Legends of the Dragonrealm, Vol II - By Richard A. Knaak Page 0,146

was what he needed… that and his daughter.

He had wandered in a gradual upward direction, slowly making his way to where Barakas and the others were gathering, when a slim figure materialized around the corner of the stairway. There was no going around her and it was too late to turn back.

“Dru, sweet thing, I was wondering where you were!”

She had her arms around him and kissed him soundly before he could peel her clinging claws away. The struggle was made all the more difficult by the fact that part of him did not want to break away.

“Melenea… I didn’t see you earlier.”

“Didn’t see or don’t want to, sweet thing? Am I so bland and undesirable?”

In a world where beauty was commonplace, there was nothing common about the scarlet-and ebony-tressed sorceress. Enchantress was a word whose definition included Melenea. Her oval face was the color of pearl. Her lips, round and sensual—and soft, Dru recalled almost with shame—complemented her partly upturned nose and the narrow, tear-shaped eyes. Her brows were arched high, which tended to give her a calculating and commanding look. She had chosen to emphasize her cheekbones further than in the past and the effect was such that the memories it brought to life made Dru regret his not having departed instantly upon first sighting her. Her hair was short and tightly wrapped about her head, almost like a helm. Wisps of hair darted across her cheeks from each side, complementing her bone structure.

Where many of the female Vraad openly displayed their continually changing attributes, Melenea had, in contrast to the last time they had met, worn a form-fitting, glittering dress of deep green. The dress, by virtue of its clinging, displayed her full shape to far greater success than her counterparts. One reason Dru suspected he had not seen her earlier—and he had been watching just so he could have avoided this moment—was that she had likely been surrounded by admirers of both sexes vying for her favors.

Once, Dru had been one of the more ardent.

Melenea laughed lightly, pure music, and Dru’s pulse quickened. He realized he had been staring.

“Sweet thing.” She put a hand on his cheek and caressed it. Dru wanted to but did not move. “You’re so much more fun than the rest.” Her eyes twinkled, a trick she had mastered as no other had. The smile grew knowing. “You play the games with more feeling, more defiance.”

That snapped the spell. He reached up and grabbed her tiny, firm hand, but not before she left bloody memories of her long, sharp nails in his cheek. With a careless twitch, he healed the wounds.

“I don’t play your games. Not anymore.”

The laugh, the smile, they both taunted and tempted him. He knew his face had grown crimson long ago, but that was one thing beyond his abilities to prevent.

“You will, dear sweet Dru. You’ll come to me because I am the only way you can pass the centuries without thinking too deeply.” She artfully turned his grip on her hand into an opportunity to let her lips brush against his knuckles. Dru released her hand instantly, pulling his own to his side.

She took a step toward him and watched with visible amusement as he forced himself to stand his ground. “How is darling Sharissa? It’s been so long since I saw her. She must be a beautiful and desirable woman by now… and so new.”

“Sharissa is well… and no longer any concern of yours.” He would not give her this victory! He would not flee from her!

“She will always be my concern, if only because she’s your concern.” Melenea waved off the subject as if it no longer entertained her. “Barakas is making his silly speech and simply destroying the mood of the coming. A shame what he did to Dekkar and Silesti, isn’t it? I understand neither of them will be coming back.”

Dru gritted his teeth. There was no way to avoid some loss of face; he had to get away from her now!

“If Barakas is speaking, I should be up there. I trust you will be able to do without my company, Melenea”—he executed a mock bow—“as I have been more than able to do without yours.”

Now it was her visage that shone scarlet, the smile faltering just a little and the eyes narrowing. Some of Dru’s confidence returned. He started to walk past her, indicating to Melenea, he hoped, that her presence bothered him so little that he felt no need to instantly