Dragon Redeemed

by Hopkins, Linda K.

  “Then let’s start with those we know. Throw him off guard.”

  Aaron turned to Xavier, his gaze intense and probing. “What do you think?”

  Xavier watched the flames swirling around his hand as he considered the question. “Callaway leaves us little choice,” he finally said. “But it must be done carefully, with nothing to suggest that it was our doing. Only those we are certain are involved, and not all at once. Spread it out over a few days.” He looked at Lleland. “Any word from Robin?”

  “He meets with Callaway again tonight.”

  “Then let’s begin today and see how Callaway responds. In the meantime, Robin’s our best chance to learn more about this secret weapon.”

  “Agreed,” Aaron said. “Let’s see what he discovers tonight.”

  Chapter 27

  Evelyn ate her morning meal alone, cringing when Nan gave her a sympathetic smile. Every day the longing to leave Uncle’s house grew, and she mentally scolded Xavier for abandoning her. There was still so much she didn’t know about him, and he held his secrets close. She sighed to herself. He might try and hide from her, but even he could not deny the physical attraction that was growing stronger between them. She smiled as she thought of the night just past. The pleasure they had taken in each other before going to sleep had been wonderful, but being roused to his exploring hand and gentle lips had been more incredible than anything she could have imagined. Her mind had wavered between wakefulness and sleep, and even now she struggled to separate fantasy from reality. His desire pressing into her had definitely been reality, she thought, but the light that spilled from his eyes and spread around them must surely have been fantasy. It had swept from him and filled her with an intensity unknown in any of their previous times of lovemaking, permeating her with the most exquisite sense of contentment. Was this the way it was in all marriages, she wondered? She had no way of knowing, but intuition told her it wasn’t.

  She left the table and hurried back to their chambers, eager to get out and enjoy the weather. The heat had finally given way to cooler temperatures, and the first leaves were beginning to turn. She entered the chamber to find Nan stripping the bed and laying out fresh linens.

  She lifted a sheet into the air and it billowed before dropping lazily onto the bed. “I found that beneath the bed, Mistress,” Nan said, nodding in the direction of the small writing table.

  Evelyn glanced at the leather-bound book and frowned. She wasn’t aware that Xavier kept a daybook. She waited for Nan to finish her chores and leave, then picked up the book, flipping through the pages. It was clearly a journal, and she was about to put it aside, unwilling to pry into Xavier’s private thoughts, when one word caught her eye: dragon. She glanced at the page, then flipped through to scan a few more paragraphs. It was clear that whoever had written this journal hated dragons and was intent on killing them, which meant that the book could not belong to Xavier. Slowly, she turned to the first page and read the name written in black ink: Baric Callaway.

  She slammed the book shut and dropped it on the table, then sat down on the edge of the bed as the questions raced through her mind. What was the journal doing here, in her room? Had Xavier stolen it from Uncle’s study? What interest could he possibly have in Uncle’s private matters? She opened the book once more and scanned the first pages. On every one, Uncle had written about dragons, but that didn’t explain why it was in Xavier’s possession.

  She glanced around the room, as though somehow the walls would reveal the answers, but they stared blankly back at her. What secrets was Xavier keeping from her? Why had he married her? Her mind wandered to the conversation they’d had on the ferry, when he’d suggested that perhaps marriage wasn’t a bad idea. Had there been some ulterior motive? The book on the table seemed to provide damning evidence. Rising from the bed, she began to pace the room. Something had been growing between them over the last week, and she was certain he had felt it too. She clutched her gown as she walked, then took a deep, steadying breath. Instead of jumping to conclusions, she would confront Xavier with the journal and demand an explanation.

  Wondering what to do to occupy her mind while she waited, her gaze fell on the latest letter from Juliana. Gathering her writing supplies, she headed to the parlor and sat down at the desk, determined to write her response. Every few words she checked out the window, hoping to see Xavier striding down the street, before returning to her note with a sigh.

  Some time had passed when the front door opened and heavy footsteps sounded across the hall. Laying down the quill she hurried to the doorway, then paused when she heard the sound of Uncle’s voice. She crept a little closer to the stairs as Xavier’s reply drifted up to her.

  “You hate me because I’m Lleland Seaton’s son,” Xavier said.

  Uncle snorted. “You’re right, I despise you. But not because of Lleland. I abhor you and all your kind because of what you are.”

  “You know nothing. You’re an angry old man, driven crazy by thoughts of revenge.”

  Uncle scoffed. “Your father was once also driven by revenge, until that whore wrapped him in a tangle and warped his mind.”

  “How dare you,” Xavier hissed, and Evelyn shivered when she heard the cold menace in his voice. “You will not insult her.”

  “She’s the spawn of the devil, as are you. You think I don’t know why you trapped my niece in marriage? I tried to warn her mother, but she refused to listen. Does she know what a monster you are?”

  Xavier laughed, but there was no humor in the sound. “Evelyn’s mother gave me the perfect opportunity. This marriage has proven to be most useful.” Evelyn’s hand flew to her mouth as she drew in a horrified breath.

  “Really?” Uncle said. “And what have you learned?”

  “That I’m not the monster, you are. You are going to die, Callaway.” His voice dropped, and Evelyn had to strain to hear his words. “And when you’re dead, I will eat your heart.”

  Evelyn’s heart stopped at his words. Turning, she darted down the passage to her chamber as Xavier’s voice reached her.

  “Evelyn?” His footsteps pounded on the stairs as she entered the chamber and slammed the door.

  She leaned against it, holding it with her weight when he tried to enter. Her heart was pounding and tears streaked unheeded down her cheeks.

  “Please, Evie,” he begged, “let me in.”

  “Go away,” she said.

  “No. I need to talk to you.”

  “You’ve already said all that needs to be said.”

  “I haven’t said anything.”

  “You used me. Married me to, what? Learn about my uncle?”

  He was silent for a moment. “Please,” he said, his voice softer. “Don’t make me talk to you through a door.”

  “Then go. You have nothing to say that I want to hear, anyway.”

  “Evie, please –”

  “Don’t call me that!”

  “Evelyn.” He sighed. “When your mother first suggested we be married, I did see an opportunity, it’s true. But things are different now.”

  “Is that why you kissed me in the park?”

  “No!” he said, but she wasn’t listening. Instead, something else had occurred to her.

  “It Suzanna part of this, too?”

  “What? Of course not!”

  “All of this was a snare, wasn’t it?” She turned and banged her fists against the door. “Wasn’t it?” she shouted.

  “No!”

  “And what about at the market? Did you set that man on me just so you could be my rescuer?”

  “How can you even think that?”

  “I can’t believe I was such a fool.” She lay her forehead against the door.

  “You’re not a fool, Evie. Please, let me in so I can explain.”

  “No. Go away.”

  “Evie –”

  “Now. And don’t come back. I never want to see your face again.”

  “Don’t say that.”

  She dropp
ed her head in her hands. Her heart was breaking into a thousand little pieces as the truth of his duplicity sunk deeper. “Did you mean any of it?” she whispered.

  “Yes.” His voice was low. “This last week … Evie, you’ve worked your way into my heart.”

  “Just go away, Xavier.”

  “Evie, I … I’m sorry.” His footsteps sounded down the passage, slow and heavy, and she lay her head on the floor as the tears streamed down her cheeks. Her chest felt hollow and she wished the world would swallow her up and carry her into oblivion. When Nan came in later and helped her to the bed, she barely noticed.

  “I waited,” she whispered hoarsely.

  “Mistress?”

  “I waited, as you said, for him to realize he wanted to be with me.”

  Nan brushed her hair from her cheek. “I’ve seen the way he looks at you. Don’t close your heart just yet.”

  “He married me to get at my uncle,” she said tiredly.

  “Maybe. But don’t shut him out before you hear what he has to say.”

  “He used me, Nan.”

  “And did you not use him to escape your mother?”

  Evelyn rolled away and Nan left the room.

  Eventually, the needs of her stomach forced her from the chamber and she headed downstairs, surprised to see Uncle sitting in the hall.

  “I’m sorry, Evelyn,” he said, “but his going is really for the best. He betrayed us all. I tried to warn your mother, but she wouldn’t listen.”

  “I know.” She took a deep breath. “I heard him say he was going to kill you.” She shuddered as she thought of what else he had said.

  Uncle smiled grimly. “Don’t worry about me. I have a plan to stop him.” He leaned forward and patted her hand. “I know how to deal with him and his kind.”

  “His kind?”

  “His family, if that’s what you want to call them.”

  “Robin and Suzanna?”

  “No, not them.” He frowned thoughtfully. “His parents and other family.”

  “What are you going to do?”

  “I’m going to make sure they can never harm anyone ever again.” He met her gaze. “You will stay well away from him from now on, won’t you? He’s a danger to you and everyone you love.”

  “A danger? I don’t think he would ever hurt me, Uncle. Not physically, at any rate.”

  “Ah, my dear, he is more of a danger than you can ever know. Never forget that.” He rose from the bench and headed towards the door. “I have to go out for a while, but promise me you will remain inside. Do not allow that thing” – he spat the word – “into the house again.”

  “No, Uncle.” She watched as he left the room with a frown. No matter what Xavier had done, she had no fear of him. A light supper had been laid out and she ate slowly. When she headed back to her chamber, candles had been lit and a fire blazed in the hearth. She sat on the bed as tears began to roll down her cheeks. How could everything have been so right this morning, and be so wrong now? She buried her head in the cool pillow and closed her eyes. Her head pounded and she felt as weary as if she had run from one end of the city to the other, and her body finally succumbed to a restless sleep.

  Chapter 28

  Xavier marched down the road and toward the city gates, his mind spinning furiously. He was angry with Callaway for confronting him where Evelyn could overhear the conversation, and annoyed that Evelyn had refused to hear him out. But more than that, he was furious with himself. He had been an idiot! So sure of himself, convinced of his superiority as a dragon, he had not even contemplated the possibility that he could learn to love a human. And yet, that was exactly what had happened. And in his arrogance he had pushed her away, refusing to acknowledge what even she was recognizing. He should have confided in her, trusted her with his secret, but now she wanted nothing to do with him! When Callaway intercepted him in the hall, he should have known by her scent that she was close by, but he had been too angry to see or hear anything but the man standing before him.

  He reached the forest just beyond the city gates, and heedless of any eyes that might see, stripped off his clothes and flung himself into the air.

  He pushed himself toward the sky, eager to find relief for his thoughts – but all he could hear was Evelyn’s voice telling him to leave, and the scent of her devastation still clung to his nostrils. The worst of it was, he could not blame Evelyn for her anger; he alone was responsible. He pushed himself further into the air, then whipped around when he scented another dragon following him.

  “What do you want, Zach?” he asked wearily.

  “I was watching the Callaway house.”

  Xavier sighed. He hadn’t given any thought to the dragons outside, but of course any who were there would have heard what happened. “You and who else?”

  “Erik.”

  They flew in silence for a while. “You were right,” Xavier finally said. “She has developed feelings for me.”

  “And you for her.”

  Xavier remained silent.

  “You’re not the first dragon to make the wrong choices,” Zach said. “In fact, pretty much all the males in our family have – except me, of course,” he added with a smirk.

  Xavier shot him a baleful glare. “That doesn’t mean much, since you have never been in love.”

  “The point is, Aaron, Max, your father, even Favian, they all made mistakes. And yet, look at them now – they are all supremely and irritatingly happy with their mates.”

  “I don’t know how to make this right, Zach. I’ve hurt her too deeply.”

  “Give her time. The reason she hurts so deeply is because she cares so deeply. You will have to win back her trust, but I’m certain she would like you to try.”

  Xavier was silent as he thought about that. Would Evelyn want him back? Neither of them had entered the marriage with notions of love, yet she had clearly developed feelings for him, and he for her. But did they run deep enough for her to forgive him?

  They flew in silence for a while, heading further from the city, and when they passed over a herd of deer, they hunted.

  “I’m guessing you’re spending the night at Drake House?” Zach said when they were sated.

  “Or I’ll stay out here.”

  “Robin may have news to report.”

  Xavier let out a fiery sigh. “Very well. I’ll see you later at the house.”

  Zach swept around and headed back to the city as Xavier pushed himself to the distant hills. He closed his mind to the world around him and let the wind caress his body, both soothing and stirring his flames. He circled high into the sky, disappearing between the stars, unseen by anyone below.

  His mind was calmed by the flight, and by the time he arrived at Drake House a few hours later he knew what he needed to do. Facing the truth meant recognizing that he did not want to leave Evelyn behind when he left the city. He would tell her everything, and hope that she could accept him.

  He found his parents and grandparents gathered in the parlor when he arrived.

  “I want to take Evelyn as my mate,” he said as he walked through the door.

  Aaron looked at him in surprise. “I see. And how does she feel about this?”

  “I haven’t spoken to her yet.”

  “Have you told her what you are?”

  “No.” He walked over to the window and stared into the dark. “She’s not talking to me at the moment. She overheard a conversation between myself and Callaway and jumped to conclusions.”

  “Were her conclusions correct?” asked Lydia.

  He sighed. “Yes. I said enough for her to realize that I had used marriage as an excuse to get closer to Callaway. He confronted me in the hall and said he knows what I am.”

  Lleland frowned. “How did he figure that out?”

  “I don’t know. But I need to speak to Evelyn and make her understand that things have changed. My feelings have changed.”

  “Perhaps he was fishing,” Aaron said.

  “Then
I’m afraid I confirmed his suspicions.”

  “What makes you think she’ll take you back?” Lleland asked.

  “Well, Mom took you back.”

  “That is true, Lleland,” said Lydia. “If I can take you back after all you did, I think Evelyn will see that Xavier is not a lost cause. She seems like a sensible girl.” She glanced at her son. “You will need to do some grovelling.”

  “Is that what Dad did?”

  Lleland laughed. “And then some. But your mother’s right – love can overcome many difficulties. But don’t wait too long to win her back.”

  “I’ll go see her tomorrow. And we can no longer stay at the Callaway place. I’ll bring her back here.”

  “If Callaway knows what you are, there is nothing more to be gained by staying there,” Aaron said.

  “I’ll ensure all is in readiness for her,” Keira added.

  The front door opened, and Robin’s scent drifted on the breeze that swirled through the house. He entered the parlor a moment later, Zach on his heels. His face was pale, and he stared at Xavier for a long moment before helping himself to a glass of wine and sitting heavily on an empty stool.

  “What is it?” Xavier asked.

  “One of Callaway’s hunters was found dead today, his neck broken. He thinks it was a dragon attack.” He looked up to meet Xavier’s gaze. “Was it?”

  “If it was?”

  “He wants you dead. He’s ordered me to kill you to prove my loyalty.”

  “Hmm.”

  “He knows what you are. I feigned ignorance, of course. He said you could be my first kill.”

  “You can’t do that,” Keira protested.

  “Of course not! But if I don’t, he will probably kill me.”

  “Yes, it is a conundrum,” Aaron said thoughtfully.

  “Would you kill me?” Xavier asked softly. The last of Robin’s color drained from his face.

  “Of course not! How can you even ask?”

  Xavier nodded. “I didn’t think you would, but you haven’t known me for long, and perhaps you share some of Callaway’s beliefs.”