Love of the Dragon (Her Dragon's Bane 4) (11 page)

“Why not use the tracker to find her?”

Connor shook his head. “That’s the thing. It’s gone, too.”

“What?” Zoah shouted, collapsing back down with the effort.

“We think she found it.”

“I need to find her.”

“You need to find her. I need to find her. Serena is going mad. She never knew about the tracker. Now she blames us for mismanaging the situation.”

“She’ll get over it when we find Charlotte.”

“I’m just worried. She doesn’t need the stress.”

“None of us do,” Zoah said weakly.

“You don’t understand, Zoah. She’s pregnant.”

“Pregnant. You are having another baby? Damn, Connor, you’ll be doubling the dragon population single-handedly at this rate.”

“Well, if you had got your act together, Zoah, I wouldn’t have the sole responsibility. Would I? You and the others at the Stronghold. If I didn’t know better, I would say you are all too frightened to claim your mates.”

“That’s not fair.”

“Isn’t it, Zoah? You could have handled this better. Look where running away has got you.”

Zoah couldn’t argue. All he knew was he wanted to make amends for abandoning Charlotte. The only problem was he didn’t think he would ever have the strength to move again.

The snuffling of a little nose against her cheek woke her. She couldn’t work out where she was. It was dark, but off to the left was an opening. Warm sunlight spilled through, casting its rays across her face. She fought not to turn over and go back to sleep. It was so much easier when you didn’t think about your problems. However, that didn’t make them go away.

“It’s time we ate.”

“Have you been here the whole time?” she asked.

“I said I would watch over you.”

“Thank you, Fin.”

He smiled. “That is not my name.”

“It’s what I would like to call you. Fintan. It means white bull. To me you are a cross between a white knight in shining armour and a proud, strong bull. But if you hate it, I’ll understand.”

“No. I don’t hate it. But I am the Minotaur.”

“Are you? You don’t seem to be the beast who terrorises the Labyrinth. You are helping me. When you don’t have to.”

“You are Serena’s sister. She was the first person to touch my heart. The only person I ever wanted to save, not kill.”

“Then accept the name.”

“Thank you, Charlotte.”

“No, Fin. Thank you. Now you said something about eating.”

“Yes. Then we can talk. I need to know everything.”

“So do I. I will tell you what I know, and then I would be grateful if you would help me figure out what is going on.”

He laughed. “You forget, Charlotte, I have no idea how human brains work.”

“Well, just let me sound off against you then. I need to get it all out of my head.”

“Then I suggest we go out to sit in the sunshine. The small cove here is hidden. No one comes this way. So it will be safe for us.”

She got out of bed; immediately Azure started to buzz around her head. “Chill, little one. No one is going to hurt you. Fin is a friend. But then, I guess you would be unsure. Everyone else you’ve ever met shut you away. Well, Fin knows all about being shut in and different, so he won’t hurt you. Isn’t that right, Fin?”

She saw the look cross his face. Fin longed to roar at the little dragon and send him flying for refuge. But when she caught his eye, he let it go. “I will protect you," he said and then added, "Why you brought that thing with you is beyond my imagining.”

“Why do you say that?”

“He’s not alive. He has no soul.”

“But he is alive. You can see him, his wings beat.”

“But his heart does not.”

“How...?”

“I have hunted in this Labyrinth for centuries. I can hear a beating heart at a hundred yards. I’ve torn enough of them out.” He frowned. “I apologise.”

“No. I understand.” Although her stomach churned and she couldn’t help feeling vulnerable. “Are you saying you can’t hear his heart?”

“Yes.”

“Maybe it’s too small.”

“Maybe it’s not there.”

“So what is he?”

“That witch of yours has been meddling with things she should not.”

“Tara. I supposed I guessed as much.”

“Let us go out into the sunlight and I will look at him properly.”

He led her out into the late afternoon sun. She certainly had slept a long time. The sea was lapping at the beach, and, as they settled down, they could be any other people on vacation. Except she was the mate of a dragon and he had the head of a bull.

There was a place for them to sit in the sun but sheltered by the cliffs. He obviously took no chances. No one could overlook them. He brought her food and wine. Her second taste of alcohol in so many days. Only he didn’t tell her not to drink too much. He treated her as an adult. As an equal.

“He looks like the blue dragon.” Fin pointed at Azure.

“Yes. He is the spitting image of Zoah. Which is why I agree he is made by witchcraft.” She watched the little dragon fly further away, the sun catching his scales. He circled around, the circumference growing bigger and bigger as he grew braver. Soon he was going out to the shallows of the sea. Splashing in the waves before flying back as fast as he could. He was like a child, interacting with the new world. “But what’s he for?”

“You don't know?” Fin asked.

“No. First of all, I thought they had turned Zoah into this little dragon. Maybe because he didn’t swear allegiance to Dòmhnall.”

Fin roared with laughter. “You really don’t trust those dragons, do you?”

“I trust Connor. But the rest of them, and Tara, not so much. But then, Tara is the one who told me to leave.”

“And you followed her advice? I thought you were smart.” Her expression made him smile, a strange sight on a bullhead. “I have no love of witches. You should always be wary of them.”

She defended Tara. “But she said it was so that things worked out right. I can’t help but trust her. She is the one who helped us all before.”

“For her own gain, if I remember correctly.”

“Yes. But still, she said it was the only way things would turn out right for Connor and Serena.”

“Again, I will ask. And you believed her?”

“You think she told me to leave for her own purpose?” asked Charlotte.

“Possibly. What does she want?”

Charlotte had to think for a moment. “I don’t know. Dòmhnall to take notice of her. Power. Nothing that me leaving would help.”

“Does she know you took your little friend?” He pointed to Azure, who was still whizzing around. The sun was beginning to set, and he was having fun shooting small bursts of fire out of his mouth.

“She must. She said she had seen everything. She even bought my plane ticket.”

“I bet she did.” He mimicked her voice; again, he conjured up a strange, almost grotesque image. The head of a bull mimicking a woman’s voice saying, “Where do you want to go? Right. Take this ticket and run away so I can rescue you.”

Charlotte didn't find his words funny. “She’d already bought the ticket. She knew before I had decided to come here.”

“Impressive. Or a trick. Are you sure she didn’t plant the idea in your head?”

“No. I’m certain. I’ve been over and over it. It was my decision.”

“What did Serena say?” He looked at her sharply. “She doesn’t know where you are?”

“No. Without knowing what Azure is, and why he was made, I thought it better to keep her out of it. I left a note and a message on her phone. She knows I’m safe.”

“Charlotte, you are very young. And I am very inexperienced in the ways of humans. But of all the people I have met, Serena is the one I would trust above all. It is why I spared her when she entered my lair. I also know how much she loves you. You must tell her where you are.”

“You think I made a mistake coming here?”

“Yes. You need to find out from Tara what is going on. You're acting like a child.”

Charlotte’s face grew hot. “You’re right. I hope I haven’t upset her too much. Do you think she will forgive me for not trusting her?”

“Yes. She loves you.”

“Thank you, Fin.” She took her phone out her pocket. There wasn’t much battery left. If she rang Serena now and told her where she was, perhaps Connor would fly here tonight to take her home. “No signal. I might have to go back towards the town.”

“I will guide you through the Labyrinth.”

She stood up. “Come on, Azure.” She looked for the little dragon; he wasn’t there. “Azure.”

Her heart jolted in her chest. How could she lose him when she didn’t know what he was or how important he was? Rushing towards the sea, she skimmed her gaze across the gentle waves looking for him. Nothing. Then, cross to her right, there was a puff of smoke and a screech.

“Let him go,” she shouted.

“Why should we? You don’t command us.”

“He is mine. I didn’t think Sirens were thieves.”

“They laughed, light and musical. “We are always stealing. Husbands, lovers. Lives.” A chorus of laughter filled Charlotte’s ears.

“And we are looking for repayment for the dragon that got away.”

They were talking about Connor, who had managed to escape their clutches. Only by going under the water had he managed to stop their singing affecting him. Then he had turned into a dragon and flown straight up into the air, where their voices couldn’t reach him.

Mermaids were treacherous and malicious, from what she had been told. Getting Azure back was not going to be easy.

“I’ll deal with this, Charlotte.” Fin came to stand by her side. “Let the poor thing go, you harlots.”

“Look at the ugly beast. Do you cry at night because we don’t sing for you?” They laughed. “Poor, lonely Minotaur. No one will ever love him with his ugly head. Such a shame when he has a body to make women weep. But they would kill themselves before they would mate with such a beast.”

“I have heard your taunts before. They do not bother me. Now let the dragon go.”

“Perhaps we should drown him in the sea.” One of the mermaids held Azure tightly and put him under the water.

“No,” shouted Charlotte rushing forward. She scrambled over the rocks, grazing her legs in the process. She didn’t care; she just wanted Azure back. He was the only contact she had to Zoah and what else was going on.

Fin was close behind her. The mermaids scattered, and she couldn’t be sure which one had hold of Azure. The light was too dim.

A little way off shore they turned. One of them swam forward and then opened her palm. There on the surface of the sea was a limp lifeless dragon. Charlotte dived into the water, surfacing close to where Azure bobbed along on the water.

The blonde mermaid reached out for her. Charlotte was completely oblivious to the danger she was in. As cold fingers gripped her wrists, she was swept forward by a wave of water created by Fin. He had entered the sea too and now gripped the mermaid by the throat. Her hand slipped from around Charlotte’s wrist. The Minotaur lifted her out of the water and then cast her aside, like a rag doll.

Turning, he gripped Charlotte under the arm roughly; in his other hand he scooped up Azure and hauled them all to the shore. Behind him, the mermaids gathered together, screaming curses. Charlotte was worried the commotion would draw attention to the cove.

Then the unthinkable happened. They began to sing. Fin stopped in his tracks, turning to look back at the mermaids. They were going to sing him to his death.

“Fin,” she said desperately. The cold water making her teeth chatter. She needed to get dry. But all she could think about was how the sirens had caused her to lose Azure, and now she stood to lose Fin too.

He looked at her. His face unreadable. “They have never sung for me before.”

“Fin. Don’t go to them. They’ll kill you.”

“I know.” However, he still turned and walked back towards the sea.

“Fin,” she shouted, catching hold of his hand and pulling him back to her. “Don’t go. I need you.”

Laughing with cruelty, the mermaids swam back to the shore, mocking Charlotte.

“You cannot save the big bull. He is ours.” Arms reached out for him. He walked into the shallows and let them come to him. He went deeper, and their song rose to entrap him further.

Charlotte dared not go with him; she would end up dead, too. But she had to do something. Just as she was about to plunge back into the water, Fin reacted.

He lifted his head and took in a large breath. Then he released it. The bellow that escaped him blasted into their faces. They recoiled from him, horror and disgust on their faces.

“How do you like my song, you harpies?”

Charlotte dropped to her knees. He hadn’t been affected. “How?”

He laughed, the happiest he had ever been. “I have a bull’s head. Their voices lure men. I am not a man. As they correctly pointed out.”

She flung her arms around him, pressing her body against his. He was so warm and she was so cold.

“Let’s get a fire going inside.” He led the way back to the cave.

She hurried by the side of him, tears welling in her eyes. “Poor Azure.”

“We can use him to start the fire.”

“You can’t burn him.”

“No. He can light it with his flames.”

“Fin. He’s dead.”

Fin held out his hand, palm up. There sat a rather bedraggled dragon. “He was never alive.”

“I don’t understand.”

“Azure is not living and breathing. So they could not drown him because he doesn’t need air. I think it was losing contact with you that hurt him. Under the water he couldn’t sense you.”

Azure lifted his wet body up and shook, water droplets spraying off him. Then he launched himself into the air and headed straight for Charlotte’s face.

She pushed him back a little and looked at him for signs of damage. He looked perfectly fine.

“I’m glad to see you, Azure.”

“I think we can assume he is a homing dragon.”

“A what?”

“He was made to be attracted to you. Whoever made him didn’t want to ever take the risk of losing you.”

“Zoah.”

“I need to get you back to the Stronghold. This is something I cannot help you with. You need to see Tara.”