Dragon Wish

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.”