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“I am sorry.” She leaned forward and pressed her lips to his, deeply kissing his unresponsive mouth. “But one day, you will thank me for this.” She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him harder, a lasting taste. “Thank you for tonight. I treasured it more than you will ever know.”

She had wanted to share a piece of herself she’d never been able to with another. Geryon was the first man who brought her to a place of such heightened desire, and she hadn’t wanted to keep it hidden from him.

Valerie wanted to gift this to the one person who deserved it. He’d told her he wanted to break her, and she let him.

Valerie let go of him. Rolling over to the edge of the bed, she placed her feet against the cold timber and stood.

The sun would rise soon, and although she didn’t sleep a wink, she was determined to make sure she was ready to go before it did. Collecting one of her clean dresses, her sword, and the map, Valerie turned her head to look at him one last time.

Then she closed the door behind her to leave. Since he was enchanted into a sleep where nothing but time could wake him, she used more of the strange magic she obtained to cast a ward.

It would protect him from anyone who tried to enter the room.

Where was she going? Deep into the forest in hopes she would make it to the mountainside. Valerie was searching for someone in particular, and she was thankful she still had a small amount of dragoncraft left to help her find the way.

If it wasn’t for the fact she had studied all kinds of magic, she wouldn’t have known how to use it – most Witches didn’t know Dragon spells. Her family had kept that knowledge sacred, teaching them to each child through the generations.

She used that knowledge now.

The magic was gone when she finally came across someone she would have much rather not come across first.

It was late in the day, and Valerie grimaced when she startled a woman holding a small infant in her arms.

The woman was speaking to it, rather than listening to her surroundings. She’d been walking through the forest, showing the baby cradled in her arms the trees and plants while it cooed and giggled.

The small squeal of surprise she made when she saw Valerie was ear piercing and loud. She quickly covered herself in a magical barrier, the shield glittering in the sunlight.

“I mean you no harm,” she told her with both hands lifted to show they were empty, to appear non-threatening. “I did not mean to frighten you.”

“Who are you? Why are you in these mountains?” She shielded the child further with her hands, like she feared Valerie was here for it.

“My name is Valerie Faerydae and I seek–” The sound of large footsteps stomping against the ground cut her words short.

It was heading towards them, and she cringed, her nose crinkling when she noticed a growl accompanying it.

“Get back inside! I smell a Witch,” a deep, booming masculine voice shouted before he emerged into the clearing.

He and the woman were just within the trees, with a clearing and mountainside backing them. The woman’s face paled as she stepped back, fearful now that she knew what Valerie was.

Valerie immediately got down on her knees and bowed to the male in front of her. She laid her forearms and head against the ground to appear submissive and, once more, non-threatening.

With her face pressed against the dirt, she said, “Rurik the WitchSlayer. I have been seeking you.”

The full-sized Dragon snarled.

She peeked her head up to stare at the large creature standing over her.

His scales were a dark purple, his head and body covered in large spikes. His tail was heart-shaped, unlike Geryon, who had a stump from it being severed. The scars marking his body made him appear more frightening, badges of his strengths and feats. The cold silver in his eyes was filled with obvious hatred, so much so, they could freeze over flames. That hatred was cast towards her.

He looked more frightening than Geryon ever had.

Valerie let her eyes fall upon the Witch next to him. He lifted his paw in front of them to cover her and his child, to protect them further.

“And what does aWitchwant with me?”

She thought she should get the most important thing out of the way first.

“I intend you no harm.” Without lifting her body, Valerie untied the front of her dress and shimmied it down enough to reveal the mark on her back. “I have allowed pixies to hex me, so my magic is bound. I cannot harm either of you with witchcraft.”