Gwyn paled as he realized who and what Illarion was. "How is this possible?"
Cadegan passed a grin to Josette. "It's amazing what a dragon whisperer can do." He handed the claw back to Illarion. "Now if you don't be minding, we're all a bit wanged out from our adventure, and we wouldn't mind seeing those rooms you promised us."
"Very well." Gwyn snapped his fingers.
A servant peeled itself off the stone wall. Without a word, it showed them to rooms. But Cadegan refused his.
"I'll sleep on the floor outside your room, lass. Just to make sure no one bothers you."
Jo smiled. "You could just sleep in the room with me. Be easier to protect me that way."
His cheeks mottled with color in a way that seriously amused Illarion. The two of them must not have been together for very long. "Are you sure about that?"
Nodding, she pulled him into the room with her.
Cadegan paused to look back at Illarion with an arched brow.
Well, Illarion didn't know what that expression meant or what kinky things they were into--but he wanted no part of it. Uh, yeah, I'll be back in the morning. Not sure I want to be sleeping in this place, anyway.
"I feel your sentiments, brother. Had I a choice, I'd go with you. And be bringing Jo behind me."
I'll see you two in the morning.
Cadegan held his arm out to Illarion. "Thank you."
Illarion hesitated, not quite sure if this was sincere.
Or a trick.
In this place, the latter was far more likely. But so far, they'd given him no reason to doubt them and they seemed to have been as innocently sucked in here as he and Edilyn. So for now, he'd do what he hadn't done in a long time.
He'd trust them.
And if they stabbed him in the back ...
What the hell? Wasn't like he had much to live for at this point anyway. At least it was a break in the monotony of his life. If they did manage to kill him, he'd be with Edilyn again.
He hoped. The fear that he wouldn't was the only reason he hadn't killed himself or allowed the others to do him that favor. Honestly, he didn't know why he kept on living at this point.
But in the end, he shook Cadegan's arm, then turned to leave them.
16
Biting her thumbnail, Jo--who'd been transformed by fey magick into Cadegan's male body--paced the giant cave Illarion had called home since the night he'd been damned to this shadow hell realm by Gale and Morgen.
In dragon form, he crouched a few feet away, while he watched her through hooded eyes. It'll be all right, Jo.
She shook her blond head in denial. It was really messing with Illarion to watch her while he knew she was Josette in that very Cadegan body. To see his form and features, and her movements and mannerisms. "We don't know where Cadegan is or what happened.... Who has him?"
The fact that Cadegan was in her body and lacked his normal strength was no doubt adding to her stress. Illarion knew the exact horror of being trapped inside a foreign body and not understanding its weaknesses. Of looking in a mirror and not recognizing yourself.
It was an unimaginable nightmare he'd wish on no one.
I know, child. Would you like to go look for him again?
"Please." She smiled at him. "And thank you, Illarion. For everything."
Still in his massive dragon form, he gave her a slight bow of his head before he lowered himself enough so that she could climb onto his back. The moment she touched his flesh, he winced as agony pierced his heart.
"Are you all right? Am I too heavy for you in this body?"
He laughed bitterly. No, lass. While I know you're currently trapped in Cadegan's body, I'm painfully aware of the fact that you're not really a man. And I was only remembering my precious Edilyn who once rode to battle in the saddle where you sit now. She was the last and only female I ever allowed to ride me.
"What?" she breathed.
His heart aching and heavy, Illarion gave her a sad nod as he fought against his tears. It's where the legends of the virgin sacrifices to dragons come from. They weren't really our sacrifices. Rather, they were offered to us as hopeful spouses.
Centuries ago, my kind were used as weapons in war. To entice us to fight for them, humans would offer up their sons and daughters to us, to make sure that we had a vested interest in battling in human armies, and for their causes. Many of my kind mated with the strongest of your people and we would fight together in battle as a single unit.
"Was Edilyn your wife?"
In a simple word, yes, but she was a lot more to me than that. She was my best friend and the very air I breathed.
"What happened?"
I failed to protect her. She was ripped from my back during battle and slain before I could stop it.
Her heart wrenched at the agony he betrayed. "I'm sorry, Illarion."
Thank you, lass ... it's the only reason I'm willing to help the two of you, when normally I'd have left you to rot. I know what it's like to live without my better half. It's a painful bit I'd wish on no one. Your courage and resilience remind me much of my Edilyn. And I want to see you back with your Cadegan.
She leaned forward and hugged him in a way that was all too much like his Addie-Rose. "Were you there when she died?"
He nodded. It was both a curse and a blessing. I'd promised her that I would never leave her in this life or the next. That we would always be together, and that no other would ever claim my heart the way she had.
When my kind bonds, we're supposed to die with our beloved. But her people had a sorcerer who'd found the magick here that undid ours, so that they didn't lose the entire battle team. When we crossed over, our bond was broken. In the end, my body lived on, but my heart and soul went with Edilyn into eternity. I hated her people after that.
The only part of my oath to her I was able to keep was that I was there, holding her hand, when death claimed her. I have never loved anyone save her.
And I never will.
With her head on his neck, she stroked his scales. "I am so incredibly sorry."
Thank you.
Jo took the reins, wishing there was something, anything, she could do to make things better for him. Unfortunately, grief like his wasn't easy to come back from. It could destroy the person who felt it. She'd seen firsthand what it'd done to her family when her cousin Tiyana Devereaux had died. Even now, her heart was broken at the loss. Not a day went by that she didn't think of Tiyana at least a dozen times.
Almost a decade later, they still mourned her.
They always would.
Just like Illarion mourned his wife. Poor dragon. Life wasn't fair and she knew that as well as anyone. But it was now clear why Illarion had fought so hard for her when there was no reason for him to do so. Why he'd been determined to get her free of Morgen's vicious mandrakes and gargoyles.
Once she gave Illarion the signal that she was secure, he left the cave and took flight.
Jo continued to worry her lip as she scanned the nasty gray scenery for any sign of her Cadegan, and where he might have been taken. Reaching down, she stroked Illarion's scales. He reminded her a lot of Cadegan. It was a pity the two of them hadn't found each other before now. They could have been great friends who watched over each other in this vicious realm.
Or committed murder.
Perhaps they were too much alike. The two of them might get on each other's nerves like her cousins Amanda and Tabitha did. The twin sisters swore they were absolutely nothing alike and yet they were so similar, it was more than obvious they'd come from the same egg.
Laughing at the thought as they flew, Jo still couldn't believe Illarion had returned just minutes after Cadegan had been sucked out of the castle. His psychic powers had warned him something was wrong and he'd been desperate to check on them.
But for the dragon's return, there was no telling what would have become of her. She'd owed the dragon a debt she couldn't repay.
Illarion slowed and rose up like a falcon to hover over
Latching on to him with all her strength, Jo scanned the countryside. "I don't see anything."
It's not my eyes that sense it. I feel it. A change in the air. Morgen is launching her army again. Gargoyles and mandrakes are taking flight. They're headed this way.
"What do you think it is?"
Dangerous. In a word. I have no idea why she'd do such. But it doesn't bode well for any of us.
Jo frowned as she caught sight of something off in the distance. "Is that part of her army?"
Illarion turned to look. Not sure. Those creatures were once servants of King Arthur, but have been enslaved by others since his death.
"Others, like...?"
Our friend the fey king Gwyn.
"Should we attack them and see if they can help get my body back?"
Are you up to a battle?
"I am Cadegan, right? I have his powers. No idea really how to use them, but I'm willing to give it a go, if you are."
He snorted. Hold tight and pray.
Illarion headed straight for them.
Jo hung tight and stayed low to his neck as they flew. She felt something rumbling in his stomach. "Hungry, sweetie?"
Getting ready to breathe fire if I need to.
"So it comes from your stomach?"
No. I have anatomy you don't. Let's leave it at that.
Okay then. She wasn't sure she wanted a dragon biology lesson.
As they neared the giant muscular gryphon birds, Jo saw the two riders on their backs. This couldn't be good.
Preparing for attack, Illarion dove for them.
But as they drew closer, she realized one of the riders was extremely familiar.
"Wait! It's Cadegan!"
Illarion pulled up. Are you sure?
"Pretty much. I think I'd know my body anywhere."
Laughing in her head, Illarion projected his thoughts to the riders.
The moment he did, the one in her body headed for them.
"Josette?" Cadegan called.
"It's us, Cade!"
Not sure about all this or how it had come into being, Illarion led the way to the meadow below. The huge gryphon birds landed not far away, while Jo jumped down from his back, and then ran to meet them.
With a happiness that made Illarion long for Edilyn, Jo ran to Cadegan. She buried her face in his neck and held him for everything she was worth. "I thought you were gone forever."
He was actually trembling in relief. "I thought Morgen had you. We were on our way to assault Camelot."
Illarion snorted. As if that would have worked....
But he understood the stupidity better than he wanted to.
Jo laughed as she glanced at his massive army of two. "Assault how, honey? You wouldn't have stood a chance without your body and powers."
He winked at her. "I hadn't quite mastered the plan in me mind. Was hoping for a bit of inspiration once I arrived."
"You are so nuts!" She kissed him.
Until her gaze fell to the man with him. All humor fled her face.
"Hi." He held his hand out to her. "I'm--"
Before he could say another word, she punched his jaw as hard as she could. Then cursed. "Oh my God, I think I broke my hand." She cradled it to her chest.
With an arched brow, Cadegan moved to inspect it. "Not broken, love, but remind me, I need to teach you how to hit someone."
The man glared at her as he rubbed at his bruised jaw. "What the hell was that for?"
Illarion exchanged a bemused gape with the gryphons, who understood this as much as he did.
"You bastard!" she snarled at the man nursing his bruised jaw. "It's for what you did to Cadegan. How could you!"
"You don't know what happened."
"No, Leucious. You're the one who doesn't know what happened! I have Cade's memories. You worthless son of a bitch!"
He didn't speak as his gaze dropped to the scars on her arms. Scowling, he moved to her back.
Jo pulled the T-shirt off so that he could see the full range of damage done to Cadegan's body. "Proud of yourself, you shit!"
His face pale, he met Cadegan's gaze. "What did they do to you?"
Cadegan put the shirt back over her. "It matters naught."
Jo reached to slap Leucious, but Cadegan stopped her. "Let it go, lass."
"Why are you with him?"
"He's a friend of your cousins'. He's here to take you home."
She stepped past Cadegan to poke Leucious in the chest with her index finger. "No. You're taking us home. I won't leave here without Cadegan."
"Lass..."
"I mean it, Cade. Unlike your worthless family, I will never leave you. Especially not alone in this hell."
Illarion flinched. Damn, she was so much like his Addie.
Cadegan pulled her into his arms and kissed her cheek. "We'll worry about that later. First, we have to switch ourselves back."
Leucious screwed his face up. "This is disturbing, isn't it? Hearing your words coming out of her body? Yeah. I think I'm getting a migraine."
"Could be a tumor," one of the birds said. "Or aneurysm. I was watching a show on that just--"
"Would you shut it, already, Talfryn!" the other bird snapped at him. "Can't you ever learn to read the room?"
"There's no room here." Talfryn glanced around. "Are you daft?"
Jo scowled at them before she looked back at Cadegan. "Should I ask?"
"Nay, lass." Cadegan quickly introduced everyone.
Apparently Talfryn and Ioan were two Adar Llwch Gwin or gryphons, for lack of a better term, Cadegan had taken from Gwyn to come rescue Jo. Like the demon hellchaser with them Leucious, they were snotty little bastards.
Which meant Illarion liked them.
Leucious sighed as he met Illarion's gaze. "Call me Thorn." He held his hand out to him.
Illarion shook it without comment.
With a fierce grimace, Jo tapped the bracelet on her arm. "Do you think this has anything to do with our Invasion of the Body Snatchers where I woke up a man and Cadegan as a woman?"
Cadegan nodded. "Aye, and I say we go back to the castle and beat the shite out of Gwyn until he fixes this."
Thorn snorted. "Now there's the brother I remember. When all else fails, beat them with a stick."
Works for me. Illarion grinned in total agreement.
Cadegan inclined his head to Illarion. "I have a suspicion that you and I shall be good friends."
Thorn snorted at his brother. "Why don't we just pull the bracelet off and see what happens? Shall we?"
Ioan moved forward to stop him. "That might not be wise. Who put it on her and why?"
"Gwyn, to ensure that we returned to Galar by fey vespers." Cadegan sighed. "I agree with Ioan. It's possible that it could hurt her. I trust Gwyn even less than I trust you."
Thorn glared at him. "Like you wouldn't cut my throat."
"Aye, I would. If ever given the right and proper chance." Cadegan took Jo's hand.
Just as he started for Ioan, the sky above them darkened.
Jo looked up and gasped. Morgen's dragons and gargoyles filled the sky.
And they were headed straight for them.
17
Without thinking twice, Cadegan grabbed his sword from Josette's hip and prepared to fight the approaching army. Even though she was in his male body, he pulled her behind him as the dragons and gargoyles descended to attack them. Illarion moved to shield them both.
The moment he did, a strange red haze rose up from the ground and formed a dome over their small group. A dome that Morgen's soldiers slammed into, and recoiled off. If not for the fact that this could be an even bigger threat to them, it'd be comical.
Scowling, Cadegan looked at his brother. "That you with a shield?"
Thorn shook his head. "Definitely not me." He glanced to the Adar Llwch Gwin. "Frick? Frack? Can you explain?"
Slack-jawed, they shook their heads in unison.
Illarion pulled back. It feels fey, but not as dark as Morgen's magick.
No sooner had he pushed that thought to their heads than the ground below their feet opened up and swallowed them.
Cursing, Cadegan wrapped himself around Josette to cushion her fall as they tumbled into a deep, dark cavern.
For a minute, Illarion feared it to be a bottomless pit.
Until they struck a hard, black floor. Though it was dark, the walls around them glistened with glowing vines.
Josette landed on top of Cadegan, a few feet from him.
Cadegan let out a harsh groan. "I'm the one what needs to lose weight, me lady. Oof! I weigh a mighty ton. How do you stand me weight atop of you?"
Her face turned red before she shifted to speak in his ear. "I love your weight on me. But not like this." Josette slid from his body. He pushed himself to his feet while the others followed suit.
"Well, well, what have we here?" a woman asked from inside the dark.
Retrieving his sword, Cadegan took Josette's hand to hold her near him, while Illarion moved to stand at his back.
"Why have you trespassed upon my lands?" There was a shrill note to the woman's irritated tone.
"We meant no disrespect." Thorn spoke up first.
"Actions are far more important to me than words that profess intent, as those actions, more oft than not, betray your real heart. Case in point..." A red mist appeared before Cadegan and Josette. "You two protect each other, without a single word. Does this mean that you don't care for one another?"
When Josette started to speak, Cadegan squeezed her hand to warn her not to. At least not until they knew more about what they were facing.
The mist went to Thorn. "Who do you protect?"
"None of your business."
The mist solidified into the body of a beautiful woman. With long black hair, she had an oval face, and large, dark eyes.
Ah, shit, this was a bitch Illarion knew all too well. They were so screwed.
"You like your words, don't you?" she asked them.
"They've been known to serve me well."
She scoffed at Thorn before she came over to Cadegan and Jo. A slow smile curved her lips as she danced her gaze over Cadegan's handsome body. Until she cocked her head and studied their locked hands. "Now you, you must have significant value for your lady to covet and protect you so."
Before either of them could speak, Jo was ripped away from Cadegan. Cadegan, still in her body, rushed for her.
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