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“I did not know that my lady-in-waiting dabbled in such darkness,” Morgause professed, though Molly highly doubted her aunt’s sincerity. “Molly, you must know that I do not condone such wickedness. I would never bring such a plague upon my brother’s exalted household!”

Morganna let out a loud snort. “Oh, I’m sure you wouldn’t. You always have been a bit mental, sister. “ Molly gave Morganna a shocked look. Morganna cleared her throat. “I’d check your nose tomorrow morning, Morgause. “

“Whatever for?” Morgause asked. “You speak in riddles, sister!”

“Well…dearest sister mine, I’d reckon it will be a wee bit longer. “ Morganna laughed, and Molly couldn’t help but smile. It felt good to know that Morganna would stick with her through thick and thin, even when it came to siding against her own sister. She could see now that Merlin had made the right choices when forming his High Order.

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Morgause’s eyes almost popped out of her head. She began to sputter some inaudible threats and seemed about to say something else when Arthur’s shout interrupted all of their thoughts.

“Remove this woman from my hall,” he ordered. Sir Kai and Sir Aries clamped their hands on the woman that Molly held.

“My knights, pray take your hands off of this evil bitch,” Molly said, directing her gaze at Beatrice and Adria. “My Lady Knights shall deal with her,” Molly announced.

Crimson specks began to appear in the woman’s hazel eyes. Suddenly, Molly truly began to fear for her father and his loyal subjects. This woman was a shape shifter, and by the looks of it, she was an evil dragon shifter. The sparks of dragon fire that danced in the woman’s eyes was a dead giveaway.

Her father did not realize the severity of the situation. This woman was one of Lord Cardan’s spies, and though she couldn’t be certain if Morgause was being truthful or not, she wanted the woman out of her father’s presence. Even now, Lord Cardan could see through her eyes. Danger lurked around every corner. When danger waited for you at every turn, the shadows could be treacherous.

In a streak of blurring movement, the woman slipped out of her captors’ hands. She lurched toward the door. Molly could not allow her to escape. Suddenly, the air in the hall began to become alarmingly thin. People fought for their breath, as Molly joined them. Before her very eyes, the woman turned into a black dragon, and adjusted her size and shape to fit into the space that she had.

“Oh, just lovely, that’s just what I needed,” Molly gasped, summoning Anwyn to her side. She let the blanket that she clutched around her shoulders fall into a heap on the floor.

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Molly grasped Anwyn’s jeweled hilt with both of her hands, as a cleansing wind tore through Ehangwen. Her father rushed toward her, his knights ready to do battle with the black dragon, but if they did, the black dragon would have them for breakfast.

“My Lady Knights, form a shield,” she commanded. Energy pounded through her. She could do this!

At her order they lined up, and held their swords in the same position that Molly was holding Anwyn. Light streamed out from the tips of the Elvin blades, and shot up to the roof of the castle. Her father stopped dead in his tracks and signaled to his men to do the same. She could feel her father trying to touch her mind with a mental whisper. But only part of what he was thinking could penetrate the shields. She smiled and raised her hand to her father.

‘Not to worry, father ... we have things in hand. ’

The dragon let out an earth-shattering roar. Smoke billowed out of her nostrils. “She’s about ready to blow,” Molly called out, gasping as a stench resembling rancid maggoty meat filled the hair. The wind that Molly had conjured up was bringing back some much-needed oxygen into the hall but she could hear men and woman alike gagging. Beneath the putrid onslaught they steadfastly held their scented linen handkerchiefs up to their noses.

Molly wanted to do the same, but she had to be strong, and detach herself from her physical surroundings. A dragon out in open pasture was a far different threat than a dragon confined in such close quarters, especially considering the beast’s massive size.

Blessed be, she saw that her father had the foresight to give his knights the command to continue to back off. She summoned her waning strength. Whatever happened she had to hold on. Anwyn wobbled in her hands. With a deep breath, she centered her strength. Anwyn sang to her. The song stirred the passion in her heart and rejuvenated her.

“May the shield of Light surround the inhabitants of Ehangwen,” she called out. Another blast of blinding light filled the hall and a circle of iridescent light surrounded every occupant.

The black dragon shot out a streak of fire and it hit the Light Bearers’ erected shield. Molly could feel the brunt of it, but she knew that their shield would not break. Although, if the dragon conserved her strength, they would be in trouble if they did not figure out a way of vanquishing it once and for all.

‘My Lady Knights, lower the shield just enough so that I may slip through on the count of three,’ she directed mentally.

She pursed her lips when she heard Morganna and Adria let out synchronized snorts of disbelief.

‘You aren’t strong enough,’ Adria mentally intoned. To Molly’s chagrin the rest of the Order murmured their agreements. ‘I am the second in command, therefore I shall slay the dragon,’ Adria murmured.

Molly bit her lip. Despite what Adria said, she knew instinctively that it was her responsibility and one that she couldn’t share with Adria.

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‘All I ask is for each and every one of you to place your faith in me. I assure you that I have enough strength to vanquish the dragon, but once it becomes dust, I will be completely weakened. ’ Her heart soared as she felt their surge of renewal of belief in her.

‘We shall catch you before you fall, this I swear,’ Morganna returned, impishly turning and winking at her.

“My Light Bearers, the time is now,” she called. A small slit opened in the shield, and she dashed madly through it. She cringed in reaction to her father’s outraged cry. Ignoring it, she stood regally in front of the dragon. She knew she had to be a sight, with her silk nightgown billowing around her, and her hair flying around her head as if it had a mind of its own.

Using a small spurt of her power a crimson cloak fastened by a ruby encrusted broach enveloped her body. A dangerous smile slanted across her face. She licked her lips. The black dragon puffed out two large gusts of steam. The scent of brimstone hung in the air.

“What’s the matter, is the great big dragon all out of steam?” she mocked. Planting her now sandaled feet firmly apart, she held the humming Anwyn at the ready in her hands.

“You are what I seek,” the dragon said in a language long forgotten, though not lost to Molly. Merlin had taught his charges nearly every tongue imaginable, and though the other people assembled in the hall, wouldn’t be able to understand, she understood every single weird sounding syllable. A chill raced up and down her spine. She swallowed against the large lump that had lodged its way into her throat.

“Then by all means, come and get me, if you can,” she answered in the same language.

The black dragon spewed out another blast of molten fire. But the dragon had underestimated her skills, and though terrified screams and cries echoed around her, she did not truly register any of them. At the last possible moment, she transported herself, a short distance through time and space. She now stood on one of the spiked black ridges of the dragon’s back, and she nearly lost her precarious footing when the dragon moved. She slammed her foot down on the dragon’s scale as her ears twitched.

“Remember me?” Molly asked, pointing Anwyn’s blade downwards. With all of her strength she rammed it into the soft vulnerable spot between the ridged scales.

The black she-dragon howled with agony, and would have thrown Molly from her back, had Molly not still been hanging on for all that she was worth to the hilt of Anwyn. A burning stench filled the air, and Molly immediately knew what it was.

“Oh, by the way, I never caught your name,” she murmured, while the dragon continued her howling.

“I am Vesta, of the Black Skull Clan,” the She Dragon shifter shrieked. Two seconds later, she disintegrated into a heap of dust. Molly now had a challenge on her hands. She had slain the dragon, but now that the dragon was a mound of dust she was hanging in mid-air with only enough power to keep herself levitating for a few seconds.

The time had come for her to place her trust in her fellow Light Bearers. Closing her eyes, she blew out a gust of wind as all of her strength finally deserted her. She fought the canopy of her dreams, because she needed to know who would catch her when she fell. She let go, and began plummeting through the air. She nearly panicked when she felt no invisible hands reach out to slow her descent. This could not be happening.

They wouldn’t let her hit the ground, or would they?

Loud voices carried around her so she cracked one eyelid open. Standing majestically by the open doors of the hall was her knight dressed in his shining Elvin armor. If she didn’t know better, she would have sworn that she had slipped into the pages of a fairy tale. Her descent LADY PENDRAGON MARLEY MATHEWS 64

slowed, and she landed right into his outstretched arms. Then she caught sight of his rugged jaw line, and his face broke into that glorious smile, and all was lost. She definitely recognized that smile.

“Collin,” she breathed almost wonderingly, as she stared up into his eyes. They were the same, and yet, something had changed about them. The familiar cockiness was mysteriously absent, and in its place was a frank wisdom that took her breath away. Collin had grown into a force to be reckoned with. “What happened to you?” she gasped. He gave her a crooked smile and his green eyes sparkled with warmth.

“You’ve just slain a dragon, and you want to know what happened to me?” he asked.

His deep throaty chuckle sent a shiver of delight through her. “My lady, you never cease to amaze me. “ The warmth in his eyes continued to smolder until they sparked. She suddenly felt as if her skin were on fire. She swallowed. Her pulse raced. Under any other circumstances, she might have told him to get his filthy hands off of her, but as it was, she highly doubted that she would be able to stand on her own two feet. No, strike that, she knew that she wouldn’t be able to stand up on her own power.

She could hear her father’s sure-footed steps. Sighing, she cracked her other eyelid open.

She winced at his furious expression and actually felt a brief twinge of sympathy for Collin.

“Sir, what right have you to handle my daughter in such an intimate matter? You shall hand her over to me, straightaway,” Arthur commanded, holding his arms out.

“I think not, Your Grace,” Collin disagreed, tightening his hold on her. Molly let out a loud groan. Only she got away with openly contradicting her father. Then her father straightened, when Merlin suddenly appeared by Collin’s side.

“You fool, I wouldn’t push your luck,” she hissed. “My father isn’t any ordinary man, you know. “

“Neither am I,” Collin retorted, grinning from ear to ear.

Snores vibrated off the walls, and Molly fought back a smile when she realized that Merlin had cast a sleeping spell over the entire hall, save for her Lady Knights.

Her eyes roved to settle on Merlin. ‘You’re one clever wizard, Merlin. ’

Merlin caught her gaze. His eyes sparkled.

‘And you, my dear, are one clever witch. ’

“Begging your pardon, Lord Merlin,” Arthur said, stepping forward. Merlin raised his hands in a command for silence. “Who is this ungrateful braggart?” Arthur demanded, rounding on Merlin for an explanation.

“He is the answer to all of your prayers, Arthur,” Merlin said, patience creeping into his voice. Smiling, he folded his arms in front of him. “And he also happens to be Molly’s once and future husband,” Merlin continued.

Silence hung in the air for exactly two seconds. Molly gasped, Arthur simmered, and Collin beamed.

“To hell he is,” Arthur said, reaching for Excalibur.

“I second that motion,” Molly said sleepily, she let out a great yawn. With that, she finally succumbed to dreamland.

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Molly was in the middle of a fantastic dream that made her feel delicious inside. She was sailing on euphoria, that was for certain, and yet, something called to her, pulling her to the waking world. She mumbled some sort of insult, rolled over, and scrunched her pillow up beneath her head. She could feel the weight of someone sitting on her bed. Grumbling, she stirred. She tried to stretch her legs out but found the weight to be constrictive of her movements.

“What the bloody hell?” She flickered her eyes open briefly. “Whoever goes there should know that I don’t like to have my sleep disturbed! So go and bugger off, why don’t you!”

Her senses reached out and something tickled the back of her mind. She fought the suddenly overwhelming urge to sneeze. Why couldn’t she just float back to her wonderful dream? She could still feel and taste the sensations that had lingered in her dream. “Mmm…” she mumbled.

Stubborn to the very end, she clamped her eyelids shut, and tried to return to her wonderful dream. But it was not to be. Someone’s hand had settled itself on her shoulder. She tried shaking it off, and then groaned, when she finally rolled over, and blinked her eyes open.

“What are you doing in here?” she shrieked, bolting upright, and pulling the sheets up to her chin. She glared at Collin, and pushed his hand off of her shoulder. He put his hand back, and smiled crookedly at her; her heart softened just the teeniest bit, but he wouldn’t win her over that easily. Whether he had forgotten it or not, he was in the 6th century, and being in a young maiden’s bedroom was definitely frowned upon. If anyone caught him in here, her reputation would be sullied forever. She’d be damned if she’d be thrown into the ranks of the castle whores. Crinkling her nose, she sniffed at the air. A strange smell wafted over to her side of the room.