Page 27 of Storm Dragon
“Yes, Mo stóirín,” Ruairí chuckled. “Let us go outside, and I will show you.”
“Okay,” she drew out the word. “I’m not afraid of a little wind and rain. Lead the way, Dragon Man.”
“Oh, hell, yeah,” Peaches whooped. “I’m finally in the right place at the right time.”
With a wave of his hand, Ruairí transported Tamsyn, Peaches, and himself to the peak of Mt. Serenity. Nodding to Carrick, who had also just arrived, Ruairí turned back to Tamsyn because the wind was howling and the rain was pounding. He spoke directly into her mind, “Stay here with Peaches. I will be right back.”
Tugging on his hand, she crooked her finger and smiled. Unable to resist, he leaned toward his Mate, smiling when she pushed up on his toes and met him halfway, giving him an intense, passionate kiss that was way too short. Dropping her heels back to the ground, she winked, “Now, go do what you need to do. I’ll be right here waitin’ for ya’.”
And he knew she would be. Tamsyn would always be there for him, just as he would always be there for her. That and the protection of the people and Supernaturals was why he and Carrick were about to perform one of the oldest and most protected rituals of Dragonkin.
Meeting Carrick in the center of the peak of Mt Serenity, Ruairí stood facing his brother, sure to leave enough space between them for the Magic they were about to call upon. A single nod, he bowed his head and reverently requested, “King Dorman, revered Leader of the Red Diamond Dragons, I call upon you to lend your Magic and your Spirit to our cause.”
Without reservation, the Dragon King with whom he shared his soul responded, “It is my honor and duty to answer your call.”
With a mighty whoosh of fiery red Magic, the very essence, the True Spirit of King Dorman flew from Ruairí’s chest, flew in a circle around both Guardsmen, then settled as a superimposed image of his true visage over and around Ruairí. No sooner was the image complete than did Carrick call upon the Dragon King with whom he shared his soul, and the process was repeated.
“Today, with my brother, Alasdair, I call upon Borrum, the Celtic god of Wind and Rain.” King Dorman’s voice rang out loud and clear. “If it be your will, please recall these mighty Powers, and bring peace to the land.”
And King Alasdair added, “We call upon Taranis, the Celtic god of Thunder. If it be your will, allow the powerful Magic that can only come by your will to return to you, and bring solace to the land.”
“We, Dorman and Alasdair, sons of Alaric,” both Dragon Kings revered in unison. “Call upon the Fomorians, to recall the personifications of Chaos, Darkness, and Destruction. Please return them to whence they came and allow the people and beings of this land to reside in harmony with the Laws of your Kin, the Celtic Pantheon, Mother Nature, and The Powers That Be.”
Wings unfurling, the Magical representations of the Dragon Kings grew and grew until Ruairí could see through Dorman’s mind’s eye that their shadows covered the entire area of land and sea, affecting the hurricane. A shining beam of sunlight shone from the joining of the massive battle horns atop the King’s heads, and a voice boomed from above. “All have heard your call and accept that you, King Dorman and King Alasdair, have the authority and the right to ask for our favor. As the Celtic god of the Sun, Warrior of the Tuatha Dé Danann, and the Deity with reign over Oaths and Justice, I, Lugh, approved.”
With the Celtic god of the Sun’s words still echoing through the Ether, the winds changed. Swirling and whirling, they inhaled every drop of rain, pulled to them the thunder and the lightning, and with a single gust slammed into the metaphysical wings of the Dragon Kings. A single thrust, and those unstoppable appendages came together with an earth-quaking clap.
Throwing their heads back, Dorman and Alasdair roared to the Heavens, exhaling every part of the storm. Waiting until even the smallest speck of Earthen Magic had been returned to its rightful owner, the Dragon Kings closed their mouths and lowered their heads.
Together, they praised, “We owe each of you a debt of gratitude and will forever be in your service.”
“Live well, Chosen Ones, for it is our greatest wish,” Lugh answered, the single ray of sunshine He had used to show his favor spreading to encompass Mt Serenity, Defiance, and the entire area affected by the hurricane.
Turning toward his Mate as Dorman’s True Spirit started to recede, Ruairí stopped short and spun back around when Lugh added with a chuckle, “And Ruairí…”
“Yes, your holiness?”
“Take care of Tamsyn and be happy. No one deserves it more than you.”
The smile that broke across his face could not have been stopped if he wanted to, as Ruairí instantly said, “Thank you, your holiness. I plan to make her the happiest Bobcat who ever lived.”
“Ahem.” Tamsyn cleared her throat as she appeared at his side, looked up into the sky, and added, “I’m gonna take care of the Dragon Man here, too. And thank you for savin’ my home.”
“Our home,” Ruairí corrected.
So proud and in awe of his Mate, the Guardsman didn’t even try to hold back. It didn’t matter that they were in the presence of more Deities than he cared to remember; Ruairí pulled Tamsyn to him, wrapped her in his arms, and laid his lips to hers.
Kissing her with every emotion he felt and the promise of forever, he smiled into their embrace when Lugh chuckled, “And that’s our cue to go.”
9
Three hours later, tucked away in her cabin on the farthest border of Defiance on the side of Mt. Serenity, Tamsyn sat cuddled in Ruairí’s arms. She couldn’t believe that he’d gotten rid of the horrible Sow and her evil Mate, stopped the storm from doing anything but minimal damage, and was the brother of the most well-known Guardsman in history. It really did pay to have a Mate who just happened to be a Dragon Guardsman blessed by Borrum, the Celtic God of the Wind and Rain.
There was so much they didn’t know about one another. Most of it could wait, but one thing she needed to be sure she understood was how he’d come to be in a hole in a cave in the middle of Mt. Serenity and how he’d gotten all the awful scars over his body. Not wanting to leave the warmth and security of his embrace, she asked what she needed to know, not moving a muscle.
“Do you mind telling me one more time how you came to be in here, and how long you think you’ve been here?”
“I do not mind at all, Mo chroí.” Clearing his throat, he held her closer still and explained for at least the third time. “The year was 1716 and the lads- the Force of Guardsmen I belong to, or did belong to, called the Enforcers- and I rode into battle to save a small Clan of our Kin pinned down by a Cabal of rogue Wizards.”
