Call of the Dragon (Return to Avalore Book 1) (32 page)

She had to get out of there. It didn’t matter where she ended up, as long as it was away from this woman. Rhia tried gathering energy, but it refused to come. “You’re Bethania, aren’t you?”

“How perceptive you are. I wish I could say it was a pleasure to make your acquaintance,
Your Grace
, but it truly is not.” Bethania said the words as though they left a nasty taste in her mouth.

“Why are you doing this? If I die, you’ll die too. The darkness will return.”

“Ah, yes, you’re right. It will return, but I shall not perish. I’ve lived in darkness for over thirty years. My soul has embraced it. I thrive in it.” Hatred shone in her eyes. “All I had was William, and he only had eyes for
her
. Your mother took him from me. Took everything. Once I lift the curse, the beasts will idolize me. I will be Queen of the new Avalore. Everything
she
had will be mine.”

Summoning her own essence, Rhia stepped to the side and into the shadows, making it easier to distinguish the woman’s features. The yellow-green eyes narrowed to slits as she circled around her.

“Now, now, there is no need to fret, Rhiannon, Queen of Avalore. This doesn’t have to be long and painful. I’m happy to end this. Release the power you are holding and we can discuss this amicably.” The woman’s cackle was anything but friendly.

Squaring her shoulders, Rhia took a deep breath. “Don’t make me hurt you, Bethania. I may seem harmless to you, but I’m stronger than you think.” Without waiting for a response, Rhia sent a bright yellow ball careening towards the woman.

A loud shriek cut through the clearing, shaking the nearby trees. Bethania clutched her head and stumbled. When she righted herself, a trickle of blood seeped from her nose, and a low sinister growl rumbled from within.

“You are not kind. I
will
make you suffer after all.” She blotted at the blood with her fingers. Power charged the air around her as the woman raised her hands skyward and began a dark, ominous chant.

She didn’t wait, slamming the woman with more energy, making her voice falter for a moment before she started again with the guttural spell. What would it take to bring this woman down? Whatever Bethania was doing, Rhia felt the pull at her spirit and knew she couldn’t fight her alone. Pulling more energy from her core, she tried to lift off the ground again, but nothing happened.

“Oh no, my
Queen,
you will stay.” A sneer transformed the woman’s face into an evil mask. Her hand came down, swinging toward Rhia, releasing the dark swirling ball she held in her palm. It whistled through the air, straight as an arrow toward Rhia.

She tried to duck, and step to the side, but her body remained paralyzed in place, the pull of black magic too strong for her to overcome. Pain shot through her chest where it hit, spreading quickly to encompass her entire body. Shaking her head, she tried to focus on the woman, but everything was broken and spinning. It was as though she was looking down the barrel of a kaleidoscope. The trees swirled around her and the ground spun. The earth shook beneath her feet, making her lose her footing, sending her sprawling on the ground, her stomach heaving as though she’d ingested the vilest poison.

Rhia lay helpless as her very life’s essence drained from her. How funny she could see her colors bleeding from her body and soaking into the wicked woman like a bright rainbow flowing away from her. Darkness swarmed around her, taking the very breath from her lungs. She tasted metal on her tongue and the smell of Erritrol assaulted her, but she couldn’t lift her head long enough to locate them.

“Drake, Bethania, she’s here.”
She could only hope he’d hear her call. If ever there was a time when she needed to be strong, needed to hang on, this was it. Darkness faded in and out, but she pushed against it. Bethania couldn’t win. She wouldn’t let her. She had done too much and hurt too many people already. This had to end.

Rage burned deep inside Rhia. The beast within stirred and unfurled her tail, flicking it from side to side, waiting for release. A deep guttural sound, too animalistic to be human, burst from her. Rhia stood on shaking legs, seeing the world in thermal hues of orange, yellow, and red for the first time. Shades of blue denoted the trees she knew to be standing there, but at the forefront, a bright yellow and orange figure faltered and took a step back.

“You are too late, Queen Rhiannon. You will die this night.” Bethania’s strong words lacked conviction.

Rhia tried to speak, but her throat constricted. Her tongue moved in a serpentine manner, scraping against sharp, pointed teeth.

Fear shone in the depths of Bethania’s eyes, the air thick with its potent scent. Her lips continued to move as she chanted, but Rhia didn’t hear the words.

Blistering heat churned inside Rhia as she approached the cowering woman. There would be no running. No hiding. Death and nothing less would appease the dragon. Rhia threw her head back and roared, sending blue flames shooting from her mouth. Sharp claws burst from her fingertips. Snarling, she took one swipe at the woman who’d threatened her and her people and sent her flying through the air closer to the treeline. Ruby red drops sprayed from the furrows the claws had left in her neck.

Bethania scrambled to stand, another dark weapon spinning in her hands. She released it just moments before Rhia was upon her, but it was too late. The dragon tore through her body using teeth, claws, and fire. Her screams echoed through the forest, but she couldn’t stop until the woman was nothing but a pile of smouldering ash and smoke.

The taste of blood slid over her tongue pacifying the beast as nothing else could. Its fury now spent, the dragon retreated, allowing Rhia to take the reins once more. Her entire body shook as she took in the gruesome sight before her. Her hands, covered in blood, trembled uncontrollably. Inside, her soul screamed and screamed, yet she didn’t utter a sound.

The Erritrols were close. Their putrid stench made her stomach heave again. She had to get away before they found her. She tried to take a step, testing her strength, but before she could move, pain from Bethania’s final blast rocked her. The agony, absorbed by the dragon within her in the heat of battle, came back with resounding force, dropping her to her knees.

Erritrols rushed into the clearing, their grunts and barks loud and grating to her sensitive ears. Without warning, the beast closest to her reared back and threw the same dark energy at her, roaring in triumph as she fell.

Loud, angry roars pierced the night air. The ground shook with the force of battle. Her nostrils burned with the stench permeating the air as she tried to take a breath. Even with her eyes closed, Rhia saw bright flashes of color exploding in every direction. Pain stabbed through her as she tried to remember where she was.

“Drake.”
She could barely whisper the word.

“Rhia, damn it, where are you?”
His frantic words burst into her mind. “
Keep talking. I need to track it back to you.”

“Can’t. So tired.”
Her voice drifted away from her.

“Fight it, Rhia. You stay awake and you talk to me.”
He was close. His energy slid over her body before moving on.

Why couldn’t he sense her presence? If only she could move, he’d be able to find her, but it was too late. Her shallow breaths couldn’t sustain her struggling body. Her skin prickled as though millions of tiny needles were being jabbed into every pore. Stabbing pain crushed her chest as her heart struggled to keep beating, tempting her to rest, but she couldn’t let go, not yet. “Drake.” She tried to scream but her voice was so weak—too weak.

“Again. Call me again. I hear you.”
His energy swung over her again.

“I’m here.”
She couldn’t tell if she’d screamed the words out loud or in his mind but she gave it all she had.

“I’ve got you now.”
He pulled her into his arms, picking her up off the cold ground and flooded her with warmth.

“Drake, I have to tell you something.”
She tried to pull her head off his chest to look at him, but couldn’t find the strength.

“Shhh. Rest now. Aiken’s coming.”
His energy surrounded her, seeping into her pores, warming her limbs as it spread through her, the heaviness holding her body in place beginning to lift.

“Drake, I love you.”
His scent filled her lungs, making her take another deep breath just to get more.

“Don’t you fucking dare, Rhiannon Atkinson-Mayfield. You hang on. You fight, damn it. That’s an order.”
He threw his head back and roared, sending blue flames shooting high into the sky.

Hang on? Of course, she was going to hang on. He wasn’t about to get rid of her. “
You know, you’re pretty damned sexy when you go all dragon on me.”
The corners of her lips twitched.

“Damn it, Rhia. I’m not sure I’ll survive this fright you’ve given me.”
His warm lips pressed against her forehead. “
Just lay there and let me take care of you for a minute. I can’t handle anything else right now.”

She snuggled closer. He had to know she wouldn’t join with Brody. “
I have to tell you something else.”

“No, no more talking, just resting.”

“Is it safe for me to approach?” Aiken didn’t move until Drake nodded.

“What have you done?” Aiken gathered healing light and sent it searching in her body.

“I just found her. Tell me what to do.” The gravelly tone to his voice reminded him just how close the dragon was to the surface.

After what seemed an eternity, Aiken withdrew. “Her injuries are not life-threatening, but it’s a good thing you found her when you did. Keep giving her energy, the rest will wait.”

Drake said nothing. He couldn’t think. When Rhia had reached out to him and he’d realized Bethania had her, his dragon’s fury had exploded. It had clawed for release, burning him from the inside out. Even now, it fought for dominance, but it wouldn’t win, not this time. Rhia needed him, and he’d be damned if he wasn’t there for her.

Aiken met and held his gaze. “
Take her home and talk to her. Trust her to make the right decision.”

Chapter 26

Rhia woke to the whisper of a kiss pressed against her lips. Drake’s scent enveloped her as she opened her eyes to find him watching her. A woman could get used to waking like this every day. After the attack in the forest earlier, she hadn’t expected to ever see him again, much less enjoy such a tender kiss. How could she have been foolish enough to think she’d be able to give him up?

“Have I been sleeping long?” She couldn’t read his expression in the dim light of her bedroom, but he’d kissed her, so it must mean he’d at least partially forgiven her, right?

“Not too long.” Reaching over, he pulled a piece of moss from her hair. “You almost died tonight. You’re entitled to some sleep.” His voice still held a trace of hoarseness, as though he still fought for control.

“Drake, we need to talk.” She had to make him understand. Running away wasn’t the answer, but neither was joining to a complete stranger when she loved him.

“Yes, we do.” He closed his eyes for a moment. “Evan just got back. Your brothers and father are waiting outside. Let me go reassure them so they can get to bed, and then we’ll talk.”

The rumbling of deep male voices started the moment he opened the bedroom door, and then muffled when he closed it behind him again. As much as she’d like to reassure them herself, right now all she wanted was to get things cleared up with Drake. Evan and his upcoming lecture could wait until morning. She could just imagine how long this one would be.

After the stunt she’d pulled earlier, Drake wouldn’t leave her alone for long, so she didn’t have much time. Once they’d finished talking, she planned on doing whatever it took to keep him with her, and if it meant waking the dragon, then so be it. Just thinking about Drake’s wild side had the creature inside her stretching and sniffing the air. “Go to sleep, you little hussy.” A small part of her still wanted to deny the presence inside her, but had it not been for its strength, she wouldn’t have made it out of the forest alive.

The shower beckoned her, and the tub begged to be used, but she didn’t have time for either. Freshening up at the sink wasn’t as soothing, but it would have to do. She’d already worried him enough for one day.

When he returned a short while later, she’d already tucked herself back in her bed where he’d left her.

When he didn’t speak, nervous anticipation had her shaking inside. “You’re still mad, aren’t you?” She couldn’t blame him. Her actions had not only put her at risk, but each of the members of the Coalition as well.

A muscle ticked in his jaw. “Yes, I’m angry, but we’ll deal with that later.”

“How are the men? Any serious injuries?”

“Nothing a few days of rest won’t fix. Aiken’s already sent them home to recuperate.”

A deep shudder shook her as she remembered the battle in the forest. She’d be lying if she said she wasn’t relieved Bethania was no longer a threat, but part of her was ashamed at what she’d done. “I killed her, Drake. I killed Bethania. I was so angry. My teeth… and my tongue…” Her gaze flew to his and she ran her tongue over her teeth to ensure they were back to normal. After having washed up, she knew her fingers were back to normal, but she couldn’t keep from looking at their tips to be certain. “I don’t know what happened.” She still couldn’t believe how the creature inside her had relished and craved it. A lump formed in her throat and her cheeks heated. Would Drake still look at her the same way?