There was a first time for everything. He fell to his knees and bowed his head, his arms spreading, palms upturned, and eyes closed in the way of his people. When he spoke, he did so in his first language, one he hadn’t used in hundreds of years. The words, his solemn plea for help, came to him in a rush.
Goddess, I am unworthy of your compassion, but your creation needs your help. Please, I beseech you, send a warrior to free me from this fate or else one to deliver death upon me, for in freedom I can free those you have entrusted to my protection or in death I can force my captor to do the same. I ask this by my birthright as the Treasure of Paragon. By the Mountain, let it be.
He opened his eyes to the same dark world, the same stink and despair. Nothing had changed. Still, somewhere deep inside his heart was a flicker of hope. He reached out and pulled the food toward him and began to eat. There still was no whisky, but thanks to the prayer, he had faith.
Chapter Two
September 15, 2018
London, England
Avery Tanglewood sorted the magazines in the witchcraft section of Relics and Runes, separating those based on Wicca from those on Druidism and Asatru. Even though she’d lived a considerable portion of her life in New Orleans, a city known for its connection with magic and the supernatural, she’d never realized there were so many forms practiced by ordinary humans. Many ordinary people she’d met in this store applied witchcraft with varying degrees of success and talent.
Still, none compared to her sister Raven, who could absorb any spell from the page and execute it perfectly the first time or Clarissa, who could make things happen simply by singing. Even a modicum of magic was impressive to Avery, who had none herself despite being mystically tied to them both.
A long and bizarre sequence of events had brought her here. Raven had married Gabriel in June. Soon after, Avery had learned that Gabriel was actually the exiled heir to the kingdom of Paragon, a realm of a world that existed in a parallel dimension to Earth. Gabriel and Raven had managed to keep his origins secret until an evil fairy sorceress named Aborella had tried to use Avery to get to Raven and the truth could no longer be denied.
Around three hundred years ago, Gabriel and his seven living siblings—Tobias, Rowan, Alexander, Nathaniel, Xavier, Sylas, and Colin—had been evicted from their world and sent to Earth by their evil and ruthless mother, Eleanor, under the pretext that she was saving them from their malevolent uncle who’d murdered their oldest brother Marius at his would-be coronation. But in February, Raven and Gabriel had discovered everything they’d been told by their mother was a lie. She’d sent her children, the Treasure of Paragon as they were called in their world, to Earth so she could keep the throne for herself. They’d spread out across the globe, believing that diluting their magic in the human world would keep them safe from detection. Over time, the eight lost touch with each other.
Now Gabriel was working tirelessly to reunite his family. And although he did not speak about it frequently, he seemed more inclined by the day to challenge his mother for the throne.
Which was none of Avery’s business really, considering she was a simple human who was connected to Raven by blood and Clarissa, Nathaniel’s mate, by a magical bond. They were the three sisters, a bound trio. Unlike Avery, Raven and Clarissa were extremely powerful witches. The only special skill Avery had ever possessed was the ability to comfort Raven and Gabriel’s baby… well, technically, their egg. The half dragon, half witch hadn’t hatched yet. For some reason, Avery was the only one besides Raven and Gabriel who could hold the egg without getting zapped by its defensive magic.
Which brought her to this moment. She’d decided to remain in London, living in Nathaniel’s place, Mistwood Manor, at least until Raven’s baby was born. She also desperately wanted to explore the magical connection she shared with Raven and Clarissa.
What would it be like to have magic? Since she’d learned of Raven and Clarissa’s powers, she’d questioned whether she was somehow defective. Was she a dud? A cosmic mistake? Not only was she completely without magic, her human existence was equally dull and ordinary, a truth that came sharply into focus in Nathaniel’s bookstore, which specialized in the extraordinary.
Her phone vibrated in her back pocket, and she brought it to her ear with a cheery greeting.
“Thank you again for watching the shop while we’re away, Avery,” Clarissa said. “We owe you one.”
Clarissa was legally obligated to perform one more show for her record label, this one in Italy, and she and Nathaniel had left that morning. Normally, Nathaniel’s store manager, Albert, would take over while Nathaniel was gone, but the man was ill with some sort of stomach bug. Avery had agreed to fill in during his absence.
It was the least she could do considering Nathaniel had opened his home to her these past weeks, sheltering and feeding her with no expectation that she do a single thing to repay the favor. Sure, she’d worked here for him a handful of times and made some calls for Clarissa in support of her new indie music venture, but all in all, she spent her days riding Nathaniel’s horses, soaking in his heated pool, or wandering aimlessly through his orchard without contributing one shilling for her upkeep.
“Don’t think twice about it, Clarissa. I’m having a blast. The people-watching in Cecil Court alone is worth the effort. It wasn’t like I had anything else going on tonight.” In fact, there was nothing on her calendar at all. She’d taken a leave of absence from her job working with her mother at the Three Sisters Bar & Grill and hadn’t a clue what she might like to do next with her life. She understood this couldn’t go on forever, but she refused to think about when it had to end.
“Well, thanks again. Nathaniel and I know the shop is in good hands. Oh, before I forget, I told Emory to stop by with some dinner for you. He’s going to stay in London and run a few errands for Nathaniel until it’s time to drive you back to Mistwood. He should be there with the best curry you’ve ever tasted within the hour.”
“That’s so sweet.” Avery loved Nathaniel’s driver, Emory, and looked forward to him stopping in. Plus curry was a favorite. “Have a great show and tell Nathaniel not to worry about a thing.”
“Thanks. Love ya.”
“Love you too.” There was a click and the call ended. Avery smiled. The exchange of I love yous between Clarissa, Raven, and herself had come naturally over their time together. They were as close as sisters could be despite Clarissa not being related by blood. Avery called her a “sister from another mister.” She couldn’t remember what it was like before the woman had come into her life.
The bell over the door dinged and Avery whirled, thinking it must be Emory with dinner. Instead, a reedy man in a stained T-shirt that used to be white stood in the door.
“Welcome to Relics and Runes. Can I help you find anything?”
He didn’t answer her. A muscle in his cheek jerked. His lashes fluttered.
An uneasy feeling wormed in Avery’s gut. The man standing before her seemed agitated and unkempt. His red-rimmed eyes darted around the room. The stench of cheap alcohol and cigarettes met her nose. Avery’s gaze caught on his inner arm where track marks and fresh punctures marred his skin.
Her smile faded.
“Can I help you?” she asked again softly. Her gaze darted out the window to the people passing by in jackets. The weather hadn’t changed, and his short sleeves seemed utterly inadequate. Maybe he’d stopped in to warm up. The poor man was obviously in distress. “Are you hungry? Do you need a place to sit down for a minute?”
The twitch in the man’s face grew more pronounced, and he turned around as if he might leave. He placed his hand on the knob, but instead of opening the door, he turned the lock and flipped the sign on the window to Closed.
When he turned back around, a knife had appeared in his hand. “You can help me by giving me what’s in the till.”
Their eyes locked. She had only compassion for the man, but what she saw in his visage was anything but kindness. Survi
val instinct kicked in, trumping any concern she might have had. She rushed for the back door, but before she could open it wide enough to get through, his hand slapped above her head and slammed her into it, cutting off her escape.
His rank breath hit her face. “Where do you think you’re going, huh?” He spun her around and pressed the knife to her throat.
One thing she’d learned working in a bar for so many years was how to handle threatening situations. She’d dealt with her share of drug addicts and alcoholics as well as drunk men who simply wouldn’t take no for an answer. The key was to remain calm. She slowed her breathing and looked him straight in the eye, flashing her warmest, most practiced smile. “Let me move to the register. I’ll give you what you want.”
His eyes narrowed, and he pressed the blade harder against her skin. Warm blood dribbled along her neck, and she resisted the urge to wipe it away. His eyes flicked to her breasts. “You’re a pretty thing, aren’t you?”
Her skin crawled. Avery knew she was in trouble. If she somehow made it to the front door, could she unlock it and get out before he sank that knife in her back? He shifted the blade, moving it from her throat a fraction of an inch as he tried to get a better look at her chest. She didn’t give him a chance. Crossing her arms in front of her hips, she circled them, thrusting his knife-holding arm up and away from her as her knee barreled into his crotch with every ounce of force she could produce. His body doubled over from the pain. She used the opportunity to catch his arm by the wrist and thrust it up the center of his back.
He screamed a string of obscenities. The knife clattered to the floor. He tried to grab her with his free hand, but with her other arm locked on his shoulder, his struggling wasn’t effective. “You fucking bitch!”
“I will break your arm, asshole! I know how to do it.” She rammed him into the counter, grunting at the force, and released his shoulder to reach for her phone. Big mistake. The man twisted out of her hold, his fist connecting with her jaw in a blow that sent a burst of stars exploding in her vision. She stumbled backward, crashing through the table of magazines.
Avery watched in horror as he swept the knife from the floor and raised it above his head. Don’t pass out. Don’t pass out. The room was spinning. There was no way she could get out of the way in time. He dived toward her, the blade sinking toward her heart.
“Aargh!” Faster than she’d ever thought she could move, Avery brought her knees in tight to her chest and kicked him in the gut with both feet. The knife missed its target. The man flew back. Somewhere glass shattered. Avery tried to sit up to see what had happened, but black dots swam in her vision and she flopped back on the floor. She heard a sharp crack like splintering wood. Another grunt and a thump.
“Miss? Avery?” Emory’s face appeared above her, his bushy gray eyebrows bent in concern.
“Chest… hurts.” A searing pain swept from above her right breast toward her throat.
He pressed a hand under her collarbone. “You’ve been cut. I’m calling for help.” His phone was already to his ear.
Avery blinked twice, trying her best to remain conscious, but her vision had become an ever-constricting circle. In the end, she gave up and allowed herself to sink into the pressing darkness.
Thirty-two stitches. Avery traced the nasty slice that ran from the hollow of her throat, across her right breast, and ended under her armpit. She’d definitely have a scar, but at least she could easily hide it if she wanted to. Or show it off and make up a more entertaining story for how she got it.
It had been a full forty-eight hours since Emory had picked her up off the floor of Relics and Runes and taken her to Accident and Emergency to get patched up. (It was the first time Avery realized the Brits didn’t call it the ER as Americans did.) Since then, Nathaniel’s oreads hadn’t allowed her to lift a finger, which was fine with her considering how sore she was from the fight. Horrified to hear of her ordeal, Nathaniel and Clarissa returned from their trip early, Nathaniel swearing to install better magical security.
Avery inspected her wound in the bathroom mirror, poking it experimentally. The cut was red and puffy but appeared to be healing. It itched like a mother though. Wasn’t that a good sign?
“I can try healing it with magic. I just need to find the right spell.” Raven appeared in the door to the bathroom, lines creasing her forehead as she assessed the state of her wound.
Avery waved her hand dismissively. “It barely hurts. Don’t waste the effort.”
“Barely hurts? You were carved up by some psycho trying to rob Nathaniel’s store… I would be shaken to my core if I were you.” Raven shook her head. “How can you be so casual about this?”
Avery examined her feelings. Was she shaken up? On some level, she recognized she should be shaken. That was how a person was supposed to feel in this situation. But did she truly feel that way? Nope. What she did feel was the oddest and most unexpected sense of pride. She’d taken on her attacker… and won.
“I handled it, Raven. This shit happens.” She bobbed her eyebrows at her sister. “You should see the other guy.”
“Avery…” Raven gave her an exasperated look.
Her phone rang. Saved by the bell. She hated having to explain her feelings or lack of them to her sister. “It’s Mom. Weird. I just spoke with her a few days ago. I wonder why she’s calling again so soon.”
Raven grimaced and backed away.
“You didn’t!” Avery scowled at her.
“Sorry.”
Avery answered and gave her mother her perkiest greeting, then listened to her ramble about how terrified she’d been when she heard the news.
“I’m fine, Mom. It’s barely a scratch. You know how dramatic Raven can be.”
“Really? Put me on video.”
Avery pulled the neck of her shirt up over her stitches and connected the video on her call. She pointed her screen toward the tiny nick her attacker had left on her throat. “See?”
“That’s it? Raven made it sound like you almost died.”
Raising the screen to her face, she gave Raven a contemptuous look. “She needs to learn to mind her own business.”
“She just cares about you, as do I. I miss you. It’s been weeks.”
“I miss you too!” Avery smiled at her mother’s image. Although she didn’t miss her old life slinging beer at the Three Sisters or the responsibility for propping up her mother and father after their divorce, she did miss her mother’s warm, breezy spirit.
“It’s been months since I’ve seen you and Raven. Is Raven there? How is her pregnancy advancing? I couldn’t get much out of her.” Her mother’s eyebrows knit with concern.
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Raven wave her hands and shake her head. Of course her sister could blab about a little knife attack, but they couldn’t tell dear old Mom the truth about the baby, could they?
“Raven is good. Like an old mother hen sitting on her egg.” Avery cringed as Raven punched her hard in the shoulder. “She’s probably around here somewhere. Do you want me to try to find her?”
“Actually, I have a surprise for both of you. There’s something I haven’t told you.” Her mother’s face split into a timid grin.
“What?” Avery’s intuition suddenly flared like the first fireworks of summer.
Her mother moved her phone away from her face to reveal a bustling airport scene behind her. The murmur of voices Avery had assumed were from patrons of the Three Sisters were in fact other travelers buzzing in the terminal behind her. “I’m here! In London! I thought if you and Raven couldn’t come visit me, I’d come visit you!”
“Is that Heathrow?” This was not good. Avery glared at Raven in panic.
“Yes. Can you pick me up?” Her mother gave a squeal through a broad, toothy smile.
Avery’s throat constricted and she worked her mouth, wondering what to say. “Of course, but I don’t actually own a car and Gabriel’s brother lives outside the city. It’ll take an hour or so for us
to get to you.”
“Would it be better if I took a cab? What’s the address?” Her mother patted her pockets like she was searching for a pen.
“No!” Avery blurted. All they needed was a cabbie on a mission to find an invisible mansion. “You don’t want to do that. I mean, his address is so hard to find. I’ll come get you. Just give me a chance to round up Nathaniel and borrow a car.”
Her mother flipped her honey-brown tresses behind her shoulder and grinned. “Sounds perfect. I’ll just grab a coffee and wait.”
“Bye, Mom. Love you. See you soon!” Avery ended the call and glared at her sister. “Why did you tell her?”
Her sister shrugged. “I thought she had a right to know.”
“Well now she’s in London and wants to see us, and we live with a vampire, five dragons, and a Native American healer you raised from the dead!”
“Don’t forget Clarissa and Nick.” Raven spread her hands and giggled.
“This isn’t funny, Raven. What are we going to do?”
Gabriel entered her room, looking concerned. “Why is everyone yelling?”
Avery pointed a finger at Raven. “Thanks to your wife, Sarah Tanglewood and her never-before-used passport is, at this very moment, at Heathrow Airport having a coffee and waiting for us to pick her up.”
Gabriel’s black eyes widened. “No!”
“Yes.” Avery raised her eyebrows. “We need to find Nathaniel. We’ll have to ask to borrow Emory to go pick her up.”
“Pick her up? Are you insane? She can’t come here!” Now Raven seemed to get it. She stabbed a finger toward her flat abdomen. “I’m supposed to be pregnant. And what about Charlie?” Raven looked over her shoulder toward the hall and their room where little Charlie was baking cozily in the fireplace within a dragon’s eggshell.
Gabriel frowned but wrapped a supportive arm around his mate. “We can have the oreads watch Charlie,” he said. “But perhaps the best option is to not bring your mother to Mistwood at all. This place is… Well, it may be hard to disguise its magical qualities.”
Highland Dragon Page 2
