by CSM
Bear smiled and rubbed his hands together in a gesture of anticipation as he settled on the tree stump he had brought in the night before. A large portion of cooked oat mash was already in the bowl placed in front of him. Robert was treated similarly when he sat, and they shared a companionable half hour eating and talking of simple things.
When it came time for Bear and Tildeth to get on their way, Bear placed a lingering kiss on Isabelle’s cheek. He thanked her in the gentlest tone Robert had ever heard from his fighting partner. It was obvious Bear didn’t want to leave, but they had come here to do a job and they wouldn’t be able to truly court Isabelle until their mission was completed.
Bear nodded to him and left, going directly to Tilly, who waited deeper into the forest so she would not be seen by anyone from the village. Growloranth was closer, but Tilly’s lighter coloring would make her stand out more against the greenery surrounding Isabelle’s home.
“Take care of her. I’ll be in touch when I have something to report,” Bear sent to Robert silently as he disappeared into the forest.
“I’ve got the watch, partner. Good hunting,” Robert sent back, aware in the corner of his mind that was connected to Bear through his connection with his dragon partner, that Tilly had already launched them both into the air.
Robert helped Isabelle clean up from their meal. After the dishes were washed and set to dry, he opened the large sack Bear had brought in earlier, putting things away in Isabelle’s kitchen as if it was nothing out of the ordinary. He saw her wide eyes as he uncovered each new item. There were wheels of what looked like good, hearty cheese. Baskets of dried berries. Small jars of spices and salt. Larger flasks of oil and vinegar. Fruits that would keep well into the winter, and vegetables that would do likewise. The more perishable items Robert left out for Isabelle to deal with, since they would have to be used sooner.
“How long do you plan to stay,” Isabelle asked, eyeing the mountain of food Robert had unpacked. Her gaze shot to his as she realized that her question could be thought of as rude. “I didn’t mean—”
Robert held up his hands, palm outward as he smiled. “Be at ease, milady. We only have a few more days to complete our mission here, but we cannot in good conscience leave you anything but well-stocked for the winter.”
“But this is all too much. The chickens were already too much, but this is…” She looked at the vast array of food items Bear had brought and seemed at a loss for words.
“This is only the beginning. Now that we know where you live, we will be back,” Robert warned in a teasing tone. “Of course, you could always come with us when we leave. Women like you, who can speak with dragons and do not fear them, are always welcome in the Lair.”
“You said something like that before, but what would I do? How would I earn my keep?” She looked worried and uncomfortable. “What would be my role?”
Robert moved closer to her. “You could come back with us as our mate.”
“Both of you?” She seemed shocked, which worried him. He had hoped she already understood.
“Yes.” There was no way to sugar-coat it. He had to be honest with her about their intentions, even if it scared her off. He had to try to explain it better to her, so that she would understand. “We are bonded on a soul-deep level with our dragons. And our dragons are mates. They already have two children who are grown and have knights and mates of their own. Their first knights died many years ago, and both Tildeth and Growloranth mourned their loss for decades before returning to pick another set of knights—Bear and I—to share their lives with. The thing is, because of our bond, the dragons cannot consummate their relationship again until Bear and I have a mate of our own. The spillover from a dragon mating flight is intense, from all accounts. If the knights bonded to the two dragons do not have a mate of their own to share in the deep love and passion, it can drive them mad. Which is why the prohibition was instituted long ago, that bonded dragons cannot mate until their knights have found a woman of their own, to love and share their lives and passions.”
“So until you and Sir Bernard have found such a woman, your dragon partners cannot come together,” she repeated, seeking his confirmation.
Robert nodded. “They have been very patient with us, and they will wait as long as they need to, but the sooner we find our mate, the sooner they can be together again as mates. Bear and I think that maybe you could be the woman for us.”
“Why only one woman? Why can’t you each find a wife of your own?”
“It doesn’t really work that way,” Robert admitted. “And I’m not entirely sure of the reasons why. Having never experienced a dragon mating through the bond I share with Growloranth, I can only speculate. But from what the mated knights have said, the spillover running through the bond is too intense. Only the triad joining seems to account for the closeness needed between the knights while their dragon partners’ passions are running through them.”
“I have never considered such a relationship,” Isabelle admitted. He admired her honesty, though it pained him to hear her words. “Frankly, I had given up on finding even one man who would be willing to have me as his wife—or that I would consider as a husband. To suddenly be faced with two men vying to share my affections, not to mention two amazing dragons who would be reunited if I agreed…” She ran a hand through her hair as she leaned back against the kitchen counter. “It’s all very confusing and kind of unbelievable.”
Robert moved closer. He didn’t want to push her too fast, but she needed to know where he stood in no uncertain terms. Bear had made himself clear earlier that morning. Now it was time for Robert to do the same.
“It can be simple,” he said softly, drawing her gaze as he stopped close in front of her. She looked up into his eyes and he felt his heart stutter. She was so delicately beautiful, she stole his breath. “It is said the Mother of All guides us in these matters, more than other men. Knights often know very quickly if they’ve met the woman meant for them. We feel it—in our hearts. In our souls. I felt something profound when I first saw you in the forest. I feel it every time I’m in your presence.” He moved closer, putting his hands on the counter behind her, one on either side of her hips. When she didn’t object, he moved closer still. “I’ve never been in love before,” he admitted. “I would like the chance to discover if what I’m feeling could be that most magical of all feelings. You are a very special woman, Isabelle. I think it would be very easy to fall in love with you.”
“Is that what it would be? Love?” she asked, whispering.
“If you agreed to be our mate, we would settle for nothing less. If you cannot love us—both of us—then we are not the knights for you. All we’re asking is that you give us a chance.” He whispered the last words against her lips as he moved in for the kiss he’d been craving ever since he first laid eyes on her.
He took it slow, simply rubbing his lips against hers at first, keeping the kiss delicate and gentle. He wanted to savor this first kiss. The first of many, he hoped.
When she didn’t pull away, he deepened the kiss, his tongue seeking entry, which was granted, much to his satisfaction. From there, he took things one step at a time, taking on the unexpected role of teacher and coach. He could tell from her shy responses that she was unused to kissing, and that nearly tore a little hole in his heart. How could such a special, desirable woman not know how to kiss?
It was his honor and privilege to show her all the ways a simple movement of lips and tongues could spark the flame he hoped to fan to an inferno at some point. Not today, perhaps, but sometime soon…when she was ready. And when he and Bear weren’t embroiled in the middle of a demanding covert mission.
It was incredibly difficult, they were learning, to properly court a woman when most of their attention had to be on their job. With any luck, they’d be able to finish their observations soon, give their report to their superiors and come back to put serious effort into luring Isabelle away from her cottage on the edge of the woods, t
o their home in the Lair.
Robert wrapped his arms around her, drawing her close to his body. She was so soft. So unbelievably feminine. So perfect.
Her small hands crept up to his shoulders and explored the sensitive area near his neck. He was wearing only a simple woven shirt this morning and he was truly glad there was so little between her seeking fingers and his skin. When one of her hands dipped inside his collar, he groaned, loving the feel of her touching him.
But the sound seemed to alarm her, and he cursed himself for having made it. He let her draw away, breaking the kiss, but he didn’t let her out of his arms. She drew back, looking up at him, searching his gaze. Her cheeks were flushed and she had a dewy look in her eyes that made him want nothing more than to kiss her again, but he knew he shouldn’t rush her.
“You are amazing, Isabelle,” he whispered, wanting her to know just how special she was.
Her gaze widened and any insecurity he had seen there disappeared. That she needed his reassurance, touched him deeply. She was innocent. Unsure of her own value. That was something he would do his best to change over the course of their relationship. He would tell her and show her every day, he vowed, just how special she truly was.
“I’m not used to—” she began, but he stilled her words by placing one finger gently across her lips.
“I know. I’m sorry I rushed things. My only defense is that I’ve been wanting to take you into my arms since the first moment I saw you. I’ll respect any boundaries you set, Isabelle, but please don’t ask me not to at least try to kiss you every time you give me the slightest chance.” He smiled, hoping she understood the teasing nature of his words.
He mentally held his breath until she returned his smile with a shy one of her own. She seemed more stunned than alarmed, and he took that as a good sign. There was hope for them yet.
Robert stepped back. There was much to do today and he had pushed her far enough for one morning.
“Shall we see to your new flock of chickens?” he asked playfully, hoping she would want to work with him instead of letting him go off on his own.
Excitement lit her eyes when she remembered the feathered cluckers in the barn.
“Bear said he would build a coop,” she said, recalling Bear’s earlier words.
“He did, but there’s no reason we can’t give him a head start. He’s not the only one familiar with the care and feeding of your new feathered friends. Plus, he’s bound to be tired when he returns and I’d like to help. What do you say?”
“Why not? The sooner we get them settled in their new home, the happier they will be,” she agreed and they headed for the door together.
The rest of the morning was spent deciding how big and exactly where they were going to place the coop. Robert kept in touch with Bear through the dragons and he knew Bear was fine with Robert helping get the project started. In fact, he was thankful. The winds aloft were fierce today and Bear was having to expend a lot of energy just to stay on Tilly’s back. He would be wrung out by the time he got back if that sort of weather kept up.
Robert let Isabelle decide where to place things, only having to give her guidance a couple of times to set her on the right path. She decided on the style and shape of the coop and he built it while she played with, and pet her new chickens. They weren’t the friendliest of creatures at the best of times, but Isabelle seemed to have a way with the critters.
She fed them and tried out names for them, finally deciding to call them Henrietta, Jazzleberry and Bob. He laughed when she explained that the rooster was named—in a way—for both Bear and Robert.
By noon he had the bare bones of the structure set up. Bear would be able to put his touches on the inner workings of the place. The hens would need nesting boxes and whatever comforts Bear had in mind. Robert had already installed a watering system that would allow Isabelle to use her kitchen window to feed cups of water down a little chute that led directly to a shallow vessel from which the chickens could drink. The water dish was kept near enough to the hearth bricks that the water wouldn’t freeze over in the deep winter, as long as Isabelle kept the kitchen hearth warm.
Which reminded him of his plan to cut some wood for her this afternoon. They shared a quick lunch of bread and cheese with some of the fruits Bear had brought that morning, and then went on a little jaunt through the woods with Growloranth to help drag a rather massive dead tree Robert had noticed the day before, closer to Isabelle’s home. The dragon brought it to a good spot behind her house where Robert and Growloranth could work on it without being seen by anyone.
Although it was an activity Growloranth seldom engaged in, he seemed to enjoy breaking the log into smaller pieces that Robert then turned into even more manageable bits that Isabelle could use in her fireplace. When Isabelle came around to the back of the house, after she had finished fussing over her new chickens for a bit, she stopped short.
“You did all this in just a couple of hours?” She walked slowly toward Robert and Growloranth, her gaze roaming back and forth over the massive wood pile they’d created for her.
“Having a giant dragon around is useful, on occasion,” Robert allowed with a little bow toward his partner. Growloranth only snorted, little tendrils of smoke heading up toward the leafy canopy of the forest.
“This is enough for the whole winter!” she exclaimed, her eyes wide.
Robert said nothing as she came closer, looking around at the neatly stacked firewood. When she got close enough, he saw the tears in her eyes and he reached for her, wanting to comfort her. He put one arm around her shoulders.
“Why are you upset?” he asked as gently as he could. Women were mysterious creatures, this one doubly so. He had to tread lightly until he understood what made her cry.
“I’m not upset. I’m overwhelmed,” she replied, turning to look at him, though she stayed close. Her wide, glistening eyes looked up at him and he was lost. He would do anything for this woman. Anything at all. “Thank you, Robert.”
A little thrill went through him when she spoke his name in such a familiar way. The barriers between them were dropping one by one, and he was happy to see them fall.
“It was our pleasure to assure that you will be safe and warm through the cold months. We will not leave you here without being certain we have done as much as possible to assure your comfort. We all agreed.”
“Thank you.” She reached up and kissed his cheek, then lowered her head to his chest, staying in the warmth of his arms. Robert saw her look in Growloranth’s direction. “And thank you, Sir Growloranth. I haven’t known such kindness in a very long time.”
“You will want for nothing,” Robert vowed. “Now that I know you are in the world, I will do all I can to see to your comfort, whether you choose to stay here or whether you ultimately decide to come with us to live in the Lair.” He bent down to kiss her hair. “You are very special to me. To all of us,” he whispered, holding her close. “We would like to make you part of our family, in the fullness of time. But we all agreed that you should not be pressured in any way into making that decision. If you come to us, we want you to come knowing that it is not your only choice. We want you to choose us. To choose me. And Bear. And to share your life with all four of us.”
She was silent a long moment, then spoke in a small voice. “I don’t know if I can.”
He gentled her, stroking her back with his hands in a soothing gesture. “It’s all right. There is time yet to discover more about this situation. You need to get to know us better, and to understand exactly what it is we have to offer. And sadly, we are still on a mission. We have to complete our task and report back to our superiors at the Lair within the next few days.”
“You’re not like regular dragon knight teams, are you?” she asked, surprising him. It pleased him that the woman he wanted for a mate was both observant and intelligent.
“What makes you say that?” he asked, testing her a little, just to see what she would say.
She s
tepped back, out of his arms, to look up at him. “Sir Growloranth blends with the forest as if he were a tree. And Lady Tildeth is nearly invisible in the blue sky, which is no doubt why she and Bear fly all day while you stay here.” Her words were quiet but challenging in a playful way that felt good. It wasn’t often he got to talk with anyone about the work they did. “I see the way you and Sir Growloranth watch the village. And I know enough about the goings on in that village to guess why you might be interested in some of the residents and their dealings.”
Now he was truly intrigued. He stepped closer to her, sensing she might have insights they could use. “What do you know?”
“Cleef Mantell is a thief, and probably a traitor too,” she whispered.
Chapter Five
“Cleef Mantell,” Robert repeated, trying the name out. “Is that the name of the man who lives in the mansion under the trees?” he asked urgently.
She nodded. “It was to his barn that I was summoned last night. But you know that, don’t you? I thought I saw Sir Growloranth aloft as I was making my way back home. And I have a feeling you weren’t far behind.” She tilted her head as she looked up at him, challenging him to tell her the truth.
At that moment, he could’ve kissed her. Not only was she smart, but she was observant too. Could the Mother of All have picked a more perfect mate for him? He thought not.
“As Bear and Tilly scout the day, he and I…” Robert pointed toward the dragon lurking not far away in the woods, “…have the night. We heard the commotion and would never have let you walk home alone as those barbarians in the village allowed. In truth, we were watching over you from the moment you answered your door. We would not let anything happen to you, Isabelle.”
A smile broke over her face that enchanted him. “That is so sweet,” she said softly. “Thank you.” And then she reached up, using his shoulder for balance, she stood on tiptoe and kissed him. Not a peck on the cheek this time, but a full-on lip lock that both surprised and pleased him immensely.