ENCHANTED WORLD SERIES BOOK 1: POSSESSED BY LORD MAGE

Noelle could hear a warning from a distance but she couldn’t break her gaze away from the Leo. She felt his distress all the way in the gardens. She heard him and she couldn’t ignore it. She entered the courtyard just in time to see Drake morph into the magnificent red dragon. She had never seen a dragon up close before. They were that rare to see away from their realm. The only time she had been close to one was through the stories her mother used to read to her.

It took her a moment for her to leash her shock as the dragon dwarfed everything else in the courtyard. She heard the calls for her to step back from the warriors that were a safe distance from the action but she couldn’t. The Leo was in so much pain. He was frightened and was ready to fight anyone in order to escape. She saw the deep grooves on his heaving sides. They looked like they were done by a large animal, maybe even another dragon. He was bleeding and stressed.

Wind began to whip her hair across her face. Her mouth fell open when she saw the Lord Mage command the earth energy in order to save his warrior. He robbed her of words to say. She watched in awe as he lifted up into the air, becoming one with the very energy he commanded. His body dissolved as the blinding light engulfed him. No one was supposed to have that much power. It was no wonder he was greatly feared.

Again, the Leo’s distress broke the spell on her. She watched him as he prowled about looking for any exit. The manacles had her cringing. They caged him in and all he could think about was to get his keeper as far away as possible from all those who posed a danger to them. Overpowering the beast was only going to harm the warrior. She watched with cold dread as Tyran readied himself to unleash his power on him and she let out one soft tune.

She opened up her lungs and lifted her voice into the wind. She let it carry her voice throughout the courtyard until even the warriors who tried to hold her back stopped. The dragon that was ready for flight also stopped and craned its head down at her.

Noelle lifted her voice until her throat burned. She sang that one lullaby that her mother taught her long back. She sang it with her heart; she poured all her feelings in it. She wanted to assure that no one was going to harm the Leo; that he was safely among friends.

The Leo stopped prowling towards Tyran and turned to her. He pawed the ground looking at her. He shook his head as if to prevent the beautiful sound from reaching him. Noelle didn’t stop. She was afraid too. The beast wasn’t backing down but neither was she. She took a step forward and the entire world held its breath. She continued singing loudly blocking away all the chaos around them. The wind whipped angrily against her face and skin but she didn’t dare lose sight of the Leo. All she cared about was to sooth the wretched beast.

She took another step toward the Leo and above her, Tyran went feral.

“Don’t you dare take another step!” He snapped at her.

Noelle hesitated for a second. There was nothing that was going to stop her from reaching that beast. She didn’t so as much as look up at Tyran. She locked her eyes with the glowing ambers of the Leo. Again the beast shook his head but he stopped all movement. He stared at her as if he was mesmerized. His wretched howls tempered down and his large head came down until his eyes were levelled with hers.

She was a mere feet from him when she reached out her hand. She didn’t stop singing nor did she break the eye contact. She wanted the beast to judge her, to see that she was a friend.

“Noe, please don’t get any closer.” Tyran begged above her.

“Hush.” Noelle told him and pointed to the beast. “look.”

The beast had now lowered himself to his paws and was gently pawing forward, trying to reach Noelle’s hand. He looked as frightened as the child in that lullaby.

Everyone came out to witness this miracle. No one had ever seen a pureblood beast being calm down without force. Everyone was drawn to the song Noelle was singing but she didn’t want to see them. She only wanted to see the Leo. With her last fiber of courage, she reached forward and gently touched the outstretched paw. The Leo moaned softly and heaved in exhaustion.

“It’s okay big boy.” Noelle carefully inched forward as Tyran landed behind her.

The anticipation was so thick in the air you could cut it with a knife. She knew that everyone was ready to pull her away in case something went wrong. She was scared to death but the Leo was more frightened than she was.

“It’s okay.” She rubbed her fingers through the thick fur of his large paw.

The Leo looked at her as if he understood her. He titled his head to the side and heaved another sigh in exhaustion.

Noelle inched even closer rubbing his nose bridge.

“Princess.” Tyran hissed behind her.

Noelle cooed at the beast like a baby. “You have done an outstanding job taking care of your keeper but you’re wounded and so is he. You need to let us help him, help you.”

The Leo howled tiredly.

“I know, I know baby, but you have to let him go. He will die if we don’t help him. Do you wanted him to die?” she was now standing right in front of the beast with his paws on either side of her. Any wrong move and he could crush her right there like a bug. She rubbed the back of his ears and he closed his eyes and purred contently. “I know you don’t want to die so let us help him.”

Suddenly his ears quirked up and he raised his head. He scanned the courtyard. Everyone was there ready to pepper him with bullets if he hurt the princess. He snarled at them and turned to Noelle.

“They won’t harm you as long as I’m here.” She smiled warmly at him. “I promise.”

The Leo did something so unexpected; it left everyone’s mouths opened. He licked the princess’ hand and cheek. Noelle chuckled as his tongue laved her skin then he gently nudged her away from him.

“First, let the warrior out.” She told him.

As if he understood, he gave a nod and right there in front of her, the shift began. Bones popped and muscles contracted as the beast submerged bringing out the wounded warrior. The fur faded and the killer canines retreated. His body molded and compacted until he was in his humanoid form again. Noelle stepped back as the other warriors rushed over to carry him away. She looked down at her hands and they were quaking out of control. She was as white as a ghost and all the horrible thoughts of her dying a terrible death came rushing in. She would have collapsed if it wasn’t for the hard warm wall behind her....

She leaned closer and wasn’t prepared to be scooped off the ground. She looked up and saw the dangerous look Tyran had on his face. She was in trouble again. His eyes twirled with white energy as he looked down at her. The deep gushes on his cheek were already stitching themselves closed.

“He was in a lot of pain.” Noelle swallowed hard as the helpers and the warriors cheered her on for her bravery. That wasn’t going to happen with Tyran. For all she knew, he was going to spank her once they got into their quarters. “I was just trying to help.” She felt like she needed to explain her actions.

Tyran didn’t say a word until they got up in the quarters. He placed her on her feet and began pacing in front of her as if trying to figure out the best punishment for her. Noelle bit into her lip and waited. It took forever and finally when he seemed that he was not going to say anything he stopped in front of her.

“I swore never to bind in any way again right after you burnt down my building in the human world. I kept my word because I have honor but lately I have been forced to revise what this word really meant to me. Everyone believes I always do right thing because I have honor but my word is law here and whatever I decide will be done no matter what.”

Noelle knew what he meant but if he thought of binding her again, she was going to cut off his hands. “I couldn’t ignore him, Tyran.”

“I told you to stop.” Tyran managed to pass the words between his teeth.

“If I did, he along with your other warriors and helpers would have gotten hurt.” Noelle assured him.

“That was a warrior beast, a pureblood. Once it is in charge, the male inside that beast is at its mercy. They are unpredictable. You took a chance with your life with a pureblood beast!”

“But it worked, didn’t it? He released his keeper.” Noelle smiled triumphantly.

“I will not have my queen, my mate ever do that again. I can handle my own warriors.” Tyran snapped as he started spacing again.

“Oh, you were handling quite well back there.” Noelle said sarcastically. “You were about to zap him into submission. You were harnessing so much power that if you released it, you would have flattened the entire fortress!”

“It has always worked that way. They are warriors, they can handle it.” Tyran exclaimed.

Noelle shook her head. “Not with that Leo...not this time but you were too blinded by your rage to see it. He would have died.”

Tyran stopped and turned to Noelle. “That is the harsh reality of the world we are living in now, people die all the time.”

Noelle eyed the Lord Mage clearly. Something else was bothering him. This wasn’t about the incident at the courtyard anymore. He was afraid of something else. “What happened to you, Tyran? What are you really angry about?”

He brushed his hair from his face and started pacing again. “I’m angry that you refuse listen to me and you scared the hell out of me with your risks. You jeopardized your life; you; my queen. I’ll not have it any longer because to you, like everyone else under me, my word is law and you have no choice but to abide.”

“You arrogant bastard!” Noelle snapped. “You just can’t help yourself controlling everyone, can you? You are so much addicted to power that you don’t see what everyone else thinks of it.”

“I don’t care what everyone thinks of it. What they should really be grateful for is that it keeps them safe!” Tyran stated.

Noelle narrowed her eyes at the Lord Mage. “You will not command me, Tyran and don’t you dare dictate to me about what is right and wrong for me. I saved a warrior today and you should be grateful for it.”

“At the expense of your own life, I will never be grateful for it.”

Noelle rolled her eyes as she walked to the window. “Then do me a favor and get the hell out.”

“Princess...”

“Get out, Tyran!” She cried.

Tyran didn’t say a word but stared down at her back. It took forever for him to say what he wanted that Noelle thought he had chosen the simple way of evaporating out of the room but then he spoke.

“The convoy I sent to escort Lady Lyrah from the Great Hall was attacked but your uncle’s rogues this afternoon. I lost half a dozen warriors today and I’m praying that the same fate doesn’t befall my sister. I didn’t tell you this so that you would feel sorry for me. Since you are my queen, you need to know what is happening. I’m holding a conference in a few minutes so that the other Realms learn of what happen. I will not accept this to happen to someone under my protection and let it go unheard.”

Noelle’s back stiffened. She never had the chance to meet Lady Lyrah because she was always at the Great Hall but she heard of her beauty, love and spirit. Everyone had something good to say about her. How could her uncle be so cruel and cowardly as to attack an innocent? She loathed the male with every fiber of her being. She just hoped that her father was still alive. “Would you have ever told me the truth about my uncle being responsible for this war? You lied to me back in Manhattan.”

“I would never have had to tell you the truth because you are very intelligent. I knew you would have figured it out sooner or later. I just didn’t want you to suffer knowing the uncle you’ve always known to be a good man betrayed you and your people and took your father hostage.”

Noelle closed her eyes and swallowed the clog of tears strangling her in her throat. “He’s a monster and I’ll loath him till the end of time.” She sighed and turned to him. “How is your sister?”

“She’s very weak. I’ll hold a healing session for her later, after I have dealt with what has happened.”

Noelle nodded softly. She didn’t know what to tell him. Obviously he was hurting for his sister and the warriors he lost but he distanced himself from all that and Noelle didn’t know what best way to try and sooth him. She didn’t know what he needed but whatever it was, she was ready to put her stubbornness aside and be there for him.

“I’ll leave you now. I have some things to attend to.” He turned to the door and walked out.

Noelle heard her heart thundering in her chest. It must have been terrifying for Tyran to see her in danger right after his sister was attacked. Noelle wasn’t thinking straight when she went to that courtyard. All she could think of was the pain the Leo was in. She should have seen the pain the Lord Mage was in too! She could have at least heard it in his voice when he warned her off. She straightened the front of her dress and turned to the door. She accepted her fate with him, she must as well play the part everyone was expecting her to.