Saberthorn (A Paranormal/Fantasy Dragonshifter Romance): Dragonkind ~ 52 Realms

by Sheri-Lynn Marean

  Once again, he marveled at his reaction to Tirah. He’d always heard how mates grounded dragon males. Yet hearing about it was much different than experiencing it. “Like I said, I’ve had a lot of time.” In fact, he loved the romances most of all, the love in the stories would give him hope, and take his mind off the horrible realities of life.

  “Exactly how old are you?” she asked, studying him.

  “Old, very old.”

  She raised her eyebrow at his vague answer. “What else can you do?” She teased, and while it was a new experience for Saber, for someone to be so playful with him, he found that he thoroughly enjoyed it.

  He shrugged and then grinned. “Well, I can think of some things I’d like to do with you.”

  “Can you now?” she asked with a speculative gleam.

  “Uh-huh,” he murmured and claimed her lips once again.

  When they came up for air, there was a satisfied expression on Tirah’s face that brought happiness to Saber’s soul.

  “Well, this is quite the place you have here. I noticed the appliances are not from Tartaria.” Tirah trailed her fingers over his chest as she snuggled close.

  Saber shrugged. “I might live in a cave, but I don’t need to live like a caveman.” Tirah giggled, and Saber soaked up the sound.

  “Did you just find this place?” she asked curiously.

  “No, I made it.” He drew his fingers through her hair, marveling at how soft it was.

  “Made it? How did you do that?”

  Saber let her hair go and hesitated for a moment. How they made their lairs was not really a secret, but also not well known outside the dragon community. Then he figured it wouldn’t matter. She was his mate. It was only a matter of time before they were bonded. “It’s something that all dragons are able to do with a combination of dragonfire and magic,” he answered.

  Tirah stared up at him in awe. “Wow, that is impressive, and your home is so beautiful. But what’s with the area just beyond your room?”

  Saber stared at her in shock. With the misdirection spell he had at that section of his lair, Tirah shouldn’t even have given it a second thought. “What do you mean?” He kept his expression smooth. Maybe he just hadn’t heard her right.

  “You know, the only dark wall here, just past this room.” She stared at him.

  She’d seen it as dark? He shrugged. “It’s just a wall,” he said a little too tersely. Tirah frowned and he couldn’t help but wonder just what kind of magic she wielded. Most Ilyium could do spells, but they didn’t hold a lot of magic within themselves. He thought again of what would happen when he bonded with her. He’d not be able to keep anything from her.

  In return, there wouldn’t be anything she could keep from him either.

  He’d find out everything he needed to know. Everything she knew, and everything she didn’t realize she knew.

  Sure, he could have delved into her mind when they had sex, and it had been hard to resist doing just that, especially when his power had spun out of control that first time. Plus, he craved the intimacy, the sharing of their souls—their minds—that a bond would bring between them. Even his beast yearned for it.

  Yet, he hadn’t wanted to violate her in that way, for she’d surely see it as just that. Normally he wouldn’t have hesitated to delve into another’s mind, take just a peek. Demons knew, he’d used his gift in just such a way many times before. But to do that to Tirah, without her permission, was just abhorrent to him.

  Yeah, once they were bonded, there’d be no secrets left between them, he thought with excitement, though he didn’t know if that would end up being good or bad. Still, one thing he did know was that Tirah had thoroughly bewitched him, and he’d fallen hard for her. There was no going back. Not for him. He’d fallen in love with her.

  Shit. Saber stared down at Tirah in his arms, sleeping like an angel. What did I do? Terror flooded him at the knowledge that if she left him now, it would completely and utterly destroy him.

  He loved her.

  Chapter Thirty

  Escape

  Tirah was drifting on a cloud of bliss, almost asleep, when Saber’s voice whispered faintly in her mind. I love you …

  She snapped awake, and with her heart pounding, she studied Saber, but his eyes were closed and his breathing even. He looked so young, so relaxed and peaceful as he slept, in a way she hadn’t seen before. He really was so very sexy.

  Ugh. Now I’m imagining he’s in love with me? Willing herself to calm down, Tirah closed her own eyes and let sleep take her. It didn’t last long. All too soon, she felt Saber’s hands scorching her skin. Her body responded, equally as hungry for him, and he soon had her crying out as he sent her on waves she never imagined possible.

  ***

  “What does it feel like? How do you make yourself shift?” As they lay sated, she playfully trailed her fingers over him, loving it when he trembled at her touch.

  “Why do you ask?” Saber drew her hand to his mouth and sucked on her finger, making Tirah gasp.

  “I’ve wondered my whole life,” she said when she was able to speak again.

  “You have, have you?” Saber raised an eyebrow.

  Tirah nodded. “Yes. I’ve always been curious.”

  “I love how curious you are,” he said with a mischievous smile that set her heart fluttering.

  “You know, you are very handsome when you smile.”

  “Am I?”

  Tirah grinned, then listened as Saber explained what it was like to shift.

  “But how do you do it? Do you think about it or summon your dragon?” she asked.

  Saber chuckled at her excitement. “When we are young, we are taught to draw on our power, and yes, call our dragon until it becomes second nature. You barely think it, and you’re already shifting.”

  Tirah snuggled back into his arms, happy and content for the first time in her life. Then before long, Saber’s breathing evened out and Tirah closed her eyes, dreaming of what they had done this night. She slept for a few hours, then awoke and savored the feeling of comfort that Saber’s arms offered.

  He’s so sexy and makes me feel desirable. She smiled and remembered how his scales had appeared briefly before disappearing. Her smile faltered when she recalled his words claiming her, along with the words she was now sure he’d spoken in her mind.

  Sudden dread consumed her as she realized that Saber would never let her go, and if they bonded, there would be no escaping him. Ever. He’d learn all her secrets. While she ached to tell him all about herself and Mihel, worry over what his reaction would be stopped her.

  Saber hated the Ilyium, and he had good reason for his hatred. He might put up with her, but he didn’t know or care about her brother. Then she realized it didn’t matter. She could never put Mihel in danger, no matter how much she might care for her sexy heartthrob of a captor.

  Yet the thought of leaving Saber almost paralyzed her. She didn’t want to go, she was happy, finally. Still, any way she looked at it, she couldn’t stay. She’d be surrendering her life to him, and though she wished she could stay with him forever, she didn’t really know him.

  You’ve felt the goodness in his soul, the voice inside screamed. But she’d also sensed the darkness, the destructiveness. Hell, she’d witnessed him fight like the devil firsthand. He was dangerous.

  But he’d never hurt me.

  Are you willing to bet your life, or Mihel’s on that? Her heart and head warred with each other. She no longer believed Saber would hurt or kill her, but the same couldn’t be said for her brother. Plus, Saber made Cass a promise to turn her over, and as far as she knew, Thorn brothers never went back on their word. No, as much as she wanted to trust him, she needed to protect Mihel and herself.

  If nothing else, she was a survivor, and protecting the secret she carried had become one of the most important things in her life. It was a secret that would get her killed if anyone found out. So even if she hadn’t been terrified of Saber finding ou
t what she was, she still needed to meet Mihel and ensure that he was all right. Then they had to find a way to free their mother.

  Aching for things she couldn’t have, Tirah carefully extracted herself from Saber’s arms and slipped from his bed. She gathered her clothes and silently left the room.

  Tirah dressed quickly, knowing she didn’t have a lot of time, then hurried to the living area for her pack. With a last wistful glance around, she knew she’d miss Saber. Then she returned to the dark wall. Saber’s evasiveness earlier made her even more sure that it wasn’t just a wall.

  As she approached, the magic of Saber’s ward grew thick in the air and she closed her eyes, soaking it in. That was another thing she’d miss. Most magic hurt, grated on her, but Saber’s had been like a sweet, refreshing breeze.

  Tirah drew in a deep breath, told herself to forget him, and moved closer to the wall. The magic intensified and though it tried to repel her, it felt right, good. Still a little unsure of what she was doing, Tirah steeled herself and pushed on. The magic suddenly wavered and then it dissipated like a mist, as if it had never been. With a grim smile, she moved forward, then through the wall until she stood on the other side. Tirah wasn’t surprised to find herself in a dark tunnel. No longer feeling the magic of the ward, she held up her hand and uttered a spell. A globe of light appeared and she looked back at the rock wall to see it shimmer.

  I was right. Tirah grinned, though sadness quickly overshadowed her happiness. Then shielding herself against the misery, she frowned at the smooth walls. They were devoid of all the sparkling gemstones that covered the rest of Saber’s lair. Weird. She began to walk and then suddenly stopped. She held the light up close to the wall.

  Tirah gasped as she took in the scene etched with microscopic detail into the rock. Then she looked at the next one, and the next. They continued on and on, beautiful drawings that captured the emotions and feelings of both the one he was drawing, as well as his own. Tears lit her eyes and she wanted to cry as she realized Saber had immortalized his family, friends, loved ones. No wonder he kept this hidden.

  Unable to look at anymore, she picked up her pace, hoping the tunnel led to an exit. She didn’t want to think of what she’d do if it didn’t. If she went back, it would be even harder to leave him now. Even if she did manage it, then she’d have to go through the waterfall. Then she’d have to climb down, and climbing wasn’t one of her strong suits.

  Not ready to accept any other option, and heart heavy, Tirah moved steadily downward through the tunnel. There were twists and turns, but she was definitely heading toward the ground. When she spotted light not created by her, Tirah picked up her pace. A couple large, prickly bushes—aptly named the Sabertooth bush—hid the exit. Tirah chuckled, and though she tried to be careful, the sharp points still snagged her, making her curse. With more than a few scratches and rips in her clothing, Tirah pushed her way out of the mountain.

  Tirah noted that Tartaria’s suns were high in the sky. Shit. It was midday. She needed to hurry to make it to the cabin before sundown.

  With a quick glance up at the mountain where Saber lay within, Tirah buried her feelings and turned away. Don’t think of him. Don’t … Yet the farther she grew from the male who had stolen her heart, the more she felt like crying. Sadness, and a deep feeling of despair that she’d be alone for the rest of her life, left her despondent. How can I leave the only good thing to ever happen to me? But she knew the answer. Her mother had explained it more thoroughly when Tirah was sixteen.

  ***

  “We are the Fire-born, a very old and rapidly dying race. In order to keep our kind alive, it was forbidden upon the threat of death, to mate anyone without supernatural blood,” Ashara explained when Tirah was home on her monthly visit.

  “But I am part human.” Tirah didn’t understand.

  Ashara nodded. “Yes, you are. Let me explain.”

  Tirah sat still, listening raptly to her mother.

  “My father met my mother, and even though she was human, they fell in love. It didn’t matter to him that she had no magic. Yet he knew the elders wouldn’t let him mate her, so to be together, they ended up running away,” Ashara said.

  Then sadness shadowed Ashara’s eyes as she remembered. “My mother had been raised by a loving mother, father, and four doting brothers. But my father knew that it was too dangerous for everyone to stay where any of the Fire-born could find them. My mother’s heart broke, but she chose to leave with my father, without realizing how hard it would be to leave her family. Then, even though they started a family of their own, she pined to see the family that had raised her.”

  Ashara paused and bit her lip. “We used to move a lot in order to stay hidden from my father’s people. Mother and Father both drilled it into me to never let anyone know what I was. And while my father and I were happy, my mother, though she loved us, couldn’t seem to find that same happiness. She grew increasingly quieter, and more melancholy as the years passed. It broke both mine and my father’s heart to watch her like that.”

  A tear trickled down Ashara’s cheek, and Tirah knew that whatever came next wouldn’t be good. “Wh-what happened?”

  Ashara wiped her face. “When I was nine, my father gave in and took us to see my mother’s family. Her parents and brothers were so overjoyed, they threw a party to celebrate. It was so much fun seeing everyone smiling and laughing, but most of all, to see the joy on my mother’s face …” Ashara smiled dreamily and shook her head. “Anyway, I was put to bed when it grew late, but I couldn’t sleep and I didn’t want to miss anything, so I sneaked out and hid under the stairs where I could watch everyone through one of the slats in the door. My father noticed me and when no one was looking, he brought me some cake. Everyone was dancing and laughing. They were all so happy, until my father’s people arrived.”

  Ashara shuddered and her eyes grew glassy. “My father tried to fight them, but there were too many. They told him that he had violated their laws and then proceeded to kill everyone, except him.”

  Tirah took her mother’s shaking hand in hers. “I’m so sorry, Mama.”

  Ashara swallowed. “I was terrified. They asked my father if he had any children. He lied and said no. They told him he better be telling the truth, and if any half-blood Fire-born were later discovered, they would be destroyed—and they’d make him watch.”

  “What happened to him, to your father?” Tirah asked in a whisper.

  “They dragged him away in chains, telling him that his punishment would be to live with what he’d done.”

  Tirah hugged her mother.

  “Now you understand why you can’t tell anyone?” Ashara asked.

  “Yes,” Tirah said, horror and sadness filling her at the tale.

  ***

  As Tirah hurried away from Saber’s lair, an inner voice mocked her, trying to get her to go back. I don’t have a choice. I must leave. If Saber finds out what I am, he will have no choice but to kill me.

  Maybe you should try trusting him …

  Tirah pushed all thoughts of the sexy dragon shifter from her mind and began to jog. Yet the farther away she got, the more the misery of leaving consumed her. Saber was the first, and quite possibly the only, male she would ever feel this way for.

  Chapter Thirty-One

  The Answer

  Saber’s sleep was deep and dreamless for the first time in ten years, while Tirah lay in his arms. Then the moment she left, his slumber once again grew troubled. The horrors in his mind began to suck at him, drawing him into the fiery depths of hell. Like a web, it clung, thick and heavy, weaving him in deeper and deeper. No. Saber fought to claw his way to the surface, yet try as he might, nothing worked. A new kind of terror began to build as he realized he was trapped in his own mind with no way out. Then he thought of Tirah, and never seeing her again, never feeling her hands on his skin, or her lips on his. Of never being inside of her and feeling that closeness, that connection. A silent scream started inside of him. It gre
w stronger when he realized how weak his connection to Tirah had become.

  Pain, agony, desperation, hunger, need, despair, it all flooded him at once. Then, just when he thought that was it, he snapped awake.

  His breathing was harsh and ragged. Saber didn’t have to look to know Tirah was gone. She’d left him. He could feel it to the core of his very soul and it hurt more than anything, more than all the deaths combined had ever hurt.

  Saber lowered his head to his hands. Why? Why did she leave?

  Apparently, she doesn’t care about you like you do her. Then he lifted his head and frowned. Wait. How did she leave?

  Saber pushed at the fog clouding his mind and climbed from the bed. He grabbed his clothes, dressed, then as white-hot shards of lightning split his skull and ricocheted throughout his whole body, he staggered from the room. As he started toward the kitchen and living area, a whiff of honeysuckle made him pause. With a scowl, he studied the wall and remembered her asking about the wall. How had she known?

  Knowing what she would have seen, Saber walked into the wall and the spell he had erected washed over him like a gentle breeze. He lifted his head and sniffed. Yup, she’d come this way. He drew on his power and the tunnel lit up, bright as day.

  Go after her. His instincts and the beast inside screamed, but Saber refused. No. She left, she doesn’t want to be with me. That knowledge shredded him and Saber felt another piece of his soul dissolving. Then Saber took a deep breath and fought the madness as a thousand screams and cries beat inside his mind. He found an empty spot and shifting into his half-form, quickly used his talons and drew her as she’d looked lying in his bed with the sheet down by her hips.

  When he was done, he stepped back and inspected his work. She was so beautiful, so innocent looking. Pain bit him hard.

  Saber shifted back into his human-form and tore his gaze away from the one he needed, wanted, beyond all else.