Dragon's Treasure (Dragons Awaken Book 1)

by Maya Starling

  A slam echoed through the whole mansion. The wooden door offered a cool welcoming comfort as Olivia leaned her forehead against it. Her body was on fire, hands shaking, chest heaving. She pressed her cheek to the mahogany. Sounds of heavy footsteps approached on the other side, followed by a click as Olivia locked her door.

  “Olivia Violet Moore!” Her father rattled the handle of the door, trying to force them open. “Open this door! We raised you better than that.”

  “You raised me to expect better for myself, to value myself more,” she said in a determined voice, pushing hard against the oak, although the lock was strong enough to hold out on its own without her slight weight against it.

  “Connal, hush!” Olivia heard her mother speak, her voice shaky. “You both need to calm down. She is just as impulsive as you are… stubborn as well. You both need to cool your tempers.”

  “We have spoiled her too much, she—”

  Olivia could only imagine her mother’s glare as her father stopped talking.

  “We will discuss this further tomorrow,” Lady Caroline said.

  I won’t be here tomorrow, Olivia thought. She didn’t say it out loud.

  “There is nothing to—”

  “Connal!”

  After a moment of silence, heavy footsteps stomped away.

  “My dear Livvie,” Lady Caroline crooned, her sniffles tempting Olivia to reach for the key. Her mother was a gentle, caring soul and it hurt Olivia whenever her mother cried. The hardest thing she had ever done was to leave the door locked and refuse to give over her future into her parent’s hands just to stop those tears.

  After regaining her composure, Lady Caroline carried on, “Your father and I love you very much. We only worry about your future. Please calm down, get some rest and then… think about it, about our side of things. Be reasonable about our request. Just… Just clear your mind of the anger first.” Her voice seemed to be coming from somewhere below the keyhole. Mother and daughter huddled on either side of the great wooden barrier, so close, but with an impassable gulf between them. Even yesterday, Olivia would not have believed this could happen. She sat, listening to her mother’s voice, turning the key over and over in her hands. The small metal teeth dug into her palm, leaving bruised indentations in her skin, but she still did not unlock the door.

  When Olivia didn’t answer, her mother sighed and said softly, “Good night, my sweet.”

  Olivia took a deep breath, clutching the dragon’s snout tightly. She couldn’t bear to think about it anymore. She had not done it lightly, but… how had it come to this? And were those words the last she would ever hear her mother say? Olivia could no longer contain herself. She gripped Kaden and sobbed.

  Chapter 8

  Kaden controlled his breathing, with Olivia so near to his fire. Closing his eyes, he tried to absorb her sorrow, to ease away her pain. After a while, her sobs slowly subsided and her grip loosened. With a last sniff, Olivia unwrapped her arms from around him so she could brush off her tears and dry her face with the sleeve of the dress. Kaden pulled away and worked out the cramp in his lower jaw.

  “So, about those pants,” he said, feeling oddly proud when he heard her chuckle softly.

  “Next time, please bring something more useful. Like some tea leaves,” Olivia said after she had dried her face and tilted her head back to give him a small smile. “Thank you,” she mumbled, a soft pink adorning her cheeks in embarrassment.

  “Tea,” he nodded in confirmation. “I’ll try to remember.”

  “Where did you get those pants anyway?” Olivia asked, eyebrows raised. “I do not remember ordering any pants,” she teased.

  Kaden gently nudged her before schooling his expression again. “Well, since we’re being honest –” He pondered for a moment what to say, and then settled for the truth. “—I stole them.”

  “You stole them?” Olivia gaped in surprise, eyes widening. “Why would you do that? People already have a very bad opinion of dragons. And why pants?”

  “It’s a –” He fought his way through the barrier in his mind, wishing with all his heart to tell her the truth. Trying with his whole might, he just couldn’t, the words wouldn’t come so instead he said, “— an addiction. But I’m working on it! I promise.”

  Olivia rewarded him with a soft smile, even chuckled because the dragon reminded her of a child caught doing something he was not supposed to.

  She glanced toward the back passageway, unable to keep her mind off it for any length of time. “So all the things in the back cave are the items you stole?”

  “Yes. And speaking of that part of the cave, what possessed you to go there when I told you not to?” Kaden said while fighting off a grin as he looked at her sternly, but the amused glint in his eyes gave him away.

  “Oh, yes. I forgot about that,” Olivia quirked her lips into a sheepish smile. “Honestly?” She looked away for a moment, remembering the loneliness, the grief but chose to ignore it now, she had just cried it out. Looking at him again, with the same smile, she said. “I was bored and curious.” She shrugged.

  “Liv, Liv, Liv… What am I to do with you?” The dragon shook his head as he moved and settled back down in his spot, amusement evident in his rumbling voice, but it didn’t escape his notice the her eyes spoke differently; haunted and unhappy.

  An involuntary shiver ran through Olivia when he called her Liv and his smooth, velvety baritone caressed her soul like a warm summer breeze. Her heart fluttered with nervous delight, so she lowered her head and regarded him from under her lashes. The way he made her feel, she could easily forget he was a dragon.

  “Keep me?” Olivia blurted, surprising herself, and she was quick to add, “I mean, I can be quite a handful, and am easily trained.” She finished off with a cheeky wink of her own. She liked the dragon’s playful side. She could be playful as well.

  Kaden’s sudden laughter reverberated throughout the cave. He snorted little fireballs, shifting his head so as not to burn Olivia as she joined him with her giggling. Images of Olivia as some sort of a pet flashed through his mind before they morphed into different images; visions that caused his laughter to abate and other feelings to bloom inside him.

  Damnation, it has been so long.

  It was his fondness for female companionship that had gotten him in his current condition in the first place, that condemned him to this wretched state. If only he could have saved her… if only Lucia’s sister hadn’t…. no, he would not dwell on his past mistakes. Nothing he could do about it now, not even speak out loud about the events of that fateful night, and of what he used to be.

  He shook the thoughts away, but he couldn’t help, though, and be mesmerized by the sparkle in Olivia’s sky blue eyes. Her hand brushed way the unruly curls behind her ear, giving him a glimpse of her milky white neck, the line of her collarbone flirting with him, peeking shyly from beneath the fabric of the dress. As she drew her other hand away from hiding her giggles, luscious pink lips still pulled back in a smile, he even found the overbite of her pearly white teeth fascinating.

  Her lips moved, creating words, but his ears never registered the sound. When Olivia tilted her head to the side and cocked an eyebrow, Kaden shook out the lustful fog clouding his mind, once again chiding himself for wasting time on such thoughts.

  “I apologize; my mind drifted.”

  “I noticed. Is everything well?”

  Kaden nodded and then continued their little banter, engaging Olivia in a harmless conversation, wanting to learn about her as much as possible, to live a human life once again, even if only through her words.

  Olivia told him about her childhood, her gestures just as vivid and elaborate as her words. She spoke with flourish of the first time she went fishing with her father, even jumping up to her feet, demonstrating how their lines intertwined, and then they tangled as well, falling into the water, getting completely drenched. And the time she snuck into the stables to steal a kiss from the stable master’s son, her fir
st kiss, and how awkward it was for both, but they remained good friends. Kaden found himself jealous of the boy who got a taste of her lips.

  Also, she told him about the first time she tried trimming the bushes with her mother, and in the end, they molded them into various amusing creatures. Once, she even traveled to the sea, when he father took her on her first trading trip, learning about negotiations and business intricacies, and how, surprisingly, she enjoyed learning that as well. Oh, and the sea, she made it sound so magnificent, even dipping her bare feet into its freezing fold; it was winter. But no one was around to see her. And of course, she spoke proudly of her horse, Starlite; sometimes, when she was younger, Olivia would sneak out and sleep in the barn with the mare. The horse was a gift from her parents for her 16th birthday.

  As she spoke about her parents more and more, the sunshine in her eyes drifted away behind gloomy clouds. Her gestures subdued, she sat down again, and spoke of the little things, like her favorite color; purple, favorite foods and such.

  In the end Kaden decided that she harbored quite an adventurous spirit for someone who had led such a sheltered life. Her mind was of an uncommon mould, and she was so eager to learn and fill the bottomless bucket of her voracious curiosity. If he hadn’t known any better, he never would have guessed her status, with only the little things, like the way she held herself and the manner of her speech, giving her away. Maybe the times have changed since his last interactions with young women of higher social standing. Which was a good thing; women had so much to give to the world, so smart, nurturing, so… resourceful, and dangerous as he had learned.

  In spite of her disagreement with her parents – a dispute so severe she ended up running away from them – she spoke of them only in glowing terms. It was obvious she was proud to be their daughter, though that fact might be moot at this point, since her chances of returning home were rapidly dwindling away to nothing.

  The sadness in her eyes tore at Kaden’s heart so much that, in spite of his burning desire to know everything about her, he forced himself to change the subject to his own past, at least the parts of it that he was able to talk about. With an enthusiasm born out of his desire to distract Olivia from her sorrow, he described the exciting details of his travels, the many places he had seen, his encounters with people – which usually didn’t end well – and the wide variety of human possessions he had stolen.

  “One time,” Kaden chuckled, “as I was out enjoying a beautiful summer day I flew over a small, rickety house and the mule grazing in the field caught my attention. I wondered what it would be like if I just picked up the animal and took it back to my cave. I didn’t have to wonder long, since, without giving it much thought, I landed in the field and approached the mule.”

  Olivia shook her head in disbelief, a smile whispering on her lips.

  “Of course the animal spooked and then, out of the stack of hay to the side, an old woman stumbled to her feet. The most tenacious woman… or better yet, old hag I had ever met. She charged right at me with her cane, pounding away like I was just some small lizard she wanted to squash.”

  Olivia laughed at the images Kaden’s words evoked in her mind.

  “I deserved it though, and in the end, we came to an understanding and parted ways peacefully.” Kaden sighed. “That was also the last time I spoke to a human… almost fifty seasons ago.”

  “Have you ever just approached someone and talked to them? Tell them you mean them no harm?” Olivia said as she tilted her head to the side, watching the dragon from across the fire, the dancing flames wrapping her in comforting warmth.

  Rain murmured outside the cave, and inside the fire crackled and popped.

  Kaden paused. “For the longest part of my life, I was just bitter and angry, not caring about companionship, so I didn’t even try. I lived far away then. The only contact I had with people was either when I… you know… borrowed things from them for an undetermined period of time, or when those foolish enough dared to come and attack me. My life was always complicated, even after I moved somewhere new and tried being more friendly. In the end, I accepted my loneliness, found this cave and avoided everyone altogether.”

  “But what about—”

  “Have I told you about the horse?”

  Olivia opened her mouth to argue, but she saw the pleading look in his big amber eyes and closed it again. He told her about the time he had successfully stolen a horse. He hadn’t eaten it, but made sure to bring the animal alive to his cave and stashed it in his treasure chamber. The horse kept him company for two days because it was hard for him to let go of things once he had taken them. On the third day, he had gone out to give the horse a chance to escape on its own. The horse had seized the opportunity and had snuck out, bolting away once it had reached the woods.

  He still missed the horse and the company it had provided but now he had Olivia.

  She laughed through most of his stories. They were funny, but the bittersweet edge to them was not lost on her. She hoped he would see she was laughing with him, not at him. She knew being lonely could make a person – even a scaled, saurian person - overly sensitive. Even so, she couldn’t remember the last time she had laughed so hard or so much. Olivia listened to his stories about the chimney, the unfortunate apple tree, the wagon and some other silly items he had stolen.

  Finally, after one hilarious image too many, she waved her hand, creased up and barely able to get the words out. “Alright, alright... enough... I give up! No more, my stomach hurts from all the laughter,” Olivia exclaimed, clutching at her aching sides.

  Kaden had been enjoying their last few hours together and didn’t want the day to end. The conversation flew easily; the bantering felt natural, as if they had known each other for years. He also admired Olivia’s wit and her inquisitiveness. He loved the way her laughter bounced off the walls and he was attracted to the mischievous glint in her eyes when she had something impish or funny to say. He couldn’t manage to look away from her face even for a moment. Her joy spread like a salve through him and he was happier than he had been in a very, very long time.

  He had almost forgotten what it felt like to be with someone who wanted to be with him.

  A soft groan brought his focus back on Olivia’s words. She was now standing up and stretching her arms above her head, her soft figure in the form-fitting gown silhouetted in the firelight. Kaden closed his eyes and breathed out the suppressed desire. Don’t think of it. It could never happen. You’re a dragon now.

  “I wish I could get out and breathe in some fresh air.” His eyes opened at the sound of Olivia’s wistful voice.

  “I have an idea.” Kaden rose to his hands and feet as well. “Follow me,” he said as he led the way towards the cave’s mouth.

  “But it’s still raining,” Olivia grumbled but followed the dragon anyway. As they drew closer to the cave’s opening she inhaled the fresh air, filling her lungs as a gentle but chill breeze caressed her skin. Even though it still rained upon them, in the distance the clouds parted and they could see the sun low on the horizon, its golden rays holding the forest in a glowing, warm embrace.

  “Come.” Kaden’s voice jerked Olivia from her thoughts and from soaking in her surroundings. She noticed he had lifted one of his wings up, offering her a shelter from the rain. Hesitating for just a moment, Olivia took a few steps forward until she was safely pressed against his side, under the protection of the silky membrane.

  “Keep your hand on me and follow where I go,” Kaden said and Olivia liked the assuredness behind it. It was comforting.

  Olivia did as Kaden requested and allowed him to lead her to a small clearing not too far from the cave. A small gasp of wonder burst from her lips as she beheld the sight of the valley spread out before her, painted in the gorgeous colors of the setting sun. The sky was a light shade of blue but the fluffy clouds drifting below were ablaze with the colors of dancing flames. Never had she ever seen the kingdom in such a way before, and she drew the cloak tigh
tly around her shoulders before she leaned her full weight against the bulk of Kaden’s body. She drew warmth from him and the dragon curled his wing in nearer to his body, pulling her even closer to him.

  Neither of them said a word as they enjoyed the view of the sun slowly slipping below the horizon and the sound of birds singing them a marvelous symphony. Immersed in the beauty of the moment, neither of them sensed the shadow of foreboding creeping up behind them under the cover of darkness.

  Chapter 9

  After the sun had set and the rain receded, Kaden and Olivia took a leisurely walk back to the cave. The fresh air and the freedom of an open space were exactly what she needed.

  Filling her lungs with clean, damp air, she breathed in the scents of the forest accentuated by rain; pine trees, wet bark, fallen needles and resin overpowered almost everything else. And even though she was wrapped up in the cloak, Olivia still shivered but welcomed the cool breeze that murmured through the trees. This cold was so different from the cold of the cave.

  Calming. Refreshing.

  Since darkness ruled the sky and the moon was slimmer than it had been a few nights ago, Olivia clung to Kaden with one hand so she could keep her footing steady. The inky blue sky was streaked with the last remnants of the rain clouds, and even the stars were not as visible as on the night she had ran away from the wolves. Has it only been the night before? Or more? She shook her head at the loss of time, everything blended and distorted, as if in a dream. She looked up at the clouds still lingering above them. They drifted away from the misty surface of the moon as the breeze drove them onwards. Owls hooted, crickets called out to their mates as an occasional smaller nightly critter shuffled by, scavenging around. A howl or two echoed in the distance, but Olivia didn’t fear them as much with Kaden by her side.