Dragon Wish (16 page)

the table, grasped the lower edges of the dragonstone, and

moved it more to the center of the table. “He harbors harsh

feelings toward you. I saw his face the day Bask announced

you had to wed Zuresa. He wanted her and the prestige she

brought to the clan. It’s not enough for him to have stolen

your right as king. He covets all you have.”

Several moments passed while Paladin considered what

the wizard had said. For two years, he had suspected his

brother wasn’t pleased with the decision which tied the black

dragon clan princess to him. He had ignored the constant

warning his senses had pounded him with each time he had

returned home from a journey to discover the growing

closeness between his brother and his wife, Zuresa.

The remembered doubts served to make his head ache.

Largin would never understand his relationship with his

brother. “Perhaps, but my wife is dead. Rylen has nothing to

gain from me. He is king. I am a simple airship captain.

There is nothing for him to fear from me. I swore my

allegiance to his rule.”

A memory of a small boy, gold hair streaming behind

him, racing at his side, laughter filling the space between

them slipped through his mind. The boy, his brother, had

loved him. Paladin fought the onslaught of pain over the loss

of their close kinship. The loss of his brother haunted him,

the pain a festering sore on his soul.

When Arcane had attacked Rylen, their fellowship as

brothers had ended. The child’s eyes, once so alive with joy

mixed with mischief, had become hard and calculating with

an obsessive glint. Rylen had changed. Paladin tried to care

for him in the same manner as before, but his brother had

made it difficult.

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The silence in the room enfolded the two men. Paladin

refused to say anything against his brother. No matter his

faults, Rylen still carried their father’s blood in his veins. For

this reason alone, Paladin’s honor bound him to his brother.

The wizard continued as though the silence had never

existed. “There are rumors. I’ve heard Zuresa did not die a

normal death. It’s been said you had a part in her passing.”

He held Largin’s gaze with his own, resenting the

accusation that he was behind the death of his wife. “Do you

believe this?”

The wizard snorted and shook his head, a brow arched.

“Does it matter what I believe? I traced the gossip to its

roots. Rylen’s court. If he can not kill you, he will ruin your

name.”

Largin turned and walked to the shattered window. Rain

dripped through the broken glass. “I was there the night of

your birth. Bask stood at the foot of the bed. He told your

father to have special care of you because you had been

blessed by the dragon’s magic.”

Staring hard at him, Paladin tilted his head. He had never

heard this before. “You were there also?”

Clasping his hands in front of him, Largin mumbled a

spell. Three claps followed. The area around the window

blurred then righted. The glass became solid once more and

the wood returned to its previous shape. Largin waved his

hands in a circle, reciting a different spell. Rain dried. The

splintered pieces of glass and wood vanished. “There. All

fixed.”

He turned and looked at Paladin. “Now if we could do the

same with Rylen.”

“You did not answer my question. Were you there the

night my mother died?”

“I was summoned by your father. Your mother, dragon’s

breath hold her, had weakened with your birth. He sent for

me to help her deliver,” the old man replied. “No one else,

save Bask, was allowed into the room.”

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Several moments later, Largin continued, his voice soft.

“To remember that night still causes much grief for me.

When Bask told your father about you, he had to choose

which of you would live.”

Paladin swallowed the bitterness this information stirred

in him. “So he chose me?”

Largin moved to Paladin’s side and laid a hand on his

shoulder. The older man squeezed for a second, in an

attempt to offer comfort. “Not so much a choice. The dragons

had decreed how this matter would end. Your father had to

abide by their will. He loved her deeply and to lose her...well,

he was never the same afterward.”

Shaking the hand off, Paladin stepped away. His father

had rarely spoken of his mother. How could he believe what

Largin had said? The man Paladin remembered had been

cold and haughty, abrupt with all around him, including his

sons. How could a man like that have a deep devotion for

someone? “Loved? Is that what you call it? He remarried

within a year. Rylen’s mother was held in high esteem by him

for the rest of his life.”

Shrugging, Largin said, “True, but he never cared for the

woman. Not like your mother.”

“Enough. I’ve heard enough,” Paladin said, raising a hand

to stop the wizard. “I am tired. If you have more to tell me,

let it wait till morning.”

He turned, moving to the door, eager to leave the room.

“Very well, but this evening, think long and hard on what

to do with this woman from the cosmos. Rylen will seek her

out, if not to kill her then to take her from you. Are you

prepared for this to happen?”

Paladin ignored him, threw open the door and strode

down the hall. The old man’s words held a truth he didn’t

care to examine just yet.

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A floorboard outside the door creaked. Seren glanced at

the opening to find Paladin standing motionless. Her heart

accelerated at the sight of him. Worry etched his features.

What happened with the wizard?

Leo rose to his feet, nodding in greeting. “Paladin.”

He inclined his head in return. “It is late. Seren needs to

rest and so do I. You may visit with each other over the next

few days.”

Surprised that he’d decided what was best for her, she

narrowed her eyes and almost told him not to worry. She

wasn’t his concern, but there was a haunted look about him.

She found that she wanted to do what he asked.

What had the old wizard told him?

“Yes, sir. I’d imagine you are both exhausted from your

journey,” Leo agreed. He continued with a chuckle. “Master

Largin prepared rooms a couple of days ago.”

Seren slid to the edge of the chair and stood. Paladin held

his hand out. She stared at the slender fingers and calloused

palm for a moment. She moved to his side, laying her hand

onto his. Heat spiraled up her arm from the contact. Lacing

their fingers, he led the way into the hallway. She followed,

determined to remain strong and not allow her passion for

this man to override her common sense.

They walked further down the hallway until they reached

a narrow staircase built into the side of the wall. He guided

her up the steps and down another passageway which was

bare of any decorations except for the wall lanterns. Midway,

he stopped in front of a paneled door.

He faced her. “This is my room. I want you with me.”

His deep voice vibrated off her nerve endings. She

shivered. His blue eyes warmed with a spark of fire,

reminding her of her desire for him. She passed her tongue

over her lips.

Raising their clasped hands, she flattened her palm

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against his and straightened her fingers. He aligned his with

hers. She stared, enjoying the friction of his skin against her

sensitive fingertips. “Why do you want me to stay here with

you?”

His other hand swept the hair off her left temple. Gently,

he cupped her jaw. In the same manner as she’d done to him

the first day on the ship, he brushed his thumb across her

bottom lip.

“I want to keep you safe.”

“Nothing more?”

His pupils dilated, and his answer came out in a breath,

“Yes.”

“Who’s going to keep me safe from you?” She released a

low, husky laugh. “Or should I say, you from me?”

“I have no need for protection from you.”

“You want to make a bet?”

He half-smiled at her. “I would lose the wager without a

care.”

She laughed. The tension in her body ebbed. “I’ll sleep

beside you, but I won’t make love with you. I want to go

home. This place is way too weird for me. If we make love

again, I’d be tempted to stay.”

He inclined his head. “As you say. I will honor your

desire. Having you next to me will be enough. For now.”

Paladin opened the door then waited for her to enter

before he followed. Quaint, possessing very little furniture,

the room seemed strange for someone like Paladin. She had

imagined gilded picture frames and brass bed posts. Instead,

an upright six drawer chest and a narrow bed with a thread-

worn spread were the only furniture pieces there.

Their steps echoed across the wooden floor. Another

doorway was centered on the side wall and she wondered

where it led.

“If you like, I will wait for you to dress for bed,” he said

from behind her.

She nodded without looking at him. When the door shut,

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she wrapped her arms around her waist, enjoying the quiet.

Seren stood still. She noticed his satchel on the bed.

Surprised, she wondered how it came to be there. Had one of

his crew brought it?

Shrugging, she moved toward the bed. She unbuckled the

straps and flipped the lid over. A different shirt, a creamy

eggshell, folded this time, lay on top. The billowy sleeves and

the gathered yoke would provide a little protection against

her passion. She half-smiled. If her skin didn’t touch his,

maybe she’d find the strength to control her need.

She removed her clothes and slipped on the shirt. During

those few seconds before the collar slid over her head, she

was surrounded by his scent. Blood rushed to her head. Her

focus narrowed to binocular vision. In the direct line of her

vision, red- streaked darkness raced toward her.

A vision. One like the many others she’d had in the past.

Nothing was solid like earlier today when her son spoke to

her. She searched the darkness until an image materialized.

Paladin stood several feet away on the edge of a castle

wall, his head back, his gaze searching the darkened skies.

She wanted to scream for him to run, to escape the horrible

impression of danger she experienced, but in her vision she

remained rooted to one spot, unable to speak or move.

Black clouds sped overhead. Lightning flashed red,

streaming across the sky. Paladin slid his weapons free, the

blades glinting in the crimson light. From the darkness,

huge wings flapped back and forth then two black dragons

broke through the clouds, angling their bodies toward him.

She opened her mouth to scream, but no sound came out.

He couldn’t see her. She didn’t exist in this time and place.

The dragons drew nearer, their massive maws started

to open, revealing sharpened teeth the length of her legs.

Fire appeared in the back of their throats. In the next

second, an inferno poured from their mouths. Blue-black

flames were flung out toward Paladin, striking him,

consuming him.

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Arms came from behind, grabbing her. One tug and

blinding light engulfed her mind.

The abrupt end to the vision sent Seren to her knees,

gasping for breath. Her heart pounded in her chest. With her

arms tangled in the sleeves, she fought to bring the shirt

down, removing it from her face. Sweat dampened her body.

An ache set up in her bruised knees. For a few seconds, she

was blinded by her vision. Hands shaking, she swiped at her

eyes, trying to rid them of the fuzzy haze. When she opened

them, she focused on the worn spread covering the bed. The

faded blues and greens sprang out at her.

Tears threatened to destroy her newfound strength. She

had witnessed Paladin’s death—a painful and dreadful death

by dragon’s fire. She lowered her cheek to the covers, hoping

to cool the heat in her face.

A fragment of the vision lingered. She replayed it over

and over in her mind. Behind and off to one side of where he