Chapter Eight

I awoke next to Caleb and Lilith, on the other side of the field from the sages.

“Hey,” Caleb smiled at me. “There you are.”

“You had us worried!” Lilith stepped behind Caleb.

Their faces were a blur. Everything was a blur. I blinked a few times. No change.

“Where’s Morgyn?” I asked, groggy.

“He’s fine. You were the only one who got hit,” Caleb explained.

I nodded. “They need me.” I tried to sit up.

“No,” Caleb stopped me. “It’s dangerous.”

“I can’t just leave them like that!” I shouted. The world was becoming clear again as my power recharged.

“They’re doing alright,” Caleb smiled, tucking my hair behind my ear. “They’ve already knocked down two more dragons.”

“Three,” Lilith corrected.

“No, Gemma did that one,” Caleb smiled. “And look,” he pointed. “They have another dragon on their side.”

I followed the directions of his finger. Sure enough, the subdued dragon was fighting with the spellcasters now.

“So there are two left,” I nodded.

Caleb also nodded, happily. “Yes.”

“How long was I out?” I asked, sitting up.

“A few hours,” Caleb said.

I nodded again. I peered over to look at Morgyn. He and the other sages had caught one of the last two dragons and we’re trying to subdue it. Without warning, I shot a bolt from my wand, taking the dragon down immediately.

Caleb and Lilith shielded their eyes. They turned their attention to me.

“I think I’m good now,” I smiled.

Caleb smiled as well. “Morgyn told me not to let you back. He doesn’t want you to get hurt again.”

I stood up and brushed off my shirt. “He can yell at me later.” I kissed his cheek and teleported away.

I appeared behind Morgyn. 

“No, no, go back,” he said, turning around. He was frantic. “I won’t let you get hurt again!”

“I’m fine. Recharged, whatever,” I reassured him.

“Dragon,” Simeon said.

I leveled with Morgyn, standing at his side, ready to attack again.

“Stand back,” he warned, a pleading expression on his face. “I can’t let you do this.”

“Morgyn,” I said, directing his attention to the dragon.

We attacked it together. It looped around and flew toward us again, closing in on Simeon. I summoned a shield around him and got ready to attack again.

L stood with Morgyn and I, and we each shot a looping beam at it, catching it’s wings and tail. We crashed it to the ground.

“Seriously, Jade, you can’t be here!” Morgyn tried to move me where I would be safe. The dragon got up from it’s position.

“Morgyn,” I said sternly.

“No, I won’t let you get hurt again.” He stood in front of me.

“No, Morgyn look!” I tried to point, but he grabbed my hands, trying to lead me back to Caleb and Lilith. I struggled to get free as the dragon shot closer to us.

“Please just go to Caleb!” Morgyn pleaded. “You ca-“

“Morgyn!” I shouted, trying to summon a shield. He was too close and still gripping my arms, and it failed. My eyes widened.

He turned just as the dragon crashed into both of us, knocking us down the hill, rolling down toward Glimmerbrook.

I grabbed Morgyn and cast a spell that stopped us. I sighed.

“That was close,” I said. “I didn’t want you guys to fight alone.” I smiled a little. “You’re so stubborn.” I looked at him and realized he wasn’t moving or responding. “Morgyn?” I pulled him closer to me, looking at his face. My eyes widened. He looked like he was asleep, but the longer I looked at him, the heavier he got. He was hurt.

“No…” I gasped. I immediately teleported us to Caleb and Lilith. As we did, the last standing dragon was taken down by Gemma.

“Morgyn!” I cried. I laid him down and listened to see if he was breathing.

Caleb crouched down beside us.

“I can’t hear anything!” I shouted frantically. I held my hands up to him, trying to cast a healing spell. Caleb checked for a pulse. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw him shake his head to Lilith. No, I wasn’t going to accept that.

I felt tears fill my eyes and fall down my cheeks. I wiped them away and kept trying to heal him.

“Jade,” Caleb said, putting his hand on my shoulder. 

“No!” I sobbed. “He’s a sage! He can’t just die like that! I was hit too, and I’m fine!” I looked at Caleb, my eyes red and bloodshot. “See?”

“You’re bleeding from your head as well,” he said.

As well? I looked at Morgyn again. The back of his golden hair was red with blood.

“Oh my God,” I sat back. “Morgyn, no. I tried to tell you.” More tears filled my eyes. 

Caleb hugged me, tears in his eyes as well.

“I tried to warn him,” I whispered. “He thought I was arguing with him. I tried to summon a shield. He was too close. I tried-“

“Shhh,” Caleb held me tighter. “I’m sure he knows.”

I cried into Caleb’s shoulder. “I tried.”

I noticed Caleb look above my head for a moment, but I ignored it. His face briefly shined red, but as I turned to look, whatever cast the glow was gone, or so I thought.

I looked back at Morgyn. I hugged him and cried. “Why didn’t you listen?” I whispered. “I tried.” 

I felt a shock between us, and as usual, I jumped back. I cried harder.

“This power!” I shouted. “Now it’s just mocking me!”

“No it’s not,” I heard a faint voice. I looked down and saw Morgyn’s eyes had opened. “It was telling you something.”

I gasped happily and hugged him tightly as Caleb’s eyes widened.

“Morgyn,” I said quietly. “I’m so sorry.”

“Stop,” he said. “It’s not your fault.”

I pulled away and just looked at him for a moment. Finally, I leaned down and kissed him deeply, desperately, telling him how thankful I was that he was okay. 

He giggled and rested his hand on the back of my neck, kissing me back. 

Caleb and Lilith looked at each other happily.

I broke the kiss and pulled away from Morgyn, wiping my eyes. “I’m so sorry,” I said.

He sat up and smiled. He looked deep into my eyes. “Don’t be,” he whispered as he leaned closer to me, kissing me again.

I was surprised, but of course, I kissed him back.

“It’s about time,” he grinned at me as we broke the kiss.

I shook my head. “You knew.” 

“I knew.” He smiled.

“And you felt the same?” I asked.

“One of us was just better at hiding it,” he winked. He looked up at Caleb, who was also wiping away tears. “And I suppose you want one too?”

We all laughed. Morgyn stood up and took Caleb’s hand, then pulled him into a kiss too.

I stood up and stared at them in awe and shock. I started clapping. They laughed and broke the kiss.

“Wait,” Caleb said, looking at Morgyn’s head. “The blood is gone.”

“Jade healed me, when I was still…well…dead,” Morgyn smiled a little.

“I did that?” I asked.

Morgyn nodded. “You did. You’re more powerful than you ever have yourself credit for.”

I smiled wide.

He turned toward me and lifted his hands. “And now you need yours taken care of.” His hands glowed with red magic as he healed my wound. As he finished, he smiled. “Better.”

“Thank you,” I nodded.

L came over to us, Simeon following close behind.

“How did it feel to be sage?” He grinned.

“What?” Morgyn and I asked. 

Caleb stifled laughter. “You had an untamed rune on your head when Morgyn died. It disappeared when he woke up.”

I looked at L, then Simeon, and then at Morgyn. “No.”

“Yes,” L laughed. 

“You really are my successor,” Morgyn smiled, wrapping his arm around my waist. 

I turned to face him. “Yeah, well I’ll do everything in my power to never take over from you.” I leaned closer. “You’re not going anywhere.”

He giggled and kissed me. “No, I’m not.”

“Celebration at the bar?” Simeon called.

Everyone cheered from all over the field.

Grace and Darryl brought their dragons down to their familiar size and dismissed them.

I smiled. “The other dragon was Darryl’s?”

Simeon nodded. “Yes.”

L also nodded. “And the other dragons were also saved and are back with their owners.”

I jumped up and down. “Literally no one died!”

“I came pretty close,” Morgyn grinned.

We laughed. 

As we walked down the hill to the bar, Caleb, Morgyn and I fell behind.

“So wait,” Morgyn scratched his head. “You two are a thing, but you were fine with me kissing her,” he looked at Caleb, then at me. “And you were fine with me kissing him?”

“Yeah, about that,” Caleb laughed. “I’ve known about her feelings for you for a bit now, and I’ve been trying to get her tell you.”

“But if there’s a relationship thing happening,” Morgyn looked at us, confused. “Who is it with?”

“All of us?” I asked, shrugging and giving a hesitant smile.

Morgyn smiled back. “I’m okay with that.”

“Told ya,” Caleb grinned at me.

I giggled. 

We got to the bar and sat down at a table. Simeon and L sat with us.

“Morgyn,” Simeon looked at him, concerned. “What came over you? You are usually so focused.”

Morgyn looked down. “Protection.”

Caleb nodded, and I sighed.

“I’m so sorry,” I said. “I didn’t want you to fight alone.”

Morgyn smiled. “I know. I was foolish for directing my attention on that.”

“I tried to warn you,” I looked away.

He took my hand. “I know.” He smiled at me. “Don’t worry about it. You saved my life.”

I nodded, but solemnly. “I don’t know how I did that.”

“Healing spell, and our mixture of magic,” Morgyn explained.

“When I hugged you,” I thought out loud.

“Yes,” he smiled.

“And how are you now?” I asked.

“I’m alright,” he responded. “A little fuzzy, but I’ll be better in a few day’s time.”

“I’m glad,” I smiled.

“Well, you two are the heroes of the day,” L nodded to Morgyn and I.

I blushed. “I was just doing what I was trained to do.” I looked at Morgyn. “I don’t feel like a hero.

“You saved our sage,” L smiled.

“While being a sage,” Simeon laughed.

“When we first met, I thought she was inquiring about magic so she could overthrow me,” Morgyn smiled. “Which, she easily could. But if today taught me anything it’s that I was completely wrong.”

“Told ya,” I grinned. “Maybe I’ll try later.”

“Better not,” Morgyn grinned while giving me a faux angry glare.

We laughed.

Darryl came over with his fiancé, Emilia.

“I wanted to thank you all,” he said. “And I wanted to apologize for all of this.” He looked at Morgyn. “Especially to you.” He hung his head.

“Darryl,” Morgyn smiled. “You had no way of knowing this would happen.”

“But I was showing off,” Darryl protested.

“It’s water under the bridge now,” Morgyn waved his hand. He stood up and hugged Darryl. “Also, I’m glad you’re alright.”

Darryl shrugged. “Sprained ankle.”

“Wimp,” Lilith grinned.

Darryl laughed. “I really am!”

I started to feel dizzy from all of the commotion. “I’m going to step outside for a bit,” I said, standing up. I walked outside and sat at one of the tables, breathing in the evening air. The battle made the day go by so fast. I was just thankful that we hadn’t lost anyone, including any of the dragons. I watched the sunset.

“Beautiful,” I heard.

I turned and saw Morgyn. I smiled and stood up. He put his arm around my waist.

“It is,” I said, still smiling.

“I’m sorry I ever doubted you,” Morgyn said.

“I don’t blame you,” I looked at him. He stared at the horizon with a straight face, as if he was deep in thought. “If I saw what you saw, I would feel the same.”

He looked at me, the sun catching his green eyes. He held up his hand, and I held up my hand to his. There was a shock.

I smiled. “Will that ever stop?”

“Probably not,” he shrugged. “But we can use it to our advantage.”

I tilted my head. “How so?”

He kissed me softly and a shock ran through my whole body, making me tingle from head to toe.

“Use your imagination,” he grinned. He rested his hand on the back of my neck and pulled me in for another kiss.

Chapter Nine (click here)