Page 61 of To Spark a Dragon's Love
A piece of sausage lodged in my throat and I started choking, grabbing my burning hot coffee to help swallow it down.
“There, there.” Riley pounded her fist against my back. I didn’t realize she’d gotten so strong. “And I for one am surprisedthat you both held out this long. You guys must be experts at denying yourselves.”
“I’m sorry, what?” I said when I could breathe again.
“You know.” Riley gave me a conspiratorial wink. “The mating frenzy.”
“Mmm, hmm.” I swallowed a sip of coffee more carefully this time, letting the caffeine go to my head and trying to hide the embarrassment on my face behind the rim of the mug.
“I’m just glad things are working out better than we could’ve hoped.” Kieran cut his ham steak with the silver knife and fork.
“And how are things working out?” I asked as I set down the mug.
Lucan wore a big ole grin. “My brother hasn’t been able to recover from an absorption that fast in over a century. It’s been longer than that since I’ve seen him make breakfast. I didn’t even know he remembered how to smile.”
“Of course he’s smiling again,” Riley said. “He’s got Willow for a mate.”
The forkful of eggs I was trying to eat shook in my hand and I lowered it back to my plate. “I’m telling you, it’s not what you think.”
“I think this is the answer to everything.” Kieran bit down on his breakfast meat.
“No pressure or anything.” Ember shook her head at her mate before turning back to me. “This isn’t like before. You don’t have to fake your true feelings. Neither of you do. But just keep doing whatever it is you’re doing. I’m sure it will all work out.”
I was about to ask how she thought this was different when I heard my daughter coming.
“We’ve got pancakes!” Harper’s voice echoed in the grand hall as Malachy pushed open the door, holding two giant plates with my daughter hanging from his bicep like a monkey.
Before I could tell her to be careful, he lifted her higher, setting her onto the chair, and then placed a stack of multi-flavored pancakes in front of me.
His breath was a whisper against my ear that had my toes curling under the table. “I hope you’re hungry.”
22
Malachy
Fountain of Youth
I felt young again. Powerful. Filled with purpose.
You’ve been given a gift,my dragon reminded me constantly, afraid I would squander it.
How could I? Everything was a reminder of this precious life. Even the food tasted sweeter. The birds and animals of the woods sung more vibrantly, filled with a frantic energy as they prepared for winter and fattened themselves up—a winter they might all live to see.
Earth had increased her activity over the past few weeks, calling me almost daily, but I’d been able to meet her demands with a vigor I didn’t have even in my youth. Whatever threats might’ve been made after Cain’s demise were silent now that I was back with full stamina.
I knew we weren’t in the clear. That Earth would continue to reshape the planet as she saw fit. But the knowledge that I could hold out a little longer—to buy time and ease the tumultuous nature of Her re-imagining—gave me strength.
I was the guardian again.
My role was to keep the balance in check.
I felt almost invincible as I emerged each morning to face the world anew, reborn from the special tonic that filled my nights.
Willow was the magic that would keep us all going a little bit longer.
And I vowed to make it worth her while.
I kissed my way down the soft curves of her body, appreciating the places that had begun to fill in more as she put some meat on her bones.
