“What happened? Where am I?” Peering around the room, her eyes came to rest on a beautiful woman standing by his side. An older woman, she had gorgeous red hair and the most stunning green eyes she’d ever seen. It was almost as if they sparkled.
“Un annwyl, you’re at my family home in Dinas Emrys, in Wales. We were attacked when we left your apartment. Do you remember?” Peering at her closely, he realized she was staring at his mother. “This is my mam, Carys Cadell.”
Stepping forward, Carys lay her hand gently on Cadence’s leg. “Hello, darling. Welcome to our home. Can I get you anything?”
“No, ma’am, I’m okay, thank you.” She couldn’t believe she was looking at his mother. God, I must look a mess. Great first impression, Cadence, you sure know how to make an entrance.
“Gareth, love, now that you know Cadence is okay. Can you step outside and allow me a minute with her?” Carys asked, giving him the look that advised him that she wasn’t asking.
“Mam…”
“Go on, I just need a minute.”
Blowing out his breath in a huff, he turned towards the door. “Fine, I’ll step outside into the hall, but only for a moment.”
Waiting until, he closed the door behind him; Carys faced Cadence and took one of her hands. “I’m so glad that you’re healing up so quickly. I know waking up in a strange land, in a strange bed, surrounded by strange people is nerve racking, my dear. But I want you to know that you’re safe here. I had Allen go to your apartment and pack a few bags for you. I figured you might feel a bit more at home with your own things around you.”
“Thank you. That was very kind. I admit, this entire situation is a bit much to take in,” she responded, fighting to hold onto her composure. “My Nana left a lot of things unsaid. She left a lot of my family history a secret.”
“I know, child. Sometimes as we get older, we develop this sense of preservation for our children. I’m sure your Nana had her reasons. I will do everything I can to help you adjust and learn about your past. While he was getting your things together, he found the boxes of your grandmother’s things in your living room. I had them send those to us as well. They are all here, ready when you are to go through them.”
Knowing her grandmother’s things were with her provided Cadence a sense of security. “I can’t tell you how much that means to me. Thank you for thinking of that. I really appreciate it.”
“You’re most welcome.” Carys smiled at Cadence torn between needing to comfort the young woman who held the future of her son’s life in her delicate hands and the desire to push her to develop her magic so she would be better prepared when the time came. “Gareth, you can come back in.”
Rushing into the room, Gareth’s eyes took in the two women. Seeing tears on his mate’s face instantly angered him. “Mam, what did you say to her? Cadence, are you all right?” He asked as he crossed the room to her side.
“It’s okay, Gareth. Your mother didn’t say anything wrong. My tears are happy ones. She was kind enough to have my grandmother’s things brought to me.”
“I’ll go start dinner and leave you two alone for a bit,” Carys advised as she watched her son’s reaction to his mate. Her dragon purred at the love growing between them. Stopping to kiss his cheek, she whispered, “You did well, un annwyl.”
Sitting down on the edge of the bed beside her, Gareth picked up her hand. “How are you feeling, love?” He leaned down and lifted her hair off her forehead. Peering into her eyes, he watched for any sign of pain.
“I actually feel good. I’m so sorry if I scared you.” Squeezing his fingers, she felt tears building. Opening her eyes wide, she tried to stop them.
“You don’t have anything to apologize for. I’m the one who should be apologizing to you,” he answered gruffly, remembering how she looked covered in blood and barely alive. He shuddered at the thought as his dragon growled. He gently wiped a tear from her cheek.
“Why would you apologize to me?” she asked, confused as to why he thought he had done anything wrong.
“I failed you! I let Maelon get too close to you. If it hadn’t been for me, you wouldn’t have been hurt.” His anger revealed itself in his voice. Jumping to his feet, he stormed around the room.
“Gareth, stop it right now! You saved my life. If it wasn’t for you, I’d be dead!” Watching him in agony, pain tore at her heart. “Or are you Superman, too?”
Spinning around, his eyes met hers and he realized she was teasing him. “Superman, did you really just say that? I can turn into a fierce dragon and all I get is Superman?” He shook his head; she continually amazed him.
“You can turn into a dragon? So you keep saying, but since I’ve never actually seen it I’m not sure I believe you,” she challenged, winking at him.
Throwing back his head, he laughed, “You must be feeling better. Your sarcasm is showing.” In two steps he was at her bedside. Reaching out his hand to her, he grinned. “Come on, sassy pants. I’ll show you why Superman has nothing on me!”
Chapter Fourteen
Stepping out the back door, Cadence drew in a breath at the landscape before her. “Oh, Gareth, it’s beautiful.” Looking out over the rolling green, she was amazed at the contrasting feel of Dinas Emrys. “I feel like I’ve died and gone to heaven.”
The noble Dinas Emrys filled all who came upon it with feelings of grandeur of the never-ending hills of lush vegetation. Beneath the exalted crest, Dinas Emrys sat on the ever enduring river, swiftly surging through the Glaslyn River valley. The sumptuous aura that emanated from the solemn vestiges of Llewelyn the Last’s glorious castle seeped into her very being. The valiant castle stood just as remarkably as it had in its prime, when it acted as a sentinel to Snowden’s mountain pass.
His heart swelled at her love of his home. “You haven’t seen anything yet!”
Clasping her hand, he drew her down a path. Winding through the greenest woods she’d ever seen, he paused. “Close your eyes, un annwyl.”
Doing as he instructed, Cadence closed her eyes and allowed him to lead her. She felt his hands on her arms when he stepped up behind her, and his breath tickled the back of her neck.
“Open your eyes, love,” he whispered.
Taking a moment, Cadence focused on the air around her. The light breeze tickled her cheeks, and the scent of the flowers flooded her nose. Opening her eyes, the first thing she saw was the beautiful waterfall from her dreams.
Awestruck, with no words to properly express her enthrallment, she couldn’t pull her eyes away from the little utopia hidden away from the prying eyes of most. A clandestine paradise saved only for the worthy. Chaste in nature, its ornate modesty made the perfect contradiction. A crystalline canopy of water cascaded down an altar of radiantly shining stones, into a natural rock pond. The rippling lake beneath the captivating waterfall, rushed against the endless garden of evergreen earth encompassing it. It was a grotto filled with the gentle tears of dragons past; clean and pure.
“Oh, it’s so incredibly beautiful. Gareth, I’ve had dreams of this place. How it is possible?” Cadence’s eyes soaked up all the beauty surrounding her. From the gorgeous view to the scents and feeling in the air, everything touched her heart and soul.
“I’m not sure, sweetheart, unless it’s your magic that is making it happen. This is a holy place for the dragons and one of your people as well. It’s only natural that you would be drawn to it.”
“It’s amazing. I can’t believe my Nana never told me about our family. The stories, love, and ancestry we could have shared would have been wonderful. To think she felt like she had to keep it from me breaks my heart.”
“I don’t know why she kept it from you, love. But I’m sure she had her reasons. Rest assured, she knows how you feel now and she’s enjoying it with you. Now, enough with the sadness are you ready for your surprise?” he asked cheekily. Seeing her nod, he kissed her forehead. “Wait here,” he ordered as he walked out into the middle of the clearing.
> One minute the love of her life stood proudly before her, then right before her eyes, he faded away and a large dragon stood before her. Soaking up every inch of him, his dragon was even more glorious than she had expected... not that she was exactly sure what to expect, having never seen a dragon in person before.
Standing four stories tall, the noble crimson dragon stretched and spread his magnificent wings wide. His wing span was so large that they almost touched the trees on the sides of the clearing. Luminous gold plates covered his chest like a suit of shimmering armor.
The golden scales on his chest were flanked by innumerable scarlet plates. They protected the mighty beast’s heart from anything that would attack him. Hard as diamonds, nothing could penetrate them.
His honey amber eyes glowed with warmth that didn’t seem possible for the mighty beast. She had expected dead, haunting eyes and not ones filled with love. They betrayed the fierce fighter that he was.
His long snout was topped with a horn that arched back towards his face. The point was sharp and able to tear something in two with the flick of his chin. Two more razor-sharp horns ran from his eyes and along the top of his head. They stretched back behind him protecting him from an attack from behind.
Large barbs, colored a deep golden brown, followed along the curve of his spine. His golden-ringed tail lay wrapped around his body, its spiked end, a weapon of death.
She approached him slowly, soaking up all his glory. Fascinated by his size and his beauty, she felt driven to lay her hands upon him. Knowing he’d never hurt her, any hesitation and fear at his frightening looks vanished with her knowledge that he loved her.
When she neared he slowly lowered his head, and she reached out to touch the side of his face. Running her hand down his head, she savored the strength that poured off him. Terrifying abilities and powerful strength emanated from him. Had she not known the man inside the dragon, she would never have approached this formidable beast.
Pivoting, she walked the length of him, inspecting every inch of his side. She trailed her fingers along his plates, relishing the feel of his rock-hard scales. Slipping her fingers under the scales, she could feel the softness of his flesh. Returning to his lowered head, she stepped up on her tip toes to plant a kiss on his cheek. “You’re absolutely breathtaking,” she whispered. “I love both of you!”
He nudged her back with his nose and waited until she was far enough away from him to change safely. As he returned to his human form, the heat from his eyes burned and ignited the flames inside her. His passion-filled gaze never left hers as he approached.
Desire swept through her as he neared, her blood boiling with need. Circling her, he conducted his own inspection, touching every inch of her arms. Softly, like a feather along her skin, his fingertips savored the smoothness of her. His nostrils took in the scent of her desire, and his heart beat wildly at the love coming from her.
Stopping in front of her, he swung her up into his arms. Taking her lips with his, he made his way to the edge of the water. Laying her down on a bed of moss, he devoured her mouth. Trailing kisses along her jaw, he suckled and nipped his way down her neck. Ripping open her blouse, his eyes took in her naked beauty. Rose-colored nipples begged to be feasted upon. Lowering his head, his tongue circled her peak. Closer and closer to her nipple, she moaned for more.
“What, love,” he whispered, “tell me what you want.” Snaking his hand down her stomach, he slipped it underneath the waist of her jeans.
“Gareth, please, I’m burning up,” she begged, as her hips jerked closer to his hand.
In one fluid move, he ripped her jeans off. His breath caught as he realized she didn’t have anything on underneath. Finding her naked from the waist down, he couldn’t wait another second to taste her. Sliding down her body, he kissed and licked his way across her abdomen.
As he neared her core, he scented her desire. Her unique aroma teased his dragon. Resisting his dragon’s desire to take her, he took his time. Her hips thrust forward and her body contracted with need.
Lowering his head, he drew his tongue up her center, savoring her flavor. It burst into his mouth as he plunged his tongue into her. Throwing his arm over her stomach, he held her in place as he consumed her nectar. Swirling his tongue around her clit, he slipped his finger into her. He felt her walls constrict as her orgasm began to build.
As he gently bit down on her clit, her body shook and she exploded. Eyes narrowed with lust, he licked and suckled until her body relaxed in the aftermath of her release. Raising himself over her, the moment she exhaled he rammed into her, reigniting the flames of passion.
He couldn’t take his eyes off her face as he fought to hold onto his composure. His dragon urged him higher. Driving into her, he buried himself deeply into her as his own release shot through him.
Falling to the side, he rolled onto his back, pulling her body with him. Cradling her in his arms, his heart beat rapidly and he reveled in the strength of their mating bond. He cherished his mate, “Ydych yn fy nghalon, fy enaid, fy mywyd,” he whispered. “You are my heart, my soul, and my life, Cadence.”
Chapter Fifteen
Basking in the glorious love growing between him and his mate, his mind erupted with his mother’s screams. Bolting to his feet, he swiftly threw on his jeans. “Hurry, un annwyl. We must return. My mother is in danger.” His dragon roared in his head when Maelon’s voice howled in fury.
“No!” he screamed as the vision of a knife plunging into his father’s throat bombarded his mind. The pain was almost enough to drop him to his knees. Clutching her hand, he ran towards his home. He pushed himself faster, silently begging her to keep up. The mark on his arm burned, and he knew he had to let his dragon free. Abruptly coming to a stop, he faced her. “Cadence, I have to let my dragon take over. My family is being attacked. You have to stay here where it’s safe. Please, don’t follow me. Stay here until I return.”
Nodding, Cadence didn’t dare speak. Fear for him and his family overwhelmed her, and she followed his orders. The rocky outcropping provided the perfect cover for her. It created a small cave that she could curl herself up in without being seen, until he could return.
Kissing her roughly, he tore himself away and took off at a run. When there was enough space between them, he transformed into his fierce dragon. His majestic wings unfurled, flapping furiously as he took flight. He disappeared in a blink of an eye, and Cadence silently began praying.
She chanted a safety protection spell she remembered from her youth. She didn’t know if she did it right, or if it would even work. She also had her doubts that there was anything magical about her. But she had to do something to help. She couldn’t sit back and do nothing, and just in case he was right about her family she would use the magic for something good.
The love she held for him and his family members made the possibility of something happening to one of them caused fear to rip through her heart. Even though she hadn’t really gotten to know them, they had been there for her, cared for her, and helped her heal. There was nothing in this world she wouldn’t do for them. She knew it would be too much to bear if he didn’t get to them in time. She would forever blame herself for their deaths.
Diving towards the ground, Gareth could see two dragons locked in fierce battle. Forcing his wings to go faster, he approached the two beasts. They would fight to the death, neither one of them willing to back off. He couldn’t allow his brother to fight his battles. He tried to reach them before the death blow could be delivered, but he was too late. Just as he reached the two dragons, he watched his brother kill the other dragon.
The bloody and dirty red dragon of his brother broke away from the downed white dragon, signaling an end to the fight. Gareth quickly resumed his human form the moment his feet touched the earth and watched as his brother changed back too.
“Are you okay?” he asked his brother as he tried to determine where the blood came from.
“Just some scratches,” Luc Cadell re
plied, wiping a blood smear across his forehead. “Maybe a few stitches, but nothing Mother can’t handle. I’m going to make sure that son of a bitch is gone.”
Knowing his brother was in one piece and not seriously injured, he nodded at him as he transformed and flew away. He knew Luc could handle anything and would alert him if trouble was still on their lands. He turned and raced to where his mother sat on the ground with his father’s crumpled body in her lap. With her hands pressed to his throat, she had her eyes closed as she prayed for his life.
Dropping to his knee beside the prone form of his father, his heart shattered at seeing the strong man broken and bloody. It was a sight he’d never expected to see and one he didn’t ever want to see again. “What the hell happened?” he growled as he watched the tears stream down his mother’s face. She wasn’t a crier. She was the one who held it all together when things got rough or someone was injured. Seeing the emotional reaction from his mother made him all the more determined to take out Maelon Godwin.
“Where’s Luc?” she asked as she looked for her other son. “Is he okay?”
“He’s fine; some scrapes, and he may need to be stitched up, but he said it wasn’t anything you hadn’t seen before. He flew out to check the perimeter to make sure Maelon isn’t still lurking around. He’ll be here shortly. Now, tell me what happened.”
“Maelon and Ian Godwin came out of nowhere, Gareth. One minute your father and I were sitting on the patio enjoying the weather and the next Maelon was there, attacking your father. Both of the Godwin’s were circling your father when Luc showed up. That’s when Ian Godwin attacked your brother.”
“It was utter chaos. There wasn’t anything I could do to help. They were locked in battle and before I realized what was happening, your father collapsed on the ground and Maelon took off. The bloody coward didn’t even stay to help his brother.” Her body shook as she held her seriously injured husband. His blood ran hot and sticky between her fingers, onto the ground.
Once Upon A Midnight Page 82