Chapter 2

Chapter Two

The berries in his hand were forgotten as Derek watched the hunched woman run away. She jumped onto a boulder and straightened as if to declare her presence. The jangle of armor announced the soldiers before he saw them racing after her.

He couldn't remember the last time a human had been friendly. Men avoided him. Women only wanted to get into his bed. But not a single one had ever put themselves into harm's way for him.

Until her.

Derek rose to his feet. He looked from the soldiers to the woman. The path she took only led to one place. And he knew what the soldiers were about. None of this involved him. He had no reason to meddle. But she intrigued him. He couldn't remember the last time he had been fascinated by anyone. Especially a human.

He started running, slowly at first but then he increased his speed. Derek kept her in his sights, and as expected, she ran toward the blocked valley near the wetland. Was she leading them there on purpose? She was fast. Not as fast as him, but faster than the soldiers. She could have outdistanced them quickly, but she hadn't. Instead , she slowed so they could keep up. How …odd.

She wanted them in that part of the valley for a purpose. Five against one wasn't good odds. Maybe others were waiting to help her. His curiosity was piqued. Nothing would stop him from seeing the outcome.

Derek diverted and took another route that cut through the marshland. His feet slapped the water, spraying it as he ran. He arrived, waiting within the thick mist, when the woman rushed into the valley. She slid to a halt and spun to face her pursuers. Long , dark hair had come loose from its bindings and hung to her waist. She stood with her feet apart, her hands at her sides. Her chest heaved from the exertion while her gaze was locked on the approaching soldiers.

" Seems you have nowhere to go," a female soldier stated.

The woman smiled softly. " I'm the one who stopped."

" Because no one goes in there." The soldier jerked her chin toward the swamp.

Derek was well hidden, but everyone knew the swamp was a dangerous place.

Because of him .

A crossbow being fired broke the silence. The woman leaned to the side just before the bolt struck her. Derek marveled at her ability to dodge it. In seconds, the soldiers surrounded her. He took a step forward, only to stop. He was curious about the human, but it didn't go further than that.

She ducked and dodged, spun and sidestepped. She even managed to block a few blows, but she was up against weapons with only her wits. A part of him wanted to help. As he considered it, she suddenly jerked when a quarrel impacted her chest. There was a slight tightening of her face before she ducked a sword aimed at her head. Another blade cut her thigh when she lunged. One of the soldiers stabbed her in the back.

It was a bloodbath. And he had seen enough. Derek shifted into his true form. He stalked forward, knocking over trees as he did. The mist swirled around him as if trying to keep him hidden. It parted when he pushed onward, revealing his face first.

Four of the soldiers caught sight of him and froze. The female leader was too intent on the woman to notice. She swung her sword down and around, embedding it deeply in the woman's side. Derek growled. She lifted her eyes to meet his. Her face drained of color as she tugged her blade free.

The woman dropped to her knees before listing to the side and rolling onto her back. The scent of blood filled the air. Derek stood over her. He didn't know why. There was no saving the human. Not that he would if he could. He looked down. Her eyes were open, but she didn't show any surprise or fear at seeing him. She must already be dead.

And that infuriated him.

" We're leaving," the female soldier announced. " We're sorry to intrude on your territory. We had to take care of business."

Derek looked at her and let smoke roll from his nostrils. His fury grew: with the woman for not getting away when she had the chance, with the soldiers for ganging up on her and killing her, and at himself for not intervening before it was too late. He drew in a deep breath, feeling the fire within his chest flare and expand. They tried to run, but it was pointless. One breath of fire took them instantly.

He could have made them suffer. Maybe he should have. Derek looked down at the female again. Her eyes were closed now. Her injuries were fatal. He hadn't even gotten a chance to thank her. It wasn't something he did. There had been no need for her to warn him, but she hadn't known that. She deserved better than this.

Derek returned to human form and squatted naked beside her. Why had she brought the soldiers here? There hadn't been anyone to help her. She should've escaped when she had the chance. Why hadn't she?

Her blood spilled into the packed earth as mist curled out of the swamp to lick at her boots. Derek tugged at a lock of hair that had fallen across her face. He dropped to one knee on the ground. Her hair was like aged mahogany, rich and deep. The strands were cool against his fingers.

Her oval face was beguiling. Her full lips could have lured him into temptation with the barest of smiles. Dark brows arched pleasingly over large eyes. He had only briefly looked into those clear brown eyes, but he could describe every detail. They had been bright like a sunrise. Swirling in the dark rays were bronze and amber, all trapped by a thick ring of black.

He skimmed the backs of his knuckles along her cheekbone. Who was she? He would never know. And that was a pity.

She was attractive, but more than that, she had been brave and kind—not something he said about anyone, much less humans.

Derek straightened but didn't walk away. He stared at her for a long moment before he bent and gathered her into his arms. He walked past what was left of the soldiers to the path the animals used to ascend the mountain. She deserved a warrior's death, and while he couldn't give her that, he could give her the next best thing. Derek carried her to the top and gently laid her on the slab of rock.

He stared at her face to commit it to memory, then looked down at her body. She was dressed in all black. Her shirt was threadbare at the wrists and had stitched holes. Her pants weren't in any better condition. It seemed she'd spent most of her coin on her boots. They showed solid craftsmanship that would've lasted her years.

The wind picked up the ends of her hair and danced it around. Derek took a step back. He let his gaze take in the view. He stood on the northernmost point of the Tunris range. Rolling valleys of grass that went on for miles stretched before him. Beyond that was a lake and land as wild as his heart.

He would give her the burial she deserved so her ashes could be scattered into the beauty of the realm. Perhaps that would allow her to return one day as fierce as she had been today.

Derek's eyes lowered to her face again. He couldn't fathom why she hadn't let her speed take her far from the area. She shouldn't have stayed. He had decimated humans time and again, and he would continue to do so in order to free the dragons. Yet he was greatly saddened to see this one dead.

" Dederick ."

He fisted his hands at the command that filled his mind. He didn't dare ignore it. His life was pledged to Stonemore , and if Villette summoned him, then he must go to her. Derek debated whether to incinerate the human now or wait. He had seen other mortals gather around their dead. She deserved at least that. If he didn't have time to watch her body burn, then he would do it when he returned.

Derek held out his hand and created an area around the slab with magic so no one could get near her. He looked at the silver cuff on his wrist. No matter how often he traveled using Villette's magic, it still felt wrong.

He caught sight of his nudity and reluctantly used his magic to clothe himself. He spent most of his time doing what he wanted, but there were other times, like now, when he bent to another's rules. His gaze lingered on the dead human a moment more.

Derek touched the cuff. One moment, he was outside. The next, he stood in the center of a chamber deep within a mountain. Flames danced in the enormous hearth, the red-orange glow reaching out to him along the floor with flickering fingers.

He knew this chamber well since it was where he met Villette . There were no windows. A single door marred the simple walls. Despite its size, the room only had one chair. There was no need to use his enhanced abilities. He turned his head to the left and found his mistress sprawled on a chair covered in fur pelts.

" Took you too long."

Derek frowned at the pain in her voice. He caught a glimpse of the new burns that covered her face, arms, and torso. " What happened?"

" Nothing for you to worry about."

He drew in a breath and smelled the familiar scent of dragon fire. " You fought dragons?"

" I told you not to worry about it."

He curled his hands into fists when she didn't elaborate. Villette wasn't just his leader. She had saved him. He owed her his allegiance and his life. He gave both freely.

She sighed loudly. " I've already given you my word that you will be by my side when we free your kin."

" There you are. I wondered when you would return."

Derek jerked at the female voice in his head. He inwardly shook himself. " Tell me who did this to you. I will hunt them down."

" I want that pleasure," Villette stated icily. She cut her eyes to him. " Has anything out of the ordinary happened?"

Derek observed her for a silent moment. He could tell her about the female, but then he would have to explain why he cared. Villette would become worried, and there was no need for that. " Nay ."

" You need to be extra vigilant. Don't stray far from the marsh."

" You expect someone to come?"

" I'm being cautious. It's how we've gotten this far."

Someone had spooked her, and she wasn't giving him any information. Villette was one of the most powerful beings alive. She was a Star Person , moving among realms by mere thought alone. She ruled Stonemore as the Divine . Few knew her as anything but the Divine's right hand, however. It was a deception she enjoyed. Villette had gained influence and dominion by weaving a complex web of deceit and trickery to gain the upper hand in the battle for Zora .

And she was winning.

There had been setbacks before, but they were getting closer to freeing the dragons. He could feel it.

" Find me while she's still weak."

" I'll see it done," Derek declared, ignoring the other voice.

She swallowed, a grimace of pain creasing her face. " Dederick ," she called.

He hated that name, but he bit back his response. " Aye ?"

" The next time I call, come immediately." She slowly sat up, but it cost her, and she began shaking. " I may need you soon. Don't let me down."

" I would never," he vowed.

" Check the swamp. I want you to be sure no one has found it."

He took a step to her. " No one has."

" Check the entire area. Go . Now ," she bit out.

Derek bowed his head and touched the cuff. Seeing Villette injured worried him. Something had spooked her, and he wished she would tell him who or what it was. In the meantime, he would do as she asked.

He reappeared atop the mountain, only to stare in disbelief at the empty stone slab.