Heart Of The Dragon (Her Dragon's Bane 3) (5 page)

“Unless she’s in league with them and setting us up.”

He laughed, drawing attention to them from the four dragons. “You give her more credit than she deserves. There is no way these dragons would use her to lure us here. They have no need of us; we are a pest they would rather ignore. I expect they have lived in peace for centuries, now we have arrived to shake things up. They don’t like it.”

“They’re not the only ones.”

“Are you ready?” Marcas asked, trying his best to ignore the gaze Tara had fixed on him.

“Yes. Lead on.” Connor walked behind Marcas, and another of the dragons. While Kier and the fourth dragon brought up the rear. “How far do we have to walk?”

“As far as we need to.”

Connor shrugged the bags up higher onto his shoulder. “You don’t get visitors often, do you?”

Marcas turned to him scornfully. “We certainly don’t get human visitors.” His gaze shifted to Serena, and she felt like dirt on his shoe, something that needed scraping off and throwing away. If only she knew why it was so important for them to come here. Why would Connor put the life of their child in danger by coming here, a place where they were so obviously unwelcome.

“Is that what you were like?” she asked him.

“What do you mean?” Connor answered.

“Isn’t your house very much like Spellholm? You spent years, decades keeping yourself away from humans. Now you’ve left there to come here. I suppose I’m trying to understand why.”

“Because you came to me.”

“That’s not a very informative answer.”

“No. It’s not.” He followed Marcas, his eyes firmly fixed on the dragon’s back. He didn't let his attention wander away from the threat in front of him while he spoke to Serena. “You have changed me Serena, in a way I could never have known possible. You have given me hope for the future, but also despair.”

She turned to him sharply. “Despair?”

“Yes. How will I bear to live when you are gone? How will I find the strength to carry on once my mate has passed to the other side?”

“I have years ahead of me, Connor.”

“And I have centuries, millennia in front of me, Serena.”

“Is that what we are doing here?” The sudden realisation of what Connor’s greatest fear was hit her hard. The fear of one day losing her was worse than anything these dragons could do to him. “You are willing to risk your life for me?”

“No, Serena.” He shook his head, his gaze slipping to Tara who walked behind them.

Serena followed his gaze, Connor was lying. “And she knows that. That’s why we are here?”

“He just couldn’t keep his big mouth shut, could he?” Tara said scornfully when she realised what they were talking about.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” Serena stopped, her voice rose to a high pitch, and the four dragons all watched. “What else don’t I know?”

“Nothing,” Connor said, trying to calm her down.

“How can you trust her? What? She just told you to keep it to yourself, and you did?”

“Yes. Because he is not a dumb little whore.”

“Don’t call me that, Tara?”

“Why not? You’re already half way to ruining everything.”

“Ruining what? You think these dragons are going to hand over their secrets because you ask them to.”

“No. Because I know secrets they want to know.”

“And what’s in it for you? Because you’re too selfish to be doing this for our sakes.”

“And that is why you were not supposed to know.”

“Talk straight for once in your life, Tara.”

Tara suddenly became aware of the fact she was centre of attention. “No. You know more than you should already.”

“So that’s it? You expect me to simply go along with this, without knowing why?”

“You’re choice. I have my ticket in. You have to decide if you still want yours.”

“Serena, please. We have to go on," Connor begged.

“I don't want to. I do not want to risk your life or the baby’s for the sake of living longer.”

Marcas stepped forward. “Enough of this. Is she your mate?” he asked Connor.

“Yes, she is.” Connor placed himself protectively in front of Serena.

“Then I suggest you learn to control her. Dòmhnall does not take too well to women who have too much to say.”

“Well, he won't like me then will he?” Tara piped up.

“No. He won't I can guarantee that,” Kier said vehemently.

Tara’s face flushed red, and she closed her mouth, unable to voice her clever retort. Serena watched her closely. Although some parts were still to be unearthed, the rest of the pieces slid into place. The mention of Dòmhnall had an effect on the witch. It seemed Tara had ambition after all. To be the lady who ruled by the side of the Dragon Lord himself.

“Now, we move forward. The Dragon Lord is waiting.”

Serena stood her ground. “Let’s go home, Connor.”

“No,” Connor said forcefully. “If I have to I will sling you over my shoulder and carry you.”

“You wouldn’t dare.” The dragons stood by, watching the exchange. A couple of them smirking at Connor’s obvious lack of control over his mate.

However, Marcas had now seen, and heard, enough. “Human. You do not realise, so I will spell it out for you. You lost your choice when your witch made her bargain. The Dragon Lord is expecting you, and you will come before him.”

“But you said he didn’t want to see us.”

“Well, now he does.”

“How does he know?”

“Enough of your questions. You are not worthy to know our secrets. That is why the witch is of interest to Dòmhnall. All you need hope is that with her curse she hasn’t sealed the fate of you all.”

Serena turned to glare at Tara. Who raised her eyebrow in challenge. “What? It’s your big hunk of dragon flesh there who wants to spend the rest of his life with you. Now I realise I should have just come alone.”

They began the journey deeper into Spellholm. An occasional jolt at being disconnected from the real world hit Serena. But most of the time, whatever Tara had given her, kept the spell from troubling her.

Yet, her feelings of unease went so much deeper than that. Connor had conspired with Tara, her trust in him diminished a little. He should have been honest with her.

Later, when they were alone, she would talk to him about it. Make him promise never to go behind her back again. If she was strong enough to be his mate, she was strong enough to make important decisions with him.

Connor knew Serena was upset. However, he simply felt relieved that she knew the truth. Despite Tara's warning, he could not see why it would matter if she knew. Could telling her really change the outcome of their visit here? Or was Tara full of bullshit. For now, he pushed it to the back of his mind. He needed to concentrate on the more pressing trouble that now came into view.

No wonder Dòmhnall called himself a Dragon Lord. The fortress they were approaching looked like a real mediaeval castle. It would take some closer inspection, but this was no modern replica. He had not seen one so complete for hundreds of years.

A wave of nostalgia swept over him. Memories of the days when castles peppered the landscape. Days when men waged war upon each other with swords and spears. Not the automatic weapons they used to destroy each other in these modern times.

How they kept this hidden was beyond him. There must be some seriously strong spells at work here. If humans knew the castle existed, they would be all over it. Examining it, dating it. The grounds littered with archaeologists trying to piece together its history. They would never guess that the dragons had lived through all history. That the past they loved to study could described from memory by these ancient creatures.

“Impressive,” Tara said.

Marcas turned to look at her. “Take a glimpse of the outside world, witch. It may be your last. Once inside you will only leave if Dòmhnall allows it.

“Who said I ever want to leave?” she asked sweetly.

He scowled at her, and Connor moved to walk alongside her. “He is the right hand man of this self-proclaimed Dragon Lord. If you have any desire to charm his master, you would be advised to get him on your side.”

Tara turned to look at Connor, her tone haughty as she said quietly, “You have no idea what I see. I play the game as I see fit. That dragon is not so loyal to his master.”

“And he knows that you are aware of this?”

“Oh, yes. He very much wants me dead, but he is bound to take me before Dòmhnall.”

“This is a dangerous game you have dragged us into, Tara.”

“As I recall, you didn’t take much dragging. You want to be here so very much to save your poor mundane mate.”

“I trusted you.”

“Really. And that is why you ignored my advice and told her why you came?”

He paused, before asking the question that drilled into his brain like a dragon’s claw. “And has that changed the outcome?”

“I don’t know.”

“Do not lie to me, or try to ease my conscience.”

Tara looked at him, her eyes reaching into his soul. For a moment, he felt exposed to her in the worst way, as though she could read all his thoughts, and see all his regrets. Her breath was a sharp intake, and she wobbled a little as though fatigued.

“Are you alright?” he asked, his voice filled with genuine concern.

“Yes. I usually let the future come to me. To search for it as I just did is tiring to my soul.”

“And what did you see? Will we still succeed?”

“Yes, you will still succeed,” Tara said.

Connor looked into her eyes, in the deep ponderous way she had looked into his. Fear gripped him. A feeling he had never experienced before Serena entered his life and his heart. The witch was lying. After centuries of dealing with people, she could not hide it from him in such a blatant way.

As he approached the stronghold of the Dragon Lord, one thought reverberated around his brain. What have I done?

The castle loomed larger and with each step, her sense of dread grew stronger. She didn’t belong here, she wasn’t one of them, and never would be. Panic grew, bubbling up inside her until she struggled to contain it.

Perhaps whatever Tara had given her was wearing off. Was this the witch’s final betrayal? Being so deep inside Spellholm, surely the spell protecting the forest would destroy her if she had no way to counteract it.

She stumbled forward; Connor reached out and stopped her falling. “Do you feel ill?” he asked.

Serena wanted to stay mad with him, but this was no time for them to be at odds. “I don’t know if the spell is effecting me again.”

He turned to Tara, who shook her head. “No, it should still be working. It’s like an antidote, only one dose is needed.”

“Then why is she like this?” Connor asked, worry unchecked in his voice.

“It is the child inside her,” one of the dragons behind them spoke. “It is excited to be coming home.”

“This is not his home,” Connor replied.

“It was your home once,” Marcas replied from in front of them. “Your father left with your mother long ago.”

“That’s not true.” Connor turned to Tara. “Is it true?”

“I am not the font of all knowledge. I can read the future, and from that see the past as a shadow. But you have no knowledge of this, so I could not see it in you.”

Serena placed her hand in Connor’s. “Does it matter if this is where you come from?”

“I don’t know. Why did my father never tell me?”

“Because he was exiled,” Marcas said. “I remember the day well. But if you want to hear the truth, you have to ask Dòmhnall. For it was he who exiled him.”

“And you didn’t see this?” Serena turned to ask Tara.

Tara shook her head. “I’ve already explained that to you.”

“What? That the Dragon Lord is hid...”

“Is the greatest dragon to walk the earth.” Tara cut off Serena’s sentence, and one more piece slotted into place. Tara did not want any of these dragons to know she could not see the Dragon Lord’s future. It would weaken her position. Serena wondered whether she should play along, or tell them the truth. Sometimes it was best to keep your mouth shut and bide your time. Another hard lesson Samuel had taught her.

Marcas laughed. “He is the greatest dragon to walk the earth. I like that. You will amuse him, and when he has tired of your wit he will use your body until you beg for mercy.” He fixed Tara with a vicious stare; any other woman would have quaked in fear, but not Tara.

“I have long looked forward to the time when a dragon would use my body for his pleasure. I hear dragons make the best kind of lovers. So experienced.”

Something resembling a drawbridge creaked into life, lowering before them. Vines that had gripped it in place broke off and fell to the ground. Giving Serena the impression that it was seldom used. But then visitors were not common here. Not ones on foot anyway, she suspected.

Clutching her stomach, she could feel the little life inside her. His excitement building as they walked across the old, half-rotted drawbridge. Next, they passed under the arch; the air cool under the shade of its thick stonewalls. On the other side of the arch, the castle opened up to reveal a large courtyard. Scorch marks blackened many of the cobbled stones. Whether a sign of real battles between the dragons, or sparring, she did not know. Her hand clutched Connor’s tightly as she searched for his comforting strength.

“It’ll be OK,” he said.

“You don’t know that. No one knows that,” Serena answered, looking pointedly at Tara.

“This way. Dòmhnall has been waiting long enough.” Marcas hurried across the courtyard, and through another archway. A big stone building reared up in front of them, and this is where he led them. The entrance was made of two enormous ornately carved doors standing open, menacingly. Dragons reared up from the foot of them, curving their serpentine necks downwards. As Serena walked between them, it felt as though they would truly breathe fire down on her.

If she crossed the threshold into the great hall, would she ever come out again? Once those doors shut behind them, there was no way they could be broken by man. Even in dragon form, Connor would struggle to break them down. Only fire stood a chance against the thick wood.