Page 84 of The Soul of the Dragon

I just had to avoid demons, fae, and one particular thorn-in-my-side dragon…

ChapterThirty-Three

Isaac

Well, fuck.

She’d been right. And we were closer than either of us had guessed. I’d expected a day’s walk or more, but after only a few hours, I caught sight of the main tower of the castle through the trees.

Now, I needed a plan. I couldn’t carry her in like this and I sure as hell wasn’t leaving her in the forest unguarded. Where the hell was Sprite when Kitra needed her the most? What was the point of having her help , if we couldn’t make it to the end?

I looked down at the woman in my arms.“You really need to wake up now, Princess.” I infused my voice with all the Alpha power I had, hoping the omega in her would hear me and respond.

Not only could I not leave her here, she’d neglected to share with me the most important part of this little adventure into madness.

The exact location of the amulet.

If I went in blind, it could take me a week or more to search the entire castle. This place was so big, it could house an entire small city. Certainly all of Deals Gap, our home in America. Probably Portree in Scotland as well.

As before, I heard Kitra’s heart beat faster and I held my breath hoping it meant she would wake. However, after long minutes of staring at her, she remained in this healing coma. At least that’s what I hoped it was. Nothing else was acceptable.

I searched the surrounding area until I found what I wanted, and I placed her on a soft patch of grass surrounded by wildflowers. She’d commented how pretty the flowers were at the cottage, so maybe being among these would give her some comfort and spark good memories instead of nightmares.

And honestly, I was desperate and out of ideas to help her. After making sure she seemed as comfortable as possible considering the circumstances, I paced the area searching for danger and using the time to think through any clues I might have missed.

Everything seemed to center around her mother. It had been her entire focus when we weren’t running from danger or dealing with mating heat. My body tightened from the memories. The way her skin had smelled and tasted, to the press of her soft lips to my own skin, all the way to how she’d taken my knot as if she were made especially for me.

I bent over and placed my hands on my knees. I wasn’t going to get anywhere if I couldn’t get my mind out of the gutter.

I had to think about the amulet. Only it wasn’t easy. What had been the most important thing was now taking a backseat to the woman lying close by. I couldn’t take it. Maybe I would think better if I kept her even closer.

Returning to her side, I took a seat on the ground next to her and lifted her hand into mine. When the warmth of my magic greeted me, I sighed. The healing power was still working its way through her body, and until it finished we were stuck.

Which meant I was stuck here with nothing to do but think. Great.

A slight squeeze of my hand made me gasp. I jerked my head to face her and studied her still form. “Are you awake, Princess?”

She still didn’t love when I called her that, which gave me more reason than ever to use it. She needed some motivation to get a move on.

“There were better ways to get my attention, you know? I guess we should have known that we weren’t getting through that forsaken forest that easy. But you’ll be happy to know that we made it to the castle, and as soon as you open those pretty little eyes for me, we can go and get your amulet.”

I’d called the amulet hers.

My stomach churned. I’d given her my barb. I’d made her mine in every way. And yet, I still couldn’t give her this. Not this.

“Father,” I whispered. “I’m afraid I am going to fail you.”

Why I thought talking to him would help was beside me. He would never approve of what I’d done. His instructions had been crystal clear. Get the amulet, get back out. And whatever I did don’t get involved in Fae politics and don’t bring anyone back. He’d emphasized that one as the most important. He’d strictly forbidden it.

“How am I supposed to leave her behind? She’s my mate.” I had no idea what he would say to that. Only that his focus would firmly remain on the importance of the amulet. A mate was a complication neither of us had even imagined.

I sat perfectly still. Waiting. As if I stupidly thought someone might answer me. My father was dead. There was no way his spirit lived in the fae realm simply because his body did. They would have separated at death. I only hoped he’d somehow made it back to my mother.

Fuck. I jumped to my feet and resumed pacing. She was the reason I’d come here and would be the reason why I would hurt my mate.

My chest seized. Just thinking about hurting Kitra clawed at my soul. “I can’t do it.” But either way the guilt was going to eat me alive. I looked at her. Studied her. For as long as I lived I would ache for her. Because…

I strode back to her side. “Because I love her,” I whispered. “And I’ll do anything. Give anything for her to open her eyes again. Even that stupid amulet,” I spat, a shot of fire and magic emerging as I did.

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