Page 44 of An Enchanted Knight

“There are better methods to kill oneself.” A beautiful man walked towards the dragon and her. “I believe your magic cannot best Meliot’s.”

Tall, dark, and handsome, he was the personification of a fairy-tale prince. He walked to the dragon and stroked his head. “Well done.”

“I need to speak to Meliot. Can you think of a better way?” She studied him. “Who are you?”

“I am Sterling. This is Caspian.” He motioned to the dragon. “He must have sensed your distress and went to find you.” Sterling’s cerulean-blue eyes searched her face. “Are you the enchantress who visited my sisters?”

Gwen couldn’t believe her luck. Of all times for a prince to come to her rescue, he came when she didn’t want it. She bit back the urge to laugh.

The resemblance to his sisters became obvious. His almost chestnut-brown, shoulder-length hair, his brilliant blue eyes and the same pale, perfect complexion were identical to Esmeralda and Rubiana’s. Unlike his sisters, Sterling dressed in modern attire, thick leather jacket, jeans, and biker boots.

He looked toward the castle and shook his head. “You can summon him, but I wouldn’t go any nearer. The sentinels don’t exactly stop and ask your purpose for visiting before tearing limb from limb.”

Gwen grimaced at the thought and glanced to the wolves. “How do I summon him?” She asked, getting aggravated, wanting to get this confrontation over with before losing her nerve.

The prince stuck out his hand. A black amulet hung from it. “Take this. Wait until I leave, then call him.” He gave her a long look. “Are you sure?”

Gwen nodded. “Yes.”

“It is a mistake. You cannot trust him. But it is your decision.” Sterling patted the dragon’s head, and it pushed itself upright, spreading its wings and flying away gracefully. He whistled, and a large white horse came out of the trees. Of course.

“The best defense is the truth.” Sterling said, and with that he jumped into the saddle and turned to leave.

“Hey, Charming?” Gwen called. When he turned, she waved. “Thank you.”

“It’s Sterling, and again I advise against what you are about to do.” He rode away, not looking back.

“Crap.” Gwen stared at the amulet. Am I really doing this? “Meliot!” She shouted, “I need to talk to you.”

Nothing happened. So she tried again.

This time there was a soft rustle of wind, followed by a dark puff of smoke, and the wizard appeared. Once again, she was taken aback by the malevolence that emanated from him.

“I don’t like to be summoned,” he told her, his black eyes narrowing at the amulet hanging from her hand. “Give that to me.”

“I don’t think so,” Gwen replied, pulling it on over her head. “It’s not mine to give away.”

She tried to appear nonchalant as fear gripped her. Her nails bit into her fisted palms, clenched tight to keep from shaking. “I came to complete the last part of the freeing spell and break the enchantment. The sacrificial portion is mine, I believe.”

The wizard’s eyes widened. He actually looked surprised. “You can’t possibly be serious. You have no idea what you are doing, paltry witch.”

Pacing before her, it was obvious he was considering a way to thwart her plans.

“You have to accept it, Meliot. You made the rules. You can’t break them. Unless what they say about you is true.” His head snapped to her, eyes narrowed. “That you never keep your word, that when bested you devise another hurdle to be passed.”

“I am not above reproach, however I’ve yet to be bested,” he retorted angrily, spittle flying from his lips. Good, she’d struck a nerve. “Do you have any idea what will be asked of you?” His eyes gleamed, his lips curved into a smile giving her chills.

“Yes, I do.”

“I am here to take Clara’s place.”

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Thunderstorms reminded him of another lifetime, another life altogether. The sounds of rain, followed by thunder soothed him. Tristan lay in bed listening to the symphony played by nature. Life was easy here in the alter-world, he admitted. No choices, pretty much just an existence of living day-to-day.

How had he allowed himself to sleep for so long! He got up from the bed, ignoring the pains that remained, and began getting dressed.

Gwyneth was gone, probably already taken back to the other realm. He didn’t feel the now familiar pull to follow, to join her in her world. Perhaps now that he’d given up on the idea of leaving, everything stopped.