“They have pens, diva,” he replied. “Just go quickly. You and I have an interview in the green room in half an hour.”
“Yes, your majesty,” she rolled her eyes.
“That's yes, General Sir,” he teased her and she broke away. She couldn't even stand the light flirting that actors often spat out. She knew it meant nothing, but it reminded her of a time when it did.
How the crowds got to the stage door so fast was stunning to her. It was almost as if some of them had left the show early just to meet her. When she pushed it open, they cheered at the top of their lungs, shoving against her.
Ariel shoved back, snapping at those who got too close. She told herself that she would sign ten autographs – that was it – and then she would go back in. Ten was a significant number; they couldn't blame her for that.
“What name do you want me to make it out to?” she grabbed a tenth one, grateful that it would only be a few seconds. Frankly, she didn't care who they were or what they wanted written, so long as it was short.
“Katianna,” said a voice.
Ariel froze, looking up.
Two different colored eyes looked back at her, a smile on her face. She didn't look anything like the last girl. The only similarities were the eyes and Spencer standing beside her.
Ariel had never been rendered speechless before. Her jaw fell open, and she stared at Spencer, shaking her head.
“No,” she said. “No. This isn't real.”
“And yet the proof stands right in front of you,” Spencer said softly. “Can't you feel it?”
“I felt you,” Ariel said, quickly. “That's it.”
“Well, from what I understand, it's been a while since you honed your skills,” he answered. “You were radiant on the stage, just as we remember.”
“You remember,” she said, looking back to Katianna, “Just one of you remembers.”
“I remember you,” Katianna replied. She had dark skin this time around, and she was taller and curvier than last time. But something about a firm lilt in her voice sent shivers down Ariel's spine. “I used to watch videos of you last time. And this time.”
“No.” Ariel closed her eyes. “No. We went over the possibilities. We investigated–”
“And what did you find?” Spencer asked. “Anything conclusive?”
“No,” she admitted. “But–”
“Ariel, would you do us the honor of having a drink with us tonight?” Spencer asked. “We're across the street, at the Marriott.”
“Why?” Ariel asked. “We weren't close. Why did you seek me out?”
“There's something I need to tell you,” Spencer replied. “For old time's sake, then. For Alexander.”
He used the magic word – the word that he knew she couldn't deny. She nodded silently, agreeing to meet them at their room.
What in the world did he want to talk to her about? What did it matter? What he have to say, she thought?
Still, she couldn't stay away. She rushed through the interview and barely changed before she headed across the street. Her heart was hammering as she got into the elevator, taking it to the top floor.
She knocked on the door to the penthouse with sweaty palms, brushing her hair back from her eyes. The doors were mirrored, and she stared at her reflection for a few moments. She was still gorgeous, her red hair and still a solid color. Her face was more defined, as often happened with age. Her small body was a little wider, her legs a little thicker.
She had a briefly thought of Alexander, seeing the fact that stared back at her. If he was still around, would he still think she was beautiful? Would he still love her? Or would their marriage have given up the ghost a long time ago?
Spencer pulled open the door with a smile.
“Ariel, thank you for coming.”
“Please make it fast,” she said as she stepped into the room. “I don't have long, and I'm tired.”
“Of course,” he said. “You were working. Katianna, Ariel is here.”
She came out of the bedroom, starling Ariel all over again with her face. Ariel looked her up and down hesitantly.
“I heard your death was painful,” Ariel said at last, the only thing she could think of saying. Katianna smiled.
“That part, I don't remember. I only remember good memories of last time. You and I in the palace, staring each other down like this. We were almost friends by the end, I think.”
“Anyone could know that,” Ariel said, clutching her purse with shaking hands. “Anything that you claim to know, anyone could guess, or Spencer could feed to you.”
Katianna glanced to Spencer, who seemed relaxed.
“Yes,” Spencer admitted. “You are right. Everything that she knows, everything that happened with her graves, it could just be logically explained away. But the feelings you know in your heart, Ariel, the feeling you have when you see the person you are supposed to spend the rest of your life with, those don't have an explanation. You just look at someone, and you know, even if they are in a different body.”
“Why I am here?” she asked, at last. “Did you bring me here to throw my sad love life in his face?”
“No,” Spencer said. “I'm sorry. We should have made it clear. Come this way.”
“Why?” she half whined, her shoulders sinking as she followed him to the second part of their suite. Spencer pushed open the door to the bedroom, and Ariel suddenly froze.
It felt like when she saw the wolves in the throne room. Something felt familiar, and yet different. Something was compelling, buried underneath a different coat.
Inside the bedroom was a young man. He had golden hair, falling into his eyes, and he was wearing a suit, well cut to his lanky frame. His cheek bones were high, his jaw was strong, and he was a few inches taller than her.
He met her eyes, and she felt like her chest seized up. She knew this feeling, this magical strain, but she couldn't bring herself to say it.
“Hello,” the young man said, staring at her. “I think we know each other.”
“Alexander?” her voice finally cracked. He took a step forward, and she took in a huge breath, feeling the magic.
“You were my wife, weren't you?” he said, softly. “You were my love.”
“Yes,” tears slipped down her face. “But it's been twenty years.”
“You are beautiful,” he said, and she fell into his arms. “Still.”
“Oh, my God,” she whispered, laying her head on his chest. “Oh, my God, is this real?”
“What do you think?” he asked.
“I want it to be real,” she sobbed, her walls coming down.
“Then it is real,” he replied, and she said no more, remembering their wedding vows.
“Till death do us part,” they had said.
And beyond.
***THE END***
Exiled Dragons Box Set Preview
Sarah J. Stone
Chapter 1
“Connor, this is Emily. She just moved here from Dublin.”
Connor looked from his older brother, Owen, to the petite young woman standing beside him. She was stunning. Not only did she have the most gorgeous, flaming red hair he had ever seen, but she possessed deep blue eyes, a rarity for gingers in their home of Carlingford, Ireland – a rarity for anywhere, really.
She was beautiful, to say the least. Her naturally athletic-looking frame only added to her attractiveness. He sensed a power about her well beyond her appearance. She looked like she could take anyone in a sprint, despite her diminutive stature. There was an air of fearlessness that seemed to radiate from her as she stood beaming happily at him.
“Pleased to meet you, Emily,” Connor replied, trying to seem unmoved by her presence, though the truth was that he was instantly stunned by her.
“Likewise,” she told him, her eyes never leaving his. “Owen has told me a lot of good things about you.”
“Oh, well don’t believe any of that.
He’s always making up things about me so that he can feel better about himself,” Connor joked, smiling at his brother for a moment before he returned her gaze to her.
“Really? Because he kind of said you were a great guy,” she laughed.
“I see. He must be coming to his senses in his old age,” Connor told her playfully as Owen stood looking at him with a bemused smirk, but he barely noticed it from the corner of his eye. His gaze was focused squarely on Emily as if Owen was no longer even there.
For a few moments, it was as if no one else existed but the two of them. Was there something happening between them, or was it just his imagination? More importantly, was she a shifter? These were both questions to which he suddenly found himself desperately wanting answers. Fortunately, his brother was going to help him with the answer to at least one of them, it seemed.
“Emily is a dragon shifter, too. Her aunt asked me to show her around a bit, but I’ve got to head up to the city center to pick up some supplies. I thought maybe you could show her around the village, perhaps take her out for a flight around the Mournes to show her the safe zones later,” Connor told him.
“Sure, no problem. I’d be happy to do that,” Connor replied, secretly delighted by the opportunity to get to know her better.
“Good deal. Thanks, brother,” Owen told him with a knowing smile before turning to walk away.
Both he and Emily replied to tell Owen goodbye, almost in perfect unison, causing him to pause and turn back toward them for a moment with what passed for a smile from his usually solemn brother. He nodded toward them and then resumed his retreat.
“So, how long have you been in Carlingford?” Connor asked, turning back toward Emily with great interest.
“I just moved my stuff here today. My mother recently passed away after a long illness. I came here to stay with my aunt and, you know, to be with people like me. There aren’t that many of us in Dublin these days.”
“I’m sorry to hear about your mother. Loss is hard. Owen and I lost our father when we were young. How did you end up in a place like Dublin, being a shifter and all?” Owen asked.
“What do you mean? There are quite a few shifters there. I still have some family in the city.”
“It’s just so limiting, is all. Trying to live among humans without notice there is difficult. I would think it would greatly limit flight time.”
“Ah, yes. It’s just a necessity for some, I guess. You know, jobs and all. In smaller clan villages like this, you have to learn a trade or have a business of some sort. More mainstream jobs require city living, so it’s a tradeoff. My father was an engineer. He fell in love with bridges when he was a boy. So, he wanted to design them, and that took him to Dublin.”
“That makes sense. I’m afraid it’s not quite as bustling here as it was in Dublin. The village can take some getting used to. It’s a very close-knit group, and they are a bit wary of outsiders, but they are really good people once they get used to you. Usually, if the dragon leader is okay with you, then you won’t have any problems from anyone else. Have you already met Aiden?”
“The dragon leader of your clan? Yes. We met earlier today. He seemed a little creepy. Is it okay to say that?”
“Yes, you can say that.” Connor laughed. “He does come across as creepy quite often.”
“Glad I’m not the only one that thinks so. I’ll be keeping a healthy distance from him, I think.”
“Probably not a bad idea. He’s been our clan leader for quite some time now, but not many care for his policies or heavy-handed interference in everyday life. Still, no one wants to challenge him. He’s known to be quite ruthless.”
“I don’t think I’ll be hanging out with him anytime soon. He’s not exactly the sort I’d want to settle in for a spot of tea with.”
“No, he isn’t. Anyway, let me show you around a bit,” Connor offered, raising his hand to motion toward the small walkway to his left that led into the city center. He continued talking, trying not to come off as chattering nervously as they strolled along.
“Everyone on this side of the mountain is part of our clan. Most of the other side is, too, but there are a few non-shifter friendlies over there as well. Bottom line is that you are safe spreading your wings anywhere on the ground here, but limit your flights toward the east, over the water. Try to stay over Carlingford Lough and only go out during twilight or dusk when you aren’t as noticeable from a distance.”
“It will be so nice to be able to fly every day if I want,” she said. “I was so limited in Dublin. Even though it is on the coast, there was way too much going on at the port with ships coming and going. I could only fly in complete darkness in the wee hours.”
“I understand completely. That is what I meant earlier about it being an odd place for a shifter to settle, but it makes sense with your father’s job. You will find that we are much more accepted here by the people who live nearby, but not so much outside the mountain. Still, we have a lot more freedom than in other places.”
“I’ll try to keep a low profile. My dragon is fairly compact anyway,” she joked.
“Nothing wrong with that. Anyway, come on and we’ll meet some folks while we wait for the sun to drop a bit so we can get you out to stretch your wings a bit.”
Emily was well received by the members of the clan that Connor introduced her to, returning home with an armload of gifts given to her by assorted members of the community. They dropped these off at her house and then walked back through the village center to meet some of the shopkeepers and show her the markets available there without having to leave the mountain to shop.
“We try to be as self-sufficient as possible. It’s a quiet community, and we do our best to support one another without involving outsiders,” he told her as they walked along.
“Outsiders? Like me, you mean?” she replied, seeming a bit put off by his words.
“No, of course not!” he replied, horrified that she had taken it that way. “I mean, non-shifters. Most don’t understand us and what we are. They view us as some sort of danger to them. Even if they are accepting of us, they aren’t so good at keeping our secret.”
“Ah, okay. I understand. It’s too tempting to tell everyone what they’ve discovered. Humans aren’t very good at knowing something that they can’t tell anyone else. They tell one person they don’t think will tell anyone, and then that person tells someone…before you know it, the world knows your secret.”
“Exactly. It’s no problem for them if the wrong people learn we are shifters, but a huge problem for us. That is the primary reason it is forbidden to take a human mate in our village. Not everyone agrees with that, but Aiden insists it remain a rule,” he replied with a dismissive shrug.
“I suppose it doesn’t matter who agrees with it as long as he has made it law,” she said, her attention directed toward a small diner nearby. “Do you think we could grab a bite to eat before we continue on? I’m starving!”
“I can’t think of a better idea. I’m pretty hungry myself,” he laughed, steering her to the inside of the eatery.
“It’s not very crowded in here,” she said curiously, before leaning into him to whisper, “Is that a bad sign?”
“No, not at all. She just doesn’t have a lot of people dining in, is all. Her food is fantastic, but most grab it and go because she gives such large portions that it makes an easy dinner for the family,” he told her quietly.
“Oh. I hate wasting food. I guess I can take what’s left home with me if it is too much,” she said uncertainly.
“You might as well plan on it,” he laughed, pulling out a chair for her near the front window.
The owner, Cassi Baker, had been running the small diner since she was a young woman, and before that, as a teen, she had waited tables for her parents who had owned it before her. No one knew exactly how old she really was, but she had been in the village when it was founded and longer than anyone else who currently lived th
ere.
“Cassi, this is Emily. She just moved here to live with her aunt,” Connor told her, realizing suddenly that he had no idea what Emily’s last name was or which member of the village was her aunt. She had been so mesmerizing when he had met her that he hadn’t even thought about it. Now, he found himself suddenly hoping Cassi wouldn’t put him on the spot by asking him for details.
“Pleasure to meet you, honey. I hope I will see more of you. Too many people eat on the run these days. It’s always nice to have a young couple dine in with me.”
“Oh, no. We’re not a couple,” Connor stammered, feeling a hot flush spread up over his face.
“Connor is just showing me around town,” Emily offered, sensing his discomfort. Of course, it wasn’t hard to miss, based on the vivid shade of red he had become.
“He’s a good boy,” Cassi replied, seeming completely oblivious to his discomfort, patting him on the top of the head as if he were still a tot. “What can I get for the two of you?” she asked.
Connor’s face began to return to its normal color as they ordered their food and settled in to chat while Cassi returned to the kitchen to prepare their meal. Emily put him at ease quickly, changing the subject to discuss what there was to do locally for fun. He quickly found himself offering to take her around to more activities to help her get acquainted with the place and everyone in it. By the time their meal was finished, he felt like he had known her for a lifetime rather than one afternoon.
After dinner and a few more introductions around town, Connor and Emily headed up the mountain, walking until they reached the peak. The sun was going down as they stood there, overlooking the sea below them. Something about being here with her felt magical. How could she have such an effect on him so quickly? He told himself to shake it off, to snap out of it. It was far too soon to be so hung up on a woman, especially since it might not even be mutual.
“Ready?” Connor asked, smiling down at her softly.
A Wolf's Heart (Wolf Mountain Peak Book 1) Page 58