Page 53 of Bewitched

“Run! Hide!” yelled several others, causing chaos again for the fae.

“Oh, damn,” said Rhys looking up to see the dragon flying right over the Whispering Dale. “I think someone is riding it,” he said, peering into the sky. When it came closer, he could tell there was a man on the dragon’s back.

“It’s a man,” said Zann.

“I wonder who it is,” remarked Darium. “I’ve never seen him before.”

When it swooped over their heads, Rapunzel gasped. “Marco?” she said with a hand to her mouth.

“Marco?” asked Rhys. “You mean, your Dragon Lord husband?”

“Nay. It can’t be.” Rapunzel shook her head. “He couldn’t have come through the portal and also found us this quickly. I don’t believe it at all.”

“The dragon answers to me now, Sister,” called the man from the air.

“Sister? Oh, no. I think I know what is happening,” said Rhys, shaking his head, realizing just what was going on. “Rapunzel, I believe Medea has shapeshifted into the form of the Dragon Lord to trick the dragon in order to control it.”

“That’s Medea?” asked Zann, stretching his neck to see better.

“You’re right,” said Rapunzel. “That is not my husband, but it is my wretched sister. We are all in trouble now.”

“What do you mean?” asked Darium.

“You all heard what Medea said before she left,” Rapunzel pointed out. “She threatened that she would be ruler of Mura and that she was not leaving here and going back through the portal.”

“That doesn’t sound good,” said Darium.

“Not at all,” agreed Zann.

“Zoroct’s eyes, we are all in trouble now,” said Rhys. “I think she means to use the dragon to seize Kasculbough Castle and kill the King.” Rhys couldn’t believe what was happening. Just last night he spent the most wonderful time with a beautiful woman whom he thought he could possibly even love. But now, Medea’s evil side emerged and threatened everything and everyone in Rhys’ life, and he couldn’t accept this. He had to stop her. He couldn’t let her kill his king and take Kasculbough as her own. There had to be a way.

“Nay. She wouldn’t really do that. Would she?” asked Alaina.

“Yes, she would,” said Rapunzel, sounding sad to admit it. “In the past, Medea helped her mother do the exact thing when they seized Tanglewood Castle. Now, she’s about to do it all again, but this time on her own.”

“It is exactly what she threatened to do,” Rhys pointed out. “I can’t believe this is really happening.”

“Believe it. The darkness inside Medea now controls her,” Rapunzel told the others. “You are all about to see a side of Medea that you have never experienced before. And I assure you, it will be terrifying. Medea can’t control this dark side of her, and over time it has grown stronger. Sadly, there will most likely be a lot of death and destruction on Mura before she is finished.”

Thirteen

“This is all my fault,” said Rhys, pacing back and forth along the edge of the creek. “I should have been able to stop Medea, but I failed. I couldn’t get her to listen to me.”

“Women will do that to you,” said Darium, sounding like the voice of experience now that he was married. “They’ll lure you in until all you can do is think about nothing else but them. They have minds of their own, and will hardly ever listen to a word you say.”

“Right,” agreed Zann. “Look what happened to you, Darium.”

“Hey, I didn’t mean me.” Darium scowled at Zann. “Besides, I never said I didn’t like it. Being married is the best thing that ever happened to me. I’d do it all again and not be sorry. I love Talia and love being married.”

“I was starting to have feelings for Medea as well,” said Rhys. “She may have a dark side to her, but I’ve also seen the light within her and I believe it is stronger.” Rhys thought about Medea’s smile, her innocence, and how much it meant to her to have his friendship... his love. His heart went out to her. She’d seemed so distraught when she’d told him about her loneliness. But when she was with him, she seemed so happy and full of life. “Damn, I’ve really made a mess of things. I wish she’d never heard about that deal I almost made with the King. That is what set her off.”

“Rhys, you did nothing wrong,” said his mother. “You were there for Medea when she needed you. Now you need to look out for yourself.”

“Nay,” he said, throwing his hands in the air. “I need to look out for Medea. Only now, I have no idea how to do that. I don’t even know where she is.” The crystal pendant resting against his chest started to glow. He reached down and held it, immediately feeling comfort. “I have to get her home. Back to her home,” he said. “That is where she’ll be the safest, far away from Mura and sea serpents and kings who want her dead. She needs to go through that portal, even if I don’t like the idea of her leaving.”

“Hrmph. Easier said than done,” grunted Darium. “Nothing involving Medea seems to be easy.”

“My sister has been misguided, Rhys.” Rapunzel walked up to him. “She is young and inexperienced. Her mother died before being able to teach her much.”