HERA’S POV
“You love him a lot, don’t you? Desmond said as I watched Justin’s disappearing back.
I drew in a deep breath and bit the inside of my cheek, trying my best to not let my emotions show. When I turned to face Desmond, I had composed my expression “I don’t know what you are saying.”
“I have spent the better half of my thousand-year life among you people. I know exactly what you are trying to do….”
A long, suffering sigh left my lips. “Now that you know how important Justin is to me. I need to you to promise me something.”
His lips curved in a slight smirk and he raised his eyebrows. “You want me to keep him away from the battle?”
I fidgeted with my fingers, a bit flustered. “Is it that obvious?”
“It is to everyone, except perhaps the man you love,” Adrian commented. “I almost killed him you know… I wanted to slay him before you placed some stupid condition but…” He looked at me and sighed. “The look in your eyes, that sense of deep anguish and fear.” He shook his head. “I couldn’t bring myself to do it.”
He threw his arms in defeat. “Now, here we are; bound by your stupid condition to keep him out of this battle.”
“Umm… do you think you can add a few more people to the ‘Do not harm list?” I asked, silently begging them with my expression.
Adrian groaned and stomped, “I don’t like the sound of it… How long a list are we talking about?”
“Not that long. Justin’s family, Daciana, The Lycan King. I don’t think we should involve the human beings either. They have already suffered so much….”
“Great. So, we are talking about an entire species and more. Absolutely amazing.” Adrian snapped, glaring at me angrily.
Desmond’s expression turned frosty, and he spoke in a dead voice, “Don’t take my generosity for granted, Hera.” His jaws clenched and his piercing gaze bore into mine. “Whether I grant your wish depends on Dreki’s statement.”
My breath got caught in my throat. “Dreki?”
“Hmm… I believe that he is still alive. That is the only reason I let your lover boy walk out of here alive.”
“How?”
He held up the ring I had given him and twirled it between his forefingers. “If Dreki was dead, you would have lost your ability to do magic.”
His words hit me like a flash of lightning. Why did I think of this? I grabbed his arm and pleaded, “Please tell me how to revive him. I am ready to do anything it takes.”
Desmond shrugged out of my grasp. “I didn’t really want to get you involved. I planned to revive Dreki and then force you to free him, but….”
“But?”
“Apparently, he can be revived only by the witch who cast the spell to bind him to you.”
My heart sank, and I staggered. “Is there no other way?”
“I am afraid not. You have to take us to the witch who cast the spell.”
I stood there like a frozen statue; my mind reeling with the last words she had spoken to me. ‘I regret the day I met you, Miraya. I hope I will never see you again.’
“Is there a problem? Or….” Adrian’s voice trailed off, and he took a step towards me. “Do we need to find your lover boy and bring him here for motivation?”
“It’s not that I don’t want to take you to her.” I blurted. “The thing is that… she hates me….”
“That is nothing new.” Adrian stated, rolling his eyes. “Everyone hates you. Now, tell us her name and location before I am forced to track down your lover boy.”
“Assuming that she still lives in that place, we should first visit Driston.”
“Can you teleport or something?” Adrian asked as we emerged onto the wide ledge.
“What?”
“I asked if you could just teleport us to Driston or whatever place that is.”
“I am afraid that teleportation is way beyond even my powers.”
“Fine.” His lips curved in distaste. “You can ride my back.”
“Sorry?” My heart sank at the thought of swirling through the air. “Can’t we just go there by a coach or something?”
Adrian let out a frustrated sigh. “That would waste days. I am afraid we don’t have that kind of patience.”
I sighed in resignation. “Desmond.”
“Hmm…”
“Can I ride your back instead?”
Before I knew what hit me, I was swinging in the air. Adrian had grabbed me by my throat and was almost choking me. I knew it wouldn’t kill me, still it was uncomfortable.
My eyes narrowed, and I grabbed his hand; letting vines of ileum creep into his arms. With a sharp intake of breath, he dropped me.
The vines had wrapped around his neck by now, and his face turned purple. Desmond’s eyes flashed with concern. He rushed towards him and looked at me with a fiery expression. “What exactly did you do to him?”
I shrugged and waved my hand. The vines burned red and vanished like wisps of smoke. “I was just returning the favour.”
Adrian sat there, gasping for air. I walked over and placed my hand on his shoulder. Soft blue light seeped through his skin and he healed.
“I won’t be so kind the next time, Adrian. So, you might like to watch your actions.” I said in a cold voice, massaging my neck. Dragons were way stronger that werewolves, even in their human form.
“You held back, didn’t you?” Desmond said; eyeing me with a slightly awed expression. “I mean, during the dueling.”
“I showed about ten percent of my skills.”
“Why?”
“Justin told me that you would judge my intentions through the duel.” I shrugged and flexed my wrists. “I just wanted my message to be loud and clear.” I looked into his eyes and spoke in a lower tone. “I need your help, Desmond. I might be powerful but there is only so much I can do alone.”
His lips curved into a smile that lit up his eyes. Holding out his hands, he said, “To new beginnings and common goals.”
“To new beginnings.” I reiterated, shaking his hands firmly. I found myself smiling despite myself. For the first time in five years, I felt hopeful.
“Adrian, shift and scan the perimeter ahead.” Desmond commanded. “I will follow with Hera.”
“Does that mean you are giving me a ride?”
“Your highness!” Adrian’s expression turned horrified. “You can’t do that.”
“It’s okay, Adrian. Don’t think too much about it.”
Pursing his lips together, he looked at me with a strange expression. His hand flew to his neck and his eyes flashed with fear. His gaze lingered on me for a long moment before he turned around and shifted into his dragon form.
A loud cackle pierced through the sky and he took off the ledge, screeching as he dropped swiftly into the valley. Moments later, he rose steeply and soared ahead.
Desmond shifted into his dragon form, too. His golden scales dazzled in the moonlight and his eyes sparkled with a depth that could melt one’s soul. He looked mesmerising with his wings spread out regally.
He lowered his neck in an invitation and I climbed on his back.
“You look so beautiful, Desmond.” I couldn’t stop myself from commenting as I traced the cold, hard scales on his neck. He cackled softly, as if thanking me. Then, he rose into the air and soared into the sky, gliding gracefully through the sea of clouds.
Unlike Adrian, his movements were smooth and agile. I was glad that he had agreed to give me a ride.
Using magical bindings to secure myself, I stretched out my arms. The cool wind slapped against my face and my lips curved into an automatic smile.
The exhilaration of soaring through the sky replaced the anxiety and grief that always plagued my mind. I felt free. Even if it was just for a few moments, I felt contented….
***
“Stella?” I called out; my anxious gaze drifting around the hall. “I. Know. That. You. Hate. Me. But, can you spare me a few moments? This is, umm… important.” I tried again, shifting my weight from one foot to another.
“Didn’t I tell you never to show your face? Like ever again?” Stella snapped, walking out in her pajamas and T-shirt. Her eyes narrowed as her gaze landed on Desmond and Adrian. “Who are they?
She raised her hands and answered her own question. “You don’t need to answer that. I will guess.” She snorted. “They must be a part of your so-called revenge plan, right?”
She grabbed my arm right above my elbow and dragged me straight out of her house. “Just. Get. Lost.” Her furious gaze snapped to Desmond and Adrian. She crossed her arms and gritted out. “Do you need a special invitation?”
“We… I…” Desmond sounded so flustered that I almost started laughing; almost. A wave of energy hit me before my lips had even parted, throwing me backward. “Do you think you can just turn up at my doorstep after three years?”
I dropped to my knees, gasping for air. Even after all these years, I hadn’t gotten used to her popping spells. It was Stella’s pet peeve. She gathered air from the surrounding and squeezed it into a tiny bubble.
Using magic, she trapped her inner energy and then sent it hurling it at others. What was more, she tended to do this at sudden and unguarded moments. It didn’t really hurt but could shake you up bad.
“Aunty….” A small girl with honeyed eyes and brown hair came running into the courtyard. “Aunt Stella. I can’t find my crayons.”
My heart twisted and my breath hitched. Camira had grown so much in just three years.
“Ella! How many times have I told you not to step over the threshold?” Stella scolded as she lifted her in her arms. She rushed inside before I could even look at her properly.
“Who was that little girl?” Desmond asked, his gaze lingering on the threshold curiously.
“She is my daughter.” Stella called out from the inside before I could reply. She walked outside and shut the door. Her eyes narrowed, and he snapped. “As you can see, I am very busy with MY daughter.” She placed her hand on her hips. “So, you better make it quick.”
“I was the one who requested her for help, Stella.” Desmond said, taking a step towards her. He opened his palm, revealing the ring. “Do you recognise this ring?”
“I do…” Her gaze shifted to me. “Dreki?”
I lowered my gaze and nodded. “The witches used a spell on him and….”
“Are you happy now?” She snapped, tears brimming in her eyes. “Are you happy now that he is dead?”
“Stella…. I….” My voice got choked and I couldn’t say anything. The ache in my heart intensified and flowed down my cheeks in the form of tears.
“He is not dead, Stella. That is why we are here. We need your help to save him.”
Stella’s expression softened. Her eyes brimmed with accusation as she looked at me again. “What do you plan to do once he is revived?”
“Once he has recovered fully, he will return to his rightful place in our kingdom.”
Stella’s eyebrows furrowed in confusion. “Kingdom?”
“They are dragon shifters.” I finally managed to compose myself enough to speak.
Her lips puckered in disdain. “You didn’t even tell them that Dreki is your familiar, did you?”
“I did…” Licking my dry lips, I stuttered, “I… I will free him once he has recovered.”
Stella remained quiet for a long time; her discerning gaze assessing us. Finally, she let out a sigh, and stated, “Meet me on the next full moon. I will help you.” Turning her scorching gaze to me, she added, “I am doing this only to save Dreki’s life.”
“Thank you.” I mouthed in a voice that was barely a whisper. My longing gaze drifted to the door. “Can I see her once?”
“You lost that right long ago, Miraya.” She replied in a dead voice and stomped inside the cottage again. Moments later, a veil of red light fell like a veil over the house.
My lips curled in a wry smile, and I commented. “She felt the need to use a protecting spell….”
“What exactly did you do to her, Hera?” Adrian said, letting out a huff of air. “I thought that she was going to burn you alive just with her gaze.”
“I have done many things I am not very proud of.” I shrugged. “Anyway, there is no point dwelling on them. Let us go back and focus on our mission.”
“Would you like to ride me again?” Desmond said with a meaningful look. My eyebrows furrowed, but the next moment my face flushed. It sounded so awkward when said like that.
“I… I am fine… I will just walk…”
He burst into a peal of hearty guffaws. “It is good to know that even the most powerful woman in the world gets flustered.”
My face flushed further, and I gritted my teeth in anger. “Do you believe that I can kill you in the blink of an eye?”
“I know… I know….” Desmond raised his arms in defeat. “I was just joking. Please ride me, Miraya.”
A wave of fury coursed through me, bubbling like hot molten lava. Before I knew what I was doing, I had sent an orb of energy hurling towards Desmond.
Within the time the orb reached Desmond, he managed to shift and soared into the sky; dodging the ball of energy adeptly. I wasn’t the only one who had held back during the duel….