Blood of Dragons (26 page)

Mortain backs up so quickly that he stumbles over a small stick.  “How do you know my name?”

Oops.  “I may have heard Garren mention it.”

Garren scowls slightly at the almost lie.  “Yes, I am sure I did.”

“Mortain, what is all the commotion over here?  Lunch is getting cold.”  An older Fairy who is plump around the middle and has a large of amount of gray hair piled atop her head pushes through some trees.  She stops when she sees us and puts her hands on her hips.  “Well it is about damn time you got here.  You get a note telling you I have been kidnapped and you take
three days
to rescue me?  I have a good mind not to feed any of you again.”

Isla and Kallen’s jaws drop.  Isla collects herself first.  “Are you telling me that you have not been in any danger?  You have been catering to these…Goblins?”

That hesitation earns her a snarl from Mortain.  “Do not speak of us or to our friend like that!”

“Friend?” Kallen says.  Looking at Tabitha, he says, “You set this up?”

Tabitha looks a little chagrined now.  “They came to me and asked for help.”

“What kind of help?” Kallen asks.

She takes a moment to smooth the wrinkles from her apron.  “Help with their Dragon situation.”

Isla’s face is turning a dangerous color of red.  “What do you mean their ‘Dragon situation’?”

Ignoring Isla’s question, Tabitha turns to me.  “Xandra, have they told you about the diet of a Dragon?”

I try hard to hide my smile.  She knew all along how Xandra would react to finding out that the Dragons used Goblins for food and the whole breeding issue.  “Yes, they have,” I say with the straightest face I can.

Her hands are back on her hips.  “Well?”

She is obviously expecting a tirade of indignation regarding the whole affair.  I hate to disappoint her after all the work she went through to put this together.  “It is absolutely atrocious that this has gone on so long unchecked.  The idea of a race willing to breed their brethren as food for another race is beyond comprehension.”

Her eyes narrow.  “Absolutely atrocious.  Beyond comprehension.  You are not Xandra.  Who are you and why are you in her body?”

Now all of our jaws drop.  Except Mortain’s and the rest of the Goblins.  They are just annoyed by the whole exchange.

“You are exceptionally perceptive Tabitha.”

“That does not answer my question.”

No, it did not.  “I am Raziel.  For some unforeseen reason, Xandra and I have switched bodies.”

“They did,” Kallen growls.  “But now they are both there.  Xandra is unconscious.”

Tabitha studies me a moment.  Then in several long strides she is standing in front of me.  I am completely unprepared for the slap across the face I receive.  “Wake up, Xandra.”

I put a hand to my bruising cheek.  “That was quite painful.”

Tabitha shrugs.  “Is she awake now?”

“No.”

“Oh well, it was worth a shot.  I am sure she will awaken soon.  She is not one to miss out on the action.  All right, come along now.”  She turns and walks farther into the forest.  We have no choice except to follow regardless of how upset Kallen and Isla are with her.  I use magic to heal my stinging cheek as we walk.  The woman has a mean slap.

Chapter 33 – Xandra

I am not quite sure where I am.  I just felt a jolt of pain and I could have sworn that I heard Tabitha’s voice.  But all I can see at the moment is darkness.  It’s like my eyes are closed and I can’t open them.  My body is moving though.  It feels like I’m walking.  Sure wish I could see where I’m going.

I also feel crowded.  Like I’m squished into a corner somewhere.  Maybe if I push against whatever is in front of me, I’ll be able to see again.  I focus on moving my arms and push outward.  Well, I can’t see any better but I did a good job of making myself stumble.  I’m really confused.

“What the hell?” 

Hey!  That was my voice.  But I didn’t say that.  What is going on?  Well, if I could move my arms then I should be able to move my legs.  Or stop them. 

Brilliant plan.  I’m guessing I’m around trees because I think that was a root I just fell on.  Gee, good thing my pain sensors are still working.  I would hate to of lost those as well as my vision.

“Raziel, what is going on?” Kallen’s voice asks impatiently.  And then he has a sharp intake of breath.  “Xandra?”

I think I’m making my lips smile.  But it would be a lot better if I could see him.  I feel him take my hand and help me up. 

“I believe Xandra and I are indeed in the same body.  I have made several movements that were not of my volition.”  That must be Raziel because I didn’t say that.  Crap, are we really in the same body?

Raziel?

Yes, it is me.

We’re in the same body?

I am afraid so.

How come you got the use of my eyes?

Raziel laughs and says out loud, “I am not sure, Xandra.”  Looking at Kallen, he says, “Now that Xandra is awake, she is able to communicate with me through our minds.  It seems that I still have control of her body for the most part.”

Why is that?

I do not know.  It seems there is a lot that I do not know lately.

“Hurry up,” a tiny little Goblin voice says and then kicks me in the ankle.

Ow, that hurt.  Kick him back.

Xandra, he barely comes up to our knees.

Fine.

“What is she saying?” Kallen asks.  “I can see that she is talking to you.”  That is really weird.  I wonder what we look like to him.

“She wants me to kick the Goblin that just kicked us.”

Kallen half chuckles and shakes his head.  After a few seconds his face sobers again.  He keeps walking for a few minutes and then he comes to an abrupt halt.  Turning around to steady me since he almost causes me to fall, he pulls me to him and he kisses me.  This is awkward.

He
’
s not kissing you, he’s kissing me.

I assumed that was the case.  I am still involved though.

As Kallen deepens the kiss, I feel a change between me and Xandra.  It is as if she is being drawn to the surface and I am being pushed to the shadows.  She moves our arms to wrap them around Kallen’s neck and moves our body closer to him.  She is now the one in control.

Chapter 34 – Xandra

It feels as if I am swimming to the surface.  Every touch of Kallen’s lips and hands brings me farther and farther.  I press against him and wrap my arms around his neck, clinging tightly to him.  Slowly, I open my eyes and I can see his face next to mine.

He must feel the change because he pulls back slightly to study me.  Then he smiles.  “Xandra.”

“Shut up and kiss me again.”  He doesn’t hesitate.  This kiss is deeper, more passionate.

You do know I am still here, right?

I pull away from Kallen abruptly. 
Sorry Raziel, I just miss him so much.

I understand.
  I know that he understands too well. 

“Xandra?” Kallen says as he puts his hands on my cheeks.  “Are you okay?”

I step back a little bit.  “Yes.  This is just weird with Raziel here too.”

He gives a half chuckle but there’s no humor in it.  “Yes, indeed it is.”  He looks hurt that I pulled away from him because of that.

Great.  Trapped between my husband and my destined lover.  This day is just jam packed full of guilt.

Looking towards the Goblins so I can look at something other than the pain in Kallen’s eyes, I notice a familiar rear end ducking under some branches.  “Is that Tabitha?” I gasp.

“Yes,” Kallen says.  “It seems she was behind this whole kidnapping scheme.”

I laugh.  “I knew her heart was as soft as mine.”  Except when I’m torturing Archangels.  That thought wipes the smile off my face.

Xandra, I am sure you did what was right.

You weren’t there.  You can’t say that without knowing what I did.

Show me. 

How?

Think of it.  Show me the pictures in this mind we share.

I don’t want to.

It cannot be that bad.  Belial was created evil.  I am sure he has done worse.

I’m not. 

I imagine the scene in the commons; reliving every second.  Tears fall from my eyes as I see Belial lying in a heap on the ground. 
This makes me just as evil as he is.

“What is he saying to you to make you cry?” Kallen growls, taking my shoulders in his hands.  “Raziel, what are you doing to her?”