Sassy Ever After: Her Warrior Dragon (Kindle Worlds Novella)

by Ariel Marie

  “Don’t worry. A helicopter is completely safe, and besides, you’re flying with me. Even if the damn thing fell from the sky, I’d catch you.”

  10

  Faye felt her mouth drop open as the castle came into view. She was still reeling from the fact that Vander was a dragon shifter, but now, seeing where he really lived, she was blown away. She glanced over at him and found him staring at her with a small smile on his lips.

  “Why are you smiling?” she asked into the headset. When they were settled into the helicopter, they were fitted with headsets in order to communicate, with not just each other, but the pilot.

  It had been a smooth and uneventful ride. Flying over town and witnessing the beautiful landscaped town from up above was absolutely breathtaking. Once they’d reached the mountainous region, she’d become captivated by the beauty of nature. She’d never been up this far in the mountains.

  Who would have known that at the top of the mountain, there was a real castle built right into the earth?

  Vander spoke of his family and described his home to her in great detail to pass the time during the short flight. Just the description of the castle sounded like something that would be found in the movies.

  “You’re reaction,” he answered as he squeezed her hand. The feel of her hand in his calmed her fears from the flight. She returned the gesture as the pilot’s voice came through the headset, letting them know they were about to descend to the waiting chopper pad.

  For some reason, the thought of being in danger didn’t cause her to panic. Deep down, she knew that Vander would protect her. His protective and commanding nature led her to believe that this Gamair would not touch her. She fully believed that Vander would take the evil dragon out.

  She would use this time at his castle to relax. Vander assured her that there would be plenty to do while his brother and friend hunted down the dragon.

  “I’m excited, yet nervous,” she admitted as she blew out a shaky breath.

  “Nervous about what?” He raised his eyebrow in question.

  “Meeting your brother and your friend. What if they don’t like me?” She wasn’t quite sure where their relationship was going, or if they were even in one. But, what if his brother and friend looked down on her because she wasn’t a powerful dragon, but only a human?

  “If you’re with me, then you’re with me. That’s all that will matter to them.”

  Their bodies swayed slightly as the chopper finally landed on the pad. The sounds of the blades quieted as their speed decreased. Vander removed his headset and turned to her. He gently helped her remove her seatbelt and headset. The deafening sound of the helicopter died as the door was opened.

  Faye turned and found a young man standing with his hand out. She placed her hand in his and allowed him to assist her down from the helicopter.

  She was in awe of her surroundings. The helipad was built into the mountain. She looked past the helicopter, and could see nothing but thick clouds that hid the view of the sky from her. Her ears began to ache from the altitude. She tried to yawn to relieve the pressure.

  “Master Vander, welcome home,” the man greeted Vander as he stepped out of the chopper and stood next to her.

  “Thank you, Claude.” Vander nodded his head. “Grab her bag and place it in my chambers.”

  “Your chambers?” she asked, her eyes flying to him. They hadn’t spoken of sleeping arrangements. That was a bold step, not that she was complaining. After the night they just had, she looked forward to many more.

  “Yes, sir,” Claude responded as Vander led her away from the chopper.

  “Is that a problem?” he asked, looking down at her. She quickly shook her head as a massive steel door that was embedded into the mountain wall opened, and out walked an elderly gentleman. He wore a dark suit, reminding her of a butler from earlier times. He met them halfway before stopping in front of them.

  “Master Vander and Ms. Adams,” he greeted them.

  “Farta,” Vander replied.

  “Welcome to Dragon’s Keep, Milady.” Farta nodded to Faye.

  “Thank you,” she said, taking in her surroundings.

  “We have a hot meal prepared for you in the breakfast nook,” Farta announced, waving them by. Vander led her to the door in which Farta had exited.

  “Excellent. We were in a rush when we left Faye’s home, and neither of us were able to eat.” Vander led her down a darkened stairwell, well candlelit sconces lined the drab area.

  “I can’t believe you live in a real castle,” she exclaimed, excited to be there. She couldn’t wait to explore and learn more about Vander.

  “This home has been in my family’s possession for centuries. My parents built my brother and I homes as gifts for coming into adulthood.”

  “Wow,” she murmured, thinking that all her parents were able to give her when she turned eighteen was to co-sign for her student loans in order for her to go to college. Her parents were not rich by any means, but stressed the importance of furthering her education. She didn’t regret it one bit, and soon, those loans would be paid off.

  “You’ll have time to explore to your heart’s content. I can hear the excitement in your voice.” Vander chuckled. “Farta, can you assign someone to give her a tour?” Vander asked as he came upon a door. She had lost count of how many flights they had walked down. He opened the door and waved her in.

  Her mouth dropped open as she passed through the doorway. She felt as if she were in a fairy tale. This place couldn’t be real. She glanced down the hallway and found it to be grand, with priceless artwork on the walls, and heirlooms on tables.

  “Wow,” she breathed. She was at a loss for words as she stood there. She walked over to a painting on the wall that captured her attention.

  “Do you like it?” he asked, coming to stand next to her.

  Farta brushed past them and continued down the hall. “I will assign Dalma to assist Ms. Adams.”

  “It’s beautiful. Dalma?” she asked, tearing her eyes off the abstract painting. That green-eyed monster named jealousy reared her nasty head. Who was this female that would be assigned to her?

  “Dalma is one of the house servants. She’s been with our family for years, and she knows everything about this place, and me.”

  “She does, does she?” Faye batted her eyes at Vander playfully. On the inside, she was just a little jealous. Who was this woman? How long had she been with Vander? And has she really been with him?

  “There’s nothing to be jealous about.” Vander laughed. Grabbing her hand, he pulled her behind him. “She used to be my nanny, and decided to stay on with me when I moved into my own home. Hopefully, one day, she’ll be the nanny of my children.”

  “Oh.” That was the only response that came to mind. She looked away and felt her cheeks grow warm. He was able to read her so well. She looked back at him and found a certain twinkle in his eye.

  “She will love you,” he claimed as they walked through the castle.

  She tried to pay attention to where they were going, but there were so many twists and turns, she couldn’t keep up. If she were to try to navigate the halls on her own, she was sure she would get lost.

  “This place is beautiful, and massive. It would take me days to explore this place.”

  “Thank you. You should be here for a few days, hopefully. Once we find Gamair and destroy him, you will be able to return home. Now, let me feed you.” Tucking her under his arm, they walked through a set of French doors.

  The breakfast nook was a room that was encased in glass. The rounded dome of the ceiling was sheer glass, allowing them to see the sky. She just knew that on a beautiful clear day, with the sun shining, the view of the room would be magnificent.

  “Let me help you to your chair,” Vander murmured, guiding her over to the table.

  She settled into her seat and watched as he moved to his chair. For a man his size, his movements were graceful. Memories of their night together came to mind. Eve
ry moan and orgasm he pulled from her had her clenching her thighs together.

  Get a grip, girl! she thought to herself, as a small smile graced her lips.

  Her curiosity was peaked, and she had at least a dozen questions for him. Yes, they had slept together, but she still didn’t know him. She held back on her questioning as a few women entered the room from a door off to the side. Through the door, she caught a glimpse of the kitchen. The women, dressed in traditional maid uniforms, brought out small carts loaded with food toward the table. Her stomach rumbled as the smell of the freshly cooked food filled the air.

  “Thank you,” she murmured as the women placed their food on the table. She could feel her mouth water as she looked down at the plate of omelets, bacon, sausage, hash browns, and toast. Bowls of fresh fruit were set out on the table, along with a few types of juices, and coffee. She reached for her fork as the women directed their carts back to the kitchen.

  “What is it?” he asked around his food.

  She took a bite out of her omelet and closed her eyes briefly. It was made to perfection. How did they know what she liked in her omelet?

  “I’m curious,” she began, and stopped so that she could finish chewing.

  “Really?” He chuckled. He reached for his glass and downed half of his orange juice. “What do you want to know?”

  “Well, for starters, I noticed that you said this castle had been in your family for centuries, but you said that it was built for you. How old are you?”

  Vander paused, then clasped his hands together in front of him. His eyes locked on hers and didn’t move. For a split second, she regretted asking the question. Was it rude to ask a shifter their age? A small smile graced his lips as he picked his fork up again.

  “I’m six hundred and ninety-nine years old.”

  11

  Vander opened his bedroom door and ushered Faye into his private domain. His dragon was pleased that she was in love with the castle. When he explained how he came to live in the castle, he left out the real reason his parents gave them to his brother and him. It was so that they could prepare their dragon horde in preparation of them finding their mates.

  For years, his dragon had worked on preparing their home for the one day their mate would walk through the doors.

  She was now here.

  “I just can’t stop gushing over your home,” she exclaimed. He had allowed her to make a quick phone call to her parents and best friend, using an untraceable phone. He wouldn’t want her family worried, and getting the Blue Creek Police Department involved. “It’s absolutely beautiful. I can’t believe that I’ll be spending a few days in a real castle.”

  He chuckled as he watched her run and dive onto his oversized canopy bed.

  A few days?

  How about forever? A voice whispered to him in the back of his mind.

  “You can pretty much have the run of the castle,” he announced as he closed the door behind him. He walked over and sat on the edge of the bed near her. She rolled over and turned to him, excitement lining her face. “I shouldn’t be gone but a few days. Farta and the house staff will keep you safe.”

  “You’re leaving me?” The smile disappeared from her face as worry set in. She pulled herself up and leaned back against the headboard.

  He loved the sight of her in his bed, surrounded by his pillows. No other woman had ever had the privilege to visit Dragon’s Keep, or sleep in his bed.

  “Yes, but only for as long as it will take for us to catch Gamair. Between the three of us, we’ll end him.” His words ended on a growl as the passion burst forth. Gamair had done unspeakable things, but now, he’d messed with Vander’s mate, and for that he would surely die. Vander would not stop until the Death Lord existed no more.

  “But what if he comes here while your gone?”

  “Dragon’s Keep is one of the safest places in the world. It’s protected by magical wards to keep evil away, and nothing will harm you for as long as you are here. Trust me.” He grabbed her hand and brought it to his lips. He placed a soft kiss to her knuckles, before shifting their hands to entwine their fingers.

  “I do, but I’ll worry about you. What if you get hurt?”

  He stared at her with a raised eyebrow. Had she already forgotten how they met? They both burst out laughing. Faye’s laugh was musical, and made him want to continue finding ways to make her laugh, just so he could hear it.

  “I’ll still worry,” she said, wiping the tears from her face.

  “There’ll be no need for you to worry. I’ll be fine,” he assured her. He leaned forward. He couldn’t resist getting one last taste of her lips before he left. The kiss was soft and sensual. She immediately opened her mouth to him, allowing his tongue to duel with hers. She wasn’t shy in her kiss, allowing her tongue to coax his.

  He reached up and cupped her jaw as he tilted his head so that he could get closer to her. The need to protect what was his grew, the closer they grew. He needed this woman, and when he returned, he would make sure she knew that she was his forever.

  He pulled back slightly, not wanting to end the kiss. But he knew if they went any further, he’d find himself buried deep within her, and any desire to leave would disappear.

  “Promise me, you’ll be careful,” she whispered with wide eyes. She clenched his shirt tight as she hung onto him.

  “Believe me, I will return. This time, I have something worth coming home to,” he murmured, leaning his forehead against hers.

  “And what is that?”

  “You.”

  Vander walked around the side of the Blue Creek General Hospital, where Faye had said Gamair had approached her. His dragon blew out a hot breath at the thought that they could have lost their mate that night. The black dragon was vile and evil, tempered and obsessed with death. He could have done much worse than freeze Faye’s friend. He could have killed her easily, along with Faye, but Vander was sure that Gamair wanted to terrify Faye, to showcase his powers.

  He glanced around, not seeing anyone milling around the smoke hut. He shook his head, not understanding why humans would want to pollute their bodies with the little white death sticks. Humans had enough issues on their own, so why would they smoke? Being a shifter, he was immune to the common human illnesses and diseases.

  Vander wasn’t sure what he was looking for, but figured he’d look around the last spot he knew the evil dragon had been. He would need to use magic to help him.

  He was the only one in the parking lot. He reached into his pocket and brought out a small object that would help give him a clue as to where to look for Gamair.

  The Orb of Erlo was an ancient artifact that was given to him by a powerful mage a few centuries ago. By looking through the orb, Vander would be able to see the past. He’d focus his mind on who he was looking for, and the orb would show him what he wanted to see.

  Vander brought the orb up to his eye and focused his mind on Gamair. It warmed slightly in his hand. His eyesight, while looking through the orb, became blurry for a brief moment, then cleared, and the object of his search stood a few feet from where he was now standing. The brief encounter between Faye and Gamair played out in front of him.

  He was able to see everything that was exchanged between them, but was not able to hear what was said. The Orb didn’t allow them to hear, but they could see, feel, and smell anything that passed on that night.

  Vander could feel the apprehension and fear that Faye experienced as she sat on the bench. But what gained his attention was the smell. The smell of death and decay, along with the smell of water, surrounded Vander.

  He pulled the orb from his eye and knew where he had to look. He released a curse as he pocketed the magical lens and stalked toward his car. He hated that he had to drive while in town. His dragon was far too large to just shift and fly off. A dragon hadn’t been seen for hundreds of years. Today would not be the day to show his dragon. It would cause an uproar in town if a dragon was seen flying over Blue Creek.


  He hopped into his dark sedan and figured he better reach out to his brother and Jodos.

  “I know where Gamair has been hiding.” He used their telepathic link to reach out to both of them at same time.

  12

  Faye walked through the castle, trying to navigate her way to the kitchen. She had slept surprisingly well in the massive bed alone last night. Vander’s bed had to be the most comfortable one she had ever slept in. She almost didn’t want to leave the comforts of Vander’s pillows and blanket.

  She paused in the hallway as the revelation hit her. She had feelings for Vander, and she was pretty sure he had some for her. The thought of Vander going off to fight the evil dragon still worried her, but he assured her that he would be fine.

  “Ms. Adams, good morning,” a pleasant voice greeted her from behind. She turned and found a smiling older woman. The woman’s face was warm and welcoming, with her gray hair pulled into a bun on top of her head.

  “Hello,” Faye said, returning her smile with one of her own. “You must be Dalma.”

  “Yes, I am. It is so nice to meet you.” Dalma held out her hand. Faye didn’t hesitate in taking it. For someone who had been the nanny of a dragon shifter, who was almost seven hundred years old, she didn’t look a day over fifty-five. “Vander has told me so much about you.”

  “He has?” Her voice ended on a squeak. What could he have possibly told the woman? That they met when he was in the hospital, tracked her down, and they slept with each other almost immediately.

  “I can see the wheels spinning in that mind of yours,” Dalma announced, entwining her arm with Faye’s. They slowly walked down the hallway together. “Don’t worry. It has been good. In the shifter world, finding that special one is different than how humans do it. We encourage speedy courtships. Why waste time?”