Page 3 of Slay Me

"It turns out, young warrior, that only I could save myself." She paused and looked so deep into his eyes, he thought she was looking at his soul. "You see, someone else was also trapped in Hell with me. We fell in love and through the power of that love, we were saved."

"Huh." Match believed in love. His father had been in love with his mother, even though they hadn't been mates. He'd moved all the way to the other side of the world for her. But he didn't know love was so strong and tough like a warrior that it could save someone from the bad place the witch had been to. "You didn't even have a sword or a dragon or nothing?"

"Oh, I had a dragon, of course." She leaned in and whispered, "Who do you think I fell in love with after all?"

Yeah. That seemed right. Women were always falling in love with dragon warriors. "What does all that have to do with my light and your light in your hands and what you're going to do with it?"

"Ah, yes. Your light is a piece of your soul. I'm going to mix it with my light, which comes from the First Dragon, the one I fell in love with. You'll be able to shift into your dragon form because of his soul, but you'll be able to find your true mate because of the love he and I share."

He didn't tell the witch he didn't need the bit that helped him find his true mate. Mostly because they'd already been talking for a long time, and he really wanted to get his soul shard and shift into his dragon form for the first time.

His dragon wanted that too. The fiery voice inside of his mind had always been there, but it had become stronger, filling all of his thoughts lately with scales and tails and breathing fire. He wanted to be the dragon.

"When the times are at their darkest, Maciej Cervony, when you think your soul is lost and love doesn't exist, think back to this day and remember that I told you, love conquers all." She held her hands out like she was ready to give him the gift, but all she had were those lights. "You have to believe in love to save yourself."

"I will." He was practically shaking with trying to hold himself still. He wanted to beg the witch to hurry up and give him his soul shard. He knew better, not only because Nanny would pinch his ear for such poor manners, but because a Dragon Warrior did not beg.

The witch clapped her hands together fast and hard, and the light tried to leak out the sides. She didn't let it. When she opened her hands, a red crystal with a flickering flame inside hung on a black cord. The witch hung the cord around his neck."I give this gift to you, young Dragon Warrior. Hold it as your most prized possession, and when the time is right, give your soul to your true mate so that she can keep it safe for you."

The air in the room changed, like lightening had struck nearby and the energy from it crackled through all the little dust motes hanging in the streaks of sunshine. Everything and everyone was silent until the witch winked at him and smiled.

A bright red light burst from his soul shard, filling every nook and cranny and dark corner. No shadow escaped the light. With a crack, it all came shooting back into his shard and a new fire lit inside of him. Scales rippled across his skin and his vision changed as the eyes of the dragon took over. Everything was brighter and sharper. He could smell every single thing, and his hearing snapped and popped with the tiniest of sounds.

Match let out a roar that couldn't be contained and everyone in the room clapped. His father knelt before him and grasped his shoulders. "Well done my son. Fastest shard ritual I've ever witnessed. Your soul must have been very ready. I can hardly wait to see your dragon."

Match beamed at his father, the man he looked up to, and could hardly wait to battle beside in the fight between good and evil, dark and light.

"Together, you and I will bring balance back, and redeem the sins of our forefathers." He grabbed Match into a tight hug, squeezing all the air right out of him. Match didn't protest though. His father wasn't one for showing his emotions so when he did, it was important. "Go on now. I'd like to talk to the witches a while. Later we'll have some flying and fire-breathing lessons. Until then, don't be going and showing off your dragon where the humans can see."

"Yes, sir." He made a little bow to the witch and ran outside where he could have room to see if his wings would sprout.

Sharing Their Fire

Another witch came up to the house, one he recognized. The light of his life walked through the gate, holding her mother’s hand.Didn’t matter that they were both still children, Match knew to the core of his soul that he would never love another.

Fallyn was his true mate. His father said there was no such thing anymore, not since the curse. But Match knew better.

“Fallyn, can you play with Match while I help his nanny prepare for the rest of the birthday party guests?”

“Yes, ma’am.” She glanced over at him with a shy smile.

Match grabbed Fallyn’s hand and pulled her with him across the garden to the back gate. “Come on.”

“Keep her safe, young master.”

“I will,” he called back. It was his job to protect her, always. The old dragon warrior with the one arm had told him so.

She resisted for only a moment. “Where are we going?”

“I’ve been waiting for you. We have something very important to do before any of the other boys arrive.” Match led her through the brambles behind the keep, pushing away branches making sure to create a path for her, never letting any of them scratch her skin.

They reached his small meadow where the trees shaded them, but beams of sunshine made it seem as though angels were watching them from above. The small brook bubbled through one corner and wildflowers dotted the grass. He’d pick them all for her if she wanted.

Fallyn looked around in wonder. “Match, it’s beautiful. Your secret lair.”

Her words made a tingle in his stomach. He knew she’d understand.He hadn’t shown this place to anyone, not even father or nanny. This was the special place where he could practice using his powers, where he could test his fire, and push his body to shift into his dragon. He hadn't been able to make that happen, but now with his soul shard, he could. It was hidden from the world, his secret place, exactly as she’d said…his lair.

Today he shared it with her.“Today is my birthday.”

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