Hours later they lay completely satiated, her head on his chest, their legs intertwined, while their bodies cooled from their hours of lovemaking. Drago reached under his pillow and pulled out a red, silk pouch. He placed it in the hand she had laying on his chest.
Alicia sat up, furrowed her brow, and asked, “What’s this?”
“Open it and see.”
Tipping the pouch, Alicia gasped when the ring that had been his mother’s fell into her hand.
“What the... no way. This is too much.”
“It is not too much. It is yours and I will not rest until it is on your finger.”
“But, Drago…
“But nothing. It was my mother’s and Rayne had kept it all these years after Alexander told him it was meant to be my mate’s.”
“But it is just…”
“It is just yours. Now, let me put it on your finger.”
Not waiting for Alicia’s response, Drago took her left hand in his and slid the ring on her ring finger. After a moment of admiring what had been in his family for generations, he explained its significance. “This ring has been worn by the mate of the eldest son of the Clan MacLendon since our beginning. The ruby in the center signifies the blood we shed for our own. The diamonds surrounding it stand for the original eight clans that came together to form Clan MacLendon even before we were dragon shifters. The black sapphire at the top is for the wisdom of our people and the protection of body and soul we offer our mates.”
When he looked up, Alicia was crying, but this time he understood they were happy tears and only smiled when she cuddled against his chest. It took a few minutes for his little witch to regain control but when she did, she sat back and looked him in the eyes. “Thank you so much, Drago. I love you more than all the stars in the sky.”
“What did you say?” he asked, sure he’d misunderstood.
“I said I love you more than all the stars in the sky. To be honest, I’ve never said it before. It just popped into my mind and it seemed to fit, so I said it.”
Throwing his head back and laughing aloud, it took Drago a minute before he could explain, and when he did, his little witch laughed right along with him.
“So you see, mo ghra’, that is what my mother used to say to my father every time he went into battle. As a little boy I used to sit by the window and watch him ride out of our lair, waiting for the day my mate would say the same thing to me.”
He paused as his love for his incredible mate overflowed. Unable to finish out loud, Drago spoke into Alicia’s mind. “You, mo maite, have made all my dreams come true.”
“Drago?”
“Yes, mo ghra’?”
“I still want to meet your dragon in person.”
Chuckling at his amazing mate, Drago simply answered, “Your wish is my command…later.”
Epilogue
Tomas has been summoned by none other than Rayne MacLendon, the Commander of his Force, and the one man in all the world the young Guardsman thought of as a role model. Tomas had been training with Rory, the Commander of the Blue Thunder Force, when Rayne had called to him through their unique link. As always, the Commander was a man of few words, only saying, “Tomas, come to my home. See you in ten.”
The whole way there Tomas replayed the last week in his mind. He knew everything had been quiet since Rayne’s uncle, Drago, had mated Alicia McKennon. The weeks leading up to their mating had been nuts but since then nothing, nada, zip, zilch. The young guardsman had even done extra training sessions and missed out on the party one of his brethren had thrown in the woods. So when he knocked on Rayne’s door, he was clueless as to why he’d been called.
Kyndel, the Commander’s mate, answered the door with a smile on her face and their son on her hip. “Come on, Rayne is out back. Grab something to drink on your way through the kitchen. I have to put Jay down for his nap.”
Tomas walked out onto the patio and waited for Rayne to acknowledge his presence, just as his training dictated. His wait was short as the Commander spoke over his shoulder, “This is an informal request, Tomas. Come on up here and let’s talk.”
Unsure how to act, the young guardsman did as he had been instructed. Several tense minutes passed before Rayne turned to him with a furrowed brow and began speaking. “I have a favor to ask. Not as your Commander but as a fellow Guardsman. It is a big one and please feel free to say no if you don’t feel comfortable with my request.”
Tomas nodded.
Rayne went on, “You know that we found a focus stone along with my uncle, right?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Yes, sir? What’s with the formalities?” Royce teased as he walked out onto patio.
“It’s a sign of respect. Something you should also be showing me,” Rayne joked before adding, “I was just about to ask him. You’re early.”
Tomas’ intuition said whatever was happening was important and not something he should take lightly. His suspicions were confirmed when Rayne turned back to him. “Okay, where were we? Oh yes, the focus stone. Anyway, no one here, not even Calysta or Kyra know what this thing is. We all know it holds power but other than that, it’s a total mystery, and no matter what anyone tries, they can’t purify. The worst part is it seems to be gaining strength and we have no clue if its magic is white or black. It appears to flip flop, depending on who’s around it. Needless to say, it needs to be studied. There is an Elder, the oldest of our kin, who has the power and knowledge to study it. His name is Maddox and he lives in the North Country.”
The Commander paused, looked at Royce, shook his head, and went on, “I hate to ask this of you, but I need you to take the stone to Maddox. I would do it but I have to get Kyndel and Jay back to our lair for Christmas. Lance and Devon have already left so that Siobhan can be in her own home for the holiday and they can be with their mates. Royce has to stay with Kyra while Calysta is convalescing and to be honest, I want it to be one of my clan that delivers it to the Elder, not a blue dragon. I just have a feeling it’s our responsibility. I know it’s a lot to ask but if you leave today, you should be able to be back at our lair in time for Christmas dinner. Whatcha say, Tomas, will you do this for me?”
There was never a question in the young Guardsman’s mind. Of course, he would do whatever Rayne MacLendon asked of him. Without hesitation, Tomas nodded. “Absolutely, sir.”
Royce chuckled behind him. “Again with the sir. Boy, you’re gonna give the Commander here a big head.”
“Shut up, Royce,” Rayne growled over Tomas’ head before looking him in the eyes. “Thank you very much. I owe you, big time. Now go in the house and Kyra will give you the instructions on handling the stone. She also has the coordinates of Maddox’s lair. He’s sort of a lone dragon, one of a kind.”
Tomas got his instructions from Royce’s tiny mate, packed his duffle, called forth his dragon, and took to the sky, remembering what his Commander had said…
“…if you leave today, you should be able to be back at our lair in time for Christmas dinner.”
Sounds good. What could go wrong?
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Calysta was tired of lying in bed, tired of feeling like an invalid, and really tired of her sister, Della, and Kyra fussing over her every minute of every day. The Grand Priestess knew she’d been through a serious ordeal. Hell, she was the one that had gone through it. And after all she’d endured they treated her like a china doll. No one would talk about it in front of her. They all acted like she might break apart if they mentioned Cleland or the Dorcha or Goddess forbid, Thanatos.
Sighing to herself, she slowly got out of bed, thanking the Universe for her enhanced healing but cursing that even a week and half of lying around she still ached from the iron that had yet to leave her system. One thing was for sure, Cleland knew how to inflict pain on a witch. He was one son of a bitch she’d been glad to hear made his way to Hell before he died. Unfortunately, if the dreams she was having were any indication of what he’d done before his dem
ise, they were all in serious trouble.
The Grand Priestess thought about her last nightmare, trying to see something, anything she’d missed before. The images played back in her mind. She saw the young girl, Mara, who had slipped Cleland’s mind control and was actually trying to help Calysta before the girl just disappeared.
In her dream, the young witch was walking through the forest. The ground beneath her feet turned brown with each step. Every plant and tree withered as she passed. The birds and animals, even the insects scurried out of her path, literally running for their lives.
Reaching a clearing Calysta didn’t remembering ever seeing in her waking hours, but that somehow felt familiar, Mara walked around the perimeter, leaving a scorched circle in her path. As she returned to the spot where she began, the young witch, uttered, “Se’alaithe,” closing the circle she’d created.
Sitting on the ground at what Calysta could see was the top of her circle, Mara looked up, as if she somehow knew the Grand Priestess was watching, and in a low, otherworldly voice whispered, “All hail, Thanatos, Death incarnate. We wait your arrival.”
Mara eyes turned from their once sparkling cornflower blue to a smoky gray right before she smiled an evil smile and began to chant. What Calysta heard made her blood run cold and sweat roll down her back. The young witch was reciting the words to the spell that would bring Thanatos to the earth. It simply wasn’t possible. The spell was hidden at the coven and only one other person other than the Grand Priestess knew where it was and she was without reproach…or was she?
About Julia
Julia Mills is the New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author of the Dragon Guard Series. She admits to being a sarcastic, southern woman that would rather spend all day laughing than a minute crying. She has two of the most amazing daughters ever created, a menagerie of animals, and a voracious appetite for reading. She decided to write the stories running through her brain and is having an absolute blast!! She read her first book, Dr Seuss' Cat in The Hat and has been hooked ever since.
She believes a good book along with shoes, makeup, and purses will never let a girl down. She knows for a fact that all heroes in all the books she has ever read or will ever write pale in comparison to her hero, her dad! She's a sucker for a happy ending and loves some hot sweaty sex with a healthy dose of romance.
She's still working on her story but can guarantee you that it'll contain as much love and laughter as she can cram into it!!!!! Dare to Dream! Have the Strength to Try EVERYTHING! Never Look Back!
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Created Darkly
A Kris Chase Novel
Gena D. Lutz
Prologue
Atlantic City
Two nights prior
Pushing my back against the rear wall of a pawnshop, I winced as the tip of a blade sliced across the palm of my hand. Blood welled over the small cut, a line of crimson blooming from the self-inflicted wound. I cut it shallow so it would bleed just enough to reel in a hungry predator, but not what’s needed to attract a group of the ravenous blood-suckers. I sure hoped so, anyway, because I’d never tried taking more than one of them down at a time.
Nightfall and moonlight created a veil of shadow around me. Small triangles of light spread down the alleyway where I was hidden. I couldn’t have asked for a better time or place to trap a vampire. The streets were barren, the abnormal cold weather chasing away most of the boardwalk’s foot traffic. I tugged at my leather jacket, hooking the metal teeth together, zipping it all the way up to my chin.
Standing deep in the shadows, I watched as my trap worked its magic. A vampire at the opening of the alleyway stopped dead in his tracks after picking up the tempting scent of fresh blood. With a jerk of his head, the creature of death and destruction turned and crept in my direction. His keen senses were focused on his upcoming meal—me. He stalked with amber eyes, his nose scenting the air. Long, white fangs hung over his plump bottom lip. The sharp, inherent weapons pressed down into the malleable skin, making tiny indentations there.
Those full lips of his were smooth and lush, the perfect shape and size for kissing. But I knew what kind of creature I was dealing with, so there was no way that predator’s otherworldly looks and magnetism were going to sway me from my mission. The vampire slanted his head to the side as he made his approach. The motion made his waist-length blond hair sway like a tangible stream of sunlight. The blanket of gold folded over his shoulder and caressed the rounded muscles that bulged from his arms, falling like silk over steel. He wasn’t wearing a shirt, a dead-vamp-giveaway, considering how cold it was outside. A mere mortal would need one.
My eyes skipped down to his equally impressive chest as a satisfied rumble erupted from his throat. He narrowed his eyes with evil intent. He spotted me in the corner, my body only halfway hidden behind a dumpster. The vampire stalked closer, almost within arm’s reach. I took a step back, pulling my shoulders up to hide even more of my face. For good measure, I added a stumble, feigning retreat even farther behind the dumpster. I wanted him to believe I was frightened. He needed to assume I was just another hapless human tourist who had lost her way among the winding streets and the frenzied hustle and bustle of the Atlantic City boardwalk.
“Here, kitty, kitty,” the vampire purred with confidence. “I can tell that you’re frightened, little one, but you have nothing to fear. Come on out and see for yourself.”
Said the spider to the fly. Wasn’t he stirring a big crock-pot full of crap with that line? I had plenty to fear from him. I could practically see the drool dripping from the blood-craver’s fangs. I swallowed a gasp when his face twisted into something cruel and vile. The expression lasted only a heartbeat before his sly smile returned.
To him, I was a tempting item on a menu; rape would be the appetizer, my blood, the main course. His excitement was hard to contain. I had to keep my cool until he ventured closer. It was risky, letting one of the undead come so close to me. However, the risk was unavoidable. My magic didn’t work unless I was touching my victim’s skin.
As a necromancer, I was faster and stronger than a human, but even with that extra boost, I couldn’t run as fast as a vampire or out brute one. I had to settle for making myself bait. I pushed through my fear, as well as the ever-present stench of old blood and sex wafting off him. The smell made it apparent the vampire had already dined once that night. I was to be a second helping, or maybe even thirds. Gluttonous bastard.
I looked down, hiding my face behind a thick fan of dark hair. The breath he was expending came from his mouth with ease, so calm and sure of himself. And why wouldn’t he feel confident? He thought I was only a defenseless human.
I needed him a bit closer. His warm nose slid against my earlobe. My body instantly covered with goosebumps.
“I am going to be so nice to you, baby. Nothing to fear at all,” he whispered.
I forced myself to tremble. At least, I told myself it was voluntary, a part of my brilliantly stupid plan. But the plan had me alone with a deadly vampire, pushed against a brick building in a vulnerable position, so yeah, I had to admit it. That was scary. No matter how many times I’d trapped a vamp like that, it was still hard to desensitize from it.
Blondie came to a stop in front of me, his shoes kicking up enough dust to make me stifle a sneeze. The dirt added another layer to that wretched stench of his. I smiled under the veil of my hair, glad that he was finally close enough. My hands shook as I set them against his bare, chiseled chest.
Stop thinking about his chest, I reprimanded myself. It had been too long since I’d touched a man without the intent to kill him. That’s probably why I was acting like a sex-deprived idiot. Why did vampires have to be so striking? Every one of them possessed an unflawed visage. It was a miracle that happened during their rebirth. The magic that necromancers employed to reanimate them also fixed and reformed any of their damaged DNA, subs
equently making the newborn vampires into impeccable versions of their former selves. In short, they were close to being perfect. It wasn’t right or fair. Most humans couldn’t help themselves, letting vampires fall between their legs and suck at their necks.
“Why are you so quiet, pussycat?” Blondie asked as he pushed a curl over my shoulder. He licked his bottom lip. “Won’t you at least gift me with one tiny little scream?”
The monster had decided to come out and play, meaning it was finally go time. I lifted my head, realizing I’d stopped shaking which was a fact that was reassuring. I stared the vampire down. It was his first clear look at me since we’d started the cat and mouse game.
Creators’ spectral orbs swirled red when they were in the presence of a vampire, so I had kept the tell-tale sign hidden from him.
My hands were already spread against his chest, my right one over his heart where the core of his immortal magic resided, a position that was convenient for my first wave of attack. It took only seconds for my power to build; it left my palms in a heated rush, striking out hard. He jerked like he’d been hit with shock paddles, but he didn’t fall, nor could he run away. He was glued to my hands, immobilized, until I decided to free him. I closed my glowing eyes and concentrated on bringing down another charge from the base of my own magic, my third eye. The irritating sensation of a small rubber hammer tapping me between my brows signaled that I was fully charged. I opened wide.
His face was highlighted in horror, cheeks sunken, almost skeletal. Eyes which had once been beautiful amber turned black, vacant.
“You’re a Creator,” his voice wheezed out between ragged breaths. “Please, don’t kill me; I didn’t know what you were.”
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