Dragon Heat (Dragons of Perralt Book 2) (17 page)

Laila couldn’t sleep. A thousand thoughts raced through her mind as she lay next to Flint. His massive presence reassuring, yet intimidating. He was so? So? So damn much.

What did she mean to him? she wondered. Where did she fit? She was a girl from Fifth Point. A nobody. He was this handsome prince. From a family of wonderful people. Hell, he was a dragon. Magical, powerful. Just so much more than a girl from Fifth Point. No wonder he hadn’t wanted to fulfill the coin’s promise.

Sighing to herself, she slipped from the bed and donned her Fifth Point clothes.

I just want to be comfortable, she said to herself. I just want to know something is real.

Gathering the dishes from their left over meal, she snuck down the dark hallways to the kitchen. At least, she could do this. Make his life a little easier.

Balancing the tray on one arm, she opened the door into the kitchen. She had expected to find it empty. Instead, a dozen people were scurrying around like a heard of cats.

“Where should I put this?” she asked to the crowd, indicating the tray.

“There you are, girl,” the head cook screamed from across the room. “Hurry up, give it to the scullery maid and grab a mop. There’s a mess in the sink room, again.”

Laila’s heart fell. This was her place. This is what the people of Perralt thought of her. A kitchen wench. That was all a girl from Fifth Point was good for.

Fighting back a tear, she turned to find the scullery maids.

A sudden noise outside the kitchen window startled her. Thad, in his glorious dragon glory was flying close to the castle. As she watched, the giant beast roared and let loose a stream of pure yellow fire, simply because he could.

She stood there transfixed, frightened, and awed, all at the same time.

A hand grabbed her waist and she reacted the only way she could. Dropping the tray, she pulled her dagger and held it at her attacker’s throat.

The young girl’s eyes grew big as she looked back at her with terror.

“I … I … the dishes,” the young girl said, her eyes darting down to the dagger pointing at her jugular.

The kitchen had gone quiet, everyone afraid to move, less the scullery maid die instantly.

Laila’s stomach fell to the floor. What had she done? This wasn’t an attacker. This wasn’t danger, this was simply a young girl looking to take the dishes from her.

Glancing down, she saw the fine china dishes smashed to a hundred little chunks of pottery. Her heart lurched. She’d never be able to pay for this. It would have taken a year of stealing purses to get enough to replace it all.

What was she doing here? she wondered, as she slowly lowered the knife from the girl’s throat. Why had she ever thought she might belong? Flint didn’t want her. These people didn’t want her. She would never belong here. Her only destiny was Fifth Point and the streets.

.o0o.

Flint woke to a sunbeam dancing across his eyes. God, he’d slept late. Very late. Where was he? Laila’s room. He smiled to himself as he remembered their night together. A night of laughter and passion.

Sometime in the night, they had crept down to the kitchens. Laila dressed in nothing, but his shirt. Her bare feet patting against the stone floors.

They’d returned with a picnic of bread, cheese, and cold chicken, and sat cross-legged on her bed, devouring the food before they had returned to devouring each other.

A special memory that he would treasure forever.

Turning over, he reached for her. His hand slid across the cold sheets, searching.

Cracking one eye open, he looked.

She was gone. Damn that woman. Why couldn’t she stay in his bed? Well, technically, it was her bed. Even more reason. Where could she have gone?

His eyes scanned the room. Her dress was still there. Folded neatly over the chair. Not crumpled on the floor where he had left it. She must have gotten up early and tidied the room.

The food was gone. That must be it. She had returned the dishes to the kitchen.

He grumbled as he swung his legs over the side of the bed. Damn, he had wanted her one more time. One, long, slow coupling that lasted half the morning.

Sighing, he shook his head to clear the cobwebs. He was beat. Laila had taken everything he had to give and then some. She was insatiable. As if she feared this passion between them would disappear.

Never, his beast roared inside of him. Never.

Standing, he walked across the room. His brow narrowing in concern. Her Quaster clothes were gone. A sudden, sinking feeling began to build inside his chest.

Frantically, he searched the room, twisting about until he spied a piece of paper folded on the small writing desk in the corner.

Swallowing hard, he made his way to the paper. As he unfolded it, Laila’s gold locket fell into his hand. His fingers trembled as he slowly began to read.

Dearest Flint

Thank you. For everything. For showing me that there is a better world. For saving me in more ways than you can ever know. Most of all, thank you for being you. The greatest, strongest, bestest of men.

I cannot stay. I don’t belong here. I understand about the coin. But, I can’t. I just can’t. It hurts too much. Besides. I have had my prince in a castle. So the promise has been met.

Please understand. Please believe me. I will never forget you. But, I cannot stay.

Love Always

Laila

Looking down at the locket in disbelief, he undid the clasp and saw the coin inside.

She was gone. Truly gone.

“Noooo!” he roared, as he raced from the room.

.o0o.

Laila climbed over the forty-third log and shook her head. Who knew forests were this crowded? From the air, they looked all clean and tidy. But, down here on the ground, they were a jumbled mess.

She shook her head with a sad chuckle. Who would ever believe that she, Laila Mason, of Fifth Point, would view a forest from the air? From the back of a dragon, no less.

Oh, how her life had changed.

The incident in the kitchen had simply been the final straw. Deep down, she had always known it would lead to this. Flint didn’t want her in his life. Not permanently. And, there could be no other. Not once she had fallen in love with him.

There would be no prince in a castle. There wouldn’t even be the baker’s son. There would never be another. Not after Flint.

She would use the earrings he had given her to buy a small farm. Not a lot. A place where she could raise chickens and be safe. The thought of parting with his earrings sent a sick sadness through her, but it couldn’t be helped. She must do what she must do.

Sighing, she wiped a tear away and hurried down the path. The bundle of food slapped against her back. Her heart broke as she thought of the meal they had shared last night. The way his eyes had danced in the lamp light as they snuck through the halls to the kitchen.

She had been terrified they would be discovered. But, that had only added to the excitement of the night. The wonderful, magical night.

She would remember the feel of his arms around her for the rest of her life, she realized. It was a burden she would carry willingly.

Laila thought of Flint’s mother. Surely, the Queen would understand. A guilty shame fell on her. She had left without thanking her. Had abandoned the coin and not allowed them to fulfil their obligations.

But, really, they had. Her wish had been for a prince in a castle. And, Flint had delivered that. In more ways than one.

Stumbling over a root, she caught herself before she fell. Her world had turned misty and gray as the tears filled her eyes.

Breaking into a meadow, she began to run. Hurry, she said to herself. Get away. As far away as possible. Only then, would the pain begin to go away.

As she ran, a shadow passed overhead. Laila slammed to a stop. Her heart racing. Had Flint followed her? Turning, she held a hand up over her eyes and scanned the sky above her.

Yes, it was a dragon. She couldn’t breathe. No, not now, she couldn’t face him now.

She slowly turned to watch the dragon dip a wing and bank to the right, returning to her.

As she watched. Her stomach began to drop, and her heart stopped beating.

The dragon was gray in color.

Oh, my God, she thought. It wasn’t Flint, it wasn’t Thad. It was the Gray that had chased them into this forest.

Had he spotted her?

Laila froze like a rabbit in a hawk’s glare. Her mind screamed for her to run, but her muscles refused to move. Terrified that the smallest movement would draw his attention.

The big gray dragon continued to approach. How could he not see her?

Was this how it would end? she wondered. At least, she had left the coin. The beast wouldn’t get it. The valley and Flint's family were safe.

Her heart pounded in her chest. Run you idiot, but still she remained frozen. Unable to move. Unable to look away from the mighty beast as he swooped down over the clearing. Flaring his large leathery wings, he came to rest at the other end of the clearing.

Laila swallowed and slowly began to back up. If she ran, he would spring and be on her before she could make the safety of the trees.

Placing one foot behind the other, she slowly backed away. All the while, keeping a wary eye on the dragon.

The mighty beast slowly turned and stared at her. His giant head twisting to bring both eyes to bare. As if he were measuring distance.

He wants the coin, she thought. But she didn’t have it. Even if she wanted to, she couldn’t give it to him. Taking another step, she twisted to run.

A rushing roar of fire shot past her and into the trees.

Laila froze, afraid to move. The fire had been a warning not to flee.

But, if she didn’t, surely she would die. This monster would crush her into fine dust.

She turned back to look at the dragon. Her hand slid down to her lower leg to retrieve Gwyn’s dagger. At least, she’d go down fighting, she thought. It was the least she could do. Maybe, an eye. Maybe, she could work the dagger between those armored plates and reach a vital organ.

Licking her lips, she crouched, pointed her small weapon towards the giant beast, and waited.

The Dragon began walking towards her. His huge head swinging from side to side with each step.

Laila noticed a fiery flame bubbling at the back of his throat and wondered how it would end. With fire, being bit in half. Or, stomped into the dust.

Taking a deep breath, she squared her shoulders.

From the air above, a mighty roar broke through the morning. The sound of angry angels coming to rescue her. She would know that roar anywhere.

Flint, dragon Flint, was tearing through the sky like an eagle diving on a quail.

Laila couldn’t help but smile. She should have known. Flint to the rescue, as always.

Becoming transfixed, she watched the huge golden beast fold his wings back and point himself directly at the Gray.

She held her breath as he fell, strait as an arrow in flight. Determined, focused.

The gray dragon twisted to meet his attacker, too late. Flint plowed into him with a mighty crash that shook the forest and made the ground bounce. It was like two mountains colliding. Dust and mayhem.

The two beasts rolled, over and over, biting, scratching at each other. Tails swinging, trying to impale each other on vicious spikes.

Laila’s heart jumped to her throat. Not Flint. No, Flint could not be hurt. She pleaded with the gods and begged for him to be all right as the two animals crashed into the trees.

Flint let out a giant roar and sank his fangs into the side of the gray dragon. The animal bellowed and twisted away. Trees exploded into sawdust as they fought and turned. Like two giant dogs in a battle to the death.

Holding her hands to her chest, Laila watched. Unable to believe the power and fierceness she was witnessing.

Still, the two continued to tangle. The battle raged back into the clearing and then back again into the forest.

At last, the Gray jumped away. Swishing with his tail as he tried to hold Flint back while making his escape.

Laila’s mouth dropped open as the Gray began to race towards her. She thought for sure he would trample right over her when his wings pumped once, and he lifted into the air.

The beast flew directly over her. His scaly belly only inches from her head.

Her survival instincts finally kicked in and she dropped to the ground to avoid being hit by twenty tons of pure muscle and hate.

Turning over, she watched the Gray gain altitude. A nasty red gash along his side told her that Flint had done some serious damage to the monster.

She quickly twisted back around to find Flint emerging from the trees. Her heart was able to relax.

The giant beast shook his head, a rather large log had gotten caught on one of his horns. He shook his head again, and the long piece of tree flew through the air to land a dozen feet away.