Dragonfae & The Soul Catcher (22 page)

The Magus rubbed his hands together. By this time tomorrow, Lumos would be dead and he would have Thalia as a prisoner in his palace. Perhaps he would make a gift of the witch to Kird. Yes, in fact, after a little manipulation in his dungeon, the witch would make the Dragonfae an obedient mate. Thereafter he, the Magus of Fullmount, would control all the leaders of the Dragonfae by blood ties.

He gazed at Pyro and ground his teeth. The Firedragon had killed his father and he had a personal score to settle. He would make sure the Shadow Walkers killed Pyro slowly and without mercy. Clenching his jaw, the Magus dashed his finger across the surface of the water, shattering the image.

Anger settled into sweet revenge and fuelled the familiar curl of arousal. The Magus turned away from the bench and gazed at the line of torture implements attached to the dungeon wall. He strolled across the room and wetted his lips. The new slave, the red-haired, soft-skinned Nomag crossed his mind. His brother Boris had bought the girl from the Boars and had earmarked the female for his own needs.

Too bad, I am Master of this palace.
Drog smiled and selected a stick encased in leather. He swished the cane through the air then bent it between his hands—yes, this would do nicely.

He pulled open the door to the cells then projected a light globe into the darkness. Inside the row of cells, the slaves moved around nervously. Drog moved along the line of cages, each partitioned with solid metal walls, and peered through the barred doors. Not one of the women looked up at his intrusion—all huddled in the corner covering their eyes from the light. He prided himself in keeping his slaves in reasonable comfort. He fed them, at least. The women had beds and a cell big enough to provide him or his brother with whatever predilection caught their fancy.

The new slave stood with her back flat against the wall, her naked pale skin a stark contrast to the black metal surface. The girl stared at him, her eyes dark, round pools of fear. Good, he preferred them to fear him, to tremble under his touch or, better still, to scream in pain. The Magus stepped inside and propped the stick against the door. Turning back to face the Nomag, he removed his clothes with slow deliberation, his dark magyck absorbing the fear radiating from the female. He glared down at her.

“Do you have a name?”

“Jenny, good sir. My name is Jenny.”

Drog ran his fingers up and down his growing erection. “My name is Jenny…
Master
.”

He stepped closer and grasped the girl’s throat. “How old are you?”

“Eighteen s-summers…
Master
.”

The girl’s pulse throbbed rapidly under Drog’s palm. “How many men have you had deep in your cunt?” He squeezed the girl’s throat.

“I-I am a v-virgin, Master.”

“Not for much longer.” Drog shivered with evil intent. The desire to inflict pain surged through him like a potent aphrodisiac. He dragged the slave to the other side of the cell and spread her, attaching both wrists and ankles to the metal cuffs chained to the wall. He grinned. This innocent slave would give him a son, born from pain and misery. The Magus retrieved his weapon and stood behind the girl, Lucifer, he could smell her fear. With a long demonic howl, he swung the cane high into the air.

Chapter Sixteen

Tusuns

Lumos shook Thalia gently. The girl tossed her head from side to side and held her sweat-soaked body rigid against him. Her breathing had become rapid. With cries of heart-breaking distress, Thalia fought an unknown assailant in her dreamscape. Lumos poured glamour over her and crooned words of love close to her ear.

“Thalia, it’s only a dream, you are safe… Hush now.”

“Don’t touch me, you filthy pig! Get off me! I curse you, Erik, and all that come after you.” Thalia thrust the words through gritted teeth. “Do you think your words of love mean anything to me? I hate you.”

Bringing up his shield of defence, Lumos frowned. The magyck radiating from her curled around him, crackling against his barrier. Lady’s blood, his mate’s dreams had become a frightening reality. This amount of destructive magyck needed to be controlled.

He raised his voice. “Thalia, wake up! It’s Lumos that holds you safe, you are dreaming.”

“Lumos?” Thalia pressed the heels of her hands to her eyes.

Lumos sat gazing down at her confused expression. “You were dreaming. You cursed me, well, Erik, in fact. I had to defend myself against the force of the spell.” He dashed his hands through his hair. “We must find a way to stop these night terrors.”

“I cursed you? Heavens above, you know I’d never do that. I had an awful dream. Erik had chained me in a dungeon and he beat me with a cane! Goddess, it hurt so much. With each blow he told me he loved me, and love is pain.” Thalia buried her face in her hands. “Then he came up behind me and rubbed his cock against me. It was then I cursed him. He told me to think of his son and to never forget the pain I suffered conceiving him.”

Cymbeline, protect my sweet butterfly.
Lumos battled indecision. Should he tell her that Pyro had detected dark magyck in her bloodline? He pulled Thalia into his arms and held her trembling body against his chest. He wished he could banish the nightmares from his lover’s mind. He had to ask more questions.

“Was that the way it happened? Did Erik do that to you?”

“N-no… Gods, Lumos it was so real! I can still feel the cuts he inflicted.”

Lumos turned her around to inspect her back. He shuddered in horror—her flesh had the zigzag pattern of a vicious beating. Biting back the need to roar in anger, Lumos drew up his healing power, and cast a flow of white magyck over Thalia’s damaged back. He turned her towards him.

“Are you bleeding?” He touched her at the apex of her thighs.

“No, I don’t think so.” Thalia pressed her fingers to her folds, then stared at them closely. “Why are you asking me this?”

Forcing to keep his voice from breaking, Lumos smiled. “Oh, nothing really important, it’s just that you haven’t had a moonflow since we’ve been together. You can’t be pregnant, so it must be owing to the transformation.”

“Tell me the truth, Lumos. I know you are holding things from me.” Thalia narrowed her eyes. “You promised to tell me everything. If this dream is important, I need to know.”

Clearing his throat, Lumos gazed into her eyes. “Pyro believes… No… Pyro is convinced you are the issue of an Elf and a Magus. These dreams you are having… Pyro believes that they are a projection of what a Magus is doing. It would seem the man wants to share his evil work with you.” He cupped Thalia’s face, caressing her cheeks with his thumbs. “While you sleep, your barrier doesn’t protect your mind, so the vile creature enters your dreams. You must remember the dark Magi recharge their magyck with pain and suffering, and he‘d believe sharing pain with you is a good thing.” He drew a deep breath. “I know this to be true, little one. When you woke, I found marks on your back.”

“Oh, I see, and because the change has restored my virginity, you believed he might have raped me, too?” Thalia pressed a hand to her heart. “Why would he do this to me? What can he possibly gain by doing such a thing?”

Lumos pressed a kiss to her cheek. “Ah, my sweet butterfly, he does not know you are a child of Cymbeline and protected by the goddess.”

“How do you know? Mayhap I’m as evil as the Magus of Fullmount. Perhaps he sent me to trap you, just as the potion was sent to the Dragonfae.”

Lumos bent to suckle the bite marks on Thalia’s neck. He wanted to kiss her, to instil his love in her.

“Because, my sweet butterfly, I know your mother gave her life to protect you. Her love binds you to Cymbeline. Such a great sacrifice will protect you from becoming evil.”

“Aye, perhaps, but it may not stop me from being a tool for the Magus.” Thalia pushed her hair from her face. “I think we should discuss this with Pyro and then take what measures we can to prevent the Magus controlling my dreams.”

Lumos cast a fresh and clean spell over them both. “Yes, we should. Pyro is very knowledgeable in such things.” He pulled on his pants. “Rest until you feel better. I’ll wake Pyro, and then make us all some tea.”

To Lumos’ surprise, Pyro sat cross-legged beside the fire, deep in meditation. He approached slowly and coughed. “Sorry to disturb you but I’ve some things to discuss.”

Pyro smiled warmly. “My dragon has contacted my mate. I’ve been able to send a message to your father explaining everything.” He placed the kettle over the spinning fireball. “I‘ll keep him apprised of the situation. If necessary, he’ll send an army to get you back to Drakka in time for the contest.”

Dropping onto the sand beside Pyro, Lumos raised an eyebrow. “You were able to contact your mate? Gods, how is that possible?”

“My dragon craves her company and reached out to her while I slept.” Pyro sighed contentedly. “Love offers no boundaries, my friend. Although, I must say, Melis took a little convincing.”

“Has Melis forgiven you?”

“Yes, and I do believe our reunion will rival Thalia’s moonfire.” Pyro grinned. “I saw her…Melis. My dragon gave me a glimpse of her image, and she is just as beautiful as the day we first mated.”

Lumos removed the kettle from the flames. “I’m happy for you.” He scooped tea from a sack and dropped it into the hot water. “Thalia has a problem. I have reason to believe a Magus is accessing her. Perhaps he has the ability to dreamwalk, but, whatever spell he’s using, the bastard is leaving physical marks.” He dashed a hand through his hair. “Lady’s blood, I’m beginning to believe Thalia carries the Magus of Fullmount’s dark magyck.” He met Pyro’s gaze. “Only a blood relative could do such a thing.”

“Do you fear she’ll betray you?” Pyro placed two cups on the sandy ground. “Do you trust her?” He lifted the kettle and poured two cups of tea.

Lifting the steaming cup to his nose, Lumos inhaled the rich, herbal brew. “Betray me? No, never by choice.” He regarded Pyro over the rim of the cup. “I love her and my dragon detects no malice in her at all. On the contrary, she has defended me many times.” He sipped the tea. “She has an inner strength like no other female I’ve known. In truth, she still struggles to trust me and I don’t blame her. She’s had men betray her, including her foster father, King Garro.”

“If there is a blood link, it would be feasible to believe the Magus is using her to spy on us.” Pyro raised his hand to stop Lumos’ protest. “I know this realm. I used Tusuns many times to train young dragons. The spiders we fought are not from this realm. To attack in a sandstorm is not usual behaviour for that species. In fact, spiders don’t have the brain power to coordinate such an attack.” He placed his cup on the ground. “Think on it, Lumos, what insect attacks on three fronts? Why? We offered no threat to them and Fae blood is poisonous for any species to drink, so why attack?” Pyro sighed. “I believe the spiders and perhaps the sandstorm were engineered by the Magus to kill or delay you. We must discuss a new strategy to cross Trill, in private, away from Thalia.”

Lumos ground his teeth. He had been with Thalia every second apart from the two hours he had let the Nightdragon free.

“If you believe Thalia informed the Magus of our plans, you are mistaken. She freed me from his magyck circle.” He glared at Pyro. “If she were under the Magus’ control, she would have refused to help me escape, or, for that matter, help me free you.”

“I think nothing of the sort.”

“Goddess! Do you believe I’m in league with the Magus of Fullmount?” Thalia stood at the entrance of the passageway.

“No, I don’t, Thalia, quite the opposite, in fact.” Pyro patted the ground. “Sit down but face away from us just for a moment while I explain.”

Lumos lifted his chin. Inside, his dragon roared in protest. “Your request is insulting.”

“Hush…this is just a precaution. Let me explain.” Pyro poured a cup of tea for Thalia. “Can you tell me when you were first aware of your magyck?”

“Mayhap a year ago, although many times small things happened.” Thalia sipped her tea. “Nell told me that sometimes magyck slips out as a wish of sorts.”

“Nell?” Pyro wrinkled his brow. “Tell me about Nell, the old woman from the forest. What did she look like? Try to remember if she had pointed ears.”

“Aye, Nell did have pointed ears but not as tall as yours. Pointed, aye, but a little more rounded. She wore her hair like a braided crown.” Thalia smiled. “She told me so many stories of Faeries, Elves and the children of the forest.” She reached out a hand to touch Lumos. “She informed me that I‘d been given a great gift.”

Lumos took Thalia’s hand and stroked her soft skin with his thumb. “I believe Nell was an Elf. How old do you think she was?”

“Old, with grey hair. She had wrinkles around her mouth and eyes, perhaps fifty summers?” Thalia shrugged. “Why?”

“Fae do not age after maturity, unless we are prevented from returning to a Fae realm.” Pyro shot a glance at Lumos and raised a brow. “Thalia, Nell revealed herself to you in a Nomag realm. This in itself is a very dangerous thing for an Elf to do. Nomags are unaware we truly exist.” He rolled his shoulders and stretched. “I believe Nell has some connection to you and has an interest in your wellbeing. She knows of your mother’s sacrifice to save you. Perhaps Nell placed you in the forest for Garro to find. I have reason to believe that she may be your grandmother.”

“Then why did she leave me to the king’s men, Lumos? How could she be so cruel?”

Lumos squeezed Thalia’s hand. “If the Magus of Fullmount is her master, as I suspect, she couldn’t reveal her involvement with you. The dark Magi keep many breeders of worth as drudges. They become entrenched in the dark Magi way of life and the breeders are trusted more than the other slaves are. Nell’s master would allow her to move around freely to collect fruit and perhaps herbs from the forest. I think she tried to protect your true heritage from him.” He turned his head to meet Pyro’s gaze. “I recall a battle almost forty summers ago, an invasion by an army of dark Magi to steal Elvin females for breeding.” He sighed. “Five females were captured and I believe some took their own lives. I’ve no idea how many survived the Magi dungeons.”