As we fell in line with the soldiers leaving the tower, she leaned back and whispered in my ear, “So, this is a good idea? Going with them?”
“They are loyal to my father.”
“That doesn’t mean they are loyal to you,” she hissed.
I tightened my arms around her. “Let’s see where this leads. I know I can always count on you for firepower if anything goes wrong.”
She shook her head, the flowery scent of her hair catching on the breeze. I breathed in deeply, though I didn’t need the air.
“At this rate, you are going to be spider food before sunsdown,” she bit out.
As we left the clearing and began weaving through the trees, a great blast of wind hit us. Then a few thuds, as if more of the large stones were falling from the tower, sounded behind them. Huge, veiny wings hung down and obscured the entire structure from sight. A dragon. Its talons, the tips stained red with some unfortunate creature’s blood, gripped the old stones of the tower as it claimed its perch. It either didn’t sense them or didn’t care, for it made no attempt to give chase.
“Was that a dragon? Are there dragons here?” Elena’s voice was tipped with wonder.
“It would seem so.”
“Only one remains,” the captain said. “That is Farnkelan, the Slayer. He rules the skies over Darkwood. They say he once belonged to your father, Priam, but was corrupted by Desmerada and loosed upon the wood to slay trespassers and enemies alike. Who knows who he serves now? Perhaps only himself. We stay out of his way.” Captain Lewin turned and shouted orders to his men. They increased their pace, following a path I could not see.
Elena reached down and petted the soft fur of the amaranth. It chuffed in response and almost pranced along.
She glanced back toward the tower. “I feel kind of sorry for the dragon.”
“First the queen of spiders and now the dragon?” I shook my head. This woman was mad. Some beasts were never meant to be tamed. “These are dark creatures, Elena, that would kill you as soon as look at you.”
“My lord speaks true,” Captain Lewin said. “No one can gentle any of the beasts of these woods.”
“I don’t believe that for a second.” The fire in Elena’s words silenced any dissent from Captain Lewin. He turned forward and continued on, leading them over a swift stream and up a slope.
Helen lowered her voice so that only I could hear. “Well, the dragon can’t help that he’s powerful. He didn’t ask to be a dragon. And then to be taken against his will, mistreated, and made to do terrible things. Of course he’s destructive…”
I stroked her hair, my thoughts following hers. “You are fierce but not quite a dragon. And the things Menelaus forced you to do—they weren’t your fault. None of it was.”
She leaned back into me, resting her head on my shoulder as she perused the thick branches above. “Things can change. I made a deal with Arachne, the spider queen, for gods’ sakes. She kept us safe all night. Who would have thought that possible?”
It was true that she handled the monster with a mastery I never would have been able to manage. Could she tame a vicious dragon? Perhaps, but I didn’t intend to find out.
The tension left her as she relaxed against me, at least somewhat. She was likely ready to strike should the vampires make any move. Still, she was trusting my judgment, letting me lead for now. Her faith was gratifying, but I was unworthy of it. The warriors ahead of us proved the fact. They had stayed. They had fought. I couldn’t begin to imagine how much they’d lost at the hands of Desmerada. And now they bowed before me? I shook my head.
“What?” Elena asked.
“Nothing.”
She shifted forward on the amaranth as the slope steepened even more. “Worrying about all those little spider mouths on you?”
I couldn’t help my smile. “Well, I have been thinking about one mouth on me, but it doesn’t belong to a spider.”
She laughed under her breath, a sultry sound that drew me from my bad humor.
“We’re here, my lord.” Captain Lewin signaled to a vampire atop a wooden wall ahead of them. It was well disguised—still under the canopy of trees. A gate, marked with the same symbol of Troy, opened, and the soldiers rode inside in single file. Elena and I were last in line. She stiffened as we entered, on guard for any attack. The amaranth whinnied beneath us, the beast sensing Elena’s powers simmering just under the surface.
We arrived in a courtyard surrounded by squat buildings, camouflaged in the dark colors of the forest. A handful of children ran past the well in the center of the cobblestones. Their laughter, though welcome, was incongruous with the darkness of the wood. Several men and women darted from the buildings or dropped their work at the edge of the square to rush to the soldiers. The vampires jumped down from their mounts and embraced them. Returning heroes.