Chapter Eleven
Aiden tried to relax, to ignore the icy ball of dread that had settled in his gut since Rocky’s call. Instead, he focused on Gillian. She’d thrown herself into the task of preparing a quiet, comfortable space with ruthless efficiency. That was her greatest talent—not the engineering prowess or magic. Amazing as those skills were, they paled in comparison to her drive, her sense of duty, and her unwavering dedication to use her skills to do what was right and to help others.
To help him.
He swallowed his apprehension and remembered why he was doing this, risking a glimpse at the horrors that could be unleashed on Earth by Tarakonan wizards. It was to protect her. It was to protect Rocky, and Flo, and all of the townsfolk in Magic. It was to protect everyone on Earth, his home, the place that gave him shelter from slavery and exploitation in Tarakona.
He’d never been one for crusades, or heroism, or touchy feely shit. He’d always been a keep-to-himself survivor type. Now he realized how selfish and cowardly he’d been. He had plenty to fight for, and so many to protect. Gillian’s courage inspired him and would serve as an example in the battle ahead. No sacrifice was too great to save the Earth, to save the town, and to save her.
After she finished lighting candles and dimming the lights—with her powers—she sat down next to him on the couch, took his hands, and asked, “Are you ready?”
“Ready as I’ll ever be, I guess.” He had minimal idea what to do. Nadia had told him a little about how Victoria, her former master, had channeled her gift. It had taken years to perfect the method, apparently.
They had hours.
“What do you want me to do?” she asked.
He reluctantly took his hands out of hers and handed her the glasses—his pair. “Just do what you normally do, I guess. Direct your magic to let me see the future using my magic.”
She nodded, closed her eyes, and appeared to concentrate. A few sparks came from the glasses near the bridge and the temple. That must be where she’d installed the electronics, though how she’d managed to make them so tiny was a mystery. The woman was a genius.
After holding onto the glasses for a few more moments, she said, “I did my best. Give it a try and see if you get anything.”
He put the glasses on and closed his eyes, clearing his mind so he could focus on the task at hand. He pictured the town and willed his magic to show him what would happen in the immediate future in Magic. He hoped whatever vision he got would give him some idea of how to stop the wizard, too.
Nothing.
Fighting frustration, he tried again. He visualized Kokopelli with its eclectic Southwestern décor and patrons in their natural forms. Then he formed an image of the town square, of Rocky’s office, of the homes, businesses, and landscape. Come on, show me something. Tell me where the wizard will be. Fates, nothing appeared.
“Anything?” Gillian asked, hopeful.
“No,” he growled. “It’s not working.”
He opened his eyes and stood, pacing and rolling his shoulders. Though he recognized his expectations for what they were—unrealistic—it didn’t curb his anger and frustration. Facing a seasoned wizard with two battle dragons in his thrall would be foolish without the advantage of his prescience or perhaps some military issue tanks. If he was captured, the wizard in question would gain the ability to outmaneuver his rivals on Tarakona and enslave the entire population.
Or he might focus on Earth.
Either way, it was a no-go. He couldn’t let himself be taken captive. He’d have to use the death potion if he failed to defeat the wizard.
“Try again,” she said.
He suppressed a growl. She was right, of course, but what if he couldn’t manage? He’d told her that the definition of insanity was doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. True, this sort of magic required practice, but he’d expected…something. Shouldn’t there be some sign that he was on the right track?
“Aiden?”
He turned to face her, her beautiful face painted with an expression of grim determination.
“You told me only wizards could access dragon magic on your world. I know you’ll probably find the idea abhorrent, but maybe you need help with this.”
He balked. “I used magic earlier today. And anyway, what are you suggesting? That I stroll back through the portal, stop a passing wizard, and say, ‘Your Honor, might I ask a favor? Will you please delve into my magical essence to foretell the immediate future so I may defeat a fellow wizard? And if you could see fit to allow me to escape after we’re done rather than trying to enthrall me, that would be capital.’”
She jumped to her feet, scowl plastered across her face and hands on hips. “No, jackass. I’m suggesting you let me help you.”
“Oh,” he said, somewhat abashed. Still, there was one glaring flaw in her thinking. “I…appreciate the thought, but I’m not exactly mechanical. Your magic works on gadgets and tech.”
“Yeah,” she said, rolling her eyes. “Hence the glasses. They’re a conduit. Sit.”
“I’m not a dog.”
“No, you’re a dragon. And a jackass,” she said. Then she flashed a wicked grin, bowed, and added, “If it pleases the highly prized and rare silver dragon, I would be delighted to assist in tapping his magical essence to foretell the immediate future so that we may defeat the evil wizard. Is that capital enough for you?”
He didn’t know whether to kiss her, fall on his knees and thank her, or bend her over his lap and give her a few whacks that they’d both enjoy, the saucy witch. For now, he’d simply have to obey and hope this mad genius could pull off some seriously complex magic.
“That’ll do,” he said, fighting a wry chuckle and then planting ass back on his sofa. When she placed her fingertips over the glasses, he added. “If you could possibly stop yourself from setting my head on fire, or, you know, blowing it to smithereens, that would be a bonus.”
She flashed him a mischievous smile. “Temping, but we’ve got an evil wizard to catch. Don’t worry, though. I’ll work out a suitable punishment for your sass later.”
He hoped there would be a later.
“Now,” she said. “I’m going to do the same thing as I did before and concentrate on willing the glasses to let you see a little way into the future. You relax, concentrate, meditate, or do whatever you think will best help you release the magic and receive the vision.”
On impulse, he leaned forward and placed his lips over hers, teasing her with light brushes and gently seeking entrance. It earned a muffled protest from his lady, but she acquiesced and deepened the kiss, moving her fingers from the glasses to run them through his hair, down his neck, and over his shoulders.
Too soon, she broke off the kiss and gave him a mock glare. “That’s not going to help either of us relax.”
He lifted the corners of his lips into a smirk. “Kisses are the oldest form of magic. Isn’t that what happens in all of your fairytales? Kisses wake sleeping princesses and break evil spells. Why can’t they wake sleeping magic?”
She placed her hands back over the glasses and, in a curt voice that brooked no argument, said, “Close your eyes and focus.” He closed his eyes. She tugged at his head and pulled him down. Her soft lips landed on his forehead.
Then the world exploded.
Heat, sand, and rock engulfed him. He was in the desert, just north of the portal. The sky blazed with the midday sun. No clouds offered respite from the blistering heat. Sweat poured from his body, along with blood, and his very bones screamed in agony from exertion. Blue sparks flashed around him.
Gillian!
No, she wasn’t there, thank the Fates. At least she’d be safe in spite of his failure. The red dragons circled above while he staggered on the ground in human form, weighed down with his enchanted suit of armor that offered little protection from the threat before him. The magic that had coursed through the armor was gone. He hadn’t been able to activate the electrical shield, hadn’t been able to channel the magic to deflect their blows or mount a counter attack, and they’d knocked him out of the sky.
He hadn’t been able to fend off the battle dragons. What hope had he against their master?
The wizard’s red hair whipped around his face and his fine robes undulated as he approached, talisman held at the ready to wield the magic drained from other dragons against Aiden. Not to kill, of course. The wizard wanted to jab a thrall crystal into him. Enslave him. Aiden would be powerless to stop him.
But then Aiden remembered his insurance policy. He gripped the tiny vial in his hand even now. Once the battle in the sky had ended, his course of action seemed clear. Under the guise of wiping his face, Aiden swallowed the poison and allowed knees to buckle. Then he fell at the feet of the wizard.
“Easy,” the wizard said, his voice low, meant to soothe and to deceive. “You’ve fought with honor and courage, but your efforts were needless. We mean you no harm. Why fight your sister dragons? They only want to protect you, to save you from this realm and bring you home to serve your true and noble purpose.”
“My true purpose? To be your slave, you mean? There’s nothing noble about that.”
The wizard smiled. It didn’t reach his eyes. “Better me than one of the established rulers who take their dragons for granted, ignore and neglect them. I am kind to the dragons in my thrall and treat them well. You will want for nothing.”
“Except my freedom.”
“Freedom?” he scoffed. “None of us are free. We are born to our fates. I bear the burden of conquest and maintaining fair and just rule. You bear the burden of prophecy in the service of a ruler. It makes you coveted and vulnerable. You need protection. You need me. And I need a world to rule. Maybe two,” he said, surveying the landscape around him.
The poison coursed through his veins, blurring his vision as waves of dizziness threatened to overtake him. He had to act quickly before he lost consciousness.
“Show me,” he whispered, fighting to stay upright.
The wizard furrowed his brows. “Show you what?”
“Show me that you’re a just and wise ruler. You can share your visions with me if you so choose. I want to see what the future holds for me under your thrall.”
The wizard appeared to consider. He needed the wizard to use some of the magic he held. It was the only way to ensure that the wizard succumbed to the poison, too. They would be joined by magic and joined in death.
The wizard hesitated. He was no fool. He no doubt believed that Aiden would fight or flee if the vision showed conquest or abuse of power. Aiden would have to convince him otherwise, that his interests were purely selfish.
“Show me a vision of a future where I’ll be well-treated. Take a bit of the magic that I give you freely, Your Honor, and I will travel with you willingly. You have my word.” Dragon magic freely given was powerful, more powerful than that taken under the influence of a thrall crystal. It was a token of respect and fealty, as was Aiden’s solemn vow.
The wizard smiled in triumph as Aiden used the last of his strength to tear the armor from his body and then spread his arms wide, baring his chest. The wizard dropped to his knees and placed his hands against Aiden’s bare flesh and the tracery below. It weakened him further and he fought to remain lucid.
“Enough,” Aiden said, his voice a hoarse whisper. He caught a glimpse of his own demise, and the wizard’s, and smiled.
The wizard’s eyes flew open in alarm and he and clutched at his throat. Aiden laughed as red, blue, and gold flashed in his periphery.
“You promised,” the wizard gasped. “You gave me your word.”
“And I’ve kept it,” Aiden said. “I’ll travel with you…willingly…s-straight to hell.”
“Aiden!”
A voice cried out as gentle hands ran over his face, arms, and chest. How was that possible? He was dead. The icy fingers of the reaper had gripped him, slowed his heart to stillness, and stolen his breath. He couldn’t be alive.
“No!” he shouted, pushing the hands from his body. This was wrong. If he was alive, then the wizard was alive, and he was still a threat to Earth and all he held dear, including Gillian.
He sat up and immediately regretted the decision. Pain sliced through his skull with a pressure that made him fear his head might explode. Strange, the wizard ally who’d given him the poison hadn’t mentioned that.
“Aiden, are you okay?”
It was Gillian’s voice. She was here? He opened his eyes and the soft shades of golden sand and red adobe swam back into focus along with rich woods. He was no longer in the desert. He was in his home. How?
“Did it work? Did you get a vision?” Gillian’s beautiful face came into focus then, full of concern.
Vision.
It must’ve worked. He’d seen a vision. The magic within him had shown him the future and the way to stop the Tarakonan wizard.
And the heavy price he’d have to pay.
“What is it?” she asked, pulling him into her arms. He held her in a fierce embrace, this incredible woman who’d given him so much. He’d lived more in the past week than he had in his entire life. He was grateful, and that more than made up for any regret.
Save one. The thought of leaving her behind was almost more than he could bear. But he had to be strong, to do what was necessary to keep her world safe.
“I need food,” he said.
“Are you sick,” she asked, putting a hand on his forehead. “You’re burning up. Is that normal?”
He smiled. “Dragons become weakened when a wizard drains our magic.” He didn’t mention the ague only happened when a wizard used all of a dragon’s magic, which wasn’t the case. “I guess using my gift of sight has the same effect. I need you to get me some food so I can recover and then we’ll put together a plan for the wizard. I know where he’ll be and when.”
She appeared skeptical. Of course she did. No matter how much magic she witnessed, no matter how many otherworldly, supernatural creatures she encountered, she’d always approach with scientific skepticism. It was as much a part of her as her witch nature. And it would serve her well, even if it didn’t serve his purpose at the moment.
She thought he was lying. And she was right.
“Please, Gillian,” he said, hating himself for his deception, for using her feelings against her, but there wasn’t much time. Judging from the long shadows cast outside his home, the sun was setting. Night was almost upon them, and tomorrow the wizard would strike. He needed to be ready, and he needed Gillian safely out of the way.
She didn’t look convinced, but her gaze softened and he knew he had her. Fates, he was such a bastard. He only hoped she’d come to understand in time, and to forgive him.
“Fine, I’ll drive over to Kokopelli and get a tanker truck full of chips, salsa, burritos, and sopapillas. Anything else?” Her sarcasm did little to hide her concern, and his heart broke a little more.
“That’ll work.” He stood on shaking legs and pulled her into his arms. “You are the most amazing woman I’ve ever met, Gillian Hohenwald. No matter what happens, remember that.”
She gripped him tighter and said, “Don’t talk like that. It makes me think your vision showed you something bad. Did it?”
His lady was too smart. He should’ve known better, but he couldn’t let her walk away without telling her how extraordinary she was, how special, how much she meant to him. Saying the three words he longed to speak would be a dead giveaway, so he simply placed his lips on hers and poured all of his love and gratitude into a passionate kiss.
“I saw hope,” he said. “Now, feed me, my lady, so that I may do battle in your honor.”
With a heavy heart, he watched his lady walk through his door. He memorized the contours of her body, her confident stride, the way the light breeze whispered through her hair and the moonlight illuminated her like a bright spot in the night’s gloom.
When the sound of her van faded, he rushed to his workshop to grab his armor and prepare for battle.