Dragon's Heart (The DragonFate Novels Book 3)

by Deborah Cooke

  “A lucky kind,” Nyssa said. She pushed back the net and stroked the side of the fish. It opened its mouth, revealing that it carried a ring. Nyssa took the ring, which was set with a large pearl, and the fish flailed.

  “Thank you,” she said, then lifted it in her arms. “Thank you,” she said again then kissed its cheeks. She gently lowered it over the rail and released it into the sea again. Its tail flicked and it was gone, swimming to the depths once more.

  Nyssa put the ring on her finger and it shone with a light of its own. A crown of red coral floated to the surface, too, and Chandra took the net to scoop it out of the water. She placed it on Nyssa’s brow. The selkie looked regal and remote, and Balthasar exchanged a glance of confusion with Thorolf.

  “All hail the new Queen Under the Seas,” Chandra said, bowing low before her, and Balthasar understood then that Nereus was dead.

  “All hail,” Balthasar and Thorolf said in unison.

  To Lila’s relief, Rhys burst through a barrier and they were suddenly in the sea. They swam toward the light and broke the surface as one. He took a deep gulp of air and she said his name aloud, loving that she could speak again.

  The water was cold, colder than the air, but they were alive and in the realm of mortals. She knew because the stars were shining overhead. They were near her home because she could see the Merry Dancers, twisting like a green curtain in the sky. The outline of the hills beyond the beach were achingly familiar and she thought she could even see the silhouette of her cottage.

  Home.

  Or what had been her home. She understood then that her home would always be at Rhys’ side, for the rest of her mortal days.

  “Figures,” Rhys said, treading water beside her. “One of these days, I should learn to swim.”

  “One of these days, I’ll teach you,” Lila replied with smile. “If you teach me to fly.”

  Rhys laughed. “One is a lot more probable than the other,” he said, then slipped underwater again. Lila dove after him and they came up laughing.

  “You did that on purpose,” she accused and he grinned.

  “I like when you save me.”

  Lila shook her head, amused. “Roll to your back and float. I’ll get us to shore.” Rhys did as she instructed and she wrapped her arm under his chin, pulling him closer to shore with easy strokes. He was right about trust: it was seductive for him to rely on her without question.

  It didn’t take long to get close enough to the beach that he could put his feet down and he stood up, tipping his head back to survey the sky. “I have a new appreciation for stars,” he said, then smiled down at her. “Did you notice there aren’t any in Fae?”

  “I did.” Lila shivered, then looked back at the dark water. “This must be where I went through the portal and met you.”

  “Then you know what to do,” Rhys said. “Close that portal forever.”

  “For our son,” Lila agreed and took the hag stone off its cord, kissed it, then looked at Rhys. “Maybe we should do it together, as a mark of sharing our futures.”

  Rhys smiled, his dark eyes filled with pleasure. He fitted his hand against hers so that the stone was trapped between their palms, then wrapped his other arm around her waist. It was like the way he’d shattered the orb, but this was a task they did together.

  Lila leaned against him, smiling at the familiar tingle of desire that she always felt when they touched, and Rhys’ grip tightened over hers. They pressed their hands together, crushing the stone. The blue-green light of darkfire streamed from between their fingers as the stone was destroyed, then flashed like lightning over the surface of the sea.

  “It is done,” Rhys said with a sigh of relief. “Although we have no idea where that other beach was.”

  “Another portal to close another day,” Lila said, and tugged him toward the beach. She felt giddy and celebratory, knowing they’d survived and triumphed. She knew that the hole in her life had been filled and she’d never be lonely again. “I’ll buy a pair of purple sandals if it makes you feel better.”

  Rhys laughed, then caught her up in his arms. He carried her to the beach. “Being warm and dry will make me feel better,” he countered, then smiled down at her. “Then making love to you all night long.”

  “You’ve got a deal, Rhys Lewis,” Lila said. “By the way, I love you.”

  He laughed, his eyes lighting with pleasure, then she pulled his head down for a very satisfying kiss.

  Arach lost sight of Rhys in the darkness, but he felt himself pass through a barrier of some kind. It wasn’t any more substantial than mist, but it was cold, far colder than Fae had been. His wounds from battling Theo ached more than they had and he was aware of his exhaustion and hunger. He forced himself onward and emerged suddenly in the light of dawn in a rocky place. He shifted back to his human form and wasn’t entirely certain it was his decision to do so.

  Had he seen more darkfire?

  To his astonishment, the bearded stranger and shapeshifter was there, sitting on a rock with a mug of what smelled like coffee. He smiled a greeting, said something in a language Arach didn’t understand, then gestured to a white-washed cottage.

  Arach figured he had nothing left to lose. He went and knocked at the door as the stranger watched with approval, only to be shocked when Donovan opened the door.

  “How did you get to Bardsey Island without me knowing about it?” that Pyr demanded, then pulled Arach into the warm and crowded kitchen. There were kids and mates, breakfast and hot coffee, and even a bag of Sloane’s healing salves. “You’re a mess! Sit down and I’ll patch you up as well as I can while you tell me what’s happened.”

  Rafferty appeared and exclaimed over Arach, then Marco and his mate, Jac joined them. The Pyr known as the Seven Thieves were there as well and when they spoke, Arach thought it sounded like the same language the stranger had spoken.

  But he was exhausted. At least he’d found a safe haven and he hoped the others had done the same. He sank into a chair with relief and glanced out the window, only to see that the stranger had vanished.

  After Lila and Rhys bathed, made love, ate and caught up with the Pyr on Lila’s laptop, Rhys tried to book them seats on the next flight back to New York. There were only two seats left, both in business class, but across the aisle from each other. “We could wait another day,” he said to Lila but she shook her head.

  “It’s only for a few hours.” She smiled at him. “Let’s go home, Rhys.”

  That sounded good to him.

  “I can put in a request for two seats together, in case it comes up,” he suggested. “Someone might have a change of plans.”

  They flew from Orkney to Edinburgh early the next morning and then to Heathrow. They had a lunch that Rhys found deplorable for the price, and made their way to the waiting lounge in plenty of time for the flight. It looked like a great day for flying.

  No sooner had they taken seats in the lounge than a woman stopped in front of Lila.

  “Excuse me,” she said, her voice soft with a Scottish burr. “Would you mind if I asked you something?” She laughed a little under her breath. “It might be a bit strange to believe.”

  Rhys noticed then that she was wearing purple sandals. They were sparkly and had high heels, and looked identical to the pair he’d noticed on the beach when he’d first met Lila. He glanced up. The woman couldn’t have been thirty years old and she was as tall and slender as Lila. Her hair hung like dark silk to her waist and seemed to flow as she moved. He would have guessed that she walked with the rhythm of the ocean waves. Her eyes were the clear silver-grey of the north Atlantic in the sunlight and when she gestured, he noticed that the bit of skin between her fingers was longer than usual. It extended halfway down the digit, but he didn’t find it unattractive. She blushed, noting his gaze, and folded her hand so it was hidden.

  “I believe a lot of strange things,” Lila said easily and tapped the empty seat beside her in invitation. Rhys felt the tension in her, tho
ugh, and knew that she’d noticed at least some of the same details.

  “It’s just that I’ve dreamed about you,” the woman confessed. She shook her head, obviously amazed. “I’ve dreamed about you all my life, and when I was able to draw you, my mum said she’d dreamed about you, too.” She looked between Lila and Rhys, obviously taking their silence for disbelief, then opened her bag with shaking fingers. “Look!” She pushed a sketchbook into Lila’s hands.

  Lila opened it and Rhys caught his breath. The first image was a woman seated on a rock, the waves splashing around her hips. She might not have been wearing anything at all—it was impossible to be sure, between the water and the cloak of her dark hair—and she was looking over her shoulder and smiling slightly. It was a sad smile and the expression in her eyes was haunted.

  As if she was taking leave of someone but had regrets.

  Rhys leaned closer and was sure there was a glimmer of tears on her dark lashes, as well as something held in her hand, partly out of view.

  But it was Lila. He had no doubt of it.

  Neither did Lila. Her fingers trembled as she turned the page. The next drawing was of a man, a man with his hands shoved into his pockets, his gaze fixed on the horizon. He looked to be standing on a pebbled beach and there was resignation, if not grief, in his posture.

  “I don’t dream of him as often,” the woman said.

  Lila turned the page quickly and Rhys heard her inhale. A boy ran toward the viewer on a pebbled beach, his bare feet splashing in the surf. He wore knee breeches and his shirt was open at the throat, the sleeves rolled up and his hands dirty. He held a shell in one hand and offered it to the viewer, his eyes filled with mischief. Rhys could almost hear his laughter. He watched Lila run a fingertip above the page, as if she would caress the freckles on his cheeks.

  “Thomas,” she said quietly, her heart in her voice.

  “You know him?” the woman asked, leaning closer. “I don’t know his name, or who he is. I usually dream of him like this, or sometimes asleep...” She flicked through the book, showing Lila two more sketches of what was unmistakably the same boy. “Do you know where he is? Do you know why I dream of him?” The woman took a breath. “I thought maybe he was in my future, but if you know him, that can’t be true.” She raised a hope-filled gaze to Lila.

  “I knew a boy once who looked just like him,” Lila said, her words husky. “His name was Thomas, but he’s been dead a long time.”

  “Oh.” The younger woman was clearly disappointed, then seemed to recover herself. “I’m sorry. I was so excited that I forgot my manners. I’m Kylie. Kylie Tate.” She took a deep breath. “I’m going to America. I decided it was time.”

  “Time for a change?” Rhys asked gently, sensing that Lila was upset.

  Kylie sat up straighter. “I’m alone. Everyone in my family is dead.” Rhys felt Lila stiffen a little but Kylie didn’t appear to notice. “And the night before last, there was a terrible storm with blue-green light flashing on the beach beside our village. The old people said the Fae had abandoned us and it would never be the same. I’m not sure I believe that, but it seemed like a good time to go. I’ve wanted to go someplace new, someplace maybe luckier.” She smiled. “And I’ve always wanted to go to New York City.”

  “No boyfriend?” Lila asked and Kylie shook her head.

  She lifted her hand, her gaze darting to Rhys, and spread her fingers. “I saw you notice. All the women in my family have hands like this.” She swallowed. “They say it’s because we’re descended from a selkie, and that’s why we can’t wear a wedding ring. It’s her legacy to us, that we can never be trapped in marriage like she was.”

  “You can be married or trapped without a ring,” Lila said.

  Kylie nodded. “Yes, but it’s a good reminder to be careful about making choices and commitments. My mother said it was because of the selkie that we had dreams. My mother had the Sight, but I just dream of people I don’t know.” She smiled and made to get up. “I’m sorry to have bothered you. I was just surprised by the resemblance.”

  “So am I,” Lila said warmly. “Tell me where you’re from.”

  “A little town on the west of Scotland. I doubt you’ve heard of it.”

  Lila offered her hand. “I’m Dr. Lila Isbister. I study grey seals, mostly on North Rona but also throughout Scotland. I’ll bet I do know your little town.”

  “The seals do haul out there!” Kylie agreed. She named a town that Rhys had never heard of, but he saw that Lila recognized the name. “Nothing else ever happens there.” Kylie settled back to chat just as a passenger was paged.

  “Mr. Rhys Lewis. Mr. Rhys Lewis. Please identify yourself to the ticketing agent for the flight to New York. Mr. Rhys Lewis.”

  He went to the desk, hoping they’d gotten the seats he wanted. It turned out that a frequent flier had cancelled and the window seat was available beside one of their aisle seats. Rhys glanced back at Lila and Kylie, the two of them deep in conversation, and had an idea.

  “Would it be possible to buy an upgrade for another passenger?” he asked.

  “I have a list of requested upgrades, sir...”

  Rhys gestured to Lila and Kylie. “My partner, you see, has just met up with an old friend. They haven’t seen each other in years and I know she would enjoy having the flight to catch up.”

  The ticketing agent glanced across the lounge and smiled. “Do you know the other passenger’s name? I’d have to check that she’s even on this flight.”

  “Kylie Tate,” Rhys said and put his gold card down on the counter. “It would be my treat.”

  The ticketing agent nodded when she found Kylie’s reservation, tapped a few changes and put the charge on Rhys’ card, then paged Kylie to collect her new boarding pass. She was thrilled and impulsively hugged Rhys, which made the ticketing agent smile, then hurried back to share the news with Lila.

  Lila looked up as she listened to Kylie’s excited chatter, her smile warming him to his toes.

  “And I didn’t even have to beguile anyone,” Rhys confessed in old-speak as he crossed the lounge, liking how Lila laughed at that.

  He was completely charmed himself and he didn’t mind one bit.

  Epilogue

  Vermont—Thursday, November 28

  Once again, the Pyr gathered at Kristofer’s farm for a scale repair and celebration. Rhys found it hard to believe that less than a month had passed since he’d last been in Vermont. This time, he brought steaks and lobster for their feast, as well as two turkeys and a ham. His restaurant was opening again after the holiday weekend and it felt good to be back in the rhythm of shopping and cooking.

  He liked his life even better with Lila by his side. She’d told him on the drive north that she’d decided to cut back her time on North Rona and would only go to the remote island for the annual haul-in of seals that were ready to give birth. She’d keep her census counts and monitor the health of the herd, but would be relying more on her junior research associates.

  “Can you feasibly decrease your hours so much?” he asked as he drove. It was a cold clear day, and there wasn’t much traffic.

  “It was never supposed to be a full-time responsibility. I was just committed, partly because I didn’t have other obligations.” He glanced over to see her pat her stomach. “I think you’ve taken care of that.” Her eyes were sparkling and she didn’t seem to mind the change. “A lot of the researchers are in grad school and need more field experience, so it’ll work for everyone.”

  “Next one of them will want you to retire so he or she can apply for your job.”

  “Two of them,” Lila corrected easily. “Regan even wants to buy my house.”

  Rhys blinked. “Are you selling?”

  “I haven’t decided.”

  He knew that decision was hers to make. “I was thinking, too,” he said and Lila laughed.

  “It’s better than the alternative.”

  He chuckled. “I could close the restaurant fo
r a month next fall and go with you to North Rona. Our son will only be a couple of months old and you’ll probably need a hand.”

  “I was wondering about leaving him with you. After all, it’s going to be cold and wet, which isn’t exactly a great environment for a baby.”

  “Won’t you miss him?”

  “I know I’ll miss you. It seems likely that I’ll pine away for both of you.” She reached over and touched Rhys’ hand. “What if I became a consultant on the project and let someone else take it over?”

  “I thought it was really important to you.”

  “It has been, but I’ve done it for decades. It’s not exactly challenging anymore, especially all the tallying and reporting.” She took a breath. “I was wondering whether you needed some help at Everyman Epicure. If I stayed in New York, we might be able to help the Others and the Pyr in the battle against the Dark Queen.”

  “That war’s not over,” Rhys said.

  “And the world isn’t exactly safe yet for our son,” Lila agreed. “I feel like going back to North Rona would be ignoring the issue. And I did reach out to a colleague at the university here. There’s a part-time teaching opportunity that could lead to more. It could be a nice stepping stone.”

  “You’ve been busy.”

  “Researching is what I do.”

  Rhys pulled over into a rest stop, wanting to be able to look into her eyes. “I’d love if you stayed,” he confessed. “I’ve been dreading the day you leave, although I know your freedom is important to you.” He held her hands tightly. “I love you, Lila, and you know I want to build a powerful partnership.”

  “You make a pretty enticing argument,” she admitted, then smiled. “You’ll never hide my skin on me. I love you, Rhys, and I trust you. Let’s build that future together.”

  He kissed her and when they finally parted, the windows were fogging up. They laughed as they wiped them clear and grinned at each other as they got underway again.