Page 122 of Touched By Moonlight
TEMPTED BY MOONLIGHT COPYRIGHT 2019 BONNIEVANAK
The 12 lords lined up and shifted into their dragon forms. First were the two crimson fire dragons, rising into the air like ballet dancers leaping from thestage.
Next, the three lords who were gold dragons, larger than tractor trailers, their wings of beaten gold shimmering in the springsunshine.
The two iridescent dragons, scales as colorful as wet rainbows, took off in a show of power, beating their enormous wings and stirring the grasses below. I watched the display withoutemotion.
Next came the two gorgeous and stately forest dragons, green as pine trees. Wings lined with brilliant blue and red, they took off and flew around the castle spires, parading and showing off their amazing colors, shining in thesun.
The two gray dragons, their scales dull in color, but a brilliant sky blue beneath to match the sky, danced in the air with slow grace. They breathed fire upon the castleroof.
Good thing it wasfireproof.
Finally, Alec. The lone black dragon. There should have been another dragon to dance with the black – the silver. My father. My father had claimed allegiance to Alex because his family was small, had modest income and like his father before him, my father was a scholar and a keeper of dragon history. But my sire was a rare and beautiful silver, and when he flew, all our people stopped to gaze upon his prowess. He made Alec look graceful instead ofbulky.
Tears clogged my throat as I remember those flights, the pride nearly bursting in my chest as I watched my Alec and my father twirl in the air as my father touched his wings to his lord’s with affection andloyalty.
Alec glanced at me, his expression inscrutable. He stretched out his arms, and then, at the last minute, closed hiseyes.
“This is for you, Kara. Only for you,” he rumbled, his deep voice already turning into agrowl.
Alec shifted as quickly as an eyeblink same as the others. No beauty or grace here, he was pure muscle and scary – with teeth sharp as knives, shiny black scales, and claws meant to pierce and destroy. His eyes gleamed red, glowing like coals. If I had not known him all my life, even I would fear him. He was spooky, even for a dragon. Scary, which is what the black dragons were intended to do, for they were expert in defeating their enemies inbattle.
When another paranormal creature needed a dragon to fight battles and defeat fearsome demon magic, they hired a black dragon, not a pretty iridescent dragon known for winning flightcompetitions.
As the other dragons danced in the air, swooping down with majestic beauty, Alec rose higher and higher until he became a black dot in thesky.
Suddenly he dove with the speed of an express train, straight down. Suicide mission. The clans gathered to watch gasped. Some ladies, especially the younger ones who were members of the Alec McKenzie fan club,screamed.
Iwatched.
The dancing lords below him noticed at the last minute and scattered, ceasing their impressive display of flight and grace. Alec broke them up with his dive bomb…as he headed for the jagged rocks on theshoreline.
“He’ll kill himself,” cried out oneonlooker.
I watched and saidnothing.
At the last minute, before his claws touched the ground, Alec pulled up – just barely. I saw his muscles straining with the effort, but he remained focused and glided along the loch waters, then dipped his wing into the wing, sprayingeveryone.
Everyone applauded. Inside, I laughed. I knew Alec would do this – if I forced him intoit.
Gavin, Graham and Camden bellowed their approval. I glanced with them. “If you wish me to choose him, and desire me in your bed as your mate after your lord claims his mating rights, then dance with LordAlec.”
All three shifted immediately into their dragon forms. Camden, the crimson, Graham the gold and Gavin, the smaller, more delicate but equally fierce green. They soared into the air, their wings stirring the grass and dirt and making small waves upon theloch.
They followed their leader, and then flew around him, above him and even before him. The latter caused frowns on the faces of the elder dragons. Protocol required commanders follow or flank their leader, not precedehim.
But the sight gave me muchrelief.
Alec had not changed since assuming lordship of ourclan.
I could predict him better thisway.
When all four landed and shifted back to human form, clad once more in traditional clan kilts, Angus gestured to thecastle.
Once inside the great hall, I did not sit but stood before the throne to indicate I haddecided.
Still, ceremony was ceremony. “Have you, Lady Kara Baylor of Clan McKenzie, decided upon your selection of a mate?” Angusboomed.
