Heart Of The Dragon (Her Dragon's Bane 3) (3 page)

“Those instructions didn’t contain anything about coming to rescue your ass.”

“That’s because it would be too dangerous. If something happens to me, to us.” He paused, thinking of Serena, and all of the nightmare scenarios that had passed through his head in the last few day. “You are to take Charlotte, kicking and screaming if needs be, to the safe place we talked about.”

There was no way Connor was going to say the name out loud. He didn’t trust Tara not to be listening somewhere. He and Zoah had spoken at great length about contingency plans. Those conversations had taken place miles away from the house, and the witch.

Neither of them knew her end game and, because of that, neither of them trusted her. She would sell their souls to the highest bidder if it suited her. He was sure of that, but he had to go along with her plans. He had to trust in her visions of the future. Although they had all decided, she may very well be telling them a huge stinking pile of lies. Anything to get him and Serena to Spellholm.

“I’ll take her, but then I will come for you Connor. You are my brother; we have stood side by side many times. I am not ready to live out the rest of my accursed life alone.”

“You won't be alone. You’ll have Charlotte.”

“Don’t...”

A sound down the hallway halted the conversation. Probably just in time, or else Connor would have been leaving with a black eye and a split lip. Instead, Zoah slipped quietly away, a moment before Charlotte and Serena came into the kitchen.

Her teeth chattered, although it wasn’t cold, and she had wrapped herself up warmly. This was a chill of a different kind. They were flying off into the unknown. When all she wanted to do was settle down to a quiet life with Connor and their child.

She glanced sideways at Tara, despising her for persuading Connor to do this. It didn’t matter to her if their son was the last dragon; she simply wanted him to be born safe. To go to Spellholm, to meet other ancient dragons, was madness. They had no idea what they would find. Or perhaps Tara did, and that was the point. Had she been in league with them all along?

“Serena.” Charlotte came to her, handing her some food, and a flask. “For the journey. You have to keep your strength up for my nephew.”

“Thank you, Charlotte.” She nearly said the words, ‘I wish you were coming with us’, but she stopped herself. It was bad enough Connor was in danger, without Charlotte being there too. She had suffered enough already. “Look after yourself.”

“I will. And Zoah is here, he’ll watch out for me. It’s like having an older brother.”

Serena looked across to where Zoah was talking quietly to Connor. Not for the first time, Serena felt pity for the proud arrogant dragon. Still, that was a worry for another day. Right now, they had to allow Connor to change, and then fix the bags to him. He would look like a packhorse by the time they had finished, but it was the only way to travel. He refused to use normal human transport, not trusting it.

So it was decided the only way for them all to get there was if he carried them. Her gaze shifted to Tara, looking excited, but with just a hint of fear in her eyes. Was the fear for the journey, or what she foresaw when they arrived? One thing Serena knew beyond all else, if Tara betrayed them, she would happily plunge a dagger into her heart. No matter what Connor had told her about how killing a person changed you. She would rather do that, than allow Tara to live, if she caused the death of Connor.

“It’s time,” Connor said.

They all moved away from him. Standing grouped together against the furthest wall of the exposed tower, they waited. The air shimmered, for a moment. The image of Connor hung in the air before he faded out of this world. He came back together, tendrils of matter coalescing. To be finally replaced by a huge dragon.

The electricity in the air crackled, and sparked around him. Making him look magnificent, framing him against the dark sky.

“That didn’t happen before,” Serena said to Zoah, who stood next to her.

“It’s his mood. He’s anxious.”

“I wish we weren't going.”

“He’ll never rest until he’s visited them.”

“Why Zoah?”

Zoah opened his mouth to speak, but the air filled with the low roar of the dragon before them. Whatever Zoah was about to say was lost in the noise. “It’s time.” Was all he said before going forward and strapping the bags to Connor.

“It suits you brother. A picture of domestic bliss. You would make a good cart horse.”

Connor puffed smoke at Zoah, who coughed in response, and then turned to Tara. The witch was itching to climb onto the dragon's back. Like an excited child, she fidgeted from foot to foot. Serena noted that the one good thing about this whole endeavour was that it had silenced her. She was in complete and total awe of the dragon crouching before her.

Connor placed his leg out to the side so Tara could use it as a step to reach his back. The witch was visibly shaking when she put her foot upon his scaly limb, and hoisted herself up. Serena gained some satisfaction from watching Tara flail around. Over balancing, she nearly toppled straight over the other side of Connor. He didn’t move to try and save her, he was not so chivalrous towards the witch. Although Serena wondered for whose benefit that was for, and found she didn’t care.

“Serena,” Zoah said, holding her arm and drawing her back away from Connor. “Do you have what I gave you?”

“Yes.” Serena glanced up. Luckily, Tara was too preoccupied with touching dragon scales to take notice of them whispering. Even Charlotte had gone closer to have a look at Connor. Who could blame her when he was such a magnificent sight?

“Good. I do not think Tara can see that I gave it you. She still asks me about it. I believe she went back to the ruined church, to have one last look through the rubble.”

“That was risky.”

“I know. Which is why I think she can’t see it.”

“But she’s a seer. Surely she should know what you did with it?”

“That’s what I thought.” He shook his head. “I have no idea what she’s up to. But I thought you should know. It seems she’s not so infallible.”

“So the question is, does she really need to accompany us to Spellholm? Or can I simply push her off into the sea.”

He laughed quietly. “I would keep hold of her for now. The stone is your leverage, but I have no idea how.”

“Thank you Zoah. I know you don’t like me...”

“Didn’t. Like you. I think you have given my brother something to live for. Put a flame under him so to speak.”

“And perhaps one day the same will happen to you.”

“I hope not.”

“You don't mean that.”

His eyes drifted up to look at Charlotte. “I would do anything to let her have a normal life.”

“You may get your wish. I believe she’s going on a date tomorrow night.”

“What?” He voice was loud and harsh, and now the others, including Connor turned to look at them.

“You wanted her to have a normal life.” With that, she kissed his cheek, and walked up to Connor. Effortlessly, she pulled herself up onto his back. She took her place near to his head, stroking his warm scales. Connor quivered under her touch, and she leaned forward to speak to him. “Let’s go.”

With one last look at Zoah, he crouched low down, and then sprang up off the tower. His wings moved in strong downward beats. Each stroke lifting them effortlessly into the air. Serena watched her sister get smaller and smaller as she stood watching the dragon. Zoah stood close to her. Serena could see his arm raised, almost as if he wanted to put it around her protectively. However, he couldn’t allow himself even that.

Lifting her hand, she waved, and Charlotte waved back. Then they were lost in the clouds, moving high up into the cold air where no one could see them. With a shift in his body, Connor changed direction. Now they skirted around the city, before flying off towards the coast. They would travel over the sea, where there was less chance of them being seen by human eyes.

As the wind whipped her hair from her face, Serena tried to shut out the woman sat quietly behind her. If only she could pretend it was only her and her dragon flying through the night air. Above them the stars shone, it was a beautiful night. The moon was just rising, shedding little light on them. From below, they would be nothing more than a shadow in the night. A mixture of cloud and sky.

At this moment, Serena pitied the people who lived below. How sad to spend your whole life oblivious to the wondrous beasts that lived amongst you.

Unlike when she had flown with him before, he didn’t dip his wings into the sea and spray her with the salt water. It hammered home to her how different this trip was. She tried to shut off her inner voice, which rambled on about turning back. It warned her against trusting Tara, and told her to get far away from Spellholm.

Connor continued to fly, his wings making a steady rhythm. While the night wore on, and in some round about route, they came back over land. Below them lay open fields, and forest. A large uninterrupted expanse, unlike any other part of England she had ever seen.

She couldn’t recall ever seeing such a place on any map. It was such an extensive area it would be hard to miss. Neither could she remember ever hearing the name Spellholm.

Only now did it occur to her that this was not some ordinary place. This was a place laced with magic. A truth she could not deny, as they crossed the breadth of the forest. The deeper they travelled, the more she wanted to turn around and run. Her heart rate increased, and an unaccountable fear took hold of her.

“I can give you something to help with that,” Tara shouted. Although with the wind whistling past her, Serena only caught her words faintly.

“No. Thank you,” she replied.

“It’s a spell. To keep outsiders away. It will only get stronger the closer to the centre we get. And the dragons live right in the centre of Spellholm.”

Serena gritted her teeth, determined not to accept help from Tara. “I’m OK.”

“Suit yourself. But when you start puking you might change your mind.”

Serena closed her eyes. Trying instead to concentrate on the beat of Connor’s wings, as they swept over the treetops. When this failed, she conjured up the image of him from earlier, when they had made love. The feel of him between her thighs did nothing to take her mind off the growing nausea in her stomach. The taste of bile was in her throat, and she had to take big gulps of air to gain control.

It was no good, she slumped forward onto Connor, and closed her eyes, trying to block out the intense feelings sweeping over her. Every nerve end felt red raw, her head ached and her stomach churned. The last thing she remembered, as she blacked out, was the ground rapidly coming up to meet her, and the sound of a dragon in pain.

“Is she alright?” he asked, looking down helplessly as Tara tried to bring Serena back to consciousness.

“She would be if she’d accepted my help.”

“Perhaps if you were a bit more likeable, she might have.”

Tara stood up and faced him. “Likeable. What the hell is that supposed to mean?”

“You know what it’s supposed to mean. One thing you are not is stupid.”

“I’m sorry if I’m not some imbecile who was fortunate to have a dragon land in her lap.”

“You know, more than anyone, what she’s been through. Do not think I do not hold you responsible.”

Tara took a step back, shock registering on her face. “If it wasn’t for me, she would never have been made to come to you.”

“Exactly. Made to come to me.” He knelt on the floor, gently lifting Serena up against him. He looked up at Tara, and said, “What is this? And what can you do for her?”

“Oh, now you want my help.”

“Tara, my patience with you has always been thin. Help her, or I will make sure you never get to see the dragons that live here.”

Something in his eyes must have convinced her he meant what he said. She went to the bags, which were now dumped on the ground, and rummaged through them. Finding what she needed, she returned to where Connor knelt stroking Serena’s face.

“Here.” She offered him the small bottle.

“What is it?”

“An antidote is the best way to describe it.”

“And you had it with you all along?”

“Yes.”

“So you knew this would happen, but didn’t think to inform us?”

“She would have thought I was trying to poison her. It is where Spellholm gets its name from. The spell makes it an island of safety for the other creatures.”

“Other creatures?”

“Like you. No mundane human can stand the place. Usually they turn back way before they get this close to the centre.”

“You should have warned us, Tara,” he said, his temper flaring. Inside him, his dragon tested his strength of will. It wanted to burst out and incinerate this troublemaker.

She saw it, and for once cowered before him. Connor decided it was time she was afraid of him. Perhaps, from the first, he should have made her aware of his strength and power. Instead, he had allowed her to control things.

“I’ll help her,” Tara said.

Connor grabbed her hand, twisting it cruelly, causing her to cry out. “I am warning you, witch.” He spat the word in her face, his eyes ablaze. “If anything happens to my mate, or my child, you will pay for it ... painfully. I have much experience in pain. Do you understand?”

She nodded, struck dumb by the terrifying nature of the beast within him. Connor released her, and she fell to her knees. At first, she did not move, and then she crept towards Serena and lifted her head carefully.

Connor moved beside her, and brushed her aside. “I’ll do it.” He took the bottle from Tara’s trembling hand. “All of it?”

She nodded again, and watched while Connor gently prised Serena’s mouth open. Carefully, he poured the contents down her throat, making sure she didn't choke. At first, there was no response and Connor's concern grew. Then slowly the colour returned to Serena's cheeks, and her eyes fluttered before opening.

“Connor,” she said, lifting her hand and stroking his face. “I fell.”