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CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

O minous howling woke Melora in the middle of the night. Heart racing, she lay frozen upon her bed, unable to move for several long moments. The haunting wail came again, chillingly close. Was Aurie correct? Were they here for her? A shiver stole through her body. Wasn’t there a boundary to keep them away? How had they gotten so close?

A snarl rang below her window. Her breath caught as her heart leapt into her throat. What should she do? The wolves couldn’t climb in through the window, could they? She was a story up. The snarls turned hungry, desperate for her blood. More yipping joined the wolf below. She couldn’t stay here! It wasn’t safe. She needed to get away from the window as soon as possible.

Aurie was correct—they had to be following her!. Why else would they be so close to where she slept?

Aurie!

He would know what to do. Surely a dragon was enough to scare them away.

Cursing her flagging courage, she stiffly pushed the covers back, hearing every heartbeat echo loudly in her ears. Could they hear it too? Is that how they knew she was here? Squeezing her eyes shut, she tried to gather her courage. She slipped off her bed and tiptoed speedily to the door, slipping out as quietly as possible. After shutting the door behind her, she dashed down the hall the short distance toward Dragon’s tower, more grateful than ever that he had insisted she stay in the family wing.

Once she arrived at his room, she didn’t even knock, bursting through the door, desperate for his protection. She bolted across the room toward his enormous form, which lay nestled in a pile of blankets. She flung her arms just below his neck and buried her face in his iridescent scales, clinging to him as her whole body convulsed.

His head shot up and he looked down at her, bleary-eyed.

A growl rumbled in his chest. She didn’t care. He was not the one she feared. She knew she would be safe with him.

Heedless of his snarl, she pressed closer to him, feeling the steady rhythm of his heart.

His warm breath spread over her face.

What happening?

“They are here! The wolves—I heard them right under my window.”

He stiffened under her arms, his sinewy neck twisting toward his large window. He scowled. Not for long.

She clung tighter to his neck. “Please, please don’t leave me.”

He nuzzled against her face. Safe here. Up high. Be back—fast.

Her lip trembled. She hated how vulnerable and helpless she felt. She was being a burden. She swallowed back her fear. She could be brave enough to wait for him here. “Promise you’ll stay safe! I couldn’t bear for anything to happen to you.” Her arms reluctantly fell away as she wrapped them around herself for comfort.

His leathery lips brushed against her head, his breath warming her, then he turned to open the large shutters covering the window.

He looked back at her one last time. Safe. Promise. He launched out of the window and into the night.

She wasn’t sure whether his promise referred to himself or to her, but as she watched him fly with grace and purpose around the side of the manor, she trusted him to return to her.

Snatching up one of the mismatched blankets, still warm from his body heat, she wrapped it around herself and snuggled down into his nest. His musty, slightly wild scent comforted her.

* * *

F ury burned through Aurie as he flew around Everrose. He could smell the wolves on the light summer breeze almost immediately. How had they gotten so close? Had he become so lost as a dragon that he’d forgotten to reset the magical boundary?

As he neared Melora’s window on the opposite side of the manor, he heard gently clinking metal and saw movement in the bushes against the building. With a powerful roar, he breathed his magic down upon the intruders. Several wolves whimpered, three coming out of the golden leaves with their teeth bared.

He roared again, this time blowing out just enough fire to singe them. They yipped and gnashed their teeth, backing away with their tails between their legs. Two of the wolves ran off into the gilded gardens, while another tried unsuccessfully to leap at his back. Aurie’s claws snagged him mid-leap and flung him away. The wolf let out a howl and ran, whimpering. Aurie continued to fight the wolves for several moments, chasing them off his land. Once the last wolf had turned tail and run, he reset the magical boundary, fury boiling in his veins.

How dare they try to steal Melora away right under his nose! Mine! Mine! He had growled angrily at them, then shook his head. No, that wasn’t right. She didn’t belong to anyone—but he belonged to her—heart, body and soul.

When he finally returned to the turret, he found Melora curled in his mound of blankets, trembling. He nudged her gently with his nose, longing to take away her fear.

“Aurie?” She looked up at him, reaching to rest her hand against his face.

Wolves, gone. Safe.

Her breath came out in a woosh as she sat up more fully. She flung her arms around his neck, hugging him close. “Oh Aurie, I was so worried. Especially after the last attack. Are you alright? Did they injure you? They were so close!”

Her breath against his neck warmed his insides.

Safe. He assured her again. You sleep?

Her head moved back and forth. “Not much. I’ve been too anxious.”

Sleep now.

Her arms tightened around him. “Please, stay with me. I don’t think I can be alone right now. Even if the wolves are gone. I’m just… just so scared.”

Always, stay with you.

Shifting, she made room for him to curl next to her, and she curled against him. The weight of her body felt more soothing than anything he’d ever experienced. She was trusting her tiny life to him. He wasn’t convinced that he was up to the task, but he would do his very best.

His erratic breathing calmed. He rested his head round her and fell asleep, her heartbeat close to his.

* * *

M elora awoke, feeling more comfortable and safe than she could ever recall feeling. Sunlight streamed in through a large window, dancing around the unfamiliar room. Rhythmic breathing rose and fell to the sound of her heart. A weight rested against her hip. Moving her head, she realized that shimmering, colorful scales had been her pillow—Aurie. He had cradled her between his paws.

Memories of the night before flashed through her mind—her terror when the wolves had come seeking her, Aurie heading out into the night to protect her, her begging him to stay with her and finally cuddling with him as she drifted off to sleep. Who knew that such a large, scaly animal could be so comfortable? She sighed and turned onto her back. He lifted his paw off her, leaving her feeling chilled. The desire to grab his claw and wrap herself back into his embrace overwhelmed her—she barely resisted the absurd impulse.

Awake? Aurie’s gruff dragon voice felt gentle and intimate inside her head.

She looked up, her eyes catching his. “Yes. Thank you for protecting me last night.”

Always. Love you. Keep safe, no matter what.

A burning filled her belly at his bold words. She pressed against him, kissing his chest. “I-I think I…” Could she admit the truth, be vulnerable and confess the feelings that burned at the back of her throat, waiting to be released since the moment she’d felt them? “I love you too, Aurie.” It tumbled out in a rush, but the breathless declaration filled her with deep satisfaction and relief—especially when she saw the answering pleasure in his eyes, now misty with emotion. “That’s why we mustn’t give up on breaking the curse,” she blurted. She never wanted her time with him to end.

Keep safe first.

She nodded, feeling a giddy burst of pleasure as she climbed to her feet. Was this what love felt like? This security mingled with excitement and purpose? She was floating on the clouds of Arindia. Nothing like what her father had tried to force upon her with that awful Sir Calix!

Aurie shook out his wings before arching his back in a catlike stretch.

She hid a smile behind her hands. How could a dragon be so endearing?

Come. He gestured with his neck for her to follow. See sent wolves.

Her brow wrinkled as she followed him, confused. “How can we do that?”

Magic. Mirror powder.

She’d never heard of mirror powder, but then she wasn’t any kind of mage. She had no idea how it might work or what it would do, but if it would help them learn more about the wolves and how to be rid of them, she was all for it. A shiver ran down her spine as she recalled their howls when she had run from them in the forest—and when she’d felt the wolf’s teeth sink into her ankle. If Dragon— Aurie , she corrected herself—if Aurie hadn’t come when he did… She shook those unhelpful thoughts away.

He led her to a large open room that was easy for him to navigate as a dragon. Several large windows made the space bright. Shelves lined the walls, full of books and mysterious vials. A book lay open across the desk, surrounded by several powders and vials, along with an unfinished note or list of some kind, as if recently used.

She gazed around in wonder. He hadn’t brought her here when he’d given her the short tour weeks ago. “What is this place?”

New. Magic solarium. Practice magic.

Her eyes widened. “Oh! And you never had magic before becoming a dragon?” She recalled him saying something about coming into his magic.

He bobbed his head once, indicating a bowl of water atop a short pillar. Yes. Not mage. He delicately picked up a glass jar between his claws and shook some kind of white powder into the bowl. Look. His blue eyes were bright with concern as he peered into the water.

She wrapped her arms around herself. What was there to see? Did she even want to know? As she hesitantly approached, he called out in a loud, crisp voice. See Metis.

The water shimmered and an image of her home, along with her father, began to appear. Her lips parted in surprise. “How are we seeing this?”

Mirror tracker at home. Watch him. Don’t trust. Bad man. Sent wolf with Sir Calix. There was a pause between each short phrase, as if speaking was too difficult.

Her eyes widened. Her own father truly had been the one responsible for those horrible wolves? She couldn’t believe it when Aurie had mentioned his suspicions before. Despite his many failings, she thought her father still loved her. How could he do this to her? She had tried so hard not to be a burden for her Papa, and yet he hurt her again and again. Would she never learn that he’d stop at nothing to bend her to his will?

In the water, she watched Sir Calix come into view, his wide shoulders raising as he plotted with her father. As she focused in on the scene, their words became intelligible. “…Came back empty again!” Sir Calix was angry, pounding a fist against the table. “You told me that the magic would help them get her.”

“Be patient. They will retrieve her. I paid a seidr good money for that spell. His power is strong enough to do the task. It’s that blasted dragon and those eerie woods!” The bitter words chilled Melora. She wasn’t sure she wanted to hear more, and yet she couldn’t look away.

Sir Calix scowled, unconvinced by her father’s explanation. “Next time, you go with the wolves, then we can take the dragon out. Melora is mine! You promised her to me.”

“And you shall have her—and more, once we find the golden castle the dragon lives in. The seidr has a few tricks up his sleeve.” The smile twisting her father’s lips made her feel sick. “The dragon won’t know what hit him. We’ll be rich beyond your wildest dreams! You should be thanking me.”

“Thanking you?” Sir Calix rounded on him, his usually pale face reddening as his voice rose. “Thanking you!” His hand slammed against the table once more. “You still owe me! And now, you have cost me the most desirable bride in all of Vilastoria—whom you’d already forced me to wait a year and a half for, just so she would be an age you deemed acceptable!”

Melora sucked in a breath. She hadn’t known that her father held him off for so long. She’d assumed he’d been waiting for a better price. Hadn’t he? Or was there some sort of fatherly instinct left in him?

“The wolves are getting closer. They brought back her shoe recently.”

“That was weeks ago! I want her, not her shoe!” Sir Calix grabbed a mug from the table and threw it. The ceramic dish flew just to the left of Papa’s head, crashing against the wall where it shattered.

Papa’s head bobbed a quick agreement, the tremble in his hands giving away the fear he was hiding. “And you shall have her. You’re right, perhaps we should follow the wolves this time, then we can bring back more than her shoe. Remember all that gold the dragon is hoarding?”

“Gold only you have seen! It means nothing if you can’t produce either it or your daughter!” He advanced toward Papa threateningly.

“Papa?” Nerissa’s small voice interrupted the heated argument.

“No!” Melora gasped! Heart squeezing with fear. Not Nerissa! Her knuckles turned white as she gripped the basin, but she could only watch in horror as the reflection of her sister looked toward Papa, her shiny black hair slipping over her gaunt face.

“Get out of there!” Melora yelled. Unfortunately, no one could hear her.

Aurie’s large paw gently rested against her shoulder. Stop, if too much.

“No, I need to see what happens.” She turned back to watch the sickening scene unfold upon the water.

“Can’t you see I’m in a meeting, girl?!” Papa thundered, making her hunch her slender shoulders and retreat inside herself. Was Nerissa eating enough? Melora had never seen her sister look so frail.

“I just thought you might be getting hungry.”

Sir Calix’s eyes fixed on Nerissa’s cowering form. Then they flickered back toward Papa. “If you refuse to bring me what is mine, I will personally make sure you go to debtor’s prison. While I’m not interested in this scrawny girl, I’ll sell her off to make up for the rest of your debt. She should catch a good price.” His voice was low and threatening.

Nerissa’s panicked expression turned from Sir Calix to Papa.

Papa stood, his bloodshot eyes a bit wild. “There is no need for all of that. I’ll bring Melora to you, just as promised, along with the gold.”

Sir Calix pursed his lips, watching Papa with hard eyes. “I’ll give you two more days to bring me my bride.”

Papa’s face paled as Sir Calix swept from the room, leaving behind a cloud of darkness and sucking all the warmth out of the room Melora was in.

She stood, clutching the basin of water as the image faded away. She couldn’t breathe. Nerissa! Her name echoed through her mind with each beat of her heart. How could she let this happen to her sister? She shouldn’t have left her to fend for herself!

Aurie gently helped her to a nearby chair where she collapsed, cradling her head in her hands. Had she married Sir Calix, Nerissa would have been safe. Debtor’s prison?! Her father was being blackmailed! Now she understood why Papa had been so desperate. Sir Calix would have revenge on her entire family because she ran away. But she couldn’t turn back time. After several moments, determination filled her. It was time for her to leave and do what she should have done in the first place. She looked up at Aurie, meeting his eyes. “I have to save Nerissa. I won’t let him sell her!”

He stood and gave a single nod as if making a decision, then shook out his wings. Stay . I go get sister.

She pressed a hand against his flank to stop him. “No, Aurie! Didn’t you hear? They’ll kill you! They have some kind of magical trap for dragons! You have to stay here, within the boundary where you’re safe. Besides, Nerissa doesn’t know you. She’ll be terrified. I have to be the one to go.” Her heart thudded loudly in her ears as horrible images of Aurie being attacked by something more frightening than wolves flashed through her mind.

His reptilian eyes narrowed, and he huffed. No! Dangerous! His voice cracked into a low growl. A shiver rippled through his scales. Stay! Protect Melora and sister.

Her breath caught, and her stomach clenched in fear. Much as she wanted his help, she was afraid of what might happen. He didn’t understand. Sir Calix was more unscrupulous than he imagined. How could she get him to stay? “It’s too dangerous! You’re a colossal dragon. Papa will see you for sure and then what would happen?”

Camouflage. Grab sister. Fly.

“ You don’t know what they’re capable of!” Her voice rose along with her frustration. “I know you mean well, but you can’t just go grabbing my sister and bringing her to the middle of the woods against her will like… like some kind of prisoner—at least I came with you willingly!”

His breath caught, and he recoiled as if she’d struck him. Prisoner? The single word came out broken, strangled. His wings drooped, and for a moment he seemed to shrink slightly, smoke curling from his nostrils.

“She’d be petrified! This is my sister! She isn’t just a problem to be solved!” Tears hovered on her lashes as her passion intensified. “Don’t you see? I have to be the one to rescue her! I can sneak inside and get her away. You can’t do that.”

I jailer— like father? The spines on his back seemed to stand on end, and he shook his head back and forth. I bad, he growled, his wings flaring wide as his claws gouged lines across the golden tile. Melora winced at the sound. One powerful forelimb jerked out in agitation—and though it would not have hit her, Melora instinctively ducked, the rush of air from his movement tossing her hair back.

He froze.

Her wide eyes met his half-wild ones. He looked almost feral, and the golden flame on his chest seemed to flicker and glow. Was it getting bigger?

“No! No, Aurie, you’re not like him.” She moved toward him, wanting to reassure him. “You’re trying to protect us, but protecting isn’t the same as choosing for us!”

Stay back! He jerked backward as smoke curled from his nostrils. Dangerous! I dangerous! He panted, sides heaving.

“I trust you, Aurie.”

No. His wide eyes were full of pain as he looked at her. Stay safe. Magic, protect Melora. Aurie can’t.

She stilled. “Magic? What magic?”

Come.