“The dragon,” Poseidon shouted just before Toni opened her mouth and let her fire out. It rolled out from her massive jaws like molten gold, straight for Arora. In the back of her mind, Toni prayed that she was right, for there was no way the mermaid would survive a blast from her.
Poseidon couldn’t let her die. He just couldn’t. He could never admit it to anyone, not even himself, but he loved Arora with everything he was. He screamed and ran to her, throwing himself in front of the fire. It engulfed him and spiraled toward the ceiling. The palace shook as he screamed out his rage and pain. The walls began to crumble and Dylan ran to his dragon mate.
“Time to go,” he yelled, urging her to move. Toni called her magic again and took her human form. She held Dylan’s hand tight, and as they ran the palace collapsed around them.
27
Azerial stood at the water’s edge, watching and waiting for a sign of any kind. She had banished the others into the safety of the house while she kept vigil on the shore. When the ground began to shake beneath her feet, she knew it was time. Being a goddess, she had to do whatever she could to protect the people on the land. She had to protect them from Poseidon’s rage and whatever was going on under the surface of the water. She scattered her molecules, calling on her earth goddess nature and went to the fault lines that ran beneath the earth’s crust on the west coast. Her target was the San Andreas Fault line. If it were to open, a disaster of apocalyptic proportions would follow. That was something she could not allow. She spread her essence thin as she did everything she could to keep the tectonic plates in their rightful places, lining the cracks and caverns with her power as all hell broke loose.
***
“What the hell is going on?” Leigh shouted over the sudden noise and shaking.
“Earthquake!” Rebel shouted, leaping out of his chair and forcing his mate into a doorway and covering her body with his.
“Toni!” Leigh shouted, but her cries fell on deaf ears as no one could hear her over the cacophony. In her heart, she knew that this was a side effect of whatever was going on with her daughter and she could only pray that she make it out alive.
***
Azerial depleted herself of energy while holding the earth’s crust together and finally, blessedly, the shaking stopped. She pulled her molecules back together and flashed to the sea shore once again. Her breast heaved in an attempt to replace some of her energy, but it was slow coming. Never before had she used so much power in one place. The joy of success was overshadowed by the uncertainty of Toni’s fate. Yes, the shaking had stopped, but by what action? Was it over? Had they survived? One by one, her family milled out of the house, joining her on the beach.
“Is it over?” Leigh asked, fighting the tears that threatened to overcome her.
“I am not certain,” Azerial told her honestly. Samuel wrapped his arms around his goddess, holding her close to him. He could feel the worry coming from her and he did his best to take it into himself. No one voiced the fear they all felt. The earth was silent and the sea was calm, but where was Toni and Dylan?
“Look!” Jade shouted, pointing to something far off in the distance. “Go!” she yelled at her phoenix husband, slapping him gently on the chest.
Michael spread his wings and shot into the sky like a bullet, making a bee line to whatever it was coming their direction, leaving a trail of orange flames in his wake.
As the family watched, it became clear that a small wave was coming to shore. “It’s Toni!” Jade said with glee, “She’s all right!”
A collective sigh of relief escaped everyone as they watched the approach. Toni and Dylan were standing on top of the wave, allowing it to bring them to shore while Michael flew overhead. As their feet touched the sandy shore, Leigh ran to her daughter and grabbed her in a tight bear hug. “I’m so happy to see you,” she said through a veil of tears. “Don’t you ever do that again.”
Toni coughed and struggled to pull air into her lungs within her mother’s iron grip. “I’ll try, Mom,” she said.
“Not too bad,” Rebel said to Dylan, extending his hand. Dylan took it and the men shook. “Not too bad at all.”
“I told you I would protect her,” Dylan reminded him.
“What of your father?” Rebel asked.
Dylan looked to the ground. “I don’t know,” he answered honestly. “The palace was collapsing as we left.”
“Oh, well what is that, then?” Jade asked, pointing out over the ocean once again. Another small wave was coming their way, faster than the one Dylan had brought.
“Damn it,” Dylan cursed, knowing his father would be out for blood. “All of you, run!”
“No way,” Leigh said defiantly. “You’re family now and family sticks together. We will deal with this together.” She began to call her dragon magic, but was stopped by Toni.
“Wait,” she said. “We can dragon up in a second if we need to.”
Dylan didn’t have time to argue, because a second later his father was there. He had Arora in his arms as his wave brought them to the shore.
“Help her,” Poseidon pleaded. “Please.”
“Why should we help you?” Toni glared at him.
“Help her,” Poseidon repeated. “Not me. Her. She didn’t deserve this.”
Toni knew he was right and she felt terrible for nearly setting the mermaid on fire. She looked to her family and nodded.
Jacque and Frankie quickly took Arora from the Sea God’s arms and laid her on the sand. “I don’t know anything about mermaids,” Jacque admitted. He was a damn fine doctor, but only if one was human or vampire.
“Me either, but we have to try,” Frankie said, checking for vital signs.
The pair didn’t have to work long before Arora’s tail fin began to twitch. Then, she coughed. Water gurgled up from her lungs and she turned her head to spit it out.
“Oh, thank God,” Poseidon said, kneeling by her side. “I thought I had lost you.” He picked up her hand and brought it to his lips. How long had he taken her for granted? The relief he felt was like having a building lifted off his shoulders.
“Um,” Toni said. “I don’t mean to sound unhappy or anything, but how the hell are you on land?”
Poseidon glanced down to see that he had, in fact, left the water. He was kneeling in the sand without any part of his body touching the water. “I don’t know,” he said, “The curse…”
“Has been broken,” Azerial finished for him. She looked to the heavens as if looking for answers then turned back to her family and the Sea God. “Forever bound within the sea, no more death for you will be, cursed to live under the waves, until a life he does save. A selfless act will break the ties, to face the truth free of lies, before the land you will see, the dragon’s fire will set you free.”
“I am free?” he asked, unwilling to believe it, but knowing the proof was right in front of him. He sat back on his haunches and pushed a hand through his hair.
“You committed a selfless act when you saved Arora,” Toni told him, silently thankful that her little stunt worked. “Now take your mate and leave us.” Now that Poseidon had gotten what he wanted, he was free to wreak havoc anywhere he chose. Toni was finished playing his games.
“I mean you no harm,” he told her.
Toni snorted. “Yeah sure, just like you didn’t mean to endanger the lives of everyone within a hundred miles of here. Get going before either me or my mother dragons up and eats you.”
“Sometimes love will change one’s perspective,” Azerial said with a pointed look at Poseidon.
Poseidon didn’t know what to say. As the palace was collapsing, all he could think of was getting Arora to safety. “I had thought that admitting love for her would make me weak, but in fact, it is the opposite. Love makes me stronger. I am stronger with her.” He turned to his son. “I hope one day you can forgive me for all the wrongs I have brought upon you. I will leave, but know this. I have always loved you, my son.” Poseidon picked up his mate a
nd cradled her in his arms. “Let’s go home,” he told her. He stepped into the sea and let the water take him back to his home.
28
Poseidon stopped in the center of the ocean, where his palace used to be, still holding Arora in his arms. She was sleeping and that fact worried him. She was a mermaid. Water in the lungs should not have caused her harm. The only way she could ever drown was if she were unconscious when it entered her body. He was going to have to check her for injuries once back inside his home.
He looked down at the water. His palace had been destroyed. There was nothing under the water but a heap of rubble, much like everything else he had ever known. He realized how wrong he had been. Not just about Arora, but his son, his life, everything. How many millennia had he spent beneath the waves being bitter and cruel? How much time had he wasted? How much hurt had he caused, all because he was petty? He dragged in a heavy breath and looked to the west. He knew there was no changing the past, but he could start a new future.
With his precious cargo in tow, the Sea God called the water to take him someplace where he could get started on that new future.
***
"What the hell just happened here?" Rebel asked, scratching his head. "I thought we were mortal enemies, and now we're friends and shit? I'm so confused."
Toni laughed. "It is a bit hard to believe," she said, digging her toes into the sand, enjoying the way it crushed between her toes. "He has good reason to have a change of heart."
Rebel looked at Dylan. "What happened down there?" he asked.
Dylan grinned. "It was Toni," he said with pride for his mate. "She figured it out. Arora, my mother, is Poseidon's mate. Toni knew that no matter what, he would protect her. He kept ranting about Toni's fire, so she gave it to him."
"I was hoping that I was right," Toni added. "I'm not sure I could have forgiven myself if I'd killed Arora."
"You wouldn't have killed her," Dylan said. "You're not a killer. You are one bad ass dragon, but you wouldn't intentionally kill an innocent soul. It's one of those many things I love about you."
Toni's eyes widened and then misted over. "You love me?" She had known that Dylan was her mate, and she knew of her own feelings for the man, but not once had he uttered the word love. Until now.
"Of course I do," he smiled, pulling her into his arms. "How could I not? You're brave and kind, selfless and dangerous. That's a wicked combination and add that to the fact that you are stunningly beautiful, no matter what form you take. I was a goner from day one."
Toni looked up into his deep blue eyes, knowing that he told the truth. He believed what he was saying to her. She could feel it. There were several other people standing on the beach with them, but Toni couldn't see them. She couldn't hear the snickering or the hushed whispers, she didn’t hear the happiness in her mother's sigh. There was no ocean, no sand, no trees and no Los Angeles. All Toni knew at that moment, a moment which seemed never ending, was Dylan. Her mate. He was everything she could see, touch, smell, or feel. His hard chest against hers gave her stability, his warm breath gave her peace. Being held tight in his arms made her feel loved like she had never felt before. For the first time in her life, Toni knew what it was like to be complete, all because of her perfect other half, because of her mate.
"I love you too," she whispered. And then, he kissed her.
"I can't wait until Somnus finds his mate," Azerial sighed as she watched the young couple together.
"Oh, boy," Samuel said, wondering what kind of mate their son would find and what kind of drama would accompany her. Because Lord knew none of the Knight family was capable of a peaceful mating.
"Yeah," Rebel grinned, slapping his blood brother on the back. "I can't wait."
"Fuck off, man," Samuel told him with a lopsided grin. He knew Azerial would be a mess, even if she seemed to be all for it. He knew that no matter who it was, she would never be good enough for her son.
Rebel laughed, hearing Samuel's angst in his head and the rest of the family joined him.
***
Poseidon used his power to give a sleeping Arora legs as they came ashore the island that was nestled deep in the Pacific. Water ran off his skin as they emerged, leaving them both completely dry. As he walked further on the island, he found what he was looking for. With the power of his will, Poseidon bent two palm trees until their leaves could wrap around each other. He formed a hammock from the tree limbs and when it was complete, he gently laid Arora on it. He brushed her silken blonde hair away from her face and ran his fingertips carefully over her scalp. His heart sank when he felt a large knot on the back of her head. He inspected the rest of her body, looking for even the smallest scratch until he had a complete inventory of her injuries.
This was his fault.
Poseidon used his power to heal his mate, cursing himself for each and every one of them. For so long, he had thought he was invincible. He was wrong, about so many things. He had thought admitting feelings for anyone, especially the all-consuming love and passion he felt for the mermaid, would make him weak and vulnerable. But it had been that love that had eventually set him free. That, and a little help from a very smart dragon.
He owed Toni an apology. And a thank you.
As soon as Arora was healed, Poseidon kissed her cheek and left her to sleep. He began to gather the supplies he would need to build Arora a new palace, one that was on land, one that would be fitting to the woman she was. He would build it with his own hands. He would make up for all the time he had wasted and he would make her proud.
29
One year later...
Toni pressed her lips together and forced herself not to complain about the blindfold covering her eyes. She really, really wanted to know where they were going, but Dylan had insisted it be a surprise. Toni had agreed at first, but when the trip began to take more than just a few moments she became curious. Dylan had also insisted on carrying her to their destination. The lull of the water beneath them let her know that they were on the water, as did the smell of fish and brine that stung her now very sensitive nose.
She had thought she had a good set of senses as a dragon, but when her vampire side woke up, it was as if her whole body underwent a complete overhaul. She could hear everything, see everything– even in the dark– and taste everything. At first, it was a case of sensory overload, but she had grown accustomed to it over the past year. She found that she could communicate even better through a mind link with her family as well. She could even read Dylan's thoughts if she wanted to.
That was something she was desperately trying not to do at the moment as they sped over the ocean.
"I can hear you fretting," Dylan said in her ear.
"I do not fret," Toni snapped back at him.
"I can assure you, dragon woman, you do. You're doing it now."
Toni didn't say anything, but pinched the back of his arm.
"Ow!" he howled, then broke out into laughter. "You better behave yourself," he chastised her. "You're gonna love this surprise, but if you aren't good, I might not give it to you."
"Oh you'll give it to me," Toni said with a sly smile.
"You're right," Dylan agreed. "Because I could never deny you anything."
"You act like I'm spoiled or something," Toni teased.
"You are," he answered, and then he slowed their pace. "And we're here." He set Toni down gently and she felt sand under her feet.
"Can I look now?" she asked.
Dylan didn’t say anything, but slipped behind her and untied her blindfold. As the dark fabric fell away from her eyes, Toni had to squint against the bright daylight that replaced it. As soon as her eyes adjusted, she took a look at where he had taken her.
The beach was covered in pure white sand with shells scattered along the water line. This was no public beach, that was for certain. The shells would have all been picked up by tourists or locals with shops. It was damn near impossible to find undamaged shells in California unless they were for sale. T
he sunlight glinted off the shells giving the illusion of the beach shimmering. As her eyes traveled further up, she saw a line of palm trees, heavy with coconuts. The brush grew around the base of the trees. That was when Toni knew this island was private, if it were inhabited at all.
"Where are we?" she asked.
"You'll see," Dylan said, taking her hand. "Come on."
He led her from the beach into the trees where a skinny path she had not noticed from the water hid. Other than having to duck under a branch here or there, it was otherwise clear and easy to maneuver. Toni felt her heart pick up the pace in her chest as her excitement threatened to boil over. What in the world was Dylan up to?
No sooner than the thought crossed her mind, the path widened into a stone walkway and the trees parted. Toni stopped in her tracks and sucked in a breath. She was looking at a large clearing that backed up to a mountain. There were plants growing as if they had been strategically placed around a small cottage. Its exterior was covered in bamboo and the roof appeared to be made of huge palm leaves. "What is this?" she finally asked.
"It's our home," Dylan said. "If you want it to be."
"How?" she asked. When had he had time to build this?
"My father and I have been working on our issues," Dylan said to her. "One of the things we worked on was this house."
It was true. Dylan and Poseidon had been talking, meeting and trying to form some kind of functional relationship. Toni knew that Poseidon had built a palace for his mate, and it worked so well that Dylan decided to do it too. The relationship between father and son was shaky at best, but it was a work in progress.
Arora had forgiven both Toni and Dylan for using her as bait, and for nearly roasting her to a fiery death, because in the end, it had been the only way to make Poseidon see how wrong he had been. Dylan was still a bit skeptical about their relationship, but was working on that as well. He was having a hard time letting go of all those years that she could have told him who she was but didn’t. Logically, he knew that she loved him and he owed her a debt for bringing his mate back to him. For both of his parents, Dylan was making an effort, and that was all anyone could ask.
Dragon Fire (The Forbidden Love Series) Page 14