Dragon Knight's Ring (Order of the Dragon Knights Book 5) (32 page)

As the last glimmer of her crystal light faded in the distance, Adam stumbled away. Quickly retrieving his sword, his one thought was to get to Jamie. Breathing heavily, he clutched his hand to his side. The wound was deep, but closing his eyes, he blocked the pain. Shadows clouded his vision, and he pushed them away. Upon opening them, Adam carefully made his way back to Ciar.

With all his strength, Adam forced himself onto his horse. The pain burned into his body, almost causing him to black out, but again, he pushed it aside. Urging his horse onward, they took off. “Jamie…we must get to Jamie,” he gritted out.

His fear grew. The stars faded. Tree limbs smacked against his face. But Adam continued his relentless pursuit of getting to his son. He only prayed that Jamie understood where to go. When a flash of lightning almost speared him, he smiled. For it gave him a glimpse of where they were heading.

As they approached the place, Adam dismounted carefully from Ciar. Walking slowly, he partially leaned against the fortress he and Jamie had built.

“Jamie, are ye there, son?”

Silence greeted Adam. “Jamie, ’tis your father. I’m wounded and cannae come inside.”

Fear seized Adam. Where could ye have fled to?

“How do…do I ken it’s ye?” stammered Jamie.

Adam wanted to weep for joy. “Ask me a question. Any question only I can answer.”

Again, silence filled the night, and Adam waited.

“What did ye show me the first day I trained with ye?” Jamie’s voice much stronger.

“I showed ye the scar on my back from my verra first battle. I warned ye that if one goes into battle, they will emerge with a scar either on their body, within their mind, or both.”

“Da,” sobbed Jamie coming forth from the fortress.

Adam grabbed a hold of his son with one arm and lifted him to his chest. Immediately, Jamie wrapped his arms around his neck and let the tears fall. “Ye are safe, my son…ye are safe.”

Jamie wiped his nose on his sleeve. “I thou…I thought I heard her calling me. So I ran to the loch, but he was there. He was a bad man. He told me he was the Great Dragon’s friend, but I dinnae believe him.”

“Why is that?”

His son narrowed his eyes. “His face kept changing.” Jamie patted his chest. “My dragon told me he lied.”

“Ye are wise, and so is your dragon. Now, we must get ye to safety.”

“Home,” stated Jamie.

“Aye, son.” Looking around, Adam could barely make out his surroundings. Recalling that a large tree stump was to the right of their fortress, he led Ciar over to the spot. The pain from his wound now slamming into him. “I need ye to cling to my back, Jamie. I have been injured, so I require your aid.”

“Da?”

“Strength and courage, son. No time to explain.”

His son nodded, but he could sense the wariness within the lad.

As soon as Jamie was secure, Adam managed to step onto the stump and mount his horse. Wincing from the pain, he grabbed the reins. Pain reared its ugly head and dizziness overcame Adam.

Blinking to stay focused, he muttered, “I cannae see.”

“I can help, Da,” replied Jamie. The lad reached out over his shoulder and opened his hand. A tiny ball of fire grew. Jamie tossed it out in front of their path. “Now ye can see.”

“Praise be to God,” said Adam on a sigh. “Lead us to the standing stones.”

“We’re not going home?”

“Nae. Dinnae fear, son. When we get there, I will call forth Ronan to come fetch ye. There is nae time to waste. I believe the Great Dragon is leading Lachlan to the stones.”

“Ye called her out of the loch? Ye ken the words?”

“Nae, Jamie. She saved my life by coming forth.”

“I was too scared to speak, and I didn’t ken what to say,” muttered Jamie.

“I was scared, as well. But ye were brave when I told ye to flee.”

Jamie squeezed his neck. “That was a good one.”

“’Tis not over, yet. Be strong and hang on, son.”

As they took off, Jamie whispered in his ear. “End this, Da, so we can all get married.”

Chapter Thirty

“No matter how long evil grows. No matter the years that pass. No matter the feeling of helplessness. In the end, good will be victorious. The key is…patience.”

Bracing herself against the largest standing stone, Meggie fought the stench in the air as the wind slapped against her face. Twice, she wanted to vomit onto the ground, but she would not defile this sacred place. She would not let evil see her fear, nor her weakness.
It
was coming—dark and ominous, along with Lachlan. Her Fae senses felt the shift within the worlds.

Conn, Liam, and Rory stood on the outside of the stones. They had stripped to their trews, their arms upward. Celtic tattoos and spiral patterns blazed forth down their massive arms and body. The power of the Fenian warriors had transformed each. The power built, grew. Blue light surrounded each warrior as they chanted the ancient words to seal the realms of all worlds.

She glanced down. The book lay at her feet, safe, protected. Magic guarded the ancient tome, and she clung to the Staff of Knowledge, waiting.

Her brothers stood in a circle around her, and she watched the druid Cathal walking around them, saying a prayer of protection. When he finished, he nodded to them and retreated with the other druids to the trees.

Layers upon layers of fortification. Awaiting the final battle between good and evil.

Clasping her hands tightly around the staff, she tried to calm her racing heart.
Where are ye Adam? Why have ye not found our son? Oh, please Goddess, watch over, and guide them.

“Sweet Mother Danu!” shouted Angus. “Look upward!”

Lifting her head, Meggie gasped. Luminous colored lights shimmered and danced in the darkness and began to grow. She watched as it trailed in a circle above them. Colors of the rainbow glimmered around them. Were they jewels of hope—a beacon of light in this final hour?

“’Tis the Great Dragon!” stated Angus.

“Why is she here?” blurted out Stephen.

She looked over her shoulder at Stephen. “Could someone have called her forth? Jamie?”

“Then I praise your son, for she has brought us more light,” said Stephen.

“He is coming!” yelled Duncan, raising his sword higher in an attempt to keep the storm from unleashing. “Alastair?”

“I am doing all in my power to keep the land from breaking apart,” he shouted as he held his axe firmly on the ground.

Glancing back up at the sky, Meggie’s eyes grew wide with fear when she saw the Great Dragon extend its wings to fly higher. “Nae! ’Tis not safe! Go back to the safety of the loch!” The sounds of her cries were smothered by the roar of the storm.

She quickly knelt on the ground. “Fae of my blood, hear my plea. Dinnae let her die! Send her far from here.”

“They can be of no help to ye now,” shouted Lachlan, walking toward them from the trees. “How I have waited for this moment.” He threw out an arc of lightning at the dragon, but she swiftly dodged the blazing light and flew off.

“Your time is at an end, beast!” raged Lachlan.

Meggie stood slowly. Never had she seen the face of evil so hideous. Her hands trembled, but she would not look away. This was not the man she’d befriended in the forest. Nae, this was a monster and her fear stirred so great, she could not move. Did not Angus tell her once to use fear as a shield? Doing her best, she kept her focus steady, trying to take in deep calming breaths.

Lachlan took a step toward her, but Angus quickly stepped in front of her.

The druid waved his hand about, the power slamming into her brother, but he kept his stance. “Do your worst, Dragon Knight. Soon, your time will come to an end.” He spat onto the ground. Then, he turned his grotesque gaze to her. “Greetings, Margaret. How fortunate to see ye again.” He strolled around each of them, taunting them.

“Ye have wrought enough destruction, Lachlan. We shall end this,” growled Angus. Stretching out his hand, he threw out the ring of fire, enclosing them within the fiery blaze.

“Surely ye jest?” His voice laced with sarcasm, Lachlan moved away. Stepping closer to the flames, he let his hand pass through them. He arched a brow. “My powers grow as the Dark One continues on his path to enter your world through me!”

Angus held his shield in front of him. “Your master can try, but ye will fail.”

Lachlan stomped the ground, causing the land to rumble. “We have done this dance of war before, MacKay.” He waved his hands outward. “Ye can make this easy. Put down your weapons and your death will come swiftly. If ye choose to continue to defy me, I will personally hand ye over to my Lord.”

Meggie backed away and almost screamed when an arm circled around her waist. “’Tis me,
leannan
,” Adam whispered against her ear.

On a choked sob, she dropped the staff and wrapped her arms around his neck. “Praise the Goddess.” Leaning back, she could see his face was pale. Her heart froze. “Jamie?”

“Safe. With Ronan and the others.”

She started to question him, when he shook his head. “Later. Ye ken what must be done.”

Shaking with relief mixed with fear, she nodded. “Dinnae leave me, Adam.”

“Never.” Taking her hand, he led her back to the book.

The ground shook violently, and Meggie stumbled, but Adam steadied her.

Lachlan’s chilling laughter filled the air. “Come to see your beloved die?” he mocked, his words for Adam. “Remember what I said about your son, Dragon Knight. His head is mine.”

Meggie gasped. “You monster!”

“Ye have yet to ken the real one.” Opening his arms wide, he started to chant. His eyes blazed red, and his fingers lengthened into misshapen claws.

“Now!” roared Angus.

“Hold on Meggie,” ordered Adam and grasped her hand with the ring within his. Holding their joined hands high, he quickly looked at her. “Whatever happens, wait until the dragons appear. Do not let go!”

She glanced at her brothers, each holding up their relic: Angus’s shield, Duncan’s sword, Stephen’s medallion, and Alastair’s axe.

Angus’s voice bellowed. “From the land of the Ancients. From the stars of the Fae. We, the Dragon Knights from the Order, keepers of the fire, storm, water, and land dragons, open the gate and call forth the beasts!”

The Earth trembled with a power the world had never seen before. Her brothers’ eyes mirrored the energy. It gathered, grew, and finally with a deafening roar, four dragons burst forth in a blinding light from their relics, scorching a trail in the inky blackness. Their tails twisted and snapped. She could hear the flapping of wings and gnashing of teeth. Fire burst free from all of them.

Meggie shielded her eyes, but she did not fear these beasts. They were each a part of her brothers, and the energy swirled around them.

Filling her body with her own power, she blocked out all others, except one. Adam.

Meggie waved her hand outward, lifting the book into the air. The pages rapidly opened for her. The light of the words shimmered, and she ran a finger down the gilded page, emblazing their meaning within her mind.

Time no longer existed. The veil between all realms opened for only her. Time and space but one entity. And Meggie knew the moment had come. Using her magic, she called forth the staff, and it appeared in her hand.

Her voice became one with the ancients, from those who held the power of the Book of Awakening. Mother to daughter. Sister to sister. Each generation now as one voice—one being filling her soul. “I call upon my ancestors—from the land of yesteryear to the realm of forever. Hear and join with me. As one, we will vanquish this evil. Restore the shredded loom of time. Heal the land from past, present, and future.” Her voice continued to rise as she moved to the center, still clutching Adam’s hand.

A white and gray mist extended from hers and Adam’s combined hands until the dragon emerged. The dragon’s eyes flashed with those of a thousand suns, and she swirled around them. She stole a glance at Adam but returned her gaze to the druid, feeling her power grow.

“Hear me Lachlan!” Her voice booming over the howling wind.

An inhuman cry of rage came forth from the druid. “You think to destroy me? You should fear me!” He thrust his hand outward.

Rain slashed at Meggie’s face, clawing and burning, but she gave no care. Adam’s grip tightened, as she stared into the face of destruction. Lifting the staff high, a swirling mass opened forth above the druid.

“I bind ye, Lachlan, with these words that are as ancient as time itself. Ye will have no beginning, no ending. No past, present, or future. Time will not exist. Therefore, ye will cease to continue. No thoughts ye shall have, save those ye have killed. Those will be your companions in between the silent realms of no tomorrows.”

Lachlan shrieked. “Nae, nae, nae! Kill ye…all!” He batted at the air, gasping. “Come…come back. Stop!”

She lifted the staff higher. “When the sun, stars, and moon fade away, only then will death claim ye!”

Meggie recoiled at the sight in front of her. Half human. Half monster. Each being torn to shreds in a void with no beginning and no ending. The swirling mass slowly devouring him. His screams along with the thunderous wind filled her ears.

As the dragons swirled around the void, she watched as Lachlan’s brother Cathal stepped through the fire. “Stay away,” the monster shrieked.

Cathal continued to move toward the screaming, twisted monster. “Blood of my blood, I release ye. Your name stricken from all accounts. Ye are no more. Your name forgotten.” He slammed his staff into the ground. With a loud snap, the void closed, sealing Lachlan’s fate. Yet, his heart remained.

Cathal lowered his staff. “So that ye may never return, I burn your heart to ashes to banish the evil.” Sparks of fire danced around and through the heart, charring the bloody mass until it blackened into ashes. The druid looked to Meggie. “It is done.”

Instantly, the wind and rain subsided to a gentle breeze. As each of the dragons descended back within each person through the relics, Adam released his hold on Meggie. Closing the book, she wiped a shaky hand across her brow, but felt something wet and sticky. Holding her hand up, she noticed it was blood.