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CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

A urie eyed the large window from his comfortable bed of blankets. Everrose felt cold and empty without Melora’s presence. She had brought sunshine into the dreary corners of his life and warmth into the hollow halls, giving his life purpose and meaning. The servants had tried to get him out of his tower, but the memory of her in this room fortified him as nothing else could. The lifeless gold filling the rest of the house was no substitute.

He huffed in agitation as the birds outside his window chirped merrily, as if the best thing in his life hadn’t just been ripped from him. Now was not a time to be happy. Life had lost its shine.

Magic tingled against his senses. He snorted and shifted, trying to get comfortable. The tingling came again, an uneasy feeling against his chest. He sat upright as his ears twitched. What was that? Was something trying to get in? Had the wolves been sent again? He narrowed his eyes. If so, he was feeling particularly grouchy and could use a fight.

With new resolve, he stood and shook out his wings before heading to the window and launching out. He would find what was causing the disturbance and perhaps let a bit of his aggression out. Whoever or whatever it was had better be prepared!

As he neared the boundary, he heard chillingly familiar snarls and yips. The wolves were at the boundary again, biting and snarling. This time, the magic kept them at bay as it was meant to. But Melora was gone. Why were they here? He hoped this meant that she’d managed to avoid both her father and Sir Calix and had safely escaped with her sister.

The wolves stilled their frantic pacing and yipping for just a moment as he neared, then they became even more frenzied, trying to bite their way through the border.

Movement behind the wolves caught his attention as two men emerged from the woods. Sir Calix stared boldly and bravely across the distance, directly at Aurie, his gaze dangerous and unwavering. Aurie’s ears flattened against his head, and he growled low and menacing.

“We must be nearing its domain. See? There is the infamous dragon.” Sir Calix pointed him out to his companion, who Aurie now recognized as Metis, Melora’s father. “All of the gold and riches are nearly in our grasp!”

Aurie flicked his tail. He didn’t like this one bit. At least Melora had already left, and his homeland was secure—his boundary firmly in place.

The two men strode forward with proud confidence. Aurie’s breath hitched when they easily crossed the border, leaving the wolves behind. Metis turned back to yell at the animals, “Come! Why did you stay behind? Cowards!” The beasts whimpered, refusing to move forward.

“We don’t need them.” Sir Calix said. “I think I can see the golden castle, there between the trees.”

Aurie glowered down at the men, hovering for a moment. How had they breached the border? Then gold glinted from Metis’s pocket. The golden rose he’d stolen! Of course. Aurie knew he should have been more thorough and made certain to take it back, but he’d been too distracted trying to save Melora at the time. But how had the other man made it through? They both would have needed something of his in order to cross. His jaw flexed when he noticed a matching rose in Sir Calix’s pocket, the presence of which could only mean one thing.

They had Melora!

What had they done to her? The blood within him boiled as smoke trailed from his nostrils. Aurie turned in midair and flew back home. The same distance would take the men an hour to traverse, so he had a little time to investigate.

He hurried to his magic solarium and shook the mirror powder into the basin. However, when he looked inside her cottage where the talisman was, he was met with an empty room cloaked in silence. What had they done with her? He paced in agitation and checked a few more times—still nothing. Where was she?! His anger burned hot. He felt so helpless.

Finally, he heard a clamor outside. The men were approaching. Aurie snorted as his vision turned red. They wouldn’t get away with this! He stormed out the open window, flying round the building, coming at the men from an angle they would least expect. He roared out his fury, fire melting the golden landscape. The men turned wild eyes toward him but stood their ground. Aurie was ready to release all his pent-up rage. Let the battle begin.

* * *

T he chill of the cellar seeped through Melora’s thin dress. She tried to ignore the gooseflesh popping up on her skin as she did her best to comfort Nerissa. Her little sister was more important than minor inconveniences. “I promise, we are not going to let Papa and Calix sell you off. We are going to get out of this.” Never had she been more determined in her life. Her sister’s life was at stake.

“But how?” Nerissa sniffed. She’d been crying for hours. “This is my fault. I never should have fought against Papa. Had I been more obedient and submissive, he might’ve found me more useful, and he wouldn’t have considered selling me.”

“Papa made his own choices. He likely would have done the same thing, no matter how obedient you were. You know as well as I how bad his gambling has become. It is not our fault that he is in debt. Besides, if anything, this is my fault. Had I simply married Calix that day instead of leaving with Dragon, we wouldn’t be here now.”

Nerissa made a sound of protest. “No! You mustn’t!”

Melora soothed her again. “It’s okay. I’d never— It’s just… well, the best we can do now is get out of here. Aurie gave me a ring enchanted to transport the wearer anywhere they choose. I dropped it in our room, and it rolled under the desk. Don’t you see? If we can just find a way out of here, we can transport back to the castle. We don’t have to be part of Papa’s schemes any longer!”

Nerissa kicked at the dirt. “It doesn’t matter anymore. How could we even get out of here? We’re trapped, and there isn’t anyone around to hear our cries.”

In the dim light seeping between the floorboards overhead, Melora glanced at the dank walls of their prison, hating that her sister was right. The cottage was isolated that no one would ever think to come here. Unless she found some way out, they were at the mercy of Papa and Sir Calix, who were even now out there hunting Aurie! She sent another prayer up to the Great Creator that Aurie would be prepared for their attack. Please let him be safe.

She then prayed for herself and her sister. We need a way to get out of here, Oh Great Creator, please provide a way for u s! But her silent plea was met with only more silence, and her thoughts spiraled back to how entirely alone they were and just how hopeless it was.

Then, just as she began to spiral deeper into despair, Aurie’s sweet words to her suddenly penetrated her mind, “You are a woman of great worth and intelligence.” Her heart warmed. What had happened to her faith?

She squared her shoulders and twisted her wrists, testing the bonds. A hiss of pain escaped her as the rope rubbed against raw skin. It was no use. She couldn’t simply break out of her bonds. She made out Nerissa’s dejected form in the dim light. Her arms were also tied uselessly behind her back.

Melora couldn’t break her own bonds, but perhaps… An idea began to form.

She scooted closer to her sister. “Nerissa, can you turn around? I need your back to mine.”

Nerissa’s head turned up. “Why?”

“I think I can pick the knot on your wrists if we’re back to back. Then once I untie you, you can untie me.” A new energy coursed through Melora as she shared her plan.

“Do you really think it will work?”

“It’s worth a try.”

Nerissa heartily agreed, turning to press her back against her sister’s.

Melora moved as close as possible, shifting her hands around and twisting her arms until her fingers were gripping the knot on Nerissa’s bonds. After getting a feel for the knot, she began picking at it. It proved to be much more difficult than she’d expected, with her wrists bound so tightly and her hands behind her back, but she persisted.

She picked and pulled, her fingers turning nearly as raw as her wrists, and still nothing seemed to budge. Gritting her teeth, she continued, scrunching her face in concentration. Though her fingers were sore, she couldn’t let go of the knot for fear of losing her position.

Finally, she felt the slightest of shifts. Bolstered by the movement, she redoubled her efforts as a seed of hope sprouted within.

Her fingers ached from the exertion, and still she shoved them down into the crevice, wiggling them deeper. She relentlessly kept going as the coarse rope pricked her fingers. She was so close, she could feel it. Again and again, she tugged at the slightly loosened loop that her fingers kept slipping off.

Sucking in a breath of pain, she shook out her fingers.

“Are you okay? I understand if you need to stop.”

“I’m fine. No, I don’t need a break. I’m almost there.”

“Are you sure? It’s okay if you need one.”

“Yes. Now keep holding still.” She felt her sister’s nod as she twisted her body to get at the stubborn knot once again.

This time the loop loosened with a small amount of effort, shifting under her fingers. Melora released a relieved breath as exhilaration built. She pulled on the loop again until the entire knot gave way.

Nerissa gasped. “You did it!”

The ropes slid to the ground as they came undone, Nerissa twisting out of the bindings. She stood and shook out her hands, rubbing against her sore wrists. “Now it’s your turn.”

Melora turned her hands toward her sister, who skillfully picked at the rope. With the advantage of movement and sight, Nerissa was able to loosen the knots quickly.

“Melora, your hands!”

Melora curled her fingers, trying to hide the damage, not wanting her sister to see the extent of her sacrifice. “They’re fine.”

Nerissa sighed but didn’t press the issue as she finished her task. Melora’s bonds finally gave way, falling off her aching wrists. She grinned, elation filling her as she flung her arms around her sister, pulling her into a tight hug. They were really going to get out of here! “We did it! Thank you, Nerissa!”

Nerissa bashfully looked away. “You’re the one who did all the hard work.”

Melora tugged her into another hug. “Regardless, I’m so glad I could help you.”

They held each other for several long moments, just breathing each other in. When she finally moved back, Melora rushed to the trapdoor and threw her shoulder against the rough wood. The way out was locked. Of course. While they might be free of their bonds, they were just as trapped as ever.

* * *

A deafening sound pierced Aurie’s ears, momentarily disorienting him. What was that?

Sir Calix held a horn of some kind, a self-satisfied smirk tugging at his lips. Aurie could smell the magic from it. He growled, releasing his own terrifying sound before circling low and blowing a stream of fire directly at them. He wasn’t playing around.

The men covered their ears and closed their eyes as flames covered them. Magic shimmered and hummed in the air, clouding over their bodies. Styx! They had some kind of magical protection against fire. Once the fire faded away, Sir Calix blew his deafening horn again while Metis produced a long black chain and spun it round in the air. “You’re ours, Dragon! Along with your gold.”

Never!

A booming sound rang through Aurie’s ears once again, blurring his vision. He shook his head and flapped his wings, barely staying up in the sky. His jaw tensed. He had to get rid of that cursed horn!

Metis flung the thick chain at him. Aurie dodged out of the way as it hurtled through the air. The sharp sting of metal cut his thigh. The chain slithered around of its own accord, seeking to encircle his leg, but he’d already pulled upward to safety.

Styx! That chain had been enchanted, too? Just how had these mortals acquired so much magic?

“Give up, Dragon!” Sir Calix taunted, his expression sinister. “You can’t beat us. You’re weak, just like Melora.”

Fire filled Aurie’s belly, adrenaline coursing through him. How dared he belittle the most courageous woman he’d ever met! He opened his mouth and blasted them with his own shot of magic. A deafening sound vibrated the air particles that only the men could hear, causing great confusion among them as they stumbled around.

What done with her?!

The men cowered, covering their heads like the weaklings they were, their implements falling to the ground. Sir Calix screamed and grabbed his horn, barely managing to blast it back at Aurie. Its powerful noise enveloped and smothered the magic erupting from his dragon throat. The trumpeting sound reverberated in his head, deafening and blinding him. Just as the noise began to subside, the horn thundered through his skull again. While he was thus incapacitated, the chain snapped against him again, this time wrapping itself securely around his middle and over his back.

Aurie roared, blasting magic in vain as he was pulled from the sky.