by Julia Mills
“I wish it could be me, but I just can’t get over the things he’s done. I’ll always love him, but he’s put us through hell. Don’t be mistaken; I’m not angry anymore. I’m just not ready to hand him a sword and show him my back. Plus, I have Grace and the twins to think of. I can’t take a chance he’d hurt them to get back at me.
“Aaron’s still angry and probably always will be. The others are mad, but mostly out of respect for us. Which I know sounds stupid but hey, we’re testosterone laden meatheads ninety percent of the time, so what do you really expect?” He chuckled, sounding more like himself.
Emma wanted to tell him that Andrew was different now. That she could feel it in her heart and soul. That he truly wanted to make amends for what he’d done. But she somehow knew Aidan wasn’t ready to hear that just yet. Knew he would think it was simply the ramblings of his brother’s mate and that she didn’t know Andrew well enough to make that call.
Before she could dwell any longer, Kyra called to them. “Come on y’all. We need to get this show on the road.”
“Thanks for listening, Em. Remember, if you ever need anything, I’m here.” He pulled her into a quick hug before leaving the room.
In the passageway, they met up with Lance, who was looking less than thrilled with his new position. “I’m in charge of directing people to the large grotto at the farthest corner of the cave. Seems I’d make a good butler.” He rolled his eyes and Emma couldn’t hold back her laughter.
“That you would. Are you up for hire after this engagement?” she asked, putting on her best British accent.
“You better watch it, kiddo,” he growled while winking and trying to hide his smile.
She chuckled as they walked in the direction they’d been instructed, and soon caught up with Grace. Aidan scooped her up in his arms and kissed her soundly on the lips, effectively cutting off her surprised shriek. Their kiss was short and made Emma smile, but it was Grace’s comment that made her laugh out loud.
“You better be careful, dragon daddy. You’re gonna make me go into labor.”
“Good, I’m ready to see my sons.”
“You ready to change all those diapers?” Grace chuckled
“Okay, okay, you win. I’ll be careful, but I’m still gonna carry you. Those poor little feet of yours look like they could use a break.”
“Thank you, dear heart. You’re the best.” Grace kissed Aaron on the cheek.
“All right, love birds, get it moving. Kyra’s about to have a heart attack. She said we have to be ready by the time the New Moon has risen.” Royce chuckled, slapping Aidan on the back as they passed the gentle giant.
“Just wait till Kyra’s pregnant. Paybacks are a bitch,” Aidan teased.
“Yeah, but twins don’t run in my family,” Royce answered.
“But triplets do in ours,” Kyra’s Aunt Della added to the conversation, winking at Emma conspiratorially as they entered the massive cavern where the ritual was to take place.
Laughter echoed off every surface while all Royce could do was stand dumbfounded, looking at his mate for some type of denial. Her little grin and shrug said it all. Someday in the future there were most certainly going to be some powerful dragon, witch, or mixed children running around the lair.
Serves the grumpy old dragon right. Three at a time, Grandpa.
Looking around the grotto, Emma was amazed at the incredible transformation that had taken place in just the short time she’d been with Andrew and Aidan. Everywhere she looked, every available surface held a grouping of three candles. Kyra had explained earlier in the day that the yellow one was for concentration, the large white one in the center was for balance and represented the Heavens and the Goddess of all, and the peach one was for restoration and rejuvenation.
Each grouping of luminaries was surrounded at the base by flowers, herbs, and most importantly, chips of the White Ash tree, the most magically powerful of all trees and the root of power for white witches the world over. A circle of salt and white ash dust encircled the pond of water and most of the area of the floor, only leaving room for the participants of the ritual to form a circle around the outside.
Earlier in the day, Kyra, Aunt Della, and Siobhan had decided upon the best order for the attendees to stand. They said it would increase the power of the Sacred Circle and give them the boost they needed to complete the rite. Quietly and quickly, everyone took their positions while Kyra, Siobhan, and Aunt Della stood at the head of the Circle in silent prayer.
The moment the last person stepped into place, Kyra lifted her head and looked around the Circle, making eye contact with each person. She began speaking the spell while Aunt Della stood on her left with a golden candle for increased communication, and Siobhan stood on her right with a purple candle for ancient wisdom.
Dear Heavens, Goddess of All, and Ancients of Dragon Kin,
We pray for your guidance and blessings on this ritual as we seek to return the spirit of our Special One to his physical body. He was taken from us long before his time and has paid his dues to King Minos, ruler of the Fades and the City of Woe. We ask not only for those that called him family, but for the whole of dragon kin.
His mate, the one the Universe created for him and him alone, has come of her own free will to beg favor from You three Most Sacred to return her beloved to her. She accepts the full weight and responsibility of her request. She promises to stay by his side, provide the unconditional support as only a mate can, opening her heart and soul to him completely and without reservation.
We ask your favor and thank you for your blessings of yesterday, today, and those we pray to receive in the future. We have only the lives you have given us to offer as proper sacrifice and offer them freely when you call us home.
Blessed be, blessed be.
The last word had barely been spoken when wind blew from every direction, howling down the corridors, forcing its way into the grotto and extinguishing every candle, leaving the participants in total darkness. Emma closed her eyes and held her breath waiting for the wind to calm, but after several minutes, decided it might never stop.
Opening her eyes, she was shocked that total darkness remained but she was able to see as if it were daylight. Looking around the Circle, Emma saw all the Guardsmen looking around as well, making sure everyone was all right. She was glad to see they had all listened to Kyra and kept their hands clasped. The white witch had told them that breaking the Circle would break the magic and they would have to wait until the next New Moon to try the ritual again. Time they did not have.
Worried that they were still drenched in darkness while the wind continued to whip away at them, Emma was just about to speak when the water, which until that moment had remained calm, began to bubble and froth. A light shined brightly from its depths as the water began to spin, creating a whirlpool. Water hovered several feet below the rim of the whirlpool, creating an empty platform that begged her to ask…for what or whom?
The light, which until now had stayed well below the water’s surface, rose quickly towards the top, breaking the surface and bathing the entire cavern in a bright white light. Not wanting to break the Circle, but needing to shield her eyes from the illumination, Emma squinted as tightly as she could without completely closing her eyes.
As the group looked on, a tall, ethereal woman with hair the color of sunshine and beautifully blue translucent skin the color of the ocean rose from the water. The name Shavon whispered through Emma’s mind, and somehow, she knew that was the name of the woman in the water. Behind Shavon, the platform that had been empty now held the transparent figure of an unconscious man. The light emanating from the woman dimmed, making the features of the man immediately distinguishable.
Andrew!
Emma froze, unable to do anything but gape, while the woman turned, took a step back, and knelt next to what Emma could only reason was Andrew’s spirit. The water that had calmed when the woman sat on the platform now bubbled with even more vigor than before.
The light below the surface dimmed and appeared to have been covered by something very large and very dense.
From one heartbeat to the next, the image of a huge silver dragon appeared. So large and commanding that he filled every available inch of the massive cavern. Every Guardsman, including the Elders, dropped to one knee and bowed their heads. Emma hadn’t known it was possible, but she watched the huge beast smile as he took in the show of respect he received.
His voice was low and shook the rocks as he spoke. “Hello, my children. Please rise. You honor me with your presence and your request. For those of you that do not know me, I am Alarick. I am called the First Dragon because I am the King responsible for the birth of the dragon shifters.”
Holy crap! No wonder they all bowed.
“I have brought the First Elder, Shavon, with me to bring the spirit of your Special One home. Will his mate please come forward?”
On shaky legs, Emma made her way to the edge of the pool. “Thank you, Emma Sinclair, for giving of yourself to bring one of my children home. I feel your commitment and strength of will. Andrew has a true mate in you. A mate that not only shares his heart and soul but his nature. I give my blessing. Know, dear child, that should you ever have need of my help, you only need come to this holy place and call my name. I will always come. Now, please accompany Shavon to your mate.”
Emma could only nod and watch as Shavon lifted Andrew’s spirit into her arms and walked across the water. Together they took the last few steps to the pallet Aidan and Aaron had laid their brother’s body upon. The Elder knelt carefully beside Andrew’s lifeless body, holding his spirit just above. Leaning forward, Shavon said a verse Emma would remember until the day she died,
Return to your body,
Return to your life.
Do not waste your gifts,
Live a life free of strife.
The Elder lowered Andrew’s spirit into his body and then laid her forehead to his. Her hair came alive around them, cocooning all three in a warm, bright light. Emma heard music as the power grew within their bubble. Shavon repeated the verse from before, ending with A bheannaigh, ‘Be Blessed’ in the ancient language of the dragons. The singing stopped, the light extinguished, and the Elder’s hair unwound, returning to beautiful long waves cascading down her back.
Shavon stood, smiled down at Emma, and said directly into her mind, “Be blessed, Emma Sinclair. You are the best of us. When your mate wakes, you will understand the Prophecy and be able to call those mentioned by name.”
Quicker than Emma’s eyes could track, Shavon returned to her place in front of King Alarick. The Dragon King once again addressed everyone in attendance. “Golden Fire Clan, Blue Thunder Clan, you hold great favor with the Heavens and the Ancients. Never forget who you are and who you are destined to be. Le creideamh an ancients agus beannú na flaithis a bheith go maith.”
The Dragon King’s great wings spread wide before he wrapped them around Shavon and together they descended back into the water. The light below them went out, the water stilled, and the candles all around the cavern were once again lit, showing everyone’s looks of shock and awe.
Before she could ask ‘What the hell’, a voice she’d prayed to hear but feared she never would, sounded in her mind.
“Emma? Emma, are you there? Are you okay?”
CHAPTER EIGHT
He had no idea how long he’d been unconscious. Andrew only remembered the feel of intense heat and the sensation of falling before calling to Emma, and for the first time in what seemed like forever, getting a response. After he’d heard her voice, felt her hands on his face, smelled the beautiful scent of daffodils, and knew she was not a figment of his imagination, he’d slipped back into unconsciousness without a word.
The way his body felt, he’d been laying on a relatively hard surface for three or four days. His vision was blurry, allowing him to barely make out white walls, silver counters, and what he thought were glass faced cabinets lining one wall. There didn’t appear to be any windows, but his field of vision was limited so he couldn’t be sure.
Turning his head to the right, his cheek brushed the rough, scratchy cotton of the pillow, causing the reality of his situation to come rushing at him. She had done it! Emma had freed him from the Fades!
Suddenly he was completely awake, hyper aware, and wanted to see Emma in the flesh. Grabbing the rails of his bed, Andrew pulled himself to a semi-sitting position, only to be pushed back down by skull-splitting pain. Black dots danced before his eyes as he struggled to catch his breath. His stomach rolled and he was sure that if he’d had anything to eat it would have made its presence known as well.
His eyes slid closed as he took several deep breaths, trying to regain the balance he’d felt just a few seconds ago. Commotion just out of his line of sight alerted him to the fact that he was about to receive visitors. Praying it was Emma, Andrew was sorely disappointed when the scent of male dragon and frustration reached his senses, along with at least four sets of footsteps.
Carrick, Rayne, Aaron, and Aidan soon surrounded his bed, and from the looks on their faces, they were not happy to see him.
Okay, this is what you expected. You’re back for Emma, not them. They’re the fuckers that started all the bullshit. Try to keep your mouth shut until you see your mate.
As pep talks went, it wasn’t great, but it was all he had. Andrew had never been a smooth talker. More times than not, he’d ended up with his foot in his mouth or dodging punches from some guy he’d offended. Time had not given him wisdom or tempered his explosive reactions– quite the opposite. He was worse than ever. He knew it and had it been any other time, any other situation, or another person than his Emma that had been the catalyst for his present stand-off with four of the most imposing Guardsmen in history, he would’ve come out swinging. Instead, he was chanting her name over and over in his head.
Carrick was the first to speak, his tone that of a father disappointed in his wayward son. “As hard as it maybe for you to believe, Andrew, I am happy to have you back among us.”
Andrew was proud of himself for not laughing in the face of the Leader of the Red Fire Clan, but knew his face displayed his doubt at the truth of the Elder’s statement. Carrick’s brow furrowed. “You can believe whatever you like, but it is never easy for a leader to lose one of his clan. Yours was especially difficult.” The leader cleared his throat. “It is my sincerest wish that we can come to some sort of cease fire after we have handled the task at hand.”
Unable to stay silent any longer and feeling like there was more going on than he knew about, Andrew asked, “And what might that ‘task at hand’ be?’
His tone was sharp and filled with suspicion. Aaron immediately growled low in his throat, “Watch your tone, traitor.”
Shock didn’t begin to describe Andrew’s reaction when Carrick turned to Aaron with a sharp reprimand. “If you cannot control your temper than you need to remove yourself from the room.”
Andrew saw how much it cost his brother to give a sharp nod and take a step back from the bed. His first reaction was to laugh and tease the oldest O’Brien, but quickly held his tongue when the scent of daffodils invaded his senses. His dragon, which had remained oddly quiet even when the man had felt threatened, came to life. The beast chuffed and all but purred, trying to get close to the woman that had stopped just inside the door with a look of disgust on her face.
When she spoke, Andrew wanted to cheer her on, but once again held his tongue. “What is going on in here?” Her tone was low and suspicious, her brows furrowed over her deep brown eyes and her mouth pursed tight, like she’d just eaten an especially sour lemon.
Aidan, always the mediator, was the first to speak, infusing his words with calm and patience. “Nothing nefarious. Relax, Em. We’re here to talk to Andrew about his knowledge of the Prophecy and the Blessing.”
Andrew knew his brother well enough, even after all the years they’d been separated, to know he was leaving something
important out. Something that made Aidan uncomfortable. Andrew wanted to latch onto that knowledge and ferret the real reason they were there out of one of the bastards, but that would not do in front of his mate. This was the first time in her adult life they were meeting, and he wanted it to be as special as it could be despite the circumstances.
The thought had no sooner crossed his mind than Emma’s eyes met his. She winked an almost indiscernible wink while holding his gaze. He wondered if she’d heard his thoughts. The slightest of nods from his beautiful mate confirmed she had and he had to hold back the smile that threatened to cross his face. It would not do for the dragons to think he was having a good time.
Emma looked back at Aidan, who was still waiting for her response. “Okay, Aidan, but he’s just awoken after being unconscious for three days. Oh yeah! And in case you forgot; before that he came back from the dead.”
More than anything Andrew wanted to jump off the bed and take Emma into his arms. She was absolutely fabulous. Not only was she gorgeous and sexy and more than he knew he deserved, but she had sass and spunk and wasn’t afraid to speak her mind. He could tell these were new facets to her personality and that she was working hard not to back down from the stance she’d taken. He poured confidence through their mating bond, hoping to help her stand her ground.
“Yes, Em, but there are things we need to discuss with Andrew. It won’t take long and then we’ll leave him to rest.” Aidan was growing more uncomfortable with the situation, which sent up red flags for Andrew. His older brother had never been good with deception, something time had not changed.
Andrew decided to wait and see what was really going on. He let his thoughts drift to Emma and watched her shoulders relax. She really was special and so much more than he knew he deserved.
“All right, get your discussion out of the way, but I’m staying.”