Dragon Wish (48 page)

until he rose above the clan leaders’ heads. Over the wind

and roars from the battle continuing to flow over the desert

floor, a low mewling reached her. A baby’s call to its mother.

Her baby. Heart clenching, she focused on the one thread

connecting her to her child. Legion, her treasure, was crying

and she was not there for him.

The sand shimmered around Paladin. It surrounded him,

hiding him from her. She lifted a hand, wanting to help, but

she knelt, useless to them. The sand took on details the same

way it had when Legion had appeared to the dragons

attacking them in the desert at their arrival to the caverns.

The figure resembled the adult Legion, yet this time, wings

furled out from the body, swishing back and forth. Complete

now, the form separated from Paladin, towering above him.

Slender magical tendrils reached out from the form’s

flowing hair, extending toward the dragon clan leaders. The

strands matched the color of the corresponding dragon. Each

beast pivoted, facing outward from where the incarnate

figure of Legion floated above Paladin.

A roar came from Legion, racing across the battlefield in

physical waves, roiling over dunes and beasts. The last echo

ended, he spoke, his voice carrying over the desert. “Hear

me, dragons of Avaris. I am Legion, Dragon King. Bow to me

or die.”

Every movement, every cry ceased.

Seren, shocked by his ultimatum, waited for a response.

The dragons, most battling for their lives against their

enemies, faced him. All stared, eyes unblinking, bodies held

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motionless.

Legion lifted his arms.

Another wave, this time pure magical power, raced away

from him across the open dunes, sending sand spewing up

and away before it.

Upon contact, the beasts cowered, pulling apart from

their combatants, bodies lowering to the ground.

All the dragon leaders roared, showing their support for

him.

A thrill swept up Seren’s back. Wide-eyed, she waited for

the rogues’ reaction. Seconds passed. Quiet and low at first,

soon a multitude of words filtered from the roars along with

the underlying softer grunts and mewls of the attacking

beasts. From forest to sea dragons to the ones who lived in

the highest peaks of unknown mountains, they questioned,

demanding answers.

“Will you seek revenge?”

“The humans will grow in numbers and attack,

destroying our homes.”

“These despicable creatures hold nothing sacred.”

“What will you do with them?”

Legion’s sand form thickened. A fine sheen formed on it.

Each grain, ignited by his power, bonded with the next,

turning the figure into liquid glass. Shifting and undulating

as though alive, Legion’s dragon form turned full circle,

taking in all the rogues and even his allies.

“Your concerns are well met, my kin. I have been created

for one purpose. To be your King. But I am human also and

with that, I will be King over The White Dragon Clan. This

enables me to make changes with how humans affect this

planet also. We all must seek the same course. Avaris is our

home, dragon and human. Together we must strive for

peace. If not, our world will be no more.”

Several larger beasts along the perimeter, shifted through

the dunes, moving closer to Legion. One peeled back his lips,

responding.
“Can we trust you? You are half human.”

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Another from the opposite side roared.
“Will you send

forces into our lands and attack us?”

The glass dragon’s clawed hands clenched. “Will you test

me?”

The defiant creatures halted their movements.

“Are you strong enough to defeat me? I am giving you a

choice to live in peace. If you desire to fight me then my

choice will be final.
For you!
Which do you prefer?” A glass-

eyed stare, flicked over the tense battle field.

Gradually, one by one, all the dragons across the sand

dunes lowered their heads in deference to Legion. Most

stared at the Dragon King with a mixture of resentment and

pride in their gazes, but none refuted his claim over them.

Others appeared to have smiles curling their lips, happy to

have Legion as their King.

“Return you to your clans. Should I have need of you or

you of me, come, I will listen to your needs.”

Roars rolled across the fields, praise for the new King.

The rogues took flight. The desert erupted with a chorus

of roars, squawks, and wings flapping.

Seren shifted to the barrier, waiting, muscles tense until

they departed, leaving the land empty of all but the allied

forces. The glass dragon shattered into a shower of glistening

sand. The clan leaders took to the skies, each soaring in the

direction of their own homes. Through the dust, Paladin

appeared, Legion held against his chest.

His gaze met hers and she managed a small smile. Rylen’s

strong hand helped her stand. Largin opened the passage

through the barrier, but she waited. He came to her, his walk

slow and easy. Damp streaks marked his face. She covered

her mouth with one hand. He stopped in front of her, staring

into her eyes. She wrapped her other arm around his waist

and embraced both him and their son.

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Cool breezes fluttered the white gauze curtains inside the

open terrace doors. Seren stretched out across the bright

covers on her bed, enjoying the peaceful afternoon. During

the short time they’d remained in the safekeeping caverns

after the battle, Ren returned to Durfalin. She didn’t

understand how he’d done it, but in those few days, he

restored his home to its former splendor. She asked Leo

about it. He’d quirked a brow at her, and muttered

something along the lines of the magic on Avaris.

She grinned at the memory, passing a hand over the soft

fluffy hair on Legion’s rounded head. Though she tried, the

image of Ren standing watch while workers repaired his

home didn’t work for her. Leo commented that there hadn’t

been any workers, just wizards, making the repairs to the

destroyed home.

“I suppose it doesn’t really matter, does it?” she

murmured to Legion. His bright blue-gray eyes focused on

her face and he cooed.

A week. One very long week. She missed Paladin. He’d

stayed at the cavern after almost everyone else departed.

From there, Largin informed her, he’d gone to the White

Dragon Kingdom to straighten out some of Rylen’s messes.

Cie and Rie traveled with him to give support should any

question his right to the throne.

Someone knocked on the closed door. Curious about who

would be disturbing her, she called for them to enter.

Everyone in the house knew this time of day she stayed in

her room with Legion. Normally, Legion took a nap, but for

some reason he wanted to play today. His awareness grew

more and more each day.

The door opened to reveal a servant. The turbaned, dark-

skinned man informed her Master Ren and His Royal

Highness, Paladin Fulcan requested her presence in the

study. Coldness swept over Seren. She thanked the servant

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and he left.

Paladin had arrived? Why hadn’t he come to her? With

the trouble gone, didn’t he want to see her? Uneasiness crept

into her mind, making her tense for the moment she would

see him.

Hurrying, she stood, lifted Legion and went below. She

stopped outside the closed door of the study. Taking a deep

breath, she clasped the handle, opening the door.

He stood across the room from her with his back to the

mantle. His clothes, white trimmed with gold, made him

stand out against the dark wood tones. Rylen had worn a

similar style during his reign. Matters must have gone

smoothly for him at home.

Their gazes caught, and for a brief second a spark ignited

in his. Another moment and the joy she witnessed lay hidden

behind the veil of his lashes. She glanced at where Ren

reclined in a large armchair. He stared morosely into the

tankard clasped between his hands. He offered no help so

she returned her gaze to Paladin.

“What’s up? The dragons aren’t causing problems, are

they?”

“No. I met with the clan leaders. They have agreed to

open the portal so you may return home. To Earth.”

Her heart froze in her chest. That’s all. Nothing about

him missing her and his son. He stood there, so stiff, his tone

cold and non-committal. Even after all they’d been through?

His words registered. The dragons agreed to send her home.

She’d leave this world behind. She narrowed her eyes,

studying him. Would he miss her?

She didn’t comment, so he continued.

“We leave today, in an hour. If there is anything you

desire to bring, you must do so now. My ship is waiting.”

The coldness radiating from him rivaled the icy tundra of

his homeland.

The close bond they’d developed for so long had

vanished. A towering stone wall separated them. Her mind

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scrambled to find a way to reach him. A week ago, nothing

would have stopped him from coming and embracing her.

He’d have kissed her with passion. But not this man. The

King of the White Dragon stood there and acted the part

perfectly. Numbed by the news, and the tremendous change

in the man she loved, she nodded, spun on her heel, and

hurried from the room.

She reached her room and waited for the tears, the

anger—for some way to react. Instead, memories of his

gentle touch, his caring words, and his oath to keep her safe

rushed through her mind. What changed him? Had he lied

when he acted like he cared for her? He’d never told her he

loved her. Yet, his actions had shouted he did. Had he lied?

Again?

Laying Legion on the bed, she stared at him. He returned

the look, his wide eyes unblinking. Every time the baby acted

this way, she expected him to open his mouth and speak. He

never did, but the impression that he wanted to lingered.

“Well,” she glanced about the room, “it’s been fun while it

lasted. He’s right. I’ve harped on wanting to go home the

entire time I’ve been here. Now it’s happening. I should be

happy.”

She packed a few things, keepsakes from her time here.

The cards Luci gave her, a few clothes, and the sock toy Leo

put together for Legion to chew on. Touching the ugly sock,

with its red triangle tongue and its round black thread eyes

brought the sting of tears. He’d done each thread with love.

She’d miss him.

Taking a deep breath, she fought back the sorrow of

leaving a friend and tucked her treasures into a small cloth

bag. On top of all these, she placed the baby’s things.

Hanging the bag from its strap over her shoulder, she

lifted Legion and returned downstairs. When she came

through the doorway, the men stood. She stopped several

feet from them and said. “I’m ready.”

With a nod, Paladin turned to Ren. “Do you travel with

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us?”

“Of course. It is only fitting I bid my farewells to the One

Dragon King and his mother.”

Seren stiffened at the sarcastic tone of Ren’s answer. Her

gaze went from one man to the other. The slight tightness

bracketing Paladin’s mouth revealed the tension between the

friends. What had happened? She’d been so excited to see

Paladin, followed by numbness with his standoffish attitude;

she’d never noticed anything wrong with them.

Fear kept her from discovering the answer. She needed to

remain strong, so she stayed quiet.

Paladin walked to her in his lazy, easy stride. Her

memories of his smiles, his laughter, his touch, and his

passion flared to life. Fighting the growing weakness at his

nearness, she looked over at Ren, hoping to divert her

thoughts from the man she loved.

“May I carry him?” Paladin asked.

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, trying to calm

her racing heartbeat. Smiling past the increasing heartache

within, she placed Legion in his arms. Those same arms