by Kira Nyte
Cade shrugged. “Nothing a big broom and a dustpan can’t sweep up.”
“No. The Baroqueth.”
“Oh, them.” He chuckled. “They’ll be out for a while. It’ll give us a chance to reinforce a containment spell once I have them back at The Hollow. I’ll need to borrow Mark for that, since he’s the only accessible Keeper at the moment. Caught all who were here, including the two who were patrolling out back. Seems our little Baroqueth jail is filling up.”
“What happened?” Ariah pressed, her sobs coming under control. A fleeting cry fled her lips a split second before she threw her arms around Alazar’s neck and clung to him. “You scared me.”
Alazar gathered her close. After tonight, he swore he would never let her go.
“It was a little scary, huh?”
He tried to chuckle, but the sound was lost to him. Ariah sat back on her heels, brushing her fingers over his face. He glanced over her shoulder as Mark crawled toward him. His dark eyes were hazy.
“You stubborn idiot.” Mark groaned, coming to sit beside Zareh. He clapped Alazar’s shoulder. “You are certainly a dragon to be reckoned with.”
A small laugh escaped Zareh as he climbed to his feet. “There is more to this guy than even he knows.”
He held out a hand for Alazar, which Alazar accepted. With Ariah still tucked against him, Zareh hoisted them to their feet, followed by Mark. Mike shuffled toward them, rubbing the back of his head.
“We need to get to work on these misfits,” Syn said. Zareh mussed Alazar’s hair before joining Syn and Cade as they dragged unconscious Baroqueth into the center of the foyer.
Ariah tipped her head up and wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. “You, dragon, have a lot of explaining to do. Starting with why you wouldn’t answer me when I called to you. The telepathy obviously worked.”
Alazar nodded. “It was reestablished, but it was best for you not to know what was going to happen.” He sighed. “As it was, I didn’t have a plan except to protect you and your family at any cost, including my life. Then Mark told me he found the old Book of Realms, an ancient journal with spells and incantations that can connect magic from The Hollow to realms that may strip us of our magic. He couldn’t read the old dragon language, but I could with the use of crystals.”
Ariah’s brows furrowed. She looked toward the crystals and gems scattered on the floor. “And here I thought he wanted to play with rocks.”
Alazar snorted. “Not quite. Having that book changed the plan, but only if it worked. It was a huge gamble, one I was willing to take.” He lifted his hand between them, producing the gold coin he still held. Ariah’s eyes widened. Alazar grinned. “You picked a good coin, Ace. It was a pretty strong conduit between The Hollow and here.”
Ariah lifted the coin from his fingers, flipped it over, and glanced back up at him. “I don’t understand.”
“I needed something from The Hollow with enough residual energy from my homeland to funnel the magic. The coin was enough.” He caught her chin as she lowered her head. “You know something? I’m a pretty lucky guy as long as you’re by my side. I’d like you to stay. With me.”
Ariah’s lips formed a cute, shaky smile, her eyes bright and sparkling with adoration and residual tears. “We just defied death together. I don’t think I’m going anywhere. Besides…”
Ariah lifted up to her tiptoes and brushed her lips over Alazar’s. In that short breath of a caress, the throb in his body disappeared. He had his woman. His lovely, stubborn, spitfire Ace. She was safe. Mark and Mike were alive. He had survived. Luck was on their side tonight. A world of luck.
“I love you,” Ariah whispered.
Alazar smiled, slipping his fingers into her hair, and kissed her until he knew in his soul she would never doubt his free-flowing love for his one and only lifemate.
Chapter Twenty-two
“Are you certain you still want to stay? They’ll continue to come here looking for you.” Alazar handed the harness to Ariah as he moved to the center of the backyard. Zareh had Kaylae tucked under his arm on the patio as they bid Alazar and Ariah farewell. “First time in forever since you and I will be separated, Zar.”
The moonlight caught the bittersweet grin that touched his friend’s mouth. “There will come a time when we’ll be back together. For now”—Zareh gave Kaylae an adoring glance—“this is where we need to be.”
“I expect you two will visit?” Kaylae asked.
“We’d love to,” Ariah answered, clasping both her hands around Alazar’s. His heart swelled, filled to bursting with love for his woman. A week after the encounter with Miriam and her Baroqueth posse, Ariah’s chin remained high, her attitude nothing shy of strong and fierce, and her eagerness to start a life with Alazar back at The Hollow endearing. He and Mark spent the latter half of the week transporting necessities back to their homeland in preparation for the move. “And same for you and Zareh. Come see us until that time you decide to return for good.”
“We make a trip every month or so. Next time we’re there, we’ll make sure to knock on your door.” Kaylae snuggled into Zareh’s side. “It’s going to be strange without you around, Al.”
“Oh, I’m sure you’ll get over my absence, especially since you won’t have to babysit a grown man any longer.” Alazar laughed, stepping away from Ariah. “Ready, Ace?”
Alazar didn’t need verbal confirmation. Ariah thrummed with excitement that resonated within his own body. He allowed the transformation from man to dragon to come over him, quick, fluid, and natural. He lowered his belly to the ground so Ariah could strap on the harness with Zareh’s help, and used the pollex of his wing to lift her onto his back.
Zareh patted Alazar’s crest. “Brother, you be well. We’ll fly together again soon.”
Alazar snorted in response, tipping his head to nudge Zareh. As painful as it was to leave his closest friend, there was no comparison to the promise of his future with Ariah.
He’d been granted one rare and wonderful gift.
His lifemate.
“I’m secured, Alazar.”
“Hold on.”
Alazar pulled his neck back to bow his large head toward Zareh and Kaylae, then launched straight up into the sky. The sheer thrill of flight encompassed him and bled into Ariah. He sensed her tension, her nervousness, and couldn’t blame her. She had flown solo only once before tonight, and it was over the forests of Nocturne Falls.
Alazar followed a clouded path in the sky to hide himself from the human world below, forgoing the frolic of zigging and zagging beneath the dazzling moonlight to get home as fast as he could. Despite an afternoon nap, Ariah was tired, and the concentration and strength it required to hold on took a toll on her thirty minutes into their trip.
“How’re you doing, sweetheart?”
“Good. I still can’t get over this. It’s amazing, and that my body isn’t affected by the altitude is a sheer wonder.”
“You’re not entirely human.”
Her muted laughter made him grin.
Alazar broke through the veil to The Hollow and glided over the hills, forests, and valleys doused in a shimmering coat of silver moonlight. Ariah shifted against his back, the tension draining from her muscles as he circled down to the valley closest to his home. He landed and sank to the ground, helping Ariah dismount. He gave her time to unfasten the harness before transforming back to his human form and draping the harness over his shoulder.
“Tired?” Alazar asked, cupping the side of Ariah’s wind-flushed face. He stroked her bottom lip with his thumb before giving in to his desire to kiss her. She leaned into him, opening her mouth to each slow, tender sweep of his tongue, soft moans fleeing her lips. He swallowed down the sweet sounds, savoring the flavor of her mouth and the tamed hunger of her kiss. As he drew away, he caught her lower lip between his teeth, licked along her warm skin, and released her after a playful tug. “Mmm.”
“To answer your question, yes. I’m tired.” Ariah reached
to the back of his head and tugged on the band holding his hair up. The gentle breeze that caressed The Hollow ruffled his waves, strands blowing across his face. The tips of her fingers brushed over his brows and tucked the wild strands behind his ears. “But not that tired.”
“Good, ’cause I have something I’d like to ask of you.”
Ariah quirked a brow as Alazar slipped his fingers between hers. “Oh?”
“Oh.” He led her down the sloping hill toward the sway of the weeping trees. A soft laugh drew his attention to Ariah. “What?”
“A swim?”
Alazar thought for a moment, pressing his lips together. “That sounds like it might be fun, but no. Or…maybe.”
“Isn’t the water the only way into your home from this direction?”
“No. There’s a hidden entryway that isn’t wet.”
He held aside the fall of tree branches so Ariah could pass through. She stopped in the calf-high grass beside the rocks around the clear pool. Moonlight dappled the surface like diamonds. The relaxing sound of the water pouring over the rocks and the calm music of the nighttime wildlife wove a perfect backdrop.
Alazar stood directly in front of Ariah and held out his hand. “The dragonstone.”
Ariah’s eyes flashed before narrowing with curiosity. She dug the box out of an inside pocket in her coat, but didn’t say a word. Alazar unfastened the key on the underside of the box and unlocked the lid. He blinked away the disorienting change in his vision as the jewel awoke, lifted it from the velvet bed and placed the empty box on the ground by his foot.
“When a dragon is born, his life essence is connected to a magical jewel. That jewel is a physical part of him until it is shed with the first molt of scales. Over the next century, the jewel grows and changes to fit the dragon’s essence until it has matured.” Alazar held his dragonstone between them. Ariah traced one of the amber and gold veins. “Dragons guard their jewels with their lives until they are appointed their first Keeper. If it falls into the hands of an enemy who understands its value and can access the essence, the dragon can fall under that enemy’s control and ultimately be destroyed. If the dragonstone is destroyed, the dragon dies.”
“It’s a jewel. It looks delicate.”
“It’s not as delicate as you think. Created by magic, destroyed by magic. A hammer would shatter the moment it connected with the jewel, not the other way around.”
Ariah’s gaze lifted to his, her eyes widening. “The Baroqueth can destroy the dragonstones.”
Alazar nodded. “And they have. Usually after they have drained the dragon’s heart of its power. Guarding the jewel is a job of the dragon’s Keeper, once the Keeper bleeds into it.” Alazar laid the jewel on his palm and pointed to the red veins throughout the jewel. “Every Keeper I have ever had, including your uncle, is part of this dragonstone. Is part of me.”
He extended the tip of his talon from his index finger, fit the sharp point into a hidden hole at the tapered top, and unlatched a small part of the jewel to reveal a reservoir. Wonder came over Ariah that stole his breath.
“You are my lifemate, Ariah Callahan. We don’t necessarily do weddings and receptions and all that family and friend torture over who sits where. Our ceremonies are private, between lifemates. Oh, and divorce isn’t a possibility.”
Ariah spoke, her voice soft, dreamy, and filled with potent understanding. “Bleed into the dragonstone.” Her beautiful eyes turned up to him again and a smile crossed her mouth. “You’re asking me to make it official. And permanent. Lifemate, wife, partner?”
Alazar moistened his lips. “Yes.”
Ariah lifted a hand, but an uneasy furrow touched her brows. “I’m not going to be, you know, part of my uncle or anything, right?”
Alazar stared at her, slack jawed. A burst of laughter exploded from his chest that he fought to control the moment it escaped. Ariah’s cheeks darkened, but her smile grew and her eyes sparkled.
“No. Absolutely not. You’ll become part of me, and I you.” Alazar calmed himself and cradled Ariah’s extended hand in his palm. “Dragons are given one lifemate, one final Keeper. Mark will be my Keeper for the remainder of his life, and then you will take his place. Understand that your life expectancy, once you bleed, becomes longer. Quite a bit longer. Possibly a century or two.”
“Will you be able to stand me that long?”
“I should ask that question of you.”
Ariah slipped her free hand to his chest, splaying her palm flat over his beating heart. “Forever. As long as I’m not laying eggs.”
“Sweet goddess.” Alazar swallowed another burst of laughter. “No. No egg-laying.”
Ariah nodded once. “Good. Then I think we have a very, very long life to look forward to. Together.”
In all of his five-plus centuries of living, Alazar could never have imagined the gift that awaited him in the form of a beautiful, witty woman. He would wait another five hundred years to have her, if that was necessary, because he would want no one other than his sweet Ariah.
With her hand in his, he extended the tip of a talon from his thumb, pressed it to her index finger, and pierced the skin. She barely flinched as a single bead of red welled up from the puncture. Alazar guided her finger to the reservoir, milked two drops from her finger, and watched the dark red stream into the jewel. The swirled dragonstone shimmered, accepting the newest essence, binding Ariah to him until the day he died. The compartment lid closed, a spark of light erupting as it sealed permanently.
Ariah would be the last to bleed into his dragonstone. Their binding started a clock on his life, a clock he would cherish as long as his Ace stood by his side.
Alazar lifted her finger to his lips and he licked her wound, closing the puncture.
“Are we supposed to feel something?” Ariah asked.
That single question opened a door Alazar was more than willing to jump through. By the glow of Ariah’s eyes, he suspected she was just as willing.
“Want to go for a swim?” Alazar locked the dragonstone in the box and wagged his brows. “Water’s warm.”
Ariah laughed, scooping up the box and tucking it close to her chest. She slung an arm around his neck. “Remember what happened last time?”
“How could I forget?” Alazar lowered his forehead to Ariah’s. “Want to reenact that time?”
“No, my dragon.” Ariah pressed her body flush to his, stoking more than playful banter. “I bet we can best that time.”
“Mmm.” Alazar stole a kiss from her parted lips. “That’s definitely a gamble I’ll take.”
THE END
About Kira Nyte
Born and raised a Jersey girl with easy access to NYC, I was never short on ideas for stories. I started writing when I was 11, and my passion for creating worlds exploded from that point on. Romance writing came later, since kissing gave you cooties at 11, but when it did, I embraced it. Since then, all of my heroes and heroines find their happily ever after, even if it takes a good fight, or ten, to get there.
I currently live in Central Florida with my husband, our four children, and two parakeets. I work part-time as a PCU nurse when I’m not writing or traveling between sports and other activities.
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