by Judith Leger
the Felerians had no trouble finding dragoons for them to
ride. But how had the wizard known of their arrival?
A sprawling house came into view. One story on the
nearest end, two on the other, the stone walls with the
thatched roof beckoned him, offering refuge from the
weather. Yellow flames flickered in covered sconces on either
side of the solid wood entrance. A small window cut high in
the door spilled light on the stone steps leading to the door.
Paladin’s dragoon halted in front of the entrance and
roared, its head thrown back, mouth open to reveal sharp,
pointed teeth. He patted the elongated neck in thanks for the
ride and slipped from the saddle. He hurried through the
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sticky mud to Seren’s side.
The ride, though short, had worn down the little bit of
strength she had left. With her eyes half closed, her face pale,
she tilted toward him. He grabbed her and carried her to the
door. He prepared to set her on her feet to bang on the wood,
but before he could, the portal swung in.
Largin stood in the opening. With his chin raised, nostrils
flaring, black eyes sparkling, and his white hair tangled
about his shoulders, he barked, “I have been waiting for your
arrival.”
Fear shot through Paladin. His father’s old teachings
echoed through his mind. ‘Dangerous business to keep a
wizard waiting. Never do so.’
He cocked a brow at Largin, hoping his unease remained
hidden from the wizard’s keen gaze. “Have you?”
Largin nodded, motioning for Paladin to enter. Once
inside, Paladin bent, helping Seren to stand. She still leaned
against his side, and he kept his arm around her waist,
holding her steady. Largin stuck his head out the door. He
glanced left then right for a moment before ordering the
dragoons to their beds. With a nod, he slammed the door
shut.
The wizard’s dark breeches and navy shirt hung on his
thin frame. He had declined since the last time Paladin had
visited. Concerned for the elderly man, Paladin frowned.
“What has happened to you?”
Largin opened his mouth to speak but stopped. He stared
at Seren’s veiled face for a moment then shifted lower to her
abdomen. “So it’s true, the rumors I have heard in the last
few days.”
Paladin stiffened. Seren glanced at him, questions evident
in her eyes. He shifted his arm to her shoulder, giving it a
squeeze in hope of relieving her worry. “This is Seren. She is
from the place Leo comes from—Earth.”
“I am aware. The scrying stone revealed this to me three
days ago.” Largin nodded. He waited until they had removed
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their cloaks, and then he waved for them to move ahead of
him. “Come. You know the way, Paladin. Warm yourselves
before the fire. I will summon Leo before I bring food and
drink for all of us.”
Paladin took Seren’s arm and led her down the dimly lit
hallway. His thoughts grim, he realized the time had come
for answers, for him and for her.
* * * *
Seren stood with her back to the blazing fire in the
hearth. Cozy, even homey, the room where Paladin had led
her set her mind at ease. The four leather armchairs, seats
worn and glossy in places, faced each other like they waited
for someone to sit and enjoy the warmth coming from the
fireplace. Bookcases, lining all the walls, overflowed onto the
faded fabric of the area rug. Several large glass covered
lamps gave the room a snug atmosphere, not too bright, but
not dark either. Seren smiled. Just right.
Huge, colored stones sat on the hearth, the mantel, the
bookcases, even the floor. Strange lights flickered in each
one. Reds, yellows, blues, greens, purples, and blacks, the
invisible auras expelled by them sent many different
reactions through her when she gazed at them. The clear
crystal ones attracted her the most. Her smile widened at the
feeling of peace which flowed through her mind at the sight
of this particular color.
She rubbed her warmed hands together and looked over
at Paladin. He stood next to her, staring into the flames,
hands braced on the mantel.
When he didn’t react to her look, she moved to the
nearest armchair to take a seat. She rested her head against
the padded back and shut her eyes, savoring the gentle lull of
the crackling fire. She inhaled the scent of wood smoke
tingeing the air. Warmth coasted over the front of her body.
Paladin shifted. She opened her eyes to see him facing
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her. Deep and soft, his voice imbedded into the deepest
reaches of her mind. “I asked if our child appeared to you.
You said no. I am asking again. Did he? If so, you must tell
me what he told you.”
She met his gaze for a moment before she nodded. “This
place is like a fairy tale only it’s not. It’s real, isn’t it?”
He nodded. His expression was unreadable. “I do not
know what a fairy tale is, but this is very real. It is no jest.”
She looked away from him to the dancing flames in the
hearth. Within the fire, she envisioned his reaction to her
telling him the truth. He wouldn’t believe her. He’d probably
say she was crazy and he’d be half right. She was lost on this
new world, not even sure it was reality. If he left her, she’d be
an outcast on this planet where everything was so different
from what she considered normal. He was the only person
she felt safe with in this place. On the other hand, she feared
not telling him. He could help her. If he chose to believe in
her abilities, in what she’d seen, he could help her
understand what was happening to her. There wasn’t a
choice, she had to trust him. “He said the seven dragons
opened the door for me to come here so he could be created.”
She placed a trembling hand over her stomach prior to
meeting his steady stare again. “He said you were
expendable, but he hoped that wouldn’t happen.”
A flicker of pain crossed his face before he asked, “Did he
say why the dragons did this?”
“For him to be the one King over them.”
His jaw clenched. The muscle ticked in his cheek. He
nodded in response. She counted the seconds by the twitch
until he spoke again— one, two, three, four, five, six… “I had
hoped you could stay here while I traveled to return my
wife’s body—you would be more at ease with someone from
your world, but it cannot be. I have to take you with me. It is
the single way to keep you safe.”
“Safe? From what?” She leaned forward, needing to know
what he meant. “Explain to me why anyone would want to
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harm me or this child?”
He stepped to her, going down on one knee. He lifted her
hand, holding i
t tight between his. A frown creased his brow.
“There are those who would feel threatened by such an event
as one King over the dragons. They may try to harm you, and
through you, the child.
“In their guts, dragons produce valuable stones with their
magic. All of Avaris revolves around these dragonstones. To
preserve peace in the lands, the dragon clan leaders formed a
blood pact with humans. The stones are given free of any
obligation by the dragons. They are a token of their trust in
the human clans,” he explained. “Many more adult dragons
live on Avaris besides those leaders. They are exiled to the
rogue lands because their magic is not strong enough to
defeat a clan leader. This also keeps them away from the
lands occupied by humans.”
“Wait, you’re confusing me. What do the other dragons
have to do with any of this if they are exiled?”
“Each rogue is related to a clan dragon. The dragonseed
king of each clan can call the rogues to come forth to assist
their clan in battle. Right now, even the dracs are gathering,
which is a definite sign of pending war.”
She studied him, glad he paused for a minute. “Won’t the
kings be able to stop war from happening?”
“Which king?” He raised a brow at her. When he
continued, his voice hardened. “The ones our child will usurp
after he is an adult? Or do you believe an unborn babe has
the power to stop this war?”
Seren drew back. His words frightened her. “Why me? I
asked him. He didn’t answer me. He talked about you and
the dragons. Nothing else.”
“This is not just about you.”
Frustrated, she glared at him. “I know that.”
He stared hard at her. “Do you want my child?”
Seren returned his look for several seconds while she
collected her thoughts and tried to calm her nerves. “Since
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you brought me here, I’ve felt lost. Even with you near me,
I’ve still felt alone.”
After a gentle squeeze, she tugged her hand free of his
and stood. She moved around the room, studying one stone
after another. “At first, when I had the vision of our son, I
thought I’d lost it, but then he started asking me questions I
didn’t want to answer. About things I refused to even think
of before.”
A clear crystal sat in the center of an ornately carved
square table. The stone, larger than any of the others,
radiated a sparkling light within its center. The rays drew her
closer. She ran a finger along the sharp edges, marveling at
the beauty of it before she continued. “I thought I wanted my
life to go back to normal, but in reality, I didn’t know what
normal was anymore. There wasn’t anything left from my life
before Mandy’s death. After talking with him, I realized that
just because I lost my child doesn’t mean I have to live in
vacuum.”
Paladin, steps muffled by the rug, moved behind her. She
closed her eyes, waiting. Anticipation amplified her slow,
steady heartbeat. The weight of his warm hands on her
shoulders comforted her. She shuddered. When his lips
brushed against the side of her neck, need for what he
offered forced her to turn toward him.
She smiled a little and whispered, “Yes. I want this baby.
I’ll be damned if I’ll allow anyone to hurt him.”
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Chapter Eight
Raw desire burst to life in Paladin’s eyes and Seren’s
desire increased in answer to his silent call. Heart racing, its
beat matched the rhythm of the vein in his neck. Lowering
her gaze, she focused on the smooth curve of his mouth. She
passed her tongue over her lower lip, wanting to do the same
to his.
Never had a man affected her the way he did. The
junction between her legs ached, flooding with need. Her
breasts tingled, insisting she brush them against his chest’s
solid strength. She fought the gnawing passion inside her,
but when he shifted his head down, she rose to meet him.
One gentle sweep, skin brushing against skin, he tugged
her closer, molding her against him. The second pass of his
mouth sealed their lips. Fire, so unlike the kind Seren had
suffered through before, licked over her skin. She opened her
mouth to allow his tongue to slide in. She moaned.
The door swung wide with a groan. She pulled her lips
free to see Largin enter, his back to them, gripping a tray
with carved wooden handles in his hands. “Here you are. Hot
telee. Will warm you to your bones.”
She lowered her head, resting her brow on Paladin’s
shoulder. She tried to catch her breath. He gave her a light
squeeze then released her, letting his hand glide down her
arm. They laced their fingers together.
Paladin appeared to have trouble controlling his
breathing also. She smiled, glad she wasn’t alone with the
torment of the smoldering chemistry between them.
By the time she glanced back at the older man, he had
placed the tray on an empty table in the far corner. He filled
four small cups, and then carried two to them. She nodded
her thanks, inhaling the spicy aroma rising from the white
porcelain looking dish.
Her mouth watered. A second later, her stomach rumbled
in response. She thought back, realizing she hadn’t eaten in
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days. One sip sent warmth through her. The hot drink
reminded her of tea, so she took another small drink until
she emptied the cup. When she finished, she met Paladin’s
gaze. The kindness and worry she saw there brought a wave
of stinging tears to her eyes.
“I sent word to Leo. He should arrive at any moment,”
Largin commented, retrieving a cup for himself.
Gaining control over her unsteady emotions, she lifted
her cup. “May I? It’s good.”
“Have as much as you like. I brought some food also. Eat,
my dear, to regain your vitality.” Largin stepped to the side.
Moving to the table, Seren studied the platters of meats,
bread, and round slabs of what looked like cheese. In those
few seconds, she realized Largin had avoided looking at her
since he’d returned. Curious, she lifted an empty saucer,
mulling over the wizard’s strange behavior toward her while
she filled it.
When she had made her choices, she turned, directing
her question to the older man. “Do I bother you?”
Largin stared at the floor a little to the right of where she
stood. “You as a human woman, no—but you are not just a
human. You are the bearer of the Dragon King...well, that is a
different matter indeed.”
Seren’s heart rose to her throat. The man’s comment
verified the unease she had seen in Paladin earlier. How had
Largin known about the baby? Was he alone in his
knowledge or were others also aware?
“We came here to find out if
there’s another way I could
go home. One without the help of the dragons.” Now, she
had to know, especially after finding out her child might be
in danger.
“Nothing is done on Avaris without the dragons’ consent.
I am sorry, but they brought you here, and here you will stay
until they allow you to return to your home.” The old man
stepped to the mantle. He set his tea on the wooden beam
that ran the length of the hearth.
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Shocked, Seren stared at him, taking in his words. “But
they don’t have the right to keep me here. I want to go home.
Wouldn’t it also be better for my baby if I went back to
Earth?”
“I cannot say.”
“There has to be a way.”
“Do not give up hope. I will research the matter more.
With luck, I will discover some useful information.”
Before she had the opportunity to thank him for his help,
footsteps came from the hall outside the room. Seren’s gaze
flew to the door. Standing there, framed within the opening
was the reason for her coming to this island.
Sparkling white teeth flashed in an ebony face. Gray
salted the wiry short hair. Seren’s heart skipped a beat then
pounded double time. Built like an aging linebacker, he filled
the entire doorway.
Food forgotten, she set her plate down and stared at the
tall stranger. She wanted to run across the room and throw
her arms around the man’s tapered waist just to make sure
he was real. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Paladin
grinning at the new arrival.
Heart in her throat, she stood there unable to move.
“You’re real. You’re from Earth.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
She stopped a sob from escaping and stared at the face
which reminded her of those she’d left behind on Earth. High
cheek bones, long face, full lips, and his eyes, so gentle and
the color of rich chocolate, brimmed with joy. “Come on,
darlin’, come sit. I know how upsetting this must be for you.”
With a small nod, she allowed him to lead her to one of
the arm chairs. Tears mixed with the need to laugh
threatened to take control of her, but she managed to
overcome them. She sat, never looking away from his face.
“How did you come to be here?” She closed her eyes,
collecting her thoughts. “Oh, God, there’s so much I want to
ask you.”