Chapter 37: Do Dragons Exist?

The moment Jasper's lips touched Dolores's, her stomach dropped like a sack of rocks in an ocean. Fire coursed down Dolores's throat as if he was breathing fire into her. Jasper's fingers slid to the back of her head, deepening the kiss, while his other hand spread across her naked abdomen spinning the fire inside her around her navel.

She was on fire. Dolores felt like an explosion, ready to go off at any moment. She could feel the thick coat of sweat cover her entire body. Dolores was going to burn alive, but she didn't care. Jasper was kissing her, and if that meant Dolores would die from this intoxicating fire burning beneath her skin, she would.

Catching his lower lip between her teeth, Dolores bit down. Not hard enough to draw blood, but Jasper's entire body jerked, and then their kiss was no longer about breaking her curse. It was about living and devouring.

Jasper straddled her, deepening the kiss, and nothing about his mouth was cautious. He parted Dolores mouth with fierce strokes of his tongue, and a tight shudder raced through Dolores as Jasper returned that favor, grazing her lower lip with his teeth.

Dolores flicked her tongue over his, tasting smoke and wind. A hand curled around her thigh, his fingers burning through her pants until he touched skin. A wild shiver sparked to life inside Dolores as Jasper's hand behind her head curled into her hair, opening her mouth to explore every part.

Kissing him back, Dolores slid her hands up his shirt, over her chest feeling the smoothness of his chest. Raising her hips into his lower stomach. The hand on her thigh slid up and around, over the curve of her ass. Scorching the fabric, Jasper squeezed the flesh there as he slid his tongue over mine.

Drawing in my lower lip, he nipped, and Dolores cried out an elicited shock of pleasure and pain thrumming through her body. His tongue flicked over her lip, soothing the sting. Then his mouth was gone. His forehead rested on hers as they painted into the space between them.

Attempting to regain control, Dolores began to cough violently. Jasper helped her sit up, rubbing her back. A horse hacking had Dolores heaving over the bed until black blood spattered onto the floor. Looking closer, Dolores saw that there was a spider amongst the blood weaky crawling away. Jasper drew a small glass container from a pocket of air, scooping the spider into the tiny bottle.

"The spell is broken. You're safe. How do you feel? Do you have any more pain?" Jasper asked.

Dolores touched her stomach, surprised to find nothing there, not even a burn or scar from the spider's stings. "That's...that's...unbelievable!

Looking up at Jasper, Dolores couldn't stop her eyes from drifting to his mouth. Seconds ticked by, and neither moved. She wanted to taste him again, to feel his lips on hers again.

"Ah, so.." Jasper cleared his throat, his voice sultry and thick. "Since Adam had a wizard cast this spell on you, I was able to break the curse, but if he had poisoned you, I would not have been able to cure you so easily."

"I won't be accepting any gifts from Adam in the future. I promise." Dolores said breathlessly. The air was still thick with desire from their kiss, and it took all of Dolores's self control not to leap on Jasper and pick up where they started.

A memory flashed in Dolores's mind's eye, breaking the lustful haze. "I saw a strange male dressed in black robs before I passed out. He must be the black wizard you speak of!"

"Did you see his face?"

"No, he wore a hood," Dolores answered, shaking her head.

"I will need to investigate this further. Until then, I think--"

"I should act as though I am still under the spell." Dolores interrupted. "So Adam doesn't suspect anything.

Jasper laughed, coming back beside Dolores' side on the bed. "You do enjoy acting, my sweet." He teased.

Waving his hand, Dolores felt her skin prickle lightly as her torn clothes disappeared, and a satin nightgown was upon her. Jasper, too, had changed into soft trousers that hung low on her hips. Pulling her into him, Jasper laid them down, telling Dolores about tomorrow's Flower Festival until she drifted into a peaceful slumber.

*******

When Dolores woke the following day, she found that Japer was no longer in bed beside her. Looking around for a tiny sleeping Dragon, a pounding at her door came before her brother. Adam burst in without waiting for her answer.

"How are you still in bed!" He roared. "You have three minutes to get dressed. You will not make the Alpha King late to a festival celebration no one of any real importance."

Hurrying, Dolores saw that Jasper had left her a beautiful sky blue dress with swirling white beaded thread spun in as the design. Smiling to herself, Dolores quickly put the gown on and met Adam outside her door with 15 seconds to spare.

Dolores and Adam followed a servant to a stoned platform at the top of the highest mountain. Stopping just before the crowd of beings, Dolores saw that there were Witches and Wizards in long white robes and woodland creatures. They all surrounded the stone platform where Jasper stood.

Dolores's face heated at the memory of their kiss last night. His arms wrapped around hers all through the night. Looking at him now, she saw that he was dressed in long robes that matched the other Witch and Wizards, only his robes were golden, and Dolores thought that they made him look like he was glowing, or maybe he was.

Hushed incantations began, slowly building into something louder, something that sounded like singing. Even the animals around them chimed in. Dolores looked over at Adam, whose forehead had scrunched together at the entire ceremony.

Suddenly clouds gathered over the once clear sky, and a rumble of thunder roared through the mountains. Jasper raised his arms above his head, and heavy rain began to fall. The Witches, Wizards, and the animals danced, and another roar of thunder filled the air reminding Dolores of the roar of a Dragon.

Dolores saw that fear now coated Adam's expression, and he took a trembling step back from Jasper, the Sage he thought so poorly of. Another thundering Dragon roar rang out, and Adam searched the skies.

Dolores bit her lip to keep from smiling, bringing her attention back to ancient and mysterious rituals. The rain seemed to have some kind of magic. She watched as a drop fell onto the hem of Jasper's robe, and a moonlight flower bloomed.

Crystal came up behind Dolores, startling her as she whispered in Dolores's ear: "Look at your dress!"

Glancing down, she saw that the white beaded thread bloomed into moonlight flowers that matched the ones now adoring Jasper's robes. A mixture of delight and dread spirited through her veins when she remembered Adam's presence. Silently Dolores picked the flowers to form her dress, placing them into the pocket of her skirt so that Adam wouldn't notice what her mate had done.

The rain came to a stop signaling the end of the ceremony. All the Witches and Wizards all placed a fist over their chest dipping their head towards their new leader, Jasper, the strongest Sage that has ever lived. Jasper sent a gust of wind in response to their recognition, drying them.

Dolores stayed rooted beside Adam as the Witch and Wizards left the stone platform to celebrate with food and drink. Some even danced down the mountain to the open meadow, where others sang. Giving one last look at the stone Platform, Dolores saw that Jasper had disappeared.

Adam was quiet as they followed the crowd to the Flower Festival. Muttering to himself that Dolores only caught fragments of his sentences.

"The Wizard Society is far more powerful...No wonder father put up with them....Kreqin needs a High Priest....Dragons."

Dolores remained quiet, listening to Admas muttering when Jasper appeared in front of them. Startled, Adam moved Dolores in front of himself as a shield. Dolores saw the fire begin to burn in Jasper's eyes at the movement.

"Your majesty. Princess." Jasper said. "Did you enjoy the ritual?"

Dolores beamed at Jasper, hoping that he could read her, by the slight curve of his mouth, she knew he had.

"Do Dragons really exist?" Adam blurted, catching both Jasper and Dolores by surprise.

"Your Majesty, beings usually pay me to answer such a question." Jasper's tone was authoritative as he spoke. "The question you asked is one of the most expensive kinds, and I'm afraid those gifts you gave yesterday are not enough to buy this answer."

Adam's brows shot up his forehead and then knitted together as if he was weighing the cost. "So be it.' He finally said. "What do you want for the answer to my question?"

A devious smile spread across Jasper's lips, and he raised a finger and pointed at Dolores.

"I want her."