“Yes. I knock Papa down. I strong,” she confided, nodding her head for emphasis.
“I’m sure you are. Especially if you knocked your Papa down,” he told her as he walked toward the screen door. “I’m going to have to be careful around you — make sure I don’t make you angry,” he teased her.
Lily smiled at him and eyeing the package in his hand said, “What’s that?”
“What? This? Oh, I’m sure it wouldn’t interest you. You’re too big and strong to want this.”
“I do! I do!” Lily jumped up and down, excited at the prospect of something new.
“Are you sure?” he asked, pretending to examine her for sincerity.
“Yes,” she said resolutely as she crossed her heart with her fingers, just as Destroy had taught her.
“Well, if you’re sure,” he said, handing her the package.
Lily ripped open the brown paper wrapper and inside found some watercolors, paintbrushes and thick linen paper for her to paint on.
A huge gasp left her little mouth, “For me?” she asked, hugging the paints to her chest.
“For you,” Enthrall answered, smiling indulgently at the little silver-haired girl. He adored the child. He adored all children. He’d given up on ever having his own, didn’t even know if he could, but knew it was a moot point. No one to love him, meant no one to even try to have children with. So… he spoiled Carolena’s little one as much as he could. And if she ever had more children, he’d spoil them, too.
“May I speak to Carolena?” Enthrall asked Carnage.
“‘Es,” Carnage answered, waving him toward the house before following Lily to the table at the front of the deck, so he could help her set up her paints.
Enthrall pulled open the door and called inside, “Carolena? You busy?”
Carolena came from the hallway, answering, “Enthrall! No, of course not. Come in.”
Enthrall walked into the house and met her halfway across the living room. “How are you? Things getting back to normal since I took Rowan to my house?”
“Yes, Carnage is much less growly. And Lily is back to her usual self instead of leaking purple mist all around Rowan,” she answered giggling. “Speaking of, weren’t they outside?” she asked, walking over to look for them through the windows in the kitchen.
“They were. They were playing a ‘knock Carnage down’ game when I arrived.”
“Ah, yes. She loves when he pretends that she’s strong enough to take him down. I keep telling him that he’s going to fall through the deck one day. He just says he’ll fix it if he does.”
“I brought her a surprise, so maybe he won’t fall through the deck today. They are about to paint with her new watercolors,” Enthrall said proudly.
“Watercolors?! You spoil her so, Enthrall.”
He smiled at her sadly, shrugging, “I do. She’s the closest I’ll ever get to my own. You’ll allow me to spoil her, won’t you?”
Carolena walked back over to where Enthrall stood, as she watched her daughter through the window, excitedly showing her Papa all the colors in the package Enthrall had brought her, “You know I will. But don’t give up, Enthrall. I found Carnage — all the way out here. If we could find each other, surely you can find your love as well.”
Enthrall didn’t answer, just smiled at her. He’d decided to stop hoping. To stop dreaming. It only served to make him lonelier when it never happened. You couldn’t hurt so much from wanting something you couldn’t have if you stopped wanting it.
He said gently to Carolena, “Let us speak of other things. Here, I brought this for you from town.”
Carolena reached out, taking the envelope he held out to her, “What is it?”
“It’s a telegraph, addressed to you. I do not know what it says.”
Carolena tore open the envelope and took out the folded sheet of paper inside. She read it to herself before slowly looking up to meet Enthrall’s gaze. “It’s from my father’s lawyers. They are advising me of his death. I was his only relative. His only heir. They’re asking me to come back and settle his estate.”
Enthrall’s eyebrows raised, “I’m surprised they’d contact you so quickly.”
“I’m sure they’re hoping that I won’t respond, and they can liquidate the estate and use it as they see fit,” she answered.
“Will you allow them to do that?” Enthrall asked.
Carolena’s eyebrows creased as she thought about his question, “I don’t know. I don’t know what I want to do.”
The screen door opened and Carnage stomped in. He stomped everywhere he went, unless he was intentionally trying to be quiet. He went to the kitchen, filled a cup with water and turned to go back outside to bring Lily the water to use with her watercolors. He glanced at Carolena on his way past the table, offering her a brilliant, toothy smile, but froze in his step when he saw the look on her face. He went to her side, “Leenah?” he asked.
Carnage set the cup of water on the kitchen table, where Carolena had taken a seat, the letter in her hand.
Carolena gazed off into space — upon hearing Carnage call her name, she turned to him. “Hmm?” she asked.
“‘Kay?” Carnage asked, concerned.
“Yes. I’m okay,” she answered before looking down at the paper in her hand again.
Carnage touched the paper, jutting his chin toward it as though to say, “What’s that?”
“It’s a letter from my father’s law firm. They want me to come home to settle my father’s estate,” she explained.
“No!” Carnage bellowed. “Nooo goooo!”
“I wouldn’t stay gone, Carnage. But I really should consider going. The entire estate has been left to me. I’m his only heir. If I don’t go, they’ll liquidate it and use the money as they see fit, or perhaps just turn it over to the state to do with as they wish. I should go. At least to see that it’s put to good use.”
“NO!” was all he said, before snatching up the cup of water and stomping back outside to Lily, who had started calling him.
“So much for support from your other half,” Enthrall said.
Carolena smiled a strained smile, “He’s afraid of losing me. And he can’t go to protect me if I do go, so he’s worried about that, too,” she explained.
“What do you want, Carolena? You seem to be leaning toward seeing the estate settled and distributed as you’d prefer.”
Carolena sighed, “I want to think about it a bit. But, yes, I am thinking it would be best if I see it through.”
“Well, let me know if I can help. I’m off to see if Destroy has returned with Rowan yet. He’s taken her on a tour of Whispers,” Enthrall said, rolling his eyes.
“Trying to convince her to stay, no doubt,” Carolena said, chuckling.
“I’m sure,” Enthrall agreed.
Chapter 16
Destroy walked along beside Rowan, admiring how nature just seemed to flow toward her. The butterflies flitted about her, the birds would settle near her when they rested, and even the rabbits and squirrels seemed to follow, albeit at a safe distance. She was oblivious to it all, looking about herself with wonder at all the scenery the wetlands had to offer.
“It’s really beautiful here,” she said as they entered yet another clearing.
“It is. Though I have to say the creatures are far more visible this day than they usually are.”
“I wonder if they are not running from us rather than toward us,” she said, laughing.
“It’s you,” he said, nodding his head. “They know that you are beautiful. They rush to bask in your presence,” he said, spreading his arms to indicate all the creatures of the swamps.
“I’m sure that’s not it,” she said rather skeptically.
“It is. You are beautiful, Row,” Destroy stated matter of factly.
“It’s not beauty that draws them, Destroy. It’s the magic. The power they sense,” she explained, turning to him, “the power you sense.”
His brows drew down over hi
s eyes, “What are you saying, Rowan?”
Rowan didn’t answer right away, instead choosing to stroll around the clearing, taking in the trees and plants, the flowers, and, in particular, one unusually shaped tree right in the center. It was huge, overshadowing all else in the vicinity. And it looked like… she turned her head this way and that, stepping back to better admire it from a short distance away… a Dragon. That’s what it looked like, a Dragon.
Rowan stepped forward quickly, a small smile playing about her lips, “It’s a Dragon!” she exclaimed. “It’s shaped just like a Dragon! How enchanting!”
As soon as she placed her hand on the bark of the Dragon Tree, the leaves started rustling, the clouds started gathering and Destroy shouted from across the clearing as he rushed to her, “No! Don’t touch it!”
He was beside her in an instant, snatching her hand from the Dragon Tree. Wrapping her in his arms from behind, keeping her arms pinned down with his.
“Don’t touch it!” he admonished.
“Why?” she asked shakily, warily eyeing the weather. “What’s happening?”
Destroy raised his eyes to the sky, then the trees around them, noting in particular that the creatures had all fled the clearing.
“Destroy, what is going on?” Rowan asked, though more subdued.
“Do you recognize him?” he choked out.
“Recognize who?”
“The tree. The Dragon,” Destroy said, inferring the tree before them with a thrust of his chin, still not willing to let her go from the cage of his arms.
“No. How could I recognize a tree I’ve never seen before?” she asked, confused. Then she remembered the conversation at the breakfast table a few days prior. “Is this the Dragon that Lore spoke of? Is he Lily’s Dragon?” Then she answered her own question, “But how could a tree be Lily’s Dragon? It is but a tree.”
“I used to think so. I’m not so sure anymore,” Destroy answered, still eyeing the woods around them. “Come, let’s get back to Enthrall’s home.”
They walked in uncomfortable silence, Destroy’s mind racing, wondering if the Dragon would have awakened had he not pulled Rowan away from it when he did. The weather had certainly seemed to become stirred up when she touched it. He glanced at her sideways as they walked. He wondered if the Dragon was Lily’s. Maybe the Dragon was Rowan’s. That made him rumble deep in his chest. He refused to give up his Rowan, even to a Dragon. The damn thing could stay a tree forever for all he cared. He didn’t care that she seemed to have an effect on it. She was his. He clenched his jaw, looking around at their surroundings as they walked, to be sure no Dragon was spying on them, before once again glancing down at her.
“Why are you peeking at me?” Rowan asked, having noticed that Destroy kept stealing glances at her.
“You sure you don’t recognize the Dragon tree?” he asked again suspiciously.
“I’ve never seen that tree before in my life. I promise,” she said resolutely.
“Do you know any Dragons?” he asked.
“What?! No! Dragons are not real. How could I know any Dragons?” she asked.
“Well, they’re not real anymore, but they were. They could be! Especially if you wake it up!” Destroy said, feet planted where they’d stopped walking, hands on his hips as he glared down at her.
“If I wake it up?” Rowan repeated. Then she realized, “You believe the tree is really a Dragon, don’t you?” she asked.
Destroy just kept glaring at her, weighing his options on whether or not he should answer her and if so what he should answer. Then he remembered her statement from earlier.
“What power?” he asked.
“What?” Rowan said, now thoroughly confused.
“You said the animals were drawn to your power. That I was, too. What power? Why do you think I’m drawn to a power?” Destroy demanded.
Rowan sighed, looking down at the toes of her boots. She really didn’t want to have this conversation yet. She still hadn’t decided exactly when she was going to return to the city. And she’d begun to enjoy Destroy’s company in spite of herself. She’d hoped to spend a few more days with him, but if he demanded this explanation now, she knew he’d not want to be around her any longer.
“My power,” she answered evasively.
“I’m aware of your power. It doesn’t matter to me,” Destroy said.
Rowan raised her eyes to his, “Yes. It does. You just don’t realize it. It’s why all the animals come as close as they dare. It’s why any supernatural creature is drawn to me,” she looked down again, shaking her head sadly.
“It’s why I’ve avoided my magic all my life. All are drawn to me. They all want something. It’s not just my company. They all want my powers — for me to give them something, or get them something. Or to take them from me, and though I’d love to be rid of them, I can’t allow them to go to evil use. I have to keep them under control. It’s not me that draws them to me. It’s my power.”
“I don’t know what the others want. I don’t care what the others want. I want one thing, Rowan. You. Just you,” Destroy said quietly, matter of factly.
Rowan’s head snapped up, her eyes locking with Destroy’s. “You only think that.”
Destroy shook his head, “I know that.”
“You pulled me away from the tree. You saw what happened. You saw the power.” She said.
“Yes, I did. And you are not allowed to touch that damned tree again!” he ordered.
“It’s just a tree…” she started.
“I used to think it was a tree, but now I think it’s a Dragon. And you almost woke it, so don’t touch it again!”
“One cannot wake a tree!” Rowan shouted at him.
“If you’re his mate and you recognize him, you can wake him!” he yelled back.
“That’s ridiculous!” she screamed at Destroy.
“It’s true!” he screamed back, “Did you see the whole damned tree shaking? Did you see the clouds gather and the winds start? You almost woke it! Do not ever touch it again!”
“Why would you care?” she yelled.
“Because I’m not giving you up. And if you wake up that Dragon, I have to find a way to battle the damn thing because it’ll claim you. And who in the world knows how to kill a Dragon?! I don’t! Do you?! Huh? Do you?!” he blurted at her on a bellow.
Rowan stared at Destroy, she had no words.
He leaned back, his hands out to his sides, “Well, do you?” he asked dramatically, his head wobbling side to side a bit before jutting forward on his question.
“I don’t understand,” Rowan said quietly.
“What? How to kill a Dragon? Neither do I, that’s why you can’t touch him again,” Destroy said with a ‘duh’ tone in his voice.
“No, I don’t understand why you’d think that I’m the Dragon’s mate. If he is really a Dragon, I mean.”
“Because, legend says that the tree is a Dragon, frozen in time by the ancients for loving a human and refusing to give her up. The only way the curse can be broken is if his mate remembers him and finds him. Then he’ll wake up and claim her all over again,” Destroy explained, not quite as put out as he was before.
“That’s sad,” Rowan said.
“No, it’s not. Not if you just stay away from the damned thing,” Destroy said, working himself up again.
“Why do you think I’m its mate?”
“Did you not see the things happening?” he roared, his arms swirling and flying about his head indicating everything around them.
“I did,” she answered quietly. “But I didn’t recognize him. I still don’t. If he is real, he is reacting to my powers, not to me being his mate. And if you are correct, I couldn’t wake him anyway, only stir him up a bit.”
“Are you sure?” he asked suspiciously.
Rowan shrugged, “I’m sure that I don’t recognize him. Or any Dragon. I’m still not convinced he’s real.”
Destroy regarded her for a moment longer, then he sa
id, “Fine,” and started walking again. Then he called over his shoulder, “But still don’t touch the damned thing.”
“Fine,” she answered.
“Fine,” he retorted.
“And it is the power,” she snarked at him.
“Is not,” he snapped.
“Is,” she mumbled.
A split second later the trees swirled around her, the sky turned upside down, everything was a blur as he swept her off her feet. Her lips were on fire, tingling and throbbing as though they had a heart of their own. She was suddenly drunk on the most delicious scent, cedar and spice, and male. It enveloped her, as a warm, wet tongue licked gently at her lips, asking entry. She opened and moaned softly as Destroy tasted her, suckled her mouth, kissed her. He held her to him and kissed her for all he was worth. One arm wrapped around her waist and down to her bottom, his hand cupping her bottom to hold her securely against him as he kissed her and held her up off the ground. The fingers of his other hand plunged into her hair, holding her head snugly in place as he plundered her mouth.
Slowly her hands lifted, her arms going round his neck as she kissed him back.
He was close to losing control — she was soft, and sweet and oh so perfect in his arms. His heart was pounding as he suckled her bottom lip just before pulling away. He pecked her lips one last time and rubbed his nose against hers before setting her, still with her eyes closed, on her feet.
He leaned over, just in front of her, waiting for her to open her eyes.
When she did, he smiled seductively at her then said, “Beauty. It’s beauty, inside and out. I feel your power, and I don’t give a damn.” Then he spun on his heel and walked away calling, “Hurry up before you get left behind.”
She’d gone from seduced to irritated in 0.3 seconds. “You would not leave me behind!”
“Try me,” he called back as he rounded the trail up ahead.
“Fine!” she called after him, “I’m sure the Dragon will show me the way back to Enthrall’s just as soon as I wake him!” and turned to go back toward the clearing.
Again, the world spun and she found herself hanging upside down, a firm swat landed on her bottom, “Hey!” she cried out.
Destroy, Book 2, Whispers From the Bayou Page 13