CHAPTER 66
An escort was sent to fetch Raegan from the healing quarters Sarah was in; when the dragons from Evreux finally arrived in Astoria. Adriel had gone to welcome the guests and to bring them back to his home. Her heart was beating so fast it was probably going to break out of her ribcage and kill her before Valiance even arrived here. She had run outside before the escort had a chance to finish his sentence. She didn’t need him to tell her that Valiance had arrived. She could feel it… feel him nearing with every breath she took.
As soon as her eyes landed on a black figure high up in the sky, her soul filled with a relief so profound that it knocked the breath out of her. Her knees buckled and she landed hard in the doorway. She couldn’t see the others flanking him… only him… only her mate… as he tore away from the others; his mighty wings flapping strong and his lightening dancing on the tips of his wings.
Valiance shifted even before landing hard on the grass of the front garden; ruining it and blowing up a small dirt storm in his wake as he bounded towards her. She wanted to get up to meet him half way but her legs weren’t cooperating. Valiance fell to his knees in front of her and pulled her to his chest with a bone crushing intensity which she didn’t mind one bit. His fighting leathers bit in her body but she didn’t care and returned his embrace as fiercely as she could.
She wanted to say so many things to him, I love you and I missed you and top of all, How the hell did I turn into a fucking dragon overnight but words failed her. Everything was insignificant in front of the onslaught of emotions that her mate’s embrace had brought forth.
The others had landed near the steps, breaking them out of their little bubble and Valiance stood pulling Raegan up with him. She ran down the steps and threw her arms around Dimi’s neck, squeezing with all her might. “I missed you too sweetheart” he chuckled. She stepped back sheepishly and greeted Fenrys. Now that the high of seeing her mate and friends again had dissipated; dread filled her once again. She looked towards Adriel; now in his human form and he nodded back gravely.
“Dimi, Sarah is not well. She got injured on our way here and…” she trailed off before continuing, “It’s a long story and I’ll fill you in later but right now she needs you. We need you”. He reared back in alarm and then his eyes narrowed and his nostrils flared… and the beautiful golden dragon became death incarnate in an instant. She had no doubt that he’d kill the ones responsible for his mate’s suffering… kill them slowly, painfully and he’d enjoy every second of their agony. But now was not the time for that vengence would come later, after they got Sarah back from the clutches of death. So she took his face in her hands and made him look at her.
"We'll get them. But first we need to make sure Sarah is okay. So hold on to that anger a little longer." She only let him go when he nodded his understanding.
The healer took Damien’s blood and started preparing to inject Sarah; who was still unconscious. He had warned them beforehand that it would get worse before it got better. The treatment was going to be extremely painful for Sarah, so he had to strap her unconscious body to the bed with the help of leather belts. Damien’s agony was drowning her heart in sorrow along with her own fear for her best friend’s survival. And despite their need to be together; both Raegan and Valiance stood on either side of Damien in silent support.
“She’ll be alright Damien”, Raegan murmured, her hand on her friend’s shoulder. “She’ll pull through. She has to. We won’t let her go anywhere… you and me”.
“No we won’t” his voice was guttural, almost feral with fear and rage and a broken hope.
…………………………………
It was a dark place full of mist and shadows as far as Sarah could see. She remembered though… remembered what had happened. The unreal land of dragons and magic – and in that land one beautiful, beautiful golden dragon. She knew in her heart what he was to her… knew it and still didn’t do anything about it because her head hadn’t caught up with her heart. She hadn't been able to conquer her fear. And now she was here – in a land so dark, cold and lonely it might as well be hell.
She also remembered what had happened to her. Remembered the kidnapping, the escape, and the tumble through the air that had landed her here. Maybe she was dead and this really was hell or maybe she was in another world, she didn’t know. And Raegan wasn't here with her. nobody seemed to be there, except her. Fear gripped her heart as she turned in a circle and found nothing but slithering shadows. And it was cold – so cold here, she shivered uncontrollably.
If it was hell, she was relieved that Raegan wasn’t here, but she sure missed her friend in this vast emptiness. And then suddenly there was pain… excruciating, bone rending pain. It was like she was being shredded apart, being wrenched out of her body, being burned inside out. She didn’t know how long it had been but then voices started sounding around her. Unclear, garbled voices in her head that she could not decipher due to the static in her ears… and someone screaming, and screaming, and screaming.
She realized that it was she who was screaming… in endless pain and agony. It certainly was hell and she didn’t know what she had done to deserve this fate.
And then there was nothing. She was nothing.