by H. C. Brown
“So many questions, little one.” Lumos chuckled. “Without magyck, we will travel by the Gates, a device hidden from the Nomags. As soon as I’m able, I will teach you how to form a circle of light and then we will be able to move through realms a little easier. A circle of light uses a great deal of power and you can’t travel into the unknown with this magyck.”
“Tell me about this circle of light. How does it work?”
“First, you form a circle of light, big enough to move through.” Lumos drew an imaginary circle in the air. “Same as always—see it and it appears—and then comes the difficult part. You must project the image of where you want to go. If you are successful, the scene will form on a shimmering mirror, the same as a Gate. I’ll explain Gates later.” He smiled. “You must keep the image in your mind and step through.”
Thalia pushed a stray lock of hair behind one ear. “So you must know your destination? I understand. And Gates, how do they work?”
“They look much the same, a shimmery mirror-like surface, but in a Gate the images change frequently in a sequence. So you must wait for your destination to appear and then walk through—no magyck required.” Lumos drew a sequence of circles in the air then joined them with a horizontal line. “Circles of light and Gates form a bridge between the realms. This magyck is the normal way to travel. The Gates were created by the ancients many thousands of years ago.”
“So, do you have a plan? Is there someone in this realm to help you?”
“Our first stop is to find the Lutwych Hag. She lives in a cave at the top of that mountain.” Lumos pointed to the black granite range rising to, snow-capped peaks in the distance. “She may be able to point us to a Magus who practises white magyck, or a dragon capable of undoing this spell.” He chewed a handful of dried fruit. “I’ll need your help…your protection. The Hag will require payment in blood.”
Thalia’s stomach squeezed. “I’m to give her my blood?”
“No, Fae blood gives her youth. She is a vampire.” Lumos cast a serious look at Thalia. “She will have control over me while I’m without magyck. I’ll need you to prevent her from making me her slave.” He sighed. “You see, some creatures of dark magyck are able to use telepathy. They can make suggestions to you as if they are your own thoughts. She will try to influence you, too. You must learn to shield your mind.”
“Do you mean as if I have conflicting thoughts?”
“Aye, has that happened of late?”
With a long groan, Thalia pressed the heels of her hands into her eyes. “Gods, yes, since I met you. One moment I like you, the next I’m afraid or the complete opposite. I had convinced myself I was losing my wits.”
“Hmm…well, it takes practice, but if it happens again, which it will, if this is the Magus’ meddling, you must try to build a wall around your thoughts. Concentrate and build the wall brick by brick. Soon, you will be able to shield your thoughts and prevent anyone from mindscaping, or dark telepathy.” Lumos threw her a smile. “Start at once, slowly, and build one brick at a time.”
“I will, but first tell me how I may help you defeat the Hag.”
“I’ll teach you how to conjure and throw black fire this evening. If she takes more than her due, the fire will stop her. She cannot kill me but if she drains me, I’ll take a long time to recover—weeks—and you will be left to her…appetite.” Lumos shuddered. “And I may never be free of her.”
With an effort, she threw off the sudden desire to refuse to learn the spell. ”Then teach me now. What is black fire?”
“It is a fire that burns like the pits in the Underworld but has no smoke or light.” Lumos regarded Thalia with an intense expression. “It comes from anger but fear may feed it.”
Thalia stared into the distance. The sun had dropped behind the mountain range and now the countryside bathed in the glow of twilight. Overhead, birds returned to the trees to nest as owls took flight, searching for food. All around, the countryside heralded the end of summer with an abundance of ripe fruits and the trees’ slow turning of green to gold.
I wish we could stay here and enjoy this beauty together. She grimaced at her own selfishness. If this plan failed and Lumos remained with her, even with all of nature’s wonder to power her magyck, the Fae would die and it would be her fault. Oh, Cymbeline, why did Lumos listen to my song? I can only be bad luck for him.
Thalia screwed up her nose in concentration. She would use her anger towards Erik and his men—relive the torture in her mind—to create black fire and keep Lumos safe. With a sigh, she turned to Lumos. “I have anger, more than I need, I’m sure.” She squeezed the Fae’s strong forearm. “Tell me what I must do.”
“The fire we conjure cannot harm the creator, so form a fireball in your hand.” Lumos pulled Albert to a halt. “Let the fireball spin and then throw it. When you have mastered a fireball, allow the fire to spin in your hand and pour hate into it until it turns black.” He smiled. “Be careful where you throw black fire, little one. It’s better to think it out.”
“Think it out? You’ll have to explain.”
“How do you put out a fire or stop any magyck spell?” Lumos chuckled. “See the spell, form the spell, see it gone and it is no more. Imagination is a powerful weapon, is it not?” He turned towards Thalia. “Always remember you must never perform magyck in front of a Nomag.”
With a snort, Thalia pulled her cloak tightly around her. “I do believe I’ve learnt that lesson well, Lumos. Now you have shown me how easy it is to control my magyck, I find I’m imagining a slow and painful death for Erik and his men.”
“Ah, little butterfly, I know you will not use your magyck to cause death. You must believe me when I tell you your name is not Soul Catcher but, rather, a new beginning. Your future is fresh and new as when a caterpillar turns into a butterfly.” Lumos shook the reins.
“I am not a caterpillar.” Thalia snorted. She held out her arms, waving madly. “Look at me! I have arms and legs and I’m not nibbling on leaves.” She turned and gave Lumos her best wicked grin. “How do you know that I’m not going to turn into an old hag and suck out your soul?”
“Because, my little butterfly, you belong to me.”
Chapter Seven
After sleeping under the stars for three nights, they rose at daybreak, and Lumos turned the wagon onto a well-worn cart track to travel north. As they climbed higher along the rutted cart track, the late summer sun did little to heat the cool wind blowing down from the ice-capped mountains. Lumos had noticed a subtle difference in Thalia this morning. The witch often leaned against him, but today she allowed her hand to linger on his thigh. After a gentle mind probe, he found Thalia had managed to build a fragile barrier around her concious. In consequence, the horrific nightmares she had suffered without mention had lessened. He never spoke of the heart-rending cries she uttered in her sleep. He hoped one day she would confide her night terrors to him, or, perhaps, come to him for comfort.
Over breakfast, the witch had laughed at Lumos’ silly jokes and the sound had come like music to his ears. Perhaps Thalia had at last decided to trust him or had thrown off the Magus’ influence. The change in her had convinced him that the Magus had used dark telepathy to induce Thalia’s insecurities in an effort to keep her under his control. This knowledge left Lumos with another score to settle. Although the witch had trembled at the thought of meeting the Hag, she no longer flinched away from his touch. In fact, Thalia often touched him, pushing hair from his eyes, or brushing crumbs from his shirt. He glanced down at her delicate fingers. The heat from her palm seeped through the thin material of his pants. He smiled. The thought of holding her close and kissing those full, soft lips sent heat pooling in his groin. His cock filled, pressing hard against the front of his pants. Gods, he would scare her off if she noticed his desire.
Clearing his throat, he turned to her. “Would you hand me the water flask?”
“I see smoke ahead. Is that another village?” Thalia turned to get the water fl
ask from behind the seat and handed it to Lumos.
“Aye, I can smell bread baking. We will spend the night there to rest the horses. Mayhap we’ll find a nice, comfortable tavern to sleep in.” Lumos took the flask and sipped the water. “I think we should sell the wagon and buy another strong horse. This journey has taken longer than I envisaged. We can’t expect Albert to carry us constantly. If we have another horse we could move more swiftly.”
“I’d say buy two more horses and spread the gelding’s load. We will need all the supplies we can carry. I’ll buy a basket big enough to carry Brew. He won’t be able to keep up with us in the snow.” Thalia formed a ball of black fire in her hand. “I’m ready to meet the Hag. Are you sure this won’t kill her?” She let the spinning ball evaporate and grinned at Lumos. “Or are vampires immortal, too?”
“Yes, they are to a degree. Well, I should say they are the living dead. They can be destroyed by decapitation but not by dark fire.” Lumos smiled. “Only the gods are truly immortal and those beasts of the Underworld.”
Lumos turned to Thalia. Her gaze reflected every emotion, and, with deep regret, he recognised the pain she held within rising again to the surface. He pulled her close. “I’m proud of how many magyck spells you have mastered in such a short time. Don’t worry, you will easily control the Hag with black fire. She’ll give up the information we need for a taste of my blood. Vampires are always hungry.”
“It’s not her I’m worried about. In truth, I fear what will happen next in my life. I’ve no idea what the future will bring for me. I’m alone in this world with no means of survival. Where will I go after you are free to return to Drakka?”
“I’d hoped you would decide to stay in Drakka with me.”
“That would be nice.” Thalia let out a long sigh. “I know so little about myself, who my parents are or what being a witch really means. Having magyck is as thrilling as it is disturbing. If I stay with you in Drakka, will you watch me grow old and die or is there a way I can become immortal, too?”
Lumos pulled away and stroked her cheek. He wanted to shout yes and tell her she was his mate, but how could he? In her fragile state, she would still fear him. He needed desperately to share his joy with her. The moment she tasted his seed, she would change slowly, to become a Dragonfae female. He knew this to be true, because he had seen the fire dancing in her eyes—fire for him. He shrugged, biting down guilt.
“I’m not sure… I don’t know.”
“Why did you come to my song?”
Gods, not now, Thalia. If I tell you the truth, you will run from me. I cannot lie to you, either. Lumos sucked in a steadying breath.
“You called to my dragon. When he is free, everything will become clear.”
“You said the other day that I belonged to you. Do you remember? I’ve thought about your words for three days now, and it troubles me. Lumos, I don’t belong to anyone—I’m an orphan.” Thalia gripped Lumos’ thigh. “Why would you say such a thing?”
A slip of the tongue, sweet butterfly. “You belong to me to protect… You know that, don’t you?” Lumos took up the reins and shook Albert into a trot.
“Aye, it’s true. You say that often.” Thalia chewed her bottom lip.
“Well then, it must be true… Look, this village has a tavern.” Lumos turned the wagon into the main street. Glad of the chance to change the subject, he smiled. “This place is much larger than I expected. Are you hungry?”
“Aye, I’m as hungry as a wolf and I would love to sleep in a real bed for the night. Do we have enough money for a room?” Thalia pulled Brew onto her lap and rubbed his velvet ears.
Lumos pushed away the image of Thalia lying naked on clean sheets and cleared his throat. “Perhaps enough coin for one room, although we have need of a horse more than comfort for one night. I’ll sleep in the barn.”
“If we are to sleep under the same blanket in the mountains, it makes no difference if you share a room with me now, does it? I have no reputation to spoil, after all.”
Pulling his cloak across his legs to cover his rampant desire, Lumos gritted his teeth. He had to keep her warm in the mountains so he might just as well practise his self-control between clean sheets. The dragon roared, insisting the time to mate drew near.
“By the gods, dragon, don’t push me. I will not rush her. You must know my control is very near the end. Your insistence to claim her before she is ready will lose her to us forever. Do you want that?”
“Mine…the witch is mine, Lumos. Just one kiss and she will be our mate.” The seductive voice of the Nightdragon purred in Lumos’ head.
“Lumos?”
Pushing the dragon from his mind, Lumos turned to Thalia. He forced a smile. “That is very kind of you. The ground has become very hard of late.”
“I’ll be glad to sell the wagon as it holds bad memories for me.” Thalia smiled wistfully. “Although I’d never have met you if my fa—the king hadn’t banished me.” She curled a strand of Lumos’ hair around her finger. “Do you believe in fate?”
A bolt of erotic lightning hit Lumos from the simple touch of Thalia’s gentle touch on his hair. She could not know that a Fae’s hair, unlike Nomags, held sensation and to cut one strand would bring great pain, to caress was an intimacy of lovers. He closed his eyes against the wave after wave of intense desire throbbing through him. The witch’s scent filled his nostrils. How could he fight this overpowering need? His skin burned. The dragon hovered beneath the surface, egging him on to take the witch to mate. He forced open his eyes to answer Thalia.
“I believe the goddess sent me to you. I burn for you, little butterfly, and my arms ache to hold you close.” He sighed. “I understand this is something abhorrent to you, so we’ll speak no more about it.”
“My dearest Lumos, you’re not at all horrid to me… Gods, you’re the most beautiful male I’ve ever seen.” Thalia dropped her gaze. “I’d be honoured if you would hold me tonight. I know I’ll be safe in your arms.”
No, you won’t, sweet butterfly. One kiss and you will be mine. I cannot allow that to happen. Not until you change into Fae. First, my sweet, I must teach you how to love.
“Then promise me one thing. I must have your word you will not kiss my mouth. I beg you not to kiss me, not until you want all of me, little butterfly, for I am still a male and driven by passion.”
“But a kiss is a beautiful thing… I don’t understand.” Thalia frowned.
Lumos chuckled. “A Faerie’s kiss holds a potent aphrodisiac, little one. My kiss will make you want me and I need your decision not to be one driven by lust. I want you to come to me freely, when you are ready to take that step, or not at all.”
“Then I promise to do as you say. Gods, you are an honourable man, Lumos.” Thalia patted Lumos’ thigh.
Gods, I’m trying to be.
* * * *
In the stables beside the tavern, Thalia rested one finger on her chin in thought, Thalia walked around the two horses. The black warhorse tossed his head and eyed her suspiciously. She turned to the horse trader.
“A warhorse holds allegiance to his owner. How did you come by this beast?”
“I found him on a battlefield standing guard over a knight. Both were injured. I tended the knight but he died. I’ve had this beast ever since. He is sound but needs a firm hand… A man’s hand.” The horse trader glanced at Lumos. “This is not a safe horse for a woman, good sir.”
“He will suit. We’ll take the pair of them.” Lumos reached for his purse. “Then we have a deal?”
“Aye, good sir, we do. I’ll have them and your other mounts ready to travel by first light.”
Thalia pointed to Brew. “This is my cat. He’ll stay with the draught horse. He’ll rid your stable of rats this eve.”
“Well then, he’ll be most welcome.”
Thalia gazed at the leathery-skinned man, his old disfigured hands swollen with arthritis. If she had planned to stay in this town, she would have been able to help
him. She turned away and grinned at Lumos. The Fae wore his hat pulled down over his pointed ears, his long hair tied neatly back in a braid. An ankle-length black cloak covered his unusual leather clothes. With a crooked smile, Lumos took her hand, and led her towards the tavern. Thalia drew in the scent of him and revelled in the heat pouring into her from his hot flesh.
The town bustled with people. Cattle and sheep moved up and down the street, going to and from a noisy livestock market. Women carried chickens by their feet or herded geese into the auction ring. They had arrived at an opportune time—the monthly market provided them with a good variety of necessities, from water flasks to saddlebags, and blankets. The noise of men arguing over the price of wool rose and fell in the packed tavern. Inside, hot air spilled from the kitchen, bringing the delicious aromas of fresh bread and roast meats to mingle with the heavy smell of ale and men.
Thalia followed Lumos through the crowded room to the polished wood bar. Secure under Lumos’ arm, she marvelled at the way the Fae instantly gained the landlord’s attention. The ruddy-faced proprietor wiped his hands on a filthy cloth hanging at his waist and came forward.
“I need two meals and a room for the night.” Lumos placed a silver coin on the bar.
“We don’t have anything available. All my rooms are booked. You see, with the markets like they are, the merchants come here regularly every month.” The landlord smiled. “The meals I can supply, and you can sleep in the stable with yer horses. No charge.”
“I must insist.” Lumos offered a gold coin. “My wife cannot sleep in a stable. It’s not safe with so many men around. Would you have the loss of her good name on your hands?” He rested his hand in the small of Thalia’s back.
Thalia lifted her chin and gave the landlord her best innocent expression. “I would be most grateful, good sir.”
“A woman yer say?” The landlord blinked at Thalia and rubbed the whiskers on his chin. “Well, far be it for me to allow danger to befall such a young one.” He took the gold coin. “Top of the stairs, turn left, room number six… One night only, mind.” He looked at Thalia and ran a hand through his hair. “I’ll send up the meals. You are correct, sir. If these men drink any more this will not be a safe place for her, either.” He swallowed. “I’ll get the maids to fill a bath, too.”