Dragon Wish (43 page)

quickly at Seren. She scurried off to return moments later

with folded white clothes and a basin of steaming water.

Seren eyed the basin. “That’s not too hot for my baby, is

it?”

Bowing, the woman shook her head. She set the basin on

the table across the room. “No, my lady, not at all. It is a

dragonseed after all.”

Another sharp pain shot deep within her womb, forcing a

moan to escape. The need to push came over her. She

struggled to sit up, but the weakness in her limbs made it

difficult.

The rich aroma of spice floated in the room. She sucked

in lungs full of air and choked. Coughing, she pushed against

Paladin, still fighting to straighten.

Panting, sweat pouring from her, she grunted, “I have to

push.”

The room spun around her. Paladin moved from behind

and stepped to where her bent knees spread. The pain

crested. A surge of fluid came from her, wetting her hips and

the blankets beneath. She gasped at the sudden heat. Light

radiated from between her legs. She concentrated on the

illumination. Her body took over, stomach tightening then

releasing. The birth took her control away.

The luminosity grew in brilliance until it exploded with

power. The force shoved her flat on her back. Staring up at

the stone ceiling, she gathered her strength, struggling to

draw in air. A low mewl came from the end of the bed,

followed by a howl. Tears welled in her eyes, blinding her.

She managed to half rise to see. Held in his father’s hands,

their red-faced son vented his fury to the world. Matted with

blood and mucus, he squirmed, batting his plump arms and

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legs at whatever he believed caused his discomfort.

Sobbing with joy, she watched when the woman came

and took her child to bathe him. When she’d finished, she

wrapped him in a blanket and carried him to Seren. With

gentle care, the woman placed him in Seren’s arms. Smiling

down at her son, Seren tried, but found no words to describe

how happy this moment made her. She lifted her gaze and

met Paladin’s. He stared at their son.

“He is healthy.”

She laughed. “Very much so. Look at his hair. It’s two

colors.”

The thin wisps covering the baby’s head were ebony

mixed with some white blond. Random sections resembled a

zigzag across his head with the black on bottom.

“I wonder if it’ll stay like this? Do any of your family have

hair similar to this?” She looked up at Paladin.

He shrugged. “I’ve never seen such. Have you decided on

a name?”

She nodded. “He said his name the other day. Legion.”

“Look, his eyes are open.”

Their child relaxed his scrunched lids, revealing two

different colored eyes. One was blue like his father, the other

gray like hers. His cupid bow mouth shifted in an open smile

aimed at them. Her heart melted.

She held her son. Wrapped tight, he looked at her with

such knowing eyes. They had to succeed in keeping him

alive. No matter what. Sending up silent, sincere pleas, she

hoped Avaris’ problems disappeared and they would remain

safe.

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Seven days after Legion’s birth, news arrived concerning

the clan leaders flying toward the caverns. Seren asked Ren

why. He’d looked at her in his stoic manner and walked away

without answering. She stared after him, the first rays of fear

shattering the peaceful fairytale world she enjoyed with her

son.

She searched for Leo and Paladin, finding them in the

small room they shared. Leo held a front panel to the armor

Paladin wore during his rescue of her. His swords lay across

one of the beds. They both turned to look at her. The fear

burst inside her. She stood in the doorway, unable to speak

or move.

Eyes vacant, Paladin stared at her. With his stare, no

words were necessary. The answer lay there for her to see.

Arcane and his army approached.

She clasped her hands together. Her teeth ached from

clenching them so hard. He seemed so calm, standing there.

Didn’t he realize their doom drew closer? He turned away to

finish dressing. She whispered his name.

“Do not, Seren.” He angled a hard glare at her. “This is

war, and with war, battles must ensue. We cannot stop it.

They want to destroy us. In turn, we desire to stop them.”

“But—”

He lifted a hand, stopping what she’d intended to say. “Be

still. I will not go to fight with the memory of your fear in my

thoughts. Be strong for me and for our son.”

She took a deep breath, struggling to shove her growing

terror aside. Next to Leo, even in the armor, he appeared

small and thin. Too thin. Their forced separation had

affected him.

His deep voice broke through her muddled thoughts.

“Where is Legion?”

“He’s sleeping. I asked one of the girls to watch him for

me. I’d wanted some fresh air but now...” She bit her tongue

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to keep from crying. Tears burned her eyes and her vision

blurred. She reached out to touch his arm, trying to find the

words to keep him close. Instead, she curled her fingers into

her palms. No, she wouldn’t do it.

The last clasp fastened under his fingers, and the helm

placed on his head. He picked up his sword belt. With fast

efficient movements, he buckled it around his slender waist.

He walked to her side, slow and with ease in his movements.

Would she ever see his walk—God, she loved his walk—

again?

His fingers, lean and beautiful, brushed a lock of her hair

from her brow. “I cannot stand by and watch them fight. I

have to help.”

With a nod, she moved out of the doorway. Paladin

stepped through it, his gaze never leaving hers. “I will

return.”

Seren, suddenly chilled, wrapped her arms about her

waist. Her words after Bask’s visit returned. She wanted to

tell him she forgave him, and that she loved him, but not

now. She forced an answer past her lips. “I know.”

He left the room to trail behind several other warriors

moving to the passageway leading to the entrance.

She followed, her legs weak with fear. Once above

ground, he continued through the gap in the barrier Ren held

open for the ones intending to fight.

At the sight of the desert surrounding the entrance, her

eyes widened. The six clan leaders waited. Not alone, either.

Heart racing, she gazed over the area outside the barrier.

Dragons, too many to count and of all sizes, colors, and

shapes, surrounded the limestone entry way. They waited on

either side of the cavern’s opening on the outer edges of the

barrier. She stood, mouth open, staring at them.

The reality of what was about to happen bit deep in her

heart. She started to cry out for him to stop, but his wings

burst out from his back. He whipped around, flying toward

the spot where Lior waited with other white dragon clan

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beasts still loyal to her. They spread out behind her, their

white scales catching the light around them.

Trembling, Seren stood stiff, pain rippled through her

chest. The ache increased over not telling him how much she

cared.

Leo came to her side and placed an arm across her

shoulders. “Come inside. We’ll go to the top. The barrier

should hold against an attack. You’ll be able to see the battle

from there.”

She nodded, jaw aching from clenching her teeth to keep

from screaming at Paladin to stay with her. The calm way

Leo spoke did little to soothe her nerves. This impending

battle would result in a life and death struggle, not a

fireworks display on July fourth. Didn’t he realize it? Paladin

left. He might not come back. The thought ripped a hole in

her heart.

Unable to vent at her friend, she followed him through

the cavern to the spiral stone stairs leading to the top. They

came out on the flat ledge.

The sky darkened. Dragons, too many to number, waited

for the rogues’ arrival. To the northeast, a black line formed

on the horizon. So many had come to destroy them.

Uncertainty entered her mind.

She drew in a shuddering breath and glanced at Leo.

“Will he be all right?”

“We just have to hope. Trust in our strength. They know

what they’re doing.”

Though he spoke words of assurance, doubts about how

much they both truly believed his words remained with her.

* * * *

came to Lior and the other clan leaders. He landed nearby,

his gaze taking in the lines of dragoons. On their backs,

dragonseed soldiers waited for the order to charge. All the

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leading clans, their banners slapping in the gusts blowing

over the desert, cried out of the unity of the black, red, blue,

green, and purple dragon clans. Dracs pranced alongside

their older relatives, cawing and blasting magic from their

elongated throats.

Bask glided from Lior’s neck to land next to him.

The silvered skullcap glowed with a white brilliance. “Are

you prepared to die, Sire?”

Gritting his teeth, he glared at the ageless wizard. “I am

ready to live. So should you be.”

A low chuckle came from Bask. “Ah, but I have lived far

too long. The thought of death no longer brings fear to my

heart.”

“Nor to mine. I have no intention of dying this day.”

“Take care, mighty White Dragon King, there will be

many desiring your head.” With this morbid warning, the

wizard returned to wait atop Lior’s shoulder. Paladin studied

them. What did the two speak of while the enemy came

closer? The gentle way Bask caressed Lior’s neck revealed his

affection. The sight brought a regretful twinge shooting

through Paladin’s gut. He should have mended matters with

Seren. At least showed her his love.

Screeches rang overhead. He raised his eyes and stared in

awe at where the lesser dragons of every clan glided above on

the air currents. Magic glinted in the sky around the winged

beasts, sending streams of sparkling dust trailing behind

each.

Legless forest dragons with vertical striped green and

yellow scales running the length of their bodies with long

trailing feathers weaved through the flying ranks of their

distant kin. Roars erupted below them to echo across the

dunes. Sand whirled around the dragoons and whipped up to

the flyers.

Along the northern horizon, black clouds roiled closer,

powerful magical waves propelling in the direction of their

waiting forces. He narrowed his eyes at the approaching

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army. Through the grayness, Arcane flew in front of the mass

of writhing dragons.

“Well, old friend, our guests will soon be upon us.”

He shifted his gaze to the left. He’d never noticed Ren’s

arrival. “So it seems.”

A wicked grin flashed across the wizard’s face. “Best

method to relieve tension. Fighting and sex. Two ways to a

man’s heart.”

His comment, so strange coming from the serious man,

brought a laugh from Paladin. “For once, I have to agree with

you.”

“So, shall we go and greet them in the manner most

fitting for their visit.”

Responding with a like grin, Paladin nodded. He called

upon his innate magic to unfurl his wings. The wizard leapt

on the shoulders of a nearby lesser white dragon. Sand

billowed with the fanning of their wings as they lifted into

the sky and headed for the encroaching enemy. Many of the

other lesser dragons fell in line behind them.

* * * *

the many dracs taking flight above them. Waves upon waves

of dragons ascended to the sky above the cavern.

Seconds later, the first swell of rogues arrived with

Arcane in the lead. The converging magnitude shot straight

for the seven dragon clan leaders. The dracs which were

closer to the caverns, swished through their larger kin. They

flicked with huge teeth and claws to leave bloody slashes on

the enemy rogues that fought under Arcane’s orders.

She held her breath at the sight of the mystic beast diving