by Dawn Brower
No, he wouldn’t, and in fact, he’d be grateful for it when he woke. Elodie snatched the jug and poured it into her parched mouth. The cool liquid was heaven in a bottle. She couldn’t get enough of it. The water coated her tongue and throat, making it easier to move them without discomfort. After she drank half the bottle, Lulu snatched it away from her.
“Hey,” Elodie exclaimed. “I wasn’t done with that.” At least her voice worked now... “Give it back.”
“No,” Lulu responded. “Too much and you’ll poison yourself.”
She couldn’t have heard her right. Elodie stared at Lulu with suspicion. “What did you give me to drink?” How could water poison her, unless it wasn’t water at all.
Lulu glanced away and replied, “It isn’t the liquid that matters.” She didn’t turn her head again to meet Elodie’s gaze. An uncomfortable sensation washed over her as she studied the bird. What had Lulu not said with those words? She knew far more than she let on, and it irritated Elodie. What did Lulu find so difficult about telling the truth?
Lulu didn’t like answering direct questions. It was a lesson Elodie had learned the hard way. The bird would give her limited information and expect her to decipher it like a master code breaker. While she didn’t think she was particularly stupid; however, she never claimed to be a genius either. Lulu had higher expectations of Elodie than she had for herself.
“Then explain what does matter,” Elodie demanded. “Don’t skirt on the details as you’re prone to. It’s my life at stake after all.” She didn’t mention Daire. The bird and the tiger didn’t seem to like him much. They probably only pulled him into the shade because Elodie demanded he be saved.
“The dust went into your bloodstream,” the bird explained. “You’ll be fine as long as you don’t feed it.”
She lifted a brow. “The water gives it something?”
Lulu tilted her head and didn’t say anything. Elodie was about to reach out and snatch her out of the air. Her anger was coming to the forefront in full force. She had to remind herself to take a deep breath and refrain from strangling the bird, or worse—pulling her feathers out one by one. She had serious rage issues...
“Are you going to explain?” Elodie asked.
“I’m not certain I can.” Lulu fluttered down on Daire. “It’s not you that we have to worry about. Your magic is strong now—as long as you don’t overdo it.”
Elodie sighed. “You’re concerned about Daire?”
Lulu nodded. That surprised Elodie. The bird had called him stupid and Kalypso threatened to eat him on a regular basis. What had changed while she was asleep? Instead of asking her that, she posed a different question. “What is going to happen to him?”
Is this how Cale and Daire felt after she’d been attacked by the river? She stared down at Daire and her heart beat heavily in her chest. He was rather pale, and she wanted him to open his eyes to flash her one of his charming smiles. She’d love to gaze into his beautiful sea-green eyes and find him in good humor. He wasn’t doing that though. Daire remained still and barely breathing.
“He’s fighting a battle to live,” Lulu said. “You can relate.”
“If he lives...” She swallowed hard. It was so difficult to believe he might die. Her stomach rumbled, and she thought she might lose what little contents it contained. She forced herself to ask her question though. Giving up wasn’t her style. “Will he have magic like me?”
“Magic, maybe,” Lulu answered. “Like you, no.”
Kalypso chose that time to return. Her movements were slow and languid as she strolled toward them carrying another canteen in her mouth. She laid it down next to Daire and then curled up against him. It was—bizarre. Why were they acting so strange? Was this even real? Perhaps Malediction had found a new way to mess with her head.
“None of this makes sense.” Elodie gestured toward Daire. “What are you not telling me?”
“His condition is grave,” Lulu replied solemnly. “More so than yours was. We don’t expect he’ll make it.”
“No,” Elodie screamed as she leapt to her feet. “Do something.”
“We’ve done all we can.” Lulu lowered her head.
It hit her then. They were already mourning his loss. Lulu was not her energetic self. Normally, she’d be floating on the wind, singing as she twirled. Instead, she’d been quiet and somber as she spoke. The bird had almost been—respectful in her speech. She’d already given up on Daire surviving. What Elodie didn’t understand is why the animals were grieving at all. They had never seemed to care what happened to Daire. What did his death mean to them?
Elodie refused to stand idly by while Daire fought to live. She had to do something to help him. She glanced over at Kalypso and Daire. The tiger now laid her head on his chest. After a few moments, she licked his face, cleaning it of all the dusty film from the storm. Kalypso really did...care.
“You said this is different than what I went through, yet similar. What makes you think he won’t make it through it?”
“The sand choked his breath from him. We weren’t fast enough pulling him out of it.” Lulu stared at Daire. “You did your best; don’t fault yourself in that failure. He’d have already been dead if not for your efforts.”
This was her fault. If she’d learned to control her magic, she might have been able to save him. She was floundering with it though and hadn’t been sure what to do. It had been more instinctual than anything. “There has to be something... I can’t lose him too.” A tear fell down her cheek. She lifted her hand and wiped it away. It wasn’t the time to cry. “I need you to explain what he’s going through.”
“He’s trapped in his own mind,” Lulu said. “When you were fighting the magic, do you recall something similar?”
Elodie whipped around to face Lulu. She’d been staring at Daire and hadn’t felt the need to study the bird. Now though... What had she said? Daire was trapped inside his own mind. She had been in something similar. In her dream, she’d talked with her father. It had seemed so real as if he’d been there with her, guiding her back to herself.
“I believe so,” Elodie replied evasively. She didn’t want to share anything about her father. It seemed private somehow. “What do you think Daire is doing?”
She lifted her wings as if to shrug. “It’s different for everyone.”
“Did this happen to you?” It suddenly hit her that perhaps all of the residents of Malediction were afflicted with something from their time there. The land was magic itself, created to be the curse world to corrupt those that were bound to it.
She nodded. “Do you think all animals capable of speech?”
Elodie shook her head slowly. “And I accepted it rather easily too. Is that part of what makes Malediction work? We expect the unexpected and anything is possible.”
If a bird could smile, Lulu was doing a fabulous job of trying... She lifted her beak up, and the result was rather terrifying. “You’re understanding finally.”
“The more you know,” she whispered, “the more you don’t understand.”
“You can save him,” Lulu said suddenly. “It’s risky though.”
“Why didn’t you say so sooner?” Elodie glared at her. “No risk is too big. Daire has to survive.”
Elodie wasn’t sure when things had changed between them. Malediction had a way of bringing people closer though. If they were still in Zelnon, she might not feel the way she did, but somewhere along the way, Daire had become important to her. Everyone had a dark side. Hers had reared its ugly head when she had come across Daire in the woods near Paige’s cottage. It had taken a lot for her to stop hating him, and truthfully, she wasn’t certain when she had stopped or why. It had seemed natural to let it go and care about him. She still didn’t want to marry him though.
“You could...” Lulu flapped her wings and floated up to eye-level with Elodie.
“I could what?”
Lulu hesitated for a moment then said, “Merge with him.”
> Elodie flinched. That sounded rather—intrusive. “You’re going to have to give me a little more information.”
Lulu continued to flap her wings, holding herself in place. “When you worked so tirelessly to save him, a piece of your magic slithered inside of him. You’re a part of him in a way you probably didn’t intend.”
“What does that mean?”
“That anyone who meets him will sense you in him and give him the reverence he deserves as your chosen one.”
Oh, hell no... “My what?” Was that the reason they seemed to suddenly like Daire? Did they think she had claimed him? She hadn’t done anything of the kind. She didn’t want to spend the rest of her life with the prince. She loved Cale and fully intended to save him. And, after giving him hell, she was going to convince him to be her’s forever—not Daire.
“You shared yourself with him. He’s yours always now.”
She didn’t like that one bit; however, it wasn’t the time to disabuse Lulu of that idea. Elodie lifted her hand and rubbed her fingers against her temple. The making of a fine headache had started to form. “Skip all of that and tell me how I can save Daire.”
“As I mentioned, he’s trapped in his own mind,” Lulu said. “If you reach out to him and enter his dream you can drag him back to this world.”
Elodie laughed maniacally. As if returning to this world was a grand thing. She supposed it was better than dying, and if it woke him up she’d do it. The other ridiculousness about her claiming Daire—she’d make sure Lulu didn’t mention it later. Especially since she didn’t know if she fully believed Lulu. How could a part of her be inside of Daire? She’d try what Lulu suggested because she did want to help him, but she wasn’t ready to admit she may have claimed him in some way. She didn’t want her to give the prince any ideas.
“If I do this...” She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. “Promise me you won’t mention that a part of me is inside of him or any of that other stuff.”
“You don’t wish him to know you’ve made him yours?”
The more Lulu said it, the urge to scream built inside of Elodie. She gritted her teeth instead then replied, “Yes.”
“I understand,” Lulu said with respect. “You would like that honor yourself. We will keep quiet until such a time as you choose to formally claim him.”
That wasn’t what she’d meant, but she’d take it. As long as she didn’t run her beak off about her supposedly marking him as hers, then all would be well... “Tell me what I have to do to reach out to him.”
“Sit beside him and place one hand on his chest and the other on his head,” Lulu explained. “Then close your eyes and reach out to the magic inside of him. It should lead you to where his head has taken him.”
Elodie sat next to Daire. Kalypso lifted her head and gave Elodie the space she needed and then stood up to stroll over to Lulu. The bird floated down and rested on Kalypso’s head. Elodie took a deep breath and put her hands in place. It was now or never... She closed her eyes and counted backward from ten. When she got to one, her magic swirled inside of her. It snapped toward Daire and wrapped around him, seeking like for like. When it found the similar magic, it latched on to it and yanked her from darkness into a pool of light.
The light dissipated as if Elodie had opened her eyes. The clearing where she sparred with Cale came into view. The river roared in the distance. Elodie walked toward it as if something called for her. When she neared the bank, she found Daire standing on the edge. His blond hair glinted in the sunlight, his back to her.
She headed toward him. He didn’t turn around and kept his focus on the river. Elodie feared he planned to jump in and became desperate to stop him. She halted when she reached his side and placed her hand on his shoulder. “Daire.”
He turned from the river and met her gaze. “You came,” he said. “I didn’t think you would.”
“Why wouldn’t I?” she asked.
He tilted his head and studied her. “Because you love him and will never look at me the same way.” Sadness reflected from his gaze. He’d never looked so forlorn.
“One has nothing to do with the other,” Elodie said. “Haven’t we gotten past this? I may have been a tad mean, but I consider you a friend now.”
He laughed almost mockingly. “Yes. A friend. That’s what a male wants to hear from a beautiful girl.” He sighed. “Yes, I suppose we are that much.”
Daire looked up at the sky and then back at her. “How do we go home?”
Elodie hadn’t thought to ask Lulu that much. How did they escape this dream and enter back into Malediction? She should have asked more questions before leaping into this mess. “I’m open to suggestions.”
He sighed. “You’re not real. My Elodie would be ordering me around, not waiting for me to save her.”
That grated. “I’m not your Elodie.” Elodie didn’t want him to be hers or vice versa. This thing brewing between them was—wrong. She loved Cale and wanted to be with him. The pull Daire had on her had to stop. Somehow, she’d make it happen before it led down a road filled with regret. Cale would always be her heart and only love. She didn’t have room for anyone else and didn’t care to make any. Daire would have to find someone else to love and marry because it wouldn’t be her. Whatever connection they had was temporary—there had to be a way to sever the tie. It wasn’t fair to Daire to string him along when they had no future.
“I know,” he said sadly and turned his gaze back to the river. “I said as much, didn’t I?”
Oh, hell. What was it going to take to make him snap out of this? It would have to be something shocking and unexpected. An idea popped into her head, but she dismissed it as fast as it came. That would be too much... Would it though? He didn’t think any of this was real. He wouldn’t believe she’d do it, and it might be enough to break him away from this melancholy.
“Daire,” she said. “Look at me.”
He turned toward her. “You’re so beautiful. Did I ever tell you that?”
Elodie couldn’t take it anymore. She wrapped her arms around his neck and lifted herself up to place her lips on his. When they met, a jolt rocked through her and tingled up her spine. He pulled her closer and rested his hands on her back, deepening the kiss. Daire pushed his tongue inside her mouth and touched it to hers. Elodie sighed and reveled in the pleasure of it. She shouldn’t be enjoying the kiss as much as she did.
He sucked on her mouth, and damn, if he didn’t taste wonderful—like her favorite dessert of vanilla and cinnamon. She wasn’t sure how long they stood there kissing, but she’d happily have stayed there forever. Until something snapped into her and yanked her back to reality... It was only then that she fully recalled why she’d kissed him and what was so wrong about all the feelings she had rolling through her. Guilt wrapped around her like a shroud of disgrace. How could she have betrayed Cale and everything she felt for him?
She swallowed hard and opened her eyes. Elodie was back in Malediction and the reality she wished she could avoid. Lulu was still sitting on Kalypso’s head. Elodie glanced down at Daire, one hand on his head and the other on his chest. His blue-green eyes were beautiful, and his gaze was fixed on her.
“Hello, princess,” he greeted her. The corner of his lip tilted upward into one of his charming smiles. “Please tell me you enjoyed that as much as I did.” His voice was roughed and raspy.
“You must be thirsty,” she replied, avoiding his question. “Kalypso, bring him some water.” Damn it. He would remember that...
The tiger brought the canteen over to Daire. He snatched it from her mouth and lifted it to his dry lips. Daire drank down the liquid as fast as Elodie had earlier. Lulu took it from him. “That’s enough,” she said. “What is it with the two of you and wishing to be poisoned.”
“What?” Daire said with bewilderment etched across his handsome face. He stood then turned to Elodie and asked, “Did you tell that tiger to give me poison?”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” she sa
id and rolled her eyes. “I drank the same stuff. I wouldn’t have given you something that would kill you.” Lulu would however...
Lulu flew over to Kalypso and dropped the canteen near her. Elodie would have to retrieve it later in case they needed it. As long as Daire didn’t drink too much they were all right—though she really did wish Lulu told her why drinking the water might poison them. What exactly was in it?
“If you’re not sure if you enjoyed the kiss,” Daire leaned over and whispered in her ear. “We can try again to make sure.”
Elodie didn’t answer him. She wouldn’t give him that satisfaction. Instead, she stood up and rubbed her hands on her tunic. Then walked away from him and said, “Where are we going next?” She lifted a brow at Lulu and Kalypso. “Lead the way.”
She didn’t look back at Daire. He was walking behind her, the sound of his footsteps echoed around her. He’d know... Her cheeks heated, and she refused to admit she’d enjoyed that little mind-meld. It hadn’t been real. That kiss was a figment of the imagination, but what a vision it had been. She licked her lips, trying to capture the taste of him again. It lingered there on her tongue, a phantom of the real thing. She craved that taste, and nothing good could come from it.
4
Dragon Knight
The rain had been replaced by scorching hot temperatures. Unbearable, mind numbing, and lethargy inducing heat... It was a good thing Cale had no energy to move because nothing would or could make him at that point. He rather liked basking in the sun’s rays on top of the ledge. It warmed him from the inside out and almost re-energized him. This warmth was different than when the magic had burned through him. That had been debilitating, but this, it was his life’s blood. It would help him heal so he could find Elodie.
She needed him, and he—Cale needed her. That was the truth of it. Every step he’d taken had been for her. It was a never-ending cycle he couldn’t break free of. He had a million reasons to walk away and not look back, but he had a very important one that kept him by her side—hope. It was a nasty thing, but without it he’d have given up a long time ago. His foolish heart was so filled with love for her it spilled over into unyielding optimism. Even when he stopped to think about it, and realized that his chances of being with her were impossible, Cale couldn’t let go.