the dragon roared its victory, soaring high to illuminate the night with streaks of blue light as it danced through icy skies.
Chapter 30
Amelia awoke at the forest’s edge. Nude, but covered in patches of dirt, leaves and twigs knotted in her hair. Every muscle hurt, and her skin itched terribly as she struggled to adjust to the costs of transformation after having denied the dragon for so long. After lying still for a few minutes, Amelia rose.
Wiping her eyes, she walked the path she had learned well over the previous few months, until she found a particular spot. Lifting several rocks, she pulled out a hidden satchel, retrieving a spare pair of pants and shirt she’d stashed for such an occurance. Amelia dressed as she recalled the previous night’s events.
As usual, with an undesired transformation, memory returned slowly. She had experienced the familiar dream, and went downstairs for… She jerked to a standing position as she remembered. Men had attempted to rape Chris. Their refusal to heed her warnings. The wrath of the dragon as they burned.
“Oh my gods!” Her hand flew to her mouth as she rushed forward, running in the direction of the village.
Reaching the clearing, Amelia spied the charred fields, smoke assaulting her nostrils. As her eyes trailed down the valley, relief flooded her at the unscathed houses. Yet her heart crumbled when she saw the distant farmhouse, utterly destroyed by her dragon’s unquenchable wrath.
“No!” Amelia shook her head, guilt overcoming her.
Did I hurt someone?
The horrific thought plagued as she ran past the fields, toward the skeletal remains of the home. Several people stood around the blackened timbers.
When she reached them, one of the men ordered, “Stay back!”
Amelia froze, cheeks flushing as her eyes searched the faces in earnest, attempting to determine if lives had been lost. “Please,” she asked, “was anyone hurt?”
“We don’t want your kind here,” the man replied.
“I didn’t mean for this to happen. They were going to harm Chris. I was only—”
“Your kind causes more destruction than any of these thugs have ever done.”
“They were hurting her. I tried to help.”
“You helped all right. They would have taken a few pieces of silver. You helped us right into destitution.”
“I didn’t—”
“My brother was burned in your flames.”
Her blood ran cold. “Is he okay?”
“No thanks to you,” the man said sharply. “Now leave! You’re not welcome here.”
Close to tears, Amelia hung her head. “I’m sorry,” she mumbled, before turning away from those gathered.
Amelia walked back toward the woods, but paused as the ground transformed from wild grass to charred stubs. Moving along the edge of the soot, she hissed as something sharp pierced the sole of her left foot. Hopping on one leg, she raised the stinging foot, and withdrew the jagged shard. Holding up piece marked with her blood, Amelia was horrified to realize the splinter was not of wood, but bone.
Pressing the fragment between her fingers, the brittle remains crumbled, blowing away in the breath of a gentle wind, which carried the sickening scents of smoke and burnt flesh.
Her eyes focused through her tears to take in the ghastly scene. She realized she stood beside not bodies, but instead piles of ash in the shape of men. Where once souls had been housed, not even the bones remained.
Running from field of death, she raced toward the shadowed forest.
“Elizabeth! Wait!”
At the sound of Chris’ voice, Amelia paused, but could not bring herself to face the woman who had been so kind.
“Please look at me?”
Miserably, Amelia turned.
To her surprise, Chris stepped forward and pulled her into a tight embrace. “Thank you.”
“Thank me?” Amelia extricated herself from Chris’ arms as she glanced up to meet her gaze. “How can you thank me? Look at what I did!”
“You saved me, along with dozens of other women in the village. These fools are not intelligent enough to realize it.”
“I killed those men.”
“They were evil.”
“So am I. I only wished to frighten them. To make them stop. But…the dragon. I couldn’t control her. She killed them, and I couldn’t stop her. The village, I…”
“You have been suppressing the dragon for a long time, I suspect. Far too long to control, once unleashed.”
“I don’t understand; it’s never been this way before. The dragon, she’s always been a natural part of me. But this…I…”
“There exists a balance, to being a shifter, my princess.”
Startled by the formal address, Amelia jerked back, eyes wide with fear.
“The ring.” Chris reached into a pocket to withdraw the gold band topped with the deep red stone. “Before I failed to transform, I served as lady-in-waiting to the dragon queen, whom I now suspect to be your mother. I may not have recognized you, Your Highness. But the ring, I put it away every night, and retrieved it each morning when your mother dressed. The men dropped it in their rush to escape. When I saw it, I realized who you were, my lady—”
“Amelia,” she whispered her name. “I’m sorry I lied. You were so kind. I…”
“Quite all right, Your Highness. I unders
tand why you did.” Chris drew a breath, handing the ring back to its rightful owner, watching as Amelia slipped it back onto the third finger of her right hand. “Please, my lady, come back to the tavern. The villagers, they were taken by surprise. I promise, they will realize what you did for them soon.”
“No,” Amelia answered. “They won’t, and as long as my dragon half is so enraged, no one is safe. Every time I have that dream—nightmare—I can’t count the number of times I’ve awoken and could barely contain the flames. I must go where I can’t harm anyone.”
“Please, my lady. Give last night’s events time to settle.”
Amelia considered Chris’ invitation, wanting nothing more than to grant her request. Closing her eyes, Amelia again saw the fleeing men, her blue flames rushing forth to turn living flesh to ash.
“No.” Her eyes flew open as inside, the dragon stirred, brought forth by the memory of its triumph. “I’m sorry. I can’t.” She pulled her mother’s ring off, handing it back to Chris. “Sell this, and use the money to repair the farm, and anything else I damaged. And please take care of Gabriel,” she spoke of Gwain’s horse, who had carried her on her journey. “He’s been a faithful companion.”
“My lady, please.”
“No,” she said again, eyes bleeding from sapphire to emerald, pupils narrowing as the dragon took control of her vision. Stepping back, she quickly shed the shirt and pants, scales already lining her body, transforming her skin from silk to leather as her wings emerged.
Chris gave her distance as the dragon burst through.
Guilt, embarrassment, and remorse vanished, replaced by the elation of having conquered its enemies. Pain forgotten, the dragon’s strength enfolded Amelia, eradicating all traces of humanity.
The dragon knew nothing of shame. It did not care about the villagers’ harsh words, nor the cold stares that followed her steps toward the woods. A creature of legend; a powerful, fire-breathing entity of strength and divinity. Lord of the sky, the dragon soared high, taking the human girl securely in its protective embrace, guarding her from those who would cause her harm.
No pain, the voice only she could hear issued the comforting promise. In safely, shall I keep you. In my protection, shall you be. Until the end of time.
With those final thoughts, Amelia lost herself to the enthralling creature within.
Below, Chris watched her leave, familiar ring clutched tightly in her palm. Her heart was heavy remembering the late queen’s kindness as she watched her daughter vanish from sight. She remained there for a long time, part of her hoping the princess would change her mind and return.
She did not.
With a sigh, Chris turned back toward the village, when Conner emerged from between the trees, covering the distance between them in a few quick strides.
“Conner,” she called in greeting, covertly tucking the precious ring in a hidden pocket.
“What, by the gods, happened here?”
“Well—”
“The girl? I told you keeping her here was dangerous. I knew this would eventually happen.”
“You knew no such thing.”
“Mother, you could have been killed! The entire village could have… Was anyone harmed?”
“One farmer got a few burns on his arm—”
“Gods!”
“Not what you think,” she defended her young charge.
“What I think is that girl transformed, and burnt most of the fields to a crisp on some uncontrolled joyride.”
“Seth came back!” Chris snapped.
Conner stared at her, lilac eyes meeting her angry gaze. “Seth?”
“Only this time, he brought an entire group of thugs with him.”
“Oh…did he?”
“He tried to…” Chris said quietly, “with the girl, while his men entered other houses, likely seeking similar entertainment.”
Conner’s eyes shut, teeth digging into his bottom lip.
“She saved us, Conner. Probably saved the majority of the village. Yes, there was some damage, and an injury, but nothing to compare with what might have happened, had Seth’s men finished having their way.”
“I’m sorry. I should have been here.”
“No.” Chris shook her head, offering a tight smile. “You made the right decision, when you chose to leave. You know you did.”
“And what about the girl?”
“The girl is more than she seems.”
“What do you mean?”
“She’s…” Chris considered telling her son the truth, but hesitated. She had known the girl was a shifter from when Conner had carried her in from the storm. The kind of fever she had displayed, followed by the absolute cold, was a classic symptom of repressed transformation. Her nightmares marked her as well, for only those blessed by the power of Kamar were granted the gift of foresight.
“Are you telling the truth?” Conner’s question brought her out of her thoughts. “Did Seth, or his men…”
“No,” she assured him. “And they won’t be bothering us again, thanks to her.”
“I’m sorry, Mother. I wish…”
“You had to choose your own path, even if that path rarely leads you to my door.”
“I wish there were more I could do for you.”
“There is, Conner. Watch out for the girl.”
“The girl? I meant for you.”
“As did I,” Chris replied. “The girl is special. I worry she may need assistance, and I’m not able to be there for her.”
“How so?”
“She’s like I once was, abandoned by those who should have cared for her most. Hesitant to trust.”
“Why would a dragon shifter, at her level of power, have been cast out?”
“I can’t imagine. I only know she’s very special, and may require our help to find her place in the world.”
“Should I go after her?”
“No.” Chris shook her head. “To do so now would only cause harm, to you or her. Give her time to cope with—to process—whatever trials she has faced. Watch her from afar, and wait until the time is right.”
“When will the time be right?”
His mother issued a soft smile. “I believe, my son, when the time is right, you’ll know.”
With those cryptic words, Chris kissed her son’s cheek, before leaving him at the forest’s edge.
Chapter 31
7 years later
Wings silhouetted against midnight skies, the dragon soared through moonlight, thriving on the crisp, frigid air that soothed the creature’s heated flesh.
Consumed by grief, the human girl had given herself over to the beast within, allowing the dragon to reign. Knowing nothing of fear, of anguish, nor the heartache and loneliness that plagued the fading girl, the dragon moved with confidence, each muscle adjusting seamlessly in flight, its power protecting Amelia from all who would seek to harm her…including herself.
She thrived in this solitary existence. After leaving the village, Amelia had found a secluded cave miles away. Thankfully, the dragon’s hunting and eating sated the hunger of both halves. And on the rare occasion she took human form, she would gather berries from a nearby thicket, or fish from the stream. She had managed to fashion basic clothes using the hide of one of the dragon’s kills, putting her limited sewing knowledge to use. Every six months or so, she would venture into a different nearby village and trade for a few supplies, including the finely cured two-layer sleeping sack, made from pieced-together rabbit fur on the inside, with a durable leather exterior, which she used for sleeping on the infrequent nights she remained in human form.
Amelia preferred the dragon’s care-free mind. Over the years, she had come to detest her weaker half; the girl who longed for the arms of a man who had never loved her, and the sister who had seen her only as a threat to her crown. Over and over, she attempted to force her mind and heart past those events, yet continually failed to do so.
She hardly spoke, even to herself, instead going
through the motions of life in silence, grateful she was now far enough away from others to avoid harming anyone else.
In spite of the bandits’ ill-intentions, she had never meant to kill them. The slaughter haunted her, a daily reminder her choice to leave was the right one for all concerned. Here, at least, she could harm none but herself.
These thoughts carried her through many twilight hours as she curled by the fire, exhausted from the dragon’s exertions, enduring until her next shift into blessed oblivion. She managed to sleep for a short while, before rising and venturing out into the area she had come to know well.
Pausing by a thicket, she gathered a handful of blueberries, savoring the slight sour taste on the back of her tongue. She took her time, eating her fill.
The forest around her was filled with the sounds of chirping birds, and the sweet aroma of fresh grass. A tranquil scene, all was well in the forest she had come to view as home.
Leaving the thicket, she walked along a grassy path until she eventually came to the river. Moving along its length, she reached a bend where the water calmed. Shedding her simple hide garment, Amelia stepped into the current, grateful the early summer sun had warmed the water enough not to steal her breath. Dipping her head beneath the surface, she allowed the fresh running water to rinse clumps of dirt from her blonde tresses, running her fingers through the strands, assisting in the removal of grime.
Finally, Amelia leaned back, floating on the surface, staring into the blue sky above. Cloudless, it would be a beautiful night for a flight. Closing her eyes, she floated for another minute before turning to swim back toward the riverbank.
Perched on a log, Amelia ran her fingers through her hair, attempting to detangle it while she air dried.
To her left, a crow squawked and flapped as it furiously moved past.
Her gaze followed the bird, and she silently apologized for having spooked the creature, who let out another terrified sound, which was swallowed by a deep-throated growl.
Amelia turned toward the sound as something solid collided with her left side. Falling face down, she attempted to climb to her feet, but the weight landed on her back, sharp claws ripping her lower abdomen, tearing through skin and slicing into muscle.
20 Shades of Shifters_A Paranormal Romance Collection Page 233