Page 32 of Sanctuary with a Dragon
The dragon laughed.I love your curious mind. You are constantly questioning, constantly wanting to know and learn. It is a good attribute to have. To answer your other question, yes, you are my mate as well. For shifters there will never be one mate for the animal half, and one mate for the human half. That would cause chaos and heartbreak and the Maker would not allow that. Alaric and I are one. We’ve been bound together long enough that this has become a complete truth for both of us. My thoughts and feelings most often align with his, and his with mine. Very rarely do they differ. So, yes, dear one, you are my mate.
But, I’m a raven. How does that work?
The dragon laughed.I think you’re asking about mating.
I blushed. It was a good thing no one could see my red cheeks because of my feathers.
We mate in our human forms. I feel what Alaric feels, remember?
Wouldn’t that feel... overwhelming for both of you?I was squirming in embarrassment, but I wanted so badly to understand that I pushed on.
I do not know. We’ve never experienced it, but as all good things that we’ve experienced together, I imagine that it will be overwhelming in the best of ways. The feelings of our body will be doubled and in sync, our emotions will be doubled. I am... much looking forward to it. We have been waiting a very long time for our mate.
Treasure, I will tell you something that Alaric does not want me to, but only if you will not let it sway you one way or another when it comes to accepting us as your mate.
My heart thudded.I’m not sure that’s wise,I said hesitantly.I don’t want to upset him.I thought for a moment.Why would you tell me if he doesn’t want you to? Didn’t you just say your thoughts are usually one?
The dragon sighed.In this we differ in opinion. I have faith that you will be able to handle it. He has a human’s fears about being loved and valued for himself, and I do not. At least, not to the extent that he does. Alaric is wealthy and we are very powerful. We are sought after by many women who want us for their mates, and from many men because they want to be close to us and use our power for their own purposes.
My eyes stung again.That sounds awful.
It is, truly. We have been hunted for many years. Why do you think that Alaric chose to hide in the mountains in Alaska? And why do you think he put our company headquarters and our main estate in Alaska?
The isolation?I guessed. And had he said main estate? I blinked in shock. Exactly how manyestatesdid they have?
Yes. We have become weary. May I assume that you don’t want the information I seek to give you?
I blew out a breath.Not yet,I said in a small voice.Is that okay? I appreciate you being willing to share it though.
He rumbled.It is okay, dear one. May I ask you a question about your health?
I straightened on the table a little, the sound of Alaric and King Draven’s voice a quiet drone in the background.Yes, of course!
Were medical professionals ever able to diagnose your health problems?
I sighed.Yes? To a point, I think. The last diagnosis was fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue. But I also struggle with so many other things: asthma, stomach problems, insomnia... And under the umbrella of fibromyalgia alone there were many symptoms that I dealt with daily. The day before I became a raven I was... in despair. It felt like I was grieving. In fact, I think I’ve been going through the grief process for many years because of my health. You feel like you lose so many things... pieces of yourself, who and what you were. You start to lose hope for your future. And what makes all of that worse is the isolation. I felt... very alone.
Tears pooled in my raven eyes, and I laid my head down on the table. I was very tired. Suddenly, like before, the dragon rose out of Alaric’s chest. All conversation in the room instantly halted, and Alaric musthave clenched the glass he’d been drinking from too hard, because it shattered, the sound loud in the suddenly quiet dining room.
The dragon’s head poked out of Alaric’s chest, reaching for me. I stood and wobbled closer to him until I could touch the wispy, gossamer threads of his head. Then I leaned into him and closed my eyes as he thrummed peace to me.
I felt the despair lift, and the grief transmuted to comfort. I had forgotten for the moment that I had hope again. That my shifter DNA would help me to eventually heal. It might take many years, but Iwouldheal.
“You are loved,” the dragon said aloud. He gently rubbed the top of my head with his snout. His breath was warm, despite him being in this ghostly state.
“Thank you.”
Then he went back inside Alaric, and I slumped back onto the table in exhaustion. Most of my questions had been answered, and I now felt confident that I could ask anything of the dragon and he would answer me.
I just had one more question.What do I call you?
I am called Elandor.
Thank you, Elandor.
Always, Treasure.
“Well, that was interesting,” King Draven said. Mesmer who had come to stand guard just inside the dining room was gaping at Alaric, and I had the feelingthe hulking gargoyle didn’t give that expression all that often. “I now understand why you are the strongest of the shifters.”
