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Chapter Twenty-Six
It’s getting dark by the time I reach the dragon village, finding it mostly on instinct, a wing and a prayer. I park on the outskirts of the forest, and instantly feel the urge to turn back. Interesting. That means there are wards in place to keep people away. Is that to keep everyone away, or just humans? Is that why I can feel it, because I’m only half witch?
As I exit the car and approach the trail into the forest, the discomfort builds to the point of pain. I push past the overwhelming fear that tells me I have to run, but with every step I take, pain threatens to cripple me. It’s hard to unseize my muscles and to override my instincts, but I force my brain to keep me moving forwards.
Once I’m a couple of hundred feet into the dark forest, the pain lessens and eases to a manageable discomfort that I can handle.
As I walk deeper into the forest, the coverage overhead becomes so dense that it feels like night has fully fallen. The ground even takes on that cold damp feel, the fronds of grass tickling my toes through my sandals.
I find it slightly ironic that a colony of dragon shifters would choose to live near a forest, but maybe that’s the beauty of it: no-one would expect it. Ash had said it keeps him plenty busy though, and soon a change in texture underfoot has me looking down. The grass here is charred and scorched, just like in my vision. I feel like Jasper is near and call softly to him. A feeling of being watched brings my senses to life, like spiders crawling over me. I shudder and swipe at my bare skin. There’s nothing there.
A shrill yip comes from my right, and I take off running through the brush to get to Jasper. I’m sure it’s him; it has to be.
“Jasper!” I cry, as I crash into a clearing and catch sight of the small pup manacled to a large tree. He looks tiny; so vulnerable and fragile. I race to his side and gently touch him, my fingers coming away wet with blood. He’s not moving, barely breathing. Panic threatens to choke me, but I force it down.
I don’t hesitate; I throw my hands up and chant a healing spell that might just save his life. When a being is this close to death, healing spells don’t tap into the Light to activate. They use Dark Magic. I’m not a stranger to the Dark, I have called on it before in desperate times of need, and I would do it again to save someone I love. I watch in fascination as thick tendrils of Dark Magic snake from my hands and begin to bind themselves around Jasper. If I didn’t know what I was doing, I would be terrified. I’m only glad there’s no witnesses here to see this. Dark Magic is scary stuff.
When the ebony tendrils have worked their magic and healed Jasper, they snake back to me, coiling around my hands and wrists, demanding payment. I grit my teeth and allow them to take it: they bite into my flesh, drawing blood, feasting on it. I feel my power drain and wane a little, which tells me just how close to death Jasper had been. I got here just in time. Fed and satisfied, the tendrils release their hold on me, and with a few whispered words I send them on their way. Exhausted, I slump back against the tree Jasper is chained to and scoop him up into my arms.
“Jasper, you’re going to be okay,” I whisper soothingly, as I stroke his buttery soft fur. His wounds have vanished, the blood gone, and his breathing is stronger and more even than it was when I arrived. It was worth the price I’ve paid with my own magic. I sigh in relief but tense as soon as I hear twigs snapping behind me.
Spinning around, I lock eyes with a beast in the darkness. A pair of red eyes glow and stare unblinkingly at me. I shield Jasper with my body instinctively, moving him from my lap to hide him behind me. I hastily get to my feet.
“You’ll be okay, Jasper,” I repeat.
“But you won’t be, mon coeur.”
I cringe at the awful, deep voice and the sickening term of endearment that I had hoped never to hear again.
Out of the shadows steps a beastly dragon. Blacker than night, ferocious blood-red eyes, standing at over four metres high. I gulp, swallow, step back. All along the creature’s back are savage-looking spikes that could gut a man, and easily turn him into sashimi. I blink rapidly, disbelief and fear freezing my weakened powers. I’m paralyzed as right before my eyes the dragon begins to shift into a man.
And then I’m staring into the emotionless, dead eyes of my ex.
Fuck.
“Bonjour, mon coeur.” He grins at me in a slimy fashion that makes my skin crawl.
“You’re not French, Jude!” I snap.
“Ah, but clearly there is so much you don’t know about me, mon coeur.” It’s like he’s using the phrase as much as he can to rankle me. Damn it, it’s working. But he’s not wrong. Holy fuck, he’s a fucking shifter! A dragon shifter, no less. How the hell were we together for so long without me knowing? I can’t believe how close I came to marrying the monster standing before me.
I learned a long time ago that when he turns my insides to liquid fear, the most important thing is to never show it. I place my hands on my hips and take a step toward him. I’m not scared...I’m not.
I’m terrified. But I’m also beyond grateful that I came here alone. I send a quick prayer up to the goddess: please don’t let my sacrifice have been in vain. Protect Jasper. See him home safely.
I swear I hear the words ‘have faith, child’ whispered on the wind, but I can’t be sure. Fear does crazy things to the senses.
“What do you want, Jude?” I demand. May as well get this shit show of epic proportions on the road.
“You. I want you, mon coeur, just like I always have. I want your submission, your obedience, your soul.”
Jude used to talk about owning my soul when we were together. As a supe pretending to be human for him, I never let on just how creepy I found his desires. I told myself that as a wholesome boy next door type, it was just his strange way of trying to be romantic. Discovering that he’s a freaking dragon changes things. He might literally want to consume my heart and my soul now.
“Jude.” I frown. “We’ve talked about this before. A person can’t own another person.”
“Oh but a dragon can own a pet, and I think you’ll do nicely, mon coeur.”
Gag.
