His lips found mine, and I melted into him while he thoroughly kissed me. Cupping the back of my head with a growl, he swept his tongue into my mouth, claiming me as his mate. Elements, I wanted to rip off his trousers and have my way with him, except the giggling children behind us brought me back to reality. I reluctantly broke the kiss, panting against his mouth.
We’ll finish tonight, I said through thought.
His possessive growl rattled my bones and liquified my insides.Or we finish now and Helian watches the children.
As if he anticipated Finn’s intentions, Helian loudly cleared his throat. “We have work to do now.”
I squinted at Helian, the glare of the late morning sun piercing my eyes as he motioned toward the gathering crowd at the edge of the boardwalk, who watched us with interest.
Reluctantly, I pushed out of Finn’s embrace and took his hand in mine.Later, I projected to him again.But don’t worry.I squeezed his hand when he let out another wolf’s whimper.I’m anxious to be alone with you too.
He grimly nodded, then looked over my shoulder. “Where’s Blaze?”
“We already took him to Shiri,” I answered.
He arched a brow. “Ash?”
I tensed, not knowing how to explain to him that his brother was demon possessed.
Helian grasped Finn’s shoulder, his expression sympathetic. “Long story. He’s demon possessed, but Shiri will get it out of him.”
My heart shattered into a million grains of sand when Finn tossed back his head with a mournful howl.
The girls hugged his legs.
“Please don’t cry, Papa Finn,” Aurora pleaded, tears welling in her eyes.
“He’ll get better,” Ember reassured.
I wondered if she was just trying to soothe him, or if Ember’s friends had told her that.
I swallowed back my emotions, wishing I had a cool drink to soothe my parched throat. “Finn,” I rasped, “we will save Ash, but right now, we need to focus on the imminent danger.” I motioned toward the town. “Blaze thinks the demonic spiders will attack Cyrene. I used a lot of magic getting us here earlier, so I need to rely on your strength to summon a masking spell for Cyrene.”
He swiped tears from his eyes. “All of Cyrene?”
I nodded. “Like I did to Dunhull.”
His eyes lit with determination. “What do you need from me?”
I squeezed his hand. “Your love.”
“You have it.” He wrapped an arm around my waist while pressing my hand to his heart. “You’ll always have it.”
My heart felt like it had swelled three times its usual size as his love poured into me. I managed to brush a kiss across his lips with two children pressed between us. Then I kissed Helian as he closed in our circle. Even though a big slice of my heart was missing without Ash, I knew my family’s love would give me strength.
You can rely on my strength, too, Goddess.Isa’s powerful voice echoed in my mind.
I squinted up at Isa, sunlight piercing my eyes as she made a slow descent toward me, Radnor and Triss following.Thank you, Isa.
Helian shielded us when the dragons landed in a spray of sand.
The girls splashed water up to their ankles as they ran with Triss across the beach. Finn instinctively chased after them like a protective father wolf.
Our goddess Maiadra used my mother’s strength to overcome the demons.Flashing a fanged grin, she hovered over me, the sunlight making her large eyes sparkle like rubies.Think of me as more than just your bonded dragon.I’m your magic magnifier.
“How?”
Fly with me, she answered while stretching her long neck across the sand.I’ll show you.