Her Dragon's No Angel (Dragon Guard Series Book 11)

by Julia Mills

  As quickly as it had burst forth, the light was gone. Tomas gave a war cry of victory, which was unfortunately met with Holly’s painful cry of concern. Looking down, he saw their little female face down in the snow, trembling uncontrollably.

  Scooping up the little one, Tomas handed her to Holly’s outstretched arms. His mate’s eyes filled with tears. “She made her choice. She’s chosen the Light but has expended too much energy destroying the evil.”

  “But she’ll be okay, right?”

  “I don’t know…”

  Chapter Six

  Hours after their race back to the cave, their little female was still unconscious. Her trembling had ceased and her breathing was more regulated, but she had yet to move. Holly called out to the Heavens, to Asher, and to her sisters until she was sure her head would explode, but received no answer. Had it not been for Tomas’ brethren, the white witch, and the dragons’ Healer, the angel was sure their patient would’ve already succumbed to death. The angel spent so much time praying for the creature to awake, she’d started calling her Eve because ‘little female’ seemed too impersonal when asking for divine intervention, and it was after all, the day before Christmas.

  Siobhan, the Healer, had done all she could and said more could be done if only they knew what type of creature Eve was. Holly had searched the little one’s now bright and shining soul, but found no indication of her origin, only what they already knew…she was magical and had she been given time, would’ve drawn upon the ancient power that made her existence possible.

  Holly blamed herself. If she’d sought Eve out after first feeling her presence, the little one would’ve chosen the Light, settled into her decision, and been able to have a life force rivaling any being on Earth or beyond. But as it stood, Eve had chosen the Light, destroyed a demon and three wizards, something not even Holly had been able to do, all too early in her very young life. Their only hope was that her strength of spirit would see her through while the power returned to her tiny, broken body. Holly quickly swiped at the single tear that wet her cheek. Unfortunately, not before Tomas saw it.

  Sitting beside her and putting a hot cup of cocoa in her hand, her dragon put his arm around her shoulders, pulling her close into his side. He dropped a kiss on the top of her head then began to sing. Holly had thought his speaking voice was amazing, but as the low baritone of his song filled their fire lit grotto, she was entranced and could only listen in stunned silence. Thankfully, she could understand every known language and was able to truly appreciate the beauty of his words.

  “Beag abha’in eile,

  A bheith ar chaenn beag sa’bha’ilte

  Aingeal ag breathnu’ thar tu’

  Aingeal tu’a chosaint

  Aingeal fanacht fa’ilte a chur roimh tu’ abhaili.”

  The melody was haunting, the words inspiring, and Holly soon found herself singing along.

  “Rest little one,

  Be safe little one,

  Angels watch over you,

  Angels protect you,

  Angels wait to welcome you home.”

  She wanted to ask him where he’d learned it but didn’t want him to stop singing, so she let the question float from her mind to his. He once again kissed her head but this time, the picture of a sweet little boy with dark brown curls sleeping soundly on his mother’s lap appeared. The woman was stunning and looked just like the man who was quickly claiming Holly’s heart, except for her piercing blue eyes. It was Tomas’ mother. He was allowing Holly to see into his past. To feel the love he’d felt for his mother.

  Tears wet her cheeks and for the first time in her very long life, the Christmas Angel did not try to hide them or feel any shame for her show of emotion. She saw Tomas’ endless capacity to love. His ability rivaled the angels above and Holly knew it was time she accepted that Fate had made him for her.

  He continued to sing while holding her in his arms and gently rocking side to side. Holly had no idea how long she cried, but as her tears dried, exhaustion consumed her. Soon, her eyes became heavy and it wasn’t long until she was fighting sleep.

  I need to stay awake for Eve and to tell Tomas I love him.

  But fatigue won out and she was fast asleep in the arms of her mate.

  Her dreams were filled with visions of red-haired little boys chasing little girls with long, dark curls over a beautiful, rolling hillside. Holly knew immediately they were her children and there was no denying their father was a certain dark-eyed red and golden dragon. She relaxed even more and simply enjoyed what she hoped were prophecies of the future.

  All too soon, Tomas was shaking her awake. Her eyes flew open, looking directly to Eve. Their little patient still lay on her pallet, unresponsive, but thankfully breathing. Her mate’s voice forced back the last vestiges of sleep and had her jumping out of his lap and looking around for danger.

  “What’s the matter?”

  “I’m not sure but something’s coming. We need to get Eve farther into the cave and set up a perimeter.”

  Holly jumped into action, grabbing Tomas’ sleeping bag and blankets and following him as he carried Eve out of the grotto. They’d made it ten steps further into the cave when a sound Holly thought lost to her forever sounded. It was the Angel Song, and it was coming closer.

  Laying her hand on Tomas’ back, she quickly explained. “There’s nothing to fear. It’s angels. They’re answering my call for help and announcing their presence. Let’s take Eve back into the grotto. Maybe they can help her.”

  Nodding, her dragon turned and headed back in the direction they’d just come from. Holly quickly laid the sleeping bag and her cloak on the floor then moved while Tomas placed Eve on the pallet, quickly covering her with the blankets. She kissed the little one’s forehead and assured her they’d be right back before standing and grabbing Tomas’ hand. It was time for him to meet more of her kin, and time for her to introduce her mate. But first, she would ask for their help.

  No sooner had the couple exited the grotto than they were bathed in Angel Light. Holly and Tomas were linked mind to mind, so although it was much stronger than what she’d originally hit her dragon with, he was able to endure.

  “Hey, dragon man, look at that. You do have a little angel in you. You’re still standing.”

  True to form, Tomas waggled his eyebrows and grinned. “I wouldn’t have it any other way, angel girl.”

  Their loving banter was cut short by the appearance of twelve angels. Holly was shocked to see Asher, her Commander. It was the first time she’d known him to leave Heaven since finding his mate, but she was thrilled he was there. However, nothing could compare to laying eyes on her sisters…all eleven of them. She tried to remember the last time they’d all been together since losing their parents.

  Dropping Tomas’ hand, Holly ran to the eldest of the Winters siblings, Rose, a Spring Angel, who was dressed from head to toe in leather and wool. “Oh my, I’m so happy to see you, to see you all.” Holly squealed as she hugged her older sister.

  “I’m happy to see you too but I have to ask, how in all that is holy do you stand this abominable weather? I’m freezing my wings off.”

  The others of her sisters whose temperaments swayed to the warmer side of life, wholeheartedly agreed. Only Starr, the youngest sibling next to Holly laughed, for she was a Snow Angel and loved all types of inclement weather.

  “I’m sorry for the snow but not for you presence. I desperately need your help.”

  “That is why we are here, Holly. Take us to your little Eve.” Asher ordered, ever the Commander.

  Holly returned to Tomas, winked, and grabbed his hand. Before she could get the words out, Asher was once again issuing orders. “And on the way you can introduce us to your dragon.”

  Tomas’ eyebrows raised so high she could barely see them underneath his bangs. “How did he know?”

  “There’s not much that gets by me, young man.” Asher chuckled as they made their way to the grotto.

 
Crossing the threshold, Holly quickly introduced Tomas to all in attendance before walking over to Eve. She knelt by the little one’s head and looked to her Commander and sisters. One by one they also knelt, some had to sit behind others because Eve was so tiny in stature. When all were kneeling, they placed their right hand upon Eve and Asher began to pray. Holly and her sisters soon joined in.

  Dear Lord of All, Sweet Mother of Nature, Goddess of the Universe and all the Heavenly Hosts, bring health and vitality to our dear little one. Make her whole once again. Give her tiny body the strength it needs. Shine your healing light into her beautiful soul so that she may become what you intended. She has made her choice. She is a child of the light. May her Light shine bright. May her Light shine eternally.

  In the name of He who makes all things possible, our Heavenly Lord, we humbly ask for your help and guidance.

  Although the prayer ended, the grotto remained utterly silent. Each person continued to pray in their own words and pour all the love, light, and positive energy into little Eve they could. Hours passed and no one moved. Holly began to believe Eve would never wake. Her faith was waning, something that had never happened before.

  Once again, guilt filled the Christmas Angel, so much so that she tried to pull her hand from Tomas’, but her dragon was quicker than she’d ever imagined. Within the blink of an eye, he had her in his lap and was holding their clasped hands over Eve’s heart. “No backing out now, mo ghra’.”

  “But Tomas…”

  “But nothing, Holly. When you feel like you can’t go on, you’ve got me. You’ve always got me. That’s what I’m here for. Lean on me, a chumann, I’ve got you.”

  There were no words for what Tomas had come to mean to her. How could she ever have doubted he was her mate? She didn’t know what Asher or her sisters would think of a dragon in the family, but Holly really didn’t care. She loved him and he loved her, and together they could do anything. That was all that mattered.

  “I love you, Tomas…”

  She wanted to say more but at that very moment, Eve decided to open her eyes and smile. It was a miracle, a real Christmas miracle, just like the man at her side. Tears flowed freely from all the Winters sisters, while Asher checked Eve from head to toe, inside and out, and even made sure she could speak before announcing she was an angel, a very special angel. The first of her kind in nearly a millennium.

  “Because your little Eve has chosen the Light, she has become the rarest of all angels, a Spirit Angel. What that means is that she will go through her formative years transforming from one type of angel to another until she finds the one she was meant to be. She holds within her the most ancient of all angel magic. That is why she was able to abolish the demon and his followers. We are blessed she chose the Light. We have you and your mate to thank for that.”

  Holly spit and sputtered, nearly choking on the cocoa they’d made while waiting for the results of Asher’s examination. She looked at her smiling Commander, who simply asked, “Dear Holly, what do you think your final mission was?”

  “Ummm, I have no clue. I’m waiting for my orders.”

  Shaking his head and chuckling, Asher continued, “Eve was your ultimate mission, but first you had to believe in the impossible. You had to know beyond any doubt that this dragon, this man, the one that gave up his throne to fight evil and protect all that is good in the world, was your mate. In essence, my little warrior, you were the most vital piece of your own final mission, and I am happy to say that you passed with flying colors.”

  Holly looked into the faces of each of her eleven sisters as they smiled and nodded. Her heart filled to bursting with more love than she’d ever known. Looking up at Tomas, she found herself looking into the deep brown eyes of her mate, the one person in all the Universe she could always count on no matter what.

  His lips touched hers and the grotto erupted in applause. Too soon, Tomas was pulling back, but not before assuring her they would most definitely continue what he’d started when they had less company.

  Turning back to her family, Holly felt Eve’s tiny hand slide into hers. Looking down at the Spirit Angel, the Christmas Angel realized the little one’s features were already changing. She was a few inches taller than she’d originally been which made her head look more in proportion, her potbelly was considerably smaller, and her eyes had taken on an almond shape. Her hair was growing, turning from the little sprouts to deep auburn curls covering her scalp.

  “Thank you, Holly.” Her little sweet voice sang.

  “You are so welcome, Eve, so very welcome.”

  “So tell me, Tomas Youngblood, how do you feel about a trip to Heaven? I believe we have a mating ceremony to complete,” Asher said with all the command of the Leader of the Christmas Angels.

  Holly’s dragon grinned from ear to ear. “I feel really great about that, sir. Some might even say fabulous!”

  I am the luckiest angel in the world.

  Chapter Seven

  Having lived his life as a dragon shifter, Tomas was pretty sure there wasn’t much he hadn’t seen, but in the case of Heaven…he couldn’t have been more wrong. It was nothing like the stories from his childhood had described. To start, there were no tiny little pink-faced, chubby cherubs floating around playing harps. The angels didn’t lie around staring at the humans like they were watching a sitcom, nor was the floor made of clouds. Heaven was, however, the absolute cleanest place the Guardsman had ever seen, and everyone smiled and waved whether they knew you or not. It was happiness personified.

  It seemed that every inhabitant of Heaven had heard the story of the angel and the dragon and wanted to congratulate the happy couple, although Tomas suspected they wanted to get a look at a dragon shifter up close. Asher had explained that it would take several hours to prepare for the Ceremony of Holy Matrimony, and that it was something he, as an Elder, and Holly’s sisters would prepare for the couple. When Tomas had explained that in his culture the men prepare the mating ceremony for the female, the Elder Angel only smiled and nodded.

  He’d given Tomas special permission to contact his brethren, something he’d just finally found a moment to do.

  “Hey, butthead, what’s up?” Tomas laughed at Jace’s response.

  “And good morning to you, too.”

  “Ha Ha,” Tomas noted the sarcasm and an abundance of frustration in his best friend’s voice and was glad they were speaking on their own unique link so no one else could hear. “Sorry for my mood,” Jace went on. “It’s been crazy around here. After we were sure y’all were okay—great job by the way and you mate kicks serious ass—I thought we might get a moment’s rest. HA! Fat Chance! Mel and I were planning to eat pizza and watch a movie when Rory put out the all call. Rian had gone missing and we still don’t where the dumbass is. Royce is about to tear the countryside down and Rory just keeps overcompensating with his special brand of stupid humor.”

  “Missing? What the hell?”

  “Yeah, exactly my sentiments. He’d been distracted for the last couple of days, but I just figured it was the same shit different day. Apparently, I was wrong. But enough of that crap, you’ll have to deal with it soon enough. What’s up with you and your angel?”

  Tomas had to smile…him and his angel indeed… “Everything is perfect, just perfect, and you’ll never guess where I am.”

  “You sound like a man in love, my friend.” Jace chuckled. “And I don’t have the brain power left to guess, so how ‘bout you just tell me where you are.”

  “Heaven, I’m in Heaven and I don’t mean theoretically or because Holly is the best thing that’s ever happened to me. I’m not even singing that stupid old song. I mean I’m in honest to goodness Heaven.”

  “Holy crap, dude. That’s awesome. You meeting the fam and all that good stuff.”

  “You know it. Holly’s parents have passed but she’s got eleven sisters.”

  “Eleven?! Wow! Big family!”

  “Yeah, and I met her Commander. He reminds m
e a lot of Rayne.”

  “Hard ass seems to be a prerequisite for the gig.” The guys laughed together before Tomas continued.

  “You know it. He brought us straight up here so we could complete the Ceremony of Holy Matrimony. The way Holly explained it, it’s just like our official mating ceremony but the family and the angel’s commander do all the planning.”

  “That’s cool but you know Carrick and Rayne are gonna demand you have our mating ceremony, too.”

  “I plan to. Gonna surprise Holly with it as soon as we get home. We talked about it and she’s cool with living at the lair. As soon as we’re done here, we’ll be heading home.”

  “Awesome. I’m seriously happy for you.” Jace paused. “Sorry but I gotta cut this short. The old man just put out the all call. Second time in less than twenty-four hours, woo-fricking-hoo. Sounds like we’re hunting a dragon today.” Jace sounded less than thrilled.

  “Don’t kick his ass too hard, he is still the leader of the Blue Thunder Clan.”

  “It’s not me ol’ Ri has to worry about. It’s his brothers. I haven’t seen Royce this mad since…” Jace paused.“Well, to be honest, I’ve never seen Royce this pissed.”

  “Good luck with that. Stay outta the line of fire.” Tomas chuckled. “See ya in a few days.”

  “Have fun. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”

  “And that leaves the door wide open.” Tomas disconnected to the sound of his friend’s laughter, just seconds before Holly walked into the room.

  “Everything okay?” she asked, quickly shoving a large white shopping bag into her closet.

  “Perfect,” he answered, making his way towards his beautiful mate, who he immediately scooped up and kissed until they were both bleary eyed and breathless.