Dragon Rescue #2
One of the guards stepped forward with a torch in the fading sunlight to get a better look at my face.
The bright light of the torch blinded me for a moment before I recognized he was one of Lord Everett’s guards.
I gasped, and the next moment, I was knocked over by Ballard as he blocked a dagger that had been meant for me.
“Run. Get to the roost and get Vasin out of there,” Ballard called out.
Dazed, it took a moment before what he’d said made sense. When it registered, I scrambled to my feet and took off, ignoring the fact I’d almost been stabbed. The entrance was in sight, but as I got closer, two other guards stepped out of the lengthening shadows and blocked my way, swords drawn.
“By orders of the captain of the King’s Guard, Lord Everett, we cannot let you pass,” one of them called out as he advanced on me.
Panic rose in my chest, making it hard to think clearly.
I looked around wildly, trying to come up with some idea on how to proceed.
I’d been taught many useful things in my life, but dealing with this kind of situation was not one of them.
Moments before I realized a guard was going to strike me down with a sword, a shadow descended upon him, smashing him into the ground.
It was then that I noticed the other guard was bleeding out on the ground, and my way was clear.
Even then, I still couldn’t seem to compel myself to move from where I was standing.
Fear had frozen my body. Then I was filled with a warm sensation that seemed to melt the bonds that my fear had created.
“Cass, you have returned to me.” Vasin’s voice suddenly echoed in my head.
That was all it took for me to take off running headlong toward the doors, leaping over the fallen body of one of the guards. Once I reached the door, I grabbed the large metal ring and, with all my strength, tried to pull it open. Despite my efforts, the door wouldn’t budge.
“Vasin, help me,” I cried in desperation, tears streaming down my face as fear tried to choke me.
How could I have been chosen by a dragon to be its pair-bond? I was no one special. I didn’t have any useful skills. I wasn’t even able to save my other half when he was in danger.
“I am here for you. Just open up to me, and I will give you the strength you need.” Vasin’s soothing voice surrounded me and calmed my emotions.
“How do I do that?” I yelled internally, desperately trying to understand what he was talking about.
Then I remembered the times I’d tried to connect with him when I was at home.
We’d been too far apart for it to work, but now he was only a few feet away.
I took a few steps back, took a few deep breaths, and closed my eyes, shutting out the sounds of the fighting behind me.
I centered myself until I could feel that piece of me that connected to Vasin and grasped it.
The moment I held it, I was filled with a warm, rich sensation that made me feel like I was whole for the first time in my life.
I let that sensation flow over me, and I felt Vasin and I were truly one being.
I now knew what I had to do and would succeed because I wasn’t alone anymore.
Opening my eyes, it took a moment for me to focus since I was sharing my sight with Vasin. Seeing the world through his eyes was a bit overwhelming.
“Focus on the task at hand,” Vasin scolded. “You must learn balance when handling our combined power.”
I shook my head and tried to ignore all the information I had at my fingertips and just focus on getting into the roost. I inhaled deeply, raising my arms to aim the bow that had materialized in my hands.
I held my breath for a second as I aimed at the door and smoothly let out that breath as I let the arrow fly.
The arrow flew straight and true, burrowing itself deep into the wooden doors.
The world seemed to pause for a second before the doors burst, shattering into thousands of pieces with a loud explosion, knocking me to the ground.
Feeling disoriented with Vasin’s sudden absence from my thoughts, I decided to lay there for a moment and gather myself before I even tried to stand.
“If I had known that you would be more trouble than your dragon, then I would’ve made sure to kill you first,” a voice snarled from the darkness behind me.
I sat up but quickly fell back to the ground, drained and too dizzy to go anywhere.
I shut my eyes tightly, hoping that magically, Lord Everett wouldn’t be standing there and would just disappear.
My eyes flew open when cool steel touched my throat, bringing me eye to eye with Lord Everett’s hard gaze.
There was nothing but hatred in that look, and it was all directed at me.
“The battle is in full swing, and there’s no one to save you this time,” he gloated, pleased by my fear.
“I’ve been waiting for the day I could rid the world of scum like Ballard’s clan.
Thank you for bringing them here to me. Now when I tell the queen they attacked the castle and killed you in the process, I’ll have the approval I need to hunt down the others.
They have no clue what the black dragon really means.
I, however, haven’t forgotten our history.
There is no way I’ll let those mercenary scum have their little queen and her dragon so they can kill us all in our beds. ”
As he raised his sword, I felt his tremendous anger and hatred hurtling toward me.
Then the sound of heavy wing beats surrounded us, and I curled up into a little ball as Vasin snatched Lord Everett into the air.
I could hear him yelling and cursing Vasin as he was tossed into the moat outside the palace wall with a loud splash.
I sat up slowly, drained of energy and terrified.
The wind whipped around me, sending dust and leaves scattering in all directions.
I covered my face with my arms, trying to keep the worst of it out of my eyes.
When the wind died down, I peered over my arms and was met with bright amber eyes.
Without thinking, I grabbed Vasin’s face and hugged it tightly, rubbing my cheek against his soft, scaled face.
In response, I could hear him humming, the sound vibrating against my cheek and through my body.
“You’re safe. I was so worried you’d get hurt before I could get to you,” I gushed when I finally let him go.
“I am fine, my dear Cass, but I put you at risk with no one to protect you.”
“What are you talking about? You came to my rescue. I owe you my life.” I frowned, not understanding why he was so upset.
“I should have warned you that you would be drained of energy after harmonizing. My job is to keep you safe, not the other way around,” he said, letting out a low rumble at something I couldn’t see.
Finally, getting a good look at him, I realized how large he’d grown while I was away.
His body was about the size of a draft horse, and his tail trailed out even farther behind him.
His wings were tucked away, but the sheer size of them told you how wide they would be if unfurled.
His black scales glinted in the torchlight, making him look like living liquid metal.
“Cassarah!” Cole’s worried voice called out of the darkness. “Get out of there… it’s a trap.” He grunted like he’d gotten hit. “They knew we were coming. Go.”
“Where are we supposed to go?” I cried out.
I trembled against Vasin, terrified at the thought I had no idea what to do. A proper lady didn’t have to fear for her life—she was safe at home with her husband. Now here I was, alone in the dark with no clue how to proceed.
“You’re not alone, Cass,” Vasin said, swinging his head around to face me. “Climb onto my back. We’ll go to the mountains. It will be safe there.”
I nodded my head and crawled onto his back.
Using his bent leg as a step, I found a comfortable place at the base of his neck and rested my feet on his shoulders to keep balance.
When Vasin expanded his wings and gave a great heave that sent us springing into the air, I clutched his neck, fearing I would fall to my death from such a great height.
“I will not drop you. You will always be safe with me.”
The air was chilly as the night wind buffeted my face and pulled at my skirts.
I hunkered down as close as I could to Vasin’s body, but that didn’t help much since his scales were cool to the touch.
I would have to find a way to make a barrier between his scales and my skin the next time we flew.
Even though it was a cold ride, it was still the most exhilarating experience of my life.
Listening to the steady beat of his massive wings and watching the ground below pass by lit only by the moon’s cool glow was magical.
After some time, Vasin started to descend into a clearing deep in the woods, far away from the castle. The landing was soft and graceful for a beast of his size. I swiftly slid off his shoulder, only to fall in a heap on the ground. Clearly, I wasn’t nearly as agile.
“We will spend the night here. You need to rest,” Vasin said, nuzzling my cheek with his nose.
“Here, out in the woods?” I questioned, wringing my hands as I looked around. “What about wolves or bears? They could come and attack us out in the open.”
“Cass, who do you think is scarier? Me or the woodland creatures?”
Pouting, I knew he was right, but I still didn’t love the idea of having to sleep outside with all the bugs.
“Come. I made you a soft bed of leaves. I will keep you warm and safe. You have nothing to fear while I am watching over you.”
Walking over to him, I sighed before settling into the bed he’d made.
Vasin tucked me in close to his chest, where I felt a warmth radiating from him.
Miraculously, I was so tired that the last thing I remembered was Vasin snuffling my hair and resting his elegant head nearby with a contented croon.