“Thank you for being so protective, butIhave to collect each element myself or the spell won’t work.Ithink we’ll have to try whatSalazarhas suggested.”
I don’t like this but there doesn’t seem to be another way.Iwatch as she holds out her hand andSalazartips the coal into her palm.
A fraction of an instant before the live coal lands in her palm, the crystal collecting globe appears in her hand.Thecoal plunks into it, casting a reddish-golden glow through the crystal.
I wait to see if the intense heat will shatter the delicate container, but it must be magic becauseElowenstoppers it and it’s just fine.Theminute she puts the stopper in, it disappears, presumably back into some magical inventory she’s carrying with her thanks to the spell.
“Well—there you go!”Salazarclaps his hands together cheerfully.“Alldone.AmIcorrect in thinking this is your final element—the last thing you need to work your spell?”
“Yes, that’s right,”Elowensays in a low voice.Shedoesn’t sound happy about it at all, which is strange.Ithought she’d be eager to finish up and get back to her safe and happy life as a temple virgin.
“Well then—Iwill bid you both goodbye,”Salazarsays.“Unlessyou’d like to stay awhile and have supper with me?”
Elowen shakes her head.
“Thanks but…I’mnot hungry,” she says.
“Very well then, allow me to see you to the door.”
He hustles us out of the mansion and in no time at all, we’re standing on the front porch again and everything that just happened between us seems like a dream.
The sun is low in the sky, but other than that, nothing has changed.Thewastelands still look barren and desolate…almost as desolate as my heart, whenIthink about losing my curvy little priestess.
“Hey,”Isay to her.“Areyou all right?”
“Fine.”Butshe won’t meet my eyes.“Well…Iguess we’d better fly to theKing’sCourtnow.Thecapital city,Imean.”
“I guess so,”Isay, my heart heavy.“It’skind of a long flight from here though.Areyou sure you’re up for it tonight?”
“Well,Imean, we can’t exactly stay here.”Shemakes a gesture, taking in the arid desert.
“No,Iguess not.”Igive a heavy sigh and run a hand over my horns.“Allright—stand back.I’mgoing toShift.Oh, and don’t be scared if myDrakeacts unhappy—he’s just really upset about losing you.”
“He…he is?”Shenibbles her lush lower lip—a habitI’venoticed she has when she’s nervous.
“Yes, but don’t worry—he would never hurt you.Hejust feels…upset that you want to leave him and forget him.”
To tell the truth,Ikind of feel that way myself.Butwhat canIdo about it?Nothing.SoIkeep my mouth shut.
I take a few steps back from her and let theShifttake me, flowing inward as myDrakeflows outward.
I don’t want to think about losingElowen—about her forgetting me forever.Losingmyself in myDrakeseems like a good way to stop thinking about it for a while.
ButIknow the pain will still be waiting for me whenIShiftback to my human form.
58
ELOWEN
There’s something different betweenTheronin me now that he’s changed the color of my eyes.Idon’t know what it is—Ican’t define it or describe it, butIswear it’s there.
I just don’t know what it is.
I feel…connected to him now.Connectedin a wayIdidn’t before.Ican always feel hisDrake’semotions when he’s in that form, butIwas never able to feelTheron’sbefore.
NowI’mgetting his emotions loud and clear—regret and remorse are uppermost.Iguess he feels sorry for changing the color or my eyes.Butalso, he seems upset—possibly for the same reason hisDrakeis upset.
Does he not want to lose me?Doeshe want to keep me with him?