*Sasha*
After a hot dinner, Prince Rhys and I enjoyed the late birdsong and cicada chirps on the front porch, watching fireflies light up as if the forest around them were also magic.
“I’ve heard murmurings in the dreamscape that they will make their move tonight, possibly the next. I will take up a private room in the White Cedar Inn to prevent anyone else from harm,” I explained to Rhys, whose dark eyebrows knitted together in concern.
“And are you absolutely sure you don’t want any protection?” the concerned prince asked . I shook my head smiling softly.
He had a gruff exterior, but it didn’t take much digging to reveal his soft, caring heart. Prince Rhys barely knew , but he was willing to call in a royal guard to protect . This gesture wasn’t just to ensure that Saoirse would be helped either.
“They won’t harm before Shylah can assess my abilities, which, trust , they will not find them lacking,” I said, standing up from the rocking chair on Alpha Gage’s and Luna Eloise’s wrap-around porch.
I couldn’t stay in their ho during this and risk their involvent any further.
“Well, alright. I trust you. Your other self will appear just after you feel you are abducted, right?” Rhys hunched over, putting his elbows on his knees, clearly thinking deeply about the plan.
“Yes. I can’t risk summoning her until after they make contact with . Worry not, Prince Rhys. Our soul link cannot be obstructed.” I stood, putting my teacup down on the saucer.
I stretched, put on my black silk gloves, and turned to the prince, who was still deep in thought.
“I will take my leave now. Please try to calm your nerves. If you continue to overthink this, you will only exhaust yourself before you are needed.” I smiled, tying back my many chard braids.
“You’re right, Sasha. I will get proper rest now while I can. Be safe, and thank you. I will repay you for this kindness.” Prince Rhys stood and extended his hand.
I took it and shook it.
“You’re welco, Prince Rhys.” I took my leave, got into my car, and drove to the inn.
Despite reassuring the prince earlier, my pulse was up. I knew what I was doing was the right thing, and I was more than capable, but seeing how ambitious and powerful Shylah was and the upcoming conflict with the dragons, I knew this mission had a lot riding on it.
I would have to have my guard up at all tis.
I showered, changed into clean clothes, and tucked myself into the quilted bed.
I didn’t have to wait long.
I sensed the hooded figures outside the door long before the lock was magically opened. I faked a small scream before allowing the several hooded figures to roughly yank from the bed, shoving a black hood over my head. I resisted just enough for them to think that I hadn’t anticipated this but not enough for them to harm into complying.
While they pushed to stand, I made a small finger motion to open the portal in Alpha Gage’s and Luna Eloise’s fireplace and summoned myself through it.
My connection to the Alternate Sasha remained strong. I could sense Rhys’ relief.
I was quickly marched down the stairs of the inn and out the door. My bare feet touched gravel and other sharp twigs going through the woods, clearly to make uncomfortable. However, the soles of my feet had long been calloused over.
I knew from the crunching of leaves and pine needles that we were going north, and it would be a long walk. No one spoke on the way, and I didn’t ask where they were taking .
The other , Alternate Sasha, communicated mundane details as we marched through the night. The scent of pine faded into salt. I knew we were closer to the ocean. All the while, I could sense that two of the six dragons harbored more magical power than the others.
Sand soon hit my feet and then slick stone.
“Don’t trip, witch.” As my toe hit a rock, a dragon, who I believed to be Lyten, hefted forward with a bruising grip on my upper arm.
It was then I sensed an enormous surge of power right in front of , and the hairs on the back of my neck stood on end.
The two guards halted and ripped the black hood from my face. Despite the dim light of the cavern, I still had to blink to adjust my eyes.
Then my blood ran cold, and all the magic dormant in my body simred in warning.
In front of , a young lady with glowing jade eyes nacingly glared down at , pinning to the spot like a spider assessing a fly in her web. If it had not been for my training, I would’ve quivered in fear on the spot.
“Disciples, if she is not who we researched her to be, you will be rebuked appropriately.” The fiery redhead sliced her withering gaze to the figures who straightened at my sides.
I wondered how much of their loyalty was out of true devotion or paralyzing fear.
Her terrifying electric gaze drilled into mine again.
“I am Shylah, warrior supre of the dragons, the most subli divination of our ancient power. State your na, human female.” Her voice sounded inhuman as if echoing in my head instead of inside the cavern walls.
This situation was indeed dire. It didn’t take a witch like to tell that the mortal vessel standing before held an incalculably terrific mythic power.
“I am Sasha Black.” I tipped my head slightly to defer to her power. “The one they call the Dream Dancer. I am a witch with the skills of magic most arcane.”
I bowed deeply, my braids cascading around my face.
“You’ve done well, Jeida and Lyten. Now leave us.” I heard her command and feet pad out of the chamber.
So far, this was going well. I just needed to continue to sell my abilities until the right mont.
“Rise, Dream Dancer,” the inhuman voice commanded. I rose, eting her eerie jade eyes.
“I have returned to command my dragon kind to victory. While I wield more than sufficient power to lay waste to entire armies, I require niche magic for a delicate matter needing the utmost precision.”
Shylah began to circle , assessing , prowling like a panther in a graceful, languid way that suggested she could cut down whenever she pleased.
“Great Shylah, any mortal of this realm can sense your imnse strength, and I assure you I exist to serve,” I intoned, eting the ancient warrior’s human eyes with no deception. “Please, tell how I may serve you in this most niche of matters.”
She finished her assessnt of . Tendrils of magic crawled over for any sign I was not who I claid to be.
“I require your arcane skills to permanently liberate from this mortal vessel.” A jarring smile broke across the woman’s face.
I remained as composed as a statue. Shylah intended to intimidate into admitting that I could not perform the task if I happened to lack the skill or fortitude.
Yet, I had perford exorcisms before on many a human victim. If Shylah had indeed been the victim in this circumstance, I could truthfully help her.
But I could not do so without significant preparation.
“You will explain to how you are capable of this task. If I am left unsatisfied, I will spill every pint of your blood here in my foyer for your fraudulent claims.” Shylah raised her hand. A crackling orb of golden dragon magic spun like a globe, blowing my hair back.
Due to my intense lifelong training, it did not phase .
“Great Shylah, I understand your circumstances, and I can remove this obstacle from your path with a surgeon’s precision.” I found my voice and slowly raised my hand, palm facing her.
“The intertwining of your almighty soul with this mortal one requires or one of your trusted disciples to gather rare ingredients and prepare nine rituals,” I explained, keeping my voice level.
“We have plenty of ingredients here.” Shylah waved the hand now holding a staff with a magic orb. Two elaborate double doors swung open.
They revealed an enchanted crystalline room, complete with an alchemist’s table, enchantnt circle, and shelves upon shelves of magic herbs, potions, and mineral catalysts.
This stunned for a mont. I had not thought she would have prepared so well for this exorcism. It was as if she read every magic ingredient book ever penned and endeavored to collect anything any witch could ever desire.
I was especially envious of the powered falcon feathers and twisted tiger fangs.
Luckily for , they were short on at least four vital ingredients.
“While I am in awe of your substantial preparation and the ti you saved in gathering mundane elixirs, I will need four more ingredients. One of those ingredients, the sacred water of the arctic stalactite, will require so ti to collect as it must drip into a sapphire vial. The final ritual will need a full moon, which, unfortunately, just passed two nights ago.”
Shylah’s pupils constricted. She hurled the dragon orb in a rage at the wall, cracking and scorching the granite and basalt, leaving a smoking crater.
I flinched, my mouth dry as a desert. No matter if I spoke the truth or not, if Shylah did not accept my answer, there was no stopping her from slaying there and finding another witch who could claim to do the spell faster.
Shylah reached out to grab the moonstone at my collar, hauling toward her, faces inches apart. Her nostrils flared.
“I sll truth on you, which is why you live.” Shylah exhaled slowly, releasing . I took a shaky step backward.
“I live to serve and speak no untruths, Great Shylah.” I bowed, the blood slowly returning to my pale face.
“I will have my trusted lieutenants retrieve the missing ingredients and give you one lunar cycle to the next full moon to complete your rituals,” Shylah continued. I slowly rose back up to see her glare down her nose at .
“If you fail, your life and the lives of all those in that sleepy town of Midnight Sun will be forfeit,” Shylah warned. Despite the plan, my bones chilled.
“I shall not fail, Great Shylah.” I tipped my head again but soon found myself being wrenched by Shylah and tossed into the crystalline magic channeling room like a ragdoll.
I winced as my back hit the hard floor and rolled over to see Shylah waving the doors closed.
“You will remain there until I am untainted by this mortal soul. My guards will see to your survival provisions.” Shylah turned without another care, and the gilded doors swung closed with a deafening boom.
I let out a lung-emptying exhale and turned around to the lavish magic divination chamber. I inwardly smiled because, under any other circumstance, I’d be overco by the amazing catalog of ethereal ingredients.
It would probably take Shylah at least an hour or two to finally get into bed and maybe so more ti to fall asleep. I took a seat in the work chair, letting my legs rest, and mixed a cleansing solution and a salve for my dirty, scraped feet.
After I tended to myself, I sat on the circular woven carpet on the floor and sank into a deep ditation. My senses waved out of my mind, sensing the powerful dragon warrior only a few hundred feet away. Her ntal barriers were too strong for to reach Saoirse’s soul while Shylah was conscious.
The Alternate Sasha was updating Prince Rhys on the status of the mission—how much ti I managed to stall for and that Saoirse was unhard but unreachable until Shylah slept.
However, when she slept, I would be ready.
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