Hands Off Her!!!!

Dragana POV

My world went blank. I had no words to describe how I was feeling hearing this. I stared at my aunt, Lady Asma, for a second, seeing her, but after her last statement, nothing registered in my mind. I did not know what to think or what to say. Alpha King Jonathan came over and hugged me, but that, too, barely registered with me. I just stood there, everything lost to me, everything becoming an oblivion. I hoped I was having a bad dream, a nightmare, somebody would soon wake me up. Art’s strong arms came from behind me, wrapping my waist and pulling me to him. I could feel his heartbeat, but I just stood there, unable to process what was said. Lady Asma’s face was contorted, out of pain and out of tears, her beautiful features, her soul breaking. “There is more you are not telling me”, I heard myself say, without knowing that I was speaking. She simply nodded in agreement.

“He was bewitched, or so we believe. To this day, we still do not understand what exactly happened, but we know that he used an Al Kadar dagger. One of them anyway”, she further explained. Something clicked within me. I remembered seeing the Al Kadar in my mother’s throat, and I remembered seeing Lord Cazima’s dagger. “One of them?”, I whispered. “Yes, one of them. Originally, they were fifty-five. Only a handful remain in this world to our knowledge, some which have never been used”, she explained. “Let’s go to the house Dragana, all of this has been too much”, Alpha King Jonathan chimed in. “You are shaking, you need to get warm.” Only then did I notice I was indeed shaking and felt cold, as if whole life had been drained from me. “You used a lot of power to protect Jasmine, you need to regain your strength”, Lady Asma agreed with him. Before she could say anything else, Art picked me up, bridal style, and started walking back to the lake house. I curled up into him, as his heartbeat was the only thing keeping me sane, his scent calming me down. I sensed his wolf purring at me, trying to ease the whole situation. My eyelids were getting heavy, and all my energy was debleating. I fell asleep, but strangely felt awake.

Somehow, I was pulled into a world in between. I could still sense Art, hear things around me. My eyes were closed, but they felt open, it felt as if I were looking into a different world. “You are”, I heard an unfamiliar, gentle voice. Looking around, I found myself in a meadow, one I had never been to, under a beautiful mountain with snow glistening on it. Spring flowers littered the place, and there was an incredible serenity about it all. Crisp fresh air was around me, and I was taking it all in, the beauty and the strange calmness of this place. I turned around and my eyes rested on a woman – somebody I had never seen before. Her long ebony colored hair almost glistened blue, cascading to her waist, her porcelain skin, in direct contrast to her raven locks. In her hand she had a basket full of flowers, as if she were collecting them from the meadow. Her dark, soulful eyes sparkled gold and I sensed nothing but kindness from her.

“I called you here. To this world”, a soft voice spoke, a voice I did not know. There was an energy around her, something so familiar and so tangible to me, something I knew but could not place. Her soft, lavender tunic with streaks of gold reached almost to her feet and I noticed she was barefoot, walking around, with no care in the world. “I do not understand. How did you call me??? Why? Who are you??”, I asked, confused. “Ah, my manners!”, she chuckled softly, bending over, picking up some daisies. “Don’t you think they are beautiful?”, she asked me, as if it was the most natural thing. Something about her was so calm, so serene. And she pulsated with the aura I have experienced; I somehow was connected to her. “I have many names, at least I did in my time”, she started to explain. “Before I tell you what your mother asked me to share, I want you to know Cybela is injured but OK for now. She is with my mate, back at the Library, he is tending to her”, she spoke softly. “Alma????????” She smiled, beaming at me. “Wait, you knew my mom??? Cybela was your guardian too??? Lord Cazima…” I started speaking hurriedly, not knowing what to say or what to ask. What message did my mom have? Why didn’t she come to tell me herself? My thoughts were all over the place. Before I could ask, I heard her melodic voice.

“Your mother watches you every day, sweetheart. She is very proud of you. We all are. You indeed, are the answer”, she said, without me uttering a single question. “I can see your thoughts here, and I am connected to you by dragon magic. Cybela bounds us, bounds me to you”, she continued, picking up more flowers into her basket.

“Why did you call me here??? Why now? Why have I never seen you before?” I asked, again, unsure of what she was trying to communicate to me and why. I was grateful that she brought me news of Cybela - the pain of her sacrifice had been weighing on me heavily. “There was something I did not get to finish in my time on that plane. I never got to meet them. It is your duty now, your job, to find them. The three of you are the key, the balance this world needs to survive”, she continued. “Is that the message Mom wanted me to know???”

She chuckled. “No sweetheart, that is something I had to tell you, and I want you to know how important The Three are. You are one of them”. “The Three. Are we talking about…???” “No, we are not talking about the First Dragon and his siblings. We are talking about The Three, the balance that will protect the world. A dragon, a wolf, and a Tribrid. You are the said Tribrid.”


An overwhelming sensation came over me. Her words echoed in my soul and rattled something within me – everything she said rang true. But I also felt like something within me, something was set free. A warm sensation overpowered me, I felt it spreading like a slow burning fire, cursing through my veins, breaking free of barriers I did not know I had.

I heard Alma laugh again. “Dzana was indeed incredible”, she laughed again, her dark hair glistening, her eyes beaming at me. “What is happening to me?? What is this???” “You are being set free, Dragana. The holds your mother had placed are finally released. It is time..."

I did not quite understand what she meant, but in fact, her words again rang true. “You should probably go back to your world sweetheart. I am here if you need me. Always”, she said, coming over to me, softly kissing my forehead. “WAIT!!! What did my mom want me to know?”

“She wanted me to release you. She wanted you to remember it all…” her voice echoed, and I was startled, my eyes shooting open. I was laid out on the soft, plush bed in the lake house, Art’s arm wrapped around me, holding me tight. He sensed I stirred, and his eyes were on me. “What happened??? How long…” “You have been sleeping for a day now, we could not wake you my love”, he said softly. A whole day!!! “The Blessed Blade…Jasmine…” I started panicking. “I am sorry. We could not leave without knowing if you will be alright”, he looked at me guilt written on his face, pulling me closer, hiding his nose in the crook of my neck. Before I could respond, the door bolted open, and Roman marched in, scowl and anger written on his face. “Get your hands off her!!!” he growled at Art, lunging at him.