by Leela Ash
The Adanai raised the stump of his wrist. Tendrils of dark mist rose from it, forming fingers, then skin that paled to ivory white. A second later, he held aloft a new hand.
Without a single wince of pain. “I am the Lord of this realm. You are a mere trespasser. You cannot harm me.”
Free me, his Dragon demanded. I will teach him differently.
Can you do that without killing him?
Irritation and silence.
I take it that’s a ‘no’.
Bree snuggled close to him. Feeling her heart beat against his arm, Finn’s stomach roiled with impotent fury. He couldn’t risk her and their unborn child. That only left him one option: play along. “So, what’s your test?”
“Prove that true love exists.”
“Fine.” If that was what was needed, so be it. “Let her go. Keep me here.”
“Finn, no! I won’t leave you!”
God, he loved her. Her sweet but foolish devotion. “Bree, listen. It’s not just you. You’ve got to take care of the baby.”
“I can’t live without you! I won’t!”
How many times had he thought that in his long life? How many times had Fate taught him how much suffering people could endure? “You feel that now. But you’ll have our child, and…”
“Stop! Stop!” the king wailed.
To Finn’s surprise, the Adanai seemed genuinely distraught. He fanned his hand furiously, as if their words smelled like rotting fish.
“Cease this idiocy at once! This is agitation, not love. No one doubts that your whims madden you to the edge of self-destruction.”
The Dragon drew himself to his full, towering height. “In our world, sacrificing yourself to save another is considered the highest expression of love.”
“Not when you wish to die.”
Cold, beetle-black eyes locked with his. In a droning hiss, the king laid bare the shame that festered at the center of Finn’s life. Baring his dishonor for his Mate to see.
“Yes, you wish to die. Life has grown tedious for you. You will not raise a weapon against yourself, for that is a craven’s path. Instead, you throw yourself into battle, over and over, and are disappointed anew each time you fail to find the escape you seek.
“Now, you have fallen into love’s trap once more. You dream that this time it will triumph. Yet, in your heart, you know this ‘love’ will fail, as all the others have. Thus, you hope to die, to spare yourself the pain of seeing your passion destroyed. And you have the cheek, the impudence to stand before me and swear that your cowardice proves your devotion.”
Each word was a hammer’s blow against his heart, shaking him to his core. This was the ugly truth, the rot that infested every aspect of his life like a thick, black mold. He couldn’t live without love – but he couldn’t trust it, either. Stunned, speechless, he felt the last of his Dragon’s power drain away.
Until a soft tug at his arm drew him back from that precipice.
Bree hugged him. Anger had slain her terror, leaving nothing except a fierce, defiant love. “That isn’t true. He doesn’t know anything about you!”
Finn swallowed, daunted by the king’s cold smile. “Yeah, he does. I don’t know how, but he hit the nail on the head.”
“No. He hit your fears on the head.”
How could she defend him – after he had spurned her and their child? If he’d been a man, a true Dragon, none of them would be in this mess. “Babe, I’m a coward.”
“You’re a brave man who’s afraid of being coward. There’s a difference.”
“I abandoned you.” The words escaped in a harsh croak.
The love in her eyes never dimmed. “You’re here now, aren’t you? Yeah, you made a mistake. But you came back.”
He didn’t deserve such love.
Yet, unworthy as he was, she’d given it to him. That fact, that blessing, pierced the despair that threatened to choke him. Peace followed it, and a calm certainty.
He wasn’t the man she thought he was. But he was the man who was going to save her.
Throwing his shoulders back, he faced the King of the Adanai. “All right, Mr. Everlyn. I’m tired of playing Twenty Questions. Name your proof and I’ll give it to you. If you don’t want me to die for Bree, what do you want?”
“Live for her.”
“Isn’t that what I’m trying to do?” Finn grumbled. “Let us go back to Earth and I’ll live for her. I’ll Claim her truly and be her Dragon. If she’ll have me,” he added, shaken by a sudden doubt.
Bree beamed at him, proud and sure. “Oh, she’ll have you, all right.”
“Charming,” the king sniffed. “Then go. I’ve given you what you need to return.” He pointed a graceful finger at Finn’s right hand.
The one that held the black knife.
“What happened to ‘death is not the answer’?”
Openly gloating now, the Adanai almost purred. “No one need die. The Other Side shuns the Worlds Beneath. Were you purely mortal, you would naturally fall back to your world. But you are not pure, are you? You are muddled. Drive the blade into yourself; it will not harm you. Cut away the pollution and set yourself free.”
The outline of the trap was becoming plain. “By pollution, you mean our Shifter souls. My Dragon. Her Hare.”
“Yes. Don’t worry. They will not die. But they will remain here, forever.”
“Let me get this straight. You want me to sever my soul – and the soul of my Mate. And somehow, you think this will prove true love exists?”
Beside him, Bree frowned, clutching his arm. Even his Dragon rocked back on its heels, baffled, as he struggled to understand this madman.
“Cleansed of its ties to the Other Side, mortal flesh sinks to the Worlds Beneath like a stone.” His soft words slithered through the air, sly as a serpent in the grass. “Dragging anything it touches with it.”
Dragging…?
There. That was the test. He saw it clearly now.
“I don’t understand,” Bree murmured.
He did.
So did his Dragon. He felt it, felt its boundless love for its Mate. Knew that there was no sacrifice too great for its heart.
Silently, it bowed its head. Finn sent his Dragon one last, silent thanks for the joy it had brought into his life.
Then he pulled his Mate close, holding her tight against his body with one hand.
With the other, he drove the black blade into his stomach.
Pain slashed through him, a stroke of icy cold. Roaring, his Dragon appeared beside him. A thin silver cord, severed by the knife’s stroke, trailed behind it as it launched itself into the pale skies of the Other Side. As it rose, leaving him forever, Finn felt himself falling. Backward, down, into the mists.
With Bree in his arms, he surrendered himself to that fall.
Chapter 17
Whispers filled Bree’s house again. Not the mutterings of curious Adanai, spying from the edges of the world. No, these voices were more mundane. Hares, Dragons, and other Shifters, trying to make sense of the day’s events.
Finn was fine. Unharmed, physically.
But he wasn’t a Dragon. He’d lost his Shifter soul.
Beer in hand, he sat outside, staring blindly at the sunset. His Flight avoided him. Even his Alpha. Bree wanted to scream at them, “It’s not contagious! Don’t shun him! He did this for me!”
The worst part? Nothing else had changed. Daven’s ring still clung to her finger like a barnacle. That impenetrable mist still blocked off the Wellspring.
Which meant that somehow, they hadn’t ‘passed’ the Dark King’s test.
Bree sent a venomous thought in the bastard’s direction.
How could this not be proof? What more do you want us to sacrifice?
The greatest act of love she had ever seen… and it wasn’t ‘good’ enough.
Dammit, her house was as quiet as a funeral home! Bree stomped into the kitchen, elbowed her way through the crowd, and grabbed herself a beer as well. Then she stormed back out, s
cattering bemused Dragons, and plunked herself down beside Finn.
“Hey.”
“Hello, Bree.”
“Stop that!” she begged.
“Stop what?”
“Being ‘polite.’ Good evening, Ms. Williams,” she warbled in her best professional tone. “How are you on this fine day?”
The joke didn’t tease a smile from him. Still wrapped in stony grief, he sighed. “How am I supposed to greet you?”
“Like this.” She slipped an arm around his big waist and snuggled closer. “Or this.” A kiss on the chin. “Or…”
He snorted. Not a laugh, but better than nothing. “You shouldn’t drink that. You’re pregnant, remember?”
“There you go. That greeting works too!” She grinned at him – then took a sip.
“Bree…”
“One beer is not going to hurt the kid. Then I’ll be good. I promise.”
The conversation died out. The two of them sat, sipping their drinks. Offering the wordless comfort of their bodies.
When the beers ran out, Bree broke the silence. “How do you feel?”
“Empty. Numb. The world isn’t bright anymore.” Then he shook his head. “Listen to me whine. Sorry. I’ll be fine. Don’t worry.”
Would he? Could anyone be ‘fine’ with half a soul? “I asked. You’re not whining.”
“Mmm.” Now he did inch away.
Bree held tight and refused to let him escape. “Okay, this is just grim. I need to cheer you up. Let’s do something fun.”
“Fun.” Bitterness dripped from that word. “Bree, I don’t feel like doing anything. I’m tired.”
“No, you’re depressed. That’s different. You need something to snap you out of this funk.”
Every muscle in his body tensed. Again, he tried to pull away.
She didn’t let him.
“I don’t think this is the sort of thing that can be cured by a nice movie.”
“Mmm… probably not,” she agreed. “What about a wedding? Would a wedding cheer you up?”
“What?” Now she had his attention. “Who’s getting married?”
“We could. Tonight. Right here, right now.”
Before he could laugh at her and make her lose her nerve, Bree dropped to one knee in front of him. “Finn Donnelly, I love you. Before I met you, I didn’t even know what that word meant. Now I do, and I can’t imagine living without you. I want you beside me for the rest of my life. I want you to help me raise the child we brought into this world. Will you marry me?”
He didn’t answer. Just stared at her in shock, like she’d ripped her blouse off in public.
“I know this isn’t traditional and I don’t have a ring to offer you,” she teased, “unless you can yank this thing off my finger.”
“Bree…”
“But I’m serious. Please, marry me.” She scooped up one of his big hands in hers. Trying to ignore Daven’s stupid ring.
Shame brightened his eyes as he turned away. “I’m not a Dragon anymore.”
“So? You’re still a man. Which is, after all, what I always expected to marry. Remember, until a week ago, I didn’t even know Dragons existed.”
He still wouldn’t face her. “You deserve better.”
“Oh, so Shifters are better, are they?” She kissed his fingers, wishing with all her heart that he would look into her eyes and see how much she loved him. “Didn’t you say that your Alpha’s Mate is human? Did he marry down?”
“No! No, no, no! That’s not what I’m…” The shock of her words did exactly what she’d hoped. He glanced her way… and hesitated, caught by the adoration he saw.
Still, he coughed up one last lame objection. “This is different.”
“Oh, I see. So, guy-Shifters can marry mortal women, but girl-Shifters can’t marry mortal men? Is that what you’re saying?”
“No, I…” His nose wrinkled in a most adorable way.
“Then tell me this: do you love me?”
“Yes.” Soft as a sigh, but still clear.
She lowered his hands to her belly. Still flat but holding the promise of new life. “Do you want to be a father?”
“Oh, yes.” The yearning in those two words said far more than any speech.
“Then will you marry me?”
Bree’s stomach twisted in a knot as he hesitated. How the hell did guys find the nerve to ask this question?
Locked in thought, he hesitated, head hung low. Her worries turned to fears as seconds ticked past. Was he still too hurt to trust love again? Then three words set her whole world right.
“Yes. I will.”
She laughed with sheer delight. “Oh damn, Finn! What took you so long to decide? You scared me half to death!”
With a chuckle, he raised her hands to his lips for a kiss – and Daven’s oversized engagement ring promptly bopped him on the nose.
“That thing has to go,” he growled.
“I wish.”
Finn tugged at it… and the ring popped off in his hand.
“What the…!”
Her shriek of delight brought the rest of his Flight spilling out of the house. “We passed! We passed his stupid test!”
Finn chucked the ring over his shoulder and swept her into his arms. His lips met hers in a kiss that proclaimed his love and passion more richly than any words. When it broke, she leaned against him, breathless and aching for more.
“I love you,” he whispered.
“I know. And I guess even the King of the Other Side knows it too.”
“And if he does…” Finn bolted to his feet, dragging her with him. “Lorde! If that Adanai kept his promise, the Wellsprings should be returning.”
Like an army heading to war, his Flight swept out across the lawn. “On it,” Lorde snapped.
Until Bree’s squawk of horror halted all the Dragons in their tracks. “Finn Donnelly, did you throw that ring away?”
“Yes. You didn’t want to keep it, did you?”
“Do you have any idea how much that thing cost?” she wailed.
“Uh, no. A lot?”
Chuckles spread among his Flight. Bree waved them off. “You guys go. I’ll find it.”
“Given your role in these events,” Lorde protested, “I believe you should accompany us.”
“No, I’ve got to find that thing. Daven will sue me.”
The back door popped open and Amarie, Lorde’s housekeeper, trotted out – holding aloft a large bent twig. “Not to worry, miss. I’ve got a stick. You go on. I’ll find your ring.”
“With a stick?” The old lady was sweet but crazy.
“With a dowsing rod.” Finn grinned and tugged her toward his waiting Flight.
This time, she didn’t complain.
Chapter 18
In the gloom of early evening, the pool glittered with a silvery light, as if a million tiny pearls bubbled in its waters. Her Wellspring was back. Free from those haunting mists and fully alive. A soft breeze that only a Witch Hare could sense swirled up from it. Bree felt her Hare lean forward, sniffing at the magic-rich current which washed over its whiskers and fur.
Lorde and Darian Morland, the two Dragons present, took point. The rest of them hung back until the Alpha gave the all-clear sign.
“Ms. Noonan? Your assessment?”
The senior Witch Hare bustled forward. Finn and Bree curled up under a pine at the edge of the woods and watched the woman work her mojo. Bree’s own Hare twitched with curiosity.
I bet you think this is a lot more interesting than real estate!
Sniff… snuffle… sniff, sniff, sniff. Whiskers tickled up and down her spine. Yup. A career change seemed likely. At least, if her Shifter soul had anything to say about it.
“Confirmation, Mr. Lorde,” the lead Witch called. “Gates are once more open. Energy levels restored. Elevated, in fact. There’s a tremendous inflow of magic!”
Finn gave her shoulders a squeeze. “Well, Tess’ dad might be a dick, but at least he’s an h
onest dick.”
“I bet he’s a sore loser, though. Glad I’m not on the Other Side right now!”
Down by the pool, the Dragons finished their circuit. Lorde nodded. “Excellent. Morland, I want you to remain here while the Hares complete their…”
“Incoming!” the other Dragon roared.
A geyser of mist erupted from the pool, covering its surface, once more, with a thick fog.
The air around Lorde and Morland exploded in shimmering lights and suddenly, two Dragons – black and gold – crouched by the water’s edge. The Hares threw themselves flat in the long grass. A moment later, six panicked bunnies came zigzagging out of the clearing, bolting for the deep woods.
Finn surged to his feet. He straightened, drew a breath…
…and blushed with shame when nothing happened. Though, when Bree scrambled up, he still stepped gallantly between her and this new threat.
From the mist stepped a familiar form. A slender, graceful Lady dressed in flowing robes and flower garlands.
“Hold up!” Finn barked. “Morland, that’s your mother-in-law!”
The gold Dragon’s head snapped back. Then slowly, carefully, it leaned down and sniffed her.
The queen permitted this, as if a large dog – not a Dragon – sought her scent. When Morland pulled back, she glided up the gentle hill toward the woods.
And Bree and Finn.
“Lady.” Finn gave her a curt nod.
With a serene smile, she said, “You have my gratitude. An ancient argument is now settled.”
“You’ll forgive us if we’re not overjoyed.” Arm linked through her man’s, Bree stood beside him. “Your ‘victory’ cost my Mate his Dragon soul.”
Her anger didn’t disturb the White Lady at all. “That is why I have come. To repay that debt.”
“Are you not listening? He lost his soul. No amount of compensation pay will make up for that!”
“Bree.” Finn squeezed her hand. Didn’t do a thing to cheer her up, but she took the hint and fell silent.
“Walk with me.” Without checking to see if they followed, she retraced her path back down to the pool. Hesitantly, the lovers followed. At its edge, the queen paused. “Look into the waters. You will see what others saw in ancient times.”