by Dawn Brower
Lulu fluttered by.
That bird was tempting him in the worst possible way. He wouldn’t eat her. She might be irritating, but he sort of liked her. He didn’t make meals out of his friends. Lulu might have an idea where he could find food though. He mentally called out to her. She didn’t answer him—no surprise there. She was mad at him, and he didn’t fully understand why. He called out to her again, “Lulu...”
“I’m not speaking to you,” she replied.
“You have a funny way of refusing to speak, by actually speaking,” he said sarcastically. “By all means, keep doing that and don’t tell me where I can locate something to eat.”
The bird chortled inside his head. He would have laughed, but didn’t want to run her off. The bird offended too easily, and he was rather hungry. She flew over to him and sat on his nose.
“You’re most rude,” she told him. “I don’t like you right now.”
“I apologize,” he replied solemnly. “I don’t wish to upset you.”
Most of the time that was true... He didn’t like upsetting anyone needlessly. He tried to be kind, but sometimes a stern attitude was warranted. He had worked hard to rise high in the ranks at the castle. Before he’d resigned, he’d been one of the most skilled knights in Zelnon. If he’d not become so close to the princess, he might still be. He didn’t regret his decision, even in his current state. He would probably never be anything but a dragon for the rest of his days. It might not be all bad, but it definitely wouldn’t be good. He hated his massive size. The flying was a nice bonus though.
The bird sighed. “You don’t actually need food. If you would access all of your magic, it’ll fuel you.”
He had no idea what she was talking about. As far as he could tell, there was no magic to access. His stomach rumbled again. The more he waited, the louder the noises became. He would have to do something soon or his cave guests would notice. If Elodie came back out to check on him he didn’t know what he’d do. He didn’t want her to be concerned about his welfare. It was his job to look after her, not the other way around. Ever since they came to Malediction, she’d been trying to take care of everyone. She took so much on herself that she didn’t need to. He wouldn’t add to her burden.
“For the last time, bird,” he growled through his mind. “I can’t.”
“You can,” she insisted. “You stubborn oaf.”
It was an old argument at this point. There would be no getting through to her. He’d have to fly off and hope to find something—palatable. If he was in Zelnon, he’d know what to look for. In Malediction, the food he found might end up poisonous. The world liked to present you with the one thing you wanted, and then proceed to let it kill you. He hated everything about the cursed place.
“Fine—don’t help me.”
Cale stood and lifted his wings. The bird remained on his snout, stubbornly refusing to move. She leaned down and pecked him with her beak several times, harder and harder with each poke. He shook his head vigorously to unseat her, but she dug her talons in and held on.
“You’re a fool.” She pecked at him again. “Use your magic or you’ll die. The poison is coursing through you, making you think you need food when you don’t.”
He stilled at her words. He hadn’t really seemed hungry before. A little bored, yes, but hungry, no. For a while after his transformation, he’d been tired and had rested up here by his cave. He hadn’t even known for sure how he’d made it to the cave or why he’d been sure he had to go there. It had seemed right. Was that his problem now? Did the poison on the arrow mess with his natural instincts? Perhaps he should stop dismissing Lulu’s advice as nonsense. She was far more familiar with Malediction than him. That’s the whole reason he kept asking her for help, yet he stupidly kept ignoring her.
“Tell me again how to access my magic.”
“Are you ready to listen?”
“Yes.” He couldn’t help the irritation that flowed through the words. His frustration was at the forefront and wouldn’t be abated. “Tell me.”
She explained everything again. Lulu had done this already when they were both flying in the sky. She’d been trying to prepare him for the upcoming battle with the hunters. The problem then and now really was that he had no clue what she meant. The dragon thing had been hard to handle, and all too new to absorb the information properly. He listened now though.
“Become one with yourself,” she told him. “Close your eyes and picture your center. What makes you a part of the dragon—reach in and tap into that energy. It’ll unleash all your power and help you expel the magic.”
Cale did as she suggested. He tried to reach into himself and the power source. It was there in his mind ready for him to tap it. As he prepared to access the magic, it blinked out of existence, or maybe he did because the whole world went black as Lulu disappeared
ELODIE SAT WITH HER back against the cave wall. Daire was attempting to light a fire with some wood he’d located at the back of the cave. She should tell him to ask Cale to light it, but she was bone tired and couldn’t muster up the energy to remind him they had a fire breather handy. He seemed to want to help, so why not let him?
Over time, Kalypso had become increasingly less useful. Elodie was starting to wonder why the tiger stayed with them. Was she hoping to snack on them at a later date when they all died? Was she too lazy to go back to her own cave and figure out how to stay warm? Sometimes it was good to have the tiger with them. When push came to shove, Kalypso did come through. It took a lot of effort for her to be so inclined to unsheathe her claws. Which made sense in a weird kind of way.... Why exert herself until necessary? Elodie had a little respect for that attitude. Sometimes she really wished she could adapt to it.
Smoke filled the cavern. Daire had finally succeeded in lighting the small fire. Light filled the area, along with a bit of warmth. Now that it was lit, Elodie appreciated the prince’s efforts. She was rather lethargic and tired. It would be so nice to close her eyes and sleep without worry, but she couldn’t. They had an enemy amongst them, one who could strike at any moment if they left her to her own devices. Sure, Donia was still tied up; however, that didn’t make her any less dangerous. She wielded magic, and Elodie refused to take any chances where she was concerned. Someone would have to keep an eye on her at all times.
She glared at Donia’s unconscious form. Was she really still out? Her trust for the girl wasn’t very high. Nothing would convince her to either. The girl had a mean streak bigger than Cale—which was an ironic thought considering she was a dragon hunter.
“I don’t think she’s awake,” Daire said as he sat down next to Elodie. “I hit her pretty hard.”
“Don’t underestimate her,” she warned. “She’ll see us all dead to end Cale’s life. She has one goal, and nothing will stop her. I don’t quite understand what stopped her from killing him earlier. She’s up to something.”
Elodie had been so distracted with Cale’s injury, she hadn’t thought about the dragon hunter’s motives. Now that she had time to think about it, she wondered what the girl was up to. She could have killed Cale when she maimed him and the rest of them were distracted. At least she could have tried. Elodie would have fought her every step of the way; nevertheless, there was no way to determine what the outcome would’ve been. Cale could have died—they all might yet. Malediction didn’t play by the rules and did whatever it wanted to its inhabitants. It was a hard lesson to learn, but she’d been taught the hard way—by being knocked down more than once. She had a hard head, and sometimes it took her longer to grasp the reality of a situation. This one though, she finally understood. Cale’s predicament brought it home.
“You’re over thinking this, Ellie.”
“I’m not.” She shook her head. “How many times do you have to almost die to understand what’s going on?”
“No one’s dying,” he said, then frowned. “Are we going to talk about what happened before we found Cale?”
“Nothing h
appened,” she replied quickly. “And it never will.” Elodie itched to run away. She didn’t want to deal with whatever had changed between them. That had been her answer after it first happened. She wanted to ignore it as long as possible. Was it too much to ask for a little space to figure things out first? Why did he have to talk things to death?
She should check on Cale. He’d been quiet ever since they’d flown up to his Malediction home. Maybe he’d learned how to communicate better. Lulu was still out there with him, and the bird insisted he should be able to talk. It would be nice if they’d made progress. She started to stand, but Daire placed his hand on her arm to stop her.
“Don’t go,” he said softly. “Avoiding this won’t make it go away.”
“I told you—”
“There is something between us,” he interrupted her. “You feel it; don’t deny it.”
“I...” She shook her head. “I am not admitting to anything. Whatever you think you feel is in your head, it’s not the same for me.” She didn’t know that though. Nothing made sense anymore. She loved Cale.
Didn’t she?
Darn it, Daire had her questioning everything, and she hated it. This was stupid and unnecessary. “I don’t want to talk about this.”
“All right,” he agreed. “I will let this go for now on one condition.”
“What?” She was willing to do almost anything to shut him up. Her skin crawled with anticipation. She couldn’t handle sharing her thoughts or uncertainties. Thinking about what any of it meant unraveled her. Elodie didn’t want to deal with any of it until they escaped Malediction and secured her rule in Zelnon. Maybe after that she could sort out the mess inside her head.
“Kiss me,” he said. “Prove to me you feel nothing.”
She reared back at his suggestion. That—no she couldn’t. She’d done it in a dream, but in reality? It would be too much...
“Are you afraid?” he asked, lifting a brow. “If you are, that’s all right.”
She wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of realizing how right he was at that moment. Elodie had never been more terrified in her life. What he suggested could open up emotions she didn’t want to feel, and might never be able to repress ever again. He wouldn’t let it go though. If she gave in and did as he asked, she would have to do her best to pretend it meant nothing. Admittedly, moments existed when she questioned how much it didn’t mean to her, but those were fleeting and she refused to put any stock in them. She swallowed down a lump in her throat and answered, “I’m not afraid. I don’t see the point of this test of yours.”
“Because it will answer both of our questions.”
“I don’t have any.” That was a lie. She had lots of questions. Some about him, and others about their survival. He didn’t need to know that though. “Nothing you say will convince me to kiss you.”
“Would it help if I kissed you instead?”
She hated when she was right. “You’re not going to let this go are you?”
He shook his head. “Never.”
“Hasn’t anyone ever told you never to say never?”
Daire’s laugher echoed through the cavern. Elodie’s insides heated to liquid jelly. Why did she have to find him so attractive? His golden hair nearly glowed in the light from the fire. His blue-green eyes were like warm jewels inviting her to come closer. She wanted to, oh, yes, she definitely did.
“I could say the same to you,” he replied. “You’ve said never regarding me several times, and yet, here we are.” Daire leaned a little closer. “Give in, Ellie, you know you want to.”
In that moment, she had to wonder if he could read her mind. But that was silly. Of course he couldn’t. Daire didn’t have any magical abilities... There was something about him that pulled at her, and she gravitated toward him. He invited her to kiss him, nearly begged her to. Why not do it at least once. What would it hurt?
9
Kiss Don’t Tell
Mix a spark, a little heat, and a whole lot of forbidden together and it equaled a bad idea. Sometimes, Elodie rather liked bad ideas because they led to the best surprises. That was how she’d ended up training with her short swords—she thrived on the danger and the challenge they had represented. She’d almost forgotten about them in the craziness of the past several days. Since when had she relied on magic more than a tried and true skill? Later, when she was in a better frame of mind, she’d revisit that idea and explore what it meant. Now, she had other ideas she intended to act on.
Sitting in the cavern with Daire reminded her of a great many things. Who she was and the person she hoped to be, and the princess who once hated the idea of being betrothed to him. A lot had happened to that girl, the princess—her, and Elodie almost didn’t recognize herself. Malediction had irrevocably changed her, and she feared she’d never be the same again. That just being in the cursed world had not only made her see things differently, but made things polar opposites of each other.
Much like two sides of the same coin—Elodie could flip between her former self and her evolved self. The reformed princess wanted the prince in ways the naïve side of her never would. Kiss him? Why yes, she would. She’d take what he offered and leave her mark. That was what he wanted after all...
Elodie leaned in and pressed her lips to his. His sharp intake of breath a sign she’d done the opposite of his expectations. Daire had wanted this—her kiss, yet hadn’t believed he’d get it. A kiss was a minor thing, and if it settled things between them... Why not? Why indeed.
She hummed and touched her lips to his again. This time, he was prepared and kissed her back. Their breaths mingled as the kiss deepened into more. They dueled with their tongues fighting for control. He reached for her, drawing her close, and the kiss took on a life of its own. After a while, Elodie lost track of everything. Nothing existed but him and the swirl of emotions he evoked inside of her—excitement, exhilaration, and desire. It flooded her mind, body, and soul in overwhelming sensations.
She leaned in closer and brought a hand up to his cheek, the other to his golden locks. Elodie ran her fingers though the softness. She’d secretly wanted to touch him like that since she ran into him on the way to Paige’s cottage. It seemed like a lifetime ago now. Her angst, his good-natured jokes, and the prophecies that set them on this path. Daire picked her up and set her across his lap. They kept kissing over and over again, neither stopping, nor perhaps even wanting to. She couldn’t be sure what she desired other than the feel of his lips moving over hers and him caressing her.
A swirl of magic floated from him to her. They didn’t just share a kiss. Everything that was Elodie mixed with Daire. In that moment, she almost understood what Lulu had meant about a piece of her being with Daire. The problem was she feared a piece of him had lodged itself inside of her in exchange. What all that meant she didn’t quite understand, but it seemed incredibly real and irrevocable.
A simple kiss... When he’d goaded her into it, she’d never have believed it would lead to something so binding. She pulled back and gazed into his eyes. His eyelids were hooded with desire. Elodie licked her lips and thought about kissing him again. His mouth was addicting and enticing all at once, and she needed more.
“We should stop,” she said breathlessly.
“Why?” he asked and leaned forward to kiss her again.
She pushed him back. “This isn’t—right.”
That wasn’t the word she was looking for, but it cooled the heat brewing between them faster than anything could have. He sat up straight and put some distance between them. His gaze clouded over as if preparing himself for rejection. It was hard to look at because she was the reason for it. She’d pushed him away over and over again. What else was he to expect from her? The sad thing was she didn’t blame him. In his place, she’d have done the same thing.
He sighed. “Have it your way, princess.” Daire lifted her up and set her down beside him. “I’ll add more wood to the fire. I wouldn’t want you to become cold.” His voic
e hardened a little on that last word as if emphasizing it.
“Daire...”
He kept his back to her and added some wood to the fire. He didn’t exactly ignore her, but he drifted away as if that kiss hadn’t transpired. She didn’t understand what he’d hoped would happen from it. The kiss wasn’t supposed to mean anything. It had though, except she couldn’t say that. Not because she wanted to keep things from him, but because she couldn’t comprehend it. Feelings for Daire were the last thing she’d planned on.
“Don’t fret, princess.” He tossed another twig on the fire. “You held your part of the bargain, and so will I.”
She chewed on her bottom lip. That was irony all wrapped into one big ball of frustration... He’d wanted to talk earlier and made this deal with her. He’d leave her alone if she kissed him. Seemed like an easy enough thing. Prove she felt nothing for him and have a little peace. The problem was it had backfired on her. She did want to talk, to understand, and he thought she’d backed away because of the damn bargain.
“But...”
He spun on his heels and turned toward her. Fury filled his features and spilled over into his voice. “What the hell do you want from me? I’m not a rock, and I can’t pretend not to feel something for you.”
She hopped to her feet and stepped toward him, intending to explain, though not entirely sure how. Her feelings were so mixed up inside of her she didn’t have any idea what was up and how to find down. She opened her mouth and said, “I...”
“Princess,” Lulu screeched as she flew into the cavern. “Come quick, you must. Dragon—Cale...”
The interruption couldn’t have happened at a worst time. The bird seemed rather frantic, and the urgency in her voice made both Daire and Elodie turn toward her. Lulu flapped her wings frantically, gesturing outside of the cave. It was a weird sight, and Elodie couldn’t quite figure out how she managed it and continued to stay in the air.
“Calm down,” Elodie said. “What is so dire?” Had the dragon hunter escaped?