Dragonfae & The Soul Catcher (30 page)

A rush of fear stopped Thalia from sprinting after him. She stood motionless, staring at the empty space where Lumos had stood. The sudden loss of the Fae’s body heat left her bereft. A shiver ran down her spine. Goddess, what would happen if Lumos lost the challenge? How could she live without him?

“Cymbeline, I beg you to protect Lumos in this challenge. Please, bring him back to me.”

She stared at the open doorway leading to the balcony. The hum of voices drifted up from the city square followed by a loud cheer. Stiff-legged with fear, she walked through the doors and out onto the balcony. Below, the city of Drakka sparkled in the noonday sun. A crowd had gathered, their faces upturned to the sky, wings open like a field of flowers. The Nightdragon flew low over Drakka and let out a roar of challenge. The sound reverberated through the streets and shook the palace. The beast’s wings spread wide, allowing his massive body to hover in an updraft. The dragon’s black skin sparkled in the sunlight as if damp from a shower of rain. The beast’s spines stood erect from head to tail. Encased in steel, the Nightdragon’s talons caught the sunlight, each long claw honed to a lethally sharp blade.

A rumbling roar, followed by a flash of orange flames, heralded the arrival of the challenger. Kird, within a green dragon, hovered above the mountain, his long snake-like tail swishing from side to side. The Nightdragon made a long sweeping turn and dived towards Kird. Thalia held her breath. The green dragon folded back its wings and swooped out of sight behind the mountain range.

The Nightdragon sent a blast of crackling fire into the air and gave chase through a cloud of black smoke. Within seconds, both dragons had disappeared from sight. In the distance, the sound of thunder rumbled through the valleys, not a storm but the sickening sound of dragons fighting.

Thalia wrapped her arms around her stomach, unable to drag her attention away from the sky. Brew’s long, curse-like howl brought Thalia around to face a Faerie with long, blonde hair, and a pinched, angry expression.

Gods, this cannot be Lumos’ mother—can it?

“So
you
are Thalia.”

Thalia swallowed. The hate in this female’s expression unnerved her. “Aye, and what do I call you?”

“
Me
? The gods give me strength.
I
am Lucinda—Lumos’ intended.” Lucinda’s fists bunched at her waist. “What magyck did you use to spellbind him? He belongs to me.” Her mouth curled into an ugly smile. “Now he is home, he’ll soon forget you—your pathetic love spells won’t work in Drakka.”

Taken aback by the Faerie’s venomous attitude, Thalia chewed her bottom lip. Lumos had mentioned Lucinda, this female he accused of betraying him to the Magus. She trembled with anger.

“I used no magyck. Lumos came to me by way of Cymbeline. I am his chosen mate.”

“Yet you’re not mated.” Lucinda laughed. “How foolish, but then you are a child. My dear Lumos used you to get home. He has no love for you, and why would the next king of Drakka want a Nomag changeling for a mate?” She snorted. “Look down into the square. All are blood-born Dragonfae—every one of them more acceptable as a future queen than you.” She tossed her head. “You’re not welcome here. Lumos told me to make sure you had left before he returned.”

Mind reeling, Thalia stood her ground. Her anger reared, Lucinda’s threat sent a tingle of dark magyck to her palms. She pushed down the need to destroy this Faerie with black fire.

Thalia levelled her gaze at the female. “Lumos told me you’d betrayed him. You’re the one that should leave.”

“Oh, really?” Lucinda’s mouth curled up in the corners. “Lumos gave his promise to me before he left Drakka—I will be his queen.” She gave Thalia a slow smile. “Do you remember, Nomag, the moment you arrived at the palace, Lumos left you in the stable?”

Thalia frowned. “Aye, he left me for no more than five minutes to send word to the king of his arrival.”

“Lumos came straight to me.” Lucinda moved closer. “Come here, can you not smell his scent all over me?” She exposed her neck to display two distinct fang marks. “He couldn’t wait to mark me. It will be me he comes to after the challenge. My arms will hold him—not the arms of a pathetic little Nomag witch.”

Lumos’ distinct scent wafted from Lucinda.
This is trickery.
The Faerie had known Lumos for some time and she could have easily retained one of his garments. Thalia fought for breath. She reached for the dragon and found nothing but a void. Thalia fought to dispel the wave of uncertainty brought on by Lucinda’s harsh words. Lifting her chin, she moved towards the Faerie.

“You lie. Get out of my room.”

“Then watch and learn, Nomag.” Lucinda curled her lip. “By this evening you’ll be an unpleasant memory and I’ll be queen.” She turned and flounced from the room.

Heart pounding, Thalia turned back to search the sky. She touched the bite on her neck. Goddess, the taste of Lumos still lingered on her lips. The Dragonfae had given her his promise. The bond between them had flared. Only mates could experience each other’s emotions.
I will not believe her lies. Lumos is mine.

* * * *

It’s a trap.
Lumos spied the two dragons perched along the gully. Wings outstretched, Quade and Zaan hung like giant bats to the sheer rock face on either side of the ravine. Kird gave a threatening roar, dropped from a peak, and, claws outstretched, sped towards the Nightdragon.

“
Aye, so it would seem,”
the Nightdragon bellowed in reply, and charged towards Kird. “
Although I do have the advantage with steel-tipped talons, three to one is going to be complicated in such a restricted area.”

Kird had initiated a game of charge and retreat. The young dragon was no match for Lumos. The tactic to lure the Nightdragon into the gorge away from the spectators was an old ploy. Lumos had expected treachery from the simpering weasel but more in the form of magyck. He had expected to see the Magus appear at any second. He gave a mental shrug. True, defeating the two extra combatants would prove difficult in a restricted area. The Nightdragon had the size advantage but the smaller dragons could manoeuvre more easily. In this ravine, the Nightdragon’s outstretched wings touched both sides of the sheer rock face.

Clucking like chickens, Quade and Zaan dropped off the side of the chasm, and took positions on either side of the ravine. Kird’s dragon hovered in an updraft at the mouth of the canyon. Anger curled in Lumos’ belly. He had not intended to hurt Kird, perhaps just give him a lesson in manners. Now, with the addition of seasoned warriors, the Nightdragon would be fighting for his life. Did the fools realise what they were doing?

“Mindspeak with them. Remind them that to become involved in a challenge is a traitorous act.”

The Nightdragon slammed into Kird, the impact jarring Lumos’ mind. His metallic talons flashed, scoring a deep red line across the green skin of Kird’s dragon. Kird’s beast gave a frightened yelp and swerved away. In truth, the Nightdragon had played with Kird like a cat with a mouse. The young Dragonfae’s attempts at combat were laughable. Lumos directed his dragon deeper into the ravine and they dropped onto a nearby peak.

“What do they say, dragon?”

“They fight for the Magus. Their minds are gone. All embrace the dark side. What would you have me do with these traitors?”

Lumos’ mind went to Thalia. Her smile, the look of trust in her flaming eyes—gods, he loved her more than life. The image of her running from him in the Singing Forest flashed across his consciousness—his butterfly, brutalised to the point of fearing all males—her terror would stay with him forever. How she had suffered because of the Magus. If he failed the challenge, Thalia would fall under the Magus’ rule, and his people would become slaves to the dark side. The laws of the challenge were set in stone. One hundred years between challenges, winner takes all. If Lumos failed today, the Dragonfae people would not dispute the Magus’ claim—so few knew of the dark wizard’s treachery. Lumos strengthened his resolve and gave himself up to the Nightdragon.

“Kill them all!”

Thalia gripped the balcony railing. Smoke rose from the mountains. The floor shook below her feet, and in the square the people had fallen deathly silent. Three hours had passed and, with every tortuous second, the beauty of the afternoon had faded, ripped by the screams and roars of dragons. She opened her mind, dropped her barriers to seek one sound, one emotion from Lumos. Instead, the insidious laugh of the Magus echoed in her mind. His words caught her unawares and she swayed, unable to keep her balance.

“
The Nightdragon falters and soon all of Drakka will be mine. As will you.”

Thalia built up her barriers and stood gasping, unable to breathe. She turned and ran towards the door. The guard in the hallway raised a hand to stop her leaving.

“I must see the king.”

“My orders are to keep you here until the challenge is concluded.” The guard tipped his head towards his companion. “Give him your message and he’ll take it to the king.”

Wringing her hands, Thalia met the other guard’s gaze. “Tell the king the Magus is here in Drakka—that he contacted me. The message said the Nightdragon is failing and soon the Magus will rule Drakka. Go!” She turned and ran back to the balcony.

A deafening roar split the silence. Thalia turned to see the Nightdragon soar through the smoke and into the air, his metal talons reflecting the fading afternoon sun. Two smaller dragons, Kird and a larger brown beast circled him. Thalia swallowed hard. A long, ragged tear split one of the Nightdragon’s wings. The Nightdragon rolled and roared in frustration. He swung his spiked tail, swatting at Kird. His long, sharp talons sliced along Kird’s neck, sending a spray of blood into the air. Kird dropped, spiralling towards the earth to hit the ground with an ear-splitting scream of terror. The green dragon lay sprawled on the ground, his neck at an odd angle, his sightless eyes staring at oblivion.

Thalia’s stomach cramped. Clearly, with a damaged wing, the Nightdragon had lost manoeuvrability, and his ability to hover. She held her breath as the black dragon soared and rolled his massive body, lashing out at the brown dragon with lethal talons. The pair clashed together. Flames shot from the Nightdragon’s nose, scorching the skin off his opponent. In retaliation, the brown dragon clamped its massive maw around the Nightdragon’s neck. Thalia gulped air. The angry roar from Lumos made her blood run cold. The Nightdragon drove his sharp talons into the brown dragon’s chest, slicing deep. Blood fell in a torrent of crimson rain, staining the rooftops.

Below the balcony, the crowd in the square began to chant, “Lumos, Lumos.”

Tears stung Thalia’s eyes. She reached out her mind. “
I love you, Lumos.”

Locked in a death grip, the two dragons spun once, twice, then fell towards the gully, tumbling like leaves in a storm. A mighty crash shook the city followed by a mushroom cloud of dust and debris.

Silence.

The crowd stopped chanting and stood facing the mountain, their faces splattered with blood. Thalia sobbed, unable to control the flow of tears. Long minutes passed. She slumped to her knees.

“Please, Cymbeline, I beg you—save Lumos.”

“There… Look.” A single voice rose from the crowd.

Grief-stricken, Thalia staggered to her feet. Through a blur of tears, she gazed towards the mountains. A shadow of a dragon loomed in the smoke, backlit by the red glow of the sinking sun. With a triumphant roar, the Nightdragon speared into the daylight. The crowd went wild. Thalia raised her fist in victory.

“Yes!”

“
I can take it from here. You fought well, dragon.”
Lumos burst forth into the fading sunlight and stretched out his wings. In Fae form, he drifted towards the crowd, feet first, with arms outstretched against his wings. Magyck given freely by the crowd hummed into his body, replenishing both him and his dragon. His gaze went to the balcony, taking in Thalia’s tear-stained cheeks and radiant smile. He wanted to go to her, claim her, and ride the wave of delight of her moonfire. The mating heat combined with the overpowering love of his sweet butterfly was indeed an intoxicating mix. He pushed down his need and continued his descent into the crowd. As custom dictated, he must address his people first. His father would greet him to give him the sacred seal and present him with a gold armband, denoting his new position as King of the Dragonfae. The gods would increase his powers ten-fold—already the warm, exhilarating glow of Cymbeline’s magyck caressed his aching body. He swore, berating himself for not explaining this procedure to Thalia. He reached out, seeking their bond, only to come up against a solid barrier. He frowned.

Gods, she blocks her mind from me. What has happened?

Folding his wings, Lumos landed in a sea of Faeries. All offered congratulations and the chant broke out in earnest. The crowd parted and Lumos saw the beaming face of his father. The king descended the palace steps and raised his hands for quiet. Lumos met his father with a bow.

“Father, I have won the challenge, and stand before my king to receive my reward.”

Luka slipped off his armband, and, with a boyish grin, presented the decorative band to Lumos. “The band of office.” He turned to receive a gold seal from a guard, which he handed this to Lumos. “The Royal Seal. All hail the king.”

Lumos opened his mouth to speak to his father. The next second Lucinda had jumped into his arms. Only reflex action drew his arms around her. Her small hands went around his neck and her wet lips clamped down on his own. The crowd closed in around them, trapping them together. A ripple of anger, tinged with disgust, hit Lumos. How dare Lucinda touch him? He had made his position quite clear to the Faerie. Lucinda knew full well that he belonged to Thalia. What game was this? He pulled his head back and glared at Lucinda.

“What do you think you are doing?” He glanced up at the balcony to see Thalia’s shocked expression, the tears glistening on his love’s cheeks. His heart clenched at the sight of his true mate turning away from him.
I must get to her and explain.