Page 28 of Storm Dragon
Unable to sit still, Tamsyn looked up into his downturned eyes and gave his fingers an extra squeeze. Listening with not only her ears, but also her heart, she could feel what it cost him to relive the most horrible experience of his life.
“Stop.” She shook her head. “You don’t need to do this, and I am so sorry I asked. Seriously, sometimes I can’t even believe what comes out of my mouth. We can…”
Shivering as the electricity of their connection sparked to life when he slid the side of his index finger under her chin, Tamsyn lifted her eyes to her Mate’s as he smiled and reassured, “For you, my love, I would do anything.”
“But…”
“But nothing.” Leaning down, he placed a tender kiss on the tip of her nose. “It is the truth.”
Pulling her closer, the warmth of his embrace filled her with more love than she ever thought possible. Tamsyn slowly nodded, “Okay, only if you’re sure.”
“I am sure, and it means more than I can put into words that you care.”
“Oh, I more than care, Mr. Dragon Man.” Turning with his arms, she laid her lips to his and whispered directly into his mind, “I love you, Ruairí O’Clery.”
“And I love you, Tamsyn Elizabeth O’Clery.”
Following her Dragon as he deepened their kiss, Tamsyn groaned and pretended to pout when Ruairí pulled away and teased, “If you keep this up, I won’t be able to finish my story.”
“Oh, that’s okay.” Tamsyn looked at him with her big, brown, bedroom eyes. “We have forever.”
“Indeed, but I can feel how much you want to understand my past.” He kissed the tip of her nose. “And it is my job to give you anything and everything your heart desires.” He winked and settled farther into the overstuffed couch that had been her momma and daddy’s, holding her close as he picked up where he’d left off.
“The battle was brutal. We lost one of our own, and many were wounded. In the end, through the will of us all, we did prevail. Only the most cowardly of our enemies who deserted the battle were left breathing.” Wrinkling up his nose and curling his upper lip, her Dragon spat, the brogue of the Highlands thick in his voice. “The wee bastards scattered like roaches in the light of day.”
“It took a day and a half to say our goodbyes to our fallen Brethren and release his soul into the Heavens. With heavy hearts, we finally took our rest with the knowledge that as Dragon Kin’s elite group of Warriors, we would most likely be sent to battle evil again very soon.”
“Sometime later, I was awakened by the Dragon King with whom I share my soul. Dorman was roaring so loudly that my teeth chattered. I was frozen, unable to move a muscle. I tried with every ounce of strength to call out to my Brethren, but it was not to be. Black Magic was thick in the air. Loud chanting nearly made my ears bleed. Eventually, with effort, I opened my eyes and looked upon the ones responsible for the treachery befalling us.”
“There, in a circle, stood too many tall, masked, cloaked figures to count. They recited their evil spell, swaying side-to-side. Then I saw her—a small woman, possibly of Elven descent—leading the ritual. She knew who we were, knew our mission, and was more than pleased to throw her knowledge in our faces.”
“She’s the one you think of as the bitch, right?”
“Yes.” Ruairí slowly nodded, then went on, “It was such a shock. We, the Enforcers, had always operated from the shadows. Each with a special ability, we were all called upon to serve not only our Kin, but all Paranormals and humans in the fight against those who would see us eradicated.”
“With a silver disc placed on each of our chests, the bitch—the one responsible for the Sorcerer you knew as Milton that we dispatched today—bespelled us. Crowing with pride, the stench of which stung my nose, she promised we would live forever, suffer for all our years, and be locked away in a tomb of her own design, unique to each of us. She wanted us to live with the knowledge that we had failed to defeat evil. Darkness would conquer the Light, and Good would no longer be welcome in her new order as it reigned over all the Earth.”
“Promising that we would all be locked away and strewn like dust on the wind to the farthest reaches of the Universe, she cackled, assuring that all of us would be left to simply exist. ‘There will be no escape,’ she taunted. ‘You will never die because you are the great and powerful Dragon Guardsmen–the Enforcers.’”
“That is the last thing I remember before being forced into a deep, dreamless sleep. When I awoke the first time, I was on a ship. The Taskmaster took great pleasure in telling me that I had been sold to the Fiach Dubh as a plaything. All they wanted was to extract the whereabouts of the remaining Dragons, be they Guardsmen or not. As time wore on, they went so far as to make the ill-fated attempt to separate my Magic from myself and my Dragon King.”
Placing her right hand over their combined hands, Tamsyn pushed love and strength through the bond she shared with her Dragon. He was building to something big, something he hadn’t shared early. She could feel it in her bones, and she wanted him to know she was with him all the way.
“The last bunch I was sold to dropped me in the hole in the ground where you found me.” Eyes filled with unshed tears, Ruairí’s voice was little more than a whisper when he continued, “I cannot believe Carrick, Gunnar, even my Brethren still live. Like you, it is a hope, a prayer, I never truly thought would be answered.”
Shaking his head, her Dragon took a deep breath. “I know you can feel what it means to me that the bitch’s attempt to destroy us failed. I told Carrick that I wanted time alone, with you, to get to know you and for you to get to know me. Then, if it is all right with you, I would like to reunite with my kin.”
“Of course, Ruairí, it is more than okay,” she readily reassured. “As long as it’s okay if we use your connections with the Dragons to locate my parents.”
“That would be wonderful,” Ruairí happily agreed, his words filling Tamsyn with a peace she hadn’t felt in years. “I would very much like to have the blessing of your father and mother for our official Mating.”
Trying not to chuckle at his proper, old-world ways, Tamsyn finally gave in to a case of the giggles that got worse when Ruairí asked, “What is so funny? Did I say something wrong again?”
“Oh, no,” Tams wheezed through her laughter. “I think it’s sweet that you want my parents’ blessing, even if it might be a little outdated.”
Smiling and shaking his head, a blush came to Ruairí’s cheeks as he sighed, “More like antiquated.”
“No way!”
