Dragon's Heart

by Marly Mathews

  “Wish magic?”

  ‘If you don’t, I shudder to think of how we will feel in a few scant moments.’

  “I wish for the injuries you’ve suffered to be healed. That should solve our problem.”

  A white light draped over Aphrodite. In one split second, everything changed. Her limp body became full of energy. She was so vibrant, it nearly robbed Grania of breath—again.

  ‘Thank you. Now I do believe that we should go and render assistance to William. He seems to be trying to get a clean shot into Draco. Let’s help him do it.’

  They flew toward William and Apollo at top speed. The room shook. Draco’s dragon form was doing so much damage that it would be a blessing if they could end this now.

  Seeing them alive and well was enough of a distraction for Draco to give William the element of surprise.

  He moved to intercept them, and that’s when William shot off his arrow. It struck Draco in the same area that she had plunged in her sword. She drew in her breath sharply and waited.

  The hideous beast still pursued her.

  He was conjuring a breath of fire in his massive mouth, waiting for the right moment to spew it out at her. Before he could move into the next stage of his attack, his eyes lit with confusion—dawning horror—and then, finally fear. The coward had finally met his match.

  He had met the combined force of her and William.

  “No! This can’t be. I am a God! I am an immortal!”

  “Even immortals like us can still find the shroud of death, and it has found you, Draco. The part of you that was my father disappeared long ago. This time your dragon’s heart betrayed you. You are all beast, and now I bid you adieu,” she called out.

  Maniacal madness overtook his eyes, and in the next moment, he was gone. The resulting explosion tore through the house. They had to get out of here. Making her wish, she, William, Apollo and Aphrodite were transported to safety.

  “It’s finally over, it is the end.” She dismounted Aphrodite, and ran toward William. He held her in a fast embrace.

  “In my book, it’s the start of something wonderful. It is the beginning of a future where humans, magic kind and dragon shifters all live together in harmony.”

  “Are you sure we’ll be able to live in harmony?” She raised her eyebrows.

  “Well, maybe not harmony, I’m sure there will be a few bumps in the road.”

  Laughter carried to them from the distance.

  The cleansing sheen of moonlight dappled the landscape.

  Fairies, elves, dragon shifters, wizards, witches, warlocks and a few trolls walked toward them.

  “It’s over. The War has ended.” Aine’s voice was strong. “This time, it is no illusion. We have obtained Victory. Our grim fate has been eradicated. Hope lives on.”

  “Draco is gone.” William locked gazes with his mother.

  “And his defeat will be celebrated for years to come.” Merdwyn inclined his head toward him. Male and female warriors on winged horses clustered around him. “My brother did remain true to his word. He brought his noblest of knights to slay the dragons.”

  Grania looked around at their friends. They were safe. They were free.

  She leaned in closer to William, “Our future looks bright indeed.”

  “With you lighting my way, our future will be forever filled with light. You are the love of my life. You are my mate, and you are my protector.”

  “And you are mine. Our child will inherit this new world.”

  “Grania Lightfoot, I love you.”

  “I love you, too, William. We tempted fate, and we won.”

  Epilogue

  The Three Fates stood with the Tapestry of Life. “I never thought I’d be cutting this thread,” Clotho said. “I had hoped that Lord Draco would win, and we would have a little more entertainment. He was evil but he was such fun.”

  “Fate can be so fickle,” Atropos said. “I, for one, wanted Lady Grania and Lord William to win. Now, should we make another bet on the future destiny of these two? Their love lines keep moving,” she mused.

  Lachesis laughed. “I think we should. It was ever so much fun betting on William and Grania. I think that the Warlock will win her heart…”

  “No,” Clotho said. “I believe the Dragon Shifter Prince will win. Ah, what a battle that shall be. The Lion against the Dragon. Alas, there is also trouble brewing in the Enchanted Kingdom of Thaliana. They will not see peace until a certain beauty with a heart of gold, embraces her destiny.”

  “Well, my dears, why don’t we return our attention to the Tapestry of Life and see what it portends,” Atropos said, as they laughed and returned to watching the Tapestry they had been entrusted to protect since the beginning of time.

  The Fates smiled, and continued to do what they had always done. They waited.

  The End

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