Julia Mills - Her Dragon's Heart (Dragon Guard Series Book 8) Read online

  Then the lunatic walked through the puddle of Jacob, humming a show tune as he made his way out of the room, acting like it was all in a day’s work. That was the night Melanie’s mother had planned their escape.

  For weeks after, Joanie Whelan hid money, clothes, and supplies in a hidey hole under the floorboard in their closet. She had a contact outside the coven, who Melanie only knew as Smith. When they escaped, he would be waiting on the other side of the woods to transport them as far away from the Dorcha as possible.

  The night came when they were to run. Joanie told Melanie to go to After-Dinner Meditation just as always, but instead of returning to their room at its conclusion, she was to meet her mother in the basement and together they would slip away using the underground tunnels.

  Everything went as planned for a while. They were running hand-in-hand, following the dim light of the flashlight Joanie had appropriated from the guard’s shack when the sound of chanting came from the shadows ahead of them. Within seconds, the low drone of many voices filled the chamber.

  “Run, Meli Rose, run,” her mother shouted.

  She tried, but the dirt beneath her feet had become like quicksand. The harder she pushed, the slower she ran until she fell to her knees sobbing. Somewhere amid all the chanting, running, and fear, Melanie lost contact with Joanie. Trying to stand but only getting as far as her knees, the child swiped at the tears that continued to flow while frantically searching the dark for her mother.

  Firm but gentle hands lifted her in the air. Melanie threw back her head and was rewarded with a loud crunch and low moan that could only mean she’d made contact with her jailer’s nose. Unfortunately, his grip tightened instead of loosened. It was then she began to kick and flail about. Her efforts were rewarded when the heel of the climbing boots her mother had demanded she wear made contact with his crotch.

  Her captor howled like a wounded dog and dropped her on the ground. Melanie sprinted into the darkness, praying to whoever was listening that she be reunited with her mom. Instead, she was scooped up and immediately bound and gagged before being carried right back to the man she never wanted to see again.

  “Tsk, tsk, tsk, Meli Rose. Where exactly did you think you could go that I can’t find you?”

  She opened her mouth to tell him to go to hell, even though she was sure her mom would wash her mouth out with soap, when the scrape of the large door at the rear of the room drew her attention. In walked six of her grandfather’s guard carrying Joanie atop their shoulders. She was trussed up like a calf at a rodeo and seemed to be under the influence of a Paralyzing Spell. Her eyes were wide but unseeing, her mouth open in a silent scream, and her body stiff as a board.

  “Mom!” Melanie called over and over until her screams were little more than a whisper, but Joanie never so much as moved. Dried tears stained her cheeks, though she hadn’t realized she was crying.

  Sarah Beth, one of her mother’s best friends, knelt before her and pulled Melanie into her embrace, rocking and assuring her everything would be okay. The older woman whispered for only her to hear. “Please calm yourself, child. Don’t make matters worse for you or your mother. Do your best to be strong and pray Joanie can get herself out of this mess.”

  One look at her grandfather told her the kind witch was right. Summoning a strength much older than her years, Melanie stopped crying, stood, and waited like the good little Dorcha she was supposed to be while everything in her was shouting that she unleash her power on everyone in sight. Her magic was all she had left. It was the one secret she’d been able to keep, even from her mom.

  Melanie Rose Whelan was more naturally magical than anyone in their coven had been for over a thousand years. It wasn’t something she’d wished for or even knew she possessed until the eve of her tenth birthday. On that night she was visited by the Goddess Anu, the keeper of magic. The goddess explained that Melanie’s father, who died when she was a baby, had given his life in an attempt to bring light to the Dorcha. It was now her job to continue his quest. Anu went on to explain that Cleland, Melanie’s grandfather and the Draoi, was quickly perfecting his ability to call and control demons. She warned that if he were allowed to continue, no one would be safe. The world as they knew it would cease to exist. Her parting words were something Melanie had worked hard for years to forget.

  “You possess the power, Melanie Rose Whelan. You and you alone can stop him. One day you will be called upon. Do not let us down.”

  Movement brought Melanie back to the present, just in time to hear the captor she referred to as Putz Two say, “Why can’t we just leave her here? Send the others after her? The Grand Draoi will never know, and if anything happens to her, it’ll be on them.”

  Well, this one’s not the brains of the operation.

  “Because, dumbass, the Draoi asked us personally to bring his granddaughter back into the fold. Remember? This is our mission and one we cannot fuck up.” It was obvious Putz One was at the end of his rope with his cohort but stuck with him nonetheless.

  “Oh, yeah. Well, dammit. Then we better get the bitch awake.”

  Melanie thought about pulling out her magic and dusting it off when he called her a bitch. Then changed her mind. It would be more beneficial for her to remain quiet and listen. She only needed to wait for the right time and then she could make the asshole’s balls fall off.

  It wasn’t long before the idiots gave up and left the room. She heard them discussing different ways they could get her awake without harm and even what to do with her body if she never woke. A cellphone rang during their conversation. Putz One answered and began stammering, quickly explaining their plight. Apparently, whoever was on the other end of the phone had more common sense than her two captors combined, because when they returned, the idiots made short work of her bindings, removed the hood from her head, and carried her into what she could smell from the disinfectant was the bathroom.

  Melanie was unceremoniously dumped on a cold tile floor and barely avoided banging her head against the wall while maintaining her ruse. However, she wasn’t as lucky when the icy spray of a shower hit her square in the face. Unable to feign unconsciousness while drowning in ice cubes, she gasped and tried to catch her breath. Scrambling backward in a crab walk, she tried to climb out of the tub to avoid what felt like hail against her skin.

  Son of a bitches had to grab me when I was in a tank top and boxers. Couldn’t have gotten me a sweatshirt and jeans?

  “Lookie there, the princess is awake.”

  Throwing her best ‘die bastard’ look at her kidnappers, Melanie spat, “I’m awake, assholes. Turn the damn water off.”

  Pushing her soggy bangs from her eyes, she focused on the Putz Twins, not surprised that they looked like all the other men her seanathair had appointed to his guard, big and dumb. The good news was that it seemed the leader of the Dorcha hadn’t changed much. He still did things the same way and that was something she could use to her advantage. The bad news was he picked huge, muscle bound wizards who used their fists to make up for what they lacked in magical ability. From the look of the two that stood staring at her like she was an exhibit at the county fair, they were no exception. She knew Putz Two had stunned her but figured that was the height of his talent…or at least she hoped it was.

  After a few tense moments, the bald one threw a towel at her and commanded, “Dry off, cover up, and stand up.”

  She recognized his voice as belonging to Putz One, the more intelligent of the two, not that either one was up for admission into Mensa, but it helped her to know who was who. Melanie did as she was told and was soon being dragged back to her chair. Putz Two knelt before her and made quick work of tying her ankles to the legs of the chair this time with leather straps. Putz One wrapped the same straps, only wider, around her midsection, securing her left arm to her side as he went. She wanted to chuckle. Apparently Cleland remembered she was left-handed and thought that securing her dominant hand would keep her from using magic. Little did he know t
hat had nothing to do with her refusal to call upon her gifts.

  After incapacitating her right hand the same way he had her left, Putz One spoke. “Let’s go. We need to report in.”

  An acknowledging grunt from Putz Two and they walked out the door without another word. The sound of the chain and lock being secured on the other side of the door followed by their retreating footsteps was the last thing Melanie heard for almost two hours. She laughed to herself at how good she was at telling time without a watch. It was a skill she had mastered during her nurse’s training. Because of the magic that ran through her veins, even though suppressed by the charm of Cerridwen, she couldn’t wear a watch. Well, she could wear one but after a few hours of contact with her skin, the timepiece would simply cease to function, never to keep time again. It happened with every type of timepiece she tried, even a pocket watch that had been her father’s. In order to not spend her life late for everything, she’d been forced to learn to keep time in her head.

  Thinking about all the crazy things that had happened in her almost twenty-nine years was a mixed bag of emotions, but she had to admit there was more good than bad, especially lately. She smiled to herself when the image of spiky blond hair and mischievous blue eyes popped into her head. Other parts of her tingled when she thought of the amazing kiss they’d shared right before her abduction. Jace MacQuaid definitely topped the list of positive things in her life.

  When he’d first popped into her life, she’d been suspicious. It had been years since anyone had come looking for her, but she still had to be cautious. The thought of using her hidden magic had crossed her mind several times but just the thought of being forced to live among the Drocha again stilled her actions. Instead, she had waited and watched, all the while trying to come up with a plausible answer for the immediate attraction she felt for him.

  About a week into what she laughingly called her ‘surveillance’, Melanie noticed Jace watching her. It hadn’t taken long until their occasional smiles turned to ‘hellos’, which turned to a quick ‘how’s your day’ now and then, to cups of coffee on her breaks, lunches together, and then long talks in the parking lot after work. She realized early on what a truly nice guy he was, and now she had the memory of their first real kiss to keep her from losing her mind while in captivity.

  The longer she thought of Jace, the stronger the feeling that he was thinking about her became. It was as if she could actually feel his thoughts and emotions. She knew they were supposed to talk the day after their kiss and figured he thought she’d blown him off, but for some reason, that didn’t fit what she knew of the man. Closing her eyes, Melanie focused on the warmth she felt around her heart at just the thought of his name. She pictured the six-foot-three-inch man that scrambled her brains with his cocky grin and genuine heart and felt an immediate sense of relief. No matter how impossible it sounded, even in her own head, she knew he was looking for her.

  Her heart beat faster as she tried to think of a way to contact him. It had been almost seventeen years since she’d used her magic. The day she ran away from the coven, she’d locked all her abilities away with an ancient spell Sarah Beth had given her. From that moment forward, she’d lived her life as a null and believed she was better for it. There was a trap door woven into the spell that would allow her to unlock her powers by uttering a simple phrase and removing the charm, but of course that would also allow any magical being she came in contact with to identify her as a witch. It would also signal the Draoi of her true power, something she knew he would kill everyone in his path to possess.

  Debating whether to reveal herself or trust in the man that was quickly becoming an integral part of her life to find her, Melanie almost jumped out of her skin when she heard the sound of the chains outside her cell rattling. Preparing for what she was sure to be a whopping good time with the Putz Brothers, she was shocked to see a young woman, with long strawberry blonde curls, wearing a light blue T-shirt and jeans enter the room.

  The newcomer was carrying a tray of food and an overnight bag. With her head bowed, her beautiful locks covered her face, but that didn’t hide the familiarity Melanie felt from the stranger. Stepping just inside the door, she turned just as Putz One snarled, “The Draoi said you have one hour. I’ll be back to get you. Be waiting at this door. No exceptions.”

  Melanie wanted to scream for him to go to hell but instead focused on her visitor, who remained facing the door until it was once again secured. As she turned, the young woman lifted her head. A past long forgotten came rushing back. It was Hannah, Sarah Beth’s youngest daughter and Melanie’s best friend growing up.

  “Oh my goddess, Hannah, you’re a sight for sore eyes!”

  Rushing towards her, Hannah carefully placed the tray she carried on the small table at the side of the bed and dropped the duffle bag before enveloping Melanie in a big warm hug. Unable to embrace her back, Melanie burrowed her head against Hannah’s shoulder, soaking in the comfort her friend offered.

  After several long minutes, the younger woman slowly released Melanie and leaned back until she was kneeling before her. Still smiling the same sweet smile Melanie remembered from all those years ago, Hannah looked her over from head to toe, shaking her head and tsk’ing as she went. Bending down, she began untying the restraints on Melanie’s left ankle.

  “Those morons are gonna be crow chow when the Draoi sees how they treated you.” Hannah sighed without looking up.

  When she had both Melanie’s ankles free, Hannah began on the leather strapped across her arm and torso while she chatted on about her mom and sisters. Melanie listened intently, glad to hear no one had ever figured out it was Sarah Beth and her family that had aided with her escape. She tried to think of something witty to say, but for the first time in her life, Melanie was speechless.

  How do I make up for leaving her in that hellhole all those years ago?

  “When mom heard a rumor you’d been found, we all prayed it wasn’t true, but here you are.” Hannah shook her head as if somehow that would change the situation then continued. “All the girls you might’ve known from your time at the coven were called together. The An Dara asked for a volunteer to get you ready for your audience with the Grand Draoi. Damon, who became Cleland’s second a few years ago, remembered you and I had been close and picked me right away.”

  Pulling the last leather strap from Melanie’s arm, Hannah stood and grinned. “Okay, troublemaker, you’re free now. Well, as free as you can get locked away in the basement of an abandoned warehouse.”

  Melanie sprang from the chair, grabbing her old friend and holding on for dear life. It was the closest she’d felt to sane in the last two days. Only Hannah’s laughing made Melanie loosen her grip and step back, but she kept contact by holding her hands. She knew it was silly, but deep down inside she just knew if she let go, Hannah would disappear.

  Always incredibly intuitive, Hannah smiled a sweet smile, squeezed her hands, and winked. “I’m not going anywhere, Meli Rose. We have an hour to get you fed and clothed.”

  The smell of food along with Hannah’s reassurances had Melanie letting go of her friend’s hands and heading for the table. Her stomach growled and both girls laughed out loud as she lifted the cover off her meal.

  “No way! Fiona’s still managing the kitchen?” Melanie giggled like a little girl as she stared at what had been one of her favorite meals when she was a kid, tomato soup with homemade croutons, grilled cheese, and fresh strawberry pie. “Your sister always made sure I had this exact meal for my birthday, any time she’d heard about me getting in trouble, or when I needed cheering up.”

  I guess knowing I’m about to be sacrificed by my grandfather so he can take over the world counts as a time I need cheering up.

  Both ladies chuckled as Melanie sat down to eat and Hannah unpacked the overnight bag. “I’m glad to see we’re still close to the same size. Hurry up and eat so you can get a shower before Henry and Simon come back. If you haven’t noticed, they’re not
the brightest bulbs in the pack. This is their last chance to complete a mission without screwing it up or the Draoi promised to turn them into white mice and feed them to his pet snake.”

  They have names. Who knew?

  Melanie shivered remembering the thirteen-foot, hundred-pound, red-skinned boa constrictor that accompanied her seanathair everywhere. It didn’t matter they barely had a brain between them, had kidnapped her, and let us not forget called her a bitch, she really didn’t want to watch while Diablo ate them. Speaking of eating, her food was getting cold and nothing, not even the thought of Cleland and his snake, was going to keep her from enjoying her meal.

  Hannah chatted away about all that had happened while Melanie had been away. Listening intently, it was obvious things were still status quo at the coven. She was glad to hear five of Hannah’s six sisters were healthy and well. Sad to know Mara had disappeared after a weird meeting with the Draoi. Melanie laughed when her friend told how Sarah Beth kept trying to marry them all off while they, in turn, scared all would be suitors away by any means necessary.

  Swallowing her last bite, Melanie jumped up, grabbed the fresh towel Hannah had unpacked, and headed for the shower. Fifteen minutes later she was clean, dressed, and sitting cross-legged on the bed, wondering what was next. Thankfully, she didn’t have to wait long. Hannah sat across from her and leaned in, motioning for Melanie to follow suit. When they were bent at the waist, foreheads almost touching, Hannah started whispering.

  “In about ten minutes the boys will be back to get us. I’m sorry, but I have to tie you to that damned chair again. I don’t want one of those idiots to come in and see you free. They will freak out. If you didn’t notice, they’re not the best wizards in the coven. Goddess knows you might end up with three heads or worse yet, exploded all over the walls.” She shuddered and Melanie had to wonder how many people the ding-dong duo had already blown up.