by Julia Mills
“I’m coming. I’m coming…” Devon groaned.
They all laughed and simultaneously cut their connection. Devon snuggled with Anya for just a bit longer, and then grudgingly crawled from her warmth. Without looking back, for fear that he wouldn’t have the strength to leave her, he headed out the door and followed the sounds of his brethren to the kitchen.
He wasn’t surprised to see Rayne, Rian, and Kellan, the Commander of the Blue Thunder Force, in the dining room discussing their plans and pouring over the maps and pictures they had collected earlier in the day. Even less of a shock was the party that was happening in the kitchen. There was not a square inch of the table that wasn’t covered with food and drink. The men were all kicked back, eating and talking and getting ready for their mission.
“What the hell is this? A briefing or a party?” Devon growled, trying to keep the smile from his voice and off his face.
“A little bit of both. Can’t miss an opportunity to fight the bad guy, have a drink, and eat some of Kyndel’s amazing cooking,” Rory answered with a mouth full of food and a huge glass of tea in his hand.
“I hear congrats are in order, my man,” Lennox from Rian’s clan stood and shook his hand, the others quickly following his lead.
“Thanks, guys. I appreciate it.”
“So when do we getta look at yer bonnie lass?” Pearce asked, wiggling his eyebrows and grinning ear to ear, his usually hidden Irish brogue alive and well, reminding Devon of Gareth, his father.
“Never, if I can help it,” Devon joked and the room erupted in laughter.
Before the situation could get any farther out of hand, Rian called from the other room, “Get in here. We have work to do.”
All the men groaned but did as the Elder commanded, filing into the dining room and circling the table. Rayne began just as his cell phone rang. Devon took over the briefing until his Commander returned just a few moments later.
All eyes turned as Rayne said, “After talking it over with Juan Carlos and Raphael and taking a closer look at the property specs, Max would like to send a group of his scouts in to check out the property tonight. As much as I hate to admit it, the werepanthers are better at getting in and out without detection in their animal form than we are in human form. I told him to keep us posted.”
Devon paced, frustrated at the delay. His need to do something…anything, to make Andrew pay for all he had done to those he held most dear had his dragon chuffing in his head. Both man and beast were ready to put the traitor in a box and let him rot for all of eternity. Rayne’s hand on his shoulder pulled him from his thoughts of vengeance. “I know it sucks to wait but I really think it is best. One more night is not going to give Andrew any more of an advantage, and this way we will have the best intel possible.”
“I know you’re right. It’s just…”
“It’s just that you want his head on a spike for daring to hurt your mate,” Rayne interrupted.
“And Kyndel, Grace, Sam, Sydney, Kyra, and everyone else that little fucker’s demented revenge has harmed,” Devon growled.
Rayne nodded, “We’ll get him. Go spend some time with Anya. I think everyone is heading home and it sounds like Rian and his crew is commandeering your house.”
Turning and addressing the group before Devon could respond, the Commander spoke, “We’ll meet back here at noon tomorrow. That should give Max and his men time to get here. Get a good night’s sleep. By tomorrow at this time, the traitor will be eliminated…one way or another.”
Rayne’s words hung in the air as each man nodded, a solemn promise of retribution burning in their eyes. In complete silence, the men cleaned the kitchen and left his mother’s home with only a nod in Devon’s direction.
Checking the house one last time, Devon headed back to his mate. He was glad to see that she was still sleeping peacefully, no matter how much his heart ached to see her gorgeous eyes and beautiful smile. Filled with nervous energy and the need for action, he knew there was no way he could lay still beside her, but the allure of his mate was too much to resist.
Kneeling beside her bed, he laid his head on her pillow, getting as close as possible without disturbing her. He watched her lashes flutter against her cheek as her eyes moved behind her closed lids. Because he feared she was heading towards another nightmare, Devon opened his mind completely to hers and entered her dreams. The image of an older couple working in a garden, laughing with a young dark-haired girl came into view. When the child looked up, he smiled at the younger version of his mate and when she called the gentleman ‘pops’ he relaxed, knowing he was watching one of Anya’s happy memories.
He stayed linked to his mate and watched more of her childhood memories until the constant growling and chuffing of his dragon drove him from her bed. Several laps around the house and more than a few strong words to the beast he had shared his soul with for over a hundred years proved useless. It was not long before Devon found himself walking the path that led to what Kyndel had named the Town Square.
As he looked at the darkened store fronts and empty wooden carts the artisans used to display their goods, the enormous stone fountain at the center of the square caught his eye. Devon had no idea how many times he had passed the beautiful sculpture in the fifty or so years since it had been placed in the Square, but for the first time the giant stone dragon with his wings wrapped lovingly around a beautiful woman and two children gave him pause. The speech the Head Elder, Carrick, had given on the day it was dedicated had brought to light the symbiotic relationship between the dragons and their mates.
It was then that he read the beautiful words written in the old language, embossed on the brass plague, secured at the dragon’s feet, E’adrom ar a anam. Is brea’ ar a chroi. Ta’ su’il anseo. All those years ago he had simply thought of the words as a nice sentiment but now he truly understood their meaning. Anya was the light to his soul, the love to his heart, and the hope to his future. She was everything and he wondered how he had ever lived without her.
The sound of a door closing came from the alley between the jewelry store and one of the bakeries. Using his enhanced speed, Devon moved towards the sound sure to stay under the cover of darkness. The sounds of footsteps echoed against brick walls and the shadow of a person lengthened onto the sidewalk. He opened his senses to make sure it was someone from his lair but only heard static. Shaking his head he pushed harder, but still only scratchy sounds that reminded of a poorly tuned radio came back. He was poised to attack when he heard the mumblings of a familiar voice and a scent he recognized as one of his favorite people.
Not wanting to scare the young woman, he cleared his throat and called out, “Emma? Everything okay back there?”
“Oh, shoot!” She squeaked, obviously startled, then she quickly recovered, “Devon? Is that you?”
Thankful for his enhanced vision, Devon saw her face right before he answered, “It is. What are you doing out so late?”
“You wouldn’t believe me if I told you,” she muttered under her breath.
“Try me,” he chuckled.
“Damn, I always forget you can hear everything.”
He could tell she was stalling and decided to wait her out. She kept walking in his direction but refused to meet his eyes until she was right in front of him. As Emma looked up, she stretched out her hand. A long gold chain flowed over her palm and Devon caught sight of one of the young artisan’s beautiful creations–a pendant glowing in the moonlight made out of one of his own dragon scales. Obviously damaged, but exquisitely refashioned into a smaller version of its original shape with just a slight lop-sidedness that gave it character. The scale had been polished to a high sheen and on its own was eye-catching. However, it was the tiny bell hanging from a delicate golden chain of only two or three links directly in the center that drew his eye. It had been made from one of the reddest scales he had ever seen and appeared as more of a heart-shape than a traditional bell.
Emma spoke, her voice taking on a faraway quality, “Two d
ays ago I awoke with an undeniable urge to create that pendant. Now don’t get me wrong, I’ve been inspired before, but this was almost like a compulsion. I had to make this exact pendant. When I realized I didn’t have any white scales available, I tried to work with others and none of them worked. Several hours later, I gave up and headed out for a walk.”
She pointed over her shoulder at a wooded area that had been built into a large park with walking trails and playground equipment for the young drakes and vibrias. “I was walking over there, completely focused on the design that would not leave me alone, when I found this scale lying atop of pile of leaves. I have no idea how it got there, but since you are the only white dragon in existence I know it’s yours, and I’m pretty damn sure that I was supposed to find it.”
Emma shook her head and continued, “If I have learned anything, it’s that when things happen around here that are completely and totally crazy, it’s best to follow them through to the end.” She looked down at her hand, still holding the necklace between them, and then back up at him. “I have worked pretty much every minute since then and was actually headed to your mom’s to leave this for you.”
She held up her other hand to stop the comment that he was just about to make. “I know what you’re thinking…how did I know it was for you and your mate? Well, let me ask you a question first…”
Devon nodded his head for her continue.
“Does your mate have light green eyes?”
“Yes,” was all he could say.
“Does her name start with the letter A?”
He nodded, unable to speak at the woman’s accuracy.
“Then this is for her,” Emma nervously giggled, turning the pendant over in her hand.
Devon smiled at the tiny tinkle the bell made as it rolled in her hand. His eyes widened as he saw the perfectly painted ‘A’ in the exact color of his mate’s eyes on the underside of the charm. “How…?”
After a moment’s pause, he looked up to see Emma’s intense stare taking in his every expression. Her smile was slow but sweet, followed by a shrug. “I have no freakin’ clue, but I know that for the first time since I awoke with this design in my brain, I feel like I can go home and finally get some rest.”
She grabbed his wrist with her empty hand, turned it over, and gently laid the necklace against his palm. Her smile grew as she winked and said, “Give it to your girl. Hope she likes it.”
Devon was just about to thank her when Lance’s voice sounded in his head, “Dev, you up?”
Signaling with the index finger of his empty hand for Emma to wait a minute, he answered his brethren, “Yeah. Everything okay?”
“Not really. Sam just got a call from Charlie at the hospital. Seems like a man just showed up there asking about Anya. He didn’t know her name but gave an almost perfect description. Of course, Charlie gave him the SOP about giving out information being against the rules and told him nothing. The guy seemed to accept that but did ask repeatedly if she was okay. He left without causing any trouble but she was freaked and wanted us to know. Sam was just about to hang up when Charlie laughed and said the guy had one blue eye and one brown eye.”
“Fuck!” Devon spat.
“My sentiments exactly. The little son of a bitch must be desperate to be out in the open without his lackeys.”
Devon looked to Emma, thankful her house was on the way to his mother’s because getting back to his mate was all he could think about. “Thank you. Anya will love it, and I apologize for cutting our visit short but something’s come up I have to take care of. Let me walk you home on my way.” He placed his hand on her shoulder, turning her around and directing her towards their homes.
“Oh, that’s okay…,” she started to argue.
Shaking his head, Devon cut in, “My mother will kick my ass if I let you walk home alone in the dark, not to mention, I’d feel like shit.”
They both chuckled as he hurried them along. Although it only took a few moments, it seemed like forever before they reached Emma’s quaint red brick cottage. He had been talking to Lance, Aaron, and Royce through mind speak the whole time and knew his brethren were all just a few seconds from Siobhan’s home. With his link to his mate wide open, he watched as the young woman disappeared into her home, and then using his enhanced speed, ran towards his mate.
He saw Royce standing just inside the backdoor and called ahead, “Everything okay?”
“Yep. We knew there was no way the shithead could be inside the lair, but Kyra wanted to check on Anya and we all agreed. Better safe than sorry.”
“Thanks, old man,” he answered as he made his way to the front of the house.
“Everything cool up here, Bro?” Devon asked Lance as he rounded the corner.
“Yeah. Aaron’s out in the woods on the north side just to be sure nothing and no one is there that shouldn’t be. We’re not as confidant as you and Grandpa that the little fucker can’t get close to us.”
“I heard that, you pain in the ass,” Royce growled through their combined link.
Heading through the front door, Devon chuckled at his friends’ constant bickering and called to Aaron, “See anything out of the ordinary out there?”
“Nothing,” was the only response.
Expecting more, Devon waited until he reached the door to his mate’s room before speaking to them all, “Thanks you guys. I’ll be out as soon as I check on Anya.”
“Take your time, I’m heading in to make coffee and find something to eat,” Lance replied.
“Damn, do you ever get enough to eat? Royce asked.” And Kyra already has the coffee on.”
“No and thank the Heavens,” Lance laughed.
Tuning out his brethren’s banter, he entered Anya’s room, gently closing the door behind him to find the woman of his dreams still asleep, blissfully unaware of the commotion going on all around her. He had been linked to her all evening, even more so after Lance’s call, and knew that she was sweetly dreaming the night away but his dragon would take nothing less than actual touch and scent before he would stop his growling and chuffing.
Devon moved to her bedside, carefully sat on the edge of the bed, and lifted her hand to his lips. The incredible spark of recognition flared between them as he touched her soft skin, and the calming scent of sand and sea washed over him and his beast, making his dragon back down from the constant pushing to be free. The beast was pacified for the time being but sat ready to attack at a second’s notice. Movement under the fingertips that gently held Anya’s wrist sent a flood of electric shocks down his arm and the mark that signified his dragon pulsed in response.
Turning her hand in his, he saw the marking was fully formed and darker than before. He remembered the necklace in his pocket, shifted slightly, and pulled it out into the open, the tiny bell sending its clear tone into the air. Devon had been so lost to his own thoughts and then surprised by Emma’s appearance, not to mention her amazing story of how the pendant had come to be, that he hadn’t even realized it also resembled a heart scale. Gently returning the necklace to his pocket for safe keeping, he then kissed the mark on her wrist. Pulses of recognition filled his entire being and caused his cock to jump. He smiled to himself, thinking of all the ways he planned to love her for the rest of their very long lives together.
Satisfied that his mate was fine and in no imminent danger, Devon placed a chaste kiss on her temple, reluctantly stood, and headed back towards the kitchen before he gave into temptation and joined her in bed.
He entered the kitchen to find every member of his Force and that of the Blue Thunder Clan crowded around the kitchen table discussing what to do next. Rian commented on his arrival first, “Hey, Dev. Guess it’s a good thing we let Max and his crew take the first pass tonight, huh?”
“Definitely was. I just wish one of us would’ve been at the hospital to catch that fucking asshole.” He looked around the room and watched everyone in attendance nod in agreement.
He turned to Lance, “And I
’m damn glad Sam wasn’t working tonight.”
“You and me both, Brother, you and me both.”
It was then that Devon realized Aaron was absent. “Where’s Aar?”
Aidan answered from across the room, “He said he had one more thing to check on and then he would be back. Sounded kinda weird but wouldn’t tell me where he was going.” The Guardsman shrugged as he added sugar to his coffee.
“Well, he’ll have to catch up when he gets back,” Rayne commented as he walked in from the dining room. “I just got off the phone with Max and it seems you were right. Andrew and about fifty others are holed up in the mansion we researched. From the magic surrounding the place, it seems they are mostly novice and for the most part, just humans that are being magically trained; which goes along with what Anya has been able to tell us and what you have seen in her memories.” The Commander nodded to Devon before continuing, “The Leo has no doubt we will be able to get in and out before any of them, including that piece of shit, knows what hit them. We’ll go with our original plan. Everyone good with that?”
Devon watched as everyone nodded in agreement and was just about to speak when Rian stood and addressed the group, “Since the sun will be up in a few hours, I’m gonna head back over to Dev’s, grab a shower, and get some training in before tonight’s raid.” He crossed the room and clapped Devon on the shoulder as he passed, “You better get some sleep, loverboy.”
Devon thanked the group as everyone stood and headed out. Less than a minute later only he, Royce, and Kyra were left with a table top of half-filled coffee cups and the remnants of a tray of cinnamon rolls. They cleared the table in silence, all obviously deep in thought when Kyra spoke, “I think I should go with you tonight.”
The words were barely out of her mouth when Royce growled through gritted teeth, “No fucking way, mo chroi’. You’re not getting anywhere near that little piece of shit.”
Spinning on her heels and advancing towards her mate, Devon saw fire in Kyra’s eyes. With the hopes of preventing a fight between two of his dearest friends, Devon quickly interjected, “But Kyra, I need you here to protect Anya. With all of us gone, there’s no one I trust more to keep her safe.”
