“It is lovely, isn’t it?” a voice says behind her.
She turns and sees Galaria. A familiar scent. “I know you. I remember your face from when I was a child.”
“Of course you do. I am your aunt. Your mother sends her love.”
Galaria looks out at the view. She never sees views like this anymore.
“My mother is dead.”
“If you say so.”
“You never came to her funeral. I needed someone. No one was there.”
Talen is overwhelmed with emotions. She runs to Galaria and nuzzles herself against the queen’s chest. Galaria massages her back. “I wanted to come. Your father didn’t want me there. He said I would raise alarm.”
“Because you’re an elf?”
“I was never against your father and my sister marrying. He is the only human to ever marry an elf. At least that we allowed. Those who we didn’t permit marriage to were banished to No Name.”
“Why did you not come to see me? Don’t use my father as the excuse. You’re an elf. You could have easily slipped in undetected. Why did I not remember you before? What is happening to me?”
“I wanted to take you away from Dragmoore. Your father said no. I told him, the baby is half elf, she is one of us as much as she is human. We wouldn’t have turned you away. You would have been next in line for my throne.”
Talen has to be sensible here. She can’t let her emotions carry her away.
“They will recognize you as their queen when I step down.”
Talen creates as much distance as she can between them. “Step down? Why would you step down?”
“I had a vision. Your mother and I were the only two elves to see into the future. The future can change, but not what we saw. The Masters knew this. They feared it. Because it brings together two forces of great power. One of our visions will come to pass. It’s up to you which one it will be.”
“You know that I couldn’t possibly be half elf?”
“Of course you are. Your mother is my sister. Your father is human. Part of her lives inside you.”
She looks over Galaria’s shoulder. “Only humans can be Masters. Farewell, aunt.” Talen jumps off the cliff.
“No!” Galaria is about to cast magic, but a white owl flies up and away with Talen on its back.
Talen hangs on tight to the owl. “Bessy, I know you must have a lot to tell me, but I am so happy to see you.” She hugs the owl a little too tightly. It lets out a hoot.
Galaria storms into the elf house where Remy was bathing. “My queen.” She bows. “He is gone but he may come back.”
“You were supposed to keep him here until I got here. How can you fail at tempting one man?”
The front door opens. Remy steps in. “I’m sorry, miss. I want to apologize for my behavior. I know you elves…”
“Hello, Prince Remy,” Galaria says.
Kip comes in from around him.
“A baby dragon? I thought all the babies were killed. More deceit.”
“You aren’t touching that dragon.”
“You’re coming with me, Prince Remy.” Galaria creates a portal and grabs Remy. Kip latches onto his pant leg but is shaken off as they go through the portal. A piece of Remy’s pant leg is stuck between his teeth. He paws at his mouth until the fabric is pulled out.
Bessy hands Talen a white feather. “Something to always remember me by.”
“I don’t need that. How long have you been travelling?”
“Not too long. I picked up your scent and then took a turn towards here.”
“So much has happened.”
“Between you and Remy?”
“Oh, don’t get me started on that. I think he actually has feelings for me. Like maybe loves me.”
“I knew it.”
“How is my father?”
“He’s fine. Before you ask, your uncle is fine too. Desmond, is Desmond, just King Desmond for now.”
“He must hate it.”
“He does. The elf queen and some of her elves briefly had Dragmoore under their control. Desmond struck a deal with her. So much has happened during your absence. Dragmoore doesn’t feel the same.”
“Bessy?” Logan says as he is passing. He stops dead in his tracks.
Bessy shifts immediately. The mountain lion comes out. It pushes Logan down onto the sand.
“Not another druid fight.”
The mountain lion turns to Talen.
“He and Remy fought as sharks. It was rather exhilarating but at the same time stupid.”
“She loved it. I bet it got her all heated up.” The mountain lion smacks Logan across the face and then shifts back to Bessy.
“Of all the druids to come into contact with and you find him. Talen, you’re a magnet for trouble.”
“He found me.”
“You son of a bitch. Did my father send you?”
Logan pretends like his lips are sealed.
“Oh, no, you’re going to answer me. Did he send you? Why are you here with my friend?” Her one hand shifts into a hairy paw. The nails scrape against Logan’s throat.
“I was sent to seduce Talen to get to you.”
“You tricked me. You used me.”
“Yes. But I am actually attracted to you. I would have made love to you and I would have meant it.”
“You were going to have sex with him? Do you realize how many women he’s been with?”
“Is there anyone who doesn’t want to have sex with me?” Talen says out loud.
“She is intended for Prince Remy. Stay away from her.”
“You think that a sea druid and an elf make a good pair? You can’t have a sea druid and an elf mating. That’s one match that the elves will never allow.”
“Druids are human. Talen’s father is a human. Her mother is an elf. What’s the problem?”
“It’s not the race. It’s the magic they both hold.”
“Remy doesn’t understand magic.”
“He shifted into a shark. His abilities are surfacing. His love for Talen has awoken them.”
“But I don’t have magic,” Talen says.
“You talk to animals.”
“I am a Master and I am fully human.”
“You’re half human.”
“Screw the both of you.” Talen kicks at the sand as she walks away.
“You swim back to my father and tell him to go fuck himself. I am never returning to that watery prison.”
Talen walks into the elf’s house that she left Remy in. She finds the elf woman cleaning the bathtub. She finds Kip shaking in the corner of the room. “What did you do to my dragon?” A wisp of blue magic shoots out from Talen’s fingers. Hits the elf and sends her right through the wall.
Kip continues shaking.
“Kip, come here.”
He won’t even look at her.
“Are you afraid of me?”
She took Remy. The elf queen. Talen, you never told me that you are part elf.
“I’m not. I’m human.”
The human part of you may be what makes you a Master, but the elf part of you makes you dangerous.
“Kip, please, I am sorry. I can’t undo who my family is.”
He slowly makes his way over to her. Nudges her hand.
“She took Remy?”
She will use him to get to you.
“Now, more than ever, we must go to the Veiled Haven, but only after we go to Grecia. That druid Deegus is hiding something. I need to be there when he reveals the truth.”
Yes. Captain Buckman was suspicious of him. But Talen, Logan is a sea druid and he summoned the Gracken to take you. Both of those druids have their own plan which involves you. What will you do?
“I’m going to seduce Logan and see what he can tell me.”
Galaria puts Remy in her private chambers. Everywhere he looks it is crystal. She brings him some food. “I promise that it isn’t poisoned.”
“This place is awful.”
“It’s bee
n called many things but never awful. You are my guest, not my prisoner. Don’t go roaming around unaccompanied.”
“So I am a prisoner.”
“You have no idea what your precious Talen is. And when I tell you, you’ll be finished with her.”
Remy is hungry and the food looks appetizing but he can’t trust the elf. “You’d like that? Me to be done with Talen.”
“I have plans for her that don’t include you.”
“Can we take a walk? There must be one part of this terrible place that isn’t doused in crystals.”
There is one place in Evervale that isn’t sparkling with crystals. No human, druid, or anything has stepped a foot in it willingly. They have to be summoned there. It’s the one place where magic of any kind is prohibited. Ironically, it’s also the only place in Evervale where the elves get their magic from.
Galaria takes Remy for a walk. They pass through dangling crystals, crystal chips embedded in the ground, and crystal trees. There is entirely too much illumination. They go down a narrow twisted tree tunnel. Remy looks for where the tree begins and where it ends. The tree tunnel blocks out all the crystals shining. Remy did want somewhere dimmer.
They bump into each other.
“Don’t try and seduce me, elf.”
“Wouldn’t dream of doing so. My niece is fond of you.”
“You can’t know that Talen is fond of me. I think she is pretending.”
“Well, I am lucky to be able to see things as they are and how they should be. Such as with Talen. My sister has seen a future with you and her together. I have had a vision with her and Desmond together.”
“Again, that doesn’t mean she likes me. She could just be with me to further her own goals.”
“Trust me, she doesn’t need you for that.”
They approach the end of the tunnel.
There is a river basin with perfectly clear water. All around the basin and them is nothing. Just empty darkness.
“I don’t mind saying this feels like a creepy place. Like a trap.”
“These are the Pools of Serenity. They flow through the entire city, but this is where they begin. This is where our magic comes from. It’s connected to a part of the earth that we’ve never been able to find.” She dips her fingers into the water. A glowing forms around them. She pulls them out. The glowing sprinkles down. “We have dug everywhere to find the core. Maybe one day we will.” Where the glowing sprinkled down, the ground is turning to ash.
“It’s beautiful.”
“Some philosophers believe that only a special dragon and human can take this away.”
“Talen. You believe this is Talen and Kip?”
More ground is eaten up. Remy looks around for a safe zone.
Galaria reaches out for him. He recoils. “What’s wrong? I want to show you the pools up close.”
“I’ve seen them fine from where I am.”
She laughs. Her laughter exsanguinates the darkness around them. Bright, colorful lights shine through.
“I’d rather go back to the crystal part of your kingdom.” The lights darting in and out nip at his skin.
She appears behind him, puts her arms around his chest. “I’ve only ever been in love once. Oh, to be Talen and love so many delicious men.”
He wriggles free of her. “Take me back, right now.”
She twitches her hips as she walks towards the twisted tree tunnel. She waves her finger for him to come. He looks back at the water. The colorful lights dive into the water then come up as if pressure is building underneath, sending them high into the air.
Chapter Ten
Logan is resting in one of the rooms at the elf inn. A knock on his door aggravates him. He yells profanities until he hears Talen’s voice. “Come on in, Talen.”
The door opens and she steps in wearing a pale pink silk dress that shows off her curves, brightens her eyes, and gives Logan much to anticipate.
“Is this a present for me? Or a trick? Maybe both. I don’t mind either way.”
“Remy is gone.”
“I heard. I also heard that you sent an elf soaring through the air.”
She looks down at her fingers. Did that magic really come out of her? Will she have to accept that she is half elf?
“You and Remy both have emotions that awoke the magic within. Him being a sea druid, he can’t match your power, but if you joined together, you’d be a formidable pair.”
She has to keep it together. She came here to seduce him for information. That probably won’t be easy seeing that he is well-versed in all things manipulation and romance. He knows how to give a little to get a little. In this case, she’ll have to give a lot to get a little. She stands at the foot of the bed, leaning slightly against the one post so that her breasts peek out from the low cut of the dress. Logan licks his lips. Off to a good start. At least she knows he can’t resist the temptation. Truthfully, they could have had sex before they were interrupted the first time they were in bed. Now, no one is going to interrupt them.
“Are you going to stand there all night to tease me?”
“Remy had me make the first move on him. I want a man to take charge. Are you that man?”
Logan lets out a little laugh as he gets on his knees. “Alright then.” He leans over and pulls her close. Putting her eye to eye with him. He inhales her scent. “Love the smell of magic. I wonder what emotions I will trigger in you that makes your magic come out.”
“You want me to accidentally kill you?”
“You can’t.”
“Elf magic is more powerful than druid magic.”
“I know something that you don’t know.” He plays with her nose.
She is afraid now. He is baiting her. That means he knows exactly what she’s up to. He can sense the change in her. The pull back. “This is a mistake.”
“I’ll tell you one thing. You don’t need to sleep with me for me to tell you something. However, it would give me great pleasure to be the one who taste you first.” He thumbs her lips and she is tempted to kiss his fingers. “You want me to tell you something, something that is going to help you?”
She nods nervously. Her heart is racing so fast.
He is enjoying this side of her. “You have to ask me nicely.”
It’s unbelievable how he has turned the tables on her. She came to seduce him and he is seducing her. With his voice. His looks. His strange aura.
She closes her eyes and parts her lips. “Yes. Please, Logan.”
He grabs a piece of her hair and tugs on it. “You and I aren’t so different.”
She comes down off the mad rush of lust. “That’s it?”
“I’m not going to tell you everything. Plus, when you find out what I mean by that, you’re going to come to me. The way you want to go to Remy.”
“What does that mean?”
“There’s a fire in you for him. But you’re afraid. Maybe it’s your inexperience. Do you want to gain the experience needed to please a man?”
She stands there with her mouth open. Surely she has some words to defend her decision to remain a virgin until marriage, but she can’t find them.
“I’m sure you could please me even though you are inexperienced.”
Is that an invitation to try? Of course it is. He is almost begging for it. He leans in closer to her. His lips grazing her ear. Trailing down her neck. His hand on the other side of her face, bringing her mouth to his. His breath is hot and sweet against her mouth. It mingles with her breath. “You may even be in love with Remy. But right now, you want me.”
“By the gods and all the sacred beasts, if you are teasing me and then plan to leave me like this, I would rather you stop right now.”
“Talen, I…”
She is waiting for it.
“I can’t.” He lies back on the bed.
She fixes her gown to not show so much cleavage. “Why?”
“I actually like you. There’s no room in your heart for me though. You have two in
your heart already.” His eyes turn a milky bright blue. He moves his head around like in a trance. “Desmond Dragmoore. Two Dragmoores. Well, at least you’re keeping it in the family. What is the attraction to the Dragmoore line?”
“There is no attraction to them. What are you doing with your eyes?”
“You know what it is that attracts you to them. You’re denying it.”
“I don’t know what you are talking about. I like Remy for his determined nature. I respect Desmond for being loyal.”
“You’re blocking me. You know what I am referring to. I can’t see it. Stop blocking me.”
“I am not blocking you.”
His lips twitch. “Ah, there it is. Your anger betrays you. A fragment. There is a fragment of a… shell.” His eyes go back to normal. He quickly moves towards her. “Tell me, you didn’t find the necklace, did you?”
“I don’t know…”
“You’re putting me into an awkward situation. I’m meant to… never mind. You have to go before I lose control.”
“Meant to what? Tell me.”
“I can’t.” He lies back on the bed again. He is disappointed in himself. More disappointed that he didn’t see it sooner.
Sensing his depression, she climbs onto the bed and climbs up his body. Part of him wants to stop her but other parts of him are very willing to let her do whatever she wants. He rolls her over onto her back and tugs at her gown.
“The attraction to you must be because you’re part elf.”
“Is that all?”
“No.” He kisses down her neck, across the top of her breasts. He takes off his shirt and presses his bare chest against her. “I want you, desperately. You should tell me to stop. I will stop if you ask me to. I won’t take advantage of a woman. I mean I have before, but I won’t do that to you.”
He starts pulling down her gown. Her eyes turn a stormy dark-blue. “Ah, there it is. Your other half. Talen, I’ll have you whatever way you want to show me, but I’d prefer the girl I met before the elf came through.”
She doesn’t even realize what is happening. She feels a change in her. Like she is an unstoppable force. She doesn’t like it. She wants to tear this half elf out of her. He gently kisses her. She welcomes more of his kisses.
Heir of Dragmoore- The Veiled Haven Page 22