Chapter Nineteen

Fiona

Scotland—1418

I walked into the dampcave, catching one last glimpse of the sunset and wishing I could have helped the villagers prepare for the Beltane celebration. The basket in my hand brushed against the cave wall as I carefully climbed down the steep slope, nearly tripping over a discarded ram's skull. The farther I descended into the pit, the stronger the smell of sulfur and the thicker the fog. I was starting to loathe the stench of my mother's dragon breath. I'd no idea why the queen insisted on remaining in her dragon form, preferring to stay a recluse, hiding away from mortals. Mother refused to leave the cave except to hunt, and even those outings were becoming more infrequent.

After I climbed down the last step, I stopped to empty dust and debris from my thin sandal. A plume of smoke hit me in the face.

A large, crimson dragon head poked from the cloud, green eyes narrowing as smoke poured from flared nostrils. Fiona, where have you been?

"I was picking flowers," I said absently, then cringed when I remembered my empty basket.

My mother's dragon eyes didn't miss a thing. The mortals saw you?

It was more an accusation than a question. Aye, the mortals had seen me, for they always came out in droves when the witch who dwelled in the haunted caverns came calling. They brought with them their sick and infirm, lining up with sweetmeats, fresh figs, and other tokens of thanks as I placed my healing hands on them all.

Then, my friend, Davinda, and I would run off into the forest, taking a dip in the cool river and filling up on food until our stomachs bloated. After we took a long nap, Davinda would amuse me with riddles and tales of knights and maidens. Reluctantly, we would part with the promise to meet again.

How I wished I could live in the village. Davinda had offered me a bed in her modest little cottage. She'd taken me there once. It smelled of incense, earth, and freshly cut wood—a stark contrast to the dank cave I shared with my mother.

But how would Mother react if she found out I had befriended so many mortals that knew of my healing powers?

I looked away from my mother's prying eyes. "Aye, but fear not. 'Twas only Davinda, the druid."

Witch or no, she is still a mortal. You are not to speak to her.

My breath caught in my throat, but my shock was brief, replaced by anger. I turned up my chin in a rare act of defiance. "She is my friend."

Mother stretched her neck to the top of the cavern, looking at me with a condescending frown. Mortals and dragons can never be friends, my child.

I threw my hands in the air. "What do you expect of me, Mother? To hide myself away in this cave, only coming out to hunt prey at night, spending the rest of my days lamenting how much mortals hate me?"

The queen hunched over, the ridges of her spine shooting up like a feral cat's. Though the dragon queen tried to shake off the pain, I felt the barb of my verbal spear hitting my mother straight in the heart. I regretted my words. I hadn't meant to cause my mother sorrow, but I was tired of hiding and being friendless. Why should I fear mortals when they had only shown me kindness?

Consider the repercussions, daughter,Mother's thought hissed in my mind. What will the villagers do to us if they discover what we are?

I jutted a foot forward, pounding my chest. "It is not we who should be afraid of them, but they of us. Have you forgotten we are dragon royals?"

I have not.Mother's jowls turned up in a fanged snarl, a low growl reverberating from her chest and echoing through the cavern. The last of our kind, thanks to mortal prejudice. And you and I will likewise perish if we do not guard our secrets and stay away from humankind. Mother paused, her large eyes narrowing. Especially mankind.

I wondered why my mother hated men, for I thought them fascinating. The queen's hatred always troubled me, especially after the time Davinda had asked me about my father. I knew nothing of my father, for my mother had refused to speak of him. Why?

I summoned the courage to face the queen, for my mother was always moody for days after the mention of my father. But I had grown tired of this secret between us. I had a right to know my sire.

"Was it something my father did? Is that why you distance yourself from mortals?"

The queen snarled like a wounded animal. Do not speak of him.

My mother's response angered me. Today when I visited the villagers, many fathers had come from the fields, carrying tots on their shoulders. 'Twas not fair they had sires, and I had been forbidden to speak of mine. I squared my shoulders, tempted to turn into dragon form and face my mother eye-to-eye but thought better of ripping my dress. "I have a right to know who my father is."

You have no father,the queen answered flatly.

Anger infused my skull, and I used all my willpower to keep from screaming. "That is not true. Graechen said when a dragon finds a mate, they bond for eternity."

In the blink of an eye, the dragon queen transformed into a beautiful nude woman, her ivory skin a stark contrast to her wild, flame-colored hair. I was shocked at my mother's transformation. I hadn't seen her human form in several seasons.

Mother turned from me, her pale skin like a glowing beacon amidst the smoke. "Aye, we do."

Curious about my mother's sudden transformation, I followed her. The queen walked over to one of the many cavern pools and knelt beside it, staring wistfully at her reflection.

I came up behind my mother, looking down at the pool. Mother was still so youthful, we could have passed for twins. If it wasn't for the difference in eye color, we would have been identical. The queen had mentioned a dragon stops aging a few years after the first blush of womanhood, and her mate was tied to her immortality. What had happened for him to give all that up? "Then where is he?"

The queen looked down at her reflection with a groan. "In some monastery, no doubt, serving penance for sleeping with the devil."

I gasped. "Surely he can't believe that."

My mother waved at our empty cavern. "Then why is he not here with us?"

It was then that it hit me. All this time Mother had insisted we hide who we were, living in caves and skulking around at night, because of what had happened with my father. I still could not comprehend why he'd left us, but at least I better understood my mother. "I'm sorry."

Her soft smile was not enough to mask the hurt in her eyes. Mother touched my cheek. "Do not be sorry. If it were not for him, I wouldn't have you."

I threw myself into my mother's arms, relieved when the queen hugged me back. Though I was crushed to learn of my father's rejection, I was thankful to have broken down my mother's emotional barrier. I couldn't remember the last time we'd held each other. Had it been when I was a child? Surely not. I was upset I couldn't remember.

That's when I realized things between us needed to change. I pulled out of the hug, grasping my mother's delicate hand in my own. "Come with me to the village tomorrow. You will see humans are not all bad."

The queen frowned. "No, they are not all bad, but they fear us, and fear makes them do bad things. Very bad things."

Mother's warning echoed in my skull, reverberating like a gong even after I woke from my fitful slumber. I rolled onto my side, surprised to find my child was not sleeping soundly beside me. Burying my face in my pillow, I stifled a sob.

"Mother, I'm sorry," I whispered. "Had I not ridiculed you for your wise foresight, had I not encouraged you to venture out of our shelter, you'd be alive today."

Though I was tired and sore, I heaved myself out of bed and quickly dressed. I was determined Safina would not suffer the same mistakes, for no good had ever come from helping mortals. And no good would ever come from loving one, either.

* * *

Safina

I SLOWLY OPENED MYeyes, yawning as I stretched my arms and legs. I'd had the most peaceful, deep slumber. So deep I momentarily forgot where I was. But as I sat up, rubbing the sleep from my eyes, memories hit me like a cold wall of water.

"Gabriel!" I called as I tossed the blanket off my legs.

A strange clanking sound echoed from the other room, and much to my amazement, Gabriel walked through the door, leaning on a pair of crutches. He wore that same boyish, crooked smile, only this time his whole face was lit up, like the Northern Star burning brightly in the night sky.

I shot out of bed and ran to him.

"Oh, Gabriel!" I threw my arms around his neck. "You're walking!"

"I am, mi amor," he breathed against my cheek. "Thanks to you."

I pulled back and looked at his legs. I couldn't see them beneath his trousers, so I'd no idea how much he'd healed. Of one thing I was certain, he wouldn't have needed crutches if I'd healed him completely.

"I'm rested." I tugged on his elbow, leading him toward the bed. "Let me try to heal you again."

"No." He pulled against me. "Papí says we must wait. Let the people see me walking first on these for a time. They must think I learned how to walk on my own. We don't want any cause for suspicion."

I gaped up at him. "Why would it matter? My mother has already healed so many."

There was a flash of pain, and I itched to finish what I'd started.

Gabriel heaved a sigh before hobbling toward the bed. "Safi, there's a doctor in town who's spreading rumors your mother is a witch."

My limbs iced over with dread. "Dr. Straw." The mention of his name left a bitter taste in my mouth, more foul than the blood of that shark.

He leaned the crutches against the wall and lowered himself onto the bed with a groan. "Yes. The zealots are becoming alarmed, and Mr. Goldman is still going on about that sea monster."

My legs felt heavy, and I fell on the bed beside him. "What will they do to us? Will they try us as witches?"

Gabriel took my hands in his, giving them a reassuring squeeze. "Safi, we don't live in the dark ages. They won't harm you, but they can make your life difficult."

My throat tightened. "Will they drive us away? I don't want to leave Galveston."

"Then don't." He cupped my chin, his warm smile a balm to my troubled soul. "Hold your head up, Safi. Your friends will stand by you, and everyone will forget about the gossip. Just let me walk on crutches for a month or two."

"That's too long." Panic gripped my chest like a vise, for I was certain Mother would not allow us to stay two more months. She would try to force me back into that prison shell before then.

"Safi, I never thought I'd walk again, and look at me." He puffed up his chest, his grin stretching nearly ear-to-ear. "A few more months is a small sacrifice."

But all I could think about was Mother forcing us apart, for the dragon queen would be furious when she saw Gabriel walking. Tears slipped from my eyes, and I was on the verge of sobbing even harder.

"Hey." Gabriel wiped my cheeks. "No crying or I will have to kiss you."

I swallowed a lump of sorrow, craving the comfort of his touch as I leaned into him. "You should kiss me anyway."

My eyes fluttered shut when he bent over me, brushing his lips across mine.

"I could live on your kisses alone," he breathed against my mouth. "Once I am whole again, I'd like to court you."

I jerked back, stunned. "Court me?" My heart raced wildly as I searched his eyes.

He pulled my hand to his lips, looking at me through thick lashes. "Marry you, Safi. If you'd have me."

My heart nearly leaped from my throat. Could it be true? Gabriel wanted to be my mate? "You would marry a dragon?"

"Not just any dragon, a magnificent dragon with a fair face, a beautiful soul, and a caring heart."

"Oh, Gabriel." I threw my arms around him as he held me tight. "You don't need to court me. I will marry you." My lips sought his in a fevered frenzy. I moaned into his mouth, clutching him as if my life depended on it. I groaned in frustration when he pulled away.

Frowning, he shook his head. "No, I wish to do this properly. I will not ask for your hand until I am able to bend the knee."

I looked at him through a hazy sheen of tears. "You don't need to bend down for me."

His shoulders stiffened as he squeezed my hand. "Safi, I do, and I will. You deserve nothing less."

I didn't know if my heart was on the verge of breaking or soaring. Oh, how I wanted to marry Gabriel, but if we waited, Mother would surely find a way to stop us.

As if on cue, my mother's booming voice echoed from the other room. "Where is my daughter?" It was not a question but an accusation.

I cringed, for I was certain Gabriel's family was cowering before the dragon queen.

Gabriel and I quickly pulled apart. I stood, smoothing back my hair and wiping the taste of him from my lips.

Gabriel heaved himself up with his crutches, flashing me a knowing grin as he nodded toward the door. How could Gabriel smile at a time like this? I berated myself for not warning him about my mother.

The queen stormed into the room, and though she was in her mortal form, she filled the tiny space as if she was a fire-breathing dragon. She looked tired, her hair disheveled as if she'd just woken from slumber. Heavy circles framed her eyes, and her skin was sallow, making her look as if she'd aged ten years in a day. Mother still hadn't recovered from healing Pedro. That she'd left her bed in such a state didn't bode well for me.

She passed over me with a scowl before her heated gaze settled on Gabriel. "Why are you not in your chair?"

"You know why, Mother," I answered defiantly, my sudden surge of bravery shocking my own ears. Where had that come from, and could I do it again?

I thought my knees would buckle when my mother turned an iron-eyed glare on me.

"You are needed at home," Mother said through clenched teeth, the fire of her fury marking every clipped syllable. Then she stormed out.

I turned stricken eyes to Gabriel. We spoke not a word as we parted with one last kiss.