by Megg Jensen
"No, you have your moon back. You used it to heal me, but more than a moon has passed. You can heal again if you choose to. But I know you would never choose to heal the enemy and join her."
Elinor pulled back. Her arms stiff at her sides and her hands in fists, she looked up at Bastian. "I didn't just give you my moon, Bastian. I gave you my ultimate sacrifice."
"I'm not familiar with healers, Elinor. I don't know what that means." He didn't like where the conversation was heading.
"When a healer makes the ultimate sacrifice, she not only gives her moon, she gives all of her healing. Forever." Elinor choked in a breath.
"I still don't understand," Bastian said. "Speak plainly." He gazed at the woman he desired. The one who brought him more happiness than any other woman he'd known. What had she done?
"You cannot die easily, Bastian. I gave you my healing. As long as your heart beats, your body will heal itself." Tears spilled from her cheeks. "I did it not because I loved you, but because I wanted to relieve myself of the power to give my moon. I did not want to become what my father had dreamed for me.” Elinor took a deep breath. “There is more. You saw how my wound healed so quickly on the Isle of Repose?"
Bastian nodded, mute.
“As long as your heart beats, mine does too. We are connected. Forever.”
“But when your father tortured you, I took you to a healer…” Bastian remembered the moment so clearly. He thought she’d betrayed them, then found Elinor beaten, bloody, and tied up. She needed a healer, and an old man helped her.
Elinor shook her head, tears bubbling at the corners of her eyes. “I did not want you to know then. I thought you would be angry with me for what I’d done. I let myself be healed, even though I didn’t need it. At the time I thought it would be better if you never knew. Had I known I would love you, had I known you would love me back...I never would have cursed us.”
She turned and ran from the throne room. Bastian stood still, his mouth agape.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Tressa flew into the battle, power coursing through her veins. Dragons darted in every direction. Smoke billowed around Tressa, blinding her. The fray was too chaotic, too packed, and she feared getting caught in a blast of dragonfire. Claws slashed. Swords clanged and whips cracked, wielded by a few Red riders standing on the backs of their dragons. Screams ripped through the sky as both humans and dragons fell to their death.
Tressa let herself fall, feigning an injury. Her chest heaved as she drifted to the ground, exhausted. She gazed into the sky. The Black dragons fought ferociously, felling Red after Red after Red. The field around her blossomed with bodies. Blood hung in the air, heavier than rain on a stormy day.
"Tressa..." The voice whispered to her on the wind.
Jarrett’s pleas didn’t abate, muffling even the screams of the battle. Tressa felt her resistance weakening. Yes, he had tried to kill her, but she knew it was only because something grave was wrong with him. Otherwise he never would have hurt her. Jarrett hadn’t abandoned her when her change began. She’d be damned if she left him when he needed her most.
She looked at the battle again. Granna rode Mestifito, striking down enemies in their path. Her new friends wouldn’t miss her if she left. All that mattered was Jarrett.
Tressa rose into the air, fighting against the strong wind, heading west and north, toward the island where she'd found Jarrett.
Something tickled at her mind, an insistent voice, but she shoved it away. Whoever it was didn't need her. Jarrett needed her. Only Jarrett. Jarrett.
Her mind rang with only one thought. One desire. One compulsion.
She flew away from the people who'd taken her in toward the one who loved her most. Nothing mattered but Jarrett.
Tressa thought to look back once more but her neck wouldn't move. Instead, her snout pointed directly toward the Isle of Repose. Toward Jarrett. Toward the only thing she cared about.
She flew and flew, her wings tiring. But still she kept on, not letting anything stand in the way of reaching Jarrett. She struggled to stay aloft against the pull of the earth. Somehow she won. Somehow she kept on until the island came into sight again.
He stood on the beach still, looking for her. Waiting. Unflinching.
Her body couldn't sustain one more moment of being a dragon. Tressa landed next to him and she changed back into a human.
"Jarrett." She reached out a hand, her vision swimming.
He came closer, and she saw a strange, felt hat pulled over his ears. She recognized it, remembered playfully tugging at it—but that was all. Clouded memories swirled around her head. Tressa couldn’t make sense of any of them.
His strong arms lifted her. Tressa's head slumped against his shoulder.
"I'll take care of you," he whispered in her ear. "I promise. You can trust me."
Tressa wanted to agree, but she couldn't even nod her head. She felt like something was pulling her down, just like when she'd almost drowned. She could feel the water swimming around her, muffling every thought. Jarrett whispered words she couldn't understand. Like a lullaby, it calmed her. She gave up fighting Jarrett just as she had given up fighting with the Black in battle. None of it mattered. Just Jarrett's arms around her.
A loud screech broke through the calm. Tressa's body jostled in Jarrett's arms as he began to run. Her head bobbled against his shoulder. She tried to lift it but couldn't. She was too tired. His whispers became more frantic, but they told her to relax. She did. In Jarrett's arms, she would always be safe.
A blast of heat erupted behind them. Jarrett stopped and turned. Tressa's eyes fluttered open. There was a dragon. A Black one. It was so magnificent.
Fi.
It was Fi!
Tressa shook her head, attempting to knock off the weariness. To regain her senses. But every time she thought she was about to achieve clarity, her head became muddled again. There was something she thought she should know about the Black dragon, but she’d lost it.
"You'll kill her," Jarrett shouted at the dragon. "Stop where you are."
The dragon fell to all fours, its head low, eyes watching. Nostrils flaring, it sniffed at them.
Tressa laughed and reached out a hand.
"Don't," Jarrett said. He laid her on the ground and stood in front of her.
Tressa considered standing but didn't. Or couldn't. She wasn't sure.
"Face me as a human," he told the dragon, rubbing his hands together.
The dragon scraped a front claw in the ground.
"I will kill you either way. But if you have words you want to say to Tressa before you die, then now is the time."
The dragon paused, then transformed into a woman. Fi! Tressa knew her!
Tressa struggled to sit up, but her body wouldn't cooperate. She pushed her palms into the pebbled beach. She strained. Nothing. She slumped back to the ground again.
"Let her go," Fi demanded.
"No. She wants to be here with me. Just ask her," Jarrett said.
"Tressa?" Fi asked.
They locked eyes, but Fi didn't come any closer.
"I want to be here," Tressa said. Her lips moved. The voice came from her. Yet she wasn't sure why she’d said it.
"Tressa..." Fi's voice was plaintive. "Change back. Let's fly away."
Tressa didn't respond. She didn't even really think. She just lay there, her head on her arms. Stars twinkled in the night sky, winking at her. They were pretty. So pretty.
"Go," Jarrett said. "Go back to your kind. Tressa doesn't need or want you here."
"Jarrett." Fi's voice rang with anger. "You let me take her to the Black because you knew I could help her. I've done that. But she's not ready to be on her own yet. Please, let her go. I thought we were friends."
"Friends?" Jarrett's laughter was laced with spittle. "We are not friends. You are filth. You are tainted. You are a dragon and the only thing you deserve is a long, painful death. If you don't leave, I will kill you both. Your choice."
<
br /> Fi's hands balled into fists. "I won't leave her with you. You’re completely insane."
"Then you will die." Jarrett's hands popped in the air, fireballs flying from them.
Tressa watched the yellows and oranges and reds spiraling toward Fi. Her friend changed back into her dragon form, lifting off the ground before the fireballs could hit their target.
Tressa smiled. Her friend was safe. Then she frowned. She wasn't sure what to think. She looked up at Jarrett, who was preparing another round of fire and not paying a lick of attention to her. He had changed. His magic was stronger. More dangerous.
Tressa felt her mind clearing. She sat up, her strength returning.
Jarrett shot more flames into the air. Fi dodged and returned fire with fire, her wings flapping hard. The night lit up with their battle.
Tressa stood, her legs shaky, but solid enough to walk. She stumbled toward Jarrett, her arms outstretched. She loved him. He loved her. She had to understand why he was doing this. She reached out, her fingers grasping for the hat on his head. She tugged, and it fell, fluttering to the ground.
His ears were gone, only blood-crusted holes in their place.
Then it all came rushing back. He'd tried to kill her, too. How could she have forgotten?
Jarrett spun, his eyes furious. He grabbed Tressa's chin, forcing her to look at him.
"No," she screamed. Her hands pushed at his face. Thoughts rolled back in, memories repopulated the empty places in her mind. Tressa shook her head. What had he done to her?
"Listen to me." His voice was calm again, soothing. "Tressa, listen..."
"Leave me alone." Tears streamed down her cheeks. He was controlling her using some kind of magic. What had happened to the man she loved? Was he even still in there?
"You must listen," he said again. His hands were on her shoulders.
She settled into him, her head on his chest. Then, when she felt him begin to relax, she pushed back.
Jarrett stumbled, falling onto the ground.
Fi landed on top of him, one massive foot holding him prone.
I'm going to kill him. Fi told Tressa.
Tressa dove to the ground, holding Jarrett's hand. Don't, she pleaded. Not until we know why.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
"Kill me."
"Jarrett," Tressa pleaded, "don't say that." She stroked his hair, the rest of his body still trapped under Fi's claw. He’d controlled her with magic, but now that she had her head back, she would help him. This time it would be because she wanted to—not because he forced her to.
Give me the word, and it's crunch time, Fi thought.
Tressa refused to answer. She wouldn't let Fi crush Jarrett and she wouldn't let Jarrett convince her to.
"Tell me what happened," Tressa said.
"Kill me." He moved his lips, but nothing came out.
Tressa looked up at Fi. Something has him under a spell. Like he did to me. We have to help him.
Fi was silent a moment. We could try taking him somewhere else. Maybe one of our mages back in the Ruins can help him. But if he stays under this spell then I doubt we'll get him off the island. He'll resist. He'll blow you away with one of those fireballs.
Tressa stood and grabbed the pack from Fi’s ankle.
Hey, those are my clothes, Fi said.
I need them more than you do right now. Tressa shrugged on Fi’s cloak. She’d been naked the whole time, but too out of it to care. Now that she knew, she wanted to be covered. She walked around the beach until she found exactly what she needed. Picking it up, she hefted it in her hand. Yes, it would do. She just hoped Jarrett would forgive her.
Tressa knelt next to Jarrett's prone body, his face still contorting. She drew back her arm and walloped him on the head with the rock.
Jarrett cried out in pain, then eyes closed and his face relaxed.
Okay, Tressa told Fi. Ease up. He's out.
Fi lifted her foot just off of Jarrett, hovering in case he was faking it. But he didn't move.
Now sit and help me get him on your back, Tressa said.
Fi used her tail to help Tressa push Jarrett onto her back. Tressa climbed up behind him, wrapping an arm around his waist.
We probably can't make it back to the Ruins before he wakes, Tressa thought. Take me to Ashoom. Elinor will know someone who can heal him.
Without answering, Fi took to the sky. Tressa wanted to talk to her friend, but she knew Fi was irritated with her. They'd both left the battle. There was no telling what kind of trouble they'd be in when they reunited with the Black. Guilt washed over Tressa, even though she knew her departure had little to do with her own desire and more to do with whatever spell Jarrett had put on her.
They flew until the towers of the Blue castle at Ashoom broke through the tips of the trees in the forest. Elinor would find someone to help Jarrett. All would be well. Tressa repeated these thoughts to herself, hoping it would make them reality.
Fi glided through the window at the top of the tower, descending into the throne room. She landed carefully and lay as close to the floor as her belly would allow. Tressa slid down. She ran to the settee, grabbing all the pillows. She tossed them onto the floor next to Fi, who bent to the side, letting Jarrett slide onto them.
Fi changed into her human form, her hands on her hips and a grimace on her face. "I can't believe I followed you out of battle for this." She stomped around the room, her hands waving in the air. "He tried to kill you. TWICE! And you still want to help him? You really need to get your priorities straight."
"What if it was Sarah?" Tressa asked. "Would you just let someone kill her or would you fight to find out what happened to her?"
"Fine." Fi wouldn't say it out loud, but Tressa knew she'd conceded. "Where are your friends?" Fi looked around the empty room.
"I don't know," Tressa said. "I'm sure they're in the castle somewhere. Check at the door for a guard."
Fi skulked to the doors, flinging them open.
Barden jumped out, brandishing a sword. "I'll kill you." He looked over Fi's shoulder, seeing Tressa and Jarrett. "Oh, it's you three." He sheathed the steel.
"Where's Elinor?" Fi asked. "Jarrett is hurt. We need a healer."
"They've gone," the man said. "I'm Barden, by the way. We met once when you were last here." His gaze traveled her body, lingering on her breasts. He winked at Fi with a lecherous smile on his face.
"Look at me that way again and I'll burn off your manhood next time I turn into a dragon."
Barden cupped his hands over his private parts, his mouth forming a little O.
"Now tell me where I can find a healer, or I'll cut off your manhood now." She twirled a small dagger in her hand.
"This way," Barden said, still holding onto himself.
"I'll be back soon," Fi said over her shoulder to Tressa as they left the room.
Tressa looked back at Jarrett. She lifted his head and rested it on her lap. "We'll fix you, I promise."
She ran her fingers through his hair, just above where his ears had been cut off. "What happened to you?" Leaning over, she kissed his forehead.
His eyes snapped open. "Tressa?"
"Yes, it's me."
"Tressa? I can't hear you." Jarrett's hands flew to his head, his fingers searching, but not finding what they were looking for.
Tressa grabbed his hands, holding them in hers. "Jarrett, you've been injured."
His brows furrowed. She wanted to kick herself. Of course he couldn't hear her. They'd gone far enough away to break the spell that was over him and now he had lost whatever magic had allowed him to hear without his ears. She leaned over, her lips settling on his. Jarrett responded softly, at first, then he pushed her away.
"I remember traveling to the Isle of Repose with Bastian, Connor, and Elinor. I don't remember anything after that. What happened? Did you rescue me? Why can’t I hear?" His questions continued, the rambling filling the quiet in the room.
Tressa bit her lip, knowing if she
spoke it would only frustrate him more. She laid a finger on his lips, quieting him. Jarrett calmed down. He lifted his head from her lap and sat up.
Tressa rested her hand over his heart, then took his hand and laid it over hers. They sat that way, quiet, alone, feeling the life pumping within each other until Fi burst into the room with an army of healers, their black cloaks flapping behind them.
The healers sank to the floor, forming a circle around Jarrett and Tressa. Linking hands, they murmured the same three words over and over again. “Ommadon, ommadon, ommadon.” Tressa didn't know them, but they were soothing. Healing. Tears spilled from Jarrett's eyes. A yellow glow pulsated around his head. Still, Tressa held her hand over his heart, assuring him that he was hers and she was his, no matter the outcome of the healers' magic.
Finally, the man to her right said, "It is beyond us. We cannot help him, mainly because he does not require healing. Whatever happened to him is over. We cannot force body parts to regrow. He will remain deaf for the remainder of his life. Be grateful he is alive."
Tressa's heart fell into her stomach. She looked up at Jarrett, fearing for his reaction. He looked at her expectantly. Shaking her head no, Tressa let her arm drop.
"No?" Jarrett asked. "They can't heal me?"
Tressa stared at him, her mouth turned down. She grabbed both of his hands, squeezing them tightly in hers, willing him to understand that it didn't matter. That she loved him despite his injury. She only regretted never having told him she loved him.
After Bastian, she'd sworn she wouldn't utter those words again unless she knew it was forever. Though she'd felt love for Jarrett, she hadn't let herself admit it. Now her biggest regret was withholding it from him when he'd been so willing to express his feelings to her.
"But there is a magic surrounding him too," another healer said. She pushed back her hood, revealing a long shock of red hair, the sides of her head shaved. "We cannot break it. We do not have any mages powerful enough."
"Then I know where we must go," Tressa said. She looked to Fi, who stood outside the circle of healers. "When can we leave?"