Dragon of the Prairie (Exiled Dragons Book 13)

by Sarah J. Stone

  “We’ll see. I suppose it would be nice to just buy pretty new things that someone else has made. I haven’t done that for a very long time.”

  “I’m sorry for that. I wish I had been able to give you more. Instead, it is you who had afforded us a better life with the money from your inheritance.”

  “Don’t you ever think that way, Angus. You have given me the richest life possible with all you’ve shared over the years. Not many women can say that they are protected by a dragon. Not only do I have a wonderful, beautiful husband who I love very much, but he has a power that no one else in this place can ever overcome.”

  “I don’t know about all that. There are ways to defeat my dragon, but most people would have no clue where to start. By the time they recover from the shock of what I’ve become, they don’t stand a fighting chance. It’s not something I’m proud of that I must use such force upon people. I only do so when necessary. I enjoy being able to shift and fly through the night. Stretching my wings and gliding in and out among the clouds is beautiful. Having to use my gift to hurt people who would hurt me or those I love is not something I could ever relish.”

  “That is understandable. I just hope you know that I appreciate everything you have ever done for me, for our family.”

  “I know you do, just as I hope you know just how much you improved my life the day you arrived on that wagon, ready to marry a complete stranger to save yourself. Instead, it was me you saved. You saved me in every way I can think of. I had resigned myself to a life of loneliness and secrecy until you came along and showed me how wonderful it felt to be loved. It was you who saved me. It is you who continues to save me every single day, Margaret.”

  Margaret smiled up at him as they stood there holding hands and looking over their partially built house. It would be weeks until it was finished, but it was a symbol of their undying devotion to one another. Tear them down and they would only rebuild, bigger and better each time. There was no tearing them down in body, mind and spirit. Instead there was only an ever-increasing love.

  Upon the house’s completion, Margaret was surprised that their friends and neighbors wanted to give them a housewarming party. She and Angus welcomed their children and various members of the community into their new home, each arriving bearing assorted pastries and such for everyone to enjoy. Angus had yet another unexpected treat for Margaret, which she only discovered as he walked her through the new house and out through the back door.

  Rather than stepping onto the small, open back porch that used to stand there, Margaret found herself on a much larger patio style porch that was completely enclosed with wire screens to keep away the nuisance of insects in the warm months. She had never seen anywhere more perfect than this place for being able to just back and relax, perhaps even reading the bible or another book.

  “Do you like it?” he asked.

  “Are you serious? I love it! I had no idea you were doing this!” she marveled.

  “You’re going to need it,” Aaron Paul said, joining them from inside the house and admiring the work that had gone into the porch.

  “Did you help with this?” she asked.

  “I did. I wanted it all to be just perfect for the days to come.”

  “Yeah? Planning on coming over and hanging out on the back porch with your old mom?” she quipped.

  “Perhaps, but I was thinking more about how much time you could spend out here with your new grandchild.”

  “Grandchild?” She laughed. “Last time I checked, no one has seen fit to give me one of those.”

  “Well, that’s about to change, Mom.”

  Margaret gawked at him for a moment and then looked at Angus, who appeared just as shocked as she. Apparently, he hadn’t known about this new development, either. His disbelief was only momentary, though. He rushed forward and pulled Aaron to him into a giant hug, patting him on the back enthusiastically.

  “And I thought I was the king of surprises today,” Angus said, still beaming at the news.

  “You know, I can’t let my old man upstage me,” Aaron told him.

  Margaret was still stunned, marveling at having a new baby in the house. It was going to be amazing to have a grandchild that she could spoil and send home. That was the beauty of grandchildren. You could spoil them rotten without worrying about how it affected them long-term. That was the parent’s job, not the grandparents. She felt a twinge of sadness that her own children had missed out on having grandparents. She had only fond memories of her own and her parents would have adored her children if they had lived to see them.

  “Well, I guess we best get back in to our guests before they think we’ve ducked out on them,” Angus told them.

  Stepping back inside, they mingled a bit with their guests before Angus called for everyone’s attention and stood facing all of them. Margaret hadn’t expected him to make a speech and waited to see what he might say. She was surprised when he called upon her to come stand by his side. Margaret did so, smiling out at all of the people that surrounded them.

  “As you all know, Margaret and I joined this community with little more than a pot to do our business in,” he said, drawing laughter from those gathered around them. “Now, we are a little better off and hopefully, we have helped some of you improve your lives in small ways as we’ve made our journey to where we are today.”

  Several cheers rumbled through the crowd as he continued to smile out at them.

  “First of all, I would like to make the announcement that our eldest son and his wife, Catherine, are expecting their first child. We could not be more excited about having our first grandchild and feel certain that our other children will follow suit soon by getting married and having even more grandchildren. Our children are nothing if not competitive, so this should get the ball rolling.”

  There was more laughter and the remaining children shook their heads disdainfully as he continued.

  “One of my great regrets is that when Margaret came here, I had nothing to give her except a roof over her head and very long days of working in the fields that surround our home. She was a great sport, never complaining, but instead doing everything she could to turn an old, dusty house into a place that was full of hope and happiness. Believe me, it took a bit of soap after years of me dragging in dust from the fields!”

  Margaret smiled as he leaned over and kissed her on the cheek and then stepped in front of her. Getting down on one knee, he looked up at her and smiled.

  “Margaret Ann McCord, I know that we have been married for decades as it is, but I’ve always felt I didn’t give you the proper wedding that a woman of your great beauty and grace deserved. So, I am asking you today, in front of all of these people to marry me. This time, in a church surrounded by our loved ones so that I can enjoy watching you walk toward me in a grand white gown and cherish the way you look into my eyes when you say your vows.”

  Margaret gasped as he slipped a large antique silver ring on her finger. She had never even owned a wedding ring, and to finally have a symbol on her finger of the love she had always carried in her heart was breathtaking. She was beside herself with joy as she stood there looking at it, unable to speak.

  “Well, answer the poor man, Margaret! You aren’t going to leave him hanging like that are you?” someone shouted from the crowd, causing laughter from those that surrounded them.

  “Of course, Angus. I would marry you as many times as you want until the day we turn to dust,” she replied, flinging herself toward him for a deep embrace. They stood kissing as they were cheered on by the collection of guests in front of them for what was probably beyond what was considered decent. Afterward, they spent the rest of the evening walking around, hand in hand, sharing their great joy with everyone who had joined them.

  Margaret was somewhat surprised to see the young girl from the night of the wolves toward the back of the room. She smiled at her and then seemed to disappear. Margaret wondered if she had really even seen her or merely imagined her ther
e. More importantly, she wondered why she would have. Surely, there was meaning in everything. Dismissing it from her mind, she returned to her guests and didn’t give it another thought.

  Afterward, she told Angus about it and he said he hadn’t seen the girl at all. They agreed that it meant something, but neither was sure of what that might be. In the end, they decided that what had happened with her on the night of the wolves and her possible appearance at their housewarming were things that might never make sense to them. That was okay because the most important thing was that they were happy together and that would always be the most important truth.

  Many months later, they would learn her secret in a way that neither could have ever expected, but that was a story for another time, one that would be told when it’s time had come. Until then, she remained a mystery as Margaret and Angus continued into the second half of their lives together, getting married in the same church where they had joined one another in marriage so many years ago. This time, though, it seemed to mean so much more. They were no longer terrified strangers, but a man and a woman who loved one another deeply.

  Spring came again and, with it, new beginnings with the tiny hands of their first grandchild, a beautiful little girl named Alyssa. She quickly became the light of their lives, winding each of them around her fingers in a way that neither could deny. She possessed Angus’s power to shift, but seemingly nothing beyond that. That was, until one day, when a wolf walked into the front yard and stood staring at where she played in the grass.

  At first, Margaret was terrified, trying to edge her way closer to scoop her up and protect her, but then something amazing happened. The wolf cocked its head sideways and whimpered before walking up to her and allowing her to pet it.

  Alyssa giggled as she stroked the wolf’s fur, completely oblivious as to its danger, for as they would soon learn, there were no animals that were a danger to their granddaughter. She commanded each and every one of them without effort.

  Many years would pass as Margaret and Angus watched their children and grandchildren grow into powerful shifters in their own right. Margaret was well into her elder years in what seemed like the blink of an eye and yet, that time was filled with beautiful memories. She looked up at her husband as he exited their home and smiled down at her. He looked very much like she had the day she had first met him.

  Margaret’s hair had begun to gray and wrinkles formed across her face, but Angus didn’t seem to notice them. Still, others did and she knew the time would soon grow near that they would have to move away from this place to protect themselves from the questions. Worse, she knew her time here would come to an end while his continued.

  “Promise me that you will move on, that you will find love again when I am gone,” she told him.

  “Don’t even speak of such things, Margaret. You are my only love and you always will be.”

  “I don’t want you to be alone.”

  “I never will be. You have filled my heart with a lifetime full of love. You have given me children and grandchildren to watch over and to love me just as you have. I will always have a full heart.”

  Margaret smiled up at him as he knelt beside her and cupped her cheek in one hand, kissing her softly. This is how she would remember him for however long it took him to find his way to her again and for all the sadness in her heart at that thought, she knew every day that remained would be filled with just as much joy. He was her miracle, her savior – a dragon for a former princess in distress. That was the part of the story the fairy tales always got wrong. It was the dragon that saved the damsel, not the knight.

  Or, maybe, they were one in the same.

  Witch Academy Box Set (1-5)

  Sarah J. Stone

  Book 1: The Missing Queen

  Chapter 1

  Desmond awoke with a start, his body tensing up. It took him a moment to figure out exactly what the problem was, his magic finding its way up to his brain.

  He realized after a moment that it was a crash from his kitchen that had woken him. However, the presence that he sensed was not anything that would cause him harm. His dishes and food supply might be in danger, but he was not.

  Running a hand over his face, he tried to pull the sleep from his eyes, glancing at the time piece. He was planning to get up now anyway; the alarm would beep after a moment or two. It was later than he normally got up, but he didn't have anywhere to be for another hour.

  “Nathaniel,” he said as the door to his chambers whooshed open at his touch. “What are you doing?”

  His former Tiro looked up at him, a piece of toast in his mouth.

  “You're awake.”

  Desmond raised an eyebrow, leaning against the doorframe.

  “You think I can't still sense when you are causing chaos? Eleven years of training you, Nathaniel. I promise that the bond is not broken yet.”

  Nathaniel smirked as he searched for more bread, and Desmond decided it was a losing battle. Besides, he was meeting Mariah for breakfast anyway, so he didn't need food here.

  He had trained Nathaniel for eleven years as his third Tiro, readying him as a full-fledged witch; the guardians of the galaxy. Magic was dangerous and destructive if not controlled and well trained, and those born with it often didn't survive it unless they were taken from their families and devoted their life to its control. Witches, who were taken to the academies around the galaxy and trained by Maestros, became warriors, guardians, peacemakers, and healers. They were well respected, strong, and completely devoted to keeping the galaxy safe.

  It came at a price, of course. They rarely, if ever, saw their families again. They were not supposed to form attachments or have families of their own. They were completely devoted to their craft and their quests. When they were young, they were usually devoted to their Maestros. When they came of age, they were put through a series of rigorous tests that determined whether they could go off on their own and become a new generation of Maestros.

  There were exceptions to every rule, of course. Tiros were supposed to be in the academy from the time they started walking, and they needed to be with a Maestro by the time they were thirteen if they wanted to be able to take the tests. Otherwise, they remained at school until eighteen and could work in a minor role. Any time after eighteen, they could take the tests and become a full-fledged witch.

  Desmond knew that he and Nathaniel had broken almost every single one of those rules in their years together. It wasn't necessarily on purpose, because he didn't always believe in everything the Jurors dictated. But Nathaniel had been almost fourteen when Desmond finally took him on after a disastrous last Tiro. Nathaniel was stubborn, mouthy, and more interested in fun half the time. Desmond knew Nathaniel would never be the serious, quiet, thoughtful Witch that was expected. Nathaniel was twenty-four when he finally took the tests, passing with flying colors in everything except his attitude.

  Now, nearly two years later, they remained at the academy. Nathaniel was teaching some of the classes, and Desmond sat on the Jurors part time, dealing with the intergalactic issues that came their way. Both of them were expected at some point soon to take on a Tiro. But after a bumpy eleven years, Nathaniel didn't seem quite ready to be self-sufficient

  Desmond, despite being technically free of a Tiro, found it hard to find time for himself and Mariah – not that he publicly wished for it.

  The first day Desmond saw Mariah was nearly thirty years ago. They had both been young witches on their first Tiros. They had locked eyes across the room, and Desmond knew that he was in trouble.

  Neither of them had broken any rules, at least in public. But as they started to age toward retirement with a quiet life of advising only in their near future, he found it harder to make sure they were in line and not just existing in a grey area that the Jurors raised their eyebrows at.

  He knew Nathaniel was aware of the fine line he walked and took it as challenge. No matter how much Desmond tried and scolded, Nathaniel had always had eyes for women. H
e wasn't discreet either, and more than once, he had been called in front of the Jurors for disobedience.

  Desmond's only solace was that, as Nathaniel got older, he seemed to be settling down and focusing his attention on the one woman he came back to again, and again. A quest on Jeffro – a border planet – had introduced the fifteen-year-old Nathaniel to the seventeen-year-old orphaned ruler, Queen Eliza. She was just as head strong, stubborn, and in control of her emotions as he was. Desmond pretended to not hear the late-night hologram fights they had over the years, and pretended not to hear Nathaniel's thoughts when they were doing well. As long as he was focused on his duties, Desmond could turn a blind eye. And, he noticed, no matter how hard they fought, they always returned to each other. They fought in a way that acknowledged that ending their relationship was never an option.

  It was admirable, in a way, except neither of them were supposed to be even thinking of romantic love.

  This life was not an easy one, but it was worth it for the greater good. Despite being two of the most powerful warrior witches in the galaxy, they were still only human.

  “Are you going to the showcase today?” Nathaniel asked. “I saw them setting up this morning.”

  “I might,” Desmond answered, watching Nathaniel eat his way through half a loaf of bread. The showcases were bi-annual and meant to show off the skills of young witches who were hoping to find Maestros. They came from the various academies to go the headquarters, and it was usually impressive. Desmond wasn't quite sure he was interested in taking another one, though. If he was truthful, Nathaniel had been difficult at best. Desmond would technically age out before another Tiro came of age. He and Mariah had loose plans to not take another one, retiring together. Not that he could tell anyone of that, he knew.

  Right now, his biggest concern was getting Nathaniel out of his kitchen. “Is there something wrong with the cafeteria? Or your own kitchen, perhaps? Your room is down the hall, Nathaniel. Surely your own kitchen is closer.”