The DragonWitch Tales - An Unexpected Beginning

by Shannon Harris

  “Time.” Lana ran her hands through her hair. “All right. I don’t believe I have a choice.”

  “No, you don’t.” As she and Jynx’s lay in bed that night, she knew she had more than likely hammered another nail in her coffin after talking with Lana, but she didn’t care. Now that she had found Alexia, she wasn’t about to do anything to jeopardize their growing relationship.

  ****

  “Paisley, focus.” Alexia stood a good twenty feet away and held one of her hands in the air. “You have to focus.”

  Sweat dripped down the back of her neck as she attempted to execute Alexia’s instructions. She shook her head of any inappropriate thoughts. They seemed to come unbidden when Alexia was anywhere nearby and they had been working closely together on her magic for hours. It wasn’t her fault Alexia looked especially yummy today in her tight-fitting black and gray dress, with an inappropriate amount of cleavage showing. It was getting harder and harder to concentrate on the tasks at hand because her eyes tended to stray downward. To distract herself, she chanced a glance at the back porch. Amelia and Zoey sat in rapt attention along with Olivia.

  Turning back to Alexia, she shook her hands out, rounded her neck, and focused. She closed off her mind to everything but what she wanted to accomplish. They had been focusing her energy on throwing up a force shield around different objects. Today she was supposed to throw one up around herself, but she decided to try something different. On the count of three, she threw one hand out toward Alexia, and a moment later she threw the other one in the same direction.

  After a few seconds, a fireball the size of a basketball flew toward Alexia, only to hit a barrier at the last moment, then disappear. Paisley grinned, but one look at Alexia’s face had her rethinking her strategy. To hell with fear. She took a few steps forward until she was standing directly in front of Alexia, who arched an eyebrow. “Please don’t be mad at me. I know I didn’t exactly follow your instructions, but it worked.” She took another step forward only for her body to be propelled backward and she fell on the ground. What the hell? “Really, Alexia? You did that on purpose.” She stood up and dusted her pants off.

  “Paisley.” She pointed around her. “This isn’t my doing. This is still your barrier.” She planted one hand on her hip and played with the necklace that hung around her neck with the other one. “You have to bring the barrier down. I couldn’t.”

  Paisley walked in a circle, touching the air around her to determine how big the barrier was when someone on the porch screamed. She jerked her head around. Olivia looked terrified. She ran to the porch. “What?” Everybody looked fine.

  “I can’t touch them,” her aunt said.

  Paisley walked around the girls, and sure enough they had barriers around them too, but unlike her aunt, they seemed fine. “You girls okay?” They both nodded and she turned and walked back to Alexia.

  “You put barriers around them also?” Alexia looked troubled.

  Paisley blinked. That wasn’t the reaction she was hoping for. “I guess.”

  “Take them down. Now.”

  Paisley closed her eyes and thought about everything she had done. A moment later she felt a hand on her shoulder and she opened her eyes. Alexia’s eyes were shining. “Paisley, what were you thinking about when you threw the barrier up? It’s important that you remember what it was.” She squeezed her shoulders.

  “Why?” She grimaced as Alexia’s grip tightened.

  “Because it shouldn’t have gone around them, too, if you only intended it for me.”

  “I was thinking about how I wanted to impress you. So, I came up with the idea to protect you from my blast. I can’t explain it, but I felt it the moment the barrier went up. The fireball, although cool, wasn’t my intention. I only wanted to test the barrier. I didn’t imagine a fireball, per se.”

  “You wanted to protect me?” She looked thoughtful.

  “Yes.”

  “From what?” She loosened her grip on Paisley’s shoulders.

  “You’re kidding right? From everything. People want you and your girls dead. Why do you think I’m doing all this? Not for me. Who’s going to protect you? Do you really think I can stand here while people threaten your life and the lives of your girls?” She ran her fingers through her hair. “Don’t ask me to do that. Please. I don’t know what I would do if something happened to any of you…if I could have protected you, but didn’t know how.” Her tirade was cut short when Alexia grabbed her by the collar and pulled into a blistering kiss. Paisley tensed for a moment, then melted into Alexia’s body and kissed her back. She slid her arms up Alexia’s back and pulled her closer. It was everything a first kiss should be and she never wanted it to end. The kiss deepened and Paisley lost all thought of time, until a small hand pulled at her pants leg.

  She reluctantly pulled away and looked down. Two sets of eyes looked up at her. “We want kisses, too,” the girls squealed.

  Paisley knelt, pulled them into her arms, and showered their faces with kisses. Amid squeals, tickles, and laughter, Paisley felt like she had finally come home. All the pieces fell into place when Alexia pulled all of them into her arms. Paisley kissed her neck and inhaled the scent that was all Alexia. “Why now?” she whispered in Alexia’s ear.

  “Because without thinking about it you chose us over everything. There shouldn’t have been any way for you to put a barrier around all three of us so effortlessly. I couldn’t break the barrier. You created them out of love. You love us enough to use all your power to protect us. It’s a dangerous proposition, because it will leave you vulnerable.”

  “I will do it again, if I have to. Nothing will happen to you or them if I have anything to do about it.”

  “That’s why now. It was time. We’ve been dancing around this for weeks.” She caressed Paisley’s neck.

  “Let’s quit dancing then.”

  “Yes, let’s, and we need to get back to work.” All three of them groaned and Alexia chastised them. “Girls, it’s important for Paisley to learn everything she can. There are bad people in the world. She must learn how to defend herself. All right?” Two heads nodded. “Give me and Paisley a kiss then go back to the porch.”

  Paisley held both girls a second longer than necessary. Now more than ever, she knew what she was fighting for. She stood up and Alexia ran her fingers down Paisley’s arm to capture her hand. With Alexia putting her trust in her she had to put hers in Alexia. She picked up her backpack and walked them to one of the outbuildings in the backyard. “Come along.” Once they were both settled at a small table, Paisley set her bag on the table, unzipped it, and pushed it in Alexia’s direction.

  Alexia didn’t touch the bag. “Where did you get this?” Her eyes were wide.

  “I found it when I was digging in Beatrice ’s garden. She told me not to show it to anyone and that it was a Palm Dragon.” Alexia stood up and started pacing. “She also told me I was a DragonWitch.”

  Alexia sat back down and peeked back into the bag. “I’ve only seen a dragon egg once, and that was in passing. This is beyond anything I would have believed for you. No wonder you could encase us in a barrier with no problem.”

  “I don’t understand?”

  “Dragons carry magic. They are magic. Whatever type of magic your Palm Dragon carries has already bonded to yours. You can channel the dragon’s magic through you and allow it to mix with yours. This is amazing. You’re amazing. I bet the Council had no idea about this.”

  “Beatrice didn’t tell me much. She gave me a book and told me to read it, but I haven’t had much time. All I’ve been able to do is skim it.” She pushed her glasses up the bridge of her nose. “I take it this isn’t that common?”

  “No, it’s not common at all. I’ve only heard of a DragonWitch in very vague terms. You need to ask Beatrice more about it, make her tell you the answers. I will see what I can find out through my channels.” She reached across the table and picked up Paisley’s hand, holding it between hers. “Are y
ou okay with everything that’s happened?”

  She sighed. “With you and the girls, yes. With everything else, I’m not sure. I don’t know what to do about Lana or my entire situation with her family. My magic is getting easier to control. On top of that, I have a dragon egg and I had a run-in with the Brotherhood.” Paisley explained the incident in detail, because Alexia insisted.

  Alexia waved off her concerns. “The Brotherhood preach a good game, but in most insistences they’re harmless. I wouldn’t see too much into it.” She pulled her hand back and bit her lip. It was the first time Paisley had ever seen her nervous. “There’s something I wanted to ask you.”

  She would answer her anything. “Go on.”

  “The situation with Lana…what exactly is it?”

  Paisley frowned then it dawned on her what Alexia was asking. “Come here.” Reluctantly, Alexia stood up and Paisley scooted her chair back and pulled her down onto her lap, forcing Alexia to wrap her arms around her neck. Paisley held her tight around the waist and nuzzled her neck. She would give anything to live openly with her and her girls.

  “We live together, in separate bedrooms. At this point, I guess, we would be considered more like roommates than friends. We have kissed a few times, but only once since I arrived here and that was before us. I don’t love her, nor do I have any feelings for her. The longer I am with her, the more I keep finding fault with her. I don’t know if that’s my doing or hers. When I come downstairs in the morning I hope to see you, but when I see her it tears me up inside. That’s not fair to her or to me. Or you.”

  She caressed Alexia’s cheek. “I didn’t choose any of this. Not my powers, or coming here, or Lana. Everyone chose for me. The only thing I’ve chosen for myself is you and the girls. I don’t want there to be any doubt in your mind. Lana is nothing to me, but you are everything.” She curled her fingers around Alexia’s neck and pulled her close, only to be interrupted by a knock on the door. She groaned when Addison spoke.

  “Paisley, I don’t mean to bother you, but it’s getting late. We should be heading back. It will be dark soon.”

  “I’ll be out in a minute.” Alexia’s grip loosened and she stood up. Paisley zipped her bag and slipped it onto her shoulders. At the door, she pecked Alexia’s lips and led them out. Addison was already back at the house. She slipped her hand through Alexia’s arm. “Do you believe me?”

  Alexia stopped them both and looked into Paisley’s eyes. “Yes, and I don’t say that lightly. You have somehow gotten under my skin. I won’t say the age difference doesn’t bother me, because it does.” She placed a finger over Paisley’s lips to forestall her talking. “But, you don’t seem to be bothered in the least by it and I will play off that. I am honored that you have chosen me and I will search through every book or notebook I have to see if we can undo this.” She tapped Paisley’s bracelet.

  “Even if we can’t, I will be with you. Make no doubt about that. No one and nothing will stop us from being together.”

  “Please don’t promise something you can’t deliver on. Even if we do get separated—Paisley, it could happen. Even if we do get separated, I will always wait for you and always try to find you.”

  “I couldn’t have said it better myself.” She captured the tempting lips in front of her and melted into the kiss until someone coughed behind them. She broke the kiss and rested her forehead against Alexia’s. “I can’t wait until tomorrow.”

  Alexia squeezed her close, then pushed her away and took a step back. “Addison is right. You need to go.”

  “Right.” As she passed by her, she kissed her cheek, then proceeded to the porch where she kissed her aunt and the two little girls before joining Addison at the gate and heading toward home. Halfway there, Paisley couldn’t keep quiet any longer. “Will you tell Lana about Alexia and me?” She held her breath for the answer.

  “No. I know what you’ve been through since the start of this. My loyalty lies with you now, not the royal family. I find no fault with Alexia or her girls. I pledged my life to yours the moment I took the assignment. That being said, I will gladly lay my life down for yours, but I can’t do the same for your Alexia or her girls.” She stopped walking and grasped Paisley’s hand. “You protect them and I will protect you.” Addison dropped her hand and continued walking. Paisley hoped it didn’t come to that.

  ****

  The next day found her once again alone with Alexia. After an intense training session, they were seated beside each other on the back porch with their legs dangling over the side. Paisley enjoyed training with her, but she enjoyed their quiet time even more. Just being in the older woman’s presence calmed her. “I can feel my powers getting stronger.”

  “They are. You’re doing remarkably well, Paisley.” Alexia slipped her arm around Paisley’s waist and pulled her snug against her side. “It’s so peaceful here.”

  Paisley melted into her embrace and kissed her on the cheek before resting her head on her shoulder. The sun was starting to set and she knew she would have to go back to Lana soon, but not for another hour or so. “Which do you prefer, here or there?”

  It took a moment for her to answer. “They both have their advantages and disadvantages. If you’re talking about overall, there, but if you’re talking about the present, here. I wouldn’t have you three if I was still in our world.”

  “True, but at least we had air conditioners.”

  Alexia chuckled. “That’s not what I miss the most.”

  “What do you miss?”

  “The convenience of the other world. It was so much easier to get things done.”

  “Oh my god, I know. I miss the food. The food here is fine, but nothing like what I was used to. I would kill for a bag of Doritos and a two liter of Sprite Zero.” They both laughed then lapsed into a comfortable silence. “If given the choice between the other world, or you and the girls, there would be no competition. You all would win hands down.”

  Alexia sighed and slipped her hand under Paisley’s shirt where it rested against warm skin. “Realizing I was attracted to you was one thing, but realizing that attraction is growing into feelings is quite another. You are special to me, Paisley, please don’t ever doubt that. I may not be able to say the words, but they’re there on the tip of my tongue.”

  Paisley raised her head and smiled. “You don’t have to say them. I know.” She leaned forward and nipped at Alexia’s lips before pulling her forward and kissing her. The kiss deepened and Paisley slid her hand under Alexia’s shirt and ran her fingers along her ribcage, but groaned when Alexia hissed and pulled away from her, reaching under her shirt and stilling Paisley’s fingers.

  “As much as I would love to move forward…” she pecked Paisley’s lips, “we can’t. Now isn’t the right time.”

  “I know.” She slipped her arms around Alexia’s waist and snuggled into her embrace. She would never get tired of the arms wrapped around her, and she would never take the woman in her arms for granted. After everything that had happened to her and all the revelations, finding Alexia had been a godsend.

  At this point, she didn’t know what she would do without her. She pulled back and pushed Alexia’s hair out of her eyes. Alexia probably wasn’t aware, but her eyes told such an amazing story and held such depth that Paisley had to remind herself to breathe every time she lost herself in their depths. She might not have been able to speak the words, but they were there shining in her eyes.

  Alexia kissed the tip of her nose, bringing Paisley out of her mental meanderings. “Penny for your thoughts?”

  “You. I was thinking about you.” She draped her hands around Alexia’s neck. “You are simply breathtaking. I can’t believe you have taken a chance on me, on us. I will fight for the three of you until my dying breath. I know it sounds crazy and I can’t explain it, but this, between us, feels so right. It blows my mind.” She rested her forehead against Alexia’s. “I never thought I would have these types of feelings for anyone. The only person wh
o came close was K.G., but in the end we were much better off as just friends. Just to be clear, I don’t see that happening for us.”

  “And what do you see for us?”

  “I think that if I told you that, it would scare you. For now, all I’ll say is, I’m not going anywhere.”

  Alexia sighed. “I am sorry about K.G. I don’t think anyone thought Gloria was that reckless. I certainly didn’t. If I had known, I would have done something to stop it. I can’t vouch for the Council now, but before I was chased out of town…” She rolled her eyes. “They were supposed to take steps to regulate the witches better.”

  Paisley pulled away from her, slipped her arms under her legs, and lifted her onto her lap. Alexia sighed and reached her arms around Paisley’s neck. “I hope they have, for everyone’s sake.” She bit her lip.

  “What?”

  “I can feel the dragon’s magic more and more. Sometimes it’s scary, other times, it’s a welcome relief to know I’m not alone even when I’m the only person in the room.”

  “Your dragon has already claimed you, and by the sound of it, wants to bond with you before it hatches. As it gets closer to time for it to hatch, the magic and the bond will only intensify. Let it. If it is within your power, don’t fight it. Your dragon won’t hurt you. At times, it will feel overwhelming, but once it hatches, most of the hard work will already be done.”

  “I am a bit excited to meet it and I can’t wait for the girls to meet it also. How cool is that going to be?” She tightened her hold around Alexia’s waist. “I love them already, you know.”

  “I know.”

  “I love you, too.” She turned to face her and was surprised when Alexia leaned forward and captured her lips.

  “I know you do. I can feel it every time you look at me. In every touch and every kiss. I hoped I would find someone to spend my life with, but I never dared dream it would be someone who wanted me for me. A lot of people would consider you a brave woman, Paisley, for trying to tame me.”