Page 122 of The Mating Claim
Tristan, facing her, pointed and smiled. As she got closer, he turned and sawher.
He strode up to her, filled with power and purpose. Drust seized her face with both hands and kissed her. The kiss stunned her with its blazing passion and tenderness, his mouth claiming hers in brute possessiveness and such emotion it twined with her own feelings. Caught up in the emotional maelstrom, she could only wrap her fingers around his wrists and hold on, kissing himback.
He kissed her as if his next breath, his very immortal life, depended on her. Lacey sank into him, feeling the power and the purity of his love wrapping around her like shelteringwings.
When he finally, seemingly reluctantly, released her, he touched his forehead to hers. “My Lacey. My heart. My love and my life. There is no way I can thank you enough for freeingme.”
Then he lifted his head and gave her a puzzled look. “But why… why did you do it? I must know. Being a dragon, flying into the sky and the freedom your wings gave you meant everything to you. You said you would rather die than not be a dragon who couldfly.”
Tears blurred her vision. “Oh Drust, you wonderful, crazy, stubborn wizard. I cherished my wings. I loved them, but I love you more. I’m not good at this love, poetry stuff. All I know is that I could soar and fly as a dragon, but without you in my life, it wouldn’t matter. My heart would be permanently grounded. I couldn’t bear to think of you suffering in thatplace.”
He kissed her again and she wrapped her arms around him, feeling the solid, firm weight of him. Lacey ran a hand along the edge of his wings. Herwings.
When they broke apart, he touched her cheek. “Lacey McGuire, I can’t wait a moment more. I lost you before when we were mortals, and then I thought I lost you again when I went into the Shadow Lands. I will not lose you again. Will you marryme?”
Tears blurred her vision. Maybe they wouldn’t have much time together with her short lifespan and his immortality, but she did not care. “Yes,yes!”
They kissed again. Drust rubbed his cheek against hers. “Your wings are so beautiful, but not as beautiful as you,caramine. Danu knows what you did and the goddess wishes to speak withyou.”
He guided her over towards a beautiful woman dressed in green, passing the other wizards who smiled encouragingly at her. Fairies flitted around them, followingthem.
When they got closer, Lacey whispered, “What do Ido?”
“Just breathe.” Drust gave a waist a comfortingsqueeze.
When they reached the woman, Lacey dropped to her knees. The goddess pulled her upright, her warm palms sending a surge of healing warmth through Lacey’sbody.
“Lacey, my child. Such a spirit you have. Your gift rescued our beloved Drust. In return for your great sacrifice of love, I have a gift foryou.”
Several fairies flew over, bearing with them two beautiful silver and blue dragon wings. Lacey gasped withwonder.
Danu flicked out her fingers and the wings floated behind Lacey, attaching to her back. It didn’t hurt. Instead, it felt wonderful andfreeing.
She craned her neck to see. “They’re beautiful! Thankyou.”
“I thought to create green ones, but since Drust proudly wears yours, you needed blue wings likehis.”
Lacey stretched them out and laughed as she rose into the air about five feet and then descended. “They’re pure magick! I can even fly as aSkin!”
“Indeed. When you wish them away, they will vanish, only to reappear on your dragon form. I have another gift for you, Lacey. A gift I seldom bestow on anyone, but the mates of my wizards. Immortality. If you will acceptit.”
As Lacey gasped, the goddess continued. “As Drust’s mate, you will live with him in Tir Na-nog, and you must be immortal to live there. You will aid him with your fellow dragons as well, for he needs a strong helpmate likeyou.”
She bit her lip. “Will ithurt?”
“No. It will take a little while, and you must drink a special potion each month.” The goddess’ eyes twinkled with mirth. “I believe you are familiar with it, since you borrowed it from Drust weeksago.”
A flush heated her face. “Um, you mean I stoleit.”
Danu smiled. “I believe the term Drust used was ‘swipe.’”
Drustlaughed.
“I have questions,” she told the goddess. “I’m not all dragon. What if I can’t balance my witch half with my dragon? What good am I to him with otherdragons?”
Danu touched her cheek and warmth spread through Lacey, soothing warmth. “My child, Drust will aid you in this. He is pure dragon, with a dragon’s heart. You will findtemperance.”
Then her green eyes, much like her own, twinkled with mirth. “Of course I would not expect you to suppress your natural high spirits. Tis the very thing that caused Drust to fall in love withyou.”
