Cole: House of Wilkshire ― Paranormal Dragon Shifter Romance

by Kathi S. Barton

  “What did you do for the humans? I mean, you’re terribly big as a dragon. How did the first human approach one of you to ask for help?” Ryan laughed at her own question. “I guess I’m imagining they sent this frightened young virgin to stand up to one of you to talk about the help.”

  “It was pretty much like that. But they would send children, children who had lost their parents for one reason or another. The dragons helped the humans with their crops and fields. The faeries told us that a dragon’s poop is very high in nutrients.” They all laughed with Susanna. “Then it seemed that someone decided an entire village could eat off a single dragon for a very long time. What they didn’t know and found out too late was that dragon meat isn’t all that good. It’s stringy and tough. Mostly because it’s primarily muscle.”

  “How did it become known that the parts of a dragon are magical? I mean, other than the fact that they could fly.” Rylie had only just joined the family a few minutes into Susanna’s discussion. “I’m sorry if you’ve already answered that.”

  “I haven’t, and it’s a great question. But as you pointed out, we could fly, and with our weight, it could have only been magic that held us up so well. I don’t remember if it was a single family or a village, but it was discovered that once they started to bring parts of us into their homes—scales for their roofs, claws for digging, things like that—they started to get healthier. And with the scales being used, there was also a breeding increase. Anyone that touches a scale will be more fertile. There were other things as well that clued them in. Then along came a witch, and she began testing what she could find from a dragon in her brews or potions. After that, it became a free for all in everyone wanting a piece of them. The sale of our bodies was worth more to them than the friendship of a large animal that had worked beside them for all those years.”

  Some of the ghosts that had been play acting with the dragons joined them in the stories. The man that had started talking said he’d been killed by his own wife when she wanted to sell their roof right off the house so they’d have some coins. Another told of his brother turning him in to the police for hoarding dragon parts.

  “I did nothing of the kind. But once it got out there, people believed what they wanted, I guess.” The man laughed as he continued. “But I did me a good one before I passed. I handed off a scale to his missus, and they had a powerful bunch of children. All of them girls.”

  Everyone had a story or something to add to what they were talking about. It was like having a lesson from the ones that were there at the time. Better than any history class that Connor had ever been in. None of the human ghosts wanted glamour to make their wounds disappear but wore them like the battle scars they were. Connor thought he enjoyed that, the pride on their faces when they spoke of how they got whatever had felled them.

  The dragons were no less proud of their marks. Most of them couldn’t shift into a human, so it was Devon that did the translation when it was necessary, and they wanted to add something to the conversation. Noah had never thought of how much the dragons had suffered too. Not enough food. Forever being chased and killed. Their children sacrificed for the money they could bring. Even the waterways that some of them could feed from were not enough to feed their hunger.

  “I wish we’d not touched them.” One of them asked the newcomer why he’d say that. “Aye, you’d think I’d be the first to tell you I wish them all dead. But I missed the help when it came to planting and harvesting. I was so busy chasing that next dragon that I forgot me own duties to my family. They starved because of me.”

  “I’m so sorry. That must have been terrible for you.” Cole took Ryan’s hand when she spoke to the younger man. “Do you get to see them on this side?”

  “Nay, I don’t be looking for them. When they died, it was my fault, and I don’t think I could take the look in their eyes when they’d only just begged me for food that morn. I left them there, with the promise of coming home with enough coin that we’d buy us a cow.” He looked so sad that Noah could almost feel sorry for him. But as the man said, he’d been the one that had left them there without food or money. “I will stay on this side so as not to bother them. I don’t deserve to be around good folk like my family was.”

  Walking back to his home, he and Roxanna talked about how their day had gone and how glad he was that she told him to let the dragons play. If nothing else had come from allowing them to burn off some steam, they had learned a great deal about the time when there were more than now. Connor did wonder what they were going to do about all the wisps that had been found. Thousands was much more than he thought it to ever be.

  Their home was finished, and now as warm as any home he’d ever been in. There were parts of them both there, little things the two of them had picked up in their travels. As soon as they were able to, they’d start filling out the yard. Flowers for the faeries and others. Trees for the fruit. Connor thought he’d had the best life ever since meeting his Roxanna. He was going to spend every day telling her how much he needed and loved her because it was the truth.

  “I’ve been thinking about what we witnessed today. I think this would be a great opportunity to write a book.” He asked her if she was already bored with being his mate. “You know I’m not. But there is a great deal of history here. Not just with the dragons, but with the people that lived and died during that time. But instead of making it a history book, I’d make it some sort of romance. Magic galore.”

  “You’d have to have permission from Devon to write about dragons. I don’t know that he’d say no, but he might have a good reason if he were to tell you to write about the people instead of men.” She asked him about birds. “Birds? I don’t understand. Did you hear something about dragon birds?”

  “No. That’s just silly. I was thinking of a castle that was being defended by birds. Larger than life birds that would only work with one king. No, she’d have to be their queen. I don’t think a man would want to have birds around him. They seem so delicate. But these birds, my birds, would be loyal to only her and the people there.” Roxanna squeaked. “Can you see them? Flying through the air? I know it was dragons that did, but in order to make it so that no one would be hunting us down, we’d make it about birds. Oh, Connor, I can almost see it all working out in my head already.”

  As she told him what she was thinking about, he could almost see it happening. A group of birds. The people from the time period they’d been witness to tonight. She told him of great ships and of hoarding food. Roxanna even thought she’d put some of the downsides to living during that time.

  “Castle. I will need for her to have a big castle. A keep as well.” Roxanna was so excited that he was too. “I don’t know what I’ll call it yet, but I’m going to start on it as soon as possible. This will be epic, don’t you think? Romance in the skies. A castle with a queen. I’ll have to figure out a reason that there is no king, but that shouldn’t be too hard. Men during that time were pretty stupid. Going off leaving their family alone while they played at fighting? Why, I ask you? For more dirt that they could— I’m getting off track here. I’m going to start taking notes on my thoughts right now.”

  When she left him in the living room, he laughed. Christ, she was going to be good at this. It might not sell well, or it might sell out, but he doubted she’d care. It would be fun for her to write it, and Connor wanted her happy more than anything. Connor did wonder what Devon and the others would say about her big birds. How the hell would that even work?

  She’d get it worked out; of that, he had no doubt. And it would be a good book, despite having large birds doing all the heavy work. When she came back to him, kissing him on the mouth as she moved by him, she was talking about birds of prey, falcons and even owls. He didn’t even point out to her that owls and falcons weren’t all that small in the first place.

  Laughing with her, he sat down on the couch. When she handed him a sheet of paper, he
looked it over. An outline. She had already fixed an outline of the story. Connor just shook his head and turned the television on. Not long after that, the two of them were brought tea and cakes. Connor decided that life was good.

  ~*~

  Jackson looked over the list of wisps he’d been given. He’d not known that warrior dragons could depart from their bodies before they died, provided there was enough time—meaning they’d have to be dying when they did it, and not dead. It only worked about half the time, he’d been told, but that was enough for him to have a list of the original owners of all the dragons that had once been. Once he’d been able to count the names, he had the number closer to three hundred rather than thousands. He’d not thought of Rankheart not being able to count.

  “So what happens to them now? I’m assuming that like Kelly, they’ll go to someone worthy?” Jackson told Nicole that the wisps would make the choice as to who they thought worthy of being a dragon. “Oh, I didn’t know that. So whoever they think is worthy of being a dragon, that’s where they’ll go? I like that. You’d not want just any person to be able to be a giant dragon whenever they were pissed off.”

  “Right. Rankheart has been watching over them for all these years, so she’s ready to give them over to me to see to. Devon has so much on his plate right now that he’s asked if we’d take this job. If you have other things to do, I can handle this.” She told him they were both the dragon protectors. “I know, but I also know you’re into about fifty other things with the other women.”

  “I’ve got this with you. I really don’t think there is much we can do is there? I mean, if they pick out their host, that’s about all there is to it. Or am I missing something?” He told her he doubted she missed much. “Very funny. If you want me to jump your bones, you only have to say so. There isn’t any reason for you to butter me up.”

  “I’d love to butter you up. Cover you from head to toe in butter and slide my naked body over you.” He started to reach for her, then there was a knock at the office door. “Whoever that is, they’re not going to be long for this world. I can promise you that.”

  Rankheart came into the room when he bid her enter. The pixie hadn’t been around much. None of them knew if she was living with Dillon, who they’ve not seen much of either, or if she was back in the caves she’d been in. When she asked permission to sit, it was Nicole that told her they were all family here.

  “I’ve a question for you. Lord Devon said I was to come to you about it if it had anything to do with the wisps. It doesn’t really, but he is so cranky I decided even if it didn’t, I wasn’t going to bother him.” Jackson told Rankheart that it was more than likely a good idea. “I have their money. All of the wisps. They led me to their hiding places, and I brought it back with me to the cave. It’s hidden deep within, so no one will find it. Also, I was able to ward it so that not just any creature could go inside where it is.”

  “Is there a great deal of it?” He almost regretted asking her that about sums of things, but she said it would not fit into the room they were in. “Mostly gems, I’m assuming?”

  “Aye. They gave it to me. I don’t think they realized that watching over them was payment enough for keeping them safe. But I nary spent any of it. I never took a single coin out of there.” When he told her he believed her, she seemed to settle down again. Her anger at someone thinking she might well have made off with it was palatable. “There is mostly gems, yes. But when I came across something that was left behind, I brought it along with me too. Swords and the like. There are a few pieces of armor as well. Most of them I’ve cleaned up and oiled, so they’re in good shape.”

  “You’ve preserved them?” She just shrugged.

  Dillon came into the office with them, and he could see that the two of them were already in love. The pixie, being what she was, glowed with the newfound love. Dillon looked as if he might well be able to walk on air; he was so happy.

  “What do you want to do with all the riches, Rankheart? I know you said you didn’t take any of it, but I think you should take some of it as your own.”

  “Don’t need it. I’m not without funds. My family, they were tight as a fisted monkey with his food when it came to spending. When they were murdered, too, I just brought my things to the cave where I was and kept an eye on that as well. Dillon and I, we don’t want to do a regular job, but to watch over the wisps. The house that he had, I can make it safe for them. Dillon can do it too, now that I’ve shared with him.” Rankheart glared at him again. “You canna take us apart after all I’ve done for the king.”

  “I’d never even think of such a thing. No, you and Dillon can watch over them. Dillon is working for us.” He looked over at the besotted man. “Do you wish to stop working for us as our investor? It’s all right if you’d like to stop, Dillon. You have a mate now, and that’s more important than investing for us.”

  “I want to do both. That is if it’s all the same to you guys. As Heart said, we can work from our home in keeping them safe. There doesn’t seem to be too much work involved in the job, from what I can tell. They just need sunlight and fresh air. We have plenty of both.” He grinned at him when Jackson asked him if he was sure. “I’ve never been more sure about anything in my life. Heart and I, we’ve got a lot of catching up to do in loving one another. And I do. Love her. I never in my life thought that love was like this. But I have it now, and I want to devote as much of my life as possible to seeing if there is a way of making more. Happiness, I mean.”

  Jackson loved what he was saying. It didn’t sound sappy or anything. He was sure that Dillon meant every word of what he said, too. But there was still the matter of the gems and other items. He made himself a note to ask Devon about it.

  “I’ve had them separated out. Each wisp has its own section of things that I’ve found for them. I have to tell you that there are a few that never stayed with us. It was too much, I think, for some to be without a dragon. Did you know that they can kill themselves?” Jackson told her he’d not even known about wisps until now. “I guess they like to keep that part of themselves quiet. I know I would. But it’s possible. They only have to go into a living body that can’t handle the power given to them. It’s usually a human on the verge of dying anyway. I don’t know that they do it every time, but the passing of the human is so much easier with the last of their magic.”

  “You have taken a great deal of time and energy in caring for them, haven’t you?” Again Heart, as she was now going to be called, he supposed, only shrugged Nicole off. “Whatever is left behind from those that died, you and Dillon must take it. If you don’t need it, then you can set up some kind of fund for others that might. Such as college funds or something along those lines. We owe you so much, Heart. More than I think any of us realize.”

  “I was just doing what I should be doing.” She looked over at Dillon. “I think I got more than even the money can bring me. I’ve a good man that is happy with me. He don’t care none if I can’t cook. I canna slay his dragon either.”

  “Wait. What?” Heart asked him what he was talking about. “Dillon has a dragon? When did this happen? Was it one of the wisps that I have on my list here? I’m not angry, please don’t take it like that. I’m actually thrilled beyond words that he has one of them. Did you get one too?”

  “Nay. I’ve no need for one. I have my own.” They both stood up, and she looked at him. “I’ll be with the wisps if you’ve a mind to allow me to do that. Also, when you’re ready to take their gems, I’ll help you with that. There is a bit and some there. It’s not going to be disturbed.”

  “And the other? The coins that won’t be claimed? What will you do with that? You don’t need to tell me now, Heart, but I know Devon will want you to have it.” She told him she’d think on it. “Good. That’s better than telling me no.”

  “Ha. If I had a told you no, then that would have been all right with you too. I’m not one t
o trifle with. When I tell you something, my word is my bond. If I decide to take the coins, I’ll do something with it to make those that left them behind proud.” Nicole told her she didn’t doubt that one bit. “Thank you. Dillon and I are going to meet up with his sisters now. They’ve got some magic too with me being his mate.”

  When they simply disappeared, Jackson looked over at Nicole. “I think she just threatened me.” Nicole said he didn’t need to think on it, that she had indeed threatened him. “I don’t know why, but I have a feeling I should take her word for it. That she could cause me a world of hurt the likes of which I’ve never seen before.”

  “I’ve no doubt. But there is something I don’t think any of you noticed about Heart. When Devon first told us about her, he called her Rankheart the Red. She said it was for all the blood she shed. Then today, she was sporting a different head crown than she was before. This one is larger and more ornate. I believe Dillon has one as well, but he’s not had it on here. He had the marks of wearing one on his head.” Jackson asked her if she thought them royalty. “I do. She’s not one to brag, I think, and Dillon is very backward. But I’d bet anything, especially after she said her family was all dead, that she and Dillon are the royalty of the pixies in some way. I don’t know how far up they go, but I’d say if they’re not the king and queen, then they’re very close to being them.”

  “Well, what do you think of that?” He looked where the two of them had been sitting. “Now that you mention it, I did see that her crown was larger. I think I was simply caught up in what she was saying to us. Dillon as king? The man can barely put two words together most of the time. I think he’ll make a great king if the way he spoke about his love for Heart is any indication.”