Brantley had barely touched his food. "Nusgroth told me that you are back. Have you got the stone or you have resigned to your fate of staying here forever?" he asked.

Dawn could feel how tense he was and that gave her inner satisfaction. Her wolf smiled. "Brantley, I have brought the ruby back. It is beautiful and seriously I am tempted to take it with me."

​​

His expressions changed. The pupil in his eyes became smaller. "Hand it over to me," he said in a very cold voice.

Dawn tilted her head and mused, "Just like that?" She placed her fork down, rested back on the chair and said, "What about the pact we had that you would break the magic seals and let us leave?"

"Give me the gem," he snarled as his lips curled back on his teeth.

Daryn ate a spoonful of braised fowl meat and then placed his fork down. "No Brantley. The deal was that you break the magic seals and allow us to leave in exchange of the Stone of Solaris." He crossed his arms across his chest. "Tear the seal and we will hand over the stone to you."

Brantley laughed like a maniac. "Tear the closure? You must be out of your mind."

Daryn narrowed his eyes and Dawn could feel his heart pulsating fast. He was about to jump and punch Brantley. 'Daryn, don't.'

All at once the door of the lobby opened and a woman walked in. Daryn's mind froze and Dawn drew her head back quickly in shock.

"Maya?" Daryn asked in a shaky voice.

With a smile on her overly done red lips, gold eye dust on her eyelids, Maya walked in. Both her arms had regrown. She was wearing a green gown, which was open in the middle until her navel, exposing half of her breasts. The gown pooled at her ankles. On her hands were dragon tattoos that curled right from her fingers to her shoulders. Her hair was tied in several braids till shoulders and then left open. She looked like Brantley's whore.

"Hello Daryn," she said waving her hand at him.

Maya came and sat upon Brantley's lap who allowed her to sit on his at leisure. He placed his hand on her breast and said, "How's my pet doing today?"

"Never better," she replied. Then she turned to look at the two and raised her eyebrows. "Oh! Don't look so surprised." She took her hand to Brantley's hair and stroked them. "Brantley discovered me lying in the forest with chopped hands, curtsey to your father. He helped me with recreating them along with his dragon and in exchange I had to pay a small price—be a part of his harem." She giggled. "And I am so happy! I couldn't believe that a man could satisfy a female so many times." She bent to give him a kiss on his lips.

Dawn was speechless. And Daryn—he was wishing to get out of this place as soon as possible. The two people in front of him were sick. He held Dawn's hand and squeezed. 'I want to get out of here.'

Brantley traced the curves of Maya's breasts and said, "What do you think Dawn? Give me my gem or stay here forever, or how about both? I will take care of your needs better than Daryn. In fact I am going to treat you as my equal. After all you have the dragon." His eyes blazed with lust when he looked at Dawn. Maya clenched her jaws.

She took a deep breath. Her hatred for Maya returned with full force. She ignored her and said, "I would like to return your rock. It doesn't belong to me. But it is not with me."

"Not with you?" Brantley hissed. "Are you fooling me?"

"I am not," she shook her head. "Before coming here, I tossed it in the boulders that block the tunnel's entrance. Trust me that the magic that crackles over them couldn't do a thing to it. The stone simply lodged itself somewhere in between." She stopped and mentally communicated to Daryn, 'We have to leave for the tunnel now.'

Brantley gritted his teeth. He looked behind at Nusgroth. Then he turned his gaze to Dawn and said, "How do I know you are speaking the truth?"

Daryn ignored Maya's presence. He was so appalled by her that it disgusted him. "Brantley, you have formed a bond with Dawn and if you won't honor it, it will have severe consequences."

"Hand me the ruby, and the bond will break automatically," he replied. "Otherwise, Dawn will not be able to leave this place."

Dawn knew his game very well. The bond would break and she would be allowed to leave, but as soon as the bond would break, there was no guarantee that he wouldn't use his magic to stall her again in the next five minutes.

"You will get it once we reach the tunnel's entrance. It is there," she replied with a determined voice.

"Fine, let's go," he said and pushed Maya off his lap. "But you will ride with me Dawn."

"Brantley!" Daryn shouted as fire rose in his chest. "Stay within your limits or else I will forget decency."

"I will ride with Daryn," she scoffed. "There's no chance I will go with you." Saying that she rose and extended her hand to Daryn. He grasped it tightly. They walked out of the lobby in front of Brantley and Maya with their head held high. 'I hate this man,' she communicated to Daryn.

'So do I.'

Izar was tied to a post. Daryn walked to him and brought him to where Dawn was waiting. Brantley was already out. His face was fuming red. In front of him Daryn held Dawn on her waist and helped her mount the horse. He sat behind her and the horse trotted off. On her way, she searched for Quetz and when an assurance brushed her mind, she asked, 'Are you on the periphery of the forest?'

'Yes.'

'Be ready for my signal.'

'Okay.'