Silverstone

by C E Johnson

  “Your queen?” Malachi asked, confused. “Will you marry her?”

  Drogor made his own guttural and throaty noises, and Malachi assumed he was laughing at his naivety while shaking his head. Malachi searched Drogor’s wispy features, but he couldn’t read the wraith’s expression. “Just be prepared, Malachi. An ice age is approaching. Make sure you have all the food and clothing stockpiled that we discussed. Your cave network will form one of the in-processing centers.”

  “So much responsibility,” Malachi whispered. He tried to be strong, but fear was pulsing in his mind and a building exhaustion was making him confused.

  “Iscar has coordinated shipments of solar plates and batteries from his factories,” Drogor continued. The air fairly crackled with mystery as so many secrets were being revealed, but Malachi’s mind felt sluggish, dragged down by fatigue. Drogor nodded toward Loff. “Talk with Loff. Then you must go back. You’ve been in Ater much too long,” Drogor warned. “Amanda is anxious for your return.”

  “You’re right,” Malachi said weakly. He could picture Amanda in his mind’s eye. She was his lighthouse. Malachi focused to the best of his ability on the words of his mentors, but it was difficult to concentrate when his life was about to change in so many ways. In his raucous tone, Loff taught him the methods to find bondsmates for each of his council members and how to ensure each of the ten would give him their dragon-oath. After his lesson with Loff was finished, Malachi ended his spell that was keeping him grounded in Ater. Without further delay, he returned to Earth. Awaking and feeling something wet on his forehead, he struggled to lift his weary eyelids.

  “Open your eyes, my prince.” A delicate voice was speaking to him soft and gentle in a chiding tone. “You’re flushed and overheated.” Slowly opening his eyes, Malachi studied Amanda who was there before him dabbing his forehead with a washcloth. Her glorious hair framed her face and her pale blue eyes were as pure as the sky on a summer day. “I was worried about you.” Her forehead was creased. “You don’t usually go to Ater for that long.” Her lips were full, and Malachi wanted to kiss her, but that could wait until later. For now, he was too excited to tell her what he had discovered.

  “I learned a new spell,” Malachi gushed. Beaming at her with a huge smile, he spoke in a rush. “Loff taught me how to determine if a bondsmate is near.” Sucking in a rapid breath, he sat up slowly wishing his head didn’t ache so. “Do you want me to try it for you?” He would do anything for Amanda. “If I can see your potential bondsmate in my mind’s eye with the spell, I might even be able to locate where your link currently resides.”

  “You’d use your magus on me when you’ve only just returned from Ater?” Amanda asked. Her eyes were wide, and her silky hair flashed in the sunlight entering their tent blinding Malachi with its splendor.

  “Of course.” Malachi couldn’t understand her confusion. “You’re my girlfriend. I’d do anything for you.” Amanda nodded and allowed herself a small satisfied smile before giving him an excited kiss on his cheek. Calming his mind, Malachi pulled his magic from the depths of his chest and cast his spell. The answer came to him immediately, but he couldn’t speak right away. The spell had drained him to such a degree that even that wisp of energy needed to make words with his tongue was too much for him to summon. Heart hammering, and muscles aching, Malachi fully realized he was draining himself too low. Knowing the resultant electricity would restore a fraction of his strength instantly, he feebly lifted his hand to touch her rich, shining hair.

  “What’s wrong Malachi?” Amanda asked worriedly. She laid him back down on his cot. She intercepted his hand, placing his palm against her own and pulling his hand to her heaving chest. Kissing his skin with her delicate silky lips that were so much sleeker and luxurious than velvet, Malachi felt a fraction of the dull ache dissipate. She brought back out her washcloth and dabbed his head again. “You’re even hotter than before.” She smoothed his hair. “You must learn to conserve your energy.”

  The energy from her touch was invigorating to Malachi and he found his voice again. “I’ve located her,” Malachi stammered. “Your bondsmate is a clouded leopard.” His heart sang a symphony as Amanda’s face lit up. “She’s at the Smithsonian Zoo. I’ll send someone to get her.” After flashing him a sweet smile, Amanda kissed him again, this time on his mouth. Her tender lips electrified his soul and the intimacy of her became his world. She completely filled in the hollowness in his spirit. She pushed the softness of her body against him, and the ache left Malachi’s muscles. Her hair fell down around his head, and the stress in the world was sealed away. Smelling only vanilla, honey, and cream, Malachi wished their harmony in this moment could last forever. The sweetness of her, her closeness, was almost more than he could take. Wrapping his arms around her neck, he brushed his own lips over her cheeks, her throat, and her neck. Both of their breaths were mixing in joy and they gasped with pleasure and love. As she backed away, flashing a smile of joy, he wondered if she knew how strikingly gorgeous that she was. Surely she did, he thought.

  “You need to review the troops,” Amanda said softly. She brushed her hair back behind her ears, and the simple act took Malachi’s breath away. “Do you think you can stand?” She stood and held out a hand for him. A breeze flitted through the room causing her hair to immediately release from behind her ears and to sway in the wind.

  Malachi nodded. He tried to still his fluttering heart as he touched her smooth skin. She was trembling with excitement. Malachi gave her another gentle kiss on her cheek. “Amanda, everything’s changing so quickly I can barely believe it,” he said softly. Pulling himself up, his breath escaped in a rush and he gasped with the effort. “Drogor is demanding that I give him my dragon-oath, but something is holding me back.” Amanda nodded; her brow creased in concern. Malachi stretched his aching muscles, but the discomfort within him wasn’t going away. His inner soreness built to a dull throb as he placed his weight on his legs. “Every time I awake from Ater, I feel as if I’ve been gone a month.”

  Amanda giggled as he leaned against her. “I think you’re just trying to cozy up to me again,” she teased. Leading him out of their tent, Amanda pointed out the forces gathering on the White House lawn. “Your father sent in the winter clothing, pre-packaged meals ready to eat, weapons, and horses that you requested.” Malachi’s father, the President, respected what Malachi was doing. He told Malachi that he was becoming a man and a leader, and he was giving him whatever support he could supply. There was row upon row of white tents where Malachi’s warriors and magicians could sleep. “Are you sure you want to remain in tents?” she asked. “Although all of this is romantic, we could take over several buildings. Your father told you that you can have whatever you want.”

  “Drogor told me that another round of missiles will soon destroy the energy grid for good,” Malachi explained to Amanda. He ran a hand over his forehead and through his thick black hair that was wet with perspiration. “We need to become one with nature very quickly, so I don’t want the troops to get too comfortable. I’m going to lead us to the Luray Caverns when the time is right.”

  “Caves?” Amanda wrapped her arms tightly around her body. “Caves are so dirty.”

  Malachi chuckled at her drama. “Drogor assured me that we can survive anything in those caves. He’s preparing them with stone mages. They’ll be wonderful.” The close whinny of a horse caught Malachi’s attention and he turned his head to see his one-time secret service agent KC McLaughlin, who was now his army commander, approach at a full gallop.

  “Good to see you up and about, Malachi,” KC McLaughlin roared to Malachi as he pulled on the reins of his dappled warhorse, slowing the beast to a gentle walk. “I was concerned about you.” KC’s chestnut hair was damp with sweat, and his horse was lathered. Cheeks flushed from his hard ride; KC sat in his saddle comfortably.

  “You don’t need to worry about me,” Malachi laughed. He studied KC as the broad-shouldered man effortlessly wheeled his hors
e in a circle. Looking strong and handsome, KC was like superman to Malachi. “You do seem to be enjoying yourself, KC.”

  KC urged his beautiful mare closer to Malachi and Amanda. The horse tossed her head as he reined to a halt. “I was made for this,” he boasted. His bronze eyes shone with excitement. He wore a slate gray pistol on one hip, and a deadly short sword on the other.

  “Can you take a squad of men and retrieve something for me?” Malachi questioned his commander while running his hand along the flank of the dappled warhorse who whickered uncomfortably at his touch. KC nodded. Malachi continued, “There’s a female clouded leopard at the zoo. She’s destined to be Amanda’s bondsmate. Can you find some way to bring her here?”

  “No problem.” Inclining his head to them both and following Malachi’s orders without question, KC kicked his charger into a trot. Wordlessly, he pointed to a team of three men, including a silver magician with an aura suggesting vigor, thoughtfulness, and fearlessness. The men dashed to their mounts and joined KC. Their geldings merged with his warhorse, and they glided away with a smooth gait. Malachi felt proud of his troops.

  “They do anything you want without question,” Amanda marveled. Reaching out a hand to touch Malachi’s palm, she sighed with pleasure as their fingers intertwined. Her hand was still shaking with excitement over the possibility of a bondsmate and her happiness warmed his chest. Soft and full of light, her eyes were burning with an inner passion.

  “Your blue eyes are putting the sky to shame right now,” he whispered.

  “Do stop,” she scoffed at him, but he could tell she liked what he said. She lifted his hand and twirled beneath it once before giving him a peck on the cheek, a tender touch full of unspoken promises.

  “Sometimes I sit and wonder what you were doing before we found each other,” he said softly. “Were we always meant to be together?” She was everything he had ever dreamed of. Drogor often bragged to Malachi about how he had found Amanda. The dark wraith claimed he had found complementary characteristics in her aura and he had directed her to the Stargate Project to meet Malachi. Although he knew Drogor was malevolent, how could someone evil have given him a girlfriend like this? He owed the wraith everything. Perhaps he does deserve my oath, he thought to himself, but just picturing himself bound to Drogor made him feel as if he were drowning.

  Amanda tugged Malachi out of his daydream and along for his inspection. Leading him to the weapons area next, she showed him not only rifles and ammunition, but also the crude weapons—primarily swords, spears, bows, and shields. “Are you sure you want these ancient weapons?” she asked while raising one of her perfectly formed eyebrows in question.

  “Drogor predicts this is the way wars will soon be fought again on Earth,” Malachi answered. He stared at the men and women practicing with long steel swords. The weapons crashed together time and again with the sound resonating out like church bells. Hack, slash, swing, the swords sang to the heavens as his warriors spun and struck with artful slashes and swift hacking strikes. They inclined their heads respectfully to Malachi as he passed. Walking past the outdoor kitchen where teams were preparing the next meal over great fire pits, Malachi waved to the cooks who laughed happily as the grease from their cooking meat dripped down into the flames with a warm sizzle. They beckoned to Malachi and Amanda to taste the delicious food. The sun was descending as they finished their review. Malachi was thoroughly exhausted.

  A warrior approached with a machine gun on his hip. “Sir, a group of warriors and magicians has arrived to talk with you.” He pointed toward a great circus pavilion in the center of their camp. “They’re in the meeting tent.” He leaned toward Malachi and spoke in a conspiratorial manner, “They brought animals with them.”

  “Don’t tell me what it is,” Malachi blurted eagerly. He cast off his weariness and fairly danced on air as he and Amanda scampered on light feet to the meeting place. He took a deep breath. Steel yourself, he admonished himself before he entered the tent flap. Look like a commander to them. His ten ruling magician council members were arranged just inside the tent on folding chairs in a half circle. Standing and forming a fist with their right hand, they pounded their clenched hands against their chest in an act of respect. Malachi stared at the men and women on his council. Each had been meticulously chosen with Drogor’s help because Drogor wanted only certain auras to be represented on the council. Why this was important, Malachi had no idea. Malachi’s war chancellor took a step forward with a wide smile on his face. Blonde haired, freckled, with thick brows and pale eyes, his aura was a deep brown, suggesting confidence, chivalry, and a strong, gritty heart. A muscular black leopard on a leash stood next to him. The formidable beast pricked up its ears and lashed its tail back and forth while sniffing in Malachi’s direction. Although the stunning creature was fiercely awesome and deadly strong, there was nothing terrible about its features to Malachi. All at once their eyes met. The leopard’s orbs were as golden as Malachi’s own. They smoldered like a burning fire. Falling to the ground, Malachi began convulsing as he underwent the vinculum.

  My name is Vuk, his bondsmate whispered in his mind once the majority of the process was over. Together we will lead this pack. All at once, new senses manifested in Malachi’s mind as the vinculum and his black magic burned new neural pathways in a tumultuous surge of magus. Magic was somehow poured into his being, and he drank the power thirstily like an elixir of health.

  “Are you okay?” Amanda asked in a whisper. She was crouched next to him, and he could smell her like never before. Moaning with pleasure, he was overwhelmed by Amanda’s heady scent of aromatic fresh perfume. Pleasing and sweet-smelling as ambrosia, she flooded into him in an entirely new way. Just beyond Amanda, Malachi could smell something else that was demanding his attention. He smelled another cat, a creature with a fulsome pleasant balm that tickled his nose in a most satisfying and enjoyable manner.

  A clouded leopard, Vuk whispered, for your mate.

  In a daze, still on the floor, Malachi attempted to steady his fluttering eyes. Next to Vuk, on a dais was KC with a clouded leopard in a cage. The cat was a dark gray with black blotches and spots running from the edge of its eyes, down its neck and along its body and shoulders. The dark shapes were truly cloud-like in appearance. Malachi could instantly smell that she was a female and she appeared to grin at him with long canine teeth that were slim, curved, and deadly. Somehow, Malachi managed to direct Amanda’s attention to the leopard.

  “My bondsmate!” Amanda crowed before she fell to the ground next to Malachi, writhing and convulsing in a torment of magical energy. Amanda was a yellow magician, and shades of her tawny chrome radiated around her in a magnificent aura as her own magus was amplified and refined. Malachi realized he had always seen fibers of powerful yellow amber in her, but it was now magnified a hundred-fold. “Atarah,” Amanda managed to tell him in a broken and slurred voice. “Her name is Atarah.”

  “Your yellow aura is increasing and it’s wonderful,” Malachi managed to gasp. He peered intently at Amanda who lay sprawled next to him on the grass. Her convulsions began to decrease in intensity until at last they were over. Radiating and gorgeous, Amanda brushed back her golden hair which fell heavily over portions of her face.

  “I can’t believe this,” Amanda whispered, still lying on the ground. Opening her piercing blue eyes, they shared a long look. “This is all because of you,” she said in a hushed voice that sent new shivers over Malachi’s skin. She gave him an appreciative and gracious smile. All at once, Atarah was there, licking Amanda’s face.

  “She’s as gorgeous as you,” Malachi spoke with complete honesty. Allowing Atarah to sniff her everywhere, Amanda leaned her head back into the grass and closed her eyes. Nearly overcome by Amanda and the moment, Malachi couldn’t understand why he was so blessed. The shades of green in the blades of the turf cradling Amanda’s head were more rich and vivid than he thought was possible. Her skin complexion shone with a vibrancy that spoke of health a
nd well-being. Closing his eyes to dampen his visual senses, he inhaled the faint scent of oil in Amanda’s radiant hair. He was in heaven.

  These magicians better release me before I rip them apart, Vuk roared through their link.

  “Loose my bondsmate,” Malachi called to his council, still too overwhelmed to open his eyes. He could hear the sound of a leash being removed and suddenly Vuk was at his side pushing against him with soft fur overlying steel muscles. Applause broke out around them and Malachi and Amanda laughed and giggled as they stood, skin flushed and hair wild and tumbled. Malachi reached one hand to take Amanda’s palm into his own, and the other he buried in the spun darkness of Vuk’s black coat which glistened and glimmered in the torchlight. He felt grounded, ready for whatever might come. Drogor might truly be wicked, but perhaps being a villain wasn’t all that bad. The rewards were definitely beyond his comprehension. Swallowing a lump in his throat, Malachi realized that if Drogor continued to grant him such wondrous gifts, he would soon be doing anything the wraith asked.

  “It’s like a dream come true,” Amanda said. She reached a hand out to Malachi. Taking it, Malachi went to one knee. “Are you still dizzy?” Amanda’s eyes were wide, concerned.

  “Will you marry me?” Malachi asked in a hushed tone. His voice was hesitant and full of wonder. Pulling out a golden ring in the shape of a dragon, he studied the diamond KC had helped him select. His heart was fluttering like a bird in his chest. I know where the confidence to perform this act came from, he thought to his bondsmate.

  I will help you with many things, Vuk promised.

  “Of course,” Amanda whispered her answer. “This is the happiest day of my life.” She threw her arms around Malachi.

  Pulling her closer, the two fell to the ground in a swell of bright joy. Birds trilled, and soft Vuk and Atarah joined them in a moment so powerful, Malachi worried his heart might break.