Chapter 12 Bound by Blood and Fire
Bound by Blood and Fire
Krispin
The witch had vanished again. The clearing, the altar, looked like what the magic users of the old times used, the times of High Garden. I turned around and saw Ben kneeling beside Roarke. I quickly shifted and walked toward them, picking him up in my arms.
"He saved my life. I didn't see Atticus until it was too late. Roarke jumped in front of me and took the blade," he said crying.
I looked at Devin, who pleaded with Roarke to stay awake and live, with tears rolling down his face. I released Ben and knelt beside Roarke.
"Please save him!" Devin cried to me.
"I will do my best. This wound is done with a Marbhtach. It’s specifically used to kill dragons," I explained. Devin looked up, devastated, and I felt his despair.
"The wound may not fully heal by my magic, but perhaps I can heal him enough to stabilize him to heal naturally."
"Please try. He can't die," Devin said. Ben had moved around to him and now knelt beside him with his arm wrapped around his shoulder.
I closed my eyes, summoning the ancient power that stirred within the blood of kings.
This dragon had saved my mate’s life, and I would do anything to keep him from dying.
My dragon rumbled in agreement—a deep, resonant sound that shook my chest. The one who had defended our mate was no longer merely a guard or a friend—he was our brother.
I opened my eyes, feeling the golden fire burn within them.
I lifted my hand, letting it shift into my dragon’s claw before slicing open my palm.
Liquid gold—the blood of my line—pooled in my hand.
I pressed it against Roarke’s wound, letting our blood mingle as I called upon the power that tied me to the Sacred Flame of High Garden.
“I welcome you, Roarke Dìon Rìoghail, Royal Guardian Protector of High Garden. By blood and flame, I adopt you into my caste and my line. You will forever be Roarke of the Golden Caste, Duke of Ashara, and brother to the King.”
The power surged, answering the vow. I felt the transfer of one, two, three golden scales to Roarke.
They sealed the wound like molten sunlight hardening into armor.
It was rare for a dragon to give a single scale; to give more was to make another family—bound by blood and flame.
From this moment, Roarke would be of the Golden Caste, blessed with its strength and affinities, though only those born pure could bear the power to rule.
The sacred fire ebbed as the wound sealed. Roarke’s breathing steadied, and the light of the Golden Caste shimmered faintly beneath his skin—a mark of his new lineage.
I looked at Devin. “He will be all right. He's just in a healing sleep now. He needs rest and food when he wakes."
"Thank you. You saved my life because without him, I would have no life," he replied.
It took a lot of power to heal this wound. I looked toward Ben, and he got up and came to me, hugging me.
"I love you so much. Thank you for coming for me," he said.
"I love you too, my Cardia. I will always come for you. You are my heart."
I heard noises in the trees, and I turned to see Basil, Cameron, and Jackson coming through the them.
"Where’s Bazer?" I asked. I had shifted and flown ahead when I sensed Ben and left them to handle Bazer.
"We ran into Chieftain Tomlin. Apparently, word has spread to the gargoyle clutches that the Circle of Elders was destroyed. They’re all in disarray.
He came down to investigate. We told him about Atticus and what had happened.
He took charge of Bazer once we were through the protective wards of this place," Basil explained.
I nodded as I looked around. "This place needs to be cleansed, and that thing needs to be destroyed," I said as I pointed to the Marbhtach Spear.
"Take Roarke and Devin and get them back to the elder compound. Elder Sonod, go with them. I’ll take care of things here. Ben and I will meet you back at the elder compound," I ordered.
Basil and Jackson walked over to Roarke and picked him up, and they all left the area. I went and picked up the spear and brought it over to the altar. I kept thinking, trying to determine who this witch of the old ways was. I needed to be diligent, as she was powerful.
"I’m going to shift, love. Get on my back, then I’ll cleanse this circle," I told Ben. He nodded to me, but before he backed away from me, he came over and hugged me once more.
I love you, he thought.
I didn't speak or think about the words. I just opened my mind and let all my walls down, allowing him to feel my love and joy at having him back in my arms. We stood there for another minute before he backed up and I let my shift take me.
He climbed on my back, and I faced the altar, which had the spear on it.
I summoned the power of the Sacred Fire once more, and blue flames shot from my mouth, incinerating the spear and the very stones of the altar.
I took to the sky and circled the clearing, letting the fire flow from my mouth, cleansing the area.
My thoughts turned back to the witch. Something was bothering me about her, and I didn't know what. I had never closed off my thoughts to Ben, and he heard them.
I can help with that, he said in my mind. She was the daughter of Mage Zanic.
Ben
What? That's not possible , I heard Kris say.
We were flying high in the night sky, heading back to the Circle of Elders, or what was left of it.
Kris, when he had fully opened his mind taking all walls and blocks down, had showed me everything, all his memories, his thoughts and insecurities, his past loneliness, the sadness of missing his family.
I saw it all, including the total and utter devastation that he wreaked on the Elders.
That is what she said when she was talking to Elder Atticus.
I opened my mind, and I did as Kris had done.
I took down any barrier or wall, and I let him see everything.
All the times when I was a child, orphaned after losing my parents, the time I met Master Stephen, and my time adjusting to my new coven.
I shared every memory, including the thoughts and fears of the events that had just happened.
We veered a little at those last thoughts, and I felt his anger.
Easy, my Beloved, I projected. I’m safe. I’m here with you and I’m uninjured, and our babe is safe as well.
I felt us level off.
I’m sorry, my Cardia, the very thought of you being injured is a lot for me. I can't believe Zanic had a daughter, and not only that, but a daughter who is now immortal because of the blood of a dragon.
I heard his rumble as we started to go down.
I looked and the stone pillars that once stood proud were all flattened.
The beauty that the place once had was now gone.
We landed just as the others pulled up in the vehicle.
I hoped we wouldn't stay here. I wanted to go home, but we needed to check on Roarke.
That thing you did with Roarke took a lot of your energy, didn't it? I asked.
Yes, but it was the only thing I could think of to save his life. I hope he and his family are all right with it. It's very rare that a dragon adopts another into his caste, he explained.
Why would his family care? Why would Roarke care, for that matter? I wondered.
When a dragon adopts another dragon into their caste, they’re basically changing the other dragon's lineage and merging them into their lineage.
I quite literally made Roarke my brother and a member of the Golden caste.
Sometimes the parentage can take offense and disown the one that was adopted, he said.
Wait, do you think they would rather have a dead son than one who has now been made brother of the king? I asked, stunned at what I was hearing.
I don't know. I’m hoping because I am king, it will soften the blow and they will accept him still.
Especially after the explanation that he could have died, he said.
Even if they don't accept him, I do not regret doing what I did.
He saved your life and protected you. He was more than a friend and guard.
I agree. If they were anything like Roarke, they would still love and care for him.
Kris shifted, and we walked over to the SUV. Cameron got out and handed Kris a pair of sweatpants. I was thankful for that. No one else needed to see my Beloved's naked body.
"How is he?" I asked.
"He's still unconscious, but his breathing and pulse have gotten stronger," Devin said.
"Let's get him inside. Elder Sonod has arranged for us to stay here tonight and had them prepare rooms." Basil said.
"What about the other elders?" I asked.
"Two are dead. Including Atticus, that is three. One is missing, and the other is here and called Chieftain Tomlin for aid," Elder Sonod said. "The one here is named Elder Zaurarr. He didn’t care for Atticus and his racist ways."
"So, we won't have any trouble?" I clarified my question. The last thing I wanted to do was stay here and fall asleep only to be attacked.
"You’re safe here. There won't be any trouble," he replied.
We made our way into the giant mansion and got Roarke settled. After ensuring that he and Dev were okay, Kris and I went to our room. I just wanted to crawl into bed and cuddle my Beloved and have him hold me, and that's what we did.