Page 78 of To Spark a Dragon's Love
The quiet of the world surrounded me. A surreal stillness as it seemed that the trees held their breath and the stars froze for one bright moment, painted in the night sky as a single snowflake drifted down from above.
My fingers twitched, reaching for a brush that I hadn’t picked up in years. Not since before I got engaged and then pregnant and my whole life had changed.
I watched the snowflake fall. Saw it flurry toward me. A crystalline drop as fat as a tear. It twirled and danced and landed on my nose with a wet little kiss.
“Enough.”
I shivered, nodding and not sure where the voice came from, but it was a good reminder that I couldn’t be anything more than I was.
And that had to be enough.
For some reason, fate decided to pair Malachy and me. I had to trust that everything would be okay. If I didn’t, I’d drive myself crazy.
I loved him.
It was all that mattered. We’d figure out the little details and survive the rest. For however long we were given on this planet, we’d find a way to make it work. We had time.
The deck groaned beneath my feet as the trees in the woods began to sway. A distant rumble shook the ground. The tug in my chest pulled outward, begging. I peered into the night as I leaned past the porch railing. Something shimmered in the air as it wound its way through the trees in the valley below.
“Come to me.”That voice again.
My stomach dropped.
I was falling. Reaching for—
“You need to go inside.”
I jerked at the feel of Malachy’s hand on my shoulder. Snow fell around us in a flurry as the ground continued to shake.
A 5.5. Maybe a 6.
“Harper,” I gasped, knowing she’d be crying for me.
“Go to her,” Malachy said, but his voice was distant and his eyes were cloudy.
I stepped back, knowing he was fighting some invisible force and wrestling with his dragon, but I was powerless to help.
“You need to go.” I stood on my toes, pressing a quick kiss to his cheek.
“Stay in your room. Lucan will take care of the guests.” He cupped the side of my face tenderly. “We’ll talk when I return.”
The moonlight that had bathed me moments ago in silver disappeared as the shadows lengthened around Malachy. His wings stretched out to either side while the snow fell around him. The scarred skin of his back and chest turned to scales and bones cracked as his torso began to stretch.
“Be safe.” I told him as the ground continued to shake. His roar filled the winter night sky as I silently turned and ran to my daughter.
28
Malachy
Once More
The geyser was the closest entry point to the fire of Earth’s power in this area. I’d been drawn here when I was younger, chasing the epicenters of Her heightened activity. Her focus shifted lately. It’d been years since we’d had an earthquake so large anywhere close to my territory.
That should’ve been my first warning that tonight would be different.
I approached cautiously. My dragon’s wings were still singed from the chaos of the previous night when both my brother and I’d barely escaped Her raging inferno from the volcanic cave a few miles away.
That was why—despite his protest—I’d forbid him from following me anymore.
