Page 67 of The Black Dragon
22
Dragon fire,white hot. She was going to die. Just like in the vision she’d had seen in the dish soapbubble.
Ariel dropped and rolled to the ground, hugging herself, bracing for death as the flames engulfed her. Beside her, she heard Dell scream, smelled something likeroasting pork and then heard an agonized yell and crash. The screams echoed off the cliff walls and she knew he had jumped over theledge.
But no pain seized her, and no horrid sensation of her own flesh cooking. Ariel squeezed her eyes shut. Perhaps she was dead, and this was theafterlife.
She remained in a prone position, not daring to open her eyes. Still no pain, just the soothingwarmth. And the stench of charredfabric.
“Open your eyes sweetheart. You’reokay.”
She did as Justin tugged her upward. He was Skin once more, wearing jeans and a long-sleevedshirt.
However, she was stark naked, her clothing burned off her into cinders. Ariel brushed herself as Justin removed his shirt and gave it to her. It was long enough to cover herbottom.
“Ididn’t burn,” she marveled. “Why?”
Justin cupped her face. “Because you are dragon, my love. I had to chance it. I couldn’t let Vern harm you, and I couldn’t let him take anything from the cave. I made a promise to Drust to protect the baby dragons and the crystals while I washere.”
Leo was gaining consciousness. A fat goose egg was on his temple. He groaned, rubbing his head. Bloodstreamed from a nasty cut on histemple.
“We need to stop the bleeding.” Ariel looked around,frantic.
“It’s okay. Remember how I made the grass grow after I burned it?” Justinasked.
He knelt down beside her father. He touched the cut and it scabbed over. Leoblinked.
“Thank you,” Ariel told him, her gazesoft.
Flexing his fingers, Justin nodded. “You gave methe ability to hurt, Harrington, but also the ability to heal. It’s time I started using thelatter.”
“What happened?” her fatherasked.
She told him, glancing at theDrogmire.
Leo stood. Spotting the iron spear, she grabbed it before he could. “No, Father. You won’t kill him. It’s time to set aside the past and moveon.”
“Chase will never change. He’s a killer whotook away myMarian.”
Justin stepped forward. Her lover faced Leo with courage. “Let it go. I was able to forgive you. Let it go and put that crap aside. It will eat you up inside, like it didme.”
Her father saidnothing.
Wincing as he touched the spear, Justin took it from her and tossed it aside. “If I can forgive you for torturing and imprisoning me, you can forgiveChase.”
His words were directed at Leo, but Justin looked atAriel.
Was it possible? Ariel didn’t want to forgive this dragon who’d stolen her mother away, who had caused the accident that maimed her. Yet it was selfish to hold onto those feelings. Justin had apoint.
There had been too much anger and sorrow. It was time to set all the regret aside, and theguilt.
“Father,Justin is right. Let itgo.”
“I can’t,” Leo whispered. “He’s amonster.”
“If we forgive him what he did to our family, maybe he’llchange.”
Who knew? She’d seen many incredible things over the past twomonths.
