by Meara Platt
“Not in England. I was like any other boy then.” There was a wistfulness in his voice that could not be overlooked, but he quickly shook it off with his next words. “Well, I was a young and wealthy marquess, so perhaps I was insufferably arrogant.”
“You are still arrogant, but I think deservedly so. You’re a natural leader and you care for those under your charge.”
He grunted. “I learned to kill in the Underworld.”
“To protect yourself,” she insisted.
“I convinced myself it was so. I no longer know if that is true. I’ve killed so many, I do not think twice about it now. Nor do I ever suffer from regret for my actions.”
“But you take no pleasure from your actions. You don’t kill for the sport of it.”
“Not yet.”
She didn’t think he ever would, for he appeared to be too honorable ever to take a life unless his lands and people were under threat. He had yet to harm her, and despite his obvious strength, had never made her feel intimidated or scared.
Were he cruel, he would have used her in the way Brihann had intended when gifting her to him. Instead, he’d gone out of his way to protect her innocence. She could not bring herself to think less of him. His horrific deeds were done to survive in brutal surroundings where the rules of humanity did not exist and survival depended on brute force. “You mentioned Draloch. Your title bears the same name as the stone.”
He took her hands in both of his and wrapped them in his warmth. “Rumors of evil have always swirled around the Dukes of Draloch. Demon blood runs in our family. Somewhere down the bloodline, one of my ancestors must have sold his soul for the promise of vast wealth. Ever since, the Dralochs have been sacrificing their sons in return for continued riches.”
“But you were the eldest and meant to inherit.” She frowned in confusion. “Our fathers agreed to the betrothal, did they not? Then why would your father suddenly give you over to this evil?”
There was another long pause and Georgiana knew this proud Dragon Lord was struggling to find the words to tell her of a moment that must still cause him great anguish. “I was never meant to be the one sacrificed. My younger brother was taken. I refused to accept it, so I went against my father’s wishes and followed Saron into the Underworld.”
His voice grew ragged and husky. “They were more threats than wishes, in truth. But I didn’t care. I had to save my little brother. I went after him and spent the next few years planning his escape. He suffered greatly in the meanwhile. I could only watch in silence as he endured the pain like a true Draloch.”
“Which meant he fought against them every day,” she said, knowing that if Saron Blakefield was half as proud as his brother was, he’d never allow his spirit to be conquered.
“He did exactly that and they beat him for it every day. They’d lock him away each night and even now I can hear his sobs and sniffles in my mind as he cried himself to sleep. He was only six years old when he was taken. But every morning, he stood firm and endured the same hardships as valiantly as any soldier who ever fought for a just cause. In the beginning, I fought along with him and endured the same punishment. Then I realized that I had to form a plan or else we’d both suffer the same fate until the beatings finally killed us.”
Georgiana felt each of his words like a rip to her heart. She felt an intense sorrow for both sons of Draloch. What father would ever allow his boys to be condemned so cruelly? And for what? The promise of coin?
“Georgie, are you crying?”
“Of course, I am. How can I not be moved by the torments you both endured? What happened to Saron?”
Lord Bloodaxe’s laughter was mirthless. “He escaped. He thinks he did it on his own, but he wouldn’t have made it beyond Brihann’s great hall if it weren’t for my help. That’s the first time I killed, and I did so without a shred of remorse. I killed every demon who got close enough to dig their talons into my brother. I couldn’t fight them all, though. Some managed to grab him, but he was strong enough by then to shake them off.”
He shifted in his seat, took one of the oars that sat across his lap, and began to row them toward the center of the river. They hadn’t drifted close to shore, but he must have felt the need to do something as he spoke of his bitter memories. “Our dark powers had grown while we were trapped here,” he continued, his voice brittle. “Brihann thought he had tamed me and so began to teach me his dark magic. In turn, I taught what I could of it to Saron while he was down here. However, much of his knowledge came from the rage that naturally sprang from within himself.”
“Do you know what has become of him?”
“Yes, he is now the Duke of Draloch. Anabelle, the woman I mentioned to you earlier, is his wife. His dragon mate. Hopefully, she is the one who will free him from the darkness.”
“Then I must go to them as soon as I escape. The prophecy you spoke of, the one concerning the two black dragons. Why would it not be you and Saron?”
He gave a tug on the oar and propelled them faster down river. “Because he will kill me on sight.”
“You’ve mentioned this before.” Georgiana shook her head in disbelief. “Why would he do such a thing when you saved his life?”
“He doesn’t realize that I saved him. I don’t know what my parents told him about me, surely lies to poison his mind. Then Brihann made certain that he and I would never reconcile.”
“What did he do?” Georgiana braced herself for the terrible explanation she knew was to come.
“He killed Saron’s son and made it appear as though I’d committed the murder. Saron now believes I killed his boy, Gideon.”
Georgiana wasn’t certain how much more sorrow she could bear. This proud and powerful family ought to have had an easy existence, residing in a great manor and able to provide their sons with all the luxuries she had been given as the daughter of a duke. Instead, they’d been treated worse than any caged animal. “I’m so sorry.”
They were speeding down river now, his oar thrusts ripping through the water as though Brihann’s demons were nipping at their heels. Nothing and no one was chasing them at the moment. The demons he was fleeing from were his own nightmarish memories. “Brihann purposely used one of my arrows. I realized his intent but was too late to stop him. When Saron looked up, grief etched on his face as he held Gideon’s lifeless body, all he saw was me. He recognized my markings on the arrow and decided I was guilty. He vowed then and there to kill me on sight. He’ll do it. Nothing has swayed him from his purpose.”
“Yet Anabelle believes in your innocence, and so do I. There must be something we can do to convince Saron.”
“There is nothing. Don’t you think I’ve tried? But it’s hopeless. Brihann’s evil has won the day. Saron and I will never reconcile. The two black dragons that the Stone of Draloch mentions will be Brihann and me, or Brihann and my brother.”
“But neither you nor your brother is evil. So how can Brihann succeed in conquering us while you are both able to stop him?”
“Georgie, have you not been listening? My brother and I are dark souls. It will take little to turn us into what Brihann has become. Necros and Python have already succumbed to the madness of evil. Mordain and I cannot be far behind.”
“How is it that Mordain has resisted? Who was he in his earlier life?”
He dug the oar once more into the water and gave a powerful thrust so that their boat appeared to be flying like a bird on the wing. “The son of Lucifer,” he said tersely. “The fallen angel.”
“What?”
“Georgie, there is no happy ending to be found here. Mordain is the devil’s own spawn. So, you see, the Dragon Lords are tainted by an evil that cannot be rinsed off by good intentions or by love. I don’t know why Mordain and I have not turned to rot yet. We are the youngest among the five. We know what we will become in time.”
“No, it doesn’t have to be that way. You and Mordain must continue to resist,” she pressed. “The reason why you haven’t succumb
ed yet is important. I don’t believe it is merely a question of your age. What if Mordain has warded off the darkness because he believes in true love? Has he taken a dragon mate? Is he searching for her?”
“Dragon Lords don’t attend balls or country weekends looking for love.” He snorted in dismissal.
“Then how do you find love? Do you simply fly among the clouds, minding your own business, and it suddenly strikes you between your dragon eyes?”
“Love does not conquer anything, certainly not a Dragon Lord’s heart.”
“That is nonsensical. It is a momentous thing for a dragon to take a mate. Did you not tell me so yourself? Once they are mated, they must remain true to each other throughout eternity. They want to remain true to each other. No one does that simply because they’re jolly good friends.”
“Are you being sarcastic, Georgie?”
She tipped her head up in indignation. “Well, perhaps a little. Mostly, I’m trying to make you believe in love. What if Saron is saved because he married Anabelle? What if you can be saved because of me?”
“You are not my dragon mate,” he said with unnecessary vehemence and almost tipped the boat over with the force of his oar thrust.
She closed her eyes and held on for dear life. “Of course, I am.” Her voice was little more than a squeak. “It all makes sense now that you have explained it to me. And if you think that I’m not going to fight for you, fight every day of my life to protect and heal you, then you had better think again.”
Chapter Nine
Georgiana had Bloodaxe so riled that his oar was no longer swift and silent as it cut through the water. He was now bearing down on it so hard that even the boat groaned and waves slapped against its hull while he propelled it along the river.
She’d asked to call him Arik.
Arik.
Did she think that his name alone would bring him back to what he once was?
“You are going to wake every creature along the river bank and probably alert Brihann’s demons if you don’t calm down,” she chided. “Not to mention that you’ll probably drown me if the boat tips over. You’ll never find me in this dark water.”
“Then stop riling me, Georgie. No more questions. No more talk of my brother. No more talk of dragon mates. You promised me that you would climb the Razor Cliffs toward the light.”
She nodded. “I did and I will keep to that promise. But I haven’t promised to sit back on my satin settee and eat chocolates while I conveniently forget you ever existed. I’ll never forget you. I’ll never compromise my principals again. I’ll never marry anyone but you, so what do you think of that, my lord? You had better reconsider your decision or you’ll condemn me to a life of spinsterhood.”
He groaned, the possessive thought that no one else would touch her, filling him with pride. But she was a beautiful soul, and he didn’t wish to see that rare beauty wither and die. It would if she became his dragon mate, condemned to live in this Underworld as he was. “I knew I shouldn’t have told you about our betrothal.”
“You didn’t have to. I sensed it already. My heart knew of the connection between us, but I’m glad you confirmed it. You may as well know that I had already decided never to marry unless it was to you.”
“I’m not going to marry you.” He stopped himself from slapping the oar into the water again. He needed to remain calm and keep his senses on alert.
Unlike her, he could easily see in the darkness. He noticed every purse of her lips and shake of her head. Now she was shrugging her shoulders. “You’re not going to marry me yet. There’s an important difference.”
“Georgie.” His voice was almost pleading. “Just go back home and be safe. Let me fight Brihann with a clear head.”
“Why should you be the only one to engage in this battle? You saved your brother’s life. You tried to save his son.”
“But I failed.”
“So did he. It isn’t your fault or his. But his misconception has gone on too long. It’s time he accepted the truth.”
“Don’t bother. He has the Draloch stubborn pride. He’ll never admit he was wrong.”
She shook her head and laughed. “He’s a married man now. His wife will make him change his stubborn ways. Nor will I ever stop trying to beat sense into your idiotic brother. If Anabelle is as wonderful as she sounds, she will not hesitate to help me. And what of the Stone of Draloch? Must it not account for its actions? It does not deserve to bear your family name.”
“Georgie, stop.” He growled softly to silence her. “You are not to go near that stone.”
She frowned at him. “It bears your name. It should be protecting you. I won’t promise to leave it alone. Indeed, I intend to talk your brother into taking me to it right after I tell him what I think of him.”
“Bloody hell,” he muttered. “And I thought demons were unthinking and deranged.”
“Thank you.” She cast him a smile.
“I did not mean it as a compliment.”
“I know. Your flattering description of me as unthinking and deranged gave you away.”
Her intentions were dangerous, especially to her own wellbeing. His brother wouldn’t harm her, but there was no telling what the Stone of Draloch would do if she challenged it. A few days ago, it had allowed Brihann’s demons to abduct her and bring her to his fortress. She had done nothing to deserve that fate.
But she was now intent on riling that ominous force. This was no mere wasp’s nest she was about to poke. What would the Stone of Draloch do if she angered it? Perhaps drop her straight into Brihann’s lair in retaliation.
He meant to lecture her, but a soft splash in the distance caught his attention. He placed a finger over her mouth and leaned close to whisper. “Hush, Georgie. We have company on the water. Get down under the bench. I don’t want them to see you.”
He silently secured the oars within their locks and reached for his crossbow and quiver of arrows. Who was out there? He knew it wasn’t one of his ferrymen bringing new souls into his realm. It could not be Brihann’s demons either, for they were afraid of water.
“It’s only me, Bloodaxe,” a male voice filled with amusement quietly called out. “Set down your weapon and allow me to draw close.”
“By the Stone of Draloch, curse you.” He removed the arrow and put down his crossbow, relieved it was only Mordain. “I almost put a hole through you. How did you find me?”
“Pure chance. You’re not using your magic. I had no trail to follow. But since Brihann’s armies are amassing between your fortress and the Razor Cliffs, and Necros is patrolling north while Python is flying across your southern border, I thought you might try to approach the Razor Cliffs from the east.” He glanced at Bloodaxe’s boat. “I heard your oars splashing along the water. Surprisingly careless of you.”
Bloodaxe grumbled in response.
“Where’s Lady Georgiana? I’m eager to meet the slip of a girl who managed to survive dragon fire and get under your skin. Even a deaf-as-a-post dragon soaring among the clouds could have heard you on the water.”
Bloodaxe reached down and helped Georgie back to her seat, but she wouldn’t stay there. Instead, she skittered to his side so that she now sat beside him and placed her hand on his arm to grip tightly onto him. “Rest easy,” he murmured, placing his hand over hers. “This is Lord Mordain. The red dragon I was telling you about.”
Mordain nodded in her direction. “A pleasure, Lady Georgiana. I hope he has only good things to say about me.”
“He has, my lord.”
“Good, because I’m going to travel with you to the Razor Cliffs.” He raised a hand to stop both their protests. “You’ll need help keeping Brihann’s men away from Georgiana while she climbs. You’ll likely need help keeping the portal open. Or do you think you can manage it all on your own?”
He’d had his fill of arguments with Georgiana and did not need another from Mordain. “I will have my soldiers in place.”
“And now you will have
a Dragon Lord at the ready as well. You know Brihann won’t be expecting it.”
Bloodaxe frowned. “He’ll pound your wings to dust once he gets his gnarled talons on you.”
“Aye, he’ll try.” Mordain tied his boat to theirs and settled back down on its bench. “But I’ll fight back, for he can’t be allowed to succeed.”
“Easier said than done,” Bloodaxe grumbled, his hand still lightly covering Georgiana’s as she listened to their conversation with growing trepidation. He could feel her quiet shudders running up and down her body.
“I know, but Brihann has to be stopped. His madness has gotten unbearable. His best lands are rotting because he doesn’t care for them. The soldiers in his armies are disgruntled and growing enraged. Now that Queen Melody has fulfilled the Fae prophecy, they’re afraid to invade the realms of the Fae. So, what does that leave them? Either they’ll invade the mortal world or we’ll have open warfare in the Underworld, demon fighting against demon. I don’t know if Brihann still has the sense to prevent that. But what matters is that he’ll unleash his reign of destruction on the mortal world if we don’t do something about him soon.”
“Mordain, what you speak of is treason.”
He shrugged. “I say aloud what you are thinking. We both know that he cannot continue to rule the Underworld.”
Georgiana spoke up as he was about to untie Mordain’s rope and send his boat on its way. “Lord Mordain, you say that Brihann’s demons can’t be allowed to invade the mortal world. What cause do you have to protect mankind?”
“The simplest and most eternal of reasons. A young woman,” he said with a quiet, but obvious ache. “Brihann cannot be allowed to find her before I do.”
“She must be someone of great importance to you.” Although Georgiana was now smiling at Mordain, that gloating smile of hers was meant as an “I told you so” to Bloodaxe. “Is this young woman your dragon mate?”
“I’ve yet to meet her, so I couldn’t say for certain, but I expect so. She must be important to me in some way because Brihann is intent on destroying her and we all know his motives are anything but honorable.” He turned to face Bloodaxe, his expression grim. “The Stone of Draloch has been talking to Brihann. Beware of it, for I have a bad feeling about its intentions.”