Page 7 of The Dragon's Gambit

Reiya looked ahead. They were approaching a river. This was where Chelsie stopped, and Reiya hopped off. Chelsie quickly shifted back to her human form.

“I wanted to show you this place, Reiya. It’s one of my favorite places to visit.” Chelsie turned and gestured toward the glistening river.

The river was beautiful, the white rapids sparkling in the sun. The river was fast-paced but stunning. On the other side was a towering mountain. At the very top was where the dragons lived. It was breathtaking. She could see why Chelsie liked it.

“It is lovely, Chelsie … but you shouldn’t have taken me out of Elysia. You know how much trouble I’ll be in if anyone finds out?! I’ll be locked away in the dungeons.” Reiya frowned, knowing how angry her parents would get.

“Sorry … are you mad at me?” Chelsie stuck her bottom lip out and pouted. “Please don’t be mad.”

“I’m not mad. Thank you for sharing your spot with me, Chels.” Reiya did appreciate what she was trying to do. She just wanted to cheer her up. “Let’s go back, though, before I’m discovered.” Just as Reiya was about to turn around, she heard a child’s muffled cries. She looked out, horrified. In the ragingriver was a child being tossed about mercilessly. She didn’t think … there was no time to think. She ran and dove into the water as the child rushed by.

Reiya struggled in the violent water. She used her elemental powers to help propel her to the child just as he was beginning to go under. She grabbed onto him and held on tightly. The water beat her body against the rocks. She did her best to use herself as a shield for the child, but the current was dangerously strong, carrying her far downstream. She tried to push herself while controlling the water, but it was hard to do while holding the child. The rapids were so strong, and she was afraid to only hold him with one hand, worried that if she did, he would be ripped from her arms, and she wouldn’t be able to retrieve him again.

She could see Chelsie in the distance, trying to get to her. The water was so fast and powerful that it was taking her a while to reach them.

Reiya felt herself being funneled in the water. The river shot up into the air, cradling her and the child and lowering her onto the shore. She sighed in relief the moment she touched solid ground. She looked at the child, who was lying down in front of her. He looked okay but had fallen unconscious.

“What the hell, Reiya!?!” a voice growled. She was pulled into someone’s arms.

Reiya tilted her head back and was met with the angry eyes of Lee. She leaned into his arms, panting as she tried to catch her breath.So that’s how I got out of the water.

A few moments later, Chelsie was in front of her. “I’m sorry, Reiya! I couldn’t get to you. I was trying! Are you okay?” She was crying.

“I’m okay, Chelsie, thanks to Lee.” Reiya sighed as she felt his arms tighten around her.

“What the hell is going on? Why aren’t you in Elysia? And what the hell were you doing in the river?!” Lee’s voice was dark andangry. As he spoke, they could hear a small, rumbling sound in the air.

Reiya had never heard Lee angry. And this was a level above angry. To be perfectly honest, he was scaring her.

“I only left for a minute. I was going right back, and then I heard a child yelling for help. I had to help him. The water was stronger than I thought.”

“There is no reason for you to leave Elysia! No reason! We just talked about this last night, Reiya! Dammit! And then you go and jump into the river to help a child you don’t even know. I am … geez, Reiya!” Lee’s eyes were dark and sizzling with anger as he looked down at her. “Why would you jump into the water? You could have just used your skills and pushed the kid to shore.”

Reiya blushed in embarrassment, scrunching her nose. “I could have, huh?” She wasn’t thinking.

Chelsie busted out laughing. The embarrassed look on her face even brought a small smirk to Lee’s lips. He wrapped his arms around her and sighed. “You scared me, Reiya,” he finally admitted quietly.

“I’m sorry … I scared me, too.” She gave him a cheesy smile, clearly embarrassed over her actions.

Lee took in a breath, calming himself down. He pulled Reiya up to her feet and looked her over. She had some bruising and some small scrapes on her body, making him frown. “Why are you out of Elysia’s borders?” he asked more calmly.

“That’s my fault. I wanted to show her the rapids. Please don’t be mad at her. This was all my fault.” Chelsie didn’t want Reiya to get yelled at because of something she did. “What are we going to do about the whelp?”

“He’s a dragon whelp?” Reiya asked with wide eyes.

“Yes, he belongs up there. I don’t know how he ended up all the way down here, though.” Lee looked up at the top of the mountain.

“I guess we’re taking him back, then.” Reiya sighed as she stared up at the mountainside. It wasn’t going to be an easy trip.

“We? Nope. I’ll meet you at the top, but I am not climbing that death mountain.” Chelsie folded her arms and shook her head.

Kelpies … always so selfish.

“Lee, you’ll come with me, won’t you?” Reiya asked, looking up at the deity.

Lee smiled at her and reached his hand out, brushing her face. “I wish I could. I really want you to just go straight home, but I know you won’t.” He gave her a crooked smile and continued. “My presence might draw unwanted guests. I will be keeping an eye on you, though. You know, if you go back home, someone there can bring the child back, right?” Lee felt conflicted. He wanted to stay by her side since she wasn’t in her protective barrier, but he was afraid that his presence would bring demon attention, especially now, since they’d been so active. A couple of demons wouldn’t be a problem for him, but there was an army gathering. He didn’t want to risk drawing them closer to Reiya. There were some deities who would just take the child back themselves, but he was one to play by the rules. Gods were not supposed to interfere directly, because there could be consequences.

“Well, I still have a chance of not getting caught if I deliver him myself. I have to risk it. I’d rather risk climbing this mountain than facing my parents.” Reiya gave a nervous chuckle, and both Chelsie and Lee nodded in understanding.