47. Jaiyana

CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN

JAIYANA

W ith my eyes closed and my body slack, each terrifying sensation I lived through brought my mind closer and closer to cracking.

Yes, mad, all-powerful enchantress!

I'm not going mad.

Please, can we? It would be so much more fun than being depressed.

The sensation of falling ripped me out of my internal conversation. The wind, whistling past my ears, made me want to cry out in pain, but I still couldn't feel anything. With my body unable to respond to my fear, my mind broke, and terror drained into uncontrollable humor. This was it. I, a supposed immortal enchantress, would die more thoroughly trapped than I ever knew possible.

The whistling grew softer, and the sensation of falling turned into floating before stopping altogether. A dull ache formed in my side, and I snapped my attention to it. If I could feel pain, actually if I could feel myself falling, then whatever drug Doctor Raba injected me with was wearing off.

No, we were going mad! It was going to be fun.

We were not, and it was not.

A dragon roared directly above me before going quiet. Shifting scales, sliding against each other, and a deep grumbling were my only indications the beast still stood almost on top of me. My body tilted, and hot breath blew across my skin before another wash of pain sank into my hip, followed by a rush of endorphins. My skin heated, sending tingles down to my core in a very familiar way.

Another mate mark.

Gotta catch em' all!

I want to be the very best, like no one ever was. Dun dun dun.

I'm going to have that stuck in my head forever.

You're welcome.

A gurgling giggle escaped my lips before the dragon roared in pain and rolled away from me.

My world stilled, and my rush of hormones eased. The wind whistled through rocks, though I couldn't feel it. I was alive. A light warmth filled my mind, and it took me a moment to pinpoint the emotion as gratitude. I was grateful to be alive, which was a new sensation.

So much of my life I took for granted because I just existed. I wasn't grateful. I went through the motions. Wake up. Be healthy. Be nice. Fit into whatever generation I currently existed in. But there was more, so much more. This goddamn fucking island showed me that, but would I let it change me?

Don't answer that, babes.

Good call.

Time ticked. I thought maybe I could feel the sun heating my skin, but I also wanted to feel it, so I wasn't sure if my mind was playing tricks. Slowly, I drew attention to my different body parts, envisioning Uma Therman in Kill Bill.

Wiggle your big toe.

Except I didn't care about my big toe; I needed to see where I was and who marked me. I pictured my eyelids opening, even calling on my water magic to try and help force them. Nothing came—time dragged by. The light filtering through my eyelids dimmed. I couldn't hear or see the dragon, but he had to be here still. Was he hurt?

Yeah, Og almost passed out from the pain. This guy's definitely unconscious.

Massive, magical, supernatural creature. Relax Jay, worry about yourself.

Despite my efforts, it wasn't until the drug freezing my system eased another notch that my eyes fluttered open, like a fucking Disney princess, to show me a sky full of bright stars and an almost full moon. I still couldn't move, but I could see.

Scales scratched against rocks as the dragon woke. The air rushed and swirled. Little bolts of electricity danced in the sky as I assumed the dragon shifted into his human form.

"I'm not rutting." A familiar voice said, clearly confused.

Why would Sister Abby rut?

Do dragon shifters even have that problem? I thought that was wolf shifters and deer.

Prey and Predator have the same problem. How poetic.

Sister Abby's face came into view, looking down at me. Without makeup, her heart-shaped face was still lovely but took on a more masculine edge. She still peered down at me through thick eyelashes and high cheekbones, but messy silver hair fell past her chin. She swallowed, and her Adam's apple bobbed.

Not a she.

"Jay, can you hear me?" The voice was mostly the same, but it fit this male dragon perfectly.

Plot twist: she was her own lover.

Some lizards can do that, you know.

Please stop.

Focusing on his question, I blinked very deliberately a few times, unable to do more.

Not Sister Abby brushed the hair away from my face. "Can you talk?"

I blinked twice.

He smiled. "So, this is a game. Blink once for ‘yes' and twice for ‘no?'"

I blinked once.

"Are you hurt?" he asked.

I blinked twice and then winked.

He frowned. "I'm guessing that means not that you know of."

I blinked once.

He took a deep breath and turned his head to the sky. "Did my mark hurt you?"

I blinked twice.

He let out a relieved breath. "It hurt me to mark you. I've never experienced that much pain." He ran his knuckles along my cheek. "I would experience ten times that for you."

Ten times that, and you'd be dead.

He's expressing his love for you. Stop making everything negative.

He has no idea you already have mate marks.

God fucking damn it. Why can't anything be simple?

He groaned, though I was sure it had nothing to do with my inner monologue. "I'm an asshole, I didn't even know that dragon had you. Once the rut took over, I just needed an outlet. Damn it, I can still feel the rut. Whatever happened just delayed the issue, again." He clenched his fist. "And now I've messed everything up. We can't go back to the air temple. I've marked you, so I can't call the other princes…You're hurt, and I have no way…" He trailed off.

I blinked rapidly, and my fingers twitched with my need to reach out and comfort him. But no sound came out when I tried to talk. Even if it had, it probably just would have been a series of more useless squeaks.

Maybe. Four mate marks. Four elements. It's time to see if your theory is correct or if you've made everything worse.

My blood chilled. That hadn't occurred to me.

"My name's Lux. Ah." He scowled. "Prince Lux."

If I could nod, I would have. His status as a prince didn't surprise me. Whoever designed this curse wasn't just bringing random dragons together. I would have been shocked if he was anything less. However, I would not have guessed he was a prince based on his disguise as a priestess teaching kids.

He has a golden heart.

Or a guilty conscience.

How can you see the worst in everything?

It's what got me to a thousand years old, bitch.

Lux narrowed his eyes. "I wish I knew what was going on in your head."

I flushed, very grateful he didn't have any concept. He lifted me over his shoulder, holding my legs in place with his shortened arm. I relished being able to feel again.

"I'm taking you to my old home." A slight tremor passed through him. "I don't have any other choice." He pulled his long silver hair before rubbing his cheek. "It's a bad idea, but it's all I've got." His face fell. "I didn't even ask if I could mark you." He dropped back to the ground and set me down so he could cup my face. "Did you want this?"

I blinked once and held his gaze.

"Over Rehan?"

I blinked rapidly to try and signify ‘too complicated.'

"Right, maybe that wasn't quite a yes or no question." He hoisted me again before rising on one leg as if he couldn't even feel my weight.

You're fucking loving this part.

Don't, but yes. God, I enjoy feeling delicate even when I'm not.

You kind of are right now.

You're ruining it.

Brilliant white-scaled wings rushed out of his back, though I could only see a bit of them from where my head rested against his chest. He jumped, angling down the mountainside, and caught a draft which took us up.

The sound of his racing heartbeat filled my world while his strong, firm body kept the wind from stealing my heat. This wasn't like flying with Tyson, who existed to make my heart race. Lux held me like I was precious. He kept his flight steady and low, checking in on me often but without idle chatter.

A rush of blood made my fingers tingle. By the time we landed, I'd managed to curl one of my fists, though the arm still dangled uselessly. Unable to lift my head, half my view was Lux's hard pale chest, while the other, the night sky and the smooth white platform below us.

Lux gently set me down. "I'll be right back."

He hopped and limped out of my view. The sound of hinges badly in need of oil grated against my ears before the rattling of a metal staircase got further and further away.

I let my mind drift, watching the stars twinkle above me.

A sense of peace filled my heart. I reached for my magic but didn't find it. With a deep breath, I opened my third eye. The Ley Lines spread out before me, though they were still blurry. As the dragon's island only had one main one and a few offshoots desperately trying to get through the shield, I didn't have any trouble making out each chord. But if I'd been in London or one of the other convergences, all I'd see was a sea of somewhat distinct colors.

You had to kiss the others for there to be a change.

Right. So, this is already different. Interesting.

The metal rattle from the staircase returned, and Lux rushed to my side, his unique gait from his prosthetic foot back. He slid his arms under me and lifted me into a bridal carry. The cool metal of his arm contrasted with his warm flesh. This time, he shut the trap door he'd opened behind us with his wind magic. We descended a steep, spiral staircase to arrive in a dark room full of furniture covered in white cloth.

"At least they didn't repurpose my apartment. This would've been very awkward."

Lux glided between two couches and hit a button on the wall. The whir of little electric motors filled the space and lights winked into existence. Shutters cracked open and rose all around me. It was a lot of technology. Almost as much as Tyson's apartment.

Lux's ‘home' was a massive round tower with floor-to-ceiling windows. The spiral staircase we'd been on continued down to what I assumed was another level. All I could see up here was, what I would guess to be cloth-covered couches and chairs, a massive table with an indent on the top, and a wooden bar with a layer of dust on it.

Lux pressed a button on a silver panel. "I need the earth dragon Ogden brought to my apartment immediately."

"Oh my, Prince Lux, is that you?" An older woman's voice came over a little speaker.

Lux sighed. "Yeah, Sky, it's me. Don't tell my dad?"

"He already knows." Sky chuckled. "Someone spotted you coming in. He's bullying the staff for not keeping your apartment ready."

Lux grimaced. "I wasn't planning on coming back."

"Family's sticky like that," Sky said, her voice growing somber. "And he didn't want you to come back, but the moment you were spotted, he perked up. You're back now and already making demands. Your dad's thrilled. I'm sure you'll make the right choices this time."

I would have arched an eyebrow. ‘The right choices' didn't sound like choices at all.

Lux made a non-committal noise and cleared his throat. "Contact earth's warlock, Ogden, and tell him Jay's hurt. He'll come immediately."

"Those dirty wyverns keep to themselves, as they should. This Jay, whom I'm assuming is the woman spotted in your arms, should be brought to his majesty immediately."

"No." Lux's voice turned cold and hard. "She stays by my side and away from him. I've marked her. I get my three days, or I fly directly to earth territory and cause trouble."

The line clicked out. Lux's hand grew and shrank against my skin. His eyes didn't leave his reflection on the silver panel.

"The EM is in two days," Sky came back on. "If you sit by your father, his esteemed majesty's, side at the EM, he will give you two days. I'm sure you understand the importance of a united front in such a turbulent time."

Lux grimaced. "Two days."

"Great." Sky squealed, completely changing the tone of the conversation. "A mate! It's long past time baby dragons filled this place again. WIth any luck, they won't inherit your disadvantages."

Lux gritted his teeth.

‘ Your disadvantages?' Who does this bitch think she is?

Jay…baby dragons.

Shit, kids, again, it comes back to kids.

Reality slapped me in the face.

When he asked me if I wanted the mate mark, I'd said yes because I wanted my magic back. I tried to wiggle out of his arms, but only managed to flex my fingers and bite my lips together. Ohh, those were moving now. Progress!

"You're getting ahead of yourself," Lux said. "But, yes, I am up here with my mate…"

Despite my unease with the situation, the way he said my mate made my toes curl in my shoes and my clit pulse.

Guilty and horny, impressive emotional range.

"…who's valued greatly by fire, water, and earth." He lowered his voice to a threatening growl. "She will be treated with respect and care."

Unease replaced my horny guilt. Lux said it was a bad idea to come back here. How bad of an idea was it, exactly?

"She's your mate. We will treat her exactly as such." Sky responded lightly. "The other elements have no control here, as you know. I'll have food sent up immediately, within the restrictions, of course."

"If Ogden isn't here within the hour, I'm taking her to him," Lux growled.

"You can try." Sky laughed.

Lux punched the wall and ended the conversation. He glared at the call box once before holding me tighter and whisking me down another flight of stairs. The artificial lights dimmed the blanket of stars twinkling through more floor-to-ceiling windows. A massive round stone pillar filled the center of both rooms. Before I could get a good look around, Lux pushed a button, and a doorway opened up, revealing a bathroom.

"I'm sorry to lock you in here, but I need to secure my space." He frowned. "I've been away too long. I don't have facts, and I don't know who will give me honest ones. I don't trust my… Leberecht to give us the two days."

He reached out and ran his hands down my arms. The trembling in his fingers eased before he kissed my palms, only to jerk back in confusion and clasp his junk, eyes squeezed tight in pain. After taking more than a few steadying breaths, he peered at me. "Did kissing you just shock me?"

I blinked once.

Lux ground his teeth together. "I'll figure this out later."

With a gesture, the wind whipped around the room, stealing dust from surfaces and forming a ball of dark brown and gray, which he flung out the door.

"I'll draw you a bath. It's just a little half bath, so you shouldn't be able to slide down. But it will keep you warm." He grinned. "The sisters always said a bath and a glass of wine could fix the world."

Well, he learned something at the temple, at least.

I'd kill to have control over my neck, but I didn't. Lux propped me up next to the sink to turn the water on. He picked up a dark bottle and squirted it into the steaming water. The scent of shea butter and lemongrass filled the small room.

"I'm undressing you now." His gaze heated. "If I do anything to make you uncomfortable, curl your fingers, and I'll stop."

I blinked once.

Unlike Tyson, Lux stripped me quickly and efficiently, giving my limp body as much modesty as he possibly could.

Golden heart.

The warm water enveloped my skin, making it sting. I must be colder than I realized. He carefully positioned my limbs and head. With a thin line of soap bubbles distorting my figure, Lux scanned me from head to toe and smiled softly. A blush he hopefully attributed to the hot water heated my cheeks.

"I had no plans to find my mate, much less fall head over heels for her at first sight."

I rolled my eyes and then did a mental happy dance that I could.

"No." He smiled and cupped my cheek. "No, don't roll your eyes. It's true. You're quick as a storm. Even not speaking, I can tell you're just as fierce. You were so good with Aria."

My heart fell. There it was.

Fuck.

Fuck.

Lux pulled away from me and hurried out of the room only to return with a tablet in a case that let it stand up. He placed it on the toilet. "Do you like Lord of the Rings?"

I blinked once.

He smiled. "I knew you had good taste." With the tablet balanced on the toilet lid, he stood. "I'll check on you soon."

I sighed, watching Lux's white and gray scaled ass exit the room as the opening sounds of the movie echoed off the bathroom walls. His butt wasn't quite as bubbly as Tyson's or Rehan's, but its peach shape mesmerized me until the door shut behind him.

Judgmental bitch.

We're spoiled for choice. Sue me.

Just accept them all.

Only until I have my magic back; then we have to free them.