“Um, Kai? What happened in here?” She knew the answer, but still hoped he would tell her otherwise.
“That would be you thinking a cyclone inside the room was a good idea.” He grinned weakly. Her funny man was always trying to make her laugh, always trying to make her feel better.
She walked to Kai and wrapped her arms around his waist. “I’m sorry.”
Kai led them back to the couch and snuggled Al into his side. She went willingly and was glad for the calming contact.
“Well, that was interesting.” The Shaman chuckled as he sat back down in the chair.
“How can I help her?” Kai asked again.
Al was starting to get used to the Shaman’s slow and thoughtful way of responding. He was always watching. She would bet he missed nothing.
“I think, now is the time to discuss the second reason you are here.” He finally said.
Kai tensed at her side and she looked up to see him glancing fretfully at her. What would make him so nervous? It always worried Al when Kai got nervous. He was always so confident and ready for anything, that when he showed her this insecurity it made her want to cradle him in her arms. It was moments like this that she understood how Kai must have felt about so many of the things in his life. From all appearances, you would think he was blessed, what with being selected to be leader and provided with so many educational opportunities. But, from the moment Kai had been selected, his life had ceased to be his own. Everything he did was for someone else. His life was as scattered and out of control as her own.
“Lass?” Kai had turned to her and waited for her attention.
When she looked at him, he started to continue speaking, but then stopped and knelt in front of her. He held her hands and she could feel his own trembling, so she clasped them tightly back and smiled at him.
“Lass, things have been crazy and I would have preferred all of this to have happened differently, but… finding you has been the answer to prayers, the completion of a dream. We have gotten to know each other, against all odds, but I know there is so much more for us to learn about each other and I look forward to the adventure. I pray for it.” He took a deep breath and Al held her own. “Alvena, I want you for my mate more than I’ve ever wanted anything, but the decision must be yours. Don’t feel like you have to mate with me because of your spirit guardian. We will figure that out, with or without you agreeing to be my mate. But, lass, I love you. I want to spend my life with you. My life is you. Will you be my mate?”
“Kai, I…”
“No, lass, think about it. Please. Look at me, see me. I am not those from your past, look at my actions and judge them for themselves.” His deep blue eyes pleaded with her. “Just know, I will always be here for you Alvena, I want us to be a team. I think we can balance each other.”
Balance. “You are the balance. Accept.” The words from her dream echoed in her mind as she looked at this amazing man. Each moment since she had first seen him had brought her insights into the man he really was. In the past she had made mistakes, but the mistakes weren’t all her own. She hadn’t chosen poorly, those that used and abused her friendship had chosen poorly. The dragon spirit inside of her had made her stronger. It had made her strong enough to accept herself. And, in accepting herself, she could accept this man.
Each moment, each action had her falling just a little bit in love with him. It wouldn’t be easy. They still had so much to learn about each other, but what relationship was ever easy? Was anything worth having ever easy? No, and it shouldn’t be. The struggles made them stronger, made the successes sweeter.
“Three hundred years is a long time, Kai. Are you sure you want to spend it shackled to me?”
“Alvena, three thousand wouldn’t be long enough to be at your side. No shackles required.” Love shown from his eyes.
She could also see his dragon spirit guardian lurking behind the man. In accepting Kai, she accepted the Dásreach and she accepted Kai’s spirit guardian and her own.
“Oh, there are shackles, because I’m never letting you go, big guy. You will be shackled in my arms.”
“Alvena,” he whispered, “what are you saying?”
“Yes, Kai, I will be your mate. I will stand by your side and help you with the commitments that you have made. I will love you until the day I die and beyond.”
Kai’s lips crashed against her own. She felt tears falling from her eyes. Pure happiness vibrated from within her. She clung to her mate, her dragon, her Kai. He took her lips with a passion born of long held hope and love. His arms circled around her and held her tight. In this man’s arms, in his kiss, she could see a future that she had never imagined. She was his and he was hers.
“I love you, Alvena.” The words brushed against her lips.
“I love you, Kai.” She breathed back.
From behind them, she heard the Shaman walking across the papers that still lay scattered around the room.
“Well, young ones, are you ready to speak your oaths and be mated? Are you ready, to get your Warrior Mark, Alvena?” He asked as he waited by the door.
“Funny how I went to New Orleans to find a bit of fun and ended up finding a dragon.” She grinned up at Kai as she grabbed his hand and pulled him to the door. “I’m ready.”
From the meek follower, to someone secure in herself. Al was ready to find so much more with her dragon.
Chapter 31
Al stood in a white stone room, alone, waiting for the Shaman and Kai to return with the equipment and ink for her tattoo, her Warrior Mark. She glanced at the meager furnishings, a stone altar against a wall of windows that looked out on forest and mountains, a cushioned cot, a three-legged stool, and a small wooden table. It had felt odd to sit down on either the cot or the stool, so she found herself pacing, her insides going crazy.
She was not only getting ready for her first ever tattoo, but to essentially get married. Kai had answered her questions as they had walked the short distance to the temple in which she stood. He had assured her that when he gave his oath to be her mate that it would be forever. Dásreach did not have divorce in their culture. She laughed as she remembered his adamant words that even if the Dásreach did, he would not, he wanted Al for the rest of his life and for him that wouldn’t be long enough. It wouldn’t be long enough for her either.
Married. Sigh. She didn’t regret not having a wedding, she didn’t regret not having her family here, but she did regret that the Book Worms were not with her. They would all have something to say, she could hear them now. Nat would ask her if she was sure, Rogue would ask her when the party was going to happen, Amelia would start dibsing Kai’s friends, Ariana would have some lewd innuendos to say about Kai’s ass – or other parts – and the other girls would be full of hugs, congratulations, and would ask for every detail of the story. She smiled. They were here with her, even if it was only in spirit.
However, Al was determined that once they figured out what was going on with the attacks and got Nat and Rogue both safely to Tiranam Dásig, Al would see about getting all of the Book Worms to Colorado for a celebration. She would find some way to afford plane fare for all of them. The girls in Europe would love to finally come to the United States. Her mind was so full of dreams of having the Book Worms all together, that she didn’t hear Kai come up behind her. He wrapped his arms around her waist and rested his chin on the top of her head.
“Are you ready, lass?” His breath whispered against her ear with his words.
She nodded her head and snuggled back into him. She loved the way it felt to be wrapped up in Kai – warm, safe, loved.
“Any last worries or questions?”
“No, Kai. I’m ready.” She turned in his arms and looked up at him. “I love you and I’m ready to take what I want.”
“What’s that, lass? What do you want?”
“You.” She reached up and pulled him down as she went up on tip-toe, her lips brushed lightly against his. He pulled her into his arms and hugged he
r tight to his chest.
“Alvena.” He growled. “You make me want things, things that will have to wait. The Shaman is coming.” She could feel the evidence of what he wanted against her stomach as the Shaman stepped into the room.
“No, not coming, already here.” He began setting out items on the small table.
Kai pulled her gaze away from the table with his fingers caressing her cheek.
“Alvena, once we say the oath and become bonded as mates, you will lay on your stomach on the cot. It makes it easier for you to relax. I will sit at the head and hold your hands. The Shaman will position your arm and begin tattooing. This is not fast like a tattoo gun, it will take time. As he tattoos the Shaman will hum, just concentrate on the sound and on my hands on your own, it will help you relax into the trance.”
Al’s nerves were beginning to cause second thoughts, she started to step back. She had never been a fan of needles. She glanced out the windows at the beauty of nature and the warmth she was beginning to realize was her spirit guardian flared. She had not only found Kai and his dragon, she had found her own, and she had to go meet her.
“We are ready.” The Shaman called to them from the altar. Kai positioned Alvena to his left and they stood in front of the Shaman at the altar.
“Now, young one, I know this is very different for you, but all you need to do is repeat after me.”
“Okay.” She said as Kai clasped her right hand with his left and gave it a squeeze.
The Shaman gripped their clasped hands in his own. Al turned to Kai and their gazes locked over their joined hands, as the Shaman began.
“The Great Spirit sees all and knows all, and in its wisdom it has given you each other. Repeat after me…”
Before you, I was only half, unbalanced.
With you, I am whole and in harmony.
I give this oath, to bind us in love and duty.
My life for you and the greater good,
My heart for you and family,
My soul to entwine us for all eternity.
Al didn’t know what she expected, some sort of magical binding, a feeling, or some sort of manifestation of what she and Kai had just promised each other. But there was nothing, except the look of love and satisfaction in Kai’s eyes. She saw pure joy in their depths. He pressed a light kiss two her lips.
“I love you, Alvena. My world is balanced in your hands, you are my everything.”
Al’s throat clogged with the joy she felt at having Kai in her life. She was speechless as he pulled her to the cot where the Shaman already waited.
*
Kai was holding her hands as she lay face down. He sat crossed legged on the floor at the head of the cot. The Shaman had positioned her arm and began to hum and sing, she didn’t recognize the words, but they were soothing. Kai’s fingers massaged the backs of her hands and her fingers. It was surprising how relaxed she was and how comfortable the cot was as she turned her head away from the Shaman and closed her eyes. She concentrated on the dual sensations of the Shaman’s voice and Kai’s fingers as they had told her to do.
Her mind quieted and she soon found herself leaving the world she knew…
*
Al found herself standing in a field surrounded by mist and fog. She couldn’t see more than five feet in front of herself. Turning in all directions she was lost, with no idea what direction to head. So, she took a deep breath and began walking in the direction she currently faced. Couldn’t be any worse than standing in one place. Flashes of her past began to emerge in the fog. All the times she had been wrong, all the times she had been right, and all of the times she had been neither. She saw herself at her worst and at her best. When she got to the point in her life where she met Kai, a shadow loomed out of the misty swirls of fog.
She stopped and watched as the sun moved from behind the clouds and began to burn off the fog. As the white veil began to disappear, she could see the bright sunlight glint off of bronze and emerald scales. There was no fear. She stood and waited as the large beast walked forward, stopping far enough away so that she could lower her large head and look into Al’s eyes.
Alvena, I’ve been waiting.
“I’m sorry.”
No need to be, you had to find your way.
“Yes.”
Are you ready to be all that you need to be?
“Yes.”
Are you ready to accept who I am?
“Yes.”
Good. Come, we will fly. The Shaman will be done soon, and we can return to your new life.
“I don’t like heights.” Al looked up at the dragon and wondered why this dragon would pick her.
The dragon chuckled. Oh, that will change I’m sure. Come, I will show you the glories of the sky.
Taking a deep breath, Al climbed on the dragon’s back the way that Kai had showed her on her one and only other dragon flight.
“You sure about this?” She asked as she gripped onto the scaled neck.
Absolutely! Her spirit guardian roared as she jumped into the sky. The beast’s strong wings beat the air and caused them to rise above the still foggy ground. Al could see for miles in all directions. Clouds soon drifted beneath them as they soared high in the sky. Strong and swift.
The dragon dipped and Al felt her stomach lurch from the drop in altitude. Not from fear, but excitement and joy. That is when she realized that she hadn’t even thought to close her eyes.
See. You are stronger than you give yourself credit for. Her spirit guardian chuckled.
Destiny has chosen all of us, you, Kai, me, and my mate that resides with your Kai. Together we will bring change. Together we will lead the Dásreach. Humans need to be shown how to care for their home and together we will find ways to teach them.
Al’s spirit guardian began to climb back into the sky, before swooping around and returning to the field where they had started from. Al whooped in joy when they landed. She had flown on the back of a dragon. She had kept her eyes open.
She jumped down from the dragon’s back. My dragon! My spirit guardian. Her feet couldn’t help but dance around. She did the obligatory fist pump and turned to her spirit guardian.
“I didn’t even feel afraid.”
Most of your fears are not the fear of what is happening, but of your lack of control. On this flight, you let that need for control go and trusted me.
“I still don’t understand why you or Kai chose me.”
As we keep saying, you are more than you see, Alvena. You are the balance for Kai.
“But, what does that mean?”
You keep thinking you need to be good enough for Kai that you need to be the same as Kai, but that is not what he needs.
“I’m confused. Doesn’t he need someone who can lead with him? What does he need?”
Yes and no. He needs someone to stand by his side and help him handle the things he can’t change, the things he has to change, and the burdens that he thinks he has to carry.
Al thought back to the times that she had seen Kai weary and almost broken by the pressure that he put on himself. The many times she comforted him and told him to let go. When she explained to him how there are times that things are just out of your control. She had told him those things, even when she didn’t apply them to herself. Maybe, she and Kai both needed to understand that sometimes you need to depend on others and not expect everything from yourself.
“I can do it. I can be what we both need.”
Good, the Shaman finishes. Come and hug my neck and we will return together.
Al wrapped her arms around the dragon’s neck and held on tight as she began to hear the raspy singing of the Shaman. She felt a sharp sting on her arm and then Kai was whispering in her ear.
*
“Wake, my Valkyrie, come back to me. The Shaman has finished.”
She blinked open her eyes and looked into the eyes of the man she loved. Kai had moved to the side of the cot and squatted to look into her face. She turned her head and saw a b
andage around her arm. The Shaman and his supplies were nowhere in sight.
“Alvena, here, let me help you up.” Kai moved to assist her. He showed her how to roll over without hurting her arm and assisted her to sit up on the cot.
“How are you feeling?” He asked with concern in his eyes as he looked her over.
Al sat and took stock of herself. As she flexed her fingers and toes and moved her arms and legs a little, she felt something move inside of her. I am here, Alvena.
She smiled at the feeling of her spirit guardian.
“Wonderful. Strong.” She responded as she looked up into Kai’s beautiful face. “In love.”
“I love you, lass.” Kai pulled her into a hug and Al felt a twinge from her arm.
“When will I be able to see it?” Her gaze focused on the bandage wrapped around her bicep.
“Well, now that you can heal quickly, you should be able to take the bandage off in a few hours.”
“Really?” Al grinned and looked at the man that had changed so much, but given her so much as well.
“Aye. So, want to check out the other gifts you have been given?” Kai’s wicked grin made Al’s heart melt.
“Like what?”
“How about we head outside and see what you learned on your journey. You think you’re ready to shift?”
“What? Oh…” She realized that she had the knowledge of how to shift into the form of her spirit guardian. She could partial shift or full-shift just like Kai could. The knowledge was ingrained into her being now, just like her knowledge of how to breathe. She also understood how to create rain, wind, and other weather. No more inside cyclones. Al began to laugh. “Oh, yeah.”
Kai laughed as he wrapped his arm around her shoulders and led her from the room.
“There is a huge field just for us. We can shift and there is plenty of room to accommodate our size.” Kai said with excitement.
As they walked outside of the temple, the sun shown into Al’s eyes and reminded her of the sun on her dragon’s scales.
“Kai. Guess what?” She smirked at him.
Finding the Dragon (Dásreach Council Book 1) Page 33