Dragon Keep Me

Chapter Twelve

Cass

I stared at the water of the small pond I’d landed next to. The reflection of the gray sky darkened, and I felt the weather shifting as another rainstorm moved its way into the mountains.

I should go back. Did I really have to? I mean, it wasn’t my responsibility to take care of Natalie. I’d just been the one to find her. By some crazy, insane chance, I’d been the one that flew out there that day and found Elizabeth’s kin in the woods after all of these years.

It was a little too odd to be a coincidence, but I wasn’t exactly willing to admit that. Not only did Natalie look like Elizabeth and bring back all those memories I’d tried to keep hidden, she was a witch. I couldn’t love a witch—even if the Moon Goddess was trying to tell me to.

"I don't want a witch!" I said aloud, throwing a skipping stone across the water.

Even if I was more attracted to her than I had been any woman for a long, long time.

I sighed and stood. I had to at least take her back to the packhouse, along with the Judge for Finn's sake. Maybe she would just leave the realm and go home in a couple of days. Then everything could go back to how it was before.

Natalie

"Is he going to come back?" I asked River, looking at the door again.

"I don’t know. He’s acting strangely, and he’s definitely hiding something. He does not like me."

"Why?"

"Dragons are not good. They're inherently evil, awful, greedy creatures that cause death and destruction for fun. Usually. Cass is different, but there is a long history of contempt between dragons and witches. I'm old enough to have seen it, as is he. He tolerates Nadaria better because she is too young to have participated in what we called The Cleansing." The corners of River's lips lifted. "And, if you hadn't noticed, she is very sweet and kind-hearted."

I chuckled under my breath as Nadaria flashed back into the room. "I found these. I think any sunglasses should work, but I thought, the bigger the better."

She handed me an enormous pair of women’s sunglasses with round lenses and leopard print frames.

"Wow," I said, trying not to wrinkle my nose. Leopard print wasn't my first choice, but beggars can't be choosers. "Thank you so much, Nadaria."

"Oh, just be grateful I didn’t get you the pink ones!"

I laughed and with more sincerity, said, "I am. I mean it. Thank you, Nadaria. For everything."

She had saved me from being taken and turned into some evil, subservient being, after all.

Nadaria grinned, crossing her arms over her chest. "See River, that’s why I do the things I do."

"It’s dangerous for such a young witch," River said, clicking her tongue. "I know you’re well trained in your art, especially for your age, but if Morga had found out it was you who hid Natalie, she’d have tortured and killed you."

"River?" I said, interjecting. "How did you know I was a water witch? And how did you know about my beauty mark?"

"Your aura and your birthday. Your aura is light blue and you are a Pisces. Focus on Nadaria, not just on her, but around her. You should see it now that your witch is freed."

I concentrated on the space around Nadaria and, sure enough, after a few seconds, I saw a light blue color floating off of her.

"You’re a water witch, too?"

"Yes, I am! Welcome to the club. We’re known for love and intuitiveness," she said, winking.

"And for being rather moody," River added, chuckling when Nadaria gave her a flat look.

Nadaria lifted her skirt, revealing the tulle tutu underneath, but also her stomach. She pointed out a beauty mark in the same exact place as mine.

"It’s our witch's mark, dear. Ours is here because we possess the ability to control water. The sacral chakra resides here."

She pushed her finger to her beauty mark as she said it.

I looked at River and focused on her aura. It was a soft, pastel green color.

"Are you an earth witch, River?"

"Good," she said. "I am. Keep practicing and you’ll see auras naturally without having to focus."

"Where’s your beauty mark?"

She turned and pulled her robes out of the way, and then lifted her shirt to reveal her lower back. She had to pull her pants down a little so I could see it.

"The root chakra. At the base of the spine."

"Cool."

"You should stay here for a few days, Natalie. Even if you plan on returning to the human realm, it would be best if Nadaria taught you the basics of water craft."

"Of course!" Nadaria yelled, looking excitedly at me. "I’ve never had a pupil before!"

"Okay," I said. I was comfortable with Nadaria. I was glad to be with her.

My thoughts traveled to Cass again. What did you expect from him, Natalie? That he’d take you home to his tower and you would live happily ever after? Thinking of him seemed to summon him as the door bells rang to signify entry to the shop.

He entered the back room, his expression flat. When I saw him, something happened. My heart beat a little faster, and somehow he seemed even more handsome than before. My left wrist started burning and I hissed in a breath, grabbing it and shocked at what I saw. Something black, it looked like tattoo ink, was traveling from the top of my hand to my elbow. A beautiful swirling design.

"Oh, dear!" Nadaria said, at the same time River muttered, "Interesting."

"No. No, no, no," I heard Cass saying.

I looked up and saw that he was holding his wrist as well, and an identical tattoo had formed on his arm.

"This is a bit of a surprise," River said.

"I’ll say!" Nadaria said, putting her hands on her hips. "I’m one hundred and fifty-six years old, yet she finds her True One at what? Thirty? On her second day in the realm too!"

Cass glared at me, his nostrils flaring. "I don't want you, witch!" He looked at the ceiling, saying, "Please. Not her."