The time lapse between dealing with the hidden bones and the movers had been spent with the book found with the bones located under the broken stair tread. In total disrepair, the deep burgundy leather binding was seriously cracked, and had initially been a brighter shade of the color, or so I thought upon investigation. I knew I was capable of bringing the volume back to its former glory, and a test of the material for a timeline of when the book was written lay in store for me. I relished the process, just as I did with every book that was sent to me for restoration.
Idly I sat at the desk next to Drake’s stand and wondered whether to immediately begin restoration or work on deciphering the secrets the book held. Heck, it could be an old storybook for all I knew. Other than being hidden away with the bones, I had no idea what lay written on its pages, even though Drake had said I could read it. Seemingly, I was the only one who thought I couldn’t.
“What do you think, Drake?” I asked the dragon softly.
No answer.
I reached out and touched his scales. His eyes glowed. “Read the book.”
There was the answer I had been waiting for. The book was thick, wide, and as I took it from the dragon case, I noted it was well used. By whom? Who knew? When I touched it, my fingers tingled, sparks flew, and I quickly set it down before me. These electric jolts unsettled me, and I wondered if anyone else in the past had ever had the same reaction.
With a light touch, I turned page after page by their corner tips to study the script and the artistically scrolled beginnings of each new line of every chapter. Though they weren’t noted as chapters, they were clearly new sections. I turned back to the first page and stared at the words for a while. My head began to swim, my vision blurred a bit, and the words seemed to jump off the page and swirl in mid air.
Not unlike a book I’d restored in the past, the first word that filtered through my brain fuzziness was sm ind, a Gaelic term for ancient. The following word, seun, meant spell or charm. As the language took hold in my mind, a sense of this first rann, or portion, began to make itself clear. In my ceòthach, misty, state of being, I realized the rann was a tale of dragons, and told of the death and destruction they reigned over humans. Even the fae couldn’t control them completely.
The sounds of hammering on the front door broke the seun, spell, that had come over me. I suddenly realized that the book had turned my hands bright pink from the electricity of it. What was my connection to the book that made it spark and tingle my skin? I tucked the book and the question away for later consideration and answered the summons. My father and Uncle Charles had come to visit. I opened the door, greeted them with a smile, and glanced past them for Aunt Elizabeth.
“Your aunt had to return to London, and I won’t be far behind her. I wanted to speak with you before I left,” Uncle Charles said in a brusque manner.
Oh boy.
“Come in,” I waved my arm to the living room without dragons and watched both men wistfully peek into the dragon room. What they expected to see, or expected at all, I had no idea, but they were not welcome in there, especially with the book in residence.
We’d settled in and I waited to hear what they really wanted. I found it unlikely that Uncle Charles would stop in to wish me goodbye. He’d made it plain that he wanted the dragons, and I’d announced that he couldn’t have them, not even one. I’d become unpopular with the man after that and hadn’t had a visit since then. We all need to be happy about something in our lives, and a day without Uncle Charles yammering at me was a very happy day indeed.
“We’d like to discuss your role as dragon keeper, Linty,” my father said cautiously.
“Again?”
Uncle Charles spoke up. “You’re young and have no idea what you’ve undertaken. Dragon keeping isn’t for the faint-hearted. I, uh, we believe you’re in grave danger. I think Mother was wrong to force you to take it on.”
“No one forced this upon me, I’m honored to be the dragon keeper, to protect them from those who would use and abuse them.” Good golly, I’d spoken of the dragons as if they were alive. Careful, Linty, be very careful. The whisper startled me, I glanced down at my hands and wondered whether my subconscious had spoken, or if Drake could hear our conversation and had issued a warning.
His eyes narrowed as he studied me, Uncle Charles then looked at my father and coughed lightly. “Don’t be daft. How would these statues be used or abused?”
“I have no idea. If not, why am I in danger?” I countered.
My father reached out to take my hands in his, but I folded my arms. “Linty, dear, be reasonable. You must get rid of the dragons, lend them to a museum, sell them, whatever it takes, but they must leave Dragon Hill if you plan to live here.”
“Why would I do as you wish? It’s crazy to think I’m in danger. I won’t even consider allowing the dragons to go to parts unknown. If my welfare is important to you both, why haven’t either of you shown interest in my well-being throughout my entire life. I can’t think about listening to you now.” I remarked irritably as I rose to stoke the fireplace. “What’s this really about?” I demanded.
Knowing looks passed between them and Uncle Charles gave my father a nod. Dad sat back, crossed his legs at the knee and asked, “Have you come across an old book?”
I shook my head, even though my heart pounded erratically.
“You’re sure there was no book with the bones you found?” Dad insisted.
“I’m sure,” I lied.
“Don’t lie to me, please. This is of major importance, Linty.”
With a vehement nod, Uncle Charles picked up where Dad had left off. “You’re on treacherous ground, especially if you’ve found the book and have read it. Gaelic has been spoken in this family down through the generations. I’m unaware if Gran taught you, Linty, though with your background in restoration and knowledge of so many languages and dialects, you might speak it and can read the book. I’m telling you not to if you’ve come across it. It contains things you shouldn’t know and would best be left alone.”
“How do you know the book, if there really is one, would be written in Gaelic? What would that information consist of?” I asked.
“The book tells of a key to the dragons. It will instruct anyone foolish enough to read it how to bring them to life,” Uncle Charles said.
“Don’t be silly, they’re only statues, isn’t that what you said? Good Lord, you sound as if your cheese has fallen off your cracker, Uncle Charles.”
Taken aback by the remark, he asked, “My what?”
“You sound nuts,” I said flatly. “I think you want the dragons for yourself, to sell them, and get rich.”
He opened his mouth, but I waved away any lies he might have offered. “Do you not know those gaunt looking people have been here? They’ve come by a couple of times, and they’re quite creepy. I won’t let them in, refuse to discuss a deal with them, and the dragons will remain on this estate. That’s final.”
“Be reasonable,” Dad urged. “You have work that you enjoy, a life to live, and you won’t have either if you’re a keeper. Mother lost all sense of reality, you know it, and so do we. Even Smythe mentioned it when we spoke to him earlier today.”
I leaned back, gave them a narrow glare and asked, “Why would you speak with Mr. Smythe?”
“We met in passing, is all,” Uncle Charles blustered.
“Liar, you sought him out to see if you could break the will. Be honest, for heaven’s sake,” I demanded.
In an effort to own up, Dad said, “All right, fine, we only did so in an effort to relieve you of this burden.”
“I don’t see it as a burden,” I remarked smoothly and watched a car glide to a stop alongside my father’s. Cullen had arrived, oh my.
“Excuse me,” I said and left to open the door before Cullen could knock. He took one look at my face, and his lips compressed. “You’ve got company,” he murmured.
“Dad and Uncle Charles. Very unpleasant, too,” I whispered.<
br />
With a wide smile and cheerful voice, he asked, “I’m not interrupting, am I?”
“Not at all,” I answered in a cheerful tone, and walked into the room with him at my side. Charles and Dad had their heads close together. I glanced at Cullen and then said, “Look who’s here.”
Neither man appeared thrilled over the new arrival, especially as they were fighting a losing battle that would likely be a definite loss if Cullen had his way. It gave me pause to wonder what these three men’s motives truly were. Cullen wanted the book and possibly the dragons. Dad, well, who knew what he wanted. And as for Uncle Charles—he merely wanted to sell the dragons and make a fortune, that much, I was certain of.
The small sofa I’d been seated on was now filled arm-to-arm by Cullen and me. A team ready to fend off our opposition. I had no intention of acknowledging that the book existed, and as far as I could tell, Cullen wouldn’t either. If anything, when we were alone, he’d try to convince me to read it aloud and translate what was written. Reluctant to do that for myself, let alone for him, I held fast when Dad began to insist once again.
“Surely you must want to return to Edinburgh, lass?” Dad asked.
“It’s too late for that. All my belongings and work-related materials have been delivered. I’ve set the cottage up as an office. I’m currently at work on a project that was almost finished before I went to America.”
The news took both men by surprise. I wondered why they hadn’t known; lately everyone knew what I was doing, but me. “You weren’t aware of that? I’m surprised, Mrs. Douglas has said everyone in the village talks of nothing else except my book restoration cottage industry.”
“We weren’t aware,” Dad uttered with a touch of disappointment.
Uncle Charles added, “Surely it won’t be convenient for you to work here, Linty. How will you meet your clients?”
“I’m sure you realize the Internet has all sorts of ways to communicate with people, Uncle Charles. Good grief, I skyped with a client just this morning.”
“Skyped?”
“Yes, we spoke face-to-face over the Internet. My client and the book she wants restored will arrive within the next day or two. I’ll meet her in Aberdeen and we’ll transact our business at that point.”
“Who’ll be with the dragons while you’re away?” They wanted to know.
I grinned and thumbed toward Cullen. “Cullen has offered to dragon-sit. I won’t be gone long, several hours should be enough time to discuss business. Besides, with the security system I’ve had installed, there would be little opportunity for anyone to get away with entering the house without the police being notified.”
Upset, Uncle Charles blustered, while my father shook his head. “That’s unacceptable. The dragons must be watched over by family. I should be the one to do so, Cullen’s presence here is unnecessary.”
“That’s your opinion, and you’ve a right to it, but I’m in charge of the dragons, not you. Now if you don’t mind, I must return to work.”
Uncle Charles had become pensive, my father’s expression was one of anger, and I smiled. “I’ll walk you to the door.” Neither man liked to be sent packing, not one single bit.
As they strode to the car, I could feel a presence behind me. The scent of sexy cologne, combined with his masculinity, brought a sharp awareness of Cullen, as he stood close.
Chapter 16
Warmth from his hands brought a flood of emotions I refused to acknowledge. An errant thought raced through my mind, but I stuffed it away. Unwilling to consider what would happen if I turned in Cullen’s arms and accepted a kiss that I was sure would be there for the taking, I took a deep breath.
“You handled them well, Linty,” he said and walked toward the dragons. “Have you determined if you’re able to read the book? We must find the key to the dragons.”
“I haven’t opened it, let alone read it,” I lied. This lying business had become a bad habit, one I loathed. Plain and simple honesty was my usual policy. That way I didn’t have to keep track of lies that tended to grow out of proportion and could trip me up when I least expected them to.
His brow hiked, he offered me a cool look of disbelief.
“What?” I asked innocently.
“You might lie to your family, but don’t lie to me. You’re lousy at it.”
“All right, I opened the book, tried to cross the language barrier looking for words Gran had used when I was young, but I understood nothing. Happy now?”
“Better, but not quite the whole truth. Try again.”
“Get over yourself, and stop expecting me to complete your agenda for you. When I figure out how to read the book, you’ll be the first to know, okay?” So, I’d become testy, so what? First my relatives tried to boss me around, and now Cullen had picked up where they’d left off. For goodness’ sake, what had I gotten myself into? Maybe it would be smart to walk away from all this nonsense, and I promptly put the brakes on that thought. In my heart, I knew leaving Drake was impossible.
A glare from Cullen showed he wasn’t happy with my response. I shrugged, offered him a drink and pulled a bottle of Balvenie Double Wood single malt whiskey from beneath the sideboard. He watched as I poured us each a shot of the sweet liquor I’d come to favor. With a smile, Cullen took the glass I proffered.
“Let’s sit outside before it rains. Gosh, I’d forgotten how often that happens here.” I walked away with glass and bottle in hand. I sipped the liquor slowly, its flavor of dried fruits, sherbet spice, toasted almonds and cinnamon, layered with creamy toffee notes, traces of oak and vanilla left a delicious lingering taste in my mouth.
We sat in pale sunlight while gray clouds scudded in, dimming the day with threatened rain. I toasted Cullen and he nodded. “You arrived just in time to save my sorry butt.”
“And a fine one it is,” he murmured with a gleam in his eyes.
Changing the subject, I asked if he’d stay with the dragons while I went to Aberdeen.
“I will, but don’t dally. You and the dragons mustn’t be separated for extended periods of time. Essie had told me she couldn’t leave them for more than twenty-four hours, and she never left them unattended. I have no idea why, perhaps to prevent theft.”
“What else did she tell you about them?”
“They have a long history. Having been passed down from generation to generation throughout the centuries, the dragons have always been protected by the oldest family member. I can see why Charles wouldn’t be appointed to the position, but I’d have thought your father would be next in line.”
With a bark of laughter, I said, “Hardly. My father has never stayed in one place long enough to watch over his shoes, let alone a slew of dragons such as this precious lot. You mentioned he worked for the government, which, in my estimation, fits him perfectly. As long as I can remember, Dad hopped from country to country. He rarely visited me at school, and only did so when he was in the area. He keeps his Boston residence private and probably always will.”
“You really care about the dragons, don’t you?”
I nodded. “They have always been part of me, and I cherish them. Gran must have known this when she appointed me dragon keeper. I relish protecting them, making sure they never come to harm or are used for personal gain.”
“You and Drake have an unusual bond.”
“Indeed. He was my soul mate from youth, and will forever stay first and foremost in my heart.”
“He speaks to you.”
I gave Cullen a wide-eyed stare. “Yes.”
A satisfied look crossed his face. “He whispers to you.”
That he knew Drake was more than a statue, but lived encased in his stone prison worried me. I leaned forward, ready to spit out an explanation.
Cullen raised a hand and said, “It’s fine, I’ll never tell anyone. How could I accuse you without admitting I hear him as well. The authorities would likely send us to the same insane asylum.”
I chortled. “You have a point t
here. Drake whispers to me, he always has, though I’d never realized it until recently. As a child, I’d thought my imagination was at play and that belief stayed with me all these years. It wasn’t until I was alone with him this past week or so, that I finally admitted he could communicate. He’s aware of what goes on around him and is insistent that I decipher the book.”
A gleam of interest entered Cullen’s eyes, and that was all I got in return for my confession. Would he ultimately use the knowledge against me? I had to believe he wouldn’t. My next steps in discovery of what the book held would be taken with great care. It paid to be shrewd, I was capable of it, and resigned to being so. My amazement and curiosity over him hearing Drake speak caused me to ask, “When and how did you come to hear Drake?”
Cullen turned and looked me in the eyes. “When he first spoke to you, I heard what he said. Unwilling to admit it, I feel compelled to do so now. You’ll need all the help you can get when you have learned that you are capable of reading the book. Don’t fight doing so, Linty, I know you will develop confidence in whatever skills are presented to you, and reading the book will be one of those skills.”
“You might find the book enlightening. It may hold secrets you’re unprepared for and information that can lead to offering the dragons their lives back. In return, you’ll be free to live your life without fear, as you should.” Cullen stood and walked the patio, stared into the wooded grounds past the stone wall. He turned and murmured, “Go inside.”
Startled, I opened my mouth.
“Right now,” he ground out with a fearsome stare.
“I’ll be indoors if you need me,” I said and raced into the sanctuary of the house. From the library doors, I watched him walk idly down the road and into the forest. He’d disappeared from view when I heard a loud thump from upstairs.
The front staircase was quicker than the rear stairs off the kitchen and I took the steps two at a time. At the top, I stood quietly, awaiting an indication of where the noise emanated from. An eerie silence persisted, and slowly I checked the rooms, closets, and peered under beds. Where I got the bravery to do so was a mystery.
Dragon's Touch (Book 1 Linty Dragon Series) Page 16