Chapter Fourteen

 

He went over what happened again and again, trying to think of how he could have prevented this. It didn’t matter how many scenarios he came up with—Holly was still dead.

Even in death she was beautiful. Blond strands escaped her queue. Her once tan face had turned gray, as if the death breath fed on her. He could still smell her fresh scent that reminded him of riding Sir Robert on a spring day.

Although Holly had only been in his life for a short time, she’d changed him—made him see that life was worth living. Unlike Marigold, she thought only of him, insisting that he find another. He didn’t want another—he wanted her.

How could the archangel have been so wrong?

A goblet from the altar had fallen and was near his foot. He kicked it hard into the wall. It bounced, then landed on top of Henry’s lifeless body. It didn’t take any of his pain. It only mirrored his broken heart.

Duncan ran his finger down her face. She’d grown rigid faster than a normal body. He bent down and kissed her stiff lips.

Séamus had correctly guessed that Holly was Duncan’s true mate. Maybe he knew of a way to save her.

Duncan quickly transformed into a dragon and gently picked up her body. He flew down the dreary stairwell, then busted through the narrow doorway. He drew on his power to diminish his size as he knocked over a startled guard. More guards rushed him. He blew ice on the first wave, and they froze where they stood. The rest fled. He made his way down to the bowels of Castle Swan, hoping a miracle awaited him.

There were no guards posted. Once someone was imprisoned, they never escaped. Duncan planned to make an exception. He landed in the torture chamber and gently laid Holly’s lifeless body on the floor. He stepped away and changed back into a man. He snatched up Holly and raced down the corridor to the cells.

“Séamus! Séamus!” His voice echoed off the walls taunting him.

Séamus was where Duncan had left him, but he was awake and propped up against a wall. “What happened?”

“Alastair. He exhaled a deadly smoke into her. She’s...she’s...dead.” He dropped on his knees. “Can ye help me?”

“No, but ye can.” His weak voice rasped liked beasts walking across the forest’s bed of leaves.

“How? Tell me.”

“Ye need to use yer magic.”

“No! The last time I did that, I killed the woman I loved.”

Séamus cracked a smile and gestured toward Holly. “She’s dead, dragon. ’Tis the only way I know to save her. Ye need to have faith.”

Those infamous words again. Duncan cast Séamus a deep scowl. His ice killed people. It had never healed people. He stared into Séamus’ wise eyes. They reminded him of a king waiting for his knight to trust him. What if what he said was true?

“Blow into her mouth, lad.”

Séamus only looked a few years older than Duncan, but his eyes said he’d lived a thousand years. Trying to have faith, Duncan took a deep breath and exhaled into Holly’s cold lips. He put his head on her heart. Nothing.

He took another deep breath, shoving all the power he possessed into her. He listened to her heart. Nothing.

He crumpled and dragged her body into his arms on the hard floor.

He heard a sigh. He looked into the cell. Séamus was smiling.

Duncan gently turned Holly over to see her eyes flutter open.

“Duncan?”

“Yer alive.”

She put her hand on her forehead. “I feel so strange. Why are we laying on the floor?”

“Because it took your stubborn dragon a few minutes to have faith.”

Duncan dragged Holly and held her tight. The archangel Raphael was back. He had on the same trousers Holly had worn and a short tunic.

Duncan glared. “What do you want?”

Holly wiggled in his arms. “Duncan, let me go.”

He shook his head. “No.”

Raphael chuckled. “You reminded me of Michael. I could get used to teasing you. I am here because the first chapter of Satan’s Scriptures was destroyed. I also promised your woman I’d send her back to the future when it was done.”

Duncan had just brought Holly back to life only to lose her again.

Holly moved around Duncan. “You mean it? I can go home?”

Raphael gestured toward Holly. “Just give me your hand, and you’ll be at Oxford.”

Duncan put his hands on her shoulders. “Will you be happy there?” He forced himself to stay calm and to think of Holly’s happiness.

Holly hung her head. “This time scares me.”

“I’ll protect you.”

She raised her head. “I don’t want to be protected. I’m not a doll.”

Raphael walked closer. “Holly, do you really want to go home?”

She bit her lip. “I don’t know. My parents are dead. I have no other family.”

“Ye have me.” Duncan tried to keep the pleading out of his tone. With Marigold and Alastair gone, if Holly left, he’d be all alone.

Holly bit her lip. “Would you come with me?”

“My home is here, lass. I’m a knight.”

Raphael walked over to Séamus’ cell and broke the lock. “You’re free, Séamus.”

Séamus looked at Raphael warily. “Why do I get the feeling I owe ye something?”

“Because you do. Holly, I need to know your decision.”

Duncan held his breath, afraid the terror of Castle Swan had scared his dragon mate back to her time.

She slipped her hand into his. “No, I’ll stay. How can I go back home when Thor is here?”

“Why do ye keep calling me that?”

She laughed. “I agree with you, Raphael.”

The archangel cocked an eyebrow.

“He is fun to tease.”

Duncan picked her up by the waist and twirled her around. “I think I could fall in love with ye.”

She slapped him on the shoulder. “You think?”

He sobered. “Nay, I already do.”

She arched her back and laughed, then her face turned serious. She put her hands on his shoulder. “And I love you.”

“I donna mean to break up this love admiration,” Séamus said, as he braced his hand on a wall. “But I’d like to leave this place.”

Raphael smiled. “I’ll be seeing you, soon, black dragon. Your dragon mate will soon arrive. You’ll be set on the path to find the second chapter.”

“And what about us?” Duncan asked.

Raphael shrugged. “’Tis not your task.” A brilliant white formed around the angel. It grew bigger then disappeared along with Raphael.

Duncan pulled Holly into his arms. “I need to get ye back to Questing Castle. I have a promise to fulfill.”

She crinkled her brow. “You do?”

He whispered in her ear. “I promised to make love to ye in my bed chamber.”

She smiled and slipped her arms around his neck. “Yes, you do, dragon knight. And I plan to hold you to that.” She kissed him on the lips. “I don’t want to get up for a week.”