by S. E. Smith
He reached into his pocket and pulled out the gold coin he’d found on the ground earlier that morning. He studied it for a moment before he held it out to Tamblin. The other man took the coin, turning it over in his palm.
Paul saw Tamblin look down at the group sitting and chatting below. The man’s eyes were on Arosa. His own eyes softened when he saw Morah sitting on her lap while Phoenix snuggled against her side.
“Who is she?” Tamblin asked with a frown.
Paul knew. His dragon had been very humble and deferential around her and the circle of symbiots near her stood out from up above. She looked up and caught his gaze. There was an expression in her eyes that he understood. He’d seen that same look in Trisha’s eyes, Morian’s too. Arosa was confused, hesitant, but also curious.
“She is the Queen of the Wood Fairies,” Paul murmured, smiling at Arosa.
“Arosa,” Tamblin murmured, his thumb stroking her image on the gold coin.
“It is getting late. Hopefully, we’ll be returning home in the morning,” Paul said, stepping away from the railing.
“It was an honor, Paul. If you or the other warriors ever return to our world, you will always be welcome,” Tamblin said. He looked down at the coin in his hand before he held it out. “Please give this to your daughter as a gift. I hope it will help her always to remember her adventures in the Kingdom of Glitter,” he said.
Paul raised an eyebrow in surprise. He reached out and took the gold coin. Nodding his head in agreement, he slipped the coin back into his pocket.
“Thank you again. Please give my thanks to Jett and your sister,” Paul murmured. “Goodnight.”
“I will. Goodnight, Paul,” Tamblin said.
Paul turned and exited the balcony. He descended the curved stairs that led down to the garden where they had retired nearly two hours ago. Already, the symbiots were forming tents.
Paul nodded to the other men as they began gathering their children. His eyes followed the twin dragons as Cree cradled a sleeping Hope against his chest while Calo crawled inside their tent. Cree leaned forward and handed Hope to Calo. Paul could sense the love and fear still radiating from them.
He swallowed and closed his eyes. He knew what it felt like to think he had lost his daughter. Memories of Trisha’s disappearance, the discovery of the sheriff who turned out to be a serial killer, and the knowledge that he might never see her again sent a remembered shaft of pain through him.
He opened his eyes when he felt the touch of a tiny hand in his. Looking down, he smiled at Morah’s tired face. He bent down and scooped her up into his arms, tightly holding her against his chest.
“I have something for you,” he murmured.
“What’s?” Morah asked with a huge yawn.
Paul reached into his pocket and pulled out the gold coin that Tamblin had returned to him. Morah’s eyes widened and she grinned. He watched as she wrapped her hand around the coin.
“Does this makes me a Leprechaun, Dada?” Morah asked, laying her head on his shoulder.
Paul brushed a kiss across his daughter’s green forehead. He had a feeling it was going to take a few weeks before all of the green dye washed off. Until then, he and the other men would have some explaining to do to their mates.
“Yes, Princess, I guess it does,” Paul answered, crawling into the tent Crash made.
He scooted over when Princess Buttercup climbed in beside Morah and curled up. Brushing her dark hair back, he pressed another kiss to her brow before lying down. Exhausted from the long day, he couldn’t help but wish they would all wake up back home in the morning. He’d had enough camping for a while and wanted his mate.
She want you too, his dragon murmured with a sigh. I keep watch.
Epilogue
And’s Leo rans away and was playings with the sand worms. Oh, and he’s tried to eats Santil. Santil wasn’t really’s a Leprechauns causes his skin wasn’t really’s green,” Morah was explaining.
“Is that so,” Morian said, trying to keep from laughing.
Morian watched her daughter pause and look up at her with a very serious expression. She bent forward and let the green water drain out of the bathtub. Another few baths and Morah might be back to her normal skin color.
“Is she still green?” Paul asked, leaning against the door jam.
Morian knew her eyes were full of laughter. She and the other women had been laughing non-stop for the past week, ever since the men and younglings had returned from their ‘camping’ trip. Ha’ven, Vox, and Viper had all scowled and swore to her that they would never go on another camping trip with her mate.
“Why ever not?” she and the other women had asked.
Of course, that was before they had seen the younglings. It had been hard to get a good look at the younglings when they were too busy chasing the new mob of emus that recently hatched. If they had, it might have made the outlandish story the men told more believable from the very beginning. It was only when the younglings elaborated on the men’s versions that Morian realized that perhaps the story was not a tall-tale.
Morian reached for a towel and picked Morah up out of the tub. She turned and grinned. Paul shook his head in resignation and reached for Morah.
“I fear I’ll never find my Princess again,” he teased, rubbing his chin against Morah’s damp hair.
Morah tilted her head back to look up at him. “I’s can be a Princess Leprechaun. Alice mades me a new wand and Amber’s and Jade’s made it glows. I thinks they puts glowy worms in it,” she explained, reaching for her new wand.
Morian didn’t miss her mate’s pained expression when he saw the wiggly bodies trapped inside the crystal tube. She would have to warn Trelon that the girls were having Spring dig up stuff again.
“I’s wish we didn’t has to use up all the wishes on my clover,” Morah moaned for the hundredth time.
“Well, I’m glad you did,” Morian stated firmly.
“Buts, mommy…. I wants a real unicorns and rabbits and…,” Morah pouted.
Morian tapped her daughter on the nose. “And I needed Dada and you,” she quietly said.
Morah wiggled her nose and giggled. “I’s loves you, mommy,” she said, lifting her arms.
Tears burned Morian’s eyes as she wrapped her arms around Morah’s towel-clad figure. She held Morah close for several seconds before she pulled back and sniffed.
“Okay, let’s get you dressed and then bedtime,” she ordered.
Within minutes, Morah was dressed in her Princess nightgown, curled up with her glowing wand of worms, and had both Crash and Princess Buttercup securely tucked in beside her. Morian bent over and kissed Morah’s forehead before she stood back so Paul could do the same.
“Keep her safe,” Paul quietly ordered the symbiots.
Turning out the light, Morian leaned against Paul as they walked to their bedroom. She turned the moment they entered and captured his lips in a passionate kiss. A shiver of need ran through her when he pressed her up against the wall next to the door. Reluctantly ending the kiss, she ran her hands up his chest and gazed up at him.
“What was that?” he asked in a voice still rough from their kiss.
Morian tilted her head and gave him a watery smile. “No more stories,” she declared. “I couldn’t bear to lose you or Morah.”
Paul slid his arms around her and suddenly picked her up in his arms. Turning, he carried her over to their bed and laid her down. Brushing his nose along her neck, he whispered to his dragon to release the dragon fire.
“I’ve got the luck of the Irish in me, Morian, and a Leprechaun Princess with a magic four-leaf clover to prove it,” he whispered. “We will always come home to you because everyone knows that home is where the heart is, and ours is right here with you.”
Morian’s lips parted in a gasp as Paul bit down onto the curve of her neck and released the dragon fire into her blood. For a moment, she could have sworn she saw the shadow of a four-leaf clover dance across the ceiling of t
heir room before it disappeared in a blaze of rainbow-colored fire.
* * *
To be continued…
I hope you’ve enjoyed this adventure with the Dragonlings.
There will be more to come!
Read on for a sneak peak into the magic, new worlds, and epic love in the many series of S.E. Smith!
The Dragonlings’ Very Special Valentine
A batch of heart-shaped cookies stirs the imagination of the dragonlings and their friends when Carmen shares a magical tale of love. It will take a very special Valentine, a few mischievous dragonlings, their best friends, some clueless warriors, and two enchanting Goddesses to help a lonely woman find the dragon who loves her.
Love is in the air and not even the mighty warriors of the Valdier, Curizan, and Sarafin are immune to the power of celebrating their feelings for the women who have changed their lives. Hearts, glue, and glitter abound when the warriors help the dragonlings on their quest to assist Cupid in this delightful tale of love, hope, and happiness.
* * *
Chapter 1
* * *
“Mommy, can I have a cookie?” Phoenix asked, peeking above the table after she crawled up onto one of the chairs to see what her mom was doing.
Carmen turned a soft, loving gaze to Phoenix and nodded. “Yes, but just one, I don’t want it to spoil your lunch,” she said with a smile.
Phoenix scowled and shook her head. “I can eats lots of cookies and still eats lunch. My dragon is always hungry,” she replied with a serious expression. “Did you makes hearts? I love hearts!”
“I know you like hearts, that’s one reason I made them in this shape,” Carmen chuckled and tapped Phoenix’s nose with a fingertip covered in frosting. “Oh my, you have red frosting on your nose!”
“Frosting? Is that the yummy sweet stuff?” Creon growled, stepping into the kitchen and sniffing in appreciation before looking at Phoenix when she turned her head and grinned up at him. “I think I need to lick that off!”
Phoenix’s eyes widened and she released a squeal of laughter when her dad came at her with his hands up, growling like he was going to eat her up. She slid off the chair and took off for the living room with Creon playfully snarling and chasing her. Carmen laughed when she heard Spring’s dragon’s delighted roar when she came to help protect her sister from the Daddy-monster.
Carmen smiled and shook her head, enjoying the sounds of giggles and deep masculine laughter coming from the other room. She refocused on decorating the cookies. She added the words ‘Be mine’ on one of them.
She shook her head and her lips twitched when she heard Creon’s startled howl of pain. Spring must have been successful in sneaking past his defenses. Her dragon was teething and Creon was her favorite chew toy at the moment.
Carmen glanced up when she saw Creon walk back into the kitchen, rubbing his ear. She raised an eyebrow at Creon as she picked up the cookie she had just finished and placed it on the rack for the icing to set. Warmth filled her when he walked up behind her and slid his arms around her waist before resting his chin on her shoulder.
“I hope you told Spring that she isn’t supposed to bite,” Carmen murmured, picking up the next cookie and placing it on the rack with the others.
“Of course – not,” Creon replied. “I had Phoenix trapped and Spring wanted to protect her sister. Besides, she didn’t bite me all that hard.”
Carmen tilted her head back and glanced at his ear. “You’re bleeding,” she stated. “Baby dragons have very sharp teeth. It doesn’t matter if she bites hard or not, it is going to draw blood.”
Creon reached up and touched his ear. He scowled when he looked at his fingers and saw the tiny smear of blood. He released Carmen and walked over to the sink. He dampened a disposable cloth and wiped the small cut before he tossed the cloth into the trash disposal and washed his hands. Carmen saw the mischievous grin curve his lips when he turned his gaze to the cookies she had finished.
“Don’t you dare,” she warned, but it was too late. He had already snagged two off the rack before she could stop him. “Between the girls, and you, I’m not going to have any cookies to take to Paul and Morian’s tonight.”
“Why do you have words on them? You did not write on the other cookies you have made,” Creon observed, gazing at the words written in red frosting. “I like them.”
Carmen glanced at him with an amused smile after he took a huge bite out of the cookie and moaned in pleasure. Unable to resist, she leaned closer to him. She gazed up into his golden eyes before bending close enough to flick her tongue along the corner of his mouth where a tiny smear of frosting was stuck.
“You had some yummy sweet stuff there,” she whispered, her gaze growing hot when she felt his reaction.
“I will never be able to thank the Goddess enough for bringing you into my life,” Creon murmured, pulling her tight against his body. “I love you, Carmen.”
“Is you going to kiss her? Can I have your cookie if you do?” Spring asked from behind her mother.
Carmen rested her head against Creon’s chest and giggled. It never failed. Now that the girls were older, every time they tried to sneak a moment alone, it was like a neon sign going off, and one or both of the girls would appear. She felt Creon’s hand move. Spring’s delighted giggle told her he had given her the cookie he was holding.
“Share it with Phoenix,” he ordered, sliding his warm hand back over the curve of Carmen’s hip.
“I will,” Spring promised, turning and disappearing back into the living room. “Phoenix! I gots another cookie.”
Carmen looked up at Creon again. “That was bribery, you know,” she murmured, sliding her hands up his chest and wrapping her arms around his neck so she could tangle her fingers in his hair.
“I know,” Creon retorted in a low voice. “Now, where was I?”
Carmen melted against Creon when he captured her lips in a kiss that tasted of cookies, frosting, and pure male. She returned his hungry kiss with one of her own. It didn’t matter that they had been together for over four years and had two children, her heart still thundered when they kissed.
She reluctantly pulled away from him several minutes later and rested her head on his shoulder. Her fingers slid down to play in the opening of his shirt so she could touch his warm skin. She sighed happily and she looked up at him.
“Thank you,” she whispered, lifting her hand to run her fingers along his cheek.
A confused frown creased Creon’s brow. “For what?” he asked, caressing her back.
“For loving me, for being there, and giving me two beautiful daughters,” she murmured.
“I am the one who should be doing the thanking, Carmen. You have filled my life with warmth and love. It is a gift any warrior would cherish,” Creon replied, slipping a hand under her chin to brush another kiss across her lips. “Why are you making cookies with words on them?” he asked again, turning to look at one. “’Be mine’… What does this mean? You are already mine.”
“We celebrated a holiday on Earth each year called Valentine’s Day. It’s a time to show your affections for those you like and those you love,” Carmen explained, deciding to make it simple instead of going into the history of the saints, and the religious and political causes that created the holiday. “When we were kids, we would exchange Valentine’s Day cards with all kinds of images and words on them. My favorites were the princess ones. I kept those for years.”
“You are a princess,” Creon stated matter-of-factly.
Carmen wrinkled her nose at him and laughed. “Trust me, I never expected to become one, and it is much different than what I was expecting.”
“Different in a good way or a bad way?” Creon asked with a touch of concern.
“In a good way,” Carmen assured him, leaning up to brush a kiss across his lips. “In a very good way.”
“This ‘Valentine’s Day’, it is something you miss? It is something the girls would enjoy?” Creon asked.<
br />
Carmen chuckled and nodded. “Yes, I miss it, and I know the girls would love it,” she replied, turning and picking up the tube of frosting. “It was fun.”
“Then we shall have a Valentine’s Day… once I know what we need to do,” Creon replied, picking up another cookie. “Any holiday that has cookies with yummy words is good enough for me.”
“Out!” Carmen ordered, shaking her head and laughing. “Go pick on the girls while I make more cookies.”
“In that case, I’ll need a few more,” Creon said, grabbing three more cookies before he darted around the table when Carmen grabbed the dish towel. “Girls! I have captured more cookies for us.”
“Yay!” The girls yelled from the living room.
Warmth flooded Carmen when Creon shot her a boyish grin before disappearing into the living room to play with the girls. Her hand fluttered to her throat at the raw emotion of love he sent her. Even her dragon wasn’t immune to the promise in that grin.
Harvey babysit tonight, her dragon muttered.
“Oh, yes, I definitely think a night out is in order,” Carmen agreed with a sigh. “For both of us.”
I tell Harvey, her dragon responded with glee.
* * *
Chapter 2
* * *
Later that evening, Carmen leaned back and listened to the other women talking about the different things the kids were getting into – both big and small. Sometimes it was hard to believe that they were all there, on an alien world, loved by men who were larger than life.
For a brief moment, a wave of sadness washed through her. It was so intense, so painful that she rose to her feet and walked out onto the balcony of Paul and Morian’s living quarters. Carmen gripped the stone railing and looked up at the stars.
Paul Grove, her best friend Trisha’s father, and Morian, the mother of Creon and his four brothers, found love after losing someone, just as she did. She vaguely wondered if they still felt the overwhelming sadness and pain that came with the memories.