by Julia Mills
“Looks like we better bring him back if we want to keep the status quo.” He started to turn away and then came back to face her. “How are you? I heard you finding out you had a mate was not easy for you.”
“I’m fine, sir. It wasn’t, but I’m okay. I just want him back.”
Placing his hand on her shoulder, Zachary drew Emma into a hug. She was immediately swamped with feelings of warmth and comfort. When the Elder set her back, he looked into her eyes, smiled, and asked, “Do you know how truly special you are?”
Unsure what to say, she shook her head and waited, hoping Zachary would explain. Instead, he turned on his heel and headed to Siobhan and Malachi. Not sure what to do, Emma just looked around the room. Carrick was speaking with Rayne, Rian, Aaron, and Aidan, and from the looks on the twins’ faces, it was not a happy conversation.
Continuing her surveillance, she found Kyra and Royce talking to Sam and Lance. It was obvious from the way the adults took turns looking at Sydney that the child was the topic of conversation. She wondered what they were talking about, and in the next heartbeat, could hear their conversation.
All right I’ll ask questions later. Right now I need to know what they’re talking about.
“There’s absolutely nothing to worry about. I only need Sydney to sit with me and say the spell at the same time I do so I can scry for Andrew’s location,” Kyra explained.
“It’s not you I’m worried about. Andrew already used her against us once; I’ll have to kill him if he does it again.” Lance paused and then added, “Well, kill him again, or still, or what the hell ever, you get what I’m saying. There’s no way in this world or the next I’m letting that little piece of crap get his hands on her.”
Emma was infuriated. She knew what they all thought of her mate, but to hear it with her own ears was tough and more than a little insulting. Here they all were faced with some crazy ass prophecy detailing the end of the world as they knew it and they were still bitching about Andrew.
Deciding she’d heard enough, Emma turned to go to Siobhan. Three steps towards her destination and she realized she could still hear everything everyone in the room was saying. It was completely disconcerting, not to mention that listening to all the bitching and complaining was giving her one hell of a migraine. Unable to deal with the chaos a second longer, she turned towards the door and exited as quickly as she could.
Winding through the corridors, she found an empty cavern lit by one white and one blue pillar candle, surrounded by a circle of golden votive candles on a small, stone table. Pushed by the need for a few moments of blessed silence, Emma crossed the threshold and moved across the room to stand before the lights.
Staring into the flame of the white candle, she concentrated all of her energy on shutting out everything but the beating of her own heart. Thump…thump…thump… She’d always heard it was more of a whish sound, but in this case, it was most definitely a thump.
With the noise of everyone else’s conversations silenced, Emma was finally able to focus, to think about all that had happened and what she feared would happen if they weren’t able to stop the shit storm that was heading their way. For some reason, she wasn’t afraid as much as irritated that she’d spent so many years keeping her head down, living among the dragons but not truly with them. She’d always felt like an outsider looking in, someone they loved and accepted, but that was different nonetheless. But that all changed the moment she’d heard Andrew’s voice in her head. It was not something she’d wanted, not something she’d ever dreamt of happening, but something she now embraced.
Something inside of her had come to life. Siobhan would call it her stronger self, and maybe the Elder Healer would be right, but it was more than that. More than knowing she, Emma Sinclair, had been created especially for another being. That she would bring light to not only a man that was meant to be her partner in every, way but also to his dragon. Any other time she would’ve felt trapped, like she was stuck in a situation she had no control over and was being made to live someone else’s life, but it was just the opposite. For the first time, she was actually living, not just existing. Her soul was free and becoming stronger by the day.
The pain she’d shared with Andrew had been worth it and she would suffer it again if it meant having him back and having the opportunity to get to know him. To see if all the talk about Fate not being denied was the truth or just something left over from a long forgotten time.
Still staring into the flame, watching it flicker, she saw her mate’s mismatched eyes that seemed to be trying to tell her something, and then those same eyes set about the snout of a great black dragon. Emma was sure the O’Briens were silver dragons; as a matter of fact she knew they were from the jewelry she’d made for both Grace and Charlie. How then was it possible for Andrew’s piercing eyes to have been looking at her from the face of a huge black beast?
Not sure what it all meant, and not ready to go back to the chaos in the other room, Emma sat cross-legged on the stone floor and was just about to begin meditating when Aaron called her name from the corridor.
“In here,” she answered, trying not to sound irritated. Standing, she turned just as he entered the room.
“We’ve been looking all over for you. You’ve been gone for almost three hours.” The Guardsman stood just inside the doorway, avoiding eye contact while trying to act nonchalant.
“Three hours? Time flies…”
The old Emma would’ve acted like nothing out of the ordinary was wrong and left the room, letting the brooding Guardsman off the hook for his behavior. The new Emma, however, wanted to know what was going on.
“Well, here I am. What’s up?”
“Malachi, Siobhan, and Zachary have found something.” He turned to go, but Emma was not about to be dissuaded.
Closing the distance between them in record time, she placed her hand on his shoulder. “No, I mean what is going on with you?”
“Nothing. Well, nothing more than having to find a way to bring my little brother back from the dead. The little brother who just happens to have terrorized everyone and everything I hold dear for the last ten years. The part that I just can’t wrap my head around is why him? Why is the piece of shit that tried to ruin the world the one person we have to have to save it? None of this shit makes any sense. It goes against everything I believed in, fought for, and wanted to achieve my whole life.” He spun around, and for the first time in all the years she’d known Aaron, she could see uncertainty in his eyes.
“Oh! Let me not forget.” It was his turn to place his hand on her shoulder. “I found out that one of the best people I’ve ever known, a woman I think of like a little sister, is his mate. I should be happy for you. I want to be happy for you, but instead, I’m freaked the fuck out.
“If we do succeed in bringing him back, you and he will sooner or later be officially mated. It’s already started. I see the signs. With him back on the earthly plane there will be nothing to stop it. But I am so damned afraid he will destroy you like he destroys everything he touches.
“The worst part of all of this mess is that I should want to have my brother back. I should want to have him mated and happy. I should want to believe that he can change. But the truth is I don’t. I don’t believe he can be anything but the selfish, evil prick he’s been since the night he disappeared.
“I’m sorry for what he endured. I’m sorry we couldn’t find him, but none of that justifies what he did. He should have to pay for every person he injured and for every life he took. He should…”
“Aaron, Emma, please come into the main cavern.” Siobhan’s tone left no room for argument, and before Emma could tell Aaron their conversation was not over, the asshole disappeared. She promised herself to find him later and finish what they’d started.
I really hate how fast they can move.
Malachi began to speak as soon as she crossed the threshold. “As Zachary explained, I’ve made it my life’s work to study the Special Ones
and their impact on our race. Early in Andrew’s life I was blessed enough to have been present when the Ancient, Shavon, spoke to him. At the time I had no idea how important that visit was, not only to Andrew, but to Emma and our kin.”
The Elder was now looking at her as he spoke. “I must ask you this question in front of the leadership of our clan and that of the Blue Dragons. Do you, Emma Sinclair, mate of Andrew O’Brien, want to save your mate?”
Emma was confused; she immediately began to nod her head before the words were completely formed in her mind. She opened her mouth to speak and slammed her lips together. A knowing smile brightened Malachi’s face. She gasped and then rushed to get the words out. “I have to want to save him of my own free will, right? That’s what the Ancient said! Yes! Yes! Yes! I want to save him! I want to save my friends. I want to save my family! I want to save the dragons! Just tell me what to do.”
“We have our work cut out for us, but I believe you’re just the girl that can do it, Emma.” Malachi’s confidence made her stand taller and filled her with hope. It must’ve worked for everyone else too, because for the first time that day, everyone had a smile on their face.
Emma followed the Elders, Siobhan, and Kyra out of the clinic. They were headed to the Cave of the Ancients. Malachi and Zachary had decided it was the only place strong enough to prepare the ceremony to bring Andrew back. As they were exiting the cavern, she heard Carrick instruct Aaron and Aidan to bring their brother’s body along as well. A quick look over her shoulder and Emma had to smile. They wanted to be upset, she could see how hard they were trying, but not even two of the toughest Guardsmen she’d ever know could hide the hope they felt that maybe…just maybe, their brother would do what was right.
Don’t worry boys, he will. I just know he will.
CHAPTER SEVEN
Emma collapsed across her bed still clothed, too tired to even remove her tennis shoes. The last three days had been some of the hardest of her life. Every waking minute had been spent pouring over musty old textbooks searching for the Ancient Dragon Rite for Soul Reclamation and checking to make sure there were no changes in Andrew’s body.
Zachary and Malachi had explained over and over that the ritual they were looking for contained some of the oldest and most potent dragon magic ever recorded. Siobhan had added that it could only be used when the soul of a dragon shifter had been taken before its time and that only when the body remained.
Sometime the day before, one of the young healers, Shannon, had come running into Malachi’s chamber lugging a huge tome, saying he’d found the ritual. After several hours, the Elders determined it was indeed what they needed and had set to work to modify the ancient spell. Kyra and Siobhan worked tirelessly alongside the Elders. Even Kyra’s Aunt Della and two of their coven elders had come to help and lend their power.
After the third time Emma had nodded off when she was supposed to be reading, Siobhan had ordered her to go home and get some rest. The young jeweler’s argument had been half-hearted. No matter how much she wanted to help, Emma was exhausted and seeing double. Reluctantly, she’d said her good nights and had even let one of the young Guardsmen-in-training escort her home.
Sleep came quickly and, for the first night since Andrew’s arrival at the lair, there were no dreams, at least not that she remembered. So when the sun shining through the gap in her curtains touched her face, Emma was ready for whatever the day held. If all went as planned, she would have Andrew back, and Malachi would be able to tell them who the others named in the Prophecy were.
Nervous and excited, she all but ran to the Cave of the Ancients. Sure everyone would be starving, she’d stopped at the bakery and the deli and was weighed down with enough food to feed an army. Apparently, someone else had the same idea. The small table they had been working on was covered with baked goods, coffee, and tea, while the counter farther behind that had bags of unpacked food.
Kyndel, Rayne’s mate, came around the corner with their son, Jay, on her hip, chatting to her best friend, the very pregnant Grace. “Great minds think alike, huh?” Grace chuckled, pointing at the bags Emma was carrying as she took a seat in the first available chair. “You don’t happen to have some turkey and Swiss cheese in one of those bags do you? I’m not sure if it’s me or the babies, but we really want a sandwich.”
“I sure do. I bought some of everything the butcher had and grabbed all the bread that was ready too. I figured y’all would be hungry.”
“Do I smell food?” Royce asked, sniffing the air as he entered the room. “I’m starving.”
“Me too,” Lance echoed, right on the huge Guardsman’s heels.
“How are you two starving already? You were just in here less than twenty minutes ago eating everything is sight.” Kyndel laughed, setting Jay on the floor and helping Emma unpack her bags.
“Research makes me hungry,” they answered in unison and then burst out laughing.
Emma couldn’t help but smile. This was how she remembered her friends…happy, laughing, giving each other a hard time. The last week had been hard on everyone and was about to get a lot more difficult, so it was nice to know that at least for a little while, they could have fun.
For the next few minutes people filed in, looking for food, until the room was wall to wall bodies and Emma was feeling a little claustrophobic. Deciding it was probably the last time she’d be able to visit with Andrew before all hell broke loose, she quietly made her way down the corridor and into the room where his body lay.
Making her way to his side, she zeroed in on his chest, watching it carefully, praying against all odds that she would see movement. That by some miracle of the heavens, Andrew would be alive. She knew it was silly. Knew that the only way that was going to happen was through the spell they would be working as soon as the New Moon was high in the sky.
Running her fingers through his dark hair, Emma marveled at the softness and grinned as a few stray curls tickled the palm of her hand. She straightened the sheet that covered his body and then just stood looking at his handsome face. The O’Brien family resemblance was unmistakable. All three men had the same strong jawbone, same high cheekbones, and same full lips. She wondered if Andrew would have some of the same facial expressions. Would he furrow his brow and turn down one side of his mouth like Aaron? Would he raise one eyebrow and try to get her tell a secret she’d sworn not to, like Aidan? Would he get a twinkle in his eye when he was about to say something funny?
Lost in thought, Emma jumped when Aidan appeared at her side. She started to ask what he was doing there but the look on his face stilled her words. It was as if he couldn’t decide whether to be happy or sad. His eyes were just slightly squinted, extenuating the laugh lines. The corners of his mouth were just barely turned up, like he wanted to smile but just couldn’t let himself. His head was tilted to the side as if he was contemplating something life altering, which considering what they were all about to do, made perfect sense.
His voice was so soft and low when he spoke that she almost didn’t hear him. “Did I ever tell you that we called him Drew when we were growing up?” He nodded his head and grinned, not waiting for her reply before continuing.
“His favorite game when we were kids was pirates. He loved pretending that we were sailing across the sea on a massive ship like the ones we’d watch come in and out of the port. Aar was always the Captain because he was the oldest. I always ended up being the Sailing Master, the Captain’s second and the one in charge of navigation. Drew was the Master Gunner and no matter what, always had us manning the cannons or grabbing our swords and storming the deck of pirates’ ship to save the damsel in distress. No matter what, we all three always lived to fight another day.”
He paused for so long that she looked up to find him shaking his head. He grabbed her hand and held tight when he finally began speaking again. “As we got older, pretend turned to reality as dad started our training. Drew was so pissed when Aar and I got real steel blades on our fourteenth birt
hdays and he still had to use the wooden practice ones. I felt bad, so when I was sure no one else was around, I would let him use mine. That’s probably how he got to be such a fantastic swordsman.
“The day we left for training was the day before Drew’s fourteenth birthday. I convinced Mom and Dad to celebrate early. That night we had a huge party, partly for his birthday and partly for our departure. No matter how long I live, I’ll never forget the look on his face when he opened his present and found his very own steel blade.”
Emma could see that Aidan was lost in his memory and simply held his hand while he reminisced. His voice cracked and he had start over twice before getting the words out but what he said made her heart hurt for all the brothers. “He walked with Aar and me to end of the forest where we met Royce, our guide to our new home, this lair…this clan. It was so hard to say goodbye to my little brother, but Drew was tough as nails. He hugged us both, patted us on the back, and told us he would take care of our home while we were gone. It was the hardest goodbye of our lives. He tried to break our private connection, but I had always been better at the mental aspect of our natures than either of my brothers, so I stayed connected. I felt what it cost him to stay strong and knew the minute he’d thought he was far enough away to break down. I never told him I knew he cried that day. Maybe I should’ve, maybe things would’ve been different.
“Years later, when Drew came here for training, it was as if the Three Amigos had been reunited. We trained hard, played hard, and fought harder, but one thing remained true; we all three always lived to fight another day. At least that was the case before I let him get captured.”
Emma searched for the words that would make Aidan feel better, but only came up with empty platitudes that she knew he’d heard a thousand times. The Guardsman turned and speared her with a steely gaze full of so many emotions, she immediately felt overwhelmed. “Everything, and I mean everything, is about to change. I should tell you that I’m sorry the Universe and Fate have put you in this position, but I’d be lying. Drew’s gonna need somebody on his side. Somebody with a good heart and a good head on her shoulders that will stand up to him and for him.