Page 124 of The Exiled Dragon

Fae warriors picked him up, only to strap him to the gigantic stake. His head fell forward and backward, not fully awake from his broken sleep, his hair covering his eyes. Whines of unpleasant proportions became louder.

“Kill him!” A Fae from the crowd roared from afar.

“Burn him!” another Fae cried. Soon the entire crowd, screaming profanities such as traitor, scum, and demon, burned their lips.

Head lolling back and resting on the wooden stake, and the wind blew the once perfect hair from his eyes. Blood red irises stared right at me; his brows heightened, touching his hairline. “Odessa,” he spoke. “Odessa!”

My eyes didn’t waver. I clutched at Creed’s leg with both hands. I was strong; I could do this. He couldn’t harm me any longer; after today, I could live in peace and move on. That was what I hoped and prayed to Hecate.

“Help me, my lovely! Tell them who you are to me!” His eyes were pleading. The sickness in his heart only made my own body turn in disgust. How could he say I was his mate when I obviously didn’t care? I had my mate. Creed held my heart in his hands, and this Vampire tried to forcefully take it from him.

“To the people of the Golden Light Kingdom and visitors from Queen Melina’s home of Atlantis,” the crowd roared again, throwing stones and sticks into the arena.

“Oy! I think you are missing something!” One warrior held up Duke Mortus’ appendage. He waved it about, smacking it on a nearby rock.” Mortus growled, his fangs lengthening while he hissed at the men to stop. “Odessa! Save me! Please!” Looking away, not able to hold those pleading cries that called me, Creed’s fangs lengthened, growling at the villain.

“I give to you a traitor of Vermillion, Duke Mortus.” Osirus’ words had to be quick and informative. There wasn’t a time for him to give a long lengthy lecture. The crowd was livid and angry, and my worries of supernaturals storming the arena to kill him had me clutching Creed tightly.

“Settle down and let me read you his wrongdoings.” Osirus then stood, sitting Melina carefully on his throne. Alaneo held a parchment in his hand, a completed list of every sin he had ever done.

We sat for ten minutes. Mortus screamed they were lies, and his head thrashed about. “Odessa is my mate!” he cried again, pulling at the ropes. Mortus’ power had weakened substantially to nothing more than a human, the ropes didn’t budge, and the stake did not shake.

Osirus continued to read from the parchment. A Fae female warrior entered the arena, bringing in a large bag. Setting it down just underneath our viewing box, Mortus’ cries halted, his eyes now on the woman setting up the table.

“And for the most heinous crime of all, the force of a mating bond.” The crowd booed, yelling in protest. Children even screamed for blood as Mortus now stood still as he was being yelled at. His eyes were pinned on the warrior Fae that had yet to look at the Vampire strapped to the stake.

Tugging on King Osirus’ robe, I sought his attention. His normal golden eyes turned into a dark amber, and his wings turned dark. He was going into his warrior mode, the darkness he could carry covering his light. “He keeps staring at her,” I mouthed, trying not to catch anyone else's attention. Osirus’ fierce gaze landed on the Fae and back to the Duke. An evil smirk landed on the Fae King. Stepping forward, his fingers snapped. The Fae warrior now held his gaze.

Tapping his head, the Fae guard stood at attention, nodding, and crossing her arm over her chest with a bow. A silent conversation passed between the two. Her eyes went bright with shock, to darkness invading her beautiful features. Her wings lowered, shaking her head to look at the King again. Osirus tilted his head, waiting for an answer.

Her eyes closed, a tear traveled down her cheek and grazed her nose only to drop off her sharp chin. Taking a large breath, her body turned to face the Vampire. Wings fluttering, lifting slightly, their eyes locked.

“Beloved,” Mortus breathed. Osirus only chuckled, rubbing his chin, watching the two interact. His eyes lightened considerably. The crowd’s roar came down to only small children cooing at the parents. The female warrior stood, weaving her stance side to side as the people of the crowd watched.

“Listen,” Creed barely breathed in my ear. “Use your hearing, concentrate, and you can hear the smallest of whispers this far away.” My shaky breath became uneven. Creed’s fingers entangled around my hands. “Just listen.”

Slow, calculating steps she took, she was regal, the epitome of bravery as she walked toward the enemy. His eyes were wide, brimming with tears, while his naked body shook in the light. All I could see was the back of her body. Her wings stiffened until she stood just inches from him.

“You are my destined, my mate,” she uttered. Mortus stood, awestruck; his arm tried to get rid of the rope tying him to the stake. Slowly, carefully, taking premeditated steps, she circled him, her eyes never leaving Mortus’ head as if not to disrespect him in his nude form. Once she stood back in front of him, Mortus’ sweat dripped to the ground pearling into the sand.

“Beloved, I did not know,” he whispered. “I… I did not know you were here, alive. I would have searched harder for you…” Tears rained down his face, the red stains on his cheeks reflected in the light giving a bright hue.

“I am 534 years old, and I waited for you.” Her velvety voice hung low in the air.

“Let me change, prove myself,” Mortus pleaded, his shoulders trying to wiggle free from the bonds. “I will do anything, anything you wish. Please, please, I’ve waited for you for so long. To love and be loved!”

Salty tears could be smelled throughout the arena. She was crying silently like a proper soldier would. “Please, tell me your name?”

“Scorpia.” Mortus said her name several times to marinate it on his tongue. Scorpia, taking several steps back, had Mortus pleading again.

“Please, please come back. I’ll do anything for you.” Scorpia’s eyes never left the ground. Osirus, rubbing his head, continued to look straight at his warrior. Melina stood, clinging to Osirus’ robes.

“Let her choose,” Melina whispered. Osirus only rubbed Melina’s back, smiling at her.

“What will you give me?” Scorpia spoke louder. “You have crimes stacked against you. I can only do so much even if you are my mate.” She choked back a cry.

“Anything you desire. I’ll work the soil to produce crops. I’ll sweat in the day’s sun tending to animals. Anything, Scorpia, anything.” The back of Scorpia’s fingers ran down Mortus’ face. Shocks of pleasure ran through him, leaning closer to the small area of skin gracing his face.

“I want names. I want every detail the rogues have planned.”

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