Fuse by E.L. Todd

Twenty-Three

She fellunconscious until she felt the familiar touch of grass beneath her body. The smell came into her nose and reminded her of summer. The scent of salt was in the air, the same scent she’d noticed when they visited Polox.

She was on her stomach, and she felt hot blood all over her body. The feeling was unmistakable. It was heavier than water and had a metallic scent to it. When it dripped into her mouth, it tasted like a gold coin.

Lie still.

There was little else she could do.

Flare hovered above her and didn’t move.

“I can’t…”

Shh.A liquid drop fell on her back, splattering like a heavy raindrop. The touch burned her skin painfully, making it sizzle like acid. But then the pain suddenly numbed.

More drops fell and splashed onto her back, burning in the same way before everything went numb. She didn’t feel the drops anywhere else, only her back and her ass.

“What are you doing?”

Rest.Flare continued dropping the moisture directly onto her torn flesh. It went on for several minutes before finally ending. Then the burning sensation went away and so did the pain—at least, the worst of it.

“Flare?” A sound erupted behind her, the grass and trees moving as something passed.

When Flare spoke again, his voice was different. It didn’t sound in her mind anymore, just her ears. “You’ll be alright, Cora.” He placed a canteen against her skin, collecting some of the liquid that had been dropped. “You’re safe now.”

“What are you doing?” She tried to turn over, but she couldn’t. Her body was completely unresponsive now.

“Healing you.” He grabbed her by the shoulder and gently lifted her up, careful not to touch her wounds.

She watched him stick two fingers inside his canteen, soaking his fingertips in a clear liquid. Then he wiped it across her face, moving over her bruised brows and swollen eyes. He smeared it across her lips and applied it to all her cuts.

When she looked into his eyes, she saw the coat of moisture that had developed. A red tint was deep in his irises, and he looked different than he had the last time she saw him. Now, he looked devastated—broken.

“Drink this.” He held out the canteen.

“You just wiped that on my face.”

“Drink it.” He brought it to her lips and supported the back of her head. “It’s dragon tears.”

“What?” She remembered the potion she’d spotted in the shop in Polox. And she remembered everything Flare told her about it. “Where did you get them?”

He focused on the canteen and didn’t make eye contact with her. “The sooner you drink this, the better you’ll feel. You need to get some rest, and you won’t be able to if you feel like shit.” He pressed the mouth of the canteen to her lips and forced the liquid down her throat. “And they’re mine.”

She swallowed as much as she could and tried not to cringe at the taste. It was liquid sulfur and ash. Her stomach wanted to throw it back up, but she somehow mastered it. She drank every drop until the canteen was empty.

Flare set it aside then examined her face once more. “I know it tastes terrible, but you won’t regret it later.”

She looked into his eyes and saw the distant tears that still shone. He’d shed those tears for her—and that touched her in a way nothing else ever had. She didn’t even care that she was naked because his actions made her forget about it entirely.

Flare never looked at her body once. He removed his jacket and covered her with it, hiding her torso and legs under the voluminous material. “I’ll get you something else to wear. But this will do for now.”

She wrapped it around her body and noticed the pain was diminishing with every passing second. She was woozy from losing so much blood, but she felt better now compared to when she was chained to that pole. “How did you know?”

He rested her head on his pack. “Sleep now. I’ll answer your questions when you wake up.”

“But won’t they be searching for us?”

“They won’t find us here.” He ran his fingers gently through her hair and began to lull her to sleep. He stared at her with the crystal eyes she’d seen before, but on a different man. She remembered what the steward had said, that Flare was his nephew. Flare had deeper ties to the kingdom than she realized, and now she understood why he wanted to keep it a secret. If she’d known from the beginning, she never would have trusted him.

Flare continued to watch her until her eyes could no longer stay open. His protection allowed her to drift off into a true sleep. She wasn’t afraid of what might happen to her when her eyes were closed. She knew the dragon would guard her against any enemy.

Even when her eyes were closed, she knew he was still staring at her. The dragon watched over her as well as the man. Together, they formed an impenetrable line of defense. She never allowed anyone to look after her, but in this instance, she gladly accepted it.

And she fell asleep.

* * *

When she woke up, she was inside a cave.

The smooth walls led to a ceiling twenty feet above her head. There wasn’t a grain of sand anywhere in sight. Everything was made of solid stone. A fire burned gently a few feet away, and she was still bundled up in Flare’s large black jacket.

She sat up and looked around, wondering where she was and how she’d gotten there. There was light at the end of the tunnel where the entrance stood. Flare must have left to take care of something. Just when she was about to get up, a man’s silhouette approached her.

Her entire body was still in agony after her captivity. Her back ached every time she moved, but it was the first time she’d felt decent in a while. She could sleep without fear of what might happen, and her body could finally relax.

Flare approached the fire with a deer over his shoulder. He set it on the ground then pulled out his cleaning knife. Without looking at her, he got to work. He skinned the hide quickly then gutted the animal.

She ran her fingers through her hair and noted the dirt, oil, and sweat that had built up. She knew she looked like hell, so heinous that hell would actually spit her back out.

Flare placed the meat on a wooden stick then situated it over the fire so it cooked evenly. When he was finished with everything else, he took the remaining pieces and discarded them outside the cave.

The meat started to sizzle and cook, and that was when Cora realized just how hungry she was. She was never given enough food in Easton, always on the verge of starvation, and water was a rare commodity as well.

Flare returned with clean hands then held out his canteen to her.

She took it quickly then drank as much as she could. Her throat absorbed the liquid but was still dry. Her tongue felt as though it had become a permanent cotton ball. Rushing to feel hydrated, she drank as quickly as possible, the water running down her throat. She had the manners of an animal but couldn’t care less at the moment.

Flare watched the fire.

She set the empty canteen on the ground then wiped her lips with her forearm.

“You want more?” He didn’t take his eyes off the flames. When one side of the meat became charred, he rotated the spit.

“I’m okay. Thank you.” She felt her stomach growl as she watched the meat become hot and juicy.

Flare must have heard it because he said, “It’s almost done.”

She should’ve felt ashamed of her savage nature, but she simply couldn’t. Her body had been pushed to the limit, and she wasn’t sure how she’d survived the ordeal.

When the meat was done, he removed it from the stick and dropped it onto a flat piece of bark. He slid it across the ground toward her, giving her all of it.

“What about you?”

“I already ate.”

She didn’t hesitate as she stuffed herself full. It was the tastiest meal she’d ever had in her life. Her mouth couldn’t chew fast enough, and no matter how much food her stomach got, it wasn’t enough.

Flare took out his dagger and played with it in his hands. He sharpened it with a rock and made the metal sing with every swipe.

She ate everything in front of her and felt her stomach bulge out with fullness. It was the first time she’d felt satiated in weeks. Forsaking all manners, she sucked her fingertips for every drop of juice.

“You want more?”

“No. I’m full.” She pushed away the makeshift plate and suddenly felt tired again.

Flare pulled an outfit from his pack and tossed it on the ground beside her. “I got you some clothes. Just a few feet from the cave is a cove. You can bathe there.”

She could bathe? It was a luxury she’d never truly appreciated before she started this journey. The idea of feeling clean almost made her cry. The constant grime in her hair was giving her a headache from the extra weight. “Thank you so much.” She appreciated Flare’s friendship even more. Not only did he save her life, but now he was taking care of her. She gathered the clothes then left the cave.

When she reached the water’s edge, she glanced behind her to see if Flare had followed her. He was nowhere in sight, so she assumed he was giving her some privacy. But since he’d seen her naked twice now, she didn’t see why it mattered anyway. Being stripped down and flogged in a town square made her care less about nudity.

She dropped the jacket then walked into the water. It was surprisingly warm, not chilling like the ocean usually was. She swam around then scrubbed the dirt from her scalp. As the grime left her skin and hair, she felt better. Her wounds didn’t sting when submerged in the water. Actually, it was soothing.

She was out there for nearly an hour, enjoying the water and the way it made her feel. Having freedom was a pleasure she would never take for granted again. Although, she shouldn’t have allowed herself to be captured in the first place. From now on, she needed to make better decisions and not be as reckless.

When she finished, she dried off and examined the clothes he’d gotten for her. They were women’s clothes, deep-brown pants the color of tree trunks and a long-sleeved green shirt. It was perfect for camouflage. There were also feminine undergarments, and she blushed slightly, knowing he’d picked those out for her.

Clean and dry, she felt like a new person.

She entered the cave with his jacket over her arm. The fire was still burning low, practically dying embers now that the fat from the deer meat had been cooked. Distant crackling echoed in the enclosure. “Thanks for letting me wear this.” She placed it beside him. “It probably smells a little bit…” She would have cleaned it down by the water, but she wasn’t sure if that was what he wanted. It was always smart to ask first.

“I’m sure it’s fine.” He continued to sharpen his blade.

She didn’t know where to begin. How could she thank someone who did so much for her? “Thanks for everything, Flare. Not just rescuing me, but for taking care of me while I’ve been…indisposed.”

“No need to thank me.” His demeanor was different. Instead of wearing a sarcastic smile and carrying himself like he owned the world and everything in it, he was somber. Excitement no longer burned in his eyes. In fact, he seemed sad. “You would have done the same for me.”

She knew that was true. “I hope you weren’t injured.”

“Just a few scratches. Nothing major.”

She pulled her knees to her chest and moved her damp hair over one shoulder, letting it dry by the fire. “How did you know where I was? How did you know I was captured?” Did he intercept a message from somewhere down the road? Did he happen to be in Easton when she was being flogged?

“I heard you.” His eyes were still focused on his dagger, endlessly sharpening it.

“Heard me?”

“I heard your thoughts.” He swallowed the lump in his throat and paused the dagger’s movement. “Death, come for me.”

The blood drained from her face.

He cleared his throat. “And then I saw what Rune was doing to you, through your eyes. Our minds were linked together. When I saw the color of his robes, I knew where you were.”

“But…how?” She hadn’t tried to communicate with him. She didn’t even know she could do that.

“I’m not sure. Our minds have spoken before. Maybe it’s easy for them to connect.”

“But we were so far apart. Is that normal?”

“No. I’ve never done something like that in my lifetime.”

“Then how did it happen?”

Flare shrugged. “I don’t know. Maybe you were in such distress, it projected outward. Perhaps I’m not the only dragon who heard it. But when I did, I had to come to your rescue.”

“I didn’t do it on purpose,” she whispered. “I would never want you to risk your life for me.”

“I know, Cora. But I’m glad I heard your call anyway.” He dropped the rock then examined his blade in the firelight. “What did they want from you?”

“You.” They’d wanted Flare’s location more than anything else. “They wanted to know if I was in contact with the elves. How the sword was made. Where they could find you. Pretty much everything.”

“And what did you tell them?” There was no disapproval in his voice. It didn’t seem like he cared if she’d given up his plans or his whereabouts.

“Nothing.”

He abandoned his dagger and looked her in the eye. “Cora, I don’t think less of you for giving them information. You were being tortured to death. Truly, I understand.”

“I really didn’t tell them anything.”

His eyes scanned the bruises on her face, and the memory of her scarred back glimmered in his eyes. “You didn’t?”

“No. It wasn’t an option. You are the only hope this continent has for returning to its former glory. If I gave you up, that would be the end. And I couldn’t tell them about the secret island where the dragons were located. I just couldn’t.”

An unfamiliar look spread across his face, and he stared at her with new eyes. He cleared his throat like something had been caught deep inside his chest. For a moment, he looked down and broke their eye contact. “I don’t know what to say…”

“Nothing needs to be said.”

“Most people would have cracked. Actually, all people. I know how they torture their prisoners.”

“I was only there for a few weeks…”

“They crack after the first day. I doubt even I would keep my secrets.”

“You would.” She knew he would. If there was anyone who could withstand the pain, it was Flare.

He pressed his lips tightly together then bit his inner cheek. “I knew you were someone worthwhile the moment we met. Actually, I was a little afraid of you. It was impossible to trust someone so unnaturally gifted. But now…I realize how much I underestimated you.” Compliments didn’t escape his lips very often, so she understood just how much they meant.

“If I were gifted, I wouldn’t have been captured in the first place.”

“You figured out how to kill the Shamans. And you even killed one yourself. Never in a million years would I have figured that out.”

“It was just luck.”

“Don’t be coy.” His words erupted viciously. “There’s something special about you. I know it. You know it.”

She held his gaze before the intensity became too much. She shifted her attention to the fire, finding it easier to watch the flames dance to silent music. The tension felt heavy on their shoulders, the awkwardness loud on their ears. “You haven’t visited the island yet?”

“I was about to depart when I heard your voice.”

“Where’s Bridge?”

“He’s traveling to a hideaway up north. I told him I would meet him there.”

She was relieved he was okay. “What now?”

“You need to rest. Then we’ll get moving again.”

“Where are we moving to? The whole realm must be chasing us by now.”

“I’ll escort you to Eden Star.”

Even if they flew, it would take forever. “I can go on my own. You need to meet up with Bridge.”

He gave her the coldest look she’d ever seen.

She knew it would be stupid to argue with him. “Never mind. Will we fly?” Would he allow her to ride him?

“No. We’ll walk.”

“What?” she blurted. “That will take an entire month.”

“It’s much easier to spot a dragon from the skies. And that’s exactly where everyone will be looking.”

She couldn’t deny the argument, even though she wished she could. It made even more sense for her to travel alone, but suggesting the idea would ignite his temper.

“When you’re strong again, we’ll get moving.”

“I can manage now.” She couldn’t run, but she could at least walk. Time was of the essence.

“You need at least a few days. If you don’t give your body enough time to recover, you won’t be able to defend yourself. While I’m powerful, I can’t protect you and fight off everything at the same time. I need your skills.”

Giving her a sense of purpose was enough to make her give in. “Okay.”

The cove they’d settled in was beautiful beyond understanding. It was peaceful and quiet, exactly what she needed.

“Do you want to talk about it?”

She knew what he was referring to but ignored the question.

“It can be therapeutic.”

“Honestly, I’d rather just forget about it.” She lay down on the hard stone and rested her head on his pack. The red sword sat a few feet away, glimmering in the firelight.

“I’m here if you ever change your mind.”

“I know.” She listened to the flames simmer down to red coals. “Flare?”

“Hmm?”

“Your dragon tears—”

“I don’t want to discuss it.” His voice cut her off like a steel blade. Invisible walls erupted around him, blocking him off from her completely.

She knew she’d broached a sore subject, something he wasn’t ready to talk about out loud. If he accepted her silence, then she needed to accept his. “Did the tears close the wounds on my back?” Since she couldn’t see behind her, she had no idea how it looked.

“Yes. It stopped the bleeding. If you’d lost any more blood, you would have died.”

“Does that mean my back looks the way it used to?” She was never vain about her looks, but she hoped her back wouldn’t be permanently disfigured by the whip that slashed it open.

He bowed his head slightly. “No. You have scars.”

“Oh. Will they go away?”

“No. I’m sorry.”

She pulled her arms to her chest and cradled herself, feeling a new kind of pain.

“My tears can fix almost any injury. It repaired your ribs when you drank it, and it sealed the wounds all over your body. But it can’t remove the superficial aspects of healing.”

“I see…”

He watched her with sad eyes.

“And there’s nothing I can do? There’s not a potion of some sort?”

He shook his head.

“How does it look?”

He lowered his gaze. “Your scars look exactly the way they felt when you received them.”

Now her captivity would never be forgotten. She would have to carry a reminder of what she went through—every day until she died.

* * *

She looked down into the pool of ice, her arms pinned to her sides. Rune walked around her, a sinister smile on his lips. “Tell me what I want to know.”

Her eyes were on the frigid liquid, remembering exactly how it shocked her lungs and forced her to breathe a gulp of water.

“Cat got your tongue?” He shoved her hard.

She fell into the water and immediately panicked. She flapped her arms around and tried to get away. She tried to breathe but wasn’t getting any air. The agony drowned her, and she sank to the bottom of a dark chasm.

“Cora.” Flare shook her shoulders firmly. “Come on. Get out of there.”

When her eyes opened, she jolted upright and smacked Flare away from her. She scooted back and tried to catch her breath, the dream still playing in her mind. It started to fade like a wisp of smoke, floating higher and higher until it disappeared.

“It was a dream.” Flare didn’t come closer to her. “It wasn’t real. Just a dream.”

She stared into Flare’s face and found comfort. If she was with him, she was safe. She wasn’t in Easton. She was in the same cave she fell asleep in. Rune was nowhere to be found.

She was safe.

“I’m sorry I hurt you.”

“Hurt me?” His old smile stretched across his lips. “You could never hurt me.”

She leaned against the wall and caught her breath, noting the large flames in the fire. He must have added wood throughout the night. “I didn’t mean to startle you.”

“You can’t startle me either.” He patted his pack then made a clicking noise with his tongue. “Come back to bed. The nightmare is over.”

“Don’t call me like a dog.”

“What? You don’t like dogs?”

She knew he was trying to cheer her up, but this time, it wouldn’t work.

“Who the hell doesn’t like dogs?” He shook his head. “I always knew you were peculiar.”

She returned to the pack and positioned herself to go back to sleep. But she didn’t think she could rest, even if she tried. That nightmare haunted her. The last thing she wanted was to experience it again. She purposely kept her eyes open just to avoid it.

Flare’s voice turned gentle. “Dreams can’t hurt you, Cora.”

“I respectfully disagree.”

“Well, I can keep them away for you—if you wish.”

“Keep them away?” She looked up at him, unsure of his meaning.

“My dragon can. They have special powers when it comes to the mind. He can wrap a cocoon around your thoughts and stop the bad ones from entering when you’re asleep. It stops the nightmares.”

“Really?”

He nodded. “When I sleep, he keeps a lookout. He can’t necessarily see, but he can sense things. That’s why it’s impossible to sneak up on me, even when I’m not conscious.”

Now she wished she had a dragon of her own.

“You want to give it a try?”

“How does it work?”

“He wraps the cocoon around both of us. Basically, you have to let him enter your mind. I understand if that’s something you’re uncomfortable with. He can accidentally see things you may not want him to see.”

She didn’t have many secrets, and even if she did, she didn’t mind sharing them if she never had to experience another night terror. “Okay.”

“You’re sure?”

She nodded.

He moved to her place near the fire then lay beside her.

“What are you doing?”

“We have to be close to each other in order for it to work.” He lay on his back and closed his eyes, his arm touching hers. “Is this okay?”

Actually, his proximity was soothing. “Yeah.”

“Close your eyes.”

She did as he asked.

Within a few minutes, she felt a thin blanket cover her thoughts. The sensation was odd. It felt like cobwebs had scattered throughout her mind, gently masking some things, while allowing other memories to come through. The dragon had entered her subconscious, but he didn’t make his presence known. He was a quiet visitor, a mouse running around in the house.

She dreamed of her home, Dorian, and the funny conversations she’d had with Flare and Bridge. It was soothing and restful. The night passed without any incident, and when the sun rose the following morning, she didn’t want to wake up.