Heir of Dragmoore- The Veiled Haven

by Jennifer Ann Schlag

  Elsa flies over and starts groveling. “Prince Desmond, forgive me.”

  Morga is dragged out of the water by giant watery hands and flung against a tree. She gasps for air and then nods to Desmond.

  Desmond grabs Kip. Climbs to the top of the limb. His lower body extends. A long black tail grows. His limbs become larger. His head reels back and a dragon’s head comes through the skin. The adult dragon secures Kip inside its claw and then stretches its massive black wings. It jumps up and flies off.

  Morga swims over to Elsa. “This is why Talen needs to be with him. His powers will give the darkness a new life that will make it unstoppable. Desmond hasn’t even begun to come into his full potential yet.”

  “But we agreed that Talen being with Remy is the safer choice. She’ll defeat the darkness with him. That brings balance. You want balance, don’t you?”

  Morga slices Elsa’s throat with her dagger nails. “There will never be balance.”

  Dragmoore’s bells ring out. Talen and Remy come out onto their terrace to see what the trouble is. A black dragon flies overhead. It lands in the middle of the farmland. Talen rushes out of the palace towards the farmland.

  Talen’s heart skips a beat as she sees Kip lying on his side. The adult dragon shifts into Desmond.

  “He is injured. You’re a Master. Heal him.”

  She takes Kip into her arms. She touches her head to his. A faint white glow comes from her and travels to Kip. “I don’t know how to heal someone. I had help with healing Remy.”

  “I know. Morga told me.”

  Desmond throws Remy against bushes in the garden behind the palace.

  “How dare you do this to me?”

  “I have news. The sea witch queen demands that Talen destroy the elf city. I am to convince Talen to not marry you and to be with me.”

  Remy wipes away blood from his chin. “You’d say anything to break us up.”

  “Remy, you have to let Talen go. You have to let both of these visions play out. The Waking Ripple is stalled for now, but its power will return and there’ll be no stopping it unless the elves are destroyed. Only Talen can do this.”

  “With you at her side. You want me to release her to you.”

  Desmond sits down on the stone bench.

  Remy paces in front of him. “I have to talk to her about this.”

  “You only have to delay your wedding for a short time. I imagine I can influence Talen to take down the elves in a matter of weeks.”

  Remy heads inside.

  Desmond looks down at his arms. At his veins. The green druid magic is leaving. It’s being replaced with light blue. Elf blood is taking over. “How can this be happening?”

  Talen plays with Kip in the clearing inside the Wilderness. She is overjoyed to know that she has the ability to heal. He will carry a scar on his back but she will never let him be hurt again. She has yet to meet with all of the sacred beasts, and she wants to eventually, but right now all she wants is to spend time with Kip.

  “Can you forgive me for everything that went wrong?”

  Of course. I love you, Talen. But the time is coming for me to join my dragon kin. I must learn to fly and I must assume my role as leader. Then I can return and rule alongside you.

  “You are taking the dragons away?”

  Not for long. We must regroup somewhere I can’t be distracted.

  “A darkness is coming. You haven’t got long.”

  Fortunately for you, the darkness will not harm you. The darkness can’t harm a Master. After all, darkness keeps them safe.

  “When are you leaving?”

  I intend to leave next week. I need to learn to fly before then.

  Remy walks over. “I need to talk to you.”

  An adult dragon roars from inside the forest. Kip follows its call.

  “Desmond says you have to take down the elves. There’s no way around it. You have to leave with him.”

  Talen is taken aback. She expected him to talk about their wedding. Or their moment in bed. “What happened?”

  “I have to release you to him.” Remy walks away.

  Talen has searched almost everywhere in the city for Desmond. The last place to check is the inn. She walks in. It brings back a memory when she first went looking for him. Everyone bows. “Where is Prince Desmond?”

  A female whore points upstairs.

  Talen starts upstairs and then stops. “Which room?”

  “None,” Desmond says from the top of the stairs.

  “You better find one where we can talk,” Talen says.

  Desmond turns around and goes into the first room. Talen walks in and slams the door behind her.

  Desmond sits down on the chair near the window. “Remy must have told you.”

  “Who influenced you?”

  “Morga. She speaks truth.”

  “Why you? You’re lying to me. I can feel it.”

  “Because of what I am. What powers I possess. That’s why we need to be together to take the elves down.”

  “I will not sleep with you.”

  “Okay. We don’t have to. But we need to rule side by side until you successfully end the elves.”

  “Search your mind. This doesn’t feel right. We are being lied to.”

  She needs a minute to catch her breath. She walks out of the room. A commotion downstairs makes her come down. A patron is being rough with one of the female whores. It’s never happened before. Talen attempts to diffuse the situation with kind words but the angry man wants nothing of it. He pushes Talen down and slaps the female whore. Desmond shoots down the stairs and grabs the angry man by the neck. The man tries to pry Desmond’s hand off him but there is no matching Desmond’s strength.

  “You dare to lay a hand on your future queen?”

  “She’s nothing but your whore.” The man spits into Desmond’s face.

  Desmond breaks the man’s neck. “Let that be a warning to anyone who dares to touch Talen. I’ll kill anyone who does so.” Desmond flings the body across the room.

  Talen covers her face in shock. Everyone remains silent and afraid to move.

  “Whether you are Remy’s or mine, this is what I’m prepared to do for you. Is Remy prepared to kill for you?”

  Desmond walks out with his head held high.

  Talen has never seen such a violent side to him. His druid powers have changed him for the worse. She has to find a way to get around being with him and still take down the elves, while also thwarting this Waking Ripple from taking over the world.

  Talen heads for the main road. She carries with her a cross body bag that is stuffed with supplies. Gavin comes up alongside her. “Whatever you have planned, I want no part in it.”

  “I am going to meet the sea witch queen. I have already sent word to Captain Buckman and he has agreed to take me on his ship to meet her. Apparently, she is scared to come on land.”

  “Talen, you have a good life here. Why do you want to screw it up? Over Desmond?”

  She thought she could get her father to understand. But how can he? He doesn’t know what Remy told her. What Desmond expects of her. Practically demanded of her.

  Gavin hands her a Brimbar stallion. “Here. He’s yours.”

  Talen jumps up onto the large horse and rides off.

  Desmond comes up behind Gavin.

  “It’s all a game to you, isn’t it? Playing with my daughter’s life and her heart?”

  “Not at all. Both are equally important to me. This is something she has to do. I don’t like being a pawn either.”’

  “You want to tell the king?”

  “Gladly.”

  Desmond sits down on the throne meant for Talen.

  “You what?” Remy shouts.

  “What did you want me to do?”

  “This is what I get for letting you two be alone. Why didn’t she tell me she was leaving?”

  “Maybe she didn’t want to worry you,” Desmond says.

  Remy sits down on his thron
e. “What did you say to her?”

  “I told her the same thing you did.”

  Desmond leans on his one arm. “She is a headstrong woman. You sure you can handle being married to her?”

  Talen sits down on the dock and lets her feet hang over. The ocean sprays her legs, soaking her pants. In no time, The Seraphina comes pulling into its slip and Captain Buckman is coming off wearing a worried smile.

  “You’re treading on dangerous sea, Talen.”

  “It’s worth the risk.”

  “You’re lucky that the queen is enamored with me.”

  “Don’t start getting a big head, like the other men I know.”

  Maria peers down from the ship. Talen waves but Maria gives no friendly gesture in return. Her past dealings with an elf has taught her to never trust an elf again. Talen is only half elf but she still carries elf blood.

  “Let me just get my new manifest. Go on and get comfy.”

  Talen walks onto the gangplank and walks past Maria without looking at her. It takes Maria about a minute before she invades Talen’s space.

  “Whose heart did you break?”

  “None.”

  “Right. Why are you meeting the sea witch queen?”

  “None of your business.”

  “You’re becoming like Desmond.”

  Maria walks away furious.

  Captain Buckman comes on board and takes control of the wheel. “First stop, Jellyfish Cove.”

  “Really?” Talen says.

  “Jellyfish are strong protectors for the sea witches. One sting from them leaves you paralyzed. Oh, and they don’t talk to humans, Master or not.”

  Desmond waits by a tree in the woodland. He’s been waiting for almost an hour now. Suddenly, movement from the forest makes him perk up.

  Coming towards him in all her beauty and glory is Queen Galaria. “My sister is dead. I killed her. I have destroyed her vision.”

  “She comes back to life and then you kill her. You like repeating history. Only this time you actually put your hand to it.”

  “It was necessary to show how serious I am. Kylie knew her role in this. Has Talen accepted her place?”

  “She is gone.”

  “On her way to Evervale?”

  “She didn’t say. Whatever she is up to, I’m sure Remy convinced her about being on the elf throne.”

  She circles Desmond, her creamy jade gown sweeps across his back. Her fingers play with the distance between them. “And you will rule beside her.”

  “Not for long.”

  “You don’t understand, druid, how powerful the elf world will become with Talen on the throne. Her unique gift will bring my people back to life and send them into immortal status. No need for heartfruits ever again. No need for tapping into forbidden areas of magic.”

  “Oh, I know what you think will happen. They will end regardless of what you have planned.”

  She laughs. “I am not worried about the elves ending.”

  His face pinches with confusion. “What have you done?”

  “I know what to do to survive. You shouldn’t have been so impulsive with your desire for her.”

  He wants to tear her apart. His body starts glowing green.

  “I’m giving you everything you want.”

  He thinks back to what he was told. Did he miss something? Did he hear someone wrong?

  “Oh, you feel very lost, don’t you?”

  Crazy thoughts pass through his mind. If he manages to sleep with Talen and impregnate her, that would make them more powerful. He can do it. Remy won’t want her after that. “I suppose we will all get what we want, one way or another.”

  As his powers are about to be let loose on her, she steps back behind some trees. “You’re letting conflict of interest cloud your judgment.”

  “I have no judgment to pass. You will lose everything, Your Majesty. I know what I need to do.”

  She holds onto a tree. The fear in her eyes is real. “You know where Talen is.”

  “Better get back to your crystal throne and enjoy it while you can.”

  She pulls her black crystal wand from her belt. She points it at him. She gives it a twirl. Nothing happens. She shakes it a few times. Gives it another twirl. No magic comes out of it.

  “Your crystals are weak.”

  “This can’t be.” Her eyes grow wide. “Someone is tampering with the Pools of Serenity.” She darts off.

  He chases her down.

  She tosses the wand away and creates a portal for Evervale.

  “You forget this?” Desmond picks up the wand. Its crystals fade in color and then turn to green.

  “I haven’t got time to do this with you. I will see you soon.” She jumps into the portal and it closes immediately after.

  A woodland wolf walks out from behind a tree.

  “Bessy. Eavesdropping?” The green glow around his body fades.

  The wolf transforms into Bessy. Her eyes almost pop out of their sockets when she sees the wand. She swipes it from him. “Don’t ever meddle with elf trinkets.”

  “That’s more than a trinket.” He tries to get it back from her but she isn’t giving it up.

  Bessy walks back to the palace grounds.

  Desmond joins her. “Come on, give it to me. I need to keep that somewhere safe.”

  “Galaria didn’t leave it behind by accident. It’s probably some kind of spy device. Why is it green?”

  “It turned green on its own.”

  Bessy walks into the city center. She stops in front of the Nightborne Inn.

  “Bessy, since when do you partake in the flesh?”

  “I suspect we have a spy in our city. I am going to check the least likely place.”

  He opens the door for her and she walks in. He follows.

  Bessy scans the customers. It’s most of the same faces. She goes up to the bar and orders an ale. Desmond goes in to the kitchen.

  “What can I do for you, Bessy?” the innkeeper asks.

  “Official Hunter business. I am looking for a spy.”

  “Here?”

  “Any unusual behavior lately?”

  “No.”

  He isn’t good at hiding his nervousness.

  Desmond is having a similar situation with the cook. “Not a single person has looked like they are up to something?”

  “None, Your Highness.”

  “You know I don’t need King Remy’s permission to kill you?”

  He nods nervously.

  A bundle of crates shakes in the corner. Desmond pulls the crates apart. A flash of colors runs out.

  “Bessy! He’s heading your way!”

  Bessy whips around and almost catches the person running out of the inn. She lingers in the doorway. “I’ll be back to exact punishment on you, Barney.” She runs out.

  Desmond runs out after her.

  The Seraphina sails past the shoreline of Grecia. The city has become very inactive lately. Buckman has insisted that he be at the helm the entire voyage because he knows how to navigate the waters close to Jellyfish Cove.

  Talen joins Buckman. “I envy your freedom.”

  “There’s less freedom at the sea than you have on the land.”

  Maria gives Talen hate stares from the crow’s nest. Gerald catches the stares. “Hey, can I get up there now?”

  “No.”

  “Why does Maria hate me?” Talen asks Buckman.

  “Did she tell you about her past? She was once in love with an elf who cursed her.”

  “Yes.”

  “That’s why. You’re half elf. She hates anyone with elf blood.”

  “She is in love with Remy now.”

  “I thought she was in love with the Marksman. Travel time should be about an hour. As long as we don’t run into any trouble. The Waking Ripple has affected some of the sea beasts. It may not be the smoothest of courses.”

  “All because of you,” Maria says, coming up to the helm. “Captain, let me relieve you.”


  “No. I’ll keep a hand on the wheel.”

  Talen follows Maria down the steps. “What if I find the elf that cursed you? Will that set us right?”

  “Hah, we will never be right, princess.”

  “What if I give you Desmond?”

  “What makes you think I want him?”

  “Have you had him?”

  Maria looks through her spyglass. “Rough waters to the south, Captain. But I think we can avoid it.”

  “You don’t have to tell me,” Talen says.

  “No. I haven’t had him. He spoke about you. When I tried to take his mind off you, he couldn’t stop babbling about how he’d make you his one day.”

  Talen still can’t believe that Desmond has been in love with her all this time. If she had remembered her childhood sooner, she’d have known that her relationship with Desmond was platonic, and that she had a crush on Remy. If things had stayed as they were back then, her father and Remy’s father would have arranged a marriage between her and Remy. The feelings she has for Desmond are strong, sometimes stronger than she can bear, but it’s not the same as what she feels for Remy.

  “You’re thinking about him now, aren’t you?”

  Talen nods sheepishly.

  “It’s hard not to think about him. He’s handsome, he’s a prince. He was meant to be king, not Remy.”

  “I know. I have thought about trying to convince Remy to let Desmond have the throne.”

  “Won’t matter. Desmond wants you. The only obstacle is Remy.”

  “I will marry Remy. I just have to do something else first.”

  “I hope you are triumphant in your conquest, princess. It’d be a shame to lose both of your loves.”

  “She’d have me,” Logan says, climbing up from the side of the ship and splashing water down onto the deck.

  “What are you doing here?” Talen asks.

  “Get off my ship,” Buckman says.

  “You’re going to incur a terrible storm. You won’t survive it without me.” He points up ahead.

  “Where did that come from? I didn’t see that,” Maria says. “Captain, this is not a normal storm.”