Chapter 5 #2
“Thanks.” Scarlett kept her polite smile affixed until the woman left the room.
Still wide awake, she checked on Ransom.
The big guy needed his rest. If he’d been at full capacity, she doubted she would’ve escaped him during their last encounter.
A flash of amusement filled her as she pictured his reaction on finding the chains empty but still locked.
She looked forward to their next battle where they were both one hundred percent fit.
In his separate room, Ransom was asleep, but his body quivered, and he moaned as she approached his bed. What was wrong with him? No one had mentioned the cause of his illness.
She placed her hand on his forehead, and the cold clamminess of his skin had her jerking her fingers away. The room was freezing, too, and he didn’t have a single blanket. Strange. Mistress Aelene seemed to know what she was doing and had the trust of Daenys, the group’s leader.
“Scarlett,” he whispered.
She peered closer, but his eyes weren’t open. He rolled over onto his side and flopped back into his original position.
“Scarlett.” Longing infused her name.
Oh! The dragon-man was asleep, but she was on his mind. She’d appreciated his kiss and relished the surge of happiness she experienced. He was a fine man, even if he had abducted her. Her brothers would like him. Her cousins too.
She drew a sharp breath. What the devil was she thinking? She had plans. Goals. Ambition. A list to conquer. A man—a dominant, bossy one with responsibilities—he’d attempt to mow over her objections. She snorted, easily imagining barefoot and pregnant as part of the scenario. That wasn’t her.
Head straight, she retreated to grab some rest.
The next cycle, Ransom woke clear-headed and eager to continue. He’d dreamed of Scarlett instead of the monster prince entering his mind. Daenys had explained that because they’d pulled them back in time, the Maphra prince would never find him.
Food scents wafted his way—something savory and meaty.
He sat up, testing his limbs before he stood.
Better. Much better. He rose to his feet, stared down at his rumpled trews and tunic, and gave a shrug.
Even though Daenys and Mistress Aelene had offered suggestions to fight the prince, chances were he’d die.
He had to deliver Scarlett to Prince Kalim and risk everything to save his family, his friends.
What did a few wrinkles matter in the scheme of things?
“You’re awake.”
Ransom lifted his gaze to meet Scarlett’s enigmatic one. The woman never gave away much. He grinned. Once the prince set his sights on her, he’d attempted to use his growing powers to enmesh her too. He’d failed since the resonance didn’t affect her.
“Cat got ya tongue?” She chuckled, her amusement vibrant and contagious, even though he didn’t understand the source of her humor.
He sauntered toward her. “My tongue is fine. Is that food I smell? I’m starving.”
She smiled, a pleasant picture with her black hair loose around her shoulders and her green eyes sparkling.
The plain black trews and a matching tunic she’d purchased at the market on Dalcon enhanced her attributes rather than hiding them.
“Mistress Aelene had her assistant deliver breakfast. Meat and eggs. Now that you’re awake, you can eat with me, and I’ll start my interrogation.
You, Mr. Dragon Man, are withholding information. I want it.”
Her words ran from his brain and stroked down his body when she spoke of want. His dick twitched with more vigor than he’d experienced during recent cycles. He had an intimate knowledge of desire when it came to Scarlett Mitchell—a need that had stayed with him since their first meeting.
Ransom didn’t reply, but pushed past her and strode to a table holding two trays. He sat and waited for her to join him.
She sauntered closer, allowing him to appreciate her lithe, fit body. The silent sass that blazed from her face. Her intelligence.
“If you intend to question me, I require food.”
Scarlett snorted and sat. “How did we get here? And don’t tell me it was the meteor shower.”
“As far as I understand, the Elevenoss race can bend time. They’ve yanked us back to give me information without their enemies’ knowledge.”
Scarlett picked up a tankard and sipped the hot beverage. She frowned over the top of the pewter vessel, her green eyes narrowed. “Your explanation raises more questions. They say curiosity killed the cat,” she added in a mutter. “Obviously, there is sense behind the old saying.”
Ransom didn’t understand her oblique conversation. Nothing new there. Since their first meeting, she’d stymied him. He applied himself to the meat, which was bloody and hot, just as he preferred.
“Well, if they’ve pulled us back in time, how do we return? My brothers can’t rescue me here. I was looking forward to seeing them kick your shapely butt.”
“You look at my backside?”
Scarlett tilted her chin, giving him more sass. “And that’s the part of the conversation he grasps. What part of mean, vengeful brothers did you miss?”
“I’m a dragon.”
“Color me impressed.” She had the cheek to yawn before she forked up a piece of meat, stuck it in her mouth, and chewed.
“I have fire.” Ransom winced inwardly. Gryffnn would roar with laughter if he heard this discussion.
“You’re ill,” she countered, going for the jugular. “You’re not at full capacity, and you need me along to help save your butt.”
“You’re a female.”
Her green eyes narrowed, and her hair seemed to ruffle. An angry growl escaped her, and she reminded him of Camryn and Jannike, both feisty feline shapeshifters. He blinked and watched Scarlett calmly eat her meal.
“I might be female, but we have different strengths. We’re mentally stronger than males. When are we leaving?”
The change of subject was welcome because she was right.
Their situation would worsen if the prince entered Scarlett’s mind.
The Maphra race enjoyed tropical climates, according to Daenys.
What if they attempted to force Scarlett to move them to the planet of Tiraq with its higher population and proximity to other planets?
“We depart once our ship is repaired,” Ransom said. “Daenys promised her people would work late until we could fly again.”
“You had long conversations without me,” Scarlett accused.
“It’s best if you don’t have full information. The locals who live in the area we are traveling through are mind-delvers. Did you hear the stones and mountains sing when you visited Narenda?”
“No.” Scarlett regarded him with a steady gaze, waiting.
“You’re lucky. My people are susceptible, and even short exposure can kill us. I told you I was in a coma.”
“Then why are you returning to the area? Why not stay in a safe place? Or, if you must travel there for your raw materials, send someone to do it for you as you’ve done in the past.”
“I must stop the resonance.”
“How?”
“The solution will come to me.”
“Well, that’s a plan.” Scarlett sniffed, the tiny sound showing her disapproval.
Ransom drank, the herby scent and taste of his beverage telling him Mistress Aelene had added medicinal plants to aid his health.
It wasn’t disgusting, so he kept drinking.
When Scarlett maintained her frown, he swallowed the dregs.
“You think I’m crazy, but I have to do something.
The Maphra rule their side of Narenda. They’ve murdered the Elevenoss with the resonance.
They’ve almost annihilated another tribe of Elevenoss allies by feeding on them, and soon, they’ll discover a way to feast on my clan.
I can’t allow that. Even if I die trying, at least I’m taking action to fix the problem my father ignored.
Can’t you be happy to receive the raw stones you wanted? ”
And he’d given her a partial truth again.
“This resonance—can you describe it for me again? I mean specifically what happens when it traps you or one of the Elevenoss folk.”
Ransom shuddered, his gaze turning glassy.
“I mentioned singing, and that’s what it’s like at first. The song is sweet and bespells, but the tune morphs.
It becomes higher and strident. Once the music gets to that stage, it’s too late to pull away.
When it happened to me, my body stopped functioning.
The high-pitch sound still plucks at my brain.
Eventually, it’s too much, and the affected being blacks out.
I lay in a coma for half a rotation.” He didn’t mention it was she who’d dragged him from his coma—or rather, the prince had decided he wanted this brilliant, striking woman who was stealing stones.
“You mentioned the Maphra race killed off most of the Elevenoss, and they did that with resonance,” Scarlett said.
“Yes,” Daenys said from the doorway. “The Maphra designed resonance with us in mind. With my people, the effect is different. We hear the noise—the song—and when we go closer to investigate, we hear a pop. That’s the resonance digging into our minds, and once that happens, the Maphra can feed on our energy. They drain us dry until we are husks.”
“What happens, then?” Scarlett asked.
“We disintegrate. It’s a painful way to die. The Maphra show no mercy to their enemies,” Daenys said. “They must be stopped.”
Scarlett glanced at him. “Ransom is one man. The resonance is already sapping his strength. Oh, frying fungus! I’m so stupid.
The Maphra people are feeding on you. That’s why you’re sick and weak.
I don’t understand why you’d willingly place yourself in danger by confronting these people.
” She sounded worried on his behalf, and that caused his heart to leap with pleasure. “Or why you’re dragging me along.”
“My people are in danger, and the rocks no longer sing for me. The resonance has already trapped me, so I’m the perfect person to stop the Maphra. How can I not do my best to defeat this enemy?”
“But you are one dragon. How many Maphra are there?” Scarlett asked. “Why haven’t you assembled a team to help? What about the people who collect your raw materials for you? Ask them for aid. And you’re not telling me why I’m here.”
“They have families. Children. I hate to place them in danger,” Ransom said.
“What about me?” Scarlett spat. Her hair ruffled up again, and she reminded him of a spitting feline.
“The resonance doesn’t affect you,” Daenys said, thankfully answering for him when he wasn’t sure how to make this right.
Scarlett had escaped him once with her resourcefulness. If she turned her back on him now, Prince Kalim—there was no predicting his reaction.
“We’ve given Ransom remedies to help him fight the prince. We’re doing everything we can to aid from behind the scenes,” Daenys promised.
“Why can’t you bend time to before the resonance and take them out?” Scarlett asked.
A reasonable question and one he’d asked.
“We’ve tried that, and in each variation we produced, the Maphra race has placed a failsafe to stop us changing history. We have tried everything and continue to fight from a distance. Prince Kalim is ready to awaken. That is the reason for our urgency,” Daenys explained.
“He’s asleep?”
“In stasis,” Ransom said. “It’s my job—our job—to find him before he awakens fully and can move at will. Once he no longer sleeps, he can move around Narenda and travel to other nearby planets.”
“I came to tell you your ship is ready,” Daenys said.
“We’ve strengthened the hull and ship’s bodywork and added shields to increase protection.
We’ve also added communication and a small room where it will be impossible for Prince Kalim to connect with you.
This will give you a small respite, although you must use this sparingly if you wish to contact us.
We don’t want the prince to become suspicious. It is time for you to leave.”
Ransom finished his plate of meat and drank the refilled tankard before standing.
“Won’t this prince wonder why he hasn’t been able to contact Ransom?” Scarlett asked.
“We’ve thought of that and factored it into your course back to your time. You will arrive before you left,” Daenys said.
“As if that doesn’t add to the confusion,” Scarlett muttered. She rose and lifted her chin. “Why do you need me?”
Ransom shared a glance with Daenys.
“You’re not answering me.” Scarlett sounded frustrated, angry, and he didn’t blame her. Guilt suffused him, yet changing course wasn’t possible.
“You are making a great sacrifice. Our people will not forget,” Daenys said.
Ransom shrugged, too weary to embrace the fear that had trailed him like a shadow ever since he’d first fallen into a coma. “I fight for my clan too.”
He, Daenys, and Scarlett left the room and stepped into the forest. Daenys’s people and bodyguards stood in a line, and as he passed, they saluted, their show of respect telling him how much was at stake.
He could not fail.