#13 The Dragon King and his Werewolf Princess

I cried out in pain as the sword swiped across Lavender’s side. She whimpered and dropped to the floor, curling her body protectively around the wound, just in time to see Calix storming towards Revena.

“Are you okay, Lav?” I asked in worry.

“I’m fine. It didn’t get anything important.” Lavender panted.

“We’re losing blood. I feel faint.” I said,

“I know, I’m trying to heal us as quickly as possible.” Lavender gasped.

“River! Are you okay?” Grier was at our side in a second, leaning over her trembling body.

Lavender revealed her wound to Grier, trusting her protector, and he cursed under his breath.

“What do you need? Will you heal?” Grier looked flustered.

Lavender nodded her head limply, trying to tell him that she’ll heal eventually.

“How about a compression bandage to stop the bleeding for now?” Grier offered and Lavender nodded again.

Grier grabbed a hold of the nearest body and forcibly placed him in front of Lavender as our guard before disappearing. He was gone for a few seconds before returning with a bandana and tape. He shoved the bandana against the wound and wrapped the tape around her belly, securly it snuggly so that it stopped the bleeding and created a makeshift compression bandage.

“There, that should help with the blood loss until you can heal. Can you stand?” Grier asked and Lavender wiggled her legs, trying to stand.

Grier put his hand under her belly and helped support her wait so she could stand. Lavender stretched out her legs and shook out her fur, before taking a few small steps to test out the pain. It was manageable and Lavender was strong enough to stand on her own.

There was a scream that pulled both mine and Grier’s attention towards the fight beside them. Revena was a bloody mess on the floor with Calix standing over her, covered in more blood than someone could possibly have in her body. I had a hard time believing that Revena was still alive in that condition. Lavender barked at Grier and they locked eyes. Grier sighed and ran towards Calix, pulling him away from Revena.

“That’s enough, Cal. Your mate needs you.” He spoke calmly in Calix’s ear.

Calix’s head whipped towards me and his face softened immediately. He dropped the sword and jogged over towards us.

“Are you okay, little mate?” He asked in a soft voice, running his fingers through Lavender’s hair.

Lavender leaned into his hand and purred, nodding her head.

“Will you please go to our room while I handle the rest of this?” He asked, his eyes swimming with fear and worry.

Lavender, not feeling capable of doing much else anyway, nodded her head again.

“Grier, take her to our room while I finish this.” He called behind him and Grier came running over.

“I’m not really sure you still have a room.” Grier said, looking around at the crumbled castle.

“Well, go see if there is one and, if not, find another room to put her in.” Calix snapped.

“You got it.”

Grier motioned for Lavender to take the lead and she paddled away, heading towards the spot where Calix’s room was supposed to be. Luckily, that part of the castle was untouched by the spoils of war and Grier was able to hide us away in the bedroom.

Once Lavender had healed our wound enough to stop the bleeding, she conceded control to me and we shifted. Grier turned around as I shuffled to the closet for a change of clothes. I put on something loose fitting so it didn’t irritate the still healing wound on my side. It was a single slice that wrapped from my navel, across my ribs, over my hip, and around part of my back. It was angry and red with dried blood all over my skin, but it wasn’t bleeding currently.

When I came out of the closet, Grier was standing guard behind the closed door. He looked me up and down, inspecting me for injuries. My shirt was a thin, tan color that was practically see through, so he could see that my skin was painted red.

“Are you okay?” He asked.

“I’m fine, just a little sore.” I nodded, walking across the room to peek out the window.

“Really? The window, again?” He frowned.

“The fighting is all downstairs, is it not?” I laughed, motioning for Grier to look out the window with me.

The ground was on fire, like before, the trees that had barely recovered from the last attack, were surely goners this time around and the grass would take ages to grow back, but the fighting was done and there were a few lingering warriors cleaning up the mess.

“I guess so.” Grier sighed.

We watched out the window for a while until something caught my attention.

“Is the fighting downstairs under control?” I asked Grier, my eyes locked on the pond with the gazebo sitting to the side and a fountain in the center.

Grier went silent for a second and his expression went blank as he linked Calix,

“Yes. With the deaths of Ravena and Ebbe, the rest of the traitors surrendered.” Grier nodded.

“Good, let’s go.”

“What? We should wait for Calix to come up here and get you.” Grier started to argue.

“Look, Grier.” I pointed out the window and forced his attention to the pond.

On the other side of the fountain was a sparkling circle that was spinning faster and faster by the second, water and rainbows spiraling from the swirling void.

“What the hell is that?” Grier was on the defensive.

“That, my dear Guardian, is a portal.” I said, grinning from ear to ear.

I took off down the hall, running towards the front door.

“River?” Calix called after me, but I didn’t stop.

I ran through the front yard, sprinting towards the pond as fast as my tired legs and sore body would take me. Of course, Calix caught up with me in seconds and even managed to beat me to the lake, having noticed what I was running towards.

“What is that?” Calix growled, putting out his arm so I couldn’t run past him and securing me at his side.

“Calix, that’s a portal.” I answered breathlessly.

“What?” He looked between me and the portal in shock.

“Look!” I yelled, pointing at the portal and bouncing up and down.

On the other side of the rainbow void were blurry images. There were figures standing on the other side, looking like they were under water, but I knew who they were instantly.

“That’s my family.” I was crying now.

“River, are you sure?” Calix looked apprehensive.

“Completely sure. Calix, the Goddesses said they would open the portal when we were ready.” I was bouncing with excitement.

“I don’t know….” Calix’s grip on my waist tightened.

“Calix,” I urged him to look into my eyes, “I trusted you to keep me safe here, I trusted the people to welcome me, I trusted this realm to become my home. I jumped when you asked me to jump, now it’s your turn.”

I took his hand in mine and tugged him towards the portal.

“How do we know it’s safe?” Calix stood firm.

“Portals are safe, I’ve been traveling through them my entire life. Wherever my family is, it’s safe. Jump with me, Cal.”

Calix studied my face intensely before finally offering me a stern nod.

“Grier.” He demanded without looking away from my gaze.

Grier appeared at our side,

“Yes, Cal?”

“You’re coming with us as protection. Magnor,” He summoned his brother next, “You’re in charge in our absence, you and Vix.”

“Cal, is this safe?” Magnor was pale.

“If my Queen says it’s safe, then it’s safe.” Calix nodded curtly, like he was making a final decision, before looking away from me and towards Mag.

“How do we do this?” Grier asked.

“Together.” I said, offering both men my hands,

Calix greedily snatched up my hand while Grier hesitantly took the other one,

“Just, don’t let go.” I ordered.

“Never.” Calix’s eyes bore into mine and I knew how much of a leap of faith he was taking.

I offered him a smile before nodding towards Grier and taking the first small step forward, then another, and another, until we were plunging through the portal.