Chapter Eight

Night has fallen by the time the Everleigh and Xavier make their way back to the palace. She is no closer to figuring out what to do about her impossible situation, but she feels more at peace with the unknown. Xavier has been adamant in his reassurance that they will find a way to keep her safe and lift the binding curse.

When they reach the palace doors, Everleigh cranes her head all of the way back so she can take in their truly enormous size. She thinks to herself how everything here seems so much bigger than back home. The doors are easily as tall as a two-storey house and the scrollwork and gold inlays only adds to their breath taking magnificence.

Xavier leads his beloved through vast, ornate room after exquisitely decorated room, and down wide echoing corridors until they come to a stop outside one door. Everleigh braces herself, she has no idea what awaits her on the other side, but if Xavier’s child like grin is any indication, she needn’t be too concerned.

He braces his palms against the gold plates where the wooden edge of the doors meet, and with one almighty push, the doors swing open to reveal a room which she could have struggled to dream up, even as a child.

Huge bay windows fill the single curved wall, and the biggest bed she has ever seen sits right in the centre of the round room. Voile panels with delicate beading and embroidery hang from the ceiling and drape around the bed, held back by the dark wooden bed frame. The headboard is carved with a depiction of a dragon breathing fire and its eye is set with the biggest gemstone she has ever seen. She knows immediately that the deep purple stone is polished fluorite. Beth gave her a small one to keep in a little suede bag under her pillow when she was plagued with nightmares after her father’s death. Her friend reassured her that the stone would prevent the nightmares, and Everleigh sceptically accepted the offering. Much to her surprise, the stone seemed to work, as she has been free of nightmares ever since.

Beth loved crystals and herbs and candles, she always told Everleigh as much as she could, whenever she could keep her attention for long enough. Everleigh silently wishes she had paid more attention and her heart sinks when she realises Beth will have no idea where she is, or even if she is ok. She used to call herself an earth witch, but Everleigh dismissed it as her friend’s fanciful imagination running away with her. If only she had known then, what she knows know. Witches are very, very real, and having one on her side might come in handy right now.

“I need to see my friend, she will be worried about me, and I think she might be able to help us.” Everleigh leans her head back against Xavier’s shoulder and whispers the words as his hand slide around her waist. His lips pepper her neck with soft, tender kisses and she melts at his touch. Now that the idea of Beth actually being a real witch has entered her mind, Everleigh cant let go of the notion.

“She said she was an earth witch. I never believed her, Xavier I really think we need her. If we are going to find the High Priestess who bound my dragon, we will need help. Please.” Everleigh pleads and Xavier quietly takes in what she is saying. He had plans to enjoy his mate in the safety of his home, but he knows the sooner they do what must be done, the safer she will be, then he can spend the rest of his life revelling in her.

“It isn’t safe for you to go back there Princess. It’s the first place anyone would look for you. Will you allow me to send my brothers for her?” Xavier reasons with his stubborn mate but knows she will see the sense in his words. The dragon witch practically promised that if Everleigh wasn’t hidden by the veil of protection over Veralasia, she would be easily found. Perhaps this earth witch would be able to do something to help hide her.

“Your brothers?” in all of their talking earlier he never mentioned any siblings, Everleigh would have remembered that, even if her mind was captivated by her surroundings, that would surely have stuck with her.

“They aren’t my brothers by birth, but we have grown up together, fought side by side, they are my brothers in all but blood. I would trust them with my life, and if I am ever gone, they are the only ones I would entrust your safety to.” Xavier speaks so highly of these men that Everleigh can’t find a reason to argue for going to get Beth herself.

Xavier’s eyes glaze over for a second whilst he calls on his brothers over their telepathic link. Within minutes, three of the biggest, broadest, shirtless men appear at the tower door. Everleigh’s eyebrows creep up her face with something akin to amusement. She had been worried that her friend would be fearful of being taken from her home by dragons, but now that she has seen them, she has no doubt her friend won’t be putting up a fight. God knows that girl will follow their muscles and cheeky grins over the edge of the world.

Xavier introduces them from right to left, the tallest of the trio Jackson, looks like the youngest but possibly fittest of the collection. Xavier introduces him as his second in command, and the son of King Caelen’s Beta. Everleigh muses to herself about how she thought the whole Alpha-Beta dynamic was a wolf thing. She had found it interesting on a school trip to the zoo, when the guide had called certain wolves by funny names. She misses most of the details about the other two men, only really picking up their names, Emory and Drax.

“I’m so sorry, I don’t mean to appear rude. Today has been such a lot to take on board. I really do look forward to getting to know you all, and I am so grateful to you for agreeing to go and get Beth.” Everleigh apologises for her aloofness and gives the men before her a smile. All she really wants is to climb between the satin sheets on the bed and close her eyes.

“You have no need to apologise Princess. You have certainly had a day of it from the sounds of things. We will deliver your friend to you as soon as possible, don’t fret, she will be safe with us.” Jackson reassures her then the three of them take their leave.

“Come on precious, let’s make the most of the peace whilst we have it. we can’t afford to delay our search for long.” Xavier leads Everleigh towards the bed as if he knew that was precisely where she longed to be. His mind may be constantly on all the things he would like to do with her, all the places on her body he has yet to explore, but her needs will always be front and centre, and what she needs right now is rest.