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CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

M elora’s harrowing scream tore through Aurie like a claw piercing his heart. Instinct took over, and he half flew, half ran toward the sound, nearly crashing into her as she careened down the stairs.

“Get away from me!” She pushed against him and continued her mad dash.

His claws skittered upon the ground as he hurried after her. What happened? What is wrong? Is someone here? He was determined to get to the bottom of this and protect her from the unknown assailant, regardless of her current feelings toward him.

“Yes, something is wrong! That-that woman is entirely gold!” Suddenly she rounded on him, pointing an accusing finger. “What did you do to her?”

Blood pulsed in his ears as adrenaline rushed through his body. You were in the forbidden room?

“Of course I was in the forbidden room! Nothing would have needed to be forbidden had you not done something to her!”

His heart sank.

There was no turning back. She had seen what he’d done and now had proof of exactly what he was. Nothing was left of his own mother but a statue frozen in time—her expression shocked and hurt. He had done that to her, all right—all because of his own greed. A scenario likely worse than Melora could have ever imagined. His shoulders slumped, and he hung his head in shame. No wonder she had run screaming. What kind of monster would do that?

Melora was in shock, her words tumbling over each other. “She-she looks far too realistic. The expression on her face… She’s not just a statue.” She shivered, wrapping her arms around herself.

After several deep breaths, she collected herself and straightened her shoulders, turning to face him squarely. “I don’t care what you say. I’m leaving here now. I’ve stayed long enough, and I refuse to become some kind of gilded trophy to add to your collection.”

Before he could think of a way to defend himself, she spun on her heel and bolted to the door.

Melora, wait! It’s not safe out there alone! While he couldn’t blame her for being angry with him—Hades’ flames, he was angry with himself—he also couldn’t let her run off on her own into the potential dangers of the forest. But how could he protect her from himself? He was the frightening beast here. At least as a dragon, he couldn’t accidentally turn her to gold.

Perhaps it was better if he let her go. He’d always known he didn’t deserve her.

* * *

T ears streamed down Melora’s face as she fled from the gilded house that concealed its horrors with sparkle and wonder. She couldn’t get the image of the woman from her mind. Her expression, her position; it was not the whim of some artist. Something deep inside told her that the woman was real, trapped in the facade of gold.

Her mind raced through all the things she’d seen crafted entirely from gold—things that had no business being made of metal. There was the wildly impractical furniture—who in their right mind would want something so uncomfortable in every room? Even the forest seemed somehow alive, despite being made of solid metal. What other awful secrets lurked beneath the polished veneer?

She shuddered, keeping her arms tight around herself. Her feet pounded against the dirt in a direction she hoped was homeward, the glint of Everrose fading farther and farther behind her. While she didn’t fully understand what was happening, she began to wonder if Dragon had been transforming everything to gold for his horde. Was that what happened to Aurie after their carriage ride? Dragon had been angry and defensive when she’d last asked him about it…

Another shiver traveled down her spine. Even while the evidence had been all around her, she didn’t want to believe it. Dragon had become her friend and confidant. She just couldn’t imagine him harming others that way—and yet she couldn’t deny what she’d seen.

H ours passed and the sun sank behind the trees. Heat seeped away from her, along with the light as darkness descended. She rubbed her arms and stumbled through the forest at a more sedate pace. As time continued to pass, she longed for a horse or a carriage—anything to relieve the burden of this endless walk. Perhaps she’d run off too hastily. The distance to her home hadn’t seemed nearly this long when Dragon had flown her.

More concerning still, she wasn’t entirely certain she was headed in the correct direction. Perhaps she ought to stop for the night and find somewhere to rest. Leaves rustled in the gentle summer breeze, and cicadas hummed as she scanned the scenery. Somewhere in the distance an eerie howl echoed. The hairs on her arms stood on end.

Several more howls responded, closing in on her.

Wolves!

Her heart crashed painfully against her ribcage. She stood, momentarily frozen, before turning to run. Low-hanging branches ripped against her and bushes caught upon her dress as she crashed through the woods, running aimlessly, desperate for escape.

A twig snapped nearby. A low growl rumbled.

Melora pressed her lips together, trapping her scream. Her sprint became even more frantic, feet flying over rocks and roots.

The rhythmic pounding of paws came closer and closer.

Glancing over her shoulder, she couldn’t see anything. She turned to face forward and screamed. Two yellow eyes peered at her directly ahead. Her feet skittered, stumbling against loose dirt and twigs as she pivoted and darted in another direction. The wolf loped after her, his paws eating up the ground between them. More wolves joined the chase.

Her breath came in uneasy gasps as she pushed her body harder. How could she escape the inevitable? She refused to be torn to shreds by these animals. A tree not too far ahead with a low-hanging branch seemed to beckon her. If only she could reach the tree, then she could climb up it to safety. Wolves didn’t climb trees, did they?

The wolves snarled behind her as she ramped up her speed and focused on her new goal. She had to make it to the tree!

Her sides ached and her calves protested. She’d never sprinted so far and so quickly in her entire life, but she could not stop, as even now she felt the wolves’ breath on her legs. She prayed to the Great Creator for help as she grasped the low branch, propelling herself up the tree.

A wolf leapt after her, snapping at her foot. She yelped and kicked her legs as its teeth scraped her ankle, catching her shoe and yanking it off as she pulled her feet up. She pressed her back against the trunk and tucked her legs against her chest, wrapping her arms around her knees protectively.

Several wolves surrounded the lone tree, snarling and jumping up to nip at her dress and toes. One of them succeeded, latching onto her hem. She yelled and stood, shaking her skirt until it tore free. The wolf fell back to the ground with a yip, making the other wolves growl with anger.

Her breath came out in uneasy pants as she pressed her back to the tree. She had to get higher! Another wolf nearly caught her dress despite her standing. Gripping a higher branch, she nestled her bare foot into the crook of another limb and climbed.

The wolves snarled, turning almost crazed as she pulled herself just out of their reach and folded herself against the tree trunk. Would she be forced to stay here all night? She could admit that she’d experienced some horrible nights, but this was definitely one of the worst.

Suddenly, a loud roar tore through the air. Melora gasped, pressing a hand to her speeding heart. Dragon swept down, smoke and magic spewing from his mouth, directed at the frenzied wolves. Several whimpered and tucked their tails between their legs. Yet they stood their ground, refusing to leave Melora and the tree.

Dragon landed on the ground, snarling as he flapped his wings aggressively. Instead of running from the terrifying beast, the wolves circled him, teeth bared. They growled deeply, ears folded back. Suddenly as one, the wolves attacked.

“Dragon!” she screamed, wishing she could do more than cower in a tree. Her stomach twisted with fearful anticipation.

Dragon’s pain-filled roar lanced through her heart.

He grabbed the wolf that had sunk its teeth into his neck and tossed it away. The wolf hit a tree and whimpered. Another took its place while two more jumped on his back, one latching onto his wing. He cried out, fire spewing from his mouth this time.

The scent of singed hair filled the air as three more wolves ran away with burns. Blood oozed from Dragon’s wounds as he fought with the remaining two wolves. One attacked his tail while the other came at him from the side, its jaws seeking purchase in his flank.

He quickly dispatched the one at his flank but cried out as the final wolf sank its teeth into him. He flicked it away with his large tail.

Melora was already climbing down the tree and running toward Dragon. She threw her arms around his neck. “Dragon! Are you okay? You’re wounded.”

I’m fine. Get on my back before they return. His sides were heaving from the fight.

She hurried to comply. They both needed to get to safety as soon as possible.Dragon’s wounds needed tending.

Together, they soared upward, turning back toward Everrose.

It seemed that she wasn’t done there yet.