3. Aries #2
On the far end of the beach, a tiny cabin sits nestled against a mossy slope of rock. The structure is the only sign of life and still doesn’t offer any hint as to what sort of creatures make a home in this world. I keep my senses on alert as I continue to look for any sign of Hoc.
“Shit, we’re in the middle of nowhere,” Mag groans.
“Come on. There’s a cabin.”
We make our way toward it while the wind whips at our faces and clothes.
The leather of my new jacket guards against the silt kicked up by the gusts.
My new wardrobe is still foreign to me. The jacket is not a bad material as earthly choices go, though I do not need such protections when I’m in my dragon form.
“This place is clearly empty of settlements,” I tell Mag. “No one would notice my dragon, not once I’m above the clouds. And I can cover more ground.”
He hesitates, scanning the horizon again, but I can see the temptation to speed this up beginning to change his mind. Finally, he nods. “Fine, but hurry up. Meet me at the cabin.”
“I’ll be quick.”
Breaking off from Mag, I descend the hill until there’s a wall of rock at my back then remove my clothes, tossing them on the ground quickly.
The quietness of this place unsettles me, and my dragon strains against my skin, eager to be free.
Even before I’ve finished kicking off my pants, scales appear, covering my skin and offering an armor that will protect me much better than that leather ever could.
Finally undressed, the transformation completes.
My hands and feet become sharp with claws.
Wings form against my back, and I open them wide, stretching them to work the stiffness out.
It’s been days since I shifted—a time that feels like a century after the freedom I knew in my home world.
Back then, I’d been consumed with worry for our people as the orc armies encroached on our borders.
Not to mention my mother’s determination to find me a wife so I could ascend the throne and take my place as rightful ruler.
Wedding in order to receive my title is an archaic law and one I detested—until I arrived in the library and met Paige.
Now, I would gladly make her my queen if only it meant the danger here was behind us.
Imagining a future with Paige at my side, I lift off the ground and take to the air.
For a single breath, I am consumed with the feeling of being airborne.
My dragon needed this far more than I knew, and the freedom it gives me is heady.
Someday, I’ll bring Paige into the skies with me so I can show her what it’s like to be this free.
Long before I want to, I force myself to refocus on scouting.
The terrain below me is exactly as I noted earlier.
Rolling hills covered in moss and heather, barren and empty as far as I can see.
The wind is much colder up here, and while it doesn’t affect my dragon’s ability to stay warm, it tells me the climate is not a gentle one.
Snow covers the mountain peaks in the distance with a narrow plume of smoke curling up from one of the crevices, but it’s too far for me to venture without Mag.
Convinced of the emptiness of this world, I circle back and begin my return. My dragon sight allows me to see far below me while remaining obscured by the clouds, and I’m careful not to dip out of their cover just in case there are any watchful eyes trained on the sky.
When I catch sight of the beach, alarm shoots through me. Mag stands at the water’s edge, but he’s not alone. Three other figures stand before him, clearly outnumbering him. I push my wings against the air, soaring faster, urgency ripping through me at the idea that he might be in trouble.
When I get closer, I see that the three figures are all female. That doesn’t lessen the threat considering I have no idea what they are capable of. Dipping low as quickly as possible, I land out of sight behind the hill and climb carefully up until I can reach my clothing.
After shoving my clothing back on, I make my way down to the beach where Mag still stands with the three strangers.
Up close, I see they are beautiful women, each dressed in nothing but a thin dress that clings to their skin thanks to the sea spray soaking them.
A detail Mag is apparently intently focused on.
Even when I step up beside him, he doesn’t look away from the females before him.
I clear my throat, and he blinks, glancing over at me with a goofy smile.
“Aries, there you are. I was just telling my new friends we are on a very important mission and would be so grateful for their help.” His tone is free from tension as if he doesn’t find these women a threat at all.
“And who are our new friends?” I ask warily.
“Oh, forgive me.” The female on the left giggles, her blonde hair shimmering as she moves. “My name is Harmony, and these are my sisters, Choral and Watersong.”
“Beautiful names for beautiful women.” Mag winks.
“Is this your cabin?” I ask them.
“Yes, are you seeking shelter?” the one called Harmony asks.
Mag lights up at her offer. “We can’t stay long but—”
I suppress an eye roll. “We are looking for our friend, a troll. Have you seen him?”
“No.” Harmony’s eyes widen. “Is he in trouble?”
“He’s been taken by someone very dangerous,” I say.
“Oh, does that mean there is danger here?” Choral asks, biting her lip.
Mag nearly trips over his own tongue as he assures her, “You have nothing to worry about, gorgeous, not while I’m around.”
This time, I can’t stop myself from casting a glance to the heavens.
Watersong steps closer to Mag, looping her arm around his and pressing herself into his side. “You’d stay with us? And keep us safe?”
She gazes up at him with round, hopeful eyes, and Mag is nodding even before she’s done asking the question.
My eyes narrow as the other two sisters edge closer to me. I frown, my suspicion growing with each passing second. Their presence here doesn’t make sense. Not when there are no villages nearby or even a garden to provide food for them.
“We’re so lucky to have such handsome protectors,” Harmony says, looking up at me through long lashes.
Strange magic pulls at me, though it doesn’t affect me, thanks to my dragon. Still, it’s enough to alert me to what these women are. I’ve encountered their kind once in my homeland, and that was more than enough.
I glance at Mag, who is already draped with the third sister’s lean body.
She smiles up at him, and he blinks, dazed by her charms. He probably doesn’t even realize she’s maneuvered him closer to the water already.
On either side of me, the other two sisters are trying to do the same, unaware I’m immune to the magic they’re wielding on Mag.
“Hey, lover boy,” I call, “Did you happen to read the title of this one before we jumped in?”
Mag doesn’t tear his gaze away from his new friend as he says, “No, why?”
I sigh as Mag takes another step toward the water. Watersong’s eyes gleam with anticipation as she watches him, coaxing him along. Fuck me, this is not going to be easy. Not when my partner is already enthralled.
“Because,” I say wryly, “I’m willing to bet this story is about a trio of sirens.”
Harmony’s head whips toward me at that, her eyes immediately narrowed as she undoubtedly realizes I’m not falling for their charms. Nor am I oblivious to their true intentions.
“Sirens?” Mag echoes.
“They enthrall you with their beauty and lure you into the sea,” I explain, “pulling you under until you drown and then feasting on your flesh.”
“Feasting?” Mag doesn’t sound the least bit concerned.
Harmony and Choral give me murderous looks.
“Lies,” Harmony hisses, her voice losing its melodic tone.
Watersong speaks up, cooing at Mag. “How silly, we would do no such thing.”
He grins like a loon and takes another step into the salty waves.
I growl, causing Harmony and Choral to take another step back from me.
They glance at one another and then move toward Mag instead.
Unfortunately, there’s not much I can do to stop them.
Mag has made it more than clear that killing isn’t an option.
In fact, any sort of fighting is a last resort since I can’t expect to take on three without doing fatal damage to at least one.
“Bro, there’s no way,” Mag says, his voice lilting like he’s drunk thanks to the brainwashing magic they’re using on him. “They just want to be protected is all. You know what? Why don’t you do another fly-by and come back for me later?”
“Come on, handsome,” Watersong says, tugging him harder toward the water. “We’ll help you look for your friend this way.”
Mag obeys, wading into the water until the waves crash around his hips.
My patience snaps.
With a roar, I shift into my dragon so suddenly it sends the sirens running and shrieking.
Instead of escaping to the cabin, they sprint into the ocean and dive beneath its surface.
My dragon’s breath nips at their heels, the flames I shoot their way dying quickly when the fire hits the water.
Unscathed, the sirens race away into the depths but not before I catch sight of a mermaid’s tale bobbing once before it vanishes among the waves.
When I look back at Mag, he’s standing on the beach, pants dripping, face etched with a scowl. “Bro, you are the biggest cockblock I’ve ever met.”
I don’t answer, nor do I shift back to my human form until he’s stalked over and recited the spell that opens our portal home. A moment later, I shift and follow him through, ignoring his muttering about getting no action of any kind on these damned missions.
That makes two of us. If murder weren’t expressly forbidden, I’d kill him.