8. Calista
Chapter 8
Calista
We were given horses to ride to the edge of the forest, stepping out on the eastern side and to the flatlands beyond.
Khazmuda flew from the south to meet us there, and once he soared overhead, Queen Eldinar and the elves in charge of her protection all looked up to admire the black dragon that blocked out the sun.
He glided down, and his heavy body hit the earth with a distinct thud that sent tremors through the ground. He folded his wings and looked down at us all.
I climbed off the horse I shared with Talon then jogged to him. “I’m so happy to see you.” I ran into one of his powerful legs with enormous talons at the end and hugged him as best I could, my hands unable to meet on the other side of his girth.
He dropped his head and rubbed the soft side of his snout against my hair, a puff of hot air releasing from his nostrils and making my strands dance for an instant. I missed you too, Pretty.
“I’m sorry for hogging Talon. I know how much he means to you.”
He continued to rub me like I was a hatchling. Dragons are possessive of those they love as if they were treasure. Talon is also yours, and I need to share. If I found my mate, I know Talon would understand. He pulled away so he could look at me with one of his dark eyes.
“You’re so sweet, Khazmuda.” I pressed a kiss to one of his hard scales. “I know you must be excited to meet the dragons. Perhaps you’ll meet a female dragon with scales as beautiful as yours.”
Perhaps .
Queen Eldinar dismounted her horse and approached Khazmuda. “It’s lovely to see you again, my friend.” She gave a slight bow to him, wearing a new set of armor that was as pristine as the original.
I translated for Khazmuda so everyone could hear his words. You as well, Queen Eldinar.
“It’s several days’ ride to the north. You can meet us at the coastline if you wish.”
I wish to stay with Talon and Pretty. We’ve been separated for so long.
“Of course,” she said. “I thought you might say that.” She turned to her men, including General Ezra. “Then let’s ride.”
When I returned to my horse, Talon had already hopped down to the ground to help me back into the saddle.
“I can do it.”
He smirked. “You can do it better if I give you a push. Come on.”
I grabbed on to the pommel and slipped my foot into the stirrup. When I pulled myself up, he placed his hand on my ass, giving me a push that made it a lot easier to reach the top of the steed.
He moved into the saddle behind me and grabbed the reins, preferring to have me against his chest so I wouldn’t fall off. I’d ridden horses as a kid but hadn’t been on one since Scorpion Valley was taken…by the very man who held me.
Talon clicked his heels into the steed and took off with Queen Eldinar, handling the animal like he’d ridden horses and dragons all his life. When we’d traveled through the forest, we walked most of the way because of the dense trees, so this was the first time we took off at a full run.
Now, I was happy to be in the front.
When he felt my unease, he hooked his arm across my waist and held the reins with one hand.
I grabbed on to his arm because it felt more secure than the pommel at the front of the saddle. Being wedged between his chest and his arm made me feel so snug, there was no way I could bounce off.
“First time on a horse?” he asked.
“No. It’s just been a long time.” And my father would never allow me to run, only walk through the trails and enjoy the scenery. Riding atop a powerful steed that ran at full speed was far more terrifying than flying on the back of Inferno.
“Don’t worry. I’ve got you.”
My heart gave a flutter. “I know you do.”
We rode until sunset then made camp out in the open. Unlike the kingdom on the other side of the mountain, this place was mostly uninhabited. Lots of lush valleys and forests full of mighty pines. No sight of a human or elf anywhere.
The soldiers put together Queen Eldinar’s tent and took their station in a circle around it, guarding her from all sides. But it was probably unnecessary when we seemed to be alone in this land—and her husband was the general of the army.
Talon built the little tent we would share, along with a fire. His horse was on a loose rope so he could graze on the grass.
The sky was becoming fainter with every passing second, the colors changing as the sunset deepened to blood-orange. Khazmuda lay on the ground behind us, like a dog that was tired after a long day.
I walked over to Queen Eldinar, whose hair flapped in the breeze as she watched the sunset with visible appreciation. “Your Majesty, do others live in these lands?”
“Yes.”
“It seems so open…and empty.”
“We’re the only civilization that resides in these lands. But others do live here, like the Behemoths and goblins, both of which you’ve met. There are other beings as well. We refer to them as monsters.”
“Why live in a land with such foul creatures?”
She turned to look at me, the breeze continuing to gently pull the strands from her face. “Because no one else wants to live in haunted lands, so we remain at peace. If the humans from your kingdom knew how to pass the mountains and found beautiful soil and unclaimed land, they would invade our forest and cut it down to build homes and castles. The monsters are like spiders—they keep worse creatures at bay.”
“The monsters have never challenged you?”
She shook her head. “We never had a quarrel until General Titan decided to use them for his own benefit. They may know we reside in the forest, but after witnessing the defeat of the Behemoths, I’m sure they’ll stay away.”
“Are they anywhere near us now?”
“No. They live to the west, closer to the mountains. Everything that you see is claimed by nature alone—as it should be.”
I looked at the sunset again, which was nearly over, the rim of the sun sinking beneath the horizon. The air felt warm on the summer evening, a nice respite now that the sun was almost gone. After serving a decade in the Arid Sands, any heat I encountered would feel mild in comparison.
“Get some sleep,” Queen Eldinar said. “We leave before sunrise.” She turned away, her blond hair dancing in the breeze, dressed in pristine white like a lily.
I returned to the campsite I would share with Talon, and he already had a roast over the fire.
I glanced at the elves and saw some of them stare in disapproval.
Talon sat upon the log in front of the fire and watched the flames dance. “We’re outside the forest.”
I said nothing before I took a seat beside him.
Khazmuda joined us, resting his chin on the ground as he enjoyed the light from the campfire. Did you ask Queen Eldinar how many dragons reside in Thalian?
“No,” I said. “But we’ll find out soon enough.”
I wonder if they’ll be different from me. Will their scales be shinier? Their claws sharper?
“Impossible,” I said with a smile.
What if they’re bigger than me?
“Then the war will be easily won,” Talon said. “Because you’re enormous.”
You’re right. I am enormous.
Talon rotated the meat for even cooking then opened his canteen and took a drink. He handed it to me to share. “It’s not water.”
“Then what is it?”
“The good shit.”
I hesitated before I tilted the canteen back slightly and took a small drink. It was like fire down my throat, and I nearly spat it out.
Talon smirked.
With a look of disgust on my face, I handed it back. “That is not wine.”
“It’s better than wine.”
I reached for my canteen and washed away the foul taste with the water.
Do you think they’ll like me?
I turned back to Khazmuda. “Of course they will. You’re beautiful—on the inside as well as the outside.”
Beautiful?
“She means you’re terrifying and have scales the color of midnight,” Talon said. “They’ll fear you and respect you—and that’s the foundation of any good relationship.”
“I meant what I said,” I said. “You don’t have anything to worry about. They may not like me and Talon.”
No one likes Talon. But everyone loves you, Pretty.
I smiled.
“Thanks,” Talon said coldly. He approached the fire and removed the spit to slice up the meat. I wasn’t sure when he’d hunted, but he’d caught something in my brief absence. He divided it between us and handed me a plate.
“No, thank you.”
He hesitated before he tipped his plate and let my portion roll onto his. “You need to eat.”
“I packed food.”
“We aren’t in the forest anymore, and you aren’t one of them.”
“I know, but it still makes me uncomfortable.”
He let the conversation fade and ate in silence.
I’ve gotten fat since you’ve been in the forest. All I do is eat and sleep.
“I didn’t notice,” I said.
It’s hard to notice on a dragon.
“I noticed,” Talon said with a smirk.
Khazmuda released a quiet growl.
“You know I’m kidding.” Talon finished his dinner then wiped his hands. “If you give me your rations, I can cook something for you.”
I grabbed my pack and pulled out the medley of black potatoes and vegetables seasoned with rock salt. There were also some nuts to add a crunch to the dish.
Talon pulled out a pan from his pack and sautéed everything over the fire. It was done quickly, a lot quicker than his meat, and he dumped it onto his plate before he handed it to me.
“Thank you.”
It was dark now, the stars bright overhead, brilliant as sunshine because there were so many of them. A streak flashed across the sky, like a star had fallen from its place in the heavens.
Talon stared at it for a while before he looked at the fire once more.
I finished my dinner and returned the plate to his pack.
Khazmuda had closed his eyes like he was ready to sleep.
Someone approached our campfire, becoming visible in the smoke. In his armor and uniform stood Commander Luxe, his long blond hair hanging around his face.
Talon rose to his feet as if he’d been provoked.
Commander Luxe looked at him instead of me.
Talon stared right back, flames in his eyes.
“Death King,” Commander Luxe said. “May I have a word?”
My eyes swung back and forth between the two men.
Talon’s cape caught slightly on the wind. He stared at Commander Luxe like he was an enemy in battle when they were allies on the same side. “Speak.”
“I meant in private.”
Talon didn’t raise his voice, but his tone darkened. “You may speak in present company.”
I stared at Commander Luxe.
Khazmuda didn’t lift his head from the ground, but his tired eyes opened and watched the scene before him.
Commander Luxe made the mistake of glancing at me.
“I said, speak.”
Now, Commander Luxe stared at Talon and nothing else.
“You’ve already disturbed my evening. Don’t let that be in vain.”
After seconds of silence, Commander Luxe made his plea. “I would like to rectify the tension between us because you saved my queen and protected the forest I call home. You’re a friend to our queen, and I would like to be friends as well.”
“You’re no friend of mine.”
“Talon.” I wanted to cover my face because of the humiliation. It was unnecessary hostility directed toward a man who had only been kind to me.
“Queen Eldinar has earned my friendship. Your forest has earned my respect. But you’ve earned nothing. Now leave my sight and never return.”
Commander Luxe seemed to realize this was a lost cause because he left the campsite without saying a word. He walked off and disappeared into the night.
Once he was gone, Talon returned to the log and stared at the flames as if nothing had happened.
I knew he could feel my hot stare on the side of his face, but he ignored it. I spoke to Khazmuda. Has he always been this way?
He feels emotions deeper than others of his kind. Ever since I met him, I’ve noticed his emotions are always right beneath the surface. He’s always angry. He’s always bitter. He’s always depressed. And at any moment, those emotions can escape. But with you, those emotions have changed. Now, he’s always possessive. He’s always protective. He’s always emotional. But there are moments of peace in between. Unfortunately, this is not one of those moments.
I was so pissed off at Talon, but Khazmuda somehow made me less angry.
Dragons are the same way. When we find our mate, we’ll burn the world for them. We’ll burn the world for our hatchlings. We are normally pragmatic and calm creatures, but once we feel threatened, we become the monsters we’re feared to be. Talon has the blood of dragons in his veins, so he feels deeper than most.
I also have the blood of dragons.
And it’s easy to see how you feel for him. He raised his chin from the ground and looked at me. I’ve never seen him with another woman besides you, so this side of him is even more intense than usual. Forgive him, Pretty.
I lay in the bedroll alone, on the hard ground that made my back stiff. But I knew I wouldn’t notice such discomfort if I had Talon beside me. I was dead tired after the day of travel and the drama outside the tent, but my mind wouldn’t rest until Talon was beside me.
But it seemed like he had no intention of coming to bed.
I crawled to the flap and looked at him in front of the fire, his back to me and his muscular shoulders a silhouette against the flames. “Talon.”
He ignored me, not the least bit startled by my voice.
“Come to bed.” I sat there and stared at him, longing for him to leave the fire and bring his flames to me.
He didn’t react at all.
I continued to wait for something to happen, but it never did. “I’m tired.”
“Then go to sleep.”
I released a sigh of frustration, annoyed that he was treating me like I was the one who’d done something wrong. But the last thing I wanted to do was fight. “I want you.” I couldn’t express my longing any better than that. It was a desperation that couldn’t be quelled by anything else but him.
But he continued to sit there.
I released the flap and sighed as I crawled back into bed, cold on the hard ground, lonely without the man who gave me peace and butterflies that felt like fire-breathing dragons at the same time. I closed my eyes and tried to relax.
He opened the flap and entered the tent.
Relief washed over me at the sight of him, like he’d just rescued me from an untimely death.
He removed his armor and cape, placed his sword on the ground next to the bedroll, and in only his trousers, he got into the bedroll with me.
The second he was close, I moved into his chest and held him. My legs tucked between his, and I felt the warmth from his body immediately thaw my body and the bedroll that surrounded us.
I felt more tired than I ever had.
His lips rested against my hairline, and he lay still, his heartbeat gradually starting to slow down.
I listened to it like a lullaby and fell asleep.
When I woke up again, it was still dark outside. The campfire burned.
I wasn’t sure if I’d been asleep for just a few minutes…or if it was a new day. When I reached for Talon beside me, he was gone, so I assumed sunrise was close. I sat up and groaned, dead tired and wanting to go back to sleep. I noticed the sounds from the campsite as everyone else packed, and I assumed that was what had woken me up.
The flap opened, and Talon appeared on one knee, wearing his armor and his cape. “Time to move.”
“It’s not even light out.”
“The sooner we get there, the sooner this is over.”
“That doesn’t help me at all right now.”
He smirked then grabbed my clothes before he handed them to me. “You can sleep on the way.”
“On a horse?” I asked incredulously.
“Come on, baby,” he said. “You know I’d never let you fall.”
We traveled that way for three days. Our nights were spent camping out in the open, and our mornings were spent in the dark. The horses rode the entire way, covering dozens of leagues every single day, but the trek was so long it took an eternity to get there. When we were close to the coast, I could feel the change in the air, the scent of salt and water, feel the drop in temperature as the world became cooler.
There were no dragons to spot, so I knew this wasn’t the end of our journey.
It was nearly sunset when we arrived, the waves along the shore a crystal blue in the light. The wind was a lot stronger this close to the sea, and I could feel it flap through my hair. We seemed to have reached the end of the world without recourse.
Talon said nothing, just waited for Queen Eldinar to explain the next part of the plan.
The elves disbanded and moved to the shoreline, and from locations hidden in the grasslands and near rocks, they pulled out rowboats that could fit twelve men. They placed them on the sand with the oars.
I looked at the tiny little boats then out to the vast horizon over the sea. “I don’t like this…”
Talon continued to hold his silence as he stared at the queen’s back, waiting for her to finish conferring with her men. His cape danced in the wind, but he remained still as a statue. Khazmuda kept his distance so he wouldn’t trample on anyone accidentally.
The queen turned away from my uncle and approached us. “Now, we sail.”
Talon glanced at the boats before he looked at her again. “Calista and I will ride Khazmuda above.”
“Khazmuda will have to wait here.” She looked past Talon to the dragon that sat on the grass. “As much as we’d like to welcome you, there’s simply no room where we’re going. Our journey is brief, just around the corner to the cliff at the edge.” She turned to face the mountainous cliffside to our left, the terrain steep. “Our harbor is concealed from land within the rock. Our galleons and supplies are stored there. The only way to reach it is by rowboat. Once we set sail, you can notify Khazmuda so he can fly as we sail.”
Now that Talon knew the plan, he was more agreeable. “Then let’s go.”
The horses were left with a few guards who would await our return, and the rest piled into the boats before we pushed off into the water. Everyone grabbed an oar and paddled against the waves, water splashing all over us, until we reached the calm sea.
Talon seemed to know exactly what to do, knew how to handle the oar and when to change sides like the others.
We turned left and approached the cliff at the corner of the land, and as we neared, we saw the entry into the chasm. It looked like a shadow from a distance, but as we came closer, the texture changed and the depth was discernible.
We rowed inside, the ceiling rising hundreds of feet up above, revealing an enormous cove holding several galleons with their sails raised. Elves were visible on the ramparts and the docks, watching the queen slowly sail to where they stood.
No one would ever know about this place unless someone told them it was there.
The boats were secured to the edge, and we stepped onto the wooden dock. The galleon closest to us was constructed of warm wood that resembled the color of honey. At the bow, Queen Eldinar was carved into the wood, wearing a flower crown in her long hair. Mesmerized by the sight, I studied the ship and watched it slowly bob in the water.
When I realized Talon wasn’t beside me, I turned to find him.
He’d walked farther down the dock, examining the ship with an eye of admiration, like he appreciated the craftsmanship of the galleon. He stepped back and examined the sails, looked at the crow’s nest up above, stared at it with wide eyes like he’d seen one of these before…or had never seen one in his life.
“We’ll rest here tonight,” Queen Eldinar said. “We’ll set sail in the morning.”
“How long is the journey?”
“It depends on the speed and the direction of the wind,” she said. “But it could be a couple days or a week.” She turned away and went to General Ezra’s side to speak to him quietly.
He nodded at whatever she said, but his eyes glazed over like he wasn’t really listening, too infatuated with her appearance to focus. Then they walked away together, General Ezra always slightly behind her.
I turned back to Talon.
He continued to examine the ship.
I came to his side. “It’s pretty.”
“It is,” he said in agreement. “It’s very well made.”
“How can you tell?”
His arms crossed over his chest, and he continued to stare at the woodwork, his eyes lost in a daze. “Because I used to be a sailor.”
We were given accommodations in a private room with a bed and a real mattress. My back was stiff from sleeping on the ground for three nights, and I was relieved I would be spared that discomfort.
Talon helped himself to a shower then stepped into the room in just his boxers. His arms were cut with the lines of muscle, and his abs looked the same, so distinct and sharp. His hair was still damp, but he didn’t seem to care enough to dry it.
I sat up in bed, already clean from my shower, watching him carry himself with a straight spine and rounded shoulders. A fire burned in the hearth because he’d started the flames. It brought warmth to a room that seemed to have been vacant for a long time. “How long were you a sailor?”
He stilled at the question before he slowly turned to me.
He never answered my questions about his past. He told me as little as possible, as if sharing parts of his past was akin to giving away bits of his soul. “Almost twenty years.”
My eyebrows slowly rose up my face in surprise. “Wow. Where did you sail to?”
“Everywhere.”
“And what were you sailing for?”
He hesitated at the question, and that seemed like the end of our conversation. But to my surprise, he answered. “Sailor is too generous a word. I was a pirate, the kind that plunders and steals.”
I felt no judgment. Would never think less of him, no matter what he told me. “Did you enjoy it?”
He took a seat at the edge of the bed, directly in front of the fireplace, his eyes on the wall beside me. “I joined the crew as a prisoner, and I didn’t have an opinion about anything at the time.”
“Why were you taken as a prisoner?”
“I was living in a quiet village when Captain Blackstorm and his crew took over. They’d lost some of their crew on their last mission and needed hands on deck. They wanted to take a boy who had barely become a man, so I took his place.”
My eyes softened. “That was kind of you.”
“He had a family, and I didn’t care whether I lived or died.”
The softness faded as a wave of sorrow struck me. I could hear the pain in his voice, see the bottomless pit in his gaze.
“I’d been a fisherman for the previous year, so I was a good addition to their crew. I did what I was told and didn’t say more than a couple words for years. But then things started to change. Captain Blackstorm took a liking to me and made me his commander. We sailed the seas far and wide…and I think the ocean healed me in some ways.”
“Do you miss it?”
He considered my question for a long time. “I don’t miss who I was. I was more dead than alive. Just going through the motions day after day in the hope I would either die or the pain would stop. Captain Blackstorm told me I was the bravest man he ever knew, but I just had a death wish.” He kept his eyes on the wall. “But I do miss the simplicity. All we would do was sail and plunder. Over and over. Through the winds, the tides, and the storms. Celebrate our conquests with a big pint at the pub and laugh about all the times we almost died. Khazmuda says it was all a waste of time, just a distraction from what we needed to do, but I was still broken and in shock…and I needed that time to come alive again.”
I hoped he would share more about his life, but I wouldn’t pressure him into it when it might just push him away. “Thank you for sharing. I’m sure you were a very sexy pirate.” Whenever he came to port, the women would have been eager to get a piece of him. He probably had a gorgeous tan and muscles just as ripped as they were now.
He didn’t smile, like his mind was still in the dark.
“I’m surprised that you knew how to sail since you were meant to be a king.”
“My father said every man should know how to hunt and survive, regardless of his station in life. So, he taught me and Silas how to sail and wish and survive in the wild.”
“Silas?”
He hesitated, even his breath stopped. “My younger brother.”
I could feel his pain in those simple words, feel how hard it was for him to say it out loud. “I’m sorry…”
“It never gets easier,” he whispered. “You just get used to them being gone.”
“Yeah.”
“If my father hadn’t taught me those things, I’m not sure where I would be.”
“I’m glad that he did, because it brought you to me.”
He let those words hang in the air for a moment before he turned to look at me, his eyes hollow and lifeless…with a light far in the distance. When his sight locked on mine, it stayed there, looking at me with a new depth.
I felt the bumps on my arms, the heft in my heart, the desire between my legs. I never thought I would look upon a man with this much feeling in my soul. To feel a connection that transcended words. To have someone I would die for without having to think twice. My body had been battered and bruised and my heart had been beaten to death, but he healed me.
He leaned back onto the bed before he climbed up my body, moving over me until his face was just above mine where it rested against the headboard. With his signature intensity, he looked at me like I was his sun, his moon, and his stars. He dipped his head and brushed his nose against mine, giving me affection that was somehow as good as a kiss.
I felt the breath leave my lungs, felt my body burn and go numb at the same time. I felt my heart leave my chest and jump into his, where it wanted to stay forever.
He dipped his head and kissed me, a slow touch of our lips, a kiss that was so gentle it was like a leaf that fell onto the calm water of a lake. His eyes were open and still on me as he kissed me, watching my reaction to his touch and letting me see his in return.
He turned his head the other way and kissed me harder, giving me a kiss that nearly bruised my lips. Then there was his tongue, his breath, all of him. All while he held himself over me, his body tight and strong, veins popping out of the strong muscles.
His arm circled under my back, and he lifted me slightly, dragging me down until I was flat on the bed, my head on the pillow.
He moved over me and kissed me harder, his hand fisting my hair while he made me his with just his perfect mouth. He grabbed one of my legs and hiked it over his hip as he fit his body between my thighs, bringing our bodies close together despite the clothes that separated us.
My hands explored the body I already knew by heart, feeling the heat that burned from his skin, the hardness of the muscle that bulged underneath. My lips got lost with his in the passion, and I felt my body melt like snow from the top of the mountains, rushing downstream like a river.
When he reached for my panties, I automatically lifted my hips so he could pull them free because I was eager to feel him inside me, eager for him to feel just how ready I was to take him. I’d had him many times, but I somehow desired him more with every passing day. I pulled down his boxers so his big dick could come free.
His hips slid between my thighs, and I tilted my pelvis so he could fold me, so his dick could find my wet slit and slide inside. The second he reached my entrance, he moaned like he felt it, felt how gushing wet I was for him. “Baby…” He pushed inside and sank nice and slow, his eyes on me all the way down.
My fingers dug into his hair as I moaned for him, feeling him invade me like no other man who had passed through my gates. He erased the mark of a lesser man, made my invisible scars disappear from memory. My ankles hooked together at the top of his ass, and we moved slowly, locked together like we never wanted to break apart.