Page 20 of Rhadan

“Of course, sweetie,” Mara said with a smile.

Rhadan led her to the stairs, and she stopped to admire the craftsmanship of the railings before she approached the access to the loft. Every detail in the shop was perfection. She had felt the soothing energy, but as she looked at the intricate patterns carved into the cherry wood, she could see the safeguards. Mara and Legion had taken every precaution at the store to ensure those inside were safe. No wonder Allorin and the dark dragons never came inside. It would cause them immense pain.

She placed her hand on the smooth surface, allowing it to slide over the polished wood as she ascended the stairs. Her other hand moved to Rhadan’s arm. “Thank you for helping Samantha. I am not sure how old she is, but I believe she is a druid.”

“Yes, I am sure she is. She will collect her things and be back tomorrow. We will be better able to protect her once she returns.”

Tempest paused on the steps. “Do you think Allorin will go after her?”

“No. He was able to control her, so I don’t think he realized she had druid blood.”

“How was he able to?”

“He has created a mage spell that mimics my power, but it is not the same. He bulldozed through her mind. Samantha believed he used some kind of hypnosis on her and that he was some mad magician. She will learn the truth of her heritage soon enough, and I suspect it will be a year or two before she comes into her power.”

Tempest continued her ascent until reaching the landing at the top of the stairs. The door opened into the loft on the opposite side of the kitchen. She noticed the vaulted ceilings as she entered, seeing her home for the first time.

The white marble floor and black countertops reflected Mara’s taste, as did the mirrored tiles that acted as a backsplash. While the main colors were muted, the couches and accents were vibrant, with splashes of pink and purple.

Rhadan led her to the couch, and she sat down before focusing on the picture of a man’s back with a tattoo of dragon wings. “Is that the picture of Legion?”

“Yes. I assumed they would take it to their home, but Legion says it reminds him too much of the past. He prefers to keep it here since Mara loves it so much,” Rhadan said.

“He does anything for her.”

“As he should, she is his mate.”

Tempest’s heart squeezed when Daisy came out of her bedroom and limped toward her. A tear slipped from her eyes as she touched her wolf’s white fur. She had never seen Daisy as she had gotten her wolf after she went blind, but the marks on her face made a tear well in her eyes. She didn’t remember most of the attacks, but had learned about them before she was rescued. “Oh, Daisy.”

Rhadan sighed. “She protected you. Don’t cry, my love. She will be with us for many years to come.”

“She has a limp.” Her fingers moved over Daisy’s muzzle.

“Yes. She had several fractures that healed naturally. We have healed her to the best of our ability, but hopefully, a druid healer will emerge in the coming years.”

“There are druid healers?”

“Yes. A power that specializes in healing humans. We can heal our mates with our power, but a healer uses their natural powers to push the limits imposed by the use of magic. They cannot make another immortal but can relieve pain and extend a life.”

Rhadan pet Daisy. His thick hand moved over the wolf’s head before Daisy licked his hand.

Tempest chuckled. “She likes you.”

“She likes all the dragons, I am told.”

“That is true. Especially Thorn.”

“I believe she thinks we are part of Ren’s wolf pack. She understood what Ren was before we did.”

“I thought it was Thorn. It was Ren. She felt a kinship too,” she said.

“Yes.”

Daisy sighed as Rhadan petted her. “Animals are not immune to your power, are they?”

“No, but they are not affected in the same way. I have never minded the affection of animals. They welcome me but they don’t follow me when I leave. It’s like they see me as one of them. Like family. The forest was always my escape.”

Tempest huffed. “I wish I had that growing up. My first pet bit me a dozen times.”

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