by Julia Mills
She scoffed and tried to look away, so he gently took her chin between his thumb and forefinger, holding her in place. “I mean it, Charlie. I could not have wished for a better match. You are my equal in every way–actually better than me in most. I love you from the top of your amazing brain to the tip of your cute little toes, and everything in between.”
He kissed her for just a moment, keeping her from commenting, using all of his restraint to not let things get out of control, no matter how much he wanted to grab her and run back to bed. There were things they needed to accomplish. Things that unfortunately, were more important than making love.
Only just a little though.
Pulling back, he saw her grin right before saying, “I love you too, dragon man. As crazy as it seems, I really do love you.”
Kissing her again, this time more thoroughly, he spoke directly into her mind, “Thank the Heavens.”
They broke apart, breathless and smiling. It was Aaron that recovered first. Looking out the window at the rising sun, he said, “You want to call Siobhan? Her number’s in my cell phone. And I’ll call Royce.” He tapped his temple. “That way we can get both ladies over here, tell them what you found out, and see if there’s anything else we need to know.”
“Okay. I think your cell is upstairs. I’ll call and then take a shower. Be back in a few.”
Before he could answer, she was padding up the stairs. Aaron watched until she was out of sight, loving how comfortable she was in his house. They hadn’t talked about where they would live after their mating was official, but he really hoped it would be in his home in their lair. Shaking his head, deciding to think about all that later, he called out to his brethren, “Hey gramps, you up?”
“Of course, I’m up. Some of us don’t sleep in all day,” Royce joked. “What’re you doing up already? I thought you didn’t open your eyes until at least ten o’clock.”
“That’s kind of a long story and why I’m calling. Let me start off with everything and everyone is okay. I just wanted to see if you and your lovely mate had time to come over. We found out what kind of magic Charlie has and I think you need to see it to believe it.”
“Oh damn! I guess it’s not dragon since you didn’t put out the all call.”
“Nope, not dragon, but still pretty cool. I’ll make my famous chocolate chip pancakes.”
“Deal!” The old man readily agreed. “Kyra’s been listening in. She’s already running around packing a bag. You called Siobhan?”
“Charlie did. See ya in a few.”
“See ya.”
Aaron thought about Sam and was sure his mate would want her best friend with them, but he called directly into her mind just to be sure. “You want me to call Sam and Lance too?”
“Oh, please. Thank you. Siobhan is calling Devon and Anya. I figured that would be okay with you. My mind is still kinda boggled. Sam will kick my ass if we don’t let her know what’s going on.”
“You go it. There are clothes in the closet and drawers. Wear whatever you want. You probably have about fifteen minutes before everybody’s here. I’m gonna go ahead and call Rayne and Aidan. Might as well tell everybody at once.”
“Whatever you think is best. I’m following your lead.”
His dragon chuffed while Aaron knew he was grinning like a goof. “All right, mo chroi. Finish your shower. Is brea’ liom tu’.”
“Love you, too,” she answered, surprising him that she understood the old language.
This just gets better and better.
Heading to the kitchen to start breakfast, he called Lance, Rayne, and Aidan. He’d just finished telling his twin what was going on when Charlie entered the kitchen. Hair still wet and curling around her face, she had on one of his favorite T-shirts and a pair of his sweatpants. He could tell she had rolled them several times around her waist, not to mention the three times he counted at her ankles.
“These were the smallest things I could find. You are huge, dude.”
“Why thank you ma’am! I’ll take that as a compliment,” he teased. For which, she stuck out her tongue.
Looking around at the kitchen counters, her eyes grew big and round. “Are you feeding an army?”
“Pretty much. You saw those heathens eat last night.” He laughed, returning to his pancake batter.
“What can I do to help?” She’d barely gotten the question out when the front door opened and in ran a blonde-headed ball of energy. “Aunt Charlie! Aunt Charlie! Aunt Charlie! Is it true? Are you a fairy?” Sydney hugged her legs before scooting a chair over and climbing up to help Aaron with the chocolate chips.
“Well…”
“Sorry. She can hear everything, even our mindspeak unless we wear the amulets Kyra made us.” Sam apologized, walking in behind her daughter with cloth grocery bags on each arm.
“No worries,” Charlie answered, helping her friend with the bags. “You know me. We’re family.”
“That we are.” Sam hugged Charlie’s neck before turning to help Lance with yet more groceries. “We brought bread, fruit, juice, and two more gallons of milk,” she called to Aaron.
“Sounds good,” he answered over his shoulder.
It wasn’t long before everyone had arrived and breakfast was ready. Aaron didn’t have as large a dining room table as Siobhan, but between the one he did have, his kitchen table, and the coffee table in front of the couch, everyone had a place to sit. Thankfully, his home had an open floorplan, so the conversation wasn’t hampered in the slightest.
He could tell that Kyra was busting at the seams. She and Charlie kept whispering and nodding until Aaron leaned over and said, “Y’all can go to the office or upstairs if you want some privacy, because everyone here is just pretending not to listen.”
The tables erupted in laughter and several of the Guardsmen yelled, “Busted!”
“It’s no big deal,” Kyra said when she’d stopped laughing. “We can wait until Siobhan is finished eating. She needs to be with us. I’m just excited. It’s been years since I saw a fairy.”
“I have eaten all that I can and I must say, Aaron, your chocolate chip pancakes were just as good as I remembered,” Siobhan said.
“I agree,” Sydney chimed in with her mouth full, making everyone laugh once again.
“All right, ladies let’s get to it,” Kyra jumped up and was heading towards Aaron’s office before anyone else had moved.
Charlie caught his eyes and nodded before speaking through their bond, “You’re coming too, right? Kyra wants to see my wings…”
“Absolutely. I’ll be right behind you.” He picked up where she left off, returning her smile.
“All right you meatheads, Rian, Rory, and the others are on their way. They just got back from scouting. You know where everything is. I think the soccer game from the other night is on the DVR. We’ll be back,” he called while following Charlie down the hall.
They had hardly entered the room when Kyra began talking so fast Aaron could barely keep up.
“Oh my goddess. Siobhan found you in what we’re calling ‘The Prophecy’. Listen to this shit. You’re not gonna believe it. You guys are in there.”
“What was that?” Aaron asked.
Charlie calmly repeated exactly what the little witch had said, once again surprising Aaron.
“See, she gets me,” Kyra smirked.
Siobhan opened the large ancient volume he’d seen her carry in and began reading, “A calling to heal, a hidden nature, a history long forgotten…all protected in the heart of a woman destined to complete a warrior and his beast. The revelation of all she is brought forth from the joining with her mate. There is more that I have not translated but I recognize the words ‘fairy’ and ‘dragon made man’.”
“Oh my…” Aaron and Charlie both gasped in unison.
“What?” Siobhan and Kyra both asked.
“In my dream or vision or whatever it was, Brynna told the story about how the dragon and the knights became one, and how
the fairy warriors helped them learn to fly. Princess Ailsa was happy about the collaboration and made a proclamation about someone from her line and a dragon shifter one day getting married…or mated, whatever you call it.”
“No freakin’ way,” Kyra squealed. “That is just cool!”
“That is extraordinary. If it’s not too much trouble, may I see the vision….just that part? I do not want to intrude. I would simply like to write down exactly what she said so I can see how closely our historians’ accounts and what your mother told you coincide.”
“Not a problem, but I don’t know how to do that.” She looked up at Aaron and asked, “Can you help with that?”
Kissing the tip of her nose, he answered, “I sure can, evgren. Your memory is now my memory and I share a bond with Siobhan so I can show her while Kyra looks at your magic.”
“Works for me,” she responded, quickly returning his kiss before sitting down next to Kyra on the sofa.
Aaron knelt next to Siobhan and opened his mind. Thinking of the part in the story where Brynna had spoken of her proclamation, he showed the Healer, who began to write as quickly as she could. It took three times through but she finally had it recorded word for word.
“Thank you. Now, get over there with your mate. I believe she is waiting for you,” the Healer ordered with a wink and a grin.
Standing and striding toward Charlie, he leaned over the couch and kissed her cheek before asking, “You needed me?”
“Yeah I guess,” she joked before both she and Kyra burst out laughing.
“See? Told you they were just big ole’ babies,” the little witch teased.
“Hey, you better be careful there, Broom Hilda. I might just call grandpa in here,” Aaron provoked.
“And I might just turn you into a toad,” Kyra retorted, trying hard to keep from cracking up.
“All right you two, take care of Charlie. Then you can tease each other all you want,” Siobhan scolded from her seat behind the desk.
Kyra was the first to speak, “Okay, I already looked at your magic. Looks like its growing just like it should be now that it’s been accessed and in direct contact with its source, your birth mom. So now, I wanna see those wings. I’m so jealous.”
“All right, but this is all so new for me. Like I told you, Aaron has to help me.” Charlie stood, taking off his T-shirt and pulling up the back of her sports bra.
“Whatever you need, Sweetie. Your man is always gonna give you whatever you need. I know mine does.” Kyra giggled.
Holding out his hands, palms up, Charlie placed hers in his. “You okay?” he asked, watching her face to be sure she wasn’t pushing too hard, too fast.
“I’m good. Stop worrying.”
“It’s my job to worry.”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah…that’s my line,” she chuckled inside his head.
“You ready?” he inquired.
“Let’s do this.”
“You know the drill. Think about what you looked like with wings. Pour your magic into that image…”
“Concentrate on them coming out of my back and unfolding to their full size,” she interjected, speaking over him.
Aaron was so proud of her, he couldn’t hold back. “You are just amazing. That was great!”
Kyra squealed. Charlie’s eyes flew open and Aaron and Siobhan laughed aloud.
“Those are gorgeous, Charlie!” Kyra exclaimed.
“They truly are spectacular, Charlene.” Siobhan smiled.
“Thanks you guys. I guess somewhere down the line I have to learn how to use them, but for now just getting them in and out is good with me.”
“I am so proud of you, mo ghra’.” Aaron hugged her close, careful of her wings but needing to feel her in his arms.
“Syd’s gonna wanna see these, but I’d like to save that for another day. This magic stuff is exhausting.”
“Then let’s get them put away and you can rest while I talk to the guys. I heard Rian and the others come in a few minutes ago. I want to see what they found when they were out last night.” Aaron was worried about the dark circles he saw under her eyes and wanted to make sure she got all the rest she needed.
Charlie held his hands but did everything else herself. He heard her reciting his instructions in her mind and watched as her wings once again folded into her back. Then he helped her straighten her bra and pull his T-shirt back over her head.
“Aaron, if you don’t mind, I’m going to stay in here and translate some more of this text,” Siobhan called out as he took Charlie’s hand, steering her towards the door.
“Not at all, stay as long as you like. I heard Kyndel and Grace talking about sandwiches for lunch.” He laughed over his shoulder.
“I’m hanging out, too. There’s something familiar about Charlie’s magic and I’m gonna see if I can figure it out,” Kyra added.
“You got it, kiddo,” Aaron responded, closing the door as he and Charlie stepped into the hall.
“Sounds like a party out there,” Charlie laughed.
“Haven’t you figured out it’s always a party when the dragons are around?”
“I think I’ve heard that somewhere before.”
Turning the corner, he yelled, “Well, I’m damn glad y’all have made yourselves at home.”
“Oh, shut up and get the hell over here. These idiots are betting on England to beat Ireland,” Aidan yelled. “And I’ve already threatened death to anyone that looks at the score before it’s over.”
Before he could tell them that he was going to rest with Charlie, she tugged on his shirt and crooked her finger for him to lean down. “Let’s hang out down here,” she whispered.
“Are you sure?”
“Yep, sure am. Looks like too much fun to leave.”
Squeezing in beside Aidan and Grace, Aaron pulled Charlie onto his lap. Whistles and calls sounded around the room and he laughed aloud as his mate yelled, “Shut it up! We can’t hear the game over here.”
Everyone laughed and soon they were all cheering for one team or the other. The game ended and Ireland was victorious. Aidan jumped up and started singing the Irish National Anthem at the top of his lungs and horribly out of key. Pillows flew as most booed and hissed. As soon as he finished singing, Aidan yelled for everyone to pay up.
Aaron was laughing so hard he almost missed Rayne calling them all to the dining room. The table was covered with maps and aerial pictures of the mountain where they were sure the traitor was hiding. Brannoc started talking as soon all the Guardsmen were gathered round.
“We went back out and scouted the area between the industrial park and the mountain.” He pointed to the map. “Using the amulets Kyra gave us and our dragon magic, we were able to confirm that it’s protected by a white magic shielding spell. Nothing to worry about. Looks like young Earth witches are using the woods as a place to practice.”
“Good news,” Rayne commented, studying the maps.
“Definitely. We also found that the businesses housed there get all their deliveries tonight and tomorrow night. Based on that, I think we need to hold off. There’s no use expending more energy than necessary using cloaking spells if we don’t have to. Kellan was able to talk to the security guard, who’s also ex-military, and get the scoop. No one, not even security, works the other nights. It’s all on a system, so we’ll be good to go.”
“As bad as I want to get him, I think waiting is a good plan,” Rayne agreed.
“The traitor’s not going anywhere,” Kellan spoke, a rarity when there were more than two people around. “I found more fresh blood about an hour before we pulled out. He’s there, still hurt, and from the looks of the footprints, moving slowly and dragging a leg. With the cooler nights and the rain that’s coming, he’ll be stuck in his hidey-hole until we get there. His scent will be strong and he’ll be ours for the taking.”
Aaron was shocked. He’d never heard the reclusive Guardsman talk that much in all the years he’d known him. Aidan kicked him under the
table before saying, “Stop staring. The man’s trying to come out of his shell.”
“No shit! Sorry. I was just shocked.”
“I could tell. You looked like you were catching flies,” his twin laughed.
“Brannoc and Lennox are going to prepare our strategy. Rian, Aaron, and Aidan do the mental tracking. The rest of you know what to do,” the Commander looked around the room. “Let’s have a good time. Get lots of rest. In two days we end this mess.”
All the Guardsmen cheered, but Aaron had other plans. Looking at his twin, he motioned for him to follow. As they walked out the front door, he called out to Charlie, “Aidan and I are gonna run some errands. You need anything?”
“Nope. I’m good. Hurry back.”
“Sure will. Love you.”
“Love you too.”
Now to plan the biggest day of our lives…so far.
CHAPTER TWELVE
Charlie had no idea where Aaron and Aidan were. They had missed lunch and now Kyndel and Sam were talking about what to make for dinner and the twins were still not back. To top it off, the jerk had somehow blocked her so she couldn’t listen in. Oh, she could talk to him through their bond, but she couldn’t eavesdrop, and her curiosity was about to get the best of her.
She’d asked Grace if she knew what was going on, but the attorney had said she had no idea and Charlie believed her. It seemed that the brothers were out on a secret mission and she was just going to have to wait. Something Dr. Gallagher did even worse than taking orders.
Making her way to the kitchen, she saw the ladies had decided on spaghetti, garlic bread, and salad for dinner. Using that as a ploy to talk to Aaron again and try to find out what he was doing, she called to him through their link. “The girls are making spaghetti for dinner. Are you close to the Town Square? Sam said there’s a great bakery there and I would love some chocolate cake.” She used the best ‘pleading tone’ she could muster; hoping to find out where he was….but he wouldn’t give anything away.