Page 72 of The Black Dragon
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The viewof the red cliffs of Sedona had always filled him with quiet peace. Tonight, Justin took no pleasure in thescene.
Sitting on a chair upon the deck of his new house, her old home, Ariel watched the sun set. Justin had flown them here, but he’d paced and been restlesssince theirreturn.
Damn Drust for mentioning his voice, and stirring Ariel’scuriosity.
Standing inside the kitchen, he opened the small red velvet box and studied the one-carat pink diamond ring Drust had given him. His mother’s engagement ring. He had not seen it since his parent’s death. Skylar must have accessed it from the familyvault.
It would make a perfect engagementring for Ariel, who loved pink. But asking him tosing?
Too many bitter memories were associated with singing. He snapped the box shut, recalling his mother’s sweet voice as she sang him lullabies at night. And then later, when they would sit at the piano together, making his father laugh as they pounded out songs from theSixties.
But his favorite song was always the one his motheradored – an ancient Celtic love song sung inLatin.
Pocketing the box, Justin opened the door and walked onto the deck. Ariel did notturn.
Paper crinkled in her hand. She smoothed it out. “When I walked out here, this was waiting for me. I wrote it last year after I helped you toescape.”
His heart beat faster. “You unlocked the door to my cage. I alwayswondered.”
“I wrote it and tore it up, sending it to the four winds. Hoping that the fates or wizards or someone would send you back to me.” She gave a little laugh. “Got mywish.”
“What does itsay?”
Justin sat next to her. “Please tellme.”
With a tiny sigh, she picked up the paper. “Open yourself up to receive the love of others. When you are open and sensitive, you can receive thefeelings of others instead of centering on your own emotions and aware of someone you love, even if that person is distant and flew away. You share a bond with Justin, a bond that you have never felt before. Send him your healing thoughts with all your mind and your heart. Send him all your love. You have nothing to lose by loving Justin Moore the black dragon. And perhaps, if it is your destiny,some day he will return toyou.”
Ariel folded the paper and set it aside. His heart leapt. He’d dared to hope she loved him when Drust told him what she’d written. Now he knew thetruth.
Gaze soft, she smiled at him. “I loved you, Justin, but I was afraid because you were a dragon and I feared your anger and pain would be too great to overcome. I guess that’s why I held onto theamber crystal for so long. It can protect someone against dragons, even strip away the dragon’smagick.”
“Amber crystal?” He frowned, remembering the pendant he’d seen glowing in her jewelry box. “It’s amber? I couldn’t tell in thedark.”
A becoming flush tinted her cheeks. “My father told me it was my mother’s. She must have gotten the jewel from the dragon cavern and fashionedit into anecklace.”
The crystal that Drust wanted him to retrieve. Justin almost laughed. It was in Ariel’s possession all thistime.
“Where is the crystalnow?”
“I sent the pendant to a friend in Florida, Mia. She’s a witch. It was time to let it go so it could help someoneelse.”
Drust never asked him to find the crystal. He only asked Justin to see if it was inthe cave. Job done, he thought. The wizard had enormous powers. He could find ithimself.
She gazed over her shoulder. “I gave it to her because I no longer need its magick to protect me fromdragons.”
“Then take something else to put in your jewelry box,” he said in a huskyvoice.
Ariel put a hand to her mouth as he knelt before her, opening thebox.
“Ariel Harrington,I can be a right dick and a total jerk at times. I can’t promise I won’t make mistakes or lose my temper, which can be downright foul. But I will promise to love and cherish you all our lives, and treat you like the princess you are. Will you be my forevermate?”
“Yes. Ohyes!”
He slid the ring onto her finger. Perfect fit. Justin grinned as she stood. The kiss was pretty damn perfectas well, her mouth fitting nicely upon his, her passion equaling hisown.
He’d do anything in the world for this woman. Almostanything.
