Chapter 10
“ENYA!” he screamed in her face. He didn't know what to do. Flexing his palms did barely anything, but he placed his hands on her stomach anyways, trying to help.
The screams brought knocks on the door, and he threw it open. Cole had never been one for accepting help, but he never needed such help.
“Monsieur?” said a bleary eyed and confused hotel staff member.
“Please!” he pleaded, pointed to her limp body. “Please, my…my girlfriend, please. She's sick.” He could barely remember the words in English, but the hotel clerk seemed to understand. He rushed to the bed, and one look at Enya had him rushing to the phone. “What are you doing?” Cole demanded. “What are you doing? Are you calling for him?”
“Monsieur,” he snapped his fingers. “CPR.”
“What?” Cole babbled. He had never felt so helpless or so useless in his life. He was a sovereign prince. He was a dragon lord. But he could fix nothing with this world, it seemed.
“Here!” the staff member threw the phone to him and immediately went to Enya, compressing her chest. Cole didn't know much, but he knew life was leaving her.
“Bonjour?” said a voice in his ear, but he couldn't speak. Whatever emergency phone call he was making would not be in time. “Bonjour?”
Silently, he put down the phone, closing his eyes. There was no magic left, but there was something he could always do, no matter what state he was in.
It was his last hope and he was quite sure that they wouldn't come. But he had to try, even if it meant the end of his life.
He closed his eyes, trying to focus his energy away from there. His heart was breaking, and hot tears were running down his face as he focused his mind back to his planet. Back to his brothers.
Nicholas. Alexander. I am here.
He had spent this whole time guarding his location and his thoughts from them. If they knew he was on Earth, they had no idea where. And he suspected they were doing him a favor by not finding him.
Nicholas, he called again. Nicholas was the middle brother, the one that often took care of him and came to his aid. Alexander was to be King. He was always far too busy to listen to his youngest brother's cries for attention. Find me.
There was silence in his mind. He could barely feel any life left in Enya, and the hotel clerk was panting in frustration and panic. He could vaguely hear the man screaming at him, begging him to use the phone. But Cole knew this was his only shot.
Brothers, he said. I will lay down my life for her.
Suddenly, there was a flash of lightning. He felt it in his very soul. He took a step back as he felt a large gush of wind.
When he opened his eyes, he was only half surprised to find both of his brothers standing there in dragon form. They barely fit in the hotel room, knocking things over. The hotel clerk turned white and slumped against the wall. Alexander, who was the smaller and yet the more regal of the two, snorted, blowing magic in the man's direction. He slumped peacefully to the ground, and Cole recognized the illusion. What little magic dragons had was quite useful.
The majestic dragons regarded him wordlessly, and he used his mind to hear them.
Please. She is dying.
Alexander's yellow eyes looked right into his. If you return, you will be jailed. You cannot escape what you have done.
Nicholas's thoughts penetrated his mind. She is human, brother. And she is almost gone. She may not survive the jump, yet alone long enough for us to heal her.
“You must!” Cole practically screamed at them. “You must, please. Please.”
Do you accept the price? Alexander regarded him.
“Yes,” Cole said, and realized he had to do more than that. He sank to his knees, humbling himself. He had never done anything like that. He refused to bow to his father half the time. But this was different. This wasn't about pride or ego. This wasn't about him. “Please. I have no magic, though. You must take me, too.”
The two dragons looked to each other, and for one terrifying, heart stopping moment, Cole wasn't sure they were going to help him.
His childhood flashed before his eyes–playing in the meadow, laughing through the palace. They had been so innocent and young. And once, they had not been so different. When had it become them versus him?
He then suddenly realized that he had made it so. He had chosen to distance himself. He had chosen to run.
They had always been there for him and always tried to protect him.
Hold on, little brother, he heard Nicholas say as Alexander approached the bed. Cole went to Nicholas, wrapping his arms around the dragon’s long neck.
Alexander ducked his head, putting it against Enya's now still body. Her life force still beat, but just barely.
Cole felt the familiar magic swirl around him, and he closed his eyes.
Please. He didn't think he had ever prayed before. He wasn't exactly sure who he was praying to, but he needed to do something. He had never felt so helpless.
He felt a jolt–a start–and then, the ground became solid again beneath them.
He felt his own magic rush back and fill him. He was strong, and he was home.
He opened his eyes, finding them in the royal palace.
And to his horror, he saw his own guards marching towards him.
“Nicholas.” His eyes flew to his brother, who had taken human form beside him. He saw such disappointment in his brother's eyes and such sadness. Nicholas had fought his own battles so many times, and yet he had always been there to protect Cole and to make sure he was safe. Now, Cole saw nothing but pain. “Please,” he pleaded. “Please will you protect her? Please.”
“Brother,” Nicholas said. “Give yourself over to them now.”
“Please!” Cole felt hot tears streaming down his face. “Brother, if you will do nothing else for me, please do this.”
It was clearly tearing at Nicholas. But eventually, he placed a hand on Cole's shoulder.
“It will be done,” he said, and Cole nearly broke down sobbing.
The guards put handcuffs on his wrists, and looped their arms through his. Just a few months ago, these same guards had protected him as he walked through the streets. Now, they were stone faced, dragging him through the palace. They refused to look him in the eye and refused to speak. Once, they had been friends, allies in mischief and in life. Now, they were his undoing.
Cole did not try to fight and did not attempt to struggle. He didn't want to do anything to endanger Enya. He needed her to live, even if it meant his life.