by Donna Grant
She was completely awed. “I have no words to describe the wild beauty before me.”
His smile widened. “Are you ready?”
“Ready?” she asked with a frown. “For what?”
No sooner had her words left her mouth than something flew over her, whipping her hair around her face. She clawed at the strands so she could see.
“Oh, my God,” she murmured when her gaze took in the six dragons flying above them, all in different colors. Her head swiveled to Dorian. “Will you join them?”
“Later. My preferred time is at night. While some love the sun on their scales, I want the moon.”
She faced him, sliding her arms around his waist. “You are truly one of a kind. I’m one lucky girl to have you walk into my life.”
“Nay, lass. I’m the lucky one. You mended both my mind and my heart. I was on a destructive path. Con knew it and tried to help me, but I refused to listen to him or anyone else. But one afternoon with you, and everything changed.”
She smiled brightly. “It was the gelato, but I’ll happily take the credit.”
“I’m sorry I used you.”
Alex smoothed the frown lines from his forehead. “You had good reason. If our positions were reversed, I’d probably do the same. Others were only after things to forward their own self-interests.”
“I’m trying to apologize. You should let me,” he said, his lips flattening in a firm line.
She lifted a shoulder. “I’d rather you kiss me.”
Dorian lowered his head. Just before their lips met, she said, “And maybe show me that bed you spoke of.”
He groaned low in his chest and yanked her against him, his lips slanting over her mouth. The kiss was filled with desire, with hope, and with love.
She didn’t care that the dragons flying around them could see. All that mattered was the Dragon King in her arms.
And the love that continued to grow in her heart.
Alex wanted to tell him of her feelings, but she didn’t want the kisses to stop.
“Need you,” Dorian said gruffly. “Now.”
“Yes.”
In the next second, she found herself flying. Wind stung her wet lips as she looked up at Dorian in all his dragon glory as he gently held her in his large claw while they flew over the land.
Alex shifted to see between the slit in his digits as they passed the jagged mountains and rolling glens. Excitement kicked up when he descended toward a peak. She tried to keep her eyes open when he dove through a hole at the top of the mountain.
She gaped in glee when his wings spread, bringing them to a halt. He landed gently and set her down. As soon as her feet hit the ground, she found herself staring at a naked Dorian.
“Oh, yes,” she murmured as she kicked off her shoes and rushed into his arms.
Chapter Twenty-three
The ease in which he could breathe and think was astounding. Dorian hadn’t realized how much hate had weighed him down—or ruled him.
A fire crackled, its red-orange glow covering Alex’s body. He smiled and held her tighter against him while watching the shadows cast by the flames on the wall.
Alex’s finger drew lazy circles on his chest. Neither had spoken after they had made love. He hoped she would be the one to bring up their future, but she had remained quiet. Much to his chagrin.
All the eons he had spent in his mountain made him forget basic things—like telling a woman that he’d fallen deeply, madly in love with her. It had hit him with the force of an exploding star, but felt as comforting and right as the moonlight upon his scales.
“I didna woo you.”
Her hand paused, then she lifted her head to look at him. “I beg your pardon?”
Dorian looked into her hazel eyes and sighed. “I didna woo you. No’ as I should have. I was too wrapped up in my revulsion of humans, too filled with hatred to realize what I needed.”
“You were filled with grief. There’s a difference.”
He rolled her onto her back and leaned over her. “There’s no’. Aye, I still grieve for my sister, but it was hate that I fed.”
Alex raised a hand and set it on his jaw before slowly lowering her arm. “And now?”
“I’m learning to put aside my loathing.”
“It’s a start,” she replied with a smile.
Dorian swallowed, anxiety tying his stomach in knots. “When do you have to return to New York?”
She blinked up at him several times. “There’s no timetable.”
One obstacle overcome. Now, if only he could get the words out. It shouldn’t be so hard to tell someone you cared about how you felt. He knew she was fond of him, but no words of love had been exchanged.
“I...,” he began and paused. “I’m no’ a man with pretty words. I doona know how to give you poetry or even know when to say things correctly. What I’m trying to tell you, badly, is that I’m in love with you, lass.”
The slow smile that spread over her face made his heart leap with hope. “I think you say exactly the right thing every time. You may not give me flowery words, but you’ve let me know in many ways that you cared for me. It was in your words, in your gaze, and even the way you held me. Just like when you said you’d always stand with me. I knew then that you felt something.”
“But you never said anything.”
Alex pushed at his shoulder and flipped him on his back before straddling him. “I did. It was in everything I said and everything I did. Yet I had every intention of telling you that I love you, that I can’t imagine life without you, and I don’t care how long I have with you as long as we’re together.”
Dorian sat up and cupped her face. “I should’ve seen your love as you saw mine.”
“I’ll tell you every day. And I’ll show you as well.”
His heart swelled with so much love that he thought it might burst. “And I you, lass.”
He pulled her head down and kissed her slowly, thoroughly. His cock hardened, yearning to be inside her once more.
But before he claimed her body again, he had more he wanted to say.
Dorian tore his mouth from hers and waited until her eyes opened. “I doona want to face another day without you. I want you as my mate, lass. I want to be bound to you. I know without a doubt you were meant to be mine.”
She began to answer, but he put a finger over her lips. “Understand that we mate for life. There’s no going back once the ceremony has been completed. You need to be certain.”
Alex tugged his hand away. “There is one thing I’ve never been more sure about, Dorian, and that’s you. I know I’ve still got a lot to learn about your life and the Dragon Kings, but this is where I want to be. I feel it in my soul that I’m meant to be here with you. And I can help. I want to help. I want to be with you. Only you.”
“I can no’ wait to find out what our life together will be.”
She laughed huskily. “Oh, babe. We’ve already begun. Didn’t you know that?”
“We’ll argue.”
Alex shrugged and nipped at his lips. “Of course we will. But think of the make-up sex.”
“Mmm,” he said kissing her neck.
“I’ll want to stand with you on everything. You can’t stop me. I’m used to being my own woman and answering to no one but myself.”
Dorian leaned back and grinned. “Love, if I fear for you, I’ll try to stop you. It’s just how I’m made. But as I told you, I’ll always stand with you. No matter who or what we face, be it mortals or immortals. We do it together.”
“Together,” she whispered.
He moaned as she ran her tongue over his lips. Dorian knew that life would never be the same again. But it was going to be glorious and full of love.
Epilogue
The next day...
“Was it a dream?” Dorian demanded. “Was my interaction with Usaeil just a fantasy?”
Rhi drew in a breath, irritation clear on her face. “For the third fekking time, I don’t know.”
/>
Dorian slapped his hand against his thigh before he paced Con’s office. Alex sat in the chair next to Rhi while Con stood quietly staring out the office windows.
The question had plagued Dorian since he woke from the stabbing. It relentlessly troubled him, waking him in the middle of sleep or coming out of the blue while he was discussing something else entirely.
He stopped and leaned back against the wall. “None of you saw it. Everything here that we know and love wasna just gone, but annihilated. Like a child demolishing a toy. The Dragonwood was burned to nothing, and smoke was everywhere. Even our caverns within our mountains had been gutted.”
Con slowly turned to him.
Dorian glanced at Alex. She’d heard all of this before. She was the one who’d urged him to talk to Con and Rhi. Alex thought Rhi might be able to help him distinguish between a vision and a dream.
He cleared his throat against the rise of emotion. “The mates were savagely murdered, and the Dragon Kings were lying dead near them.”
“Did you see Con?” Rhi asked.
Dorian frowned as he shook his head. “I stood next to Ulrik and Eilish. I saw so many dead.”
“But you didn’t see Con,” Rhi said as she pushed up from the chair and approached him.
“I doona think so.”
Con asked Rhi, “Why does that matter?”
“Because I think this was a trick by Usaeil.” Rhi shrugged, her lips twisting. “It’s a guess, actually. I don’t want you to get your hopes up, Dorian, because it could have very well been a vision of what might happen. But it also sounds like something Usaeil would do. She wants Con, so she won’t hurt him.”
“But she does want to hurt you,” Alex pointed out to Rhi. Her hazel gaze turned to Dorian. “Did you see Rhi?”
He shook his head again. “I don’t recall noticing her. Actually, I didna see the mates until after I found the Kings.”
“No Rhi and no me,” Con said as he crossed his arms over his chest. “That could mean anything if this was a trick by Usaeil. It could mean that she wanted Rhi to die another way.”
“Or expected me to be dead by another hand,” Rhi said.
Alex jumped up and came to stand beside Dorian. “I’m confused now. What?”
But Dorian understood. He turned Alex to face him. “We all know, but can no’ prove yet, that Usaeil gave Yasser the weapon. The queen could have added the spell that would show whoever was stabbed exactly what was shown to me. It’s why you were no’ in there. Or Rhi. Because she believes Rhi will die another way.”
“Oh,” Alex said with a nod. “That makes sense.”
Rhi puffed out her cheeks before releasing the breath. “But it doesn’t tell us how she got the damn weapon to begin with.”
“I’m just hoping it’s no’ a premonition of what’s to come,” Dorian said.
Con dropped his arms. “Always be prepared for any eventuality. It’s the only way we’re going to survive this.”
Alex’s gaze came to rest on him before she asked, “Feel better about this now?”
“Aye,” Dorian replied.
“Good, because I’m dying to see what we can learn about the artifact and if it will help.”
Damn. He’d been so focused on his dream that he’d momentarily forgotten the Immortality Stone. Without wasting another moment, he grabbed her hand and gave a nod to Con.
It wasn’t long before the four of them stood in a cavern in Dreagan Mountain where the artifact was being held while encased in layers of dragon magic.
“Was this wise?” Rhi asked.
Dorian frowned. “Nothing is stronger than dragon magic.”
The Light Fae snorted and slid her gaze to Con.
The King of Dragon Kings pulled his hand from his pocket, holding something round and gold within his palm. “We know there is magic surrounding it. It didna hurt either Eilish or Ulrik, but I wasna going to take any chances after the wooden dragon.”
“Or the dagger,” Rhi added.
Dorian gave a nod to the relic. “What can you tell us, Rhi?”
“Nothing as long as there is dragon magic surrounding it. I’ve got to be able to touch it if I’m going to tell you what kind of magic is involved.” She swung her head to Con. “Unless Eilish or Ulrik already know that.”
There was a beat of silence before Con removed the dragon magic around the Immortality Stone. Dorian positioned himself a little in front of Alex in case he needed to shield her from anything.
Rhi moved toward the waist-high boulder that the artifact rested on and walked slowly around it, her eyes taking in details of the relic. Finally, she paused and put her hand over it.
After a heartbeat, she lowered her hand and stepped back. Worry lined her face while concern filled her silver eyes.
“Is it that bad?” Alex asked.
Rhi sighed as she shook her head. “It is Fae writing. And while I can sense the magic surrounding it, I can’t feel what kind it is.”
“Neither could Ulrik,” Dorian said.
“I wonder,” Alex murmured as she took a step toward it.
Dorian stopped her, not wanting her to get close.
She smiled at him. “It’s been in my family for generations. Not once has it hurt any of us. I’ve handled it multiple times.”
Dorian reluctantly released her, but Alex didn’t move from his side. Instead, she intertwined her fingers with his. The action made him breathe easier.
Alex then said, “A Druid and a Dragon King attempted to touch it while it was under my security. A Fae just tried to see about the magic now.”
“Your point,” Con said.
But Dorian understood now. “Each one of us has gone separately. What happens if a King and a Fae look into the magic together?”
“Oh,” Rhi said with her brows raised. “Good idea, Alex.”
While his woman beamed, Dorian began to move toward the stone. But it was Con who stepped up beside Rhi.
“You should let me,” Dorian told him.
The King of Kings shook his head. “If anyone is going to get hurt, it’s me.”
“Oh, let’s not worry about me,” Rhi said with a grumble.
Con shot her a dark look before they both put a hand over the artifact. Rhi sucked in a breath while Con frowned.
“Well?” Dorian urged. He hated not knowing what was going on.
Rhi licked her lips. “The magic is....”
“Intense,” Con finished for her.
The Fae nodded. “It’s not Fae or Druid or dragon.”
“But I sense aspects of all three,” Con added.
“More dragon than anything.”
“Aye.”
Dorian was more confused than ever. “What does this mean? That a dragon is now part of the group?”
Con lowered his hand and met Dorian’s gaze. “This magic is the same as we feel on Dreagan. It has facets of Druid and Fae magic because they’re on this realm with us.”
“Are you saying this isn’t bad magic like the wooden dragon?” Alex asked.
Rhi rested her hand on the artifact and smiled. “That’s exactly what he’s saying. Besides, it saved Dorian’s life.”
“If it’s no’ meant to harm us, why was it kept from us?” Dorian wanted to know.
“To lure you to me,” Alex replied.
Con took the stone from Rhi. “Can you read the writing?” he asked.
“Some,” she replied. “I need more time.”
“You’ll have it.” Con turned to Dorian. “The Immortality Stone needs to be kept safe.”
Alex lifted her chin. “Without a doubt. It also belongs on Dreagan. Consider the artifact now the property of the Dragon Kings.”
There was more discussion on how to read the writing, but Dorian wasn’t really listening. He couldn’t take his eyes off his woman. And he couldn’t wait until they were bound to each other.
“I like when you smile,” Alex whispered.
“You give me a reason.”
; She rose up and gave him a quick kiss. “I want to put Meg in charge of everything in New York so I can remain here.”
“Is that something Meg wants?”
Alex grinned and nodded. “She’s anxious to return so she can take over her new role.”
“You doona have to do that. You can return anytime you want.”
She glanced at Con and Rhi still deep in conversation before she pulled Dorian from the cavern. “All my life I’ve wanted a quiet place in the country to live. You’ve not only given me love, Dorian, but you gave me a dream you didn’t know I had. I’m sure I’ll return to New York every once in a while, but I don’t need to go back. I’ve got everything I need right here.”
He wrapped his arms around her and yanked her against him. “I love you, Alexandra Sheridan.”
“And I you.”
His lips found hers as they kissed, giving in to not only the passion, but the love that bound them tighter than anything else ever could.
* * * *
Also from 1001 Dark Nights and Donna Grant, discover Dragon King, Dragon Fever, and Dragon Burn.
Sign up for the 1001 Dark Nights Newsletter
and be entered to win a Tiffany Key necklace.
There's a contest every month!
Click here to subscribe.
As a bonus, all subscribers will receive a free copy of
Discovery Bundle Three
Featuring stories by
Sidney Bristol, Darcy Burke, T. Gephart
Stacey Kennedy, Adriana Locke
JB Salsbury, and Erika Wilde
Discover 1001 Dark Nights Collection Five
Click here for more information
BLAZE ERUPTING by Rebecca Zanetti
Scorpius Syndrome/A Brigade Novella
ROUGH RIDE by Kristen Ashley
A Chaos Novella
HAWKYN by Larissa Ione
A Demonica Underworld Novella
RIDE DIRTY by Laura Kaye