I Dream of Dragons

by Ashlyn Chase

Open-mouthed, Shannon dropped the spoons she was holding and they clattered to the floor. When she recovered, she whispered, “Do you mean it? You wouldn’t play me for a fool, would you?”

  He frowned. “Of course not. When have I ever done such a thing?”

  A grin slowly spread across her face, and she launched herself into his arms. She kissed him on the cheek and hugged him hard. “Thank you, Brother! Thank you, thank you!”

  He chuckled as he peeled her off and set her on the floor.

  Chloe’s eyebrows were raised. “Can I talk to you, Rory? Alone.” She glanced at Shannon, who was dancing a jig.

  “It won’t do any good,” he said. “Me mind is made up.”

  “So you’re goin’ to let them live in sin?”

  He took a step back. “Certainly not. The promise ring she’s been wearin’ hasn’t escaped me notice. I assume Finn will marry her straight away.”

  “Without a birth certificate for Shannon?”

  Rory sighed. “We’ll figure something out. One problem at a time.”

  “And where does Finn think she is at the moment?”

  “Uh…” He glanced over at his youngest sister. “Shannon, where does Finn think you are? Did you tell him you were goin’ to Ireland?”

  “I didn’t have time to tell him anythin’. I left a note sayin’ I’d be back soon.”

  “Shite. Then we’d better get you back. That boy will turn over heaven and earth lookin’ for you. Chloe, will you stay here until I get Shannon and Finn sorted?”

  “Of course.”

  “And you won’t infuriate anyone while I’m gone?”

  As she was sputtering, he called out, “Mayday, Mayday, Mayday,” and Amber appeared.

  “What the hell, Rory? Did your wings catch on fire?”

  He laughed. “No, me darlin’. I have an emergency of a different kind. Sure’n I knew you’d come if I called that way.”

  She folded her arms. “How about from now on you just yell, ‘Yo, Amber. I need you.’”

  He sidled up next to her and whispered, “I’ll always need you.”

  She looked like she was trying to suppress a smile, but she eventually gave in and grinned at him.

  Ah, she takes me breath away every time she smiles.

  * * *

  Shamus snickered as he planted the items he’d gathered from the other residents’ apartments in the female dragons’ Boston lair. He had to hide them, but not very well. The managers would have to discover them when searching for their lost possessions, but not the dragons.

  He took the cash from the swear jar and placed it under the couch cushions. Now he had to identify it as the redheaded witch’s money, so he took the sticky note off the swear jar and tossed it next to the money, as if it had fallen off.

  The crystal ball would be harder to hide, but after looking around, he found some empty shoe boxes in the closet. The shoes were on display in a built-in shelving unit, so he doubted the dragon sisters would need the boxes until they moved—or were tossed out, whichever came first.

  Hopefully they’d be evicted for stealing, which would back up his story…that the dragons had stolen Clancy’s pot of gold.

  Now to find a place to stash the few gold coins he’d brought with him. The lion’s share was back at home in Ireland. He’d had a heck of a time finding a new place for the pot of gold because the meddling lad who’d trapped him knew where it was. He’d had to bury it deep in the bowels of the castle—in what was once the dungeon. Nobody would go down there. It flooded from time to time, and the air was so musty it was disgusting.

  “Hmmm…” Shamus stroked his beard. The gold needed to go in Rory’s place. As the clan leader, he’d naturally keep the gold in his possession. Shamus snuck down the stairs and put his ear to the dragon prince’s apartment door. He heard nothing. Good. They must be out.

  He materialized on the other side of the door and tiptoed around, checking each room to make sure the place was deserted. When he was satisfied that no one would catch him, he began his search for a place to stash the gold coins.

  * * *

  Chad floated close to the ceiling to prevent the little criminal from spotting him. He didn’t think he would, but why take a chance? The leprechaun was obviously setting up the dragons to look like thieves, but why?

  Shamus lifted the lid on the built-in window seat. Apparently, he rejected that hiding place and moved to the fireplace. He leaned over and peeked up at the flue, but moved on without placing any coins there. He glanced around and scowled.

  Chad could have told him there were a ton of places to hide the coins in the bedroom, but the little guy must not have wanted Amber to be involved. Instead, he focused on the kitchen and bathroom.

  He quickly dismissed the kitchen muttering, “All these things probably belong to the lass. I can’t see Rory cookin’ for himself.”

  Moving on to the bathroom, he checked the medicine cabinet and found only two toothbrushes and toothpaste. “Looks like neither of them gets sick.”

  Just then, the door to the apartment opened and shut. Shamus glanced around in a panic. Then a smile spread across his face. He lifted the lid off the back of the toilet, tossed the coins into the water, replaced the porcelain top quietly, and disappeared.

  What now? Chad thought to himself. Should he immediately tell the others what he knew? Or would it be more fun to see how it played out?

  Being the bored ghost that he was, he decided to watch the fireworks. And with dragons involved, fire was the operative word.

  Chapter 14

  “What was that noise?” Amber asked.

  Rory frowned. “It sounded like it was comin’ from the bathroom.”

  They both leaned into the bath and glanced around. The shower curtain was drawn back, and the pedestal sink left no place to hide.

  Rory opened the medicine cabinet. “I don’t see anythin’ amiss.”

  “Neither do I.” Amber shrugged. “It’s an old building, and it probably comes with a variety of creaks and groans.”

  “To be sure. I don’t have time to worry over it. I need to have a man-to-dragon talk with Finn about marryin’ me sister.”

  “Are you going to tell him you’re all dragons?”

  “Christ, no! And if you’re apt to slip up, I’d suggest you stay away from the lad altogether.”

  Amber sighed. “It’s not my place to divulge that, so you don’t have to worry. But I’m curious… How are you going to explain Shannon’s extreme longevity?”

  Rory hesitated, then headed to the kitchen and grabbed a Guinness out of the fridge. Amber waited, hoping he was just taking a few minutes to think and not ignoring her.

  Finally he sighed. “It’s difficult when dragons try to become part of the human community. At some point, we have to pick a fight and leave, or fake our deaths and hide. Either way, someone gets hurt.”

  Amber’s heart hurt for poor Finn. And knowing what she did about Rory’s sister, Shannon would be devastated too.

  “Does Shannon know this?”

  “Only too well. I tried to discourage their relationship from the start. She insisted she’d rather love for a short time than not at all. I think it was too late the moment their eyes met for the first time.” He strolled to the living room and she followed. They sat on the futon in their living room.

  Amber smiled. “We call that love at first sight.”

  Rory smirked, then pulled her onto his lap and kissed her. When he released her, he said, “So do we.” Then he murmured something in Gaelic and nuzzled her neck.

  The Irish had so many colorful expressions, and Amber had no idea what they all were. Knowing Rory, she imagined she’d learn quite a few of them eventually.

  She slid off his lap and sat next to him. They needed to talk and were finally alone. But she needed to ease into the conversat
ion. “So how old was Finn when they met?”

  “He was about sixteen. She told him she was sixteen too.”

  “And now she says she’s nineteen. So does that mean Finn is nineteen?”

  Rory nodded. “Just turned nineteen.”

  “Isn’t that young to be getting married?”

  “Not in Ireland. Ballyhoo is a small, isolated village. Few if any children go to college. Most stay home and work the farm they grew up on or join their father’s fishing business. About the only time they leave home is when they get married.”

  Is now the time to bring up our ‘living in sin’? Do I want to? If it’s okay for him, but not for his sister, isn’t that a double standard? Amber still wasn’t sure what to say, so she’d put it off a little longer.

  “Does Finn work on a farm or fish?”

  “Neither one. His father is the only grocer in town. Finn and his friend Patrick have worked there since they were tall enough to stack cans. At first, it was just after school. Now they’ve finished their schooling and work full-time. It’s how it is.”

  “I thought Pat came here with Finn. Does that mean Finn’s father is running the store alone?”

  “I imagine he had his wife pitch in for a bit. But Patrick was good enough to keep their son out of trouble, so I don’t think they’ll fire him.”

  “Is he still here in Boston? I haven’t seen him.”

  “No. He went back to Ireland as soon as Finn found Shannon. Pat’ll be back at the store by now.”

  “So did they all meet in school?”

  “No. We had to stay out of sight for decades, so I home-schooled my sisters meself. It wasn’t until the last caretakers died that we left the castle and moved into the cottage. The caves were crumblin’, since gravity always wins over time.”

  “Speaking of time…maybe I can make you all appear to age naturally.”

  “You could do that?”

  “I don’t know. I’ll ask Euterpe. If the ancient muses can still look young, maybe young dragons can be made to look old.”

  “That would be grand.”

  “So what happened after you moved to the caretaker’s cottage?”

  “Shannon took to the kitchen like a duck to water. She wanted to try a new recipe, and it called for an ingredient we didn’t have.”

  “So she went to the grocery store,” Amber guessed.

  “Quite right. I blame their whole relationship on molasses.”

  Amber chuckled. “That was the ingredient she didn’t have?”

  “Indeed it was.”

  Amber said. “Do you think she wants to get married?”

  “Without a doubt. Me sister has a soft heart—or hearts. She has two.”

  Amber raised her brows. “Two hearts?”

  He nodded. “So it seems. She’s had two heartbeats since birth.”

  Amber wondered if Shannon didn’t just have a heart murmur. That might sound like a second heart beating. “Did you ever have her checked out by a doctor?”

  “No. Me mother and father didn’t believe in doctors. They patched us up when we fell on the rocks as we learned to fly.” He smiled, appearing nostalgic. “Besides, we’re very hard to kill.” He winked.

  He leaned down and was just about to kiss her again when a knock on the door ended their discussion.

  Rory groaned, then strode to the door and opened it to reveal a very happy Shannon and a very nervous Finn.

  “Can we come in?” Shannon asked. “Is this a good time to talk?”

  “I’d like to see Finn alone.”

  Shannon’s face fell. “What could you say to him that you can’t say in front of me?”

  “It’s not up for negotiation, luv. Go upstairs and pack whatever you want to bring home to Ireland with you.”

  Shannon stuck out her lower lip, making her look even younger than she was supposed to be.

  “I’ll help you,” Amber offered. She gazed at Rory. “Maybe I should take her shopping for a special dress? One she might need soon?”

  At first he just stared at her, blankly.

  What? Doesn’t he understand the concept of a wedding dress? Or did he change his mind about wanting her to get married?

  Shannon rolled her eyes. “Me brother’s thick when it comes to matters like weddin’ clothes.”

  Finn stared at her open-mouthed. “Weddin’?”

  Apparently, Shannon hadn’t told him what his talk with Rory was about.

  Finn’s eyes rounded, then he grinned. “Is that what this is, Rory? Are you givin’ us your blessin’?”

  “I might. Now get goin’, Shannon. Take Amber up on her generous offer to help.” He sidled up next to Amber and whispered, “We’ll need plane tickets this time.” Then he tipped his head toward Finn.

  Shannon grabbed Amber’s hand and stopped just as they reached the hall.

  “Wait. I need some money.”

  “Chloe has plenty. Isn’t she upstairs?”

  “Ah, no. You told her to stay—um…where she was.”

  “Ah. I forgot. Well, mayhaps Amber can take you to Chloe, and all three of you can go shoppin’ or whatever it is you lasses want to do. Your sister has the bulk of our savings hidden away.”

  Amber nodded.

  “All right then.” Shannon strode to Finn and kissed his cheek. “I’ll see you shortly.”

  He took her hand and laid it against his cheek. “Don’t take so long this time. I miss you like crazy when you’re gone.”

  Rory rolled his eyes and Amber hurried her out before Finn realized he couldn’t live without her for a minute.

  Ah, young freakin’ love.

  * * *

  Shannon and Amber landed in the cottage’s kitchen, within earshot of a family squabble.

  “You’ve no right to set foot on our family’s land!” Chloe shouted.

  Conlan folded his arms. “It’s our family’s land too—or did you forget? We’re of the same family.”

  “You are not. You moved to Ulster centuries ago. I barely know you. You could be anyone.”

  “Our parents had to move to Ulster. You know that. Our mam was driven out of Ballyhoo after our da was slain.”

  “Exactly,” Chloe said.

  Aiden advanced on her.

  “Stop.” Conlan grabbed his brother’s arm and held him back. “The whole thing happened so long ago that no one can be sure of anythin’.”

  “One thing we’re all sure of is that meddling Saint Patrick decided it was his mission to rid Erin of all snakes and dragons in the fourth century,” Aiden bit out.

  Conlan snorted. “Drove them into the sea, he did.”

  “Thank the Goddess our grandparents and a few others spotted the caves on their way over the cliff and managed to save themselves. Else none of us would be here,” Shannon said.

  “Which is where our fathers were born.” Conlan crossed his arms. “You see? It’s our ancestral home too.”

  “And we came here to protect it,” Aiden reminded her.

  “Are you forgettin’ the Battle of Ballyhoo?” Chloe asked. “You lost the ancestral home when your da got greedy and wanted to be king—if you’re even his sons. As I said before, you could be anyone.”

  Aiden began peeling off his shirt and pants.

  “What the hell do you think you’re doin’?” Chloe yelled.

  “Provin’ we’re related,” Aiden said. Then his eyes began to shimmer and his skin turned scaly and greenish. Wings emerged from his back as his neck and face lengthened.

  Amber had never seen anything like it in her life. She took a few cautious steps back. Chloe didn’t seem terribly impressed. She just folded her arms and waited. When the transformation was complete, Shannon started to giggle.

  “What’s so funny?” Conlan asked.

  Shannon poi
nted to Aiden’s tightie whities straining at the seams. “He’s too embarrassed to shed his knickers. Soon, they’ll burst.”

  Chloe joined her sister in laughter. “Why don’t you just shimmer off your clothes magically and shift at the same time, like we do?”

  Conlan growled and Aiden quickly transformed into human form again.

  Amber couldn’t help but wonder if Rory shifted into the same thing…or creature. She also wondered if the Arish siblings shed all of their clothes when transforming. It appeared as if they did.

  Amber had to intervene. Mother Nature would not be happy if things escalated too far. A neighbor could visit and look in the window at the wrong moment.

  “I’m sorry to interrupt,” she said. “And I don’t want to get in the middle of this, but I need to remind you all of a very basic rule.”

  They glanced at her with raised brows.

  “What might that be?” Conlan asked.

  Do they really not know? “Gaia’s rule, of course. Never reveal your paranormal nature to humans.”

  All of them gawked at her.

  Finally, Conlan asked, “Who did you say said this?”

  “Gaia… You know…Mother Nature. You’ve heard of her, right?”

  Shannon looked like she was about to faint. For once, Chloe was speechless, and the two cousins just stood there with their mouths hanging open.

  “How do you know this?” Conlan demanded.

  Amber straightened to her full five-foot-six-inch height and said, “She told me.”

  Shannon found her way to the sofa and sat down.

  Chloe shook her head and muttered, “All this time we’ve worshipped her, and yet she shows herself to—to…her?”

  “Excuse me?” Amber said.

  “Nothin’. I was just…” Again, Chloe had no words.

  “You’re makin’ the whole thing up,” Conlan stated.

  “I am not. Who do you think gave me the powers I have?”

  Aiden tipped up his chin defiantly. “And what powers do you have? Whatever they are, a dragon can put you in your place.”

  Conlan stopped his brother with a hand on his arm. “Even if what you say is true, what will Gaia do if a human sees us shift into the form she gave us?”