by Donna Grant
“I could argue differently.”
“Do you hate them?”
Con’s black eyes became distant. “I doona know what you mean.”
“I get the feeling you do, but then why do you defend them so fiercely? If you hated them, why no’ allow Ulrik to rid the realm of them once and for all.”
“We took an oath.”
Arian shrugged one shoulder. “So you do despise them.”
“I didna say that.”
“You didna deny it, either.”
Con adjusted the gold dragon-head cuff link at his wrist. “My feelings toward the mortals doona matter one way or the other. My first duty is to all of you and our way of life. Only after that do I consider the vow I took regarding the humans.”
Arian looked past Con to the window. Night was still upon them. It was time to stretch his wings and look in on Grace.
After all, debating anything with Con was an exercise in futility.
* * * *
Grace’s eyes snapped open. She sat up in the darkened room and glanced at her mobile. It had only been two hours since she finished the book.
She tried to lie back down and sleep once more, but her eyes wouldn’t remain shut. She couldn’t stop thinking about Arian. Or seeing the cavern in her mind’s eye.
After another thirty minutes of tossing, Grace rose and took a shower, thinking that might help her relax and get back to sleep. But once out of the shower, she was more awake than before.
She dried off and put on clean clothes before she tugged on her hiking boots. Grace walked from her room with nothing but her mobile phone and a jacket.
As she strode from the back door of the B&B, Grace saw the rolling landscape before her. The moon didn’t shed much light as it filtered through the clouds, but she had the flashlight on her mobile if she needed it.
The fresh air and a nice walk were just what she needed to empty her mind so she could find some peace. She strolled across the terrain. Occasionally she glanced upward, not that she expected to see anything. There were too many clouds for one, and for another, she didn’t think any of the Kings would be this far from Dreagan.
Why then did she keep looking up? She tried to deny it, but the simple fact was she wanted to see a dragon. Correction. She wanted to see Arian.
She knew what he looked like with his wings spread as he soared through the sky. She knew how his turquoise scales glinted metallic in the sunlight. She knew the feel of the heat from the fire he breathed from his mouth.
Powerful. Dignified. Commanding. Mighty. Imposing. Noble.
They were all words she would readily use to describe Arian in both his dragon and human forms.
Grace was breathing heavily when she crested a hill that was a lot steeper than she had originally thought. She stood looking over the land even as a cold breeze blew past her.
She wrapped her arms around herself. Though she had traveled extensively all over Europe, she continued to set her stories in Scotland.
Her father used to laugh about it, telling her that there must be something in Scotland drawing her to the land. She used to roll her eyes at his teasing. Now she wondered if he hadn’t been right.
Her father had believed in fate and destiny. Whereas Grace thought each person decided their own path with the choices they made.
Now she was beginning to believe that perhaps her father might have had it right all along. It felt as if she were supposed to have met Arian and experienced all that she had with him.
Destiny? Or choice?
There was a whoosh overhead. Grace looked up but saw nothing more than the clouds from before. She started walking forward down the hill.
Grace reached the bottom when she heard something above her. This time when she lifted her gaze she saw a dark shape begin to emerge from a cloud.
She gasped, mesmerized as Arian flew over her, circling back around by dipping one wing. The beat of his wings was so loud she wondered how no one else heard it.
Her gaze was riveted as he descended in one fluid motion with his wings outspread while he hovered over the ground before landing.
He tucked his wings against him and watched her with his black eyes. Arian didn’t move, and it took Grace a moment to realize he was waiting on her.
She licked her lips. What should she do? She was torn, wanting to go to him and wanting to run away. He had already come to see her once as a human. He had returned again. This time in his true form.
Grace walked to him one slow step at a time. Her heart was racing, but not because she was scared of him. Because she was frightened of how he made her feel.
She halted before him, looking up into his black eyes as he towered over her. Arian lowered his giant head, and Grace hesitantly stroked him.
A laugh escaped when she felt the warmth of his scales. They were hard beneath her hand, but not cold. It was so unexpected that she couldn’t stop touching him.
He closed his eyes, a low rumble coming from deep within him. Grace rested her cheek against the side of his head. In all her wild imaginings, she never pictured herself caressing a dragon.
As odd as it seemed, it also felt as if she had been destined for it.
If only he hadn’t used her fear against her.
Grace squeezed her eyes closed. Why did she have to be afraid of storms? Why couldn’t she let go of the fear? If she could, she might have a future with Arian—because she had already forgiven him for what he did.
Because she loved him.
Arian blew out a breath and lifted his head. Grace stepped back as she watched him. For long seconds, he held her gaze, and then in a blink the dragon was gone. In its place was Arian, standing naked and proud before her.
Grace let her gaze run over him from his face to his feet and back up again, stopping to admire the dragon tat on his left leg.
It must be the trick of the light because she could’ve sworn it moved.
“Grace.”
Her eyes lifted to his face, where she found him staring at her. His expression melted her heart instantly. He allowed her to see his sorrow, his anxiety, and his...love.
She took a step back when she realized what he was offering. Grace hadn’t thought anyone could tell another of their love without words, but the proof stood before her now.
“I promised to protect you, and I didna,” Arian said. “I let you down.”
Grace didn’t move, didn’t so much as blink.
“I’m sorry. So verra sorry, lass.” Arian looked at the ground for a moment and ran a hand through his hair. “Those words are so inadequate. I could say I did it for my brethren and Dreagan, but even that doesna sound right.”
She looked at his wide shoulders. Those same shoulders where she had rested her head after they made love. She looked at his arms. The same arms that had held her so passionately and protectively.
“Say something, Grace. Please,” he implored.
But she didn’t know if she could. The words were stuck in her throat. Yes, she had felt wonderful with Arian, but she had also experienced her greatest fear while with him.
She loved him and already forgave him, but he chose loyalty over love. Would he do it again?
Arian let out a deep breath and gave a single nod. “You’ll no’ see anyone from Dreagan again. Of that, I vow. No one will take away your memories. Unless you want them gone.”
Did she? It would be easier not having to remember Arian and his kisses, but was that really want she wanted? No!
“Anything worth having is worth fighting for,” her father used to say.
His second favorite quote was, “Sometimes the most complicated things in life are the ones that end up bringing us the most satisfaction.”
Arian and the Dragon Kings were definitely complications. And she wanted to be a part of that world. As alarming and thrilling and terrifying as it all was.
“I forgive you,” she said as Arian turned to leave.
He jerked back to her. “Say it again. Please.”
<
br /> This time she had a difficult time not smiling. “I forgive you.”
He was before her in a blink. Hesitantly, he hooked a finger with hers. “I’ll never hurt you again, Grace. I put my loyalty to Con and Dreagan above my feelings for you. I did it because I wanted Con to believe you, so I thought that if he could get his information you’d never have to endure his question again. I’m sorry, lass.”
Her eyes closed when he pulled her against his chest and wrapped his arms around her. Despite everything, in his arms was where she knew she belonged.
Chapter Fifteen
Arian held Grace tight. He let her go once. He wasn’t going to do it again. Kissing the top of her head, he said, “I doona want to scare you, lass, but I’ve fallen for you.”
There was a beat of silence. He felt her tense in his arms then. Arian knew he shouldn’t have told her that yet. He was going to frighten her away just as he got her back.
“Arian,” she whispered.
It was the thread of panic in her voice that alerted him. He jerked his head to where she was looking and saw the three Dark Fae approaching.
“Dark Fae!” Arian shouted through his mental link to the Kings.
He pushed Grace behind him as he looked around for more Dark.
Behind them another two came their way. It was their smirks that set Arian off. The Fae thought they had them cornered, but Arian wasn’t about to let that happen.
“Do you trust me?” he asked Grace.
She clutched his arm and nodded her head quickly. “Yes, I trust you.”
“Climb on my back. And hang on tight.”
There was a strangled screech as he shifted as soon as she had her legs wrapped around him. Arian unfurled his wings, knocking two of the Dark back.
Another sent a blast of magic at him, hitting him squarely on the neck. Pain radiated through him as the magic sizzled along his scales.
If only he had thunder to mask a roar, but he wouldn’t put Grace through that fear again. He would find another way to beat the Dark.
He opened his mouth and blasted the Dark with dragon fire. Grace had a death grip on him, but even so Arian was afraid to jump into the air and knock her off. It was her first ride, and he needed to be gentle.
But there was no such thing as gentle in battle.
A growl left him as he was hit with several more rounds of Dark magic. If he didn’t get out of there soon, the Dark magic would make him shift back into a human.
Arian swiped his tail behind him. He severed a Dark in half, leaving only three more to fight.
“Make it rain!” Grace yelled.
Surely Arian heard her wrong. Grace would never tell him to make it rain.
Arian turned, using his tail to keep the Dark at a distance. His wings he used to deflect magic aimed at Grace. He took a couple of steps forward to take off when he was hit in the side with a volley of Dark magic.
“Arian! Do it!” Grace demanded. “Make it thunder.”
His heart swelled at the trust she bestowed upon him. Despite her fear, she believed in him.
He let loose his magic. The clouds gathered quickly overhead, and a second later, lightning split the sky viciously again and again. Thunder rumbled so loudly that it masked Arian’s roar as he was bombarded with Dark magic.
There was no mistaking the feel of Grace shaking as she clung to his neck. He had to get her away from the Dark and the storm. But the tempest was the only cover to get them out.
He took a huge chance dropping from the meager clouds to see Grace to begin with. Getting away without the storm would be impossible as the Dark tried to keep him there. Not to mention, the Dark didn’t care who heard or saw them.
Arian prayed Grace held on. He jumped into the air, spreading his wings, and caught a current. With a quick turn, he dodged another round of magic. As he swung back around to deliver a blast of dragon fire, two dragons came up on either side of him.
He met the royal purple gaze of the gold dragon. Con. With a nod, Con tucked his wings and dove toward the ground. Arian looked on the other side of him to find Warrick. Lightning flashed around them, giving Arian a glimpse of War’s jade scales before he joined Con in taking out the remaining Dark.
Arian contained the storm to where they were and quickly flew Grace out of it. He kept as low to the ground as he dared without being seen as he glided through the sky toward Dreagan.
Finally, Grace lifted her head from his neck and looked around. He heard her whispered, “Wow,” which caused him to smile.
Though he reached Dreagan swiftly, he didn’t land. Instead, he wanted to show Grace the other side of being a Dragon King.
He dipped lower, taking them in the valley between mountains. Arian felt his heart swell when he heard her laughter.
“Arian, this is amazing!” she yelled.
Her grip eased, but it didn’t loosen altogether. Finally, after another thirty minutes, Arian turned and headed to his mountain.
He slowed, using his wings to hover him over the entrance. After he landed, he walked through his entrance to the cavern. Only then did he lower his neck so she could slide off him.
Arian used his magic to start a fire for light. Then he shifted and yanked her into his arms. He buried his head in her neck. “I’m so sorry I had to use the weather.”
“It’s all right.”
“Nay. It’s no’.”
She leaned back to look at his face. “No, it really is. I knew I was safe with you. I knew you would control the weather so it couldn’t hurt me. I should’ve realized that sooner. It was us in danger that made me face what I already knew.”
“I’ll never let anything hurt you, Grace. Ever,” he vowed.
She glanced down at his chest. “Before the Dark arrived, you were saying something.”
“It doesna matter. It can wait.”
“Say it again,” she urged.
He looked into her navy eyes and felt the steel band of anxiety ease from his chest. “I’m falling for you.”
“Falling? Or fallen?”
“Fallen,” he admitted. “I fell for you the minute you walked into this mountain. Does that frighten you?”
She gave a small nod. “It does.”
Arian knew he shouldn’t have told her his true feelings. Not yet anyway. She needed time to adjust.
“It does because this isn’t suppose to happen,” Grace said.
“What?”
“Love at first sight.” She put her hands on his chest and smiled. “Everyone says it can’t possibly happen, but I know that it does.”
Arian’s heart beat faster. “And? What do you think it means?”
“I’m not sure. All I know is that I like how I feel when I’m with you. I love how protective you are and that you aren’t afraid to say you’re sorry. I like how you touch me and kiss me. I like how you hold me, but more than anything, I like the possibilities that are before us.”
“We’re in the middle of a war,” he warned.
She shrugged and ran her hands up his chest and over his shoulders to clasp around his neck. “Every couple has their own issues to get through.”
He threw back his head and laughed. “I do love how you can make me laugh in such a way.”
“I do, too. I also really like how you can make me hot for you with just a look.”
Damn. Did she really just say that? Arian moaned, feeling his cock harden at the thought.
“That,” she said breathlessly. “That’s the look.”
Arian kissed her hard, his arm holding her so tight he knew he was hurting her. But he couldn’t loosen his hold. She was too precious to him.
He ended the kiss and simply held her, amazed that she had come into his life. “You found your muse again at Dreagan. Will you stay?”
“What of Con?”
Arian leaned back so he could look at her. “Con let you leave Dreagan. He watched you.”
“What?” she asked, her brow furrowed.
“He believes you. I
think he wanted to see how far I was willing to go and how much you could take.”
She rolled her eyes. “I don’t think I like him very much, but I know why he did what he did.”
Arian smiled and tugged a lock of blonde hair. “Stay here with me, Grace. I want you as mine. Always.”
“You don’t know me.”
“We’ll take the time to get to know each other. But please stay. I need you.”
She rose up on her tiptoes and placed her lips on his. “As if I could refuse such a request. I’m all yours, Arian.”
“Damn, baby. That’s just what I wanted to hear,” he said as he claimed her lips for another fierce kiss and began to undress her.
Epilogue
Grace couldn’t stop fiddling with her purse strap. The book was turned in to her publisher. Arian even liked the fact she used their story. But that’s not why she was nervous.
Arian’s hand came to rest atop hers gently. She looked at him and returned his smile as she gazed into his champagne eyes. “It’s going to be fine,” he assured her once again.
He had been saying that all morning. She believed it when they went to gather her things at the B&B with Mr. McKean smiling knowingly. She even believed as they drove away.
But the closer they came to Dreagan, the more worried she began.
“You trust me, right?” Arian asked.
“Of course.”
“Then trust me when I say it’s going to be all right.”
She nodded. “My things are really being packed up in Paris?”
“The joys of being involved with such a large corporation. Things get done.”
“That’s money, Arian.”
“Same difference,” he replied with a grin.
She released a deep breath and sat back in the Mercedes. It was dented on both sides badly, though it made her smile to know that Arian had driven for the first time the day before to look for her.
His fingers threaded with hers when they turned onto the drive that wound through thick woods leading toward the manor. She caught a glimpse of red roofs and knew that was the distillery based on the descriptions Arian had told her.