by Ines Johnson
He saw Chryssie on her perch. Tears pricking her eyes.
“All this for a half-breed human?” said Hilda. She pressed the jewels over her bloodied arms. “Deal.”
Siggy and Morrigan squealed as they filled their arms. This time it wasn’t a battle cry. It sounded something more like ka-ching.
Their squeals grated Corun’s eardrums, but he’d put up with it if it gave him his mate. Giving up his treasure was a pale sacrifice to make if it meant having Chryssie. Still, he cringed as the Valkyrie dashed off and went into his lair, his private sanctuary. A place he’d only taken Chryssie. But now, he could take her there again and again.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chryssie clutched the gems at her neck as she watched the Valkyrie grab and snatch at the rubies all over the ground. The leaves of the tree rustled around her in the breezeless morning. She took a deep breath.
Her lungs filled with the sweet air of freedom. Her chest warmed with the knowledge that she was home. Her eyes opened to find the man who’d fought to keep her hovering before her.
“You gave up everything for me?” she said.
“You are everything to me.” Corun opened his arms.
Chryssie left the protection of the branches to climb into her mate’s embrace. Corun wrapped her up in his strong arms, tucking her head between his chin and his heart. She felt the strong beat of the organ. She’d already memorized its pattern, though now there was no need. She’d hear Corun’s heart beating in her ear for the rest of her life. It would be a long life.
That wasn’t the only beating she heard. It was faint, almost imperceptible, but she knew that there was a new, pulsing beat inside of her. Two pulsing patterns.
She knew her babies’ hearts weren’t yet formed, but she felt their energy. She knew that just as her mate had been prepared to lay down his life for hers, she was willing to do the same for the two precious boys growing inside of her.
“I am pregnant,” she said to Corun.
“I know.” There was sorrow in his gaze. He likely still believed he could lose her to the new life inside of her.
“They said I was part dragon. I should survive.”
“No,” he shook his head. “You will survive.”
Chryssie’s heart skipped a beat. Was he still thinking of ways to stop her pregnancy? She loved this man and the dragon inside of him, but she wouldn’t hesitate to leave if he didn’t get on board with this.
“You are strong,” Corun said. “Stronger than any woman I have ever known. It’s not the fire in your blood that will allow you to safely birth our sons, it’s the tenacity of your spirit, the courage in your heart, and the discernment in your mind that will hold our family together.”
Chryssie let out the breath she’d been holding. Corun took advantage of her parted lips and slipped inside. He sipped at her mouth, nipping and biting at her. Chryssie was on a cloud in the arms of her strong, steady, solid mate. When she opened her eyes, she realized that they were floating down from the tree.
But her feet never touched the ground. Corun held her cradled in his arms. He walked into the fray just as the Valkyrie plucked the last of the gems from the ground. Morrigan winked at her as she walked away with arms full. Chryssie waved back at the angel of death who had saved her life.
Beryl, Ilia, and Elek came up beside Corun, flanking Chryssie as though they were her sentinels. Rhoyl landed beside them.
“That was a hefty price,” said Beryl. “You’re worth every gem, Chryssie. Still, it was a lot of gems.”
“You’ll pay the same—double even—if Morrigan finds another halfling.”
Elek shook the Magic 8-Ball and read the prognosis. “It is decidedly so.”
Beryl didn’t answer. He chewed the inside of his lip.
“What’s going on here?”
They all turned to the sound of the booming voice. Coming toward them was a man as tall and dark as Corun. Where Corun had an intelligent, professor quality to his handsomeness, this man reminded Chryssie of a pirate. His eyes were opaque, like hard diamonds glittering in the sun.
“Kimber, I’d like to introduce you to my mate,” said Corun.
Kimber’s icy eyes softened to brown. In a blink, his entire countenance changed. Instead of a domineering pirate, he looked like an autocratic ship captain.
“Hi,” said Chryssie, then wondered if she should salute.
Before Kimber could greet her in return, a red tornado bounded from behind him. Chryssie immediately came to realize that this young woman was the reason for the state of her closet back in the castle. Her red hair was teased higher than a Texas debutante’s. She was dressed in a black lace halter top which hung off one shoulder exposing her bra strap. Her legs were clad in a black tulle skirt and leggings with white pumps. A key hung from her ear. Bangles clanged on her lace-gloved wrist. A Boy Toy belt completed the outfit straight out of the Like a Virgin Tour.
“Mate?” said the Madonna wannabe. “That’s totally awesome. Hieeeeeee! I’m Cardi, Kimmy’s mate. Though he hasn’t claimed me yet on account of he’s ancient and thinks I’m still in a training bra. Which clearly I’m not.” She gave a tug and snap of her exposed bra strap.
“Cardi!”
Kimber’s deep voice made Chryssie jump. It had zero effect on Cardi who looped arms with Chryssie and tugged her toward the castle.
“I’m so glad they finally brought another girl. We are going to be besties. Wait, which Corey is your favorite?”
Corey? Chryssie looked back to Corun. He was watching her with a look of complete adoration. “That one right there.”
Cardi glanced over her shoulder and frowned. “Not Corun. Feldman or Haim? It’s Feldman all the way for me. He’s got a little bit of that bad guy edge, am I right?”
Chryssie didn’t answer. She allowed herself to be led by her new bestie, while the man who’d claimed her body, mind, and soul followed them back to her forever home. Not only did she have love in her life, a new home, but she had a family. A real, live dysfunctional family who would fight the authorities to keep her with them.
Real life didn’t get any better than this.
Epilogue
Beryl ran to catch up to the Valkyries. The female warriors were so busy gazing at the gems in their arms that they didn’t hear his approach. He’d always known that the daughters of the Goddess liked sparkly things, most females of each species did. But this was the first time he realized exactly what his gems might get him.
“I’ll do it,” Beryl called out to them.
He kept his distance. He wasn’t fool enough to get too close. He still had gashes on his torso and shins from their swords.
“You’ll do whatever we tell you,” said Hilda without turning around. She held a large ruby up in the light, admiring its shine.
“I’ll pay your weight in emeralds for a mate,” said Beryl.
Beryl had never dreamed he’d get a mate. He’d long ago resolved that his life would be one of fighting other shifters and fucking fairies. But the moment the Magic 8-Ball hinted otherwise, something changed inside of him.
He wanted a Chryssie of his own. Not her exactly but someone like her. Someone he would lay down his life for. He didn’t care about having babies. He just wanted a woman that would be his to protect, to provide for.
From the moment he was born, he’d been labeled a brute. He’d burst out of his mother’s womb, tearing her in two. He’d dominated his brothers, leaving Ilia weakened and Rhoyl to prefer to be a dragon than to stand beside him on his human legs.
But a mate would change all of that.
“I’ll see what I can do,” said Morrigan.
She gave him a wink before climbing on the back of her dragon. That wink put hope in his chest. Hope was a dangerous master. But he let it wash over him on this day.
Beryl turned back to his family. Cardi and Chryssie walked arm in arm. He rushed to flank the girls. It was still part of his responsibility to protect the women of his family.
> Every other moment of his life, he was looking for a fight. The beast inside him craved blood. Cracking his knuckles or his knees against another shifter’s body gave him a sense of purpose. But a woman, a woman would change that.
Being around the girls was the only thing that kept his beast in check. Soon, he would have one of his own. He just hoped the Valkyrie brought him someone. Soon …
Beryl will get a mate of his own … and sooner rather than later.
Unfortunately for him, she’s an abuse survivor.
That means the dragon who loves violence
will have a lot to do to earn her trust, and then her heart.
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Also by Ines Johnson
Aside from being a writer, professional reader, and teacher, INES JOHNSON is a very bad Buddhist. She sits in sangha each week, and while others are meditating and getting their zen on, she's contemplating how to use the teachings to strengthen her plots and character motivations.
Ines writes books for strong women who suck at love. If you rocked out to the twisted triangle of Jem, Jericha, and Rio as a girl; if you were slayed by vampires with souls alongside Buffy; if you need your scandalous fix from Olivia Pope each week, then you'll love her books! You can reach Ines at her website www.ineswrites.com or on Facebook.
The Last Dragons (Paranormal Romance)
The Dragon’s Reluctant Sacrifice
The Dragon’s Ambivalent Sacrifice
The Dragon’s Willing Sacrifice
The Knights of Caerleon (Paranormal Romance)
First Knight
One Knight
The Misadventures of Dame Galahad (Urban Fantasy)
Spear of Destiny
Ring of Gyges
Hammer of God
Dagger of Amun
Cord of Time
The Nia Rivers Adventures (Urban Fantasy)
Dragon Bones
Demeter's Tablet
Templar Scrolls
Serpent Mound
Eden's Garden
The Moonkind Series (Paranormal Romance)
Moonlight
Moonrise
Moonfall
The Cindermama Series (Contemporary Fairytale Retellings)
Pumpkin
Rumpeled
Beau
The Bright Series (Paranormal Romance)
Bright
