AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“What happened?” From the looks of it, half of Malix’s kingdom is lying underneath the castle.
He doesn’t answer right away. There’s a lost look in his eyes as he moves through the horde of sleeping dragons. “It’s the curse.” Malix stops just shy of a small dragon, the size of a calf. He’s a deep red color with a black strip down his back. Compared to the other dragons, he is so tiny. Just a child.
“The curse takes on different forms in the different kingdoms. It’s dark, ancient magic that makes the Nephilim the biggest threat to Mescos and impacts victims at random. Dragons are most vulnerable when they are asleep, and the Nephilim feed off our vulnerability. We sleep like the dead and we take a while to fully regain consciousness.
“The curse only affected a few dragons at first and happened infrequently,” Malix continues. “It has since gained traction and we haven’t gone a day without losing one of the dragons to the curse. We try to keep as many of them here for safety purposes, but some families prefer to keep their loved ones with them.”
I think I’m beginning to understand. Malix has given me a lot of information today and I’m still wrapping my head around it all. The Nephilim are powerful creatures and are gaining power daily. A sense of hopelessness rings through the air when looking at all of these incapacitated powerful creatures.
But it couldn’t be helpless, could it? Ender wouldn’t have sent me here to die. I didn’t know The Guardian well, but I knew that his job was to provide protection. There had to be a reason he chose me for Malix.
“It’s only going to get worse. You see why my attention is elsewhere.”
I did, and honestly I couldn’t blame him. Didn’t excuse his absence, but it did explain it.
“What happens if you can’t win against the Nephilim?” My question hangs heavy between us. I’ve seen Malix angry and I’ve seen him amused, but I don’t think I have ever seen him worry. It’s there in his eyes one minute and gone the next. I doubt he meant to show me his vulnerability.
“If we cannot strengthen our border and break the curse, our lands will fall to the Nephilim. Their power will grow and the rest of Mescos will be even more vulnerable than it already is.”
“Shit.”
Despite the tense topic, I hear Malix bark out a laugh. “So eloquently put, wife. That about sums it up.”
I move closer to the young dragon I noticed when we first arrived, crouching down next to him. “What have you tried to break them out of this sleep?”
“I’ve hired mages and healers from around the kingdom. The healers could only keep them comfortable and make sure their bodies were taken care of while they are under the spell. The mages haven’t been able to identify the magic, let alone how to counteract it.”
Malix is behind me now, the heat of his gaze scorching my skin. “These are your people now too, Rose. You are their queen.”
I roll my eyes. I’m queen in name alone. I don’t even know what the title means or how I’m supposed to rule alongside a man who finds it difficult to share information. There have been some improvements in our relationship—I obviously know he’s attracted to me—but mutual lust only lasts for so long before it simmers out.
I reach out my hand to touch the young dragon in front of me, but before I can make contact, I hear footsteps descending the stairs. I drop my hand, turning my attention to the new figure joining us.
I tense immediately when I see him.
Malix is there, standing in front of me, acting as a shield between me and Aeron. He had left in such a rush yesterday and I hadn’t expected to see him so soon.
“What is it? I don’t wish to be disturbed when I’m with my wife.” Malix’s tone is low and threatening, bordering on cold. I would think it was sexy to see him standing between us, but my body is wound too tightly with Aeron so close.
“I know, but this is important.” Aeron descends the last step and hovers near the bottom. His gaze meets mine momentarily before looking back at Malix again. “We had an entire family fall victim to the curse today. Their bodies are being transported to the temple, where Solaris has agreed to house them.”
“They should come here.”
“Yes, well,” he starts, looking around the room. “And where do you suggest we put them, My King?”
Aeron has a point. Every square inch of this room is occupied by a sleeping dragon. Malix seems to realize this at the same time I do, because he curses softly under his breath. “Fine, we will open another room for dragons who have been affected at the temple. Make sure Solaris is prepared to house many bodies.”
The men launch into details and seem to forget I’m here. Which is fine, I would rather Malix deal with Aeron than drag me into their conversation. I turn back to the young dragon and gently caress his skin.
His scales feel rough under my fingertips. How long has he been down here? Do the dragons dream or are they left in darkness and suffering?
I can’t quite stand to think about them suffering, especially the little ones. To my horror, he isn’t the only child among the sleeping masses. The adults in their lives are helpless to protect them.
“I will protect them. I will keep them safe,” I murmur under my breath, as a sense of rightness washes over me.
I close my eyes as a montage of all the times I’ve felt completely protected in my life flashes through my mind. There are only a few. The times my parents would read to me before bed, tucking me in with sweet kisses. The time my sister and I went to Granny’s house and baked cookies until the entire kitchen table was covered in more chocolate chip cookies than we could eat in a weekend.
And then to more recently, when Malix swooped in between Aeron and me at the rose garden. I had been so mad at him for ignoring me, but I also knew at that moment he wouldn’t hurt me. I was safe with him, at least physically, and that’s more than anyone has made me feel in a long time. It was both a scary and exhilarating feeling, but something I wanted to pursue.
