“I wanted to apologize. I’ve created friction between you and Drægón.”
She shook her head. “It would have happened sooner or later, Robin. It’s not your fault.”
“Thank you.” He lifted her hand to his mouth and kissed her fingers. “I came to say goodbye. I must be on my way.”
“You’re going home?”
“Yes. Mother’s health is steadily declining, and I promised to be there this evening.”
“Can I come with you?”
He looked at her in surprise. “Come with me?”
“I would like to see your mother again. And with everything that’s happened – well, I just need to see some normal people for a change!”
“I think my mother would be delighted to see you again. She’s been very concerned about you.”
Evelyn smiled ruefully. “We’ve added to her concerns needlessly, and for that I’m sorry.”
“Now it’s my turn to say it’s not your fault,” he said with a smile. “Make sure you bring a cloak, as it will be cold by the time you return.”
She nodded. “I’ll just let Lydia know where I’m going. I’ll meet you on the street.”
It was clear to Evelyn as soon as she stepped into the parlor that Edith was not doing well, but the older woman gave her visitor a bright smile.
“Evelyn, dear, I am so glad to see you. These past few months have been very difficult, I’m sure.”
“Thank you, Mistress,” Evelyn said, taking a seat beside her.
Bella came running into the room. “Cousin Evelyn! Why haven’t you come to visit?” Her eyes flew to her mother, and she dropped her head. “Sorry,” she mumbled.
Evelyn smiled. “You’re right, I should have come to visit ages ago. Will you forgive me?”
The girl looked up, and Evelyn immediately recognized the speculation in her expression. “If you play a game with me.”
“Bella!” Edith’s voice was horrified, but Evelyn laughed.
“Of course. What would you like to play?”
“Charades. Can you play? Cousin Xavier had never …” She gasped and placed her hand over her mouth. “Sorry.”
“There’s no need to be sorry. I like to talk about Xavier, also.” Evelyn glanced at Robin to see him leaning back in his chair, arms crossed, regarding her in amusement. She looked back at the girl. “I used to play charades with my brothers and sisters all the time!”
“You did?” She clapped her hands. “Let’s play!”
The next few hours passed in happy laughter as Edith looked on, and by the time she was ready to return home, Evelyn felt completely refreshed. It had been good to experience a few hours with normal people! From the time she first realized that Xavier was a dragon, nothing about Evelyn’s life had been normal. She’d been launched first into grief and then into confusion. All the happiness she’d experienced had been tempered with concern and doubt. Even now, knowing that Drægón would always be on the brink of being a beast filled her with trepidation. But she knew, too, that even if she hadn’t drunk Drægón’s blood, he was as much a part of her as if she had. Despite her concern about the blood bond, she would never be able to leave him. She still had to figure out what to do, but perhaps she would do as Zach suggested and speak to Keira; perhaps there was more to learn about what the bond really meant between mates. After all, Keira seemed supremely happy with her dragon master.
She said her farewells to the Jacksons and followed Robin out of the house. The night was cold, and she drew her cloak tightly around her shoulders and she fell into step beside Robin as they set off for Drake House.
Chapter 43
Drægón had been astounded when Evelyn declared that she wouldn’t drink his blood, and he left the house in search of some solitude to release his frustration and clear his thoughts. His first plan had been to leave the city and return to his cave, but before he had even reached the city gates, he turned and retraced his steps. As he reflected on her words, it occurred to him that perhaps she didn’t completely understand the bond. He was the dragon master, the most powerful to have ever lived, and his commands must be obeyed. But once they were mated – if they were mated – she would be the only one in the entire world to stand beside him as an equal, despite being a mere human. The mating bond ensured that her will was the one he could not force.
He entered the hall of Drake House almost an hour later to find Lydia talking to Lleland. He sniffed the air, seeking out the scent of his wife.
“She went with Robin to visit his family,” Lydia said.
Drægón frowned as flames seeped into his palms. “With Robin?”
Lleland rose from his seat and crossed over to him. “Robin is her friend,” he explained.
Drægón shook his head. Evie belonged to him alone. He flinched when Lleland placed his hand on his shoulder. “Calm down, Drægón,” he said. “She will return when she’s ready. It’s good for her to be amongst humans for a change.”
What she needed was to be with him, Drægón thought with a snarl. He spun on his heel and headed up the stairs to their chamber. As he opened the door, the scent of their lovemaking reached his nose and he growled. His wife, his should-be mate, was with another man. He flung himself on the bed and breathed in her scent, then pushed himself away when a tendril of smoke reached his nostrils. He glanced at the bed to see an outline of himself scorched into the quilt. Ripping off his charred clothes, he opened his wings and spread them as far as the confines of the room would allow. That a human, small, puny, with unruly hair, could affect him so much was galling. He would be better off without her in his life. As a beast, he could forget about all human cares and chase his animal instincts. He pursued the image, ignoring the little voice at the back of his mind telling him that such a life would never satisfy him.
It was with an effort that Drægón joined the elders later that evening to discuss the plans for dealing with the dissidents. He missed having Evelyn at his side, and he shifted restlessly. Lleland and Zach had joined the group as well, and more than once he noticed Zach sending him thoughtful looks.
“We already know they are in Terranton,” Aaron said. “It should be an easy matter to track them down.”
“What will we do once we’ve found them?” Lleland asked.
“Kill them,” Drægón said. He glanced to his side, almost expecting Evelyn to be seated there, her eyes on him, questioning. He pushed the thought of her away.
“Rolf’s actions aren’t particularly surprising,” Owain said, “but I confess I’m surprised at Magnus. I would not have suspected him of insurrection.”
“Nor Mack,” Zach added.
“Regardless, they made a choice and must live by the consequences,” Aaron said.
The talk continued about the traitors, of whom Drægón knew nothing, and after an hour he brought the meeting to an abrupt close.
“Leave morning,” he said as he stalked from the room. Evelyn still had not returned, and he paced around the chamber in frustration before marching out of the house and leaving the city. The confines of the house were overwhelming, and he could not bear to go another minute without smelling fresh, clean air and hearing the silence of the night. Knowing that Evelyn had spent the evening with Robin was a thorn in his flesh that he could not bear. As soon as he was clear of the city, he flung open his wings and headed into the darkness. The cold air was soothing and he released his thoughts and allowed his mind to embrace the solitude. There was time enough for thinking tomorrow, but for now, he would just be.
Drægón met the other dragons outside the city the following morning, and they turned their snouts to the north. Their route took them over the Northern Mountains and into the neighboring human kingdom where the renegades had made their lair.
Drægón’s thoughts turned to Evelyn. He had missed feeling her near when he settled for the night, and had woken irritable. Her words about refusing his blood still stung, even if he could now acknowledge that she was working from a misapprehension.
Zach drew up alongside him as they flew. “It will be all right. Just give her time. She’s had a lot to deal with over the last few months.”
Drægón shot him a glance.
“She learned that you were a dragon the night before you were killed – did you know that?”
Drægón cocked an eyebrow.
“She overheard you telling her uncle that you had used marriage to gain information, but after she read her uncle’s journal she realized what you were.”
Drægón frowned. He had known that Evelyn only learnt of his identity the night before the battle, but he’d assumed that he had been the one to tell her. .
“She came to live with us after that. She mourned your loss deeply. And when she learned that you were alive, she insisted she could reach you.”
“She was right,” Drægón thought, but of course Zach couldn’t hear him. He thought about what she had gone through, stumbling upon the truth of his identity through another’s notes, then being dragged into a dragon world she had known nothing about, only to discover that her husband, while still alive, was little more than a beast. Perhaps it was selfish to deny her time with human friends.
He glanced at Zach, who sighed.
“It is very inconvenient that you can no longer speak in this form. Have you tried again?”
He made a sound that sounded like a hiss, and Zach grinned. “Did you just say yes?” Drægón glared at him, but Zach refused to be put off. “Come on, try again.”
Drægón sighed. He had been trying to say words with Evelyn, but his dragon tongue found the shapes of the words difficult to twist itself around. “No,” he growled.
Zach laughed. “You just need practise. And we have plenty of time now. So, what were you thinking about?”
Drægón held up a claw, then added another. Zach gave him a puzzled look. “One, two? Ah! One, two! Has Evelyn been teaching you numbers?”
Drægón gave a slight nod.
“You know, you were always very good with numbers.” He glanced at Lleland as he fell in beside them. “Drægón is learning his numbers.”
“You had a mind for numbers,” Lleland said. “Languages as well. In fact, you were good at all your lessons.”
“It will take us many hours to reach Terranton,” Zach said. “We can give you lessons along the way. If you’re interested, of course,” he added as Drægón frowned.
He made a sound at the back of his throat, and Lleland grinned. “You listen, we’ll talk.”
The hours of flying passed quickly as Zach gave Drægón lessons in mathematics, with verbal practise in between. It seemed he did not need language to understand the concepts, and they came to him quickly. The few words of Latin that Lleland tried to teach him swam around his head and dissipated before he could grasp hold of them. He managed better with philosophy – although he doubted he would be able to explain the concepts, he could follow the thought processes with ease.
They found a remote forest to rest for the night, then resumed their journey before the break of day. A huge mountain range loomed before them, and as they drew closer, Drægón had the strangest feeling that he knew these peaks; his blood thrummed with their presence, and he longed to forget his current journey and head straight to the heart of the mountains. They were nearing the northern edge of the range when Aaron pulled up beside him.
“The place where you grew up is not far from here,” he said. “We will stay the night and resume our journey in the morning.” He nodded at the others and swung towards the east.
It wasn’t long before Drægón saw a tall structure rising from a peak, its yellow stone gleaming in the sunlight. They circled the castle a few times, and Drægón saw that it was not just one building, but a whole collection of buildings, all built within a huge wall. There was a large courtyard with humans scurrying about, and set into the castle were enormous arched windows.
With a few words Aaron directed each dragon to a different window; Zach followed them, heading through one of the openings on the top floor. Only Aaron, Lydia and Lleland remained outside with Drægón.
“Follow me,” Aaron directed Drægón, heading towards another window. He swept through the opening, and Drægón followed as Lleland and Lydia veered to the left. Aaron transformed as Drægón landed on the stone floor of an enormous chamber. He looked around, taking in the huge bed, the chests of clothes, the pile of books and a board with game pieces set up on a desk.
“This is your chamber,” Aaron said.
Drægón closed his eyes and sniffed. His own scent lingered in the linens and rugs on the floor, but the place held no familiarity for him. He glanced at the books, but the words were beyond his ability to read, and he looked away. The door opened and Lleland and Lydia stepped through, both dressed in their human forms.
“Well?” Lleland demanded, and Drægón shook his head. He could smell the disappointment that wafted from Lydia, and wished he had something to offer her.
“You need more time,” she said resolutely, but Drægón knew better. The part of him that had once been Xavier was gone forever.
He took another long look around the chamber, and smiled to himself. It was far bigger than the chamber at Drake House, and he imagined sharing it with Evelyn – then pushed the thought away. Unless she changed her mind about being his mate, that wouldn’t be happening. Aaron leaned back against the wall, watching him carefully.
“She would like to come here,” he said, and Drægón swung his head towards him in surprise as he grinned. “You aren’t the only with a sense of smell, son. Your scent changed the moment you started thinking of her.”
Lydia laughed under her breath, her eyes sparkling. “You need to make her your mate,” she said.
“No,” Drægón said.
Lydia frowned. “Why not?”
Drægón shook his head in frustration. Closing his eyes, he gathered in his flames then pushed them outward, changing. Lleland opened one of the chests and threw him a tunic. He still hadn’t quite got the hang of the awkward clothing, and it took a moment to get his head through the correct hole.
“Well?” demanded Lydia when he was finally clothed. “Why don’t you want Evelyn as a mate?”
“Evie doesn’t want …” He searched for the right word, but Lydia was already answering the unspoken thought.
“Of course she does. Anyone with two eyes can see how she feels for you.”
Drægón shook his head. “She say no blood.”
“No blood? Why not?”
“Angry … Robin … bond.” His thoughts were a jumble, and although they made perfect sense in his mind, he couldn’t get them out right. He clenched his fist, then opened it as flames wreathed his palm. He stared at them for a moment, gathering his thoughts once more. “Evie angry I can force will.”
“Ah, I see.” Lydia was quiet for a moment. “She thinks you will force her. Did you explain that it is different for mates?”
“No time.”
“This is all very new to Evelyn,” Lydia said. “She had only just discovered what you were when she thought you had died. And although we told her some of our history, it was just the basics. You need to explain to her just what it means to be your mate. She just needs to understand. She loves you – you know that. And you love her, too. Don’t allow a misunderstanding to push you apart.”
“Your mother’s right,” Lleland said. “You have more challenges than most, but you can overcome them.”
“How?”
“Well, you have some time to think about that, don’t you?”
“But as soon as you’re back, don’t delay,” Lydia said. “After all, Keira and I have already been planning your ceremony.”
“Ceremony?”
“Of course! You’re the Master. But don’t worry, you won’t have to do a thing, except share your blood.”
Lleland slapped him on the shoulder. “There you go, all figured out. That’s the wonderful thing about women!” He glanced at Lydia with a smile. “Be grat
eful it’s just two of them. If Anna and Cathryn were involved …” He shook his head with a grin.
Aaron and Lydia showed Drægón around the castle while Lleland headed back to join the others in the hall. Nothing Drægón saw sparked any memories, but the castle seemed comfortable and familiar all the same. The kind of place where he could escape and be himself. The place he wanted to be with Evelyn, if she would have him.
They supped in the large hall, waited upon by the servants of Storbrook. They nodded to him in greeting and he realized they had known Xavier. The eyes of more than one serving girl lingered on him, and he wondered just how well Xavier had known them, before dismissing the thought. It was only Evelyn he had felt in his mind. A man hurried to Aaron’s side and whispered in his ear as he eyed Drægón nervously. Aaron nodded, and the man hurried away to take a seat at another table.
“Who that?” Drægón asked as he considered the man’s nervousness.
“My steward, Aldwin. You scared him before, and I don’t think he finds you any less intimidating now.”
Beside him, Zach laughed. “If he knew the truth, he would be absolutely terrified.”
Aaron frowned, but Drægón caught Zach’s eye and smirked.
“No!” Aaron said. “Drægón, you may be my Master, but that is my steward, and I wish to keep him a while longer.”
Drægón pulled a thread of flame from his palm and wound it around his hand. “Won’t do anything,” he said.
Aaron groaned. “You already are.”
A filling and satisfying meal was brought into the hall, remarkable given the short notice that had been given to serve such a large, unexpected group. Lydia showed Drægón how to use the knives and spoons on the table, as the others watched in amusement. He could not understand why humans made life so difficult for themselves. When a piece of meat went skittering off his plate for the third time, he threw down the utensils in frustration and ate the rest with his fingers.
Dragon Redeemed Page 32