Merry & Bright: A Christmas Anthology (Nocturne Falls Universe)

by Fiona Roarke

  “Doe, where are you?”

  He paid close attention to the telepathic line he and Kaylae shared, but silence answered him. No need to panic. Telepathy became a moot point when there was significant physical distance between them.

  That raised another question. Where was his lifemate that he could not reach her telepathically? And in this terrible weather?

  “Anything?” Alazar called into the house.

  “Hold on.” Zareh rushed through the living room, the laundry room, and to the door leading into the attached garage. He switched to his dragon’s sight to see through the darkness. His heart plummeted into his gut when he saw the empty spot beside his SUV. Slamming the door shut, swallowing down the thin curls of smoke that rose into his mouth from his throat, he returned to Alazar. “They’re gone. Took the car.”

  Alazar rubbed a hand down his face and groaned. “Perfect. Any idea where they would go in this lovely weather? And in that not-so-snow-proof can you bought her?” He waved his cell phone in front of Zareh. “Ariah’s not answering.”

  Zareh scowled. “I wouldn’t answer you either if you kept ignoring my texts.”

  “I haven’t ignored them. I’ve…been vague in my answers, thanks to you. More than I can say about your responses.”

  “The Hollow. Lake. Phone. The last two don’t mix.” It wasn’t his first phone causality, and it certainly wouldn’t be the last. It could have happened on a better day, though. “We’ve got to locate them before something happens. Can you reach Ari telepathically?”

  “No.”

  “Can’t reach Doe either.”

  “Well, let’s get sky-bound, shall we? It’s perfect flying weather,” Alazar said, his voice dripping sarcasm as heavy as the sky dropped snow.

  Zareh hopped off the porch and moved away from the house. He released himself to his dragon form, his body swelling, his bones twisting and remolding. His burnished red scales slipped over his skin, which thickened to a leathery texture and provided an added layer of warmth. His shoulder blades thickened and stretched upward until he flapped his wings once, twice, stirring the snow immediately around him. As his head and body finished transforming, he snaked his long neck around to find Alazar already rearing back on his hind legs.

  Together, they launched into the fast-falling snow. Zareh used his thermal sight as he scoured the grounds below, seeking any sign of Kaylae’s car or the women. He stamped down any possibility that their ancient enemies—the Baroqueth slayers—had chosen this particular evening to launch another attack. The deadly sorcerers had been quiet for months, but Zareh and Kaylae’s location was no secret. He knew it was only a matter of time before they made another attempt to capture and coerce them both.

  If they found my Doe, if they dare harm her…

  A burst of smoke sieved through his fangs, weaving between the sheets of white that fell from unseen clouds. The faint silhouette of Alazar’s formidable figure disappeared through the dense snow to his right, though he could still hear the strong flap of his friend’s wings.

  “Kaylae, sweetheart. Can you hear me?”

  He wove through the sky, heading along the streets he knew Kaylae would drive to get to town. The residential section of Nocturne Falls was nothing more than a blanket of white from this height. He could barely make out the houses, let alone any of the smaller details. Lights were nothing more than a glint that quickly drowned beneath the white cape. The snow fell too hard, too fast.

  Zareh dropped closer to the ground, keeping a few feet above the tall Victorians along Shadows Drive, too worried about his lifemate to care if anyone saw him. As he veered to the left, away from the wealthy landmarks, a faint zing in his mind caused him to slow.

  The familiar warmth that accompanied their mind-speak bond poured through his body. His Doe was close, within a mile or so. He followed the low resonating hum of their connection, determining his direction according to the strengthening or weakening of that connection.

  A moment later, Alazar descended on his left, flying a few feet above him. A plume of gray escaped his friend’s wide nostrils to be quickly absorbed in the snow. He looked at Zareh and his massive jaw tipped once in a nod. Yes, he had a connection as well.

  “Zareh!”

  The shrill cry filled his head, unleashing the dangerous beast inside him. He tucked his wings tight against his body and dove toward his lifemate’s fear-filled mental scream. A pulse flowed along the bond, echoing the up-tick of Kaylae’s heartbeat.

  “I’m coming!”

  As Zareh’s own desperation threatened to strip him of logical control, he spotted the first sign of heat in the dense white snow. He heard the squeal of an engine.

  He pushed his body faster, cutting through the wind currents until he could see the car.

  And the ditch the back end crept precariously close to.

  Zareh twisted sideways as he bulleted toward the car. Throwing his wings out enough to slow his flight and not overshoot his target, he extended his claws, digging them into the fiberglass siding as the BMW began to tip into the ditch. The high-pitched shrieks from inside the car drowned out the painful screech of his talons scraping through frame.

  The car jerked in his grasp. Wings flapping powerfully, claws sunk into the hood, Alazar yanked the car back toward the road as Zareh maneuvered it from the rear. Together, he and his friend landed, securing the car’s front bumper against a thick tree, away from the street.

  Through the windshield, Zareh caught Kaylae’s wide eyes, her mouth slack and her face a few shades paler than normal. She threw open the door and scrambled out of the seat, struggling briefly with the seatbelt as she tore it off. Zareh reached out to steady her, but she shoved his claws aside, made it a few more feet before slipping and falling to her hands and knees, and…

  Zareh instantly reined in his dragon and returned to his human form. He rushed to Kaylae’s side, dropping to his knees beside her in the snow to hold her dark waves away from her face as she lost a vicious battle with her stomach.

  “Love, you’re okay now.” He stroked her back with his free hand until she had calmed enough to sit back on her knees, breathing heavily. Zareh wiped tears from her damp eyes. “What were you two thinking, coming out in this?”

  Kaylae rubbed the corners of her mouth with two fingers and cleaned those fingers in the snow.

  When she turned her beautiful blue eyes on him, they were brimming with anything but happiness to see him.

  He swallowed.

  “Where have you been?” Her voice was low, lethal. Zareh fidgeted on his heels. Kaylae shrugged his hand off her back and his heart nearly cracked. “You said three. It’s six. You ignored my calls and texts. It’s Christmas Eve and I’ve been waiting in that monstrous house for you with no one but Ariah, who’s listened to every complaint I’ve spit out. Where. Have. You. Been?”

  “Are you hurt, love?”

  Kaylae’s brows shot up. “Really? You’re going to completely ignore my question?”

  Zareh was almost certain he’d prefer her screaming at him over this deadly calm tone. It left his blood chilled and his skin warming over his cheeks in what he could only imagine was discomfort. He, Zareh Lutherone, second oldest living Firestorm dragon, embarrassed. Put in his place by his little Doe.

  “I didn’t ignore your calls, love. My phone fell in a lake and isn’t working.”

  Her eyes narrowed to slits. “That’s as bad as, ‘The dog ate my homework.’”

  Zareh’s brows wrinkled. Dogs ate food, not paper. “Uh…”

  Kaylae scowled, waving his curiosity aside as she climbed to her feet. He hopped up and tried to reach for her hand. She tucked it into her coat pocket and glowered at him with moist eyes.

  “Ahh, thank the gods. Looks like all is well in the land of Lutherone.”

  Alazar’s light-hearted interruption couldn’t have been more ill-timed. His clueless friend stepped right up to them, Ariah tucked beneath his arm, and flicked a finger between Kaylae and Zareh.


  “Ariah doesn’t like the cold, so I think it’s time we head back to the house and settle in for a proper Christmas Eve. What do you say?” Ariah, who appeared content pressed against Alazar’s side, smiled.

  “It’s Christmas Eve. There’s much to celebrate,” she said. Zareh almost missed the way Ariah’s gaze lingered on Kaylae before lifting to meet his eyes. Something in her stare caused an unnerving tingle to ripple down his spine, leaving him both curious and unsettled. “But you two are unacceptably late.”

  Kaylae’s jaw set. “I think I’ve had enough celebrating for one day.” She shot a short glance at Zareh. “Just bring me home.”

  Zareh looked helplessly at Alazar. Alazar buried his face in Ariah’s knit cap for a few moments, shunning his silent plea for some advice.

  “Kay, let’s forget the tardiness and enjoy the rest of the night.” Ariah reached out for Kaylae, who took her hand. The corner of Zareh’s mouth twitched. His sweet Kaylae refused his touch but was willing to find comfort in her friend’s. He’d royally screwed up. “But let’s not do it out here. This storm is a doozy.”

  Zareh waited for Alazar to change into his dragon and draw Ariah into his chest with one huge taloned claw to protect her from the storm during flight. Zareh gave Kaylae a few moments alone, hoping she would finally give him a chance to apologize.

  When she kept her back to him after Alazar took to the air with Ariah, Zareh stepped up behind Kaylae and tentatively rested his hands on her shoulders. “I’m sorry, love. I would never hurt you intentionally.”

  “Where were you?” she asked again, her voice barely above a whisper.

  “Let me show you.” He dipped his head and placed a kiss on the top of her head. Snow clung to her dark strands, a cool whisper against his lips. “It was supposed to be a happy surprise.”

  Chapter Four

  Kaylae bunched her hands into fists, keeping them tucked deep in her coat pockets. After a short flight tucked close to Zareh’s hot dragon body—why did the man have to possess the power to melt her anger without much effort?—she stood on the walkway, staring at their old house on Crossbones Drive. Confusion set in as quickly as the cold, now that Zareh no longer had her wrapped in his natural body heat.

  Okay, so part of that was her own doing. She remained stubbornly separate from him, her grudge anchoring heels deep in her unstable emotional state. She was really beginning to hate this lack of control over her own feelings.

  Trying not to make it obvious that she couldn’t keep her eyes off his handsomeness—seven months did little to dull the fiery attraction she felt for him—she opted to move closer to Ariah. And hesitated. Her dear friend was ensconced in Alazar’s arms.

  You should be in the same place, with Zareh.

  A sigh escaped her lips. Her shoulders slumped. Slowly, she twisted and squinted through the merciless snow, her heart doing the strange double-thump thing it always did when she laid eyes on Zareh.

  Zareh’s moss green eyes glowed, lit by some magical inner light, and held steady on her. Snow clung to the wide berth of his shoulders, covered by his soft leather jacket. His hair, midnight black and brushing his nape, acted as a refuge for snowflakes, enhanced the sharp contours of his gorgeous face. What most people saw as edgy and rough, she knew to be tender and loving.

  Right now, he wore a heavy burden on his expression, one that she had caused.

  “You two can dance in the snow, but we’re heading inside,” Alazar announced, leading Ariah to the front door.

  “We’ll be right behind you,” Zareh said.

  Kaylae watched his fingers moving at his sides and sensed his desperation to touch her, but he refrained. Her shoulders slumped more.

  “I’m sorry, Kaylae.” Zareh pressed his lips together for a moment. “I know I upset you. I wanted to do something special for you. For us. Christmas traditions are, well, not my specialty. I haven’t any idea how Talius celebrated the holiday.” A sharp breath escaped her dragon as he said the name. “I know you miss your father, love. I miss my Keeper. I was hoping to keep him alive in the holiday for you.” Zareh rubbed a hand over his chin. “I have this horrendous feeling I’ve failed. Miserably.”

  Tension began to drain out of her arms and fingers. She couldn’t stay mad at Zareh.

  “You could’ve called. Alazar’s phone didn’t go for a swim.”

  “Yes. And I should have, but I didn’t. I didn’t want you to detect a secret from me.”

  Kaylae licked her lips and cringed inward. She really needed to rinse her mouth out. “I need to use the bathroom.”

  Zareh took her forearm in a gentle grip as she turned toward the house, bringing her to a stop. His touch singed her skin through several layers of clothing, leaving her to simmer in the fire he stoked. He stepped in front of her, facing her, and molded one of his warm hands against the side of her face, his thumb stroking her lower lip. Instinctively, Kaylae pressed her cheek against his palm, loving the feel of heat and strength in his touch, the tenderness beneath the iron-forged will and fierce protector.

  She closed her eyes, giving herself over to the man who cradled more than her cheek. He cradled her heart, her soul, the very reason she breathed. Without Zareh, she ceased to exist.

  She squeezed her eyes tight against the swell of tears that threatened to pour over the rims when Zareh’s lips touched her forehead. He lingered, his kiss gentle and endearing. She sucked her bottom lip between her teeth, leaning into him, wanting him, needing him to encompass her and assure her all would be okay.

  “I love you, Doe. Everything I do is for you.” He leaned back, his hands gliding down to rest on her lower back. She willed her tears away and met his piercing gaze through the sheets of snow. “Everything, love.”

  “I know,” she whispered. There was nothing Zareh wouldn’t do for her, including giving his own life for hers.

  “Ready to go inside?”

  Kaylae nodded, sidling up against Zareh’s side. There was no mistaking the way the tension flowed out of him as he settled his arm around her shoulders and held her close.

  “Would you like to tell me why we’re here and not at the new house?”

  Zareh glanced down at her, the smallest hint of a grin touching the shadowed crease at the corner of his mouth. “You are horrible at hiding your feelings about our new place. It’s not a home, I know. It’ll take time to become a home. But here?” Zareh led Kaylae up the steps to the door. “We have months of memories within these walls. Let us make our first Christmas memories here as well.”

  Kaylae failed to keep her lips from quirking in agreement. Her love for Zareh swelled to bursting as guilt churned in her gut.

  Zareh opened the front door and guided her into the warm interior.

  Kaylae gasped. She lifted her hands to her mouth as she soaked in the glittering living room decorated with haphazard strands of Christmas lights along the wall. In the corner leaned a pitiful live tree donned with an array of ornaments, tinsel, and more strands of colorful lights. The fire flickered full and hot in the fireplace, setting the room aglow in succulent orange-yellow. Mismatched statues and Christmas decorations crowded the mantel. Four stockings hung from nails hammered into the polished wood.

  As she did a slow turn to survey the cozy living room, she couldn’t suppress the small laugh that escaped her lips. More random Christmas statues and decorations cluttered the coffee table and the corners of the room. A pine garland hung over the window. Christmas tree-shaped pillows shimmered on the sofa.

  Zareh shrugged when she made the full circle back to him. “I don’t possess your keen eye for style and design, but I hope we can turn the mess I’ve created of these decorations into a beautiful Christmas to treasure forever.”

  Kaylae dropped her hands from her mouth. “Is this what you’ve been doing all day?”

  “Surprise?” His brow furrowed, his sharp-featured face taking on an expression that might have been a cross between uncertainty and child-like hope.

&nb
sp; Kaylae threw herself into his body, nuzzling her face against his shoulder. Zareh’s strong arms came around her, encasing her in his unique scent of spice with a hint of fire.

  “Thank you,” she breathed into the leather jacket. “Thank you, Zar.”

  “Anything for you, love. But there’s a little something more.”

  Kaylae leaned back and looked up at Zareh. His lips curled into a devilish half-grin.

  He took her around the waist and led her toward the kitchen across the foyer. “I recall you sharing a story about your father making a feast to celebrate Christmas Eve. You said it was a tradition to have ham?”

  Kaylae’s stomach twisted. A memory of her last Christmas with her father flashed through her mind. He had never skimped on tradition, and the meal had always fed them for days. They would go to sleep with full stomachs and continue the celebration Christmas morning with an exquisite breakfast.

  She sucked in a shaky breath and released it with a controlled exhale.

  “Yes. And every possible side you could imagine.”

  With a gentle hand on her lower back, Zareh ushered her into the kitchen. Kaylae’s attention was drawn immediately to Alazar and Ariah. The lovebirds were tangled up in each other’s arms, sharing a kiss that ramped up the temperature a few dozen degrees.

  She began to smile—oh, she knew all too well the powerful pull and desires that came with the lifemate bond—but her stomach lurched. Her nostrils flared as the potent aroma from the masterful spread of food split between the dining room table and the kitchen island filled her nose, leaving a foul taste on her tongue. Sourness lingered in her mouth from her upset stomach after Zareh and Alazar rescued them from the ditch.

  “Oh no.” Kaylae shot Zareh a panicked glance before she shoved by him and tore down the hallway to the bathroom.

  Chapter Five

  The muffled clearing of a throat held him in his place. His dragon coiled, sensing Doe’s distress, but Zareh planted his feet where he stood. He’d count to a hundred before he followed after his lifemate, giving her enough time to compose herself.