Dragon Redeemed

by Hopkins, Linda K.

  “Come along,” Xavier said, taking her hand and leading her into the hall. A group of men sat at one the tables, and they fell silent as Xavier led her across the room. “You’re just making her more nervous,” he said, and one of the men laughed. Evelyn remembered him from the wedding, but she couldn’t place his name.

  “You’re right,” he said. “Our apologies, Mistress. It’s Zave we’re staring at, not you, although your beauty does credit to our hall.”

  Xavier turned to Evelyn. “Beware of Zach – he considers himself quite the charmer!” Zach gave her a knowing wink, and she blushed before quickly looking away.

  “Is he your cousin?” she asked when they reached the street.

  “Zach? No, my uncle. He and Lydia are twins.”

  “Your family’s so … different,” she said.

  “Yes.”

  It was a cool evening, and Evelyn drew closer to Xavier as they walked. Despite the chill in the air, his skin was warm. The sky was cloudless and the moon, almost full, shone brightly in the dark sky. A wolf howled in the distance, and Evelyn shivered slightly.

  “Thank you for taking me to meet your parents,” she said.

  “They enjoyed getting to know you.”

  “I would like to get to know them more.”

  He smiled down at her. “I’m sure there will be many opportunities.”

  The house was silent when they arrived home, with a single candle burning in the hall.

  “Uncle must be out,” Evelyn whispered, feeling her way up the stairs. She was relieved to see a sliver of light from beneath her chamber door, and when she opened it, there was a fire burning brightly in the hearth. She laid aside her cloak and glanced at Xavier.

  “Do you think you can help me with my gown?” she said, turning her back to him. He hesitated a moment, then stepped closer and began to loosen the ties. The gown fell open and slid to the floor, leaving her standing in her chemise as she turned to face him.

  “I want to see you without your tunic,” she said. She could feel the color rising in her cheeks. “I want to look at you properly.”

  “You didn’t see me this morning?” he asked as he lifted the garment over his head.

  “Not properly.”

  The tunic fell to the floor and she brought her hands to his chest, tentatively at first, then becoming bolder when he did nothing to stop her. He lifted his hands to her hair and wrapped a curl around his finger, before slowly tracing a path from her ear to her neck. His fingers were gentle as he stared at her, and she slid her hands up to his shoulders. The light of the fire flickered in his eyes, making them shine. He brought a hand to her cheek, and she pressed into the warm palm as he thumbed her lip.

  Wrapping her hands around his neck, she brought her lips toward his. He gazed at her a moment, then closed the gap and kissed her. The kiss deepened, and she started in surprise when she felt his tongue on her lips; she leaned toward him, tentatively opening her mouth.

  His hand slipped down her back and he pulled her closer, pressing her against his hard length as he kissed her deeply, his tongue caressing hers. His lips left her mouth and trailed across her cheek to her ear, as his hands wrapped around her thighs and lifted her from the floor. He carried her to the bed, then drew back, his eyes searching hers.

  “Are you sure?” he whispered.

  “Isn’t this what husbands and wives do?”

  “Yes,” he breathed.

  “Then make me your wife.”

  He kicked off his boots and lay down beside her, leaning forward to capture her lips once more. His hand cupped her breast and she froze as something she had never felt before swept through her. She lifted her hips, pressing herself closer, and he groaned, then moved his mouth to her breast. His hand slid down her back and molded around her backside, pulling her closer to his hardness. Sensations she had never known crashed through her as he lifted her chemise and touched the most intimate parts of her. He pushed deeper, dragging sounds from her she would not have believed she could possibly make. He clutched her closer, making his own sounds of pleasure, which grew until the most exquisite sensation rushed through her. He fell down at her side, his hands and legs claiming her possessively, holding her against his warm skin as her heart slowed its chaotic beating. This was what it meant to be a wife, she thought in wonderment.

  She fell asleep in his arms, waking when his wandering hand teased her nerve endings, making her tremble once more. It surprised her, how easily she could respond to him, and she turned in his arms and pressed her lips to his as he lit the flames within her once again.

  Chapter 26

  Xavier looked down at the woman snuggled in his arms, her chest rising and falling gently as she slept. He had been surprised at how easily he had responded to her touch, and she, his. They had moved together easily, like one sinuous creature, touching, kissing, devouring. It had brought a sense of intimacy and connectedness he had not expected, and he was anxious to experience it again. Her scent had been an elixir, drawing him in, while her soft touch and womanly groans had almost drowned him in pleasure. He had barely been able to keep a hold on the flames roiling through him, and more than once he buried his face in her neck to hide his burning eyes. He had not intended to linger at her side for so long; but she was a drug that he couldn’t get enough of, and it was beyond his power to resist the desire to touch her again. The fact that she had roused beneath his questing hand, eager to feel him again, had sent him over the edge.

  Disentangling himself from her arms, he rose reluctantly from the bed and pulled on a pair of breeches. All was quiet as he stepped into the passage and headed down the stairs to Callaway’s study. Everything was as it had been the previous evening, and he pulled out the next journal and began reading. A few hours had passed when he heard the sound of footsteps coming down the stairs. The steps were light, and Evelyn’s scent wafted toward him. Replacing the journal, he slipped beneath the door; keeping himself beyond her sight, he flowed up the stairs. It was only as he re-formed within the chamber that he realized he had left his breeches hidden downstairs. There was no time to retrieve them, however, and he slipped into the bed and waited for Evelyn’s return.

  “Xavier? Are you here?” she whispered cautiously as she opened the door.

  “I’m here. What are you doing, wandering around the house?”

  “I woke up and you weren’t here.”

  “I just needed to step outside for a moment,” he explained.

  She climbed into the bed and pulled the quilt to her chin. “That’s what I thought, but you were gone so long.”

  She was shivering, and he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her against his chest. “I think you were dreaming, Evie,” he whispered in her ear. “I was only gone a few minutes.”

  She frowned. “No, it was longer than that.”

  “Come, it’s late,” he said. He lay down, pulling her down with him. “Get some sleep.”

  She closed her eyes and snuggled against him. “You’re so warm,” she murmured. “How do you stay so warm?”

  “Ssh,” he said softly. Her body relaxed, and he heard her breathing even out. It was only much later that he finally left her side to retrieve his breeches, quickly returning to the bed.

  The next weeks rushed past. Xavier spent more and more time with Evelyn during the day, meeting with his family only when necessary. He grilled her about her childhood and her favorite things to do as a youngster, and told her about growing up at Storbrook. They took long walks, and in the evenings, attended the theater or watched the glow of the palace lights reflected in the river. Everywhere they went, they heard people discussing the impending threat to the city, but Evelyn shrugged off the rumors without too much concern, a fact that gladdened his heart.

  He borrowed books from the Drake library; she had been amazed at the shelves stacked high with leather-bound volumes. They’d only had three books at home growing up, she told him. The evenings they remained home, they snuggled before the fire and r
ead to one another. He taught her how to say “I love drawing” in three different languages, and sat silently beside her as she sketched and painted scenes around the city.

  As much as Xavier enjoyed spending the days with Evelyn, he relished the nights. It surprised him how much he wanted to be with her. Even after taking his pleasure, he remained at her side, his arm wrapped around her delicate frame. He’d watch as she fell asleep, her wild curls fanned about her face, and when he was certain she would not be disturbed, he would slip from her side and retrieve one of Callaway’s journals, returning within a few moments.

  Draping his arm over her hips, he would pull her into his side as he read, his dragon eyes easily compensating for the lack of light as he learned more about his enemy.

  From the moment Callaway had lost his brother to the black dragon, he had made hunting and killing dragons his life’s goal. Joining the Dragon League, where he’d first met Lleland, had helped to make that goal a reality and allowed him to learn more about the creatures he hated with such passion. At first, he and Lleland had been united in their purpose, and Callaway admired Lleland’s analytical mind and clear thinking. But Lleland had become a mortal enemy when he not only stopped hunting dragons but persuaded a few of the other hunters to cease their hunting activities as well, convincing them that dragons were not interested in harming humans. The fact that Lleland’s father had been killed by the same dragon that killed Callaway’s brother made Lleland’s betrayal even harder to accept. It had been around this time that Callaway stumbled across the fact that another black dragon roamed the earth, and he had sworn an oath to himself that he would kill the monster. As the years passed and the black dragon remained as elusive as the Holy Grail, Callaway’s fury led him to once more target all dragons, and his life’s work had become an all-consuming obsession.

  With the Dragon League gone, he had quietly assembled his own group of hunters – men known for their strength, skill and ruthlessness, and, above all, their implacable hatred of dragons. Callaway had secured patrons who shared his hatred – wealthy merchants and fearful members of the nobility – and added his own resources to ensure success. But dragons were wily and smart. They could understand the human tongue and had learned how to avoid their pursuers, and the successes were few and far between. Callaway poured his frustration into the pages of his journals, wondering again and again how it was that dragons could hide themselves so easily.

  He spent much time searching for the perfect weapon, traveling far and wide to discover something that could kill the beasts. Wolfsbane was effective, but with quick enough action it could still be countered. Fire was useless against monsters that breathed flame, and traditional weapons such as crossbows and swords, while useful, did little more than slow the creature down. Only a juvenile lacked the skill to avoid being killed. His travels led him to new poisons and weapons, but further investigation proved them to be ineffective. He continued his search, traveling to far-flung countries, surviving tempestuous seas and desert heat, until he caught a murmur of a weapon that might be the answer he was seeking. He found a merchant who agreed to track down a supply.

  He returned to Civitas, satisfied that he might have finally found the perfect weapon, when another whisper reached his ear. A man who had been bound by blood to the original black dragon still lived. It took months to learn his name and even longer to track him down, but when he finally did, Callaway knew he had the answers he needed to destroy dragons once and for all.

  Armed with information, he sought an audience with the king. He described the threat the city was under as long as dragons lived, and explained that he had a means of destroying them all, but the king was not interested.

  “I will not waste resources on the meandering thoughts of an old man,” he had scoffed, sending Callaway from his presence.

  For two days Callaway had seethed, until he came up with the perfect plan. If the king would not protect the people, they would have to do it themselves. But first, he needed to ensure that they understood the threat. It had taken a few words whispered in the ears of well-positioned people for the news to spread around the city that an attack by dragons was imminent. And as expected, people began preparing for the worst, searching for weapons and sharpening their blades. All that remained was to find the perfect opportunity.

  Xavier lay in the bed as he considered the last page of the journal. Callaway had planned his moves and believed himself to have the upper hand. He was certain he had a weapon that could destroy dragons, but he gave no clue to what it was. He had manipulated the citizens of Civitas, and now he was just lying in wait, believing he could spring the perfect trap. Given the information Callaway already possessed about the strength, skill and control over fire that dragons possessed, his confidence was astounding.

  Beside him Evelyn turned towards Xavier and murmured his name. He glanced down at her to see that she was still sleeping. His name tumbled from her lips again as she sighed, and a smile tugged at the corners of her mouth. Placing the book soundlessly on the floor, he slid down the bed and stared at her in wonder. Was she dreaming of him? Her eyelashes fluttered against her cheek and her smile grew wider, and he found himself smiling in response. The fact that his name was on her lips even as she slept astounded him.

  Strands of hair had fallen over her face and he lifted them, running the soft curls through his fingers. He brought them to his nose and breathed in her scent, then gently laid them on the pillow. Her chemise had fallen open when she turned, and the swell of her breast pressed against the thin fabric.

  Lowering his head, he brushed his lips against the soft flesh, pulling back in surprise when she moaned and pressed herself closer. Her eyes fluttered open, then closed again as she brought her hand to his chest. She was still half asleep, and a wave of desire washed over him as he realized that she wanted him even in her dreams. Lowering his head, he brushed his lips against hers, and her hand slipped around his neck as his traveled to the hem of her chemise and began to explore her bare legs. Wrapping his arms around her, he lifted himself onto his elbows and kissed her. Her lips were soft and yielding beneath his, and she opened her mouth to him as her fingers twisted into his hair. Her body was soft and pliable beneath his, and carefully, not wanting to rouse her fully, he explored her with his hand. She moaned again, and a wave of flame swept through him, stoking the fire that roared in his belly. Knowing that she wanted him even at her most vulnerable stirred something far beyond mere physical desire. He kissed her gently as the flames spread, burning deep into his soul. He wanted to sink himself into every part of her and know that she belonged to him, and to him alone. Light danced around his fingers as he buried them in her hair. His hold over his thoughts fell away as he gave himself over to the feelings that enveloped him. Her eyes fluttered open and she gasped as he filled her. He dropped his mouth to her neck and scraped his teeth along her bare skin, tasting her as a soft glow filled the room.

  They fell asleep curled in each other’s arms, their legs tangled together, faces mere inches apart. When the dawn touched the sky he roused to wakefulness slowly and felt her eyes upon him. He smiled before opening his to meet her gaze. “Evie.”

  “I had a dream last night,” she whispered.

  “Was it a good dream?”

  “A very good dream.” She stroked his cheek.

  “I had a good dream, too,” he said. “A soft, beautiful and very lustful dream.”

  “Lustful?”

  “Oh, yes. I was holding an angel.”

  She laughed lightly. “I thought I was the one holding an angel.” He cocked an eyebrow. “It was as though you burned with flame and light shone all around us.” She smiled and nestled herself against his chest as he blew out a long, slow breath.

  It wasn’t until later that they finally rose from the bed and Xavier saw the journal lying on the floor where he had left it during the night. A quick glance at Evelyn confirmed she hadn’t seen it, and he pushed it surreptitiously into the shadows beneath the
bed.

  “I have to go out for a while,” he said. “There are some business matters I have to discuss with my family.”

  “Why don’t I come with you?” she asked. “I would like to see your mother again.”

  “I’m afraid my business includes her. But we’ll visit again soon.”

  “You know, it would be much easier if we just moved to Drake House. Your family are no longer strangers to me, and I’m sure Uncle would be happy to see us gone. He spends his days hiding in his study.”

  “You know how full Drake House is, Evie. There just isn’t room for us there.”

  She opened her mouth to reply, then slowly closed it again. Xavier lifted an eyebrow, but she shook her head. “It’s nothing. Are you going to eat first, or are you going straight there?”

  “I’ll go straight there. That way I can get back to you sooner.”

  She smiled. “Then hurry back, husband.”

  Xavier’s mind lingered on the word as he walked across town: husband. That was what he was, but last night, as he held Evelyn in his arms, he had felt the stirrings of something deeper. He had wanted to taste her, and the memory left him feeling unsettled. He had never planned to make Evelyn his mate.

  His thoughts were no clearer when he reached Drake House. He found the others seated in the hall as they enjoyed a light repast.

  “Xavier,” Aaron said, “what news to report?”

  Xavier took a seat at the table. Twisting flames through his fingers, he reported all he had learned from Callaway’s journals. The other dragons listened in silence.

  “Any idea what this weapon is?”

  “None at all. But he is clearly confident that it will work.”

  “So this is what it comes to,” Zach said. “Callaway waiting to catch us unawares. I’m surprised, with all he knows of us, that he hasn’t figured out what you are.”

  “I think we should kill him and his hunters,” Max said.

  “We still don’t know with whom he has shared his secret. He refers to his contacts only by initial, and there are more mentioned than the hunters we’ve tracked.”