Chapter 8
1394 Words
8
We had a short delay to resupply our food provisions and gather some fresh clothing. Darda was adamant she herself pack my things so that I was given a few minutes to walk the halls of the grand castle to stretch my weary, horse-bowed legs. On the higher levels were balconies that overlooked the lake and were also used as platforms from which one anyone with wings could take flight and easily fly over the city.
It was at one of these balconies that I found Xander at the railing with his arms crossed one over the other on the banister. Even from the cute rear I could see his body was tense as he looked out over the lake and his city. I joined him at his side and looked up in his face. His lips were pursed and his eyes unblinking.
"Still worried about flying?" I asked him.
He gave a nod. "I am."
I set my hand atop one of his and smiled at him. "You'll be fine."
He looked down at me and studied my face with his beautiful bright eyes. "How much faith do you place in your fae abilities?"
I shrugged. "I guess as much faith as I place in myself. I mean, I can't do any more than that."
"Then you do not worry about losing control?" he wondered.
I winced and turned my gaze to the city. "I didn't say that. I mean, neither of us really know what we're capable of anymore, do we? Maybe I could wave my hand-" I stretched my arm out and waved it at the lake, "-and the whole city might be under-" I froze as a large whirlpool appeared in the center of the lake.
From its depths rose a large water dragon the size of those I'd summoned during our fight against the Red Dragon. It stretched itself upward into the sky and stopped three hundred feet above the water at the same elevation as where we stood. The creature turned to face us and its glistening blue eyes fell on me.
I jerked back my extended arm. The dragon's body broke apart and it dropped back into the water with a heavy splatter. The whirlpool disappeared and the lake resumed its calm surface.
I whipped my head to Xander and nervously smiled at him. "You think somebody noticed that?"
A smile teased the corners of his lips as he nodded down at the lake. "I believe so."
I followed his gaze and watched Beriadan, the fae of the lake and consequently my uncle, rise from the waters. He leaned his head back and frowned at me.
I leaned over the railing and cupped one hand over my mouth. "Sorry!" He shook his head and slid back into the water. I returned my attention to my dragon lord, but my face fell when I noticed his downcast look. I gave his shoulder a little shake. "It's all right. It was just a little-well, a big dragon, but the water's back where I found it."
He shook his head. "I fear my transformation may not be so peaceful."
"You were just fine in the library," I pointed out.
Xander turned his face so he looked into my eyes. "Yes, but I attempted to murder you in that pool area, and to know I am still capable of such an act is-" he turned his face away and clenched his teeth, "-it is terrifying even to think of that possibility."
I grasped one of his hands between my own and gave a tug. He returned his attention to me and I smiled at him. "You've always been capable of doing that."
He arched an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"
I snorted. "I haven't always been this all-powerful, beautiful, talented Mare fae, remember?"
"And modest," he added.
"That, too. Anyway, the first time we met-or I guess it was the first time we were alone-was at my mom's pond. You remember how angry you were with me?"
He nodded. "Yes. I believed you would bring the wrath of the Mare fae on everyone in the High Castle."
"Well, at that time you could've snapped me like a twig and I wouldn't have been able to stop you, but you didn't," I pointed out.
Xander sighed and looked out on the lake. "You are correct."
I frowned. "But you still doubt yourself?" He nodded. A devious thought entered my mind as my eyes flickered to the long drop below us. I released his hand and slipped behind his morose self. "How about I give you a push in the right direction?"
"What are you-" Xander had only a chance to look over his shoulder before I shoved my hands against his lower back.
He was a heavy dragon lord, but I had determination behind my push so that he flew head-first over the railing. I rushed to the edge and leaned over the railing to watch him fall head-over-heels toward the ground.
His wings unfurled, their length and thickness greater than when I saw them in the library. He spread them out and caught a updraft from where the lake met the shore so that he flew up like a cannonball fired from an overstuffed cannon. I only had time to lean back before he landed neatly on the wide stone railing in front of me. He clamped his long claws on the inner edge of the banister and knelt low so our faces were nearly even with his hovering only a few inches from mine.
He didn't look happy as his narrowed, blue-green eyes glared at me.
I sheepishly grinned at him. "See? You don't want to hurt me, right?" The muscles on his back legs tensed. I took a step back and held up my hands in front of me. "Right?"
Xander sprang at me. I screamed like a girl and spun around to run inside the castle. He landed behind me and wrapped his arms around me, pinning me to his chest and slightly lifting me off the ground. My feet flailed in the air as I squirmed in his hold.
"It was a joke! I swear it was a joke!" I insisted. A chuckle rumbled out of his chest and vibrated down my body. I paused and glanced over my shoulder. Xander's eyes were still sea green, but there was a devilish grin on his lips. My body drooped in his hold as I glared at him. "That is not funny."
His humor didn't drop as he set me down and opened his arms. "It was merely a joke," he teased.
I took a step forward and spun around to face him with my arms crossed over my chest. "It wouldn't have been that funny if I'd died of a heart attack."
"I have faith that my Maiden is stronger than that," he countered.
"Miriam! Miriam!" came the frantic chant of Darda as she rushed onto the balcony. Her back was laden with a heavy bag from which bulged clothing, dried food, and the box that contained the bell. She flew to my side and looked me over. "What happened? What is the matter?"
I looked past her at my mischievous dragon lord. "Xander and I were just having a discussion on the 'till-death-do-us-part' part of the marriage vow."
"Your argument seems to have had a very unique effect on him," Spiros spoke up as he strode onto the balcony. He stopped a few feet from Xander and looked over his fellow dragon with an arched eyebrow. "I had no idea I would have to remind you, My Lord, that dragon wings generally stop growing after the twenty-fifth year."
Xander folded his wings behind himself rather than tuck them inside his body. "They are a side effect of the Sæ."
"Have you any Sæ left?" his captain asked him.
My dragon lord pursed his lips and shook his head. "No. Miriam swept them away so that no one else could abuse that great power."
"Though a little remains within you, My Lord," Spiros pointed out.
Xander nodded. "Yes. It remains to be seen whether that great power will abuse me."
Spiros arched an eyebrow. "My Lord?"
Xander shook himself and smiled at his old friend. "Have you prepared for our journey?"
Spiros stepped to one side and gestured to a pack he'd left near the doorway to the balcony. "Prepared and waiting, My Lord."
Xander turned his attention to me and held out his arms. "Care for a ride?"
I sighed, but couldn't help but smile. "This isn't my first time, but please be gentle."
He chuckled. "Always."
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