“A week?” Fianna refilled their glasses. “I’m not sure, either.”
“Seems like a dream,” Abbie said, and took a drink. “Nothing feels real yet. Maybe I need to be on Dracan for everything to sink in.”
“Let’s hope Dracan’s ready for you. Remember the mess in the living room that first morning, pieces of the iron box all over?”
“Yeah.”
“You did that, just walking in. The Fire Agate went insane feeling your energy in the cabin uninvited. I’m still not sure how you got past the front door. The Gem knew you belonged, yet didn’t know who you were, so it chose to do nothing, or blow up. Useless magical intruder alert,” she said dryly. “We had been out flying, looking for you. We sensed you, we just didn’t know where exactly. And then, suddenly…there you were. Snoring in our bed.”
“Yeah, there I was, until three hot babes woke me up.” Abbie realized Fianna had seen her bare breasts in the first two seconds of meeting her. Turned on, warm and loose, Abbie set her glass aside and slid down the bed, pulling Fianna with her. The two contented sisters-Draca had drifted to sleep, leaving their humans to the romance.
Abbie loved Fianna’s smoky smell, her velvet-soft skin, the way their thighs pressed together. They locked gazes, and a deep, wordless heart connection pulsed between them, more valuable to Abbie than any jewel.
“You are the shiny thing, Fianna,” Abbie whispered. “You are the treasure.”
They had been through so much together already. Fianna was her pillar, her guiding light in the fierce, wild, overwhelming changes rocking Abbie’s world. Her life had been in pieces, and Fianna had shown up in the nick of time to help put her together.
Abbie didn’t have a Weird Box anymore. She had a Happiness Box and it was overflowing.
Someone should say the words.
“Fianna the Gold,” Abbie said. “Will you marry me?”
Fianna spent the rest of the night saying yes, over and over.
Chapter Eighteen
Dragon Home
The next morning, Abbie and Fianna woke to a cheerful knock from Orla. “Leaving for Dracan in two hours,” she called. “We’re going for a flight if you want to join us.”
They had been up most of the night making love, and the bedcovers hung half off the bed. Fianna spooned Abbie from behind.
Abbie’s eyes flew open. She wasn’t tired at all. “Oh, my God, I’m going to dragon land!”
Fianna protested with a sleepy groan when Abbie threw back the sheet and slid out of bed. “Finally. Guess we don’t have to pack much. One pair of sweats, check.”
“Excited a little?” Fianna asked dryly. “Just don’t start howling, okay?”
Abbie snickered. “Come on, get up. Let’s go flying with the gang.” She danced a little jig around the room. She’d never felt so happy.
Fianna sat on the edge of the bed, yawning. She smiled at Abbie’s antics. “Come here, dracling.” She managed to snatch her as she danced past the bed and pulled her squealing into her lap. “You forgot something.”
“What?”
“This.” She kissed her soundly. “How dare you get out of bed without kissing me first?”
“Oh, is that gonna be one of our rules?”
“Yes.”
“Well, then, maybe we should start over.”
“Exactly.” Fianna fell back onto the bed with Abbie on top of her and that was the end of conversation for a few minutes.
After breakfast, they strolled hand in hand across the meadow to join Guin and Orla.
“I keep forgetting to ask about your redemption quest, Fianna,” Abbie said. “Orla said you were on a special mission. She said bringing me to Dracan might get you back into the Council’s good graces? Huh…” she paused with a sly grin. “Interesting. Anyway, Orla and Guin said I needed to ask you for the details.”
Fianna sighed and slid a guilty look at Abbie. “Big story.” She squeezed her hand. “And I’m sorry, Abbie, for not explaining sooner. I should have told you, but I’ve been so distracted with everything going on and just…lost track. It’s not easy for me to explain. I’ll be facing the Council when we get back.”
“The Council? Like, going to trial or something? What did you do?”
Fianna kicked off her shoes. “Finding and bringing you to Dracan was my ticket to Council forgiveness and maybe getting my job back.”
“Your job?”
“Perhaps my dragon can tell the story better.”
They both stripped, shivering in the chilly morning breeze. “Let’s go. I’ll ask my sister-self to fill you in. It’s probably better this way. I don’t know why I didn’t think of it sooner.”
Off they soared, catching the wind for a long glide in the morning sunshine. Guin and Orla had disappeared, so Fianna and Abbie had the skies to themselves. Abbie greeted her sister-self as her human side gave way to the lead of the dragon. “Morning, other half. You ready to meet the rest of the dragons?”
“Dracan. Home.” Her sister-self’s pleased response held layers of meaning, which Abbie picked up on. She was getting used to being two but not two, as her dragon told her. Their connection flowed better, with less frustration. The dragon had simple, uncomplicated needs. Flight, hunt, sex, sleep. She’d probably never be very chatty unless she was upset about something.
The telepathic channel between Abbie and Fianna pulsed steady and clear, and then as Fianna had stated, she opened a new link between them, the one Fianna had kept secret with her sister-self out of shame, one tinged with pain and regret. Fianna allowed the torrent of suppressed images, memories, and emotions to break free and come to light between her and Abbie for the first time.
Years before, Fianna had taken on the job of dracling flight instructor, to repair her reputation for recklessness and irresponsibility. Becoming trusted “Auntie Fi” meant everything to her. The draclings adored her and fought for places in her flight schedules.
On the fateful day, she led a group of draclings on an outing in the woods. Abbie felt Fianna’s horror when she realized one of the dracling’s had gone missing when they were in a forbidden part of the forest, because Fianna had brought them there. They had begged her to go and she gave in without telling anyone else. The search for young Coren was the longest night of Fianna’s two hundred years of life.
The forbidden woods, with its sleeping dark energy, had not welcomed a noisy little shape-shifter wandering off the path and disturbing its long slumber. When Coren realized he’d lost the group, the woods became a terror to him, and in his fright, he couldn’t shift. He’d become well and truly lost and spent a terrible, cold evening until they found him. His parents, and especially the mothers of Dracan, went crazy. All the blame, of course, fell on Fianna. It had been her job to protect her charges, and she’d utterly failed.
“Good teacher…” Fianna’s sister-self floated a comment to the story. The sisters had gone quiet and sad as Fianna’s story rolled out. “Very bad day.”
“Yes, bad day and bad choices. My bad choices.” Fianna’s gorgeous bronze wings glinted in the eastern light as she admitted her faulty judgment. She’d fallen into old, reckless behavior and became overconfident and arrogant. Worst of all, she endangered her precious charges. Yes, the most spectacular waterfall anywhere in the sanctuary was found in the midst of the dark forest. Yet, only hubris could have urged her to take them in there.
The mothers had withdrawn their support, then the Council had removed Fianna from her position. The images of Fianna’s sorrow squeezed Abbie’s heart.
Orla and Guin came winging in, ruby red and emerald wings shining in the sun, feeling the upset of their sister. Their unity bound them in wordless, healing communion. The four of them flew for a while, letting the emotional memories float in acknowledgment between them, without any judgment. Fianna’s pain was hard for all of them. Abbie felt their group connection pulse in new ways.
“Now we’re four but not four,” Abbie’s sister-self commented out of the blue. �
��Best.”
“Best,” Abbie agreed.
“Sisters, let’s not forget the good part.” Fianna’s voice rang in happier tones. “When Abbie finally gets to Dracan, my redemption quest will be finished!”
“Let’s list some highlights of the mission,” called Orla, in the midst of the affectionate, congratulatory chaos which broke out over Fianna’s words.
“That’s easy,” said Guin. “Number one. A new shape-shifter coming into her powers has been found, rescued, and is going home. Primary mission accomplished!”
“And number two. We’re going to be mated!” Fianna dipped her wing saucily in Abbie’s direction and Abbie wondered if dragons blushed. Her dragon let out a happy roar and the others joined in.
“I know what number three is,” declared Orla. “We astonished thousands of citizens from Portland to Mt. Hood, with visions of flying dragons.”
The telepathy went silent for a minute as the truth of Orla’s words and the images of their crazed, storm-tossed flight sank in. What had they done?
Then Orla let out the biggest, loudest, I am badass roar anyone had ever heard her make. Fianna, Abbie, and Guin joined her in raucous roars of triumph, honoring the passion and perfection of that already famous flight. They had done what needed to be done, in spectacular dragon style. They flew for some time after, much too excited to slow down.
Later, the telepathic Queenly message floated in “It is time.”
The Draca flew to the meadow and shifted. Abbie pulled on her clothes with shaking hands. “Did all of that just really happen?” she croaked. “I think I’ve got a sore throat with all the roaring!”
Fianna laughed, out of breath herself. “I know. You’ve been further initiated, just look at it that way. Come on, let’s go.”
They hurried up the hill. Guin and Orla had already streaked off in a race to the cabin.
“Ready to meet the rest of the family?” Fianna asked. Her face was shining. Abbie realized the lot of them glowed in golden misty tones.
“I’m so ready,” said Abbie, admiring everyone as they loped up the path. “I mean look at us—we’re all shining.”
That comment was rewarded with a dazzling Fianna smile that scrambled her wits, and probably always would.
“Don’t worry about anything. It’s going to be so great,” Fianna said. “Dracan is going to amaze you. Besides, look what you’ve already gone through.”
Abbie nodded. “Yeah. Just another day. Transport magically to a hidden alternate reality full of shape-shifting dragons. Nothing too nerve-wracking about that or anything.”
Fianna slung an arm around her shoulder. “Are you having second thoughts?”
“No. I’m just excited.”
Fianna halted their progress for a hug. “Don’t worry about anything, okay? I’ll be with you every minute.”
“Those Council people better give you your job back.”
“Whether they do or not, whatever happens, we’ll be together.”
“I hope this is really happening,” Abbie said. “Because I hit the total jackpot and I sure don’t wanna wake up and find out it’s a dream.” She leaned into Fianna’s side as they walked. “Reminds me, I left behind some buried treasure.”
“What?”
“My ill-gotten goods,” Abbie said a rueful smile. “I never stole money, only jewelry and gems. Before I left Las Vegas, I carted the whole stash to the Red Rock desert and buried a treasure box. I don’t know what got into me. Must have been my dragon, influencing me even then. Already a hoarder.”
Her sister-self stirred, in amused agreement. “I was always there. You couldn’t hear me yet.”
“Maybe we can travel back on one of the Council’s new passes and fetch it. There’s some great pieces.”
There was an upside to the younger generation getting rebellious. Just in time for Abbie to have a way to go back and forth. She hoped. Remembering her past and the treasure she had, unbelievably, left behind, calmed Abbie’s nerves. She had a feeling her inner self would guide her unerringly to wherever the heck she had left the stash in the desert.
“I’m glad we’re together,” Abbie said in a rush of gratitude to her sister-self. A pleased snort greeted her comment in response.
They stopped at the porch, where Orla and Guin waited for a group hug. It was a wrench to leave Guin behind. They’d been such a tight unit for so long. The Draca embraced and held each other close, their deep love and friendship an unbreakable, precious bond.
The Queen waited in the living room, resplendent in a long, blue silk gown. The rest of them sported jeans.
Nareen rolled her eyes at the pants. “Really,” she sniffed. “I don’t understand the attraction.”
Nareen held her hands out and the sisters joined her in a standing circle. Upstairs on the landing, Guin and Miriam watched in silence over the banister. Abbie was amused to see Miriam looking completely undone—disheveled, untucked and exhausted. Yet her face shone with child-like wonder as she watched the action below. Although she didn’t feel like the enemy anymore, she wasn’t exactly a friend, either. She still hadn’t won over Abbie’s dragon.
Miriam caught Abbie’s eyes, and Abbie nodded her head, giving her a sort of “Hey we’re cool” look. Miriam nodded back in a brief, wry acknowledgment. She seemed to understand that while Abbie’s troubles were over, hers were just beginning. Still, she didn’t look all that worried about it.
Abbie gave a last glance at the two on the landing. Her eyes narrowed. What was all that crackly energy?
“Here we go, dracling,” said Fianna. She squeezed her hand and, following Nareen’s lead, everyone closed their eyes.
Power stirred under Abbie’s feet as Nareen’s strong, clear voice called forth ancient shape-shifter magic. The spell of Transformation, a gift of the Dracan gods, swelled to life and filled the room like a rising tide, spilling into every corner and crashing over the Draca in a tidal wave of power. Exquisite magic flooded Abbie, body, mind, and soul, and then…nothingness.
a
Two Weeks Later
Fianna tried not to turn her ankle as she made her way in heels across the dim, uneven stone walkway. Brass sconces lined the rock walls, and light gleamed from frosted lotus-shaped glass in soft golden tones, giving the hallway to the Council chamber an eastern, holy cathedral feeling.
The passage was meant to be solitary, the final chance for the supplicant to the inner sanctum to review recent actions, and the choices that led to this moment. No one came before the Council lightly.
If I don’t fall and break my leg first, she thought, when another misstep on the rough stone twisted her foot.
It had been months since she’d worn anything on her feet except boots. Her four-inch high heels matched the shimmery gold, long, ceremonial gown of her House. Drapes of silk swished against her bare legs and she remembered again why she loved these gowns. No wonder Nareen always wore them. Feminine magics tingled in the threads woven by master weavers, offering sensual comfort. All would be well, sweet silk whispered on her ankles. Her sister-self crooned the same thing. “All is well.”
The passage ended in front of a massive wooden door carved into the rock. She took a deep breath and straightened her back. She had won, she reminded herself. No matter what, she had done her very best. Her heart knew victory and no one could ever take it away. She grasped the cold brass handle and pulled.
Eleven Council members, representing all the Houses, rose to their feet. The absence of Marcus was conspicuous. There was scattered applause and a few smiles. Nareen stood at the far end of the long, wooden Council table. Behind her, embedded into the rock like a crimson star, glowed the priceless magical artifact, the Great Garnet, which fueled shape-shifter magic and everything else on Dracan.
The Council gave her a minute to absorb the impact. The immense power of the conduit to the gods of Draca thrummed and burned in Fianna’s blood. She went down in a deep curtsey, with head bowed low in awed respect.
Nareen nodded approval and motioned her to the seat next to hers. Fianna made her high-heeled way past the ten potent, gleaming shape-shifters of the Council, the powerful Dracan Elders. Across the table was Allis, the oldest female Draca and a distant aunt to Fianna. Allis, her wiry hair a halo of gray around her aged face, remained lively with only a few signs of dracfire. She winked at Fianna in sly good humor. The entire Council glowed with the unmatched beauty of shape-shifters. Despite her earlier confidence, trembling seized Fianna’s limbs and she sat abruptly, glad of the chair.
Aedhan, the new Council Leader, flashed her a charming, reassuring smile. The man was ridiculously attractive. Yet he didn’t inspire tingles in Fianna like Abbie did.
Aedhan’s voice rang out in a solemn tone, “Fianna the Gold, the Council acknowledges your presence here today for judgment, pertaining to your Great Disgrace.”
She glanced at Nareen’s cool, neutral expression. Her stomach clenched with nerves.
“We further acknowledge your mission to modern Earth in an attempt to earn forgiveness and redemption. The Council has discussed the matter at length,” Aedhan said.
Fianna dared to scan the faces of the Elders. Expressions of approval, everyone. Her heart thudded with hope.
“You have guided a beloved daughter of Draca safely to her new community. Protected, taught, encouraged, and rescued her. You led a very fine, capable team, who all performed admirably under extremely trying circumstances.” His lips twitched. “Stories are circulating that I believe will go down in Dracan history.”
Abbie’s antics, especially, had captivated the community, and the dragons’ flight with Marcus over Portland was already the stuff of legends.
“We acknowledge the unforeseen complications caused by Marcus of Diamond House, formerly of the Council,” Aedhan continued, “and his unfortunate involvement with humans.” Fianna sensed how unsettled the Elders still were over the situation by the uneasy murmurs his comment caused.
Aedhan’s glance swept the table. “Shall we restore Fianna the Gold, otherwise known as Auntie Fi, to the care of our mischievous draclings?”
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