Dragon's Treasure (Dragons Awaken Book 1)

by Maya Starling

  As usual, Charlie sat alone at a table and Lance came over with breakfast for both of them, joining her. She accepted, giving him a coy smile then looking away. He flushed hot crimson in response and ate his food without saying a word. Charlie grinned to herself, making sure to gaze at him under her lashes until he noticed, then glanced skittishly away. She lived in hope that one day his feelings would give him the courage to stand up to Reed, if not to Magnus, but so far he remained cowed by the older knight and no help at all when it came to the prince. She was secretly glad about that, if she was honest with herself – she really didn’t want to bring Magnus’ wrath down on anyone else’s head. Or their back.

  She swallowed her food, barely tasting it as her grin faded. She would bear those scars for a long time. Lance caught her expression and tentatively moved his hand across the table to cover hers. She stiffened but did not draw it away until he stroked her fingers with his thumb. He didn’t argue, but stood up with a sad tilt of his head, withdrawing from her and leaving her to finish eating alone. Lance must know she didn’t have the same kind of feelings for him as he did for her, she thought, watching him go, and sighed. She pushed the food away, catching sight of Reed fetching the prince’s breakfast.

  They would be moving on again soon, and she couldn’t wait to be out of the woods and back somewhere dry and warm, with a proper roof over her head. I can’t wait for him to kill that dragon, she thought. Then we can all go home.

  After breaking his fast, Magnus and his men geared up and mounted their horses. The prince gazed at the mountains, squinting, eager for a glimpse of the dragon rumored to haunt those slopes. He hoped the stories were true and the monster lingered somewhere in the forest. He would not go back until he fulfilled this self-imposed quest. It would make him look puny in his father’s eyes if he failed and returned empty-handed, and this was the closest he had gotten to the dragon since his journey started two months ago.

  He glanced back at his men. The horse shifted underneath him, sharing his master’s anxiousness. No words were uttered as he gave a nod to his following, tugged the reins and started for the mountains.

  The aura of anticipation, the apprehension of the unknown, and excitement settled over them. They could only grit their teeth and ride on. A few hours later, they reached the foothills, just as the sun blazed down on them, and they were grateful for the shade of the trees that forest provided.

  “We’ll stop here to rest,” Magnus said after trekking for four hours. “Theo… Damien. Scout ahead for any signs of the dragon and bring back some meat.”

  “Yes, Your Highness,” Theo said, nudging Damien with a covert grin. “We’ll be very thorough.”

  Only Charlie caught the flicker in Damien’s eyes as he shared in the smile, and she rolled her eyes. They would take a while, being very… meticulous. “What – a – waste” she mouthed as Theo turned back to wink at her, and the two bounded off into the trees.

  Dismounting her horse, Charlie ignored Reed’s attempts to gain her attention, but still, the unease prickling in the back of her neck and creeping down her spine made her aware of him and conscious of the fact that he would not give up until he had her all to himself. She closed her eyes as she heard heavy feet stomping closer to her.

  “Reed, come here,” Magnus said, and Charlie’s shoulders sagged in relief. As soon as her horse was untacked and brushed down, she joined Cassiel. The dark knight always looked out for her best interests when they spent time together, and he never used her services, a true gentleman… a true knight, like the ones in the fairy tales. A rare find these days, she decided. Still, he had always puzzled her. She understood why most of the knights had ended up in the prince’s service, but not this one. His armor was of a very fine quality, so she guessed that unlike Theo and Damien, he wasn’t in it for the money. He certainly didn’t share the prince’s particular interests, like Reed. The others… the others hadn’t really had a choice, as they had been chosen to serve, like her. You didn’t say no to Prince Magnus, and you certainly didn’t say no to his father, the king. Not if you wanted your house to remain standing and your family to remain free.

  One day, she would ask Cassiel about his oaths. With a determined nod, she watched the dark knight inspect his horse and check his belongings. With him, everything always had its proper place.

  At the sudden sensation of a grope of her behind, Charlie swiveled around and found herself face to face with Colin. Him, she didn’t like. He wasn’t as… aggressive with his demands as Magnus and Reed, yet he wasn’t as mindful about her as Lance, not to mention Cassiel. He ran a tongue over his teeth behind his closed lips and his beard moved as if living a life of its own. It sure could chafe and bruise that way.

  “What do you want, Colin?”

  “Oh, you know what I want.”

  Charlie swatted his hand away when he reached for her. “Not now.”

  “As I remember, you don’t have a say in that.” Colin cocked his head to the side and a wicked smile dance on his lips, showing off the gap where his front tooth used to be. He looked her up and down with those poo brown eyes.

  “Well, Reed claimed me next, so you can take it up with him.” Charlie placed her hands akimbo to hide their trembling and glared at him. Her heart pounded but she kept her breathing under control, taking in deep measured breaths when all her lungs wanted to do was pant to the rhythm of her rising panic. She gulped it down when he took a step closer.

  “Seems he’s busy with the prince. I bet—”

  “Colin…” Cassiel joined Charlie’s side and she took a step back, hiding behind her savior. “It would be prudent of you to heed Lady Charlotte’s words. This is neither the time nor the place. The Prince is high strung as it is and he would not approve of you being… distracted at this moment. At least wait till nightfall.”

  Colin narrowed his eyes at Cassiel. “But then Reed will—”

  Cassiel raised his hands. “You deal with him on your own as you see fit.”

  Colin opened his mouth to argue again but Cassiel intercepted, “It really is my personal suggestion you do not do this now, Colin. Stand. Down.” The command behind the calmly uttered words didn’t go unnoticed by Charlie or Colin as the man swiveled and stomped away.

  Charlie exhaled a breath of relief. “Thank you, Cass.”

  The knight turned and offered her a small smile. “It is the least I can do.” He spread his hand to the side. “Would you help me gather some wood?”

  Charlie nodded vehemently. “I would love that.” She was willing to take up any chore Cassiel offered as long as it kept her away from those seeking her services.

  Horses left grazing, and a small fire blazing, Reed still stayed away from Charlie, tending to his prince’s whims. The rest spread out the small makeshift camp, relaxing and resting, or talking in hushed voices.

  Two wolves burst through the bushes to one side.

  Snarling and growling.

  A black wolf pup hid behind the pair in the shrubberies. It had been playfully running away from the two wolves and would have stumbled upon the humans if its wolf parents hadn’t overtaken it and jumped out in its defense. One of those wolves turned back now to growl at the pup, compelling it to run away to safety.

  Shackles raised, ears perked forward, the two wolves bared their fangs at the humans, wanting nothing more than to protect their young and give it a chance to run away.

  But Magnus had other ideas.

  “Reed, how about some soft wolf pelts. They would make a nice addition to my lovely collection, don’t you think?” The prince took a few steps back and closer to his sword, hand wrapping around the hilt.

  “Yes, Magnus, they surely would.” Reed unsheathed his own weapon and stalked forward.

  The wolves snarled and snapped towards him, eyes darting about at the rest of the people, wary of danger.

  Charlie stepped back, hiding behind a tree while others took defensive positions in front of Magnus, with Lance standing nearer to Charlie.
Lance’s position didn’t escape the prince’s notice and he narrowed his eyes at the knight.

  “Oh look, the puppies want to play!” Reed taunted, swirling the sword in front of him, slicing through the air in big, heavy sweeps.

  “Just make it quick! We don’t have the time for your games,” Magnus snapped at Reed.

  “Yes, my prince,” the knight conceded and lunged at the first wolf.

  The wolf dodged. The tip of the sword brushed past its ears and it stepped back before pouncing forward. The other wolf attacked Reed too, jaws snapping at the knight’s armored feet.

  Reed stumbled back as the first wolf leaped onto him and he knocked it away with an iron fist. His low and steady stance, with muscles bunching under the weight of his armor, helped him keep his footing.

  Full plate armor kept the wolves’ teeth and claws at bay while Reed expertly swung the sword, years of experience guiding his hand. He made short work of the creatures.

  Just as one of the animals retreated, limping and bleeding, trying to get back to its pup, Reed stalked towards it, torture and menace glinting in his black eyes. The wolf didn’t have much life left in it but Reed decided to make the pain last a little longer.

  An arrow flew past him and pierced the wolf’s head, killing it instantly. Reed swiveled around and glared at Theo, who had already nocked a new arrow to his bow.

  Damien stood by his lover’s side, chest heaving from sprinting back after hearing the sounds of battle. They hated this part the most because they shared a love for animals, trying to preserve the natural balance, and hunting only what they needed to eat. At least this way they could lessen the animals’ suffering.

  Reed roared, eyes narrowed and blazing with fury as he stomped toward Theo. Damien dropped the rabbits he was holding and drew his bow as well, the arrow aimed at Reed’s unprotected head. They could kill him before he even reached them.

  “Reed, stand down!” Magnus’ voice boomed through the forest.

  Reed reluctantly obeyed, still glaring at the two, his lip curling into a silent snarl while his hand tightened into a white-knuckled grip on the hilt of his sword. He glanced at Charlie, then back at the two, anger fuming in his eyes.

  “You need to stop drinking so much and rein in that temper of yours. Take it out on someone else, not on our group.” Magnus stalked forward and stopped right in front of Reed, eye to eye, cold blue against raging black.

  “I apologize, Your Highness.” Reed lowered his head and turned to clean up the mess and his sword. He managed to angle his path so he smacked Theo’s shoulder as he walked by.

  “Damien, the wolves are yours,” Magnus ordered as he kicked over a dead animal and walked back to sit down and rest.

  The prince and his knights continued their way up the mountain not long after they had rested and eaten. Magnus hoped for a dragon sighting today so they could get a general idea of the territory it covered. That would make it so much easier than searching the whole forest for the beast. That could take days, and yet, no promises they would find him at all.

  As they hiked up a slope, leading the horses by the reins and silence keeping them company, a shadow flew overhead. It moved too fast to be just another cloud. All their heads snapped up, catching a glimpse of a creature rushing above the tree line, followed by a gust of wind.

  “Theo, Damien,” the prince said.

  The pair dropped their bridles and dismounted. Damien charged toward a tree. He jumped and pushed up, and then wrapped his hand around a branch. Legs locked around the limb, he swung down and extended his arms toward Theo. Forearm gripped forearm as Damien pulled Theo up. The rest of the branches were within easy reach as they both climbed up, swiftly reaching the top. Through the branches and leaves they caught sight of a huge animal flying away.

  “Shite! It’s real!” Theo looked over at Damien. “I thought it was all talk.”

  Damien shook his head. “I know,” he whispered, never taking his eyes off the dragon, “and we’re going after it. Hopefully we won’t find it, but knowing Magnus, he won’t give up until we do. I hope we survive it. Do you see the size of that monster?!”

  Dragon out of sight, they descended the tree, unhurried.

  “Let’s just keep our heads cool, and if the push comes to shove, we can always turn tail and flee. After seeing that thing, I judge it wouldn’t be a cowardly move but a smart one.” Theo suggested.

  “I agree.” Damien nodded.

  “So, what did you see?” Magnus asked as soon as he spotted them.

  “A dragon! We really saw a dragon.” Theo’s eyes were still wide with wonder. He jumped down, followed by Damien. “It went that way.”

  “Finally!” Magnus said. “Quickly! Move! I don’t want to lose the trail!”

  Theo and Damien led the way on foot, Magnus tagging along as the rest followed on horses, leading the extra mounts as well. The three cut a straight path, while the group on horseback, zigged and zagged, making their way through the more open areas of wood, but constantly staying in contact.

  “How big was it?” Magnus panted, the heavy armor bearing down on him, determination driving him onward on foot. He wouldn’t miss a moment of the chase. So thrilling.

  “It was… huge. Unlike anything I’ve ever seen,” Theo said as he led the way. “Hard to estimate real size, it was already too far away, but if I were to guess, about five or six horse lengths long, from its head to the tip of its scaly tail.”

  “Wonderful!” A sinister, gleeful smile crept onto Magnus’s face. “No time to waste. We need to find it.” After two hours of hiking in the direction the dragon had gone, no new signs of the monster appeared, nor did it fly over again.

  “Damnation!” Magnus said once they reached a stream. “Where is it!?” He kicked a rock, a clang of metal on stone, and it splashed into the water.

  “We have no way of knowing how far it went, or even if it remained in the forest,” Theo spoke up, earning a glare from Magnus.

  The prince stomped toward him and fisted Theo’s shirt in his gloved hand. “I don’t care! Give me the dragon today, or give me your life.”

  Damien reached for his bow, but a hand on his shoulder stopped him. As he glanced back, Cassiel shook his head no, and squeezed his grip in reassurance. The group had caught up. Damien nodded, trusting Cassiel’s judgment.

  Theo gulped. He hadn’t expected Magnus to lash out that way. Verbally, yes, but not physically. Lately, the prince’s behavior had gotten more erratic, unpredictable, and anxious. Not that he hadn’t acted out before, usually when drunk, or contented, or wanting a woman, or… Theo’s wide-eyed stare moved beyond Magnus’ shoulder, seeking help. Reed smirked at him, but movement to the side caught his attention. Cassiel approached.

  “Your Highness.” The soothing voice of the dark knight did nothing to calm the prince. Maybe reason would. “Not all is lost. There is still a way.”

  The prince slackened his grip on Theo as his head snapped toward Cassiel. He nodded for his knight to continue.

  “Dragons probably need to drink as much as humans. If it lives in this mountain, it could be somewhere close to the stream, or at least we might find some tracks where it comes to quench its thirst. Theo and Damien should be able to discern those.”

  Magnus narrowed his eyes at Cassiel, but nodded. He shoved Theo away before continuing their trek upstream. Reed followed, after taking the reins to Magnus’s horse.

  As Charlie rode by, Theo gave her a small reassuring smile and to Cassiel he mouthed, Thank you.

  Just as Damien reached for Theo, Magnus bellowed, “Theo, Damien. Up front!”

  Theo let his hand brush Damien’s, and they jogged together to catch up with Magnus, and their horses, all of them continuing the trek on foot.

  “I think we might be coming up to a clearing,” Theo said. Four more hours had passed, and Magnus grew more agitated, taking the lead alongside his scout and hunter.

  The prince raised his hand and everyone stopped. He turned to face
them. “If the dragon’s not there, we’ll stop to rest… maybe set up an early camp. The dragon might show up or fly over again.” Fists balled at his sides at the thought of waiting longer, he continued, “We’re close. I can feel it. I want you all well rested before we face the beast.”

  “Yes, Your Highness,” voices chorused.

  As they neared the clearing, Magnus spotted something, no, someone standing next to the stream. He turned to his men, putting a finger to his lips, motioning forward, signaling caution. Reed took his left side while Cassiel flanked his right. As they sneaked closer, Magnus grinned at the sight and pointed his finger down to his companions. They were to wait.

  He cleared the tree line and took a few steps forward, admiring the female form in front of him. An angelic appearance, her body soft and luscious. Warm rays of the sun caressed her skin. Magnus halted so he could enjoy the view for a few moments. The sight of her naked body made his burn instantly. This was how he would imagine the famous water nymphs from the stories he had heard. He wanted her, not in any way possible but in every way possible. What he wanted, he had always gotten. And now, he had finally found her. She had the body to keep him entertained at night, and her innocent glow, alongside her understated beauty, would make her an appropriately attractive companion. At first sight, she had the potential of being a princess, and when he heard her talk, he would know for sure if she had the necessary upbringing. He would work his charm on her then, and she would be putty in his hands in no time. He was sure of it.

  The spell her body wove around him broke as she pulled on a dress. He licked his lips, and plastered on one of his best smirks before he spoke in a low, seductive voice, “Do not cover that fair body, my Princess. It is a shame to hide it, and keeping it from my view should be outlawed.”

  The girl squeaked and whirled around, hand pressed against her chest, soothing the thundering heartbeat.

  Magnus liked the face that went with the body. She wasn’t the prettiest thing he had ever seen, but blood rushed to his groin at the glint of fear in her eyes. That’s my girl, fear me and let me mould you.