Page 8 of The Mating Claim
“You don’t.” Caderyn strode over to the fireplace and threw his bag of popcorn into it. It snapped and crackled, flames casting a ghostly reflection on the Shadow Wizard’s handsome, but grim face. “You can’t. You have to move past and do what is right for the common good. So more of your people do notdie.”
Again, Tristan wondered about the eldest amongst them. Best to leave that remarkalone.
Gently, he turned Drust toward the window, so the dragon could see the majestic sweep of rolling hillsides and verdant forest that had reminded Tristan of his mortal home. He had created this castle and adjacent scenery to remind him of his mortallife.
“You are living as an immortal now, Drust, and we wizards like to think ourselves impervious to mortal feelings. However…” he glanced over his shoulder at Nikita, who smiled lovingly at him. “You will find that the more time you spend amongst mortals, the more you will feel. The more… mortal you will become. You lose a part of yourself, but in a way, you gain the true spirit of being awizard.”
“Tis only in understanding what our charges feel, and experience, that we can truly judge them,” Gideonadded.
Drust stared out the window, lost in thought. Then he turned, went to Xavier and held out his arms. “MayI?”
Without words, Xavier handed the toddler over to the dragon. Drust bounced her in his arms, cradling her with the expert ease of afather.
Even though hundreds of years had passed since he’d hadchildren.
“What do you think, little Sonia? Is it better to feel mortal emotions so I can understand dragons, or should I proceed as I thinkbest?”
Sonia patted his bearded cheek. “Dragon dangerous. Dragon fire. Dragon roar. Dragon destroy alllife.”
“You taught her those words?” Xavier lookedoutraged.
Drust shook his head. “No. Upon my immortality, I didnot.”
His stomach tightened into knots. Tristan had the feeling Sonia spoke prophetically. He had started this, now he mustfinish.
“The child is right.” He laced his hands behind his back. “We are speaking from our experiences, but our charges do not breathe fire, nor are they capable of widespread destruction. Lacey is. Our goddess Danu made Drust the Coldfire Wizard for a good reason. We cannot control the dragons. He can. We must trust his decisions, not questionthem.”
“Speak for yourself,” Caderyn drawled. “You rule over shifters, Tristan, and Gideon over the Fae and Xavier over nymphs, trolls and ogres. My charges are witches. Have you ever seen the kind of destruction they cancause?”
“But your charges do not possess a book that is dangerous and should have been destroyed long ago, before someone could find and use it,” Niki burst out. She rose off the chair, each move filled with a Lupine grace, and headed straight for the ShadowWizard.
Silence draped the air for a moment. Pride filled Tristan, along with fierce love for Niki. She had the courage to voice aloud what the rest of them could not – their deepest fears Lacey would use the book and all the spells withinin.
And yet Caderyn, instead of his usual scowl, looked away, as if not wishing to admit the truth of Niki’s words. Again, Tristan wondered about the ShadowWizard.
But his primary concern wasDrust.
The dragon’s eyes glowed an eerie blue, signaling the rise of hispower.
“I do not know much of this book, only what you have told me, Tristan. But I do know Lacey is a mere mortal, albeit a fierce, intelligent dragon, and she cannot read the spells hidden in the book’send.”
Tristan wondered if Drust was aware his voice dropped to a deep growl, as if protective of Lacey. Probably not. The dragon had yet to discover his deep and quite personal connection to LaceyMcGuire.
“Lacey understands the ancient writings. The memory and knowledge is buried in her blood and bones.” Tristan massaged the back of his tight neck muscles. “This is why the book is so damn dangerous in her hands, Drust. In the hands of her father, it was as dangerous as an unloaded weapon. Unless one has the bullets, it cannot do muchharm.”
“And now the gun is loaded because of Lacey,” Drust mused. His gaze sharpened. “Where did she get this power tounderstand?”
He could not answer that, for each of the wizards had their ownjourney.
Tristan squeezed his friend’s shoulder again, signaling the bonds of friendship and former mortal warriors. “You will find out, my friend. For now, you must find the Book of Shadows and make amends with Lacey. She will not be quick to forgive what you did to herfather.”
“I will apologize,” he mused. “But I will not be soft onher.”
Knowing how Drust and Lacey’s fates were tied together, Tristan could not help a smirk at the unintentional double entendre. “You will never be soft around her, trust me. But do me a favor and begentle.”
Drust frowned. “As youwish.”
A confused look came over his face as the others laughed at the oblique reference to the movie they’d watched. Then the dragon waved a hand and vanished from theirsight.
