ENCHANTED WORLD SERIES BOOK 3: THE DRAGON'S KEEPER

Drake was yanked from a beautiful dream by the subtle knocking on his door. The spikes down his spine flared up as Red stirred in his mind. The room was still dark and something warm and cosy was tucked close to him. Warm hands curled around his waist and a long and sexy leg was thrown over his, hindering any movement from him. Drake bit back a chuckle. Maya was a terrible sleeper! She would manage to coil around him like a snake two or three times in one night or she would roll too close to the edge that Drake had to drag her back to the center and stop her from tumbling over.

Drake slipped out of her hold, gritting his teeth because he was suddenly cold and empty. A frown marred Maya’s face as she cuddled deeper into the sheets.

The knock sounded again and Drake quickly pulled on his t-shirt then went to answer it. It was Jira and she had concern written all over her face. The tattoos that should have slithered calmly around her skin were sudden very agitated and jerking around her.

“What is it, Jira?” Drake brushed his hair from his face.

“I think you should come down to the dungeons. Something has happened.” She inclined her head to him.

Drake turned to Maya once more and frowned lightly but nodded. “Is Feror down there already?”

Jira shook her head lightly. “I was heading to his chambers next.”

Drake nodded and when they arrived to Feror’s chambers, Drake didn’t bother to knock and opened the door. Bad idea...

Feror looked up and smirked. “Learn to knock, mate.”

Jira’s eyes skittered to the ground as she took a step back out of the room but Drake held his ground. Feror had a female phoenix straddled on him, his fingers gripping her hips while her small hands grabbed her pair of large breasts. A light blue flame licked the phoenix’s skin due to the pleasure she was receiving. She turned her eyes to them and a coy smile appeared on her face. Drake scolded. How was it that everyone else was able to be carelessly intimate with others but for him, he was terrified to even touch Maya?

Last night, after giving her a thorough hot bath, feeding her and cuddling her in his bed, every fibre of his body urged him to take her body again. Even Red was up and about in his mind, anxiously rooting for the intimacy but Drake couldn’t. Not after what had happened before.

Maya teased him in all ways possible, trying to get him to reciprocate to her kisses and her nips. Drake would have because he thickened in his pants to the point of pain. All he could ever do to her was kissed her back but that was as far as it went. Maya was slightly disappointed but her mood was brightened when he began telling her about the Realm of Fire. She was a curious little thing and seeing her eyes brighten with every little detail that he told her was enough for him.

He must have dozed off because after a while, he vaguely remembered what happened. The next thing he knew he was being woken up by Jira that morning.

“Bring your ass downstairs once your done here.” Drake said bitterly hearing chuckling in his mind.

Serves you right, Keeper. Red smirked.

Shut the hell up! Drake ground in his head as he stormed out and Jira had to do a little run in order to catch up her. Sometimes he wondered if Red was a totally independent dragon from him. He would have been a cunning and wicked dragon to be around.

“What has happened?” Dragon asked Jira as they got to the steps leading downstairs into the dungeons.

“We have been down trying to get information about who sent the dragons and who their leader was. At first they would not give out anything but after Bryon and Shancy worked on them, they opened up a little.”

Drake turned to the female with the intense eyes and frowned. “What have you learned?”

Jira hesitated for a moment then bit her lower lip. That meant she wasn’t going to say anything. Drake groaned in frustration. Whatever they discovered about the dragons better be worth his while or he was going to bite someone’s head off!

When Drake got to the interrogation room, Byron was seated casually watching a dragon male in front of him. The dragon was panting with blood running down his nose and mouth but there were no indications of physical assault. High Mage were not to kid around with. Two more Jinns were within the room together with Shancy who was standing a little distance away. They all looked up at him when he entered.

“What the fuck is going on?” Drake barked because he hated the way the room was suddenly thick with anticipation and wariness.

“Go on.” Byron said softly to the dragon male. “Tell him what you told us.”

The drag’s face paled. Even though he was larger and more intimidating than Byron, he cowered away from the Mage like a scared child. “I will only speak if I am able to strike an agreement with the Lord Mage. I will tell you everything I know if you ensure the safety of me and my brother.”

Drake felt bile fill his mouth. “And why would the Lord Mage grant you protection when you have captured, raped and slaughtered so many innocents?”

The male turned to him. “We were under the order. There was no escaping. This mark--” He referred to Kruk’s mark right above his heart. “--not only does it identify us as Kruk’s followers but it binds us together and it keeps us on track. If we don’t do what we are supposed to then we suffer.”

“It was done by a sorcerer.” Byron stated turning to Drake. “It explains the ability for them to be cloaked by the dark powers. it also explains the uneasy feeling you get when you are around them.”

“But it also is used for tracking. If the sorcerer discovers we have been captured, we are dead. Now, I can’t say anything if I going to die soon. You need to protect us if you need the information.”

Drake couldn’t believe just how difficult everything was getting and the worse thing was that they were running out of time! Drake ground his teeth as he turned to Byron. “Can you counter the spell or do we need the Lord Mage here?”

“Get me Galea and Constantine and this spell can be countered.” Bryon sighed softly.

“Done.” Drake turned to Jira. “Where are the other two?”

“In their cells, commander.” Jira answered.

Drake eyed his warrior and gritted his teeth. “Make sure none of them die today.

Shancy pushed herself off the wall. “So, far we were able to weave a cloaking spell so that the sorcerer does not find them but it can only hold for short periods of time.”

“Well, make it last longer.” Drake told her.

Shancy nodded but she looked worn out. They were using too much energy with every spell they weaved and the worse thing was they could not absorb energy surrounding them because it was tainted.

The female dragon is close by, keeper. Something is off about her. Red droned in. She is not only a liar but she is hiding something.

Drake turned towards the steps. We need to speak to her once more.

Maya felt short bursts of air against her cheek and frowned in her sleep. She was very sure she closed all the windows before she went to sleep. Karlie had the tendency of entering the room without knocking though, maybe she opened them up. But then again she would have felt the sun rays enter...unless it was still cloudy outside. Maya opened her eyes and scanned the room. The sun light was kept out by the still closed curtains and windows. She closed her eyes, rolled onto her back and stretched leisurely before opening them again. She was greeted by a pair of large green eyes above her. The eyes blinked a few times and that was when it registered to Maya that behind those eyes was someone perched up on the headboard of Drake’s bed. A yelp escaped her lips as she scrambled out of the bed, tumbling down with the thump and wrapped around in the sheets.

She looked back at the person and it was a woman crouching unusually on the headboard. She blinked curiously at her. She had long green hair that was hanging over one shoulder. Her skin glowed in the light and made her look mystical. She was dressed in a toga.

“You sleep like a baby.” the woman commented.

“Who the hell are you?” Maya exclaimed, crawling away from the woman. “And how are you even balancing on that headboard?”

How the hell did she even enter the room in the first place?

The woman chuckled. “I’m Twiska. Of course I can balance here. I can balance anywhere.” She got up and stood straight. It was a good thing the walls of the room were double height because she was quite tall. It was amazing how she could stand so elegantly on the wrought iron headboard.

“What do you want? How did you even get in here?”

She hummed softly and jumped off the headboard then stood in front of Maya. “I want to talk to you about Herman. How do you take him? Do you like him like a boyfriend or are you just satisfied about stealing other people’s friends?”

Maya saw the fiery spark in the woman’s eyes and shook her head. “I don’t like Herman like a boyfriend. I’m Drake’s girlfriend!”

Her eyebrows snapped up her forehead. “The jerk-of-a-commander who carries around periwinkles? Do I feel sorry for you.”

“But Herman’s my friend--”

“No!” Her eyes sparkled again. “He was my friend first and I will not stand here and have you steal him away. You have to promise to stay away.”

“But--”

Before Maya could say anything, Twiska was right in her face, her body seething with fury. “Promise!”

“Fine! Fine!” Maya moved away from her again. “I promise to stay away from him!”

A cunning smile curled on Twiska’s lips as she narrowed her eyes at Maya. “You just made a deal with me, human. Now, you can’t do anything else other than stay away from him.” She touched Maya’s shoulder and a tingle ran down Maya’s arm as a splash of green glitter painted a curled thistle against her skin.

“What is this?” Maya tried to rub the thistle away but it was like a tattoo. “Take it off.”

Twiska shrugged her shoulders. “That’s the deal sealer. And I can’t take it off. Too bad.” She chuckled wickedly as her body folded until it was as small as a barbie. Two glittering wings sprouted from her back and she flew away, her chuckle ringing in the room.

“The humming bird....” Maya watched in astonishment as Twiska flew out through the smaller opened windows right up by the ceiling. She had just struck a deal with a pixie...but what did that mean?

Maya quickly jumped to her feet and rushed to the bathroom for a few minutes before she made her way through the corridor, down the stairs and towards the kitchen. There was one person who knew about everyone in that house; Abigail.

Maya was glad when she entered the kitchen and she found Abigail chatting up one of the cooks about breakfast. She had to look around first and make sure that the green haired pixie was no where in sight.

“Abigail!” She whimpered going to her.

Abigail frowned lightly as she suddenly forgot what she was doing and quickly rushed to her. “Hey Maya. What has happened?”

“I think I have been hexed by a pixie.”

Abigail frowned lightly. “Pixies can’t hex.”

“I don’t know what she did but this showed up once she was done!” Maya peeled back the sleeve of her top and showed Abigail the tingling thistle splashed on her skin.

Abigail sighed in exasperation and rolled her eyes. “What ever am I going to do with Twiska?”

“You know her?” Maya asked in surprise.

Abigail nodded. “Yes, she happens to be Herman’s close friend. What deal did you strike her?”

Maya swallowed softly. “I had to promise to stay away from Herman.”

“Jealous little thing.” Abigail muttered looking down at the thistle. “You should avoid meeting Herman until we find someone to undo this.”

“What happens if I meet him?” Maya’s eyes widened.

“Very unpleasant things happen. Pixie deal sealers come in different shapes and sizes depending on what they want to happen to you if you breech the agreement was. I have seen some being toads, poison ivy, deep sleep. The thistle has very bad allergies and most of the times you can get a terrible rash through out your body....I guess that is what will happen every time you meet Herman.” Abigail muttered apologetically.

Maya suddenly felt the urge of throttle the pixie. “If I get my hands on her.”

Abigail touched her shoulders and turned her around. “Come with me. I think we have another pixie who might be able to help. Come and meet him.”

Maya sighed in frustration and followed Abigail out.

“How are you feeling?” Drake asked as Serensa joined him in his office. He had to make several calls that morning because he had to postpone the visit to Jude for a little while. He still planned to leave for the Mage city of Agore by the end of the week because he knew by then a lot of things would have been taken care of.

Serensa shrugged her small shoulders as she settled in one of the comfortable chairs in front of Drake. “Much better but I must say you did a number on me.”

Periwinkles....Red hissed in Drake’s mind making him frown. He sniffed lightly making sure that Serensa didn’t notice it and right under her feminine scent was the smell of periwinkles.

He remembered when he had met Herman in the kitchen together with that health hazard, the pixie was affected by periwinkles which meant.... “Were you in the kitchen the night Herman and I were talking the evening the pixie lost her abilities due to periwinkles?”

Serensa’s eyes widened lightly then she tangled her fingers together and cast her eyes down. She gave a little nod. “Periwinkles soothe Sonia. They make her behave. She was feeling a little agitated being cooped up in the house for a while. I have not taken her hunting for a while because of being a captive. When you entered the kitchen, I wanted to talk to you but Herman and the pixie interrupted and I left, going back to the infirmary. I didn’t know pixies were affected by periwinkles or I wouldn’t have brought them inside.”

What she said made sense yet Drake just couldn’t trust her. “Were you able to take your dragon hunting?”

Serensa nodded lightly but Drake knew that once more she was lying. If a dragon had taken flight that evening, Red would have known of it but that evening, when he was in his most vulnerable state with alcohol coursing through his veins and Red was most alert, protecting his keeper, there was nothing that gave him a hint that Serensa’s Dragon was up and about.

“I know you are hiding something, Serensa. I understand that you can’t completely trust me because of what you went through in the hands of male dragons but I want you to tell me the truth. If you want us to catch and punish the males who have done this to you, you need to cooperate.” Drake told her grimly.

Serensa lifted her face and looked at him, her eyes big and wary. “But I am telling the truth.” She muttered.

“You might be from a more ancient bloodline as compared to mine but I have lived longer than you and I know when someone is lying. Serensa, are lying. You are not from the Naga Bloodline because though it is one of the four known prominent bloodlines, females from that bloodline, under any circumstances, can never change into dragons. I am from the Glaeder Bloodline, the strongest after the Royal Bloodline but for as long as I have lived, I have never seen a female transform into a full dragon. They can only cover their bodies with scales for protection.”

“I’m not from the Naga bloodline.” She whispered, a little nervous as if she was afraid the walls had ears.

Drake settled back and eyed the girl. “And neither are you a royal female.”

She shook her head, her eyes blinking away tears that formed. “We had to promise my father not to tell because he was afraid if we did, our lives would be in danger. He had connections in Naga Bloodline and so they changed our medical records to show that we were from there.”

“But when you did a medical examination for the job, didn’t they see the difference in your blood makeup?”

She cringed and closed her eyes as if she were in pain. “They did....and that is why he wanted to impregnate me himself.”

Drake suddenly sat up and even Red was prowling up and down his mind. Dragon’s had very protective personalities and as of that moment, Red was all about protecting Serensa and her dragon. “Who?”

She shook her head, her trembling hand went up and she rubbed away her tears. “I don’t know his name but he didn’t come as often as the others. He must have been someone from the higher classes.”

“Would you be able to recognize him if you saw him again?” Drake asked her.

“I don’t want to meet him again.” Serensa shuddered. “There was something about him that was so dark and evil and it made my skin crawl.”

Drake didn’t want to subject her to any situations that would have made her re-live her nightmare but he needed her to help them catch the fuckers. “We have three dragon males in custody. Could you come and try to identify them for me?”

Serensa’s body trembled and color leached completely out of her face. Drake quickly got up and went to her. He helped her up and cupped her cheeks. “I will be with you in every step of the way. No one will harm you, I promise.”

“I can’t face those savages again!” She cried, new tears coming down her face.

“You won’t have to face them alone.” Drake encouraged her. “If you want us to help you find them, you need to do this. More females will be taken from their homes if we don’t stop them now.”

Drake had to wait for a little while until Serensa calmed down before she took a deep breath and nodded. “Alright.”

“Thank you.” Drake sighed in relief just as Feror and Tyfera entered the office.

“Zach is here--downstairs with the dragons.” Feror announced.

Drake groaned because he knew his fellow commander and Zach did not have the patience he had. For all he knew, Zach was already beating the truth out of the Dragons. And what was he doing there in the first place? Drake expected him to show up at the end of the week.

Drake led the way back down with Serensa close behind him and Feror and Tyfera behind her. At the steps leading downstairs, Serensa hesitated. Drake held her hand even though Red growled in protest in his head. “It will be alright.”

She nodded and followed him down. The three males were placed in the interrogation room under the watchful eye of the three Jinns; Jira, Lucian and Talon, and the High Mage Bryon. However, the place felt a little crowded with Zach, Galea and Constatine present.

“What are you doing here?” Drake asked Zach.

Zach turned to him and crossed his arms then quirked his eyebrow at him. “I’m doing great, scales, I don’t know about you.”

“You should be in Agore.”

“You asked for two of my High Mage to come here, don’t you think I would be curious about it?” Zach asked then his eyes turned to where he was still holding Serensa’s hand. “Mate?”

Drake shook his head feeling Serensa move further behind him. “Come, Serensa.” Drake took her to the dragons whose hands were bounded by enchanted shackles. The male’s faces were grim, smudged with blood and dirt. Byron must have done a number on them once more.

Drake pulled Serensa from behind him and let her stand between him, Feror and Tyfera. Lucian and Talon also moved closer and so did Constantine and Galea.

“See, everyone is here to make sure you are alright.” Drake looked deep into her eyes. They were bright with fear.

She gave a quick nod before she turned to the dragons in front of her.

“Do you recognize any of them?” He asked her.

Again Serensa nodded. “I recognize him.” She pointed to the first male with long brown hair that was now tangled on his back. He frowned at her and pulled his lip up, letting a slow hiss escape.

“You’ll regret it, Serensa.” He said.

Red unfurled subtly in Drake’s mind. Though he was supressed because of Byron’s spell, he was still very much aware of what was happening.

What is it, Red? Drake asked him.

Before Red could answer the male hissed again and it sounded like a mumbled enchantment.

Serensa bucked against Drake and dropped to the ground. Suddenly all the Mage in the room began to glow with power as they created a barrier around Serensa.

Drake had no idea what was happening but Serensa was on the ground panting and twitching.

“Move out of the way, Drake.” Zach said as he eyed the male then Serensa.

“What’s happening?” Drake asked as he moved.

Serensa suddenly shot up, her eyes burning with menace. She reached forward and snatched the gun from Feror’s belt then aimed at him and shot him twice on the chest just before Byron created a barrier around the centaur. Feror dropped onto the ground with so much blood pouring out of the bullet wounds.

“She’s under a hypnosis spell!” Galea exclaimed as he jumped between Serensa and Drake and quickly shielded him just as Serensa peppered him with bullets. They fell away harmlessly.

She dropped the gun and turned to Tyfera. She managed to kick the dazed male in the stomach but as she tried to punch him, Tyfera caught her fist and pulled her into an unyielding hug.

“What the fuck!” He exclaimed and Serensa managed to rattle his teeth by smacking the back of her head against his face.

Zach rushed to the rogue dragon responsible but he quickly jumped onto his feet and looped his arms over Jira’s head then threatened to choke her with the shackles. “Don’t even think about it.”

Jira smirked grimly and shimmered into a pool of smoke, spreading on the floor eerily. The smoke shifted behind the male and when Jira solidified once more, she had locked her arms around the male’s neck. Drake’s eyes widened and his cry went on unheard as Lucian removed his dagger and carved an entrance into the dragon’s heart while Jira held him tightly in place.

“No!” Drake exclaimed but it was too late. The rogue dragon fell onto his knees with a groan ofp pain.

Ember-like veins began to streak around his body from his chest as he slowly turned into ash and died. The moment he died, Serensa stopped her erratic movements and collapsed into Tyfera’s arms.

Drake turned to the other two dragons still seated but obviously in shock and pulled the closest one up to his feet. He dangled in the air like a child. “Who else wants to die today? I made a deal with to keep you safe but if this is the payment I get then you might as well die along with him!” He growled.

“We don’t know what is happening! We, too, are as shocked as you.”

“He is part of your team!” Drake exclaimed.

The male vigorously shook his head. “No, he is not. I don’t recognize him.”

Drake frowned.

He speaks the truth, keeper.

“How is that possible? You were all caught together on the night of the ambush, how could you have not known him?”

The male shook his head. “Only two of us were sent after the female dragon, me and my brother.”

“The female dragon has a name!” Drake hissed feeling irritated.

“I don’t know her name! We never used their names! It was not part of our job to know their names!”

Drake suddenly let him go and turned to the others around him.

“The male knew Serensa by name.” Zach frowned suspiciously.

“Why didn’t you say anything all this time?” Drake asked the rogue.

“How could we? We didn’t know him.”

Red rattled in Drake’s mind, the spikes down his spine flaring up. That only meant the dragon was pissed!

“What the fuck is going on?” Zach demanded.

Drake wished he knew as he looked at the unconscious female in Tyfera’s hands. This was messed up!

Suddenly Feror sat up like a corpse returning back to life. His body pushed the offending metal out and two misshapen bullets plopped onto the ground. That had never happened so quickly before. But that wasn’t what had everyone’s mouth dragging on the floor.

The glow from Feror’s scar he got from the Thyest arrow engulfed him completely and turned his eyes into orbs of blue-black light. When the glow had faded, the two bleeding holes on his chest were gone and his skin was not even marked.

“This day just keeps getting better and better.” Constantine crossed his arms and grinned like an idiot.

“What--” Feror breathed as he looked up at everyone then back down at the two holes on his t-shirt.

“I don’t even want to fucking know!” Drake growled taking Serensa from Tyfera’s arms and stalked out. Everything was just bizarre and he needed sometime to think about it properly before he lost his mind!

Maya watched as Drake whooshed past her, Theo and Abigail, heading towards the infirmary with Serensa in his arms. She felt a pang in her heart that he was carrying someone else in his arms but she also saw that Serensa had lost consciousness. She frowned and wondered what happened.

“Excuse me for a moment.” She quickly ran after Drake.

When she caught up with him, she saw the grim look he had on his face. “What happened, Drake?”

Drake turned to her almost immediately. “I want you to head up to your room. Stay there until I come for you.”

Maya felt color drain from her face. “What happened to Serensa?”

“Can you please do what I asked of you? I--I don’t want you down here when everything is going to hell!” He said his voice sounding desperate.

Maya didn’t want to be more of a nuisance so she quickly nodded and touched his cheek lightly. Drake sighed and turned his face against her palm then placed a kiss right in the middle. “Alright.” She gave him a small smile and turned towards Abigail and Theo. Just as she was making her way there, Herman appeared from nowhere, his face pulled in a mask of concern.

“Commander, what is going on?” He asked.

“Keep a watch on Maya while I take care of this.”

“No!” Abigail exclaiming rushing forward. “Herman, get away from her!”

Maya gasped and took a step back as the thistle shimmered and a very unpleasant feeling rippled on her skin. “Oh no!”

The rippling continued until Maya thought she was going to go crazy with the itchiness. But something swelled in her chest, growing warmer and warmer, expanding throughout her insides. It cursed through her body countering what was happening. The glowing thistle on her arm began to be engulfed with a red, fiery haze. The haze burst through her body from her chest and engulfed her.

“Maya!” Drake cried.

The thistle undulated on her skin until it finally disintegrated and disappeared. The fiery haze disappeared and left Maya panting and eyeing everyone in shock. “What was that?”

Her body was covered in a thin sheen of sweat and her eyes were wide with shock and confusion.

“Are you alright?” Drake asked.

“I am now. Twiska somehow managed to hex me and prevent me from coming close to Herman but it seems something has removed that. I can’t the the effects anymore.” Maya breathed in hard.

“Twiska did that?” Herman asked incredulously.

“Yes and it is why I went to look for Theo to try and help her.” Abigail answered.

Herman ground his teeth as his eyes turned stone hard. “Where is she?”

“Careful there, Herman.” Drake said. “You are a newbie in the feelings that you have. You will feel the intensity of every emotion a hundred times over. You have to learn to control that before you hurt someone.”

“I’ll go with him. I, too, need to talk to Twiska. She needs to stop being such a nuisance.” Abigail suggested.

Drake nodded and as Herman walked away then turned to Maya. “Go on up.”

Maya nodded.

Maya watched until Drake disappeared around the corner before she turned around and came face to face with a dark haired familiar man. She had seen him on one of the many portraits decorating the walls. His frowned and moved forward until his nose almost touched hers. “Well, well, well.....” he drawled looking at her. “You are Drake’s mate, aren’t you?”

Maya could no longer deny it. She was tightly bound to him. She gave a little nod and watched as a smile spread across the man’s beautiful face.

“Well, well, well....” He looked rather smug as he eyed her like a very interesting little thing.

Maya swallowed hard. Why, oh why, didn’t she follow Abigail and Herman up the stairs? She wonder in panic.