continued. He tilted too far out. With nothing to stop him, he
fell over the side of the airship. Several hundred feet
separated him from the sea below.
Seren’s scream trailed after him.
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Chapter Thirteen
Nauseated at the horror of him falling off the ship, Seren
struggled against the clawed talons that clutched her wrists
and ankles. Tears blinded her. Sharp pains cut across her
chest, pressing in on her. She screamed Paladin’s name. No,
he couldn’t die, not now, not when she had just found him.
Her son’s words echoed in her mind.
He is expendable.
“No, not here. It’s not supposed to happen here. I won’t
lose him,” she cried.
The dracs still aboard the ship dove over the sides
whirling around him. Hope that they would help him
brought her struggles to a brief halt. She cried out for them
to help him, but they snapped and slashed their claws at him.
His body jerked once. A glow started to emanate from his
entire form. The dracs which had flown after him, separated
and swept after the ones holding her.
Paladin stopped mid-air.
She watched, mesmerized at the sight of him stationery
between the ship and the water. One fleeting second of
amazement blinked in her thoughts.
The dracs holding her increased their speed, the beat of
their wings vibrating through her body.
Paladin threw his arms out to his sides. Wings sprouted
from his back.
The wings on Paladin’s shoulder blades unfurled,
sweeping back and forth for a moment. In the next second,
swords still held in his hands, he flew after her.
Seren giggled hysterically. She shook her head, trying to
deny what she’d seen. Leo called to her, reassuring her. Help
calm her down? What was Leo thinking? The father of her
child, the one she believed was falling to his death just had
wings pop out on his back. What wonderland had she landed
in? She ignored Leo and started to struggle again, hoping to
slow the creatures down.
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Low mewls mixed with ringing caws cut through the air.
The dracs increased their speed. The sharp gusts of the wind
slid across her face. Her kidnappers dropped closer to the
waves. Salty water sprayed over Seren’s face. Sputtering and
blinking to remove the drops from her eyes, she kept her
eyes riveted on the shrinking ship behind her and the man
flying after them.
Paladin drew nearer. His wings were much larger than
the smaller ones on the dracs holding her. He came within
several yards behind her. She looked in his direction. Cold
determination etched his face.
She had wondered why his coat had such large slits, now
she knew. So his wings could unfurl.
Wings. He had wings, like angels. Would he be her savior
by rescuing her? Her breath escaped, going out of her body
in short fast gasps. Her muscles ached and shook from her
struggles. She’d never get away like this. Her wrists were
bleeding from the small nicks from the dracs claws. It was up
to Paladin. He had to save her.
Air swept past them while the day sped over head. More
dracs arrived from the direction they headed, joining the
ones carrying her. She lowered her chin to her chest to look
down the front of her body to see where they were taking her.
After checking for the hundredth time, a dark form
appeared on the horizon. The setting sun glinted off the
shape. An island soon loomed against the magenta and
orange skyline. White stone cliffs leaned inward. Large
eroded caves in the cliffs grew larger in size, becoming dark
indents the closer they came. Waves crashed against the
rocks, drowning out the cries of the dracs.
The creatures carrying her ducked into one of the narrow
but tall caves, their speed still fast even with the solid stone
walls on either side of them. Twisting and turning through
the caverns, they erupted into an open area at the tiny
stone with several curved columns rising above it supported
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a covered section situated on the rear side. The huge
formation looked like a half-shell cover, reminding her of an
amphitheater.
The dracs stopped, and with careful movements, lowered
her to the slab. As wide as it was long, the white rock
stretched several hundred feet on either side of her. Weak
from fear and near hysteria, she managed to sit up, laying
one hand flat on the cold stone and bracing herself.
She had lost sight of Paladin in the caverns. Sick to her
stomach, she swallowed, trying to keep the bile down.
Paladin appeared in the opening she’d just exited. He
stopped for a second. Behind her, a patter of small pebbles
warned that she was no longer alone. Frightened to look, but
unable to stop, she glanced over her shoulder.
A white dragon, larger by several feet and many tons
heavier than the sea dragons from Bae, towered over her.
Shining, pearl like, lace-edged scales gleamed white in the
sunlight. The same dragon from her vision, the one she’d
heard Paladin mention during her time on Avaris—Lior, the
white dragon clan leader.
Her heart plummeted to her stomach for a second, only
to rise to her throat the next. The beast stared at her with its
slit-pupil blue eyes. Lior’s incisors overlapped her top and
bottom lips, each equal in length and wider than Leo’s legs.
Trembling, Seren tried to scoot away, her terror giving her
false strength. A massive clawed foot landed next to her. The
slab shook, forcing a cry from Seren. She ducked, covering
her head. Dust and salty moisture bounced around her.
Paladin shouted her name. She glanced up in time to see
him attack Lior. The dragon roared, followed by a heated
blast of breath aimed at him. He lifted his left arm, the one
with the dragon tattoo, blocking the brunt of the oversized
lizard’s assault. Silvered flames flowed over his body to
disappear behind him. With tight, swift movements, he
swerved in a circle, swinging at Lior’s head with his blade.
The dragon shifted away. At the last second, its tail
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swung, striking Paladin against his right side. His sword flew
out of his hand, falling against the slab with a metallic clang,
sliding until it came to a spinning stop, not far from where
Seren sat huddled. Thrown across the open area, Paladin
crashed into the cliff on the opposite side.
Not caring what the dragon did to her, Seren jumped to
her feet. On unsteady legs, she staggered to the edge,
reaching for him. He crumpled, his head hanging at an odd
angle, eyes rolled back. Without uttering a sound, Paladin
fell toward the water surrounding the slab.
All warmth d
rained from her. She tried to think, but
emptiness filled her mind, her body, her soul. She dropped to
her knees and slumped onto her side. He broke his neck.
Hope diminished to nothing as she watched him drop to the
water motionless. He wouldn’t survive if he went under.
She’d lost him. Numbness took over her. This time his
wings wouldn’t save him.
Huge clawed feet landed behind her. Back stiff, muscles
aching, she turned and stared up at the creature who had
taken Paladin from her. Its jaws opened, teeth flashing in the
fading sunlight. White glistening breath poured over Seren.
The force shoved her flat on her back. Blinded by the
intensity of the flames, she wavered between consciousness
and black darkness. Still the breath coated her. During rare
lucid moments, she imagined Paladin’s arms around her,
lifting her, comforting her. Most of the time, she swirled in
and out of blackness.
Once, she opened her eyes to find Lior leaning over her,
the dragon’s nostrils wide, smelling her. It grunted,
straightened, and opened its mouth. More crystallized air
blew from the gaped jaw. At the touch of her breath, Seren’s
clothes turned to dust. Her skin burned under the cold
flames licking at her. She twisted her head back and forth,
wanting to escape the torture, but unable to so.
Seren looked to where her hand lay on the cold surface.
Palm flat against the stone, the flesh pushed against bones.
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She opened her mouth to cry out, but no sound emerged. She
had to live—for her baby. Exhausted, she gave in to the pain,
allowing the darkness to swallow her.
* * * *
Cool liquid splattered on her face. She stirred, a moan
slipped out. Agony rippled through her. Lying on her right
side, she managed to find the strength to crack open her
eyes.
Rain poured over her, soothing the heat inside her. Light
dimmed and blurred. She blinked. Not far from her, Paladin
lay on his side, naked and facing her. His eyes, half opened,
stared blankly at her. Dark purplish bruises covered the left
side of his face and jaw, trailing down his neck and onto his
shoulder. His head, still at an odd tilt, rested against the
stone. More cuts overlaid deep purple bruises which covered
his limp body. Slow rattling breaths escaped the tiny gap
between his chapped lips.
One arm, stretched in her direction. Palm up and his
fingers curled, his hand seemed to beckon her. Determined,
she tried to touch him. Inch by slow inch, she moved her arm
to his hand. Pain lanced through her body, but she refused to
stop. Seconds slipped by, then the back of her fingers
brushed his knuckles.
His eyelashes fluttered—once.
Heart thumping in rapid succession, a measure of hope
bloomed within, warming her. He was aware, conscious of
her at his side.
Satisfied, she relaxed, allowing sleep to ease her pain, her
fingers barely touching his.
* * * *
“Up with you, my fledgling.”
Her eyelids flew open. The man from the ship, the one
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Paladin called Bask, slipped his hands under Paladin’s arms
from behind and lifted. Seren gasped, wanting to scream for
him to leave Paladin alone, but her throat lacked moisture,
the lining too tight to allow any sound to emerge.
Paladin’s limbs flopped without any muscle control. His
head dipped lower. It was still cocked to one side. A low
moan came from his dry, cracked lips. She opened her mouth
to once more shout at Bask to leave him alone.
Nothing came out except a rasping breath.
“Be still woman. This wayward dragonseed is fine. You
will soon witness my love’s power.”
The words should have comforted Seren, but they didn’t.
Once he’d lifted Paladin’s limp body, Bask wrapped an
arm around his waist, grasped the back of his head, and
turned him toward where the silent dragon waited.
“I warned you, didn’t I? You cannot think to defy my
beloved Lior. She cares very little for rebellious children, my
boy. No, no, she doesn’t. Now then, are you ready? Consider
this a great boon on her part to you. She should have left you
to drown, you ungrateful whelp.”
Bask smiled and called out to the dragon. “Your magic,
Lior. Use your magic to heal this misguided son of yours. He
has, indeed, learned not to interfere in your affairs. Come,
my beloved dragon’s heart.”
The baby rolled in her belly. Without thinking, she
touched the slight mound. Surprise flitted through her for a
second at her ability to move. Sore and tight muscles ached,
but she was able to shift her legs.
White breath flowed out of the dragon’s maw onto the
two men standing near her.
Bones cracked, muscles shifted, and the bruising
vanished from Paladin’s skin. Paladin’s chest expanded then
deflated with a deep breathy intake and exhalation. His eyes
fluttered then closed. His feet found a solid hold on the
ground. He slumped within Bask’s grasp.
There had been very few moments in her life when she’d
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experienced undiluted joy. They were such rare and precious
moments for her—Mandy’s first steps, her excited squeals in
her inflatable pool. Small memories, but ones which caused a
flare of incredible and painful happiness within Seren. For
the past two years, she’d wallowed in her own grief and fear
of loss. She’d been given another chance on this planet with
another child and the man who’d come to matter so much to
her in such a short amount of time. She had to put the past
behind her. Paladin was more important than she’d ever
dreamed another person would be after losing both Mandy
and her ex-husband.
He’d protected her, fought for her, and almost died in the
process. She’d never had anyone care for her in such a way
before. Her heart raced with joy. Tears blurred her vision.
Seeing Paladin healed, knowing he would live, sent these
blissful echoes vibrating through her soul. Suppressing the
need to sob and laugh at the same time, she sat still, blinking
back the burning tears rimming her eyes.
“Excellent.” The strange man cried. He helped Paladin sit
then lay at her side. With a pat on Paladin’s shoulder, Bask
grinned. “All better?”
The sight of his throat working reassured her all the
damaged was healed. Paladin glared at the man leaning over
him before shutting his eyes. Bask’s grin widened as he
glanced in her direction.
“Tonight, woman, they will gather to bestow upon your
child the true power he requires. He will take the blood of all
the dragons, thus the beginning of the prophecy will be
fulfilled.” When he finished speaking, Bask faded into the
same twinkling light s
he had seen on the ship.
She shifted her legs.
Lior mewled.
Seren ignored her. Tense, sore muscles obeyed her mind’s
request, and her trembling legs slid on the cool stone. She
scooted, slow and with care to Paladin’s side. She touched
him. Cold, a pale blue, his skin still carried a coating of Lior’s
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breath.
She wrapped a leg and arm around him, pulling the full
length of her body against his, trying to share some of her
warmth. She shut her eyes and rested her head on his
shoulder, waiting for their warmth to increase.
Rubbing her cheek against his breast, she swiped a tear
away. His hand threaded through her hair, touching her
scalp. She smiled, lifting her face to stare at him. “Why didn’t
you tell me about the wings?”
Voice weak, but still deep and melodious, he asked. “Or
my magic?”
“I’m glad you have magic.” She swallowed the lump in her
throat. She didn’t want to remember how she’d felt the
moment she believed him lost. She smoothed her palms over
his throat, seeking any damage. “Are you healed? Tell me the
truth.”
“Yes. My father, Remis, his father, and down through the
ages, have carried the pure undiluted strand of white dragon
blood. This is why I was chosen to sire this child.”
She shook her head, but he stopped her by placing a
finger against her lips. “Let me finish. I am what we on
Avaris call a dragonseed, a mixture of both human and
dragon. You have suffered much. All of it is my fault. Because
of this, I desire to apologize for not telling you the truth of
what and who I am. I just wanted you to...”
Grasping his hand, she tugged it away, shaking her head.
“It doesn’t matter. Not anymore. You told me once I needed
to accept what I didn’t understand. Well, I don’t understand
how you’re alive, how you have wings, but you know what?
Right now, this very second, I don’t care. I just want you to
be alive and safe.”
The side of his mouth lifted in a half smile. “As I do you.”
He tilted nearer to her while his arms slid around her.
She laid her palms flat on his chest, reassured with his
increasing heat. His heart thudded under her cheek. She
closed her eyes, savoring the fact that he lived. “I don’t want
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you to die.”