Chapter Five

“How do you feel now my love?” he asks, moving up until their lips meet. His kiss steals her answer before it can leave her lips.

“Try answering like this precious.” His voice comes to life in her head again.

“Huh?” she replies in the same way. “Oh wow, this is amazing. What? How am I doing this?” she questions, her mind reeling with wonderment and arousal as Xavier deepens their kiss, his tongue explores her mouth and slowly massages her tongue, eliciting a moan from her.

“Your rune is fully formed, we can communicate telepathically now.” He answers her question excitedly but is distracted by a noise outside. He reluctantly pulls away and cocks his head to listen. Even though it could merely be a harmless animal, his dragon insists that he investigate the matter, they cannot afford to take any risks now that Everleigh is with them. If the royal guards have found them, he will have no choice but to return to the palace immediately.

Xavier, with his finger held to his lips, silently signals to Everleigh that she should remain quiet. He quickly leaves the room to investigate the suspicious rustling that came from outside the cave. He tries looking through the entrance to no avail, so he decides to step through the magical barrier in hopes of finding nothing concerning. Just as he is about to turn back and re-join his mate, having noticed nothing suspicious, he catches the scent of cloves that instantly alerts him to the presence of a witch nearby.

Xavier is well aware that witches are drawn to powerful magic, and the rune that appeared on Everleigh when their bond was sealed, required a great deal of magical energy in order to manifest itself.

“Prince Xavier, I come to you with no ill-intentions. I was drawn here by a powerful force, unlike anything I have sensed in centuries. Now that my cloak is down you can clearly see that I mean you no harm.” The witch appears out of thin air, only feet in front of him.

Xavier goes against his better judgement and trusts the witch enough to share the news that he has found his mate. He confides that an unexpected rune like his has appeared on Everleigh’s hip, even though she is human. Something inside him, tells him the turn of events is anything but normal. The fates work in mysterious ways and the sudden arrival of a witch shouldn’t be ignored.

After a brief pause whilst she glances over his markings, the witch informs him that runes like his can only be used by dragons since their magic is too potent for any other creature. Therefore, if his mate has a rune, it means she isn't human or she is in great danger. Xavier is astounded by what he hears from the witch even though he knows it to be true. However, recent developments tell him that what he knew as fact, might not be entirely accurate.

All female dragons had been annihilated by the hunters centuries ago so the only logical conclusion is that his human mate has a rune that could put her life in danger. He struggles to come to terms with the whole thing and decides the only course of action is to face it head-on. He invites the witch inside his home to meet Everleigh. He is hopeful that her magic will be able to provide some clarity and assistance. If Everleigh is indeed human, then using the power of her rune could have deadly consequences for both of them.

Xavier tells himself Everleigh would know if she was a dragon, how could she not? He entertains the ridiculous notion for all of about three seconds before dismissing it. He prays to the goddess that the witch will be able to protect her from any ill-effects from the ancient magic or find a way to rid her of it altogether.

As the witch enters the cave, Everleigh stands motionless in its vastness. After listening to Xavier and the witch's conversation, she is overwhelmed by the knowledge that the rune holds a power that is much too intense for her mortal form and that her mate is a dragon prince. Xavier’s hand on her back breaks her stunned, trance like state, and she takes a seat on a deeply stuffed, suede chaise.

The moment the Witch lays eyes on Everleigh, she is brought to dismay as she senses that the powerful curse cast upon her is virtually indomitable. Only the High Priestess who cast it could break it, there is nothing she can do for the girl. She gives the couple the hopeless news and turns to leave. Xavier steps in front of the witch, blocking her exit. He pleads with her to do something, he can’t lose Everleigh, he has only just found her. Surely fate and the goddess could not be so cruel.

The witch turns to Everleigh and enquires about her mother. Everleigh tells the old woman how she never met her mother. Her father raised her alone after her mother was killed in a freak accident in the hospital only hours after she gave birth to her. It had been too hard for her father to tell her much whenever she asked him what she was like. All she knows is her name, that she was an only child and she loved to bake. Everleigh feels tears bubbling to the surface, she wished her father had told her all the little things she longed to know, now she will never know anything more. Her mother has been a mystery to her, her whole life, it was a fact she had come accept, no matter how much it hurt her heart.

“You must return to the palace it is the only place she will be safe.” The witch implores Xavier. “If the curse is what I think, you need not fear, as it only binds her dragon. Find the High Priestess who bound her, and you will get your answers.” The witch’s departing words bounce around the cave, and she disappears from sight in an instant, leaving the lovers in a state of shock and dismay.

Xavier has no idea where to even begin searching for the nameless High Priestess, Everleigh is still digesting the massive onslaught of information. She isn’t sure she understands half of what was said. It sounded to her like the witch said she is a dragon, but a spell has bound her dragon, whatever that means. What does her mother have to do with any this? There are so many unanswered questions, and she has no idea where to start. This is what comes of letting your heart and libido rule your head, she chastises herself feeling sorrowful as old wounds reopen.

“Prince Xavier.” She blurts his name like an accusation. He took the time to warn her that their coupling could not be undone, but failed to mention he is a prince, a dragon prince. Everleigh is just about to unleash her mind on a troubled Xavier when it dawns on her. Her father knew too much about dragons for it to be a coincidence. His stories were so detailed,  they spoke of men appearing from mist, mate bonds and magic tattoos as he called them. He can only have found this out from a dragon. Could it have been her mother? She tells herself that is the only logical explanation as her father was certainly mortal, just as she had believed herself to be up until ten minutes ago.

Xavier's heart sinks as he watches the colour rapidly drain from Everleigh’s face, realizing the true gravity of her situation makes her feel light headed and sick to her stomach. With compassion and concern guiding his actions, he embraces her in a comforting hug and cradles the back of her head in one hand, gently reassuring her that he will do whatever it takes to get the answers she desperately needs. His own heart is heavy with the weight of her disappointment in him. He knew he should have told her he is a Prince, he wanted to, but he was so scared it would be too much for her. So instead he took her choice away from her by omission, something he would spend the rest of his days making up to her, starting with finding the High Priestess.