Chapter Twenty-Five
Bastian
I’d been afraid to keep her asleep because I needed to know how bad she hurt. But I could no longer take it. I carried her to the realm crossing and placed her back asleep when she woke up directly before we entered the earth’s realm. Brunya waited and didn’t waste time with greetings. She drove us to the airport, and then an airplane flew us to a place known as Texas. This was followed by another car ride. I held Acasia the entire time, fear burning in my gut. This was wrong. Her illness was entirely wrong.
Acasia woke up in the car and because we were so close to our destination, I didn’t put her under again. I needed her able to speak with the doctor. Dr. Stevens waited; a middle-aged, small female with an air of confidence that I badly needed.
I followed her to a small room. “Lay her down here. It would be best if you waited outside.”
There was no way I could breathe fire in the room, but I put enough anger in my voice to burn her. “Stupid female, I will not leave her.”
The doctor gazed at me, rolled her eyes, and mumbled something I couldn’t decipher. We had no illness in my realm and I’d only heard of doctors. “You will explain everything you do,” I demanded.
“I’m assuming you’re alpha?”
“Humph. I am dragon. Fix her or I will burn your home down.”
The woman had the gall to laugh at me. “I’ve been dealing with shifters for years. If you threaten me again, I’ll kick you out on your ass. Do you want me to treat her or not?”
My frustration overwhelmed me; I looked at Acasia and knew I needed to allow this woman to do her job. “Continue, human.”
She rolled her eyes again and began asking questions.
“When’s the last time she ate? Could someone have poisoned her? Could she be with child?”
If the woman hadn’t have been examining her while asking the questions, I’d have breathed fire. Acasia was lethargic and not answering herself. That more than anything showed how ill she was.
“I need to draw blood and take a CT scan.”
I could not keep the impatience from my voice. “Do what you must, but fix her quickly.”
“I may be able to give her something for the pain, but I’m not sure how it will work on her humanlike body. This is my first patient from another realm.”
“Sleep, Acasia.” I felt a great relief when her eyes closed and I could no longer see the pain in them.
The doctor’s steady gaze locked with mine. “I need you on my team. It makes things much simpler if you support me instead of fighting me. I want to help her.”
I didn’t answer, but managed a small nod. Another woman walked into the room and I watched as blood was drawn. Acasia was then moved to another room and placed on a rolling bed that entered a cylinder. I almost lost it.
The doctor had no fear of me. “It will be over quicker if you back off. You are keeping me from finding out what’s wrong.”
I stayed near the cylinder taking deep breaths to keep from tearing the machine apart and removing her. When the test was finished, I picked Acasia up holding her close. I needed her scent to calm me. I was close to losing any semblance of control.
“Follow me and you can wait in a more comfortable room. Let me check the test results and I’ll be back as soon as possible. Right now, my biggest concern is her temperature. I will give you a cool, wet cloth to rub her down with.”
I held Acasia and used the cloth provided. I had removed her clothes for the machine to examine beneath her skin. I was unfamiliar with the process but I had to discover what harmed my bride. I wrapped her in a light covering, and made her comfortable in my arms while I wet her down feeling her entire body shake. I found it difficult to breathe. She had to be okay; there was no other option. I had no idea how long the doctor was gone, but when she returned, I saw the bad news written clearly on her face.
She sat on a stool, looking to me with sadness in her eyes.
No. This could not happen.
“I’m sorry. Her organs are shutting down and her bones are dissolving. It’s a very fast spreading cancer, one I’ve never seen before.”
“What does this word cancer mean?”
“It is a human disease. If caught early, it can sometimes be slowed. In some cases stopped completely. I’ve never seen cancer come on this intensely. I am so very sorry, she will not survive much longer.”
I looked down at my beloved. The lines of pain did not show right now, but her face was thinner, a gray tinge on her skin. I couldn’t lose her. I buried my face in her hair.
“You can remain here and we can keep you both comfortable, maybe run more tests, but I don’t think anything I do will change the outcome.”
I didn’t say a word. Walking out of the building, I sat in the backseat of the waiting vehicle holding Acasia. I hadn’t bothered dressing her, but kept the cloth around her. Brunya had come on the airplane and sat next to the new driver. She asked no questions.
Traveling home to my lair took longer. I kept Acasia asleep. I never let her go, touching some part of her at all times. If I released her for only a moment, I knew she’d be gone.
Back in my room, I rested against pillows holding her throughout the night. The following day she opened her pain-filled eyes.
Her words were so soft I could barely hear them. “I’m sorry, Bastian, for breaking my promise.”
No, I wouldn’t let her back down. “Then don’t break your promise, my love.”
She smiled so sweetly. “Take me to the glen, Bastian. I wish to see it one last time.”
“No, Acasia, do not say that.” Everything inside me screamed in anguish.
“I love you, dragon.” She gasped for breath, closing her eyes. I didn’t think she would say any more, but she continued, “The glen is where you made love to me for the first time. Hurry please.”
And like so many times before, I could deny her nothing.
She was barely breathing when we arrived. I couldn’t even roar, my pain so great it crippled me. She gazed at me, but didn’t speak again. The smell of grass and flowers surrounded us.
I watched her chest rise and fall at a slower and slower pace. “I love you, Acasia. There will never be another for me. You are my only treasure.” She smiled slightly then stopped breathing.
“Noooooo,” I yelled. “Please, Goddess, no.” I rocked Acasia in my arms, kissing her face, trying to bring her back with the power of my love. Nothing worked; she was lifeless in my embrace. I finally lay her down and stood, walking a few feet away, looking into the sky.
“Why, Goddess, why? Take me. Please take me.” I cried out with everything I had. The sky remained the same and desolation rolled over me, through me. I could not do this.
Thunder crackled in the clouds and a bolt of lightning hit the ground a few feet in front of me. The power of the burst so strong, I barely remained standing. A shimmer of light took shape and a female stood before me. It was the goddess.
Without thought, I fell to my knees and took ahold of the bottom of her gown. “Please, Goddess, I beg you. Spare her and take me.”
I felt the weight of her hand on my head. “I am Angelos, daughter of Hera. You sacrificed much, dragon. You stayed with your bride when I thought you would chase your friend and kill him. Your greatest treasure has long been your pride, but you gave it up for her.”
I looked up, tears clouding my eyes. I couldn’t stop them.
Dragons did cry.
She gave me a soft smile. “To be reborn we must die first. Look behind you, dragon.”
I turned slowly, so afraid this was a dream. I could feel the pressure of the magic building in the glade and could see it encompassing Acasia. It was red, like the power of our love magic. Acasia took a sudden gasp of breath then screamed. I tried to rise, but I was thrown back. The red glow around Acasia burst into flame. Black smoke billowed.
I saw her front leg first. From out of the smoke and flame, a red dragon appeared. Her eyes slowly opened and I was looking at my mate. More beautiful than anything I’d ever seen, she threw open her jaws, sharp teeth flashing, and breathed fire.
Acasia laughed.
“I’m like you, Bastian.” Her words whispered into my mind.
I don’t know how I found my voice. “You are my true mate.”
More flames and smoke spewed from her jaws, and I laughed too. I remembered the Goddess and turned around. She was gone, but her words entered my mind. “Each dragon must find their own mate. Your brethrens’ journey is not your own.”
The words faded and without another thought, I shifted, tearing my clothes, bursting into my true form. I approached my red dragon mate.
“You are no longer as large, Bastian.” Her red eyes shown with merriment.
“You are tiny compared to me, female.”
She looked to the sky. “I want to fly.”
“What’s stopping you?” I watched as she spread her wings.
“Gather the magic, pull it from within yourself and help your wings.”
She cast a red glow. She knew what I spoke of, because she carried the magic deep inside. Acasia lifted from the ground and I followed.
“Thank you, Goddess,” I whispered.