by Cherron Riser, Ashley Nicole Davis, Tara Ann Moore, & Taylor Lexus Brown
Daylight streamed in through a crack in the curtains, illuminating Sparrow’s naked back. Making love with her had been natural and beautiful. It had also lasted most of the night. When we had finally fallen asleep, it had been from pure exhaustion. Waking up next to her, my heart was filled with joy. I had no desire to leave the bed and return to the world, but hiding away wouldn’t solve anything, and what hunted us was a skilled hunter. It was sure to find us no matter where we hid.
For the first few moments I was awake, I lay there, stroking her back and basking in just how much better my life was now that she was in it. The light touches woke her up, and softly her sweet green eyes opened to greet me. The sweetest of smiles curled her lips, and all I wanted to do was devour her once more. However, I could feel the edges of the real world pulling at the fantasy we had created, and I knew it was only a matter of time before Gwyneira caught up with us.
“I can’t remember a time I felt more relaxed. Thank you so much, Liam. It means so much to me.” Sparrow stretched and rolled, moaning a bit as she tried to wake herself. Seeing her body extended, something came over me, and a wicked smile curled my lips. Without warning to her, I reached out and began to tickle under her arms and along her ribs.
Sparrow laughed and squirmed, desperate to get away from me, but the more she wiggled, the tighter I pulled her to me. I laughed as well, needing the feel of the joy running through me. Once I had my fill, I leaned in and began to kiss her fiercely. She squeaked into my mouth before she melted in my arms. Oh, this was the perfection I missed out on all those years ago. It was certainly worth fighting for.
Our kisses started to grow more heated, and I had just moved to lay on top of Sparrow when I felt the air around us get colder. Lifting up, I saw the once sunny outside had grown dark, and my throat sank into my stomach.
“Get dressed. I have a feeling we aren’t safe here any longer,” I whispered, pulling myself away from her so I could throw on my pants. The air chilled even more, making my breath steam in a puff before me. Such an odd sight for summer.
“What is going on, Liam?” Sparrow asked, searching the floor for her clothes.
“I think Gwyneira has found us. I think she is looking to get her revenge still,” I answered, my voice growing harsh as I moved toward the main room of the cabin.
Outside the window, I could see snow and ice forming around the edges of the glass. Everything was freezing over, making the air thick with cold. A shiver ran down my spine as I approached the window to see what was happening on the other side. Outside, Gwyneira stood in all her glory, breathing cold out against the cabin. The more she breathed, the colder the world got around us.
Sparrow shivered. “Why is it so cold? I thought it was summertime!”
“Gwyneira is an ice dragon. She is trying to freeze us out of here. We have to do something or we are going to die in here. I have to go out there and finish what I started all those years ago.” I burst open the door and stormed outside, anger fueling me on.
“Liam, what are you doing?” Sparrow asked, coming up behind me.
“I’m ending this. I have waited too long for my happiness to come back to me. I am not going to give it all up now.” Giving her another kiss, I moved off the porch and toward where Gwyneira stood tall. “You have no right to be here. If you want to fight this out, then so be it, but leave her out of this.”
“She is the reason I am angry. If it weren’t for the two of you, I would still be happy. You and I could have ensured our world was safe. Instead, because you were selfish, our families are dead. You killed everyone.” Gwyneira’s voice could be heard, though her lips didn’t move. As dragons we could project our voices out to be heard.
“I did nothing wrong. I chose love over duty, there is nothing wrong with that. Our parents and our families killed themselves. You helped kill them, too, with your selfish ways. You are the one at fault. They are the ones at fault.” My magic sparked out and my body shifted. I was going to do all I could to protect Sparrow this time. I knew it meant killing off who might very well be the last female dragon. I knew it meant that we may die off completely, but there was no way I was going to be with this hateful woman.
“You are a fool, Liam. We are royalty. We are not meant to follow our hearts. We are meant to do what is best for our people,” Gwyneira answered, charging forward with a burst of ice.
“We have no more people, and you are just a bitter old hag.” I reared up, lunging forward to attack. This time, I would make sure she was dead and not let my grief destroy my ability to think. Before, I was lost to pain and acting on instinct; this time, I was acting with a clear head. She needed to die, and I was going to make sure it happened.
To counter her ice, I let go a cone of fire in her direction, burning everything in my path. Jumping into the air, I slashed down with all of my might, wanting to cut her into pieces. From behind me, I could feel more magic growing. Sparrow was going to do something, but what, I wasn’t sure. My tail swung out, tripping Gwyneira and forcing her to roll. Having her prone and stunned, I jumped onto her and tore into her throat with my teeth. The fire inside me boiled, ready for another ferocious release.
Around us, the world got very silent. Shadows rolled out from the trees and toward where Gwyneira and I fought. Fragments of lights danced around use, and vines crept across the ground. Sparrow was calling upon the world around us to help with the fight. However, before her spell could be unleashed, Gwyneira managed to use her tail and cut herself free. She sprung up and shoved me back. It took a lot of concentration and balance to keep from falling over Sparrow. In my fumbling, I didn’t realize that Gwyneira had gotten the best of me.
I turned, just in time to see Sparrow swept up in Gwyneira’s vicious claws. Panic struck hard. I feared Sparrow would be killed within moments, and once again, I would be too late to help her. Getting myself righted, I flew after them, trying to catch up so I could get Sparrow back. It would take some maneuvering to pull it off without hurting Sparrow, but I had to try.
Pumping my wings with all of my might, I felt the wind pushing me closer and closer. The draft coming off Gwyneira was cold and icy. I was starting to think her nature matched her heart. Racing faster, I did my best to stay out of her wake, and then I caught them. My claws sank in to Gwyneira’s back before pulling out several chunks of flesh. She dropped Sparrow, and I swooped in to catch her just before Gwyneira began her chaotic decent toward the earth.
Sparrow nestled into my claws while I flew farther, trying to get her back to safety. I had a feeling this was not the end of Gwyneira, and she was going to be coming back to finish taking the both of us out.
For all my strength, I couldn’t fly as far as I had been able to in my younger days. My dragon form was kept locked away so much that it was much weaker than when I was able to roam free. However, I managed to get to the top of the mountain before setting down again. My form shifted almost immediately, the magic in me too depleted to continue. I stumbled before lying down on the rocks, gasping for air. “She will find us again. I know she will.”
“Then what do we do, Liam? I can’t fight a dragon. My magic is strong but not that strong. We need a plan,” Sparrow said, moving over toward me and looking me over for wounds. Power radiated from her and into me, sending a calming and pain-relieving sensation through me. It felt good and comforting. I breathed out as the pain left my body.
“You are stronger than you think, Sparrow. I am sorry I pulled you into all this. I swear to you; I didn’t even realize I was pulling you in to anything. I honestly thought I was the only one left. It has been hundreds of years since I have seen another one of my kind.” I breathed, looking up into her kind-hearted face. How could she be taking all of this so well?
“You keep looking at me like you are waiting for me to leave. Do you remember when we met? When our fingers touched for the first time, I was certain you were there for a reason. I felt like we already knew each other. Then, as we got to know each
other better, those feelings that we had been together before grew stronger and stronger. So when you told me your story, there was a part of me that just knew it was all true. I’m not running, because in my heart I can feel that we are supposed to make this work.” She ran her hands over me, assessing to make sure I was better as she explained herself.
“I was certain you would think I was crazy.” I laughed, catching my breath and sitting up.
My hand reached up and cupped her face. I stroked a finger over her lips feeling both blessed and surprised that she had felt what I felt all along. It was an incredible feeling, and without controlling myself, I pulled her to me and kissed her hard. This was the life I had dreamed of, and I was finally going to get it.