Chapter 24 - Jacen

I held onto her, not too tight because I knew my strength could crush her.
I hate working with the Fae, they are shifty bastards.
I gritted my teeth. I already made one deal with them this week. I certainly didn’t want to make another. But for Chloe I would give my last breath.
I looked down at her frail body, her breathing was even, and she looked so peaceful.
She had no idea she had dust poisoning.
Fairy dust is very dangerous to witches. Usually knocks them unconscious and slowly drains their powers and kills them.
Whoever was on that dragon, certainly wasn’t the queen. She was a follower.
How did they know Chloe was here? How long had they been watching her? I am starting to feel like this was an inside job. There is a big enough place for someone to hide a dragon until it was time to attack. Certainly. This kingdom is huge. One of these people must be the corporate. Someone we least suspect.
I looked up in the room, Dakota stood there, along with Alexander and Dustin.
Alexander and Dustin where her warriors, they wouldn’t betray her would they? I saw Dustin and Alexander attack the dragon. It couldn’t be them.
Who else was here? Alaric brought us into the throne room to inform us that Chloe had sent a fire message for witches to return to the kingdom. Everyone would know where she was.
This is going to be harder than I thought it would be.
My priorities must be to protect her. We need a dust poisoning cure.
“During the competition there was a fae at the portal. No telling if he is still there.” I picked Chloe out of the floor. “We will stay here tonight, and in the morning, we will go searching for one. Alexander, you will stay here with her. If anything happens, and I do mean anything. You are to contact me immediately.”
I carried Chloe up to the third floor of the palace. It was the floor with the biggest rooms, I’m not sure why Ava never choose to sleep up here. I picked the first room on the left. When I opened the door all I could see was a darkly lit room. I used my elbow to turn on the light. I walked to the other side of the room and laid her on the bed. It was a light purple bedding with a canopy. The room is a little plain. I will certainly call someone to fix this room up. It needed to be up to date for this queen. I laid the blanket over her so she couldn’t get cold.
In the corner of the room I found an old chair just sitting there I grabbed it and moved it over to her side of the bed I want to be as close to her as I can be.
I felt like crying again. I really care for Chloe. She is destined for great things and I want to help her and protect her for all of it.

I awoke by a knock at the bedroom door. When I looked at my watch it was 5 am. I stood up and walked to the door. It was Alexander. “Dakota got this for you. He said you would need your strength.” He handed me a donated back of blood. I felt my fangs pop out. Truth was, I was starving. “thank you” I said taking it from him and biting into the side of it, quickly sucking it dry. I felt the velvet smooth blood slide down my throat. When I was finished, I used my hand to wipe my mouth clean.
Bag blood is never as good as fresh human blood, but it wasn’t the worst. Animal blood is the worst.
I felt stronger than I had in the past few days. Which was great. But I really needed more than one bag. I am grateful – just still hungry.
“I am leaving you and Dustin here. I want eyes on Chloe, 24/7. I mean it dude. Not a minute should go by where one of your eyes are NOT on her. I know you know who I am, and I will not hesitate to kill you.” I had to hold back my smile when I saw his face get nervous and he took a deep gulp. Good. I want him to fear me and do as I say.
I saw the fear in his eyes as he nodded his head. Feeling slightly satisfied with his response I stepped to the side to let him into the room. I saw him go and sit where I had spent the night. I walked out of the room.
I felt a pain in my chest, is it because I want to be next to her? Jealousy that he gets to and I don’t? I couldn’t trust him for this task, I have lived five-thousand more years then him. I knew way more then he ever could in his short life. He probably has never even seen a fae before.
I used my vampire speed to run down the two flight of stairs to the ground floor. When I made it down there, I could see Dakota was talking to the new grounds keeper. The yard was seriously in need of some tending to.
I’ve visited in the past. Ava searched for my help years ago. I gave her the key she needed to destroy the Dragon Queen. But seeing as I don’t see it and shes dead. It either did not work or she didn’t use it. I could guarantee that it would work. in fact, I know, wherever it is. It was still the answer.
Seeing Chloe during the competition told me my suspicions are correct.
Plus, in the seekers vision, he said he saw a beautiful blonde in command of the ice dragon. She is the only one who could tame and control him.
Ava fit the vague description. Blond, girl and beautiful. I never felt an attraction to her like I do to Chloe, but she was certainly not ugly. Any man with eyes could notice that.
Chloe.
What if she is the beautiful blonde that the seeker saw? We would have to find that dragon egg. Where could she have put it?

Dakota cleared his throat. “Right, well if you are done daydreaming, we have a girl to save.” I looked up at him. He was right. I could worry about the dragon later.
I walked over to him and he grabbed my hands. “hope you don’t get motion sickness.” As he said that I saw the blue looking orbs cover us. They glowed bright and was warm when they bumped into my skin. And in a blink, we were at the oak tree in the park.
One of the things I miss the most about being a witch was the teleporting. Life was better when everything was just a blink away.
I started walking around the tree, I didn’t see any fae.
“damn” I whispered. They probably didn’t just stay here when there was no reason for someone to use the portal.
What now? Time is running out and we just hit a dead end.