Chapter 34: Chapter 34
My chest burns and feels like I’m suffocating. Something tugs against the pain pulling it out of my chest and up to my mouth. I blink my eyes as I notice faces in my vision My back is pressed against the hard ground as a large wracking cough sounds out from somewhere next to me.
Oh god, Julia I think. I turn my hand in her direction trying to see if she is okay. A pressure closes over my chin stopping me from looking as I meet the eyes of the man with the funny teeth. I jerk away from him as the memory of submerging into the darkness of the water comes to mind. My eyes flicker around to the faces of the women also surrounding me. My eyes widen at one of them with red hair who casually tosses a ball of water into the air as if it is an everyday thing.
“Is it true. Are you truly one of the mates of a dragon?” The man ask as he pulls my gaze back to his. I nod my head as I feel the pain in my throat may be too much to talk. “oh dear, we are so sorry for the trouble we have caused. Allow me to correct our wrong” he says. I look at him totally confused at his change of attitude.
He quickly release my chin and moves his arms to hold down my arms. I start to thrash against them as I hear Julia’s throaty scream. My panic kicks up a notch when suddenly I find myself freezing. The note of a lovely song causes my muscles to sag in relief as Julia’s scream turns into a long moan.
This feels amazing. It’s like a light is traveling through my body causing my body to want to rejoice. I feel over whelming happy tears as my vision clouds. The music in the air is one of the most satisfying pieces I have ever heard. It is truly beautiful. A smile breaks a cross my face and just as suddenly the light leaves my body slowly causing my limbs to tingle.
“Are you alright. Is there still pain anywhere” Someone’s voice says as the music stops. I turn my head in that direction and see the face of the man before. I immediately notice his teeth which now appear normal as he gives me a smile.
“Who are you?” I ask him completely bewildered. It’s almost hard to explain what I feel as I look at him curiously. Before I felt terrified of him. Now it feels almost as if I am looking at someone I have known for a long time. I find it to be the oddest sense of Déjà vu.
“I am called Derrick. I am king of the mermaids that you see here” he answers easily as he helps me to stand. When I do I look around and see that the females with him start to back away giving me space. There expressions are peculiar as they regard me almost as if they are searching for something.
Suddenly I am hit with a weight against my back as arms wrap around the waist. The hearty laugh of Julia fills the air as I stop myself from falling. I turn around to see her absolutely giddy with happiness as she holds onto me. Her laughter is so infectious that it causes me to chuckle. “We are aaaalive” she sings out with glee.
I laugh at her hysterics as I look at the other faces around me who are fighting to hide their laughter at her. “I do apologize about that. The song is quite strong on single women. The effect will wear of in about an hour” he states with an apologetic expression.
Julia hurriedly release me at the sound of his voice. He runs over to him and starts rubbing his chest with her hands as she looks into his gaze. My eyebrows skyrocket at her blatant flirting as I start to tug her away from him. She huffs at me as if I have ruined her fun but continues to eye Derrick like a piece of meat.
“I am surprised to say that you took the knowledge of what I am rather well” he comments.
“What can I say once you fall in love with a dragon, nothing surprises you anymore” I say with a chuckle. The woman around us gasp as Julia once more laughs with glee. I realize that I meant what I just said and smile. I am in love with a dragon.
“We would be honored to guide you to him. it is the least that I could do after how we have treated you. Greta!” he suddenly shouts. The woman with the red hair that filled my vision earlier steps forward and he gestures toward me. She turns her nose up as she looks at me holding her ball of water. She gives me a mischievous looking smirk as she eyes me and Julia.
“You’re lucky he on your side. If it were me I would have put this ball of water back into your lungs where it belongs” before I can react to her hateful words she throws her hand with the water ball towards me. I throw a hand up trying to protect my face as I close mt eyes.
A cool sensation flows over my skin and I look down to see that the water has surrounded my body. It solidifies right before my eyes into a knee length dress. The fabric is pretty and shimmery. I can’t help but to give a little twirl as I admire the fabric. I look up to say thank only to no longer see her. My gaze lands on the water as her red head of hair disappears beneath the water.
“This way” he says gesturing toward the trees. I tug Julia along as I follow him. Her hands play with her dress with glee. I suddenly get very angry at the fact that this man and these women have seen me with my clothes off. My breathing picks up as I walk behind him trying to control myself from cursing him out. He looks back at me and must see something in my gaze because he starts to hum. My breathing quickly relaxes and my anger all but disappears.
“Neat trick” I toss at him. He smirks and continues walking as he hums. “Why the change of attitude. You after the whole drowning situation” I ask him.
“You are our hope for the future. If the dragons feel in anyway like we do then you are our most valuable possession. I would never do something to get in the way of it. I wouldn’t want anyone to get in my way either” he says as if the answer is simple.
“You all want mates too?” I ask him.
“Yes, it is the best news that we have heard in our entire time since we have been trapped here. The thought that we could have someone to share it with. To have a family or to have children. It is a great hope of many of us. It is a ray of light in the darkness of the deep abyss of the waters in which we live” he states. I blink against the sting in my eyes. It’s easy to see how much the people of this forest need more. His tone conveys a deep sadness that I have never heard. I find myself wanting to help them.
“You must follow this path; it will lead you straight to where you want to go. I wouldn’t stray away from the path, however. There are creatures in this forest who are not as kind as us sea dwellers” he warns as he looks at the path.
I start to tug Julia toward the path immediately. I can’t say that I want to rush away from this kings presence but I do know that I want to leave. I find myself still to be confused at how our time with him has gone. He may seem nice and kind now but the man I saw earlier did threaten to eat me. I give a rushed wave as I start tugging Julia up the path.
He waves back at us and then turns and jumps back into the water. I look around us and see that somewhere along the way we lost the women who were behind us. None of them can be seen. When the view of the river disappears from my vision completely I halt Julia’s and my steps. She holds her head and I know that she must have a headache from all we just experienced.
Looking around once more I check to make sure that I don’t see anyone. I am eager to try this travelling thing that Maximus does. Closing my eyes I focus on him in my mind. I picture the dark color of his piercing gaze. His broad shoulders and his muscular pecks. I picture the milk chocolate tone of his skin and his shiny white teeth. Heat fills my body and suddenly it feel like we are moving. It only last for a second and when I open my eyes I see Xander leaning over Maximus as he writhes on the ground. Harsh growls leave is mouth as he squinches his eyes tight.
When Xander spots us he yells “What the fuck? Where the hell did you come from? And who the hell is she?” I let go of Julia’s gaze as I rush toward Maximus. His piercing gaze meets mine and my feet pause. His eyes flicker back and forth between him and Martell. A wave of heat goes through my body and I press my legs together as between them starts to ache.
He rises from the ground in a rush as he eyes me. The ache between my legs intensifies as I take a step toward him. Xander jumps to Maximus and wraps his arms around him restraining him. I watch as Maximus fights his hold and his hands elongate to claws. Another wave of heat hits me and I almost sink to the ground at the feel of it whole Xander curses.
“MINE!!!” Maximus growls out. I lick my lips at the word wanting to be exactly that. As soon as he gets closer that’s all I want to be.
Julia groans as she comes closer. “What the heck is going on?” I try to answer her when suddenly a moan leaves my lips as my mouth waters as Maximus’s gaze holds mine. I step forward ready to go to him again. I need to go to him. I just want him to take away the ache.
“Hold her” Xander shouts. Arms wrap around me halting my steps. “Emily, you have to listen to me” he says. I stretch to get away from Julia as her hold tightens. “Come on. Just for a moment. If you listen to me then I will release you. All you have to do is look at me for just a moment. There you go. That right. I am over here” he says coaxing my gaze.
I hiss at him angry at the interruption. He just better do what he promised. “Emily you and Maximus are in heat. If I release him then he is going to take you. He will not stop until his dragon has mated and claimed you. Do you understand what I am telling you?” he yells as Maximus struggles more. “If you don’t want him then you need to decide now. If you decide to go through with this and don’t want him, you could both die. You need to be sure.”
“He is mine. I love him” I say with all the conviction I feel. My gaze swings to Maximus as I watch his body freeze at my words. “You are mine Maximus. You and Martell” I say as I meet his gaze. With a roar he throws Xander off of him and snatches me out of Julia’s hold.
“Mine” He promises as he cradles my face. Then his lips are crashing against mine with a force that causes my toes to curl. I sigh into his kiss as my body immediately cools with his touch. The wave of heat inside me calms as I taste him on my tongue. I feel the air around us move and I know that he is moving us.