by Julia Mills
Waiting patiently, Orion hoped beyond hope that his subconscious had caught sight of the woman, the dragoness….his obsession, but, alas, it had not. Instead, the scene began to fade; it felt as if he was floating and then in the blink of an eye, he saw a grey dragon, his beast, flying high in the sky joined by a female whose scales glittered in the sunlight with every color of the rainbow, looking like a kaleidoscope of happiness, joy and…hope.
Waking with a start, the Shadow jumped from his bed, slipped his feet into the boots and clothes he knew from their scent that Drago had left for him, and made his way out the back door of the clinic.
Holding the blanket the dragoness had wrapped him in close to his heart, inhaling her intoxicating scent and stealing away into the night, the Shadow whispered, “I will find you, mo Dragoness, of that you can be sure.”
Chapter Three
“Are you going to stop moping any time soon?”
“I am not moping, I’m looking for game,” Sadie growled, still irritated that Phryne had tagged along on her hunt. All the dragoness wanted was to be alone and sulk. It was all she had wished for since the night they’d returned the male to his kin.
“Okay, whatever you say, but I know moping when I see it,” the winged-horse shifter clicked her tongue. “And that,” she pointed at Sadie, “is moping at its finest.”
“Be. Quiet,” Sadie whispered through gritted teeth, eyeing a buck a hundred yards away as she thought of their dwindling food stores after feeding a half-starved male dragon shifter for the better part of four days. She had no regrets for helping him but had to replace what he had eaten as quickly as possible.
Taking a deep breath and holding it, the dragoness pulled her bow string tight and stared at the tuft of fur just above the buck’s shoulder. She would only shoot if she was sure to drop the animal where it stood. Making it suffer was out of the question. Apex predator or not, Sadie Ashford, both woman and dragon, had a heart.
Pulling her gloved hand back a fraction of a millimeter and letting out the breath she’d been holding in precise timing with the release of the bow string, Sadie watched her arrow cut a straight, sharp path through the forest, careening toward her prey. All it took was a single flash of sunlight deflected from only the Heavens knew where and the buck was off and running, and Sadie’s arrow was stuck in a tree, leaving the dragoness to curse like a sailor.
“Dammit all to Hades. Of all the stupid, asinine…If I get my hands on the son of a bitch who…Bastard. Dumb bastard…”
“Nice language, sis,” Phryne snickered.
Ignoring the Pegasus’ comment, Sadie stomped across the fallen leaves and decaying brush, the crunch under the heel of her boots calming her ire and allowing her to think. Sending out her preternatural senses to see who or what had caused the disturbance that scared off her prey, the dragoness promised retribution.
Pulling her arrow from the hard wood of the Alder tree, Sadie prayed to the Guardians of the Earth for quick healing and apologized for the scar she’d left on its majestic trunk. Listening to the sounds of a waking wilderness, the dew drying from the leaves, the birds chirping in the trees, the squirrels chittering to their young, and even a fox yipping to her kits, the dragoness searched as far and wide as she could, but found no clue of who or what had spooked the huge buck.
With the sun rising over the mountain ridge and no game to clean, she quickly revised her plans and called to Phryne, “I am going to check the traps, do some fishing, and then hunt right after nightfall. See you in the morning.”
Heading off into a denser part of the forest, she heard the winged-horse shifter scoff, “Annnnndddd, I’ve been dismissed. Once again with no goodbye, thank you for hanging with me, or kiss my big toe.” Phryne’s voice got a bit louder as she added, “And I know darned good and well you can hear me, so listen up. I’m only going to put up with your crap for another couple of centuries or so. You hear me. You’ll miss me when I’m gone.”
Sadie bit her bottom lip to keep from laughing. She knew her sister was right. She would miss Phryne, as she would miss all her sisters were they ever to part ways. “And, I fear that time is coming,” she mumbled to herself. “The winds of change are blowing. Fate and Destiny are knocking at the door and I’m afraid they have come with an ultimatum, not a request.”
Shaking her head and letting out the breath she’d been holding, Sadie thought about a bit of target practice. Although she preferred her bow for hunting, there was just something about the feel of the cool metal in her hand, the sound of the gun firing, the scent of sulfur, coal, and salt peter in the air, and the power she felt watching the rotting fruits and vegetables explode that calmed her nerves. It was almost as cathartic as a good sword fight, which she had actually entertained. Gwendolyn was an excellent swordswoman, but in Sadie’s present mindset, she doubted her ability to simply train.
Even though she had denied Phryne’s accusations that she was moping, the dragoness had to admit, at least to herself, that she was being cranky, irritable, and yes, mopey, and had been since leaving him with the Blue Dragons. It wasn’t that she didn’t stand by her decision; she truly believed it was the best thing not only for her clan, but also for herself. It was that she missed him and it simply made no sense at all.
Long ago, after the news of her parents’ deaths and that of the other girls’ families, Sadie made a vow to lead their clan, to give the other six girls a family, to redefine what they all thought of as kin from blood-relatives to those of their hearts. Together, all seven had come together under the light of the full moon, taken a blood oath, and pledged their loyalty not to the Universe and the Heavens, for those they would always hold dear, but to one another.
Seven women with incredible powers, many the last of their kind, all with the ability to shift form and take flight, became much more than refugees or orphans, they became family…sisters-of-the-heart. As the years passed and the Guardian aged, Sadie knew the time was approaching for her to truly take the lead.
And that is how it had been for nearly fifty years. With the dragoness at the helm, the Ladies of the Sky had operated as a clan, lived together, worked together, and grew together, but now, it seemed as if the tide was turning and great changes were on the horizon. Changes Sadie not only did not want, but on some deep, almost inherent level, feared. It made no sense. She had never feared anything, or if she did, had always found a way to fight, conquer, or destroy the obstacle. In this case, none of those options would work, nor did she want to try them. No, this man, this dragon, who had invaded their forest and overstayed his welcome, made the princess think of things she had locked away or denounced years ago.
Checking the last of the traps and finding them empty, Sadie made her way to the lake, climbed into her canoe, and paddled across the crystal-clear water. Listening to the stream coursing against the rocks, letting it carry away her worries, she picked a spot under the long drooping limbs of a weeping willow tree to anchor and fish. Baiting the hooks on four different rods, she leaned the poles against the side of her boat, sat back, ate her lunch, and waited.
The longer time passed without a bite, the farther into her thoughts and memories the dragoness fell, until she was once again a teenager, sitting across from the Guardian, having a healthy debate about fated mates and their uselessness…
“But I don’t see why I have to swoon over a man, any man for that matter, just because Fate or the Universe, the Heavens or Destiny, have decided he is the one for me. Do I not have a say in the matter? Does it not matter what I think or what I feel?”
Answering as patiently as she answered all questions, the Guardian nodde., “But of course, you have a say in the matter and yes, all the Deities care what you think and feel. That is precisely the point. They have designed not only you, but the perfect mate for you. For who could know you better than the loving hands that molded your beautiful heart and fearsome mind? They have taken all your wants and desires, needs and dreams, everything that makes you the very specia
l being that you are into consideration and then fashioned your perfect complement. The one person who understands you better than even you understand yourself.”
Jumping to her feet and throwing her hands in the air, the dragoness railed, “But how could they know that what I want now is what I will want in fifty years, a hundred years, five centuries? What if I hate him? What if he hates me? How would we be of any benefit to one another, dragon kin, or the Universe?”
Smiling as serenely as if they were taking a walk and picking flowers, the Guardian explained, “It is impossible for you to hate him or for him to hate you, my little princess. You were designed for one another. Your ancestors thought the concept of mates was so important that even the Holy Book of Dragon Kin explains this very special gift. The writings explain, ‘When the two halves of the same whole meet, there will be instant recognition. Their souls will merge, and only then will the man and dragon know complete peace. They will have found their true home. It will be as if the time before they met their one true mate, the light of their soul, ceases to exist. The life they spent alone no longer is of any consequence. All that will matter from that moment forward will be that they become one in body, mind, and soul in the ways of the Ancients with the One the Universe made for them.’”
“It even goes on to say that each female is not only the light to her mate’s soul, but his strength and his guiding force.” She stood and stepped into Sadie’s path, making the little dragoness stop mid-step and listen. “Do you not see how vitally important you and all your sisters are to the continuation of your races? Not simply to have children as you so crassly put it a few minutes ago, but because you are the life’s blood of your people. You, as women, as leaders, as warriors, are stronger when united with the other half of your soul than on your own. When two hearts become one, it is a promise one to another, and neither time, nor space, nor even death can break, for it will last a lifetime. Ever strong, ever resilient, everlasting.”
The Guardian placed the side of her index finger under Sadie’s chin, lifting her head until the dragoness could see the wisdom shining bright in the depths of the teacher’s eyes and added, “You, Princess Scathach Sorcha Ashford, Royal and Rightful Leader of the Mighty Ashford Dragons, will only be given a mate who is filled with joy at your very existence and welcoming of your quick mind, strong will, and fearlessness. He will stand by your side, not in front of you and most definitely not behind you, but at your side, an equal and willing partner in all things.”
Moving her hand to cup Sadie’s cheek, the Guardian went on, “And, my darling little princess, he will love you infinitely more than the sum of all the raindrops that fall from the Heavens for all your lifetimes together, for you will be his light, his love, and his salvation.”
Watching the clouds skate across the sky, Sadie couldn’t help but think of the man she and Phryne had returned to his people. It was hard to admit, even to herself, that in the three days since leaving him atop that table, she had thought of little else. Whether waking or sleeping, he was first and foremost in her mind. She found herself sitting in the food storage cavern, unsure of when she’d left the lake, holding the pillow he had used, inhaling his scent, and remembering every nuance of his handsome face while wondering who had been so evil as to inflict such torture upon him that the scars remained despite his powerful magic.
Had she made a mistake? Should she have let him stay? Was he important to her future? Never before had she doubted a decision, but this one man was making her question not only her choice, but almost everything she had ever believed.
Should she have revealed herself to him? Talked to him? Made sure he was as good a man as she believed him to be? Question upon question beat at the dragoness until she feared she would lose her mind.
Leaving the cave, she walked to the ridge, pulled the opal pendant of her father now hanging on a chain around her neck from under the soft leather of her vest, and looked at the matching ring her mother had worn every day while bringing up the last image she remembered of them, the one from the picture she kept hidden in her Book of Prayers. She thought of their smiling faces and the look of love they shared with her and between themselves. Her arms tingled, thinking of how her father’s calloused fingertips felt on her skin in comparison to her mother’s soft touch.
Focusing as hard as she could, Sadie recalled the low timbre of her father’s voice and the way his laugh boomed off every wall in the Great Hall, making everyone laugh along. The contralto of her mother’s soft tone resonated through both woman and dragon as Sadie whispered the prayer she and Sasha had repeated every night before bed. “Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Heavens my soul to keep. Guide me and my dragon through the starry night and wake me when the sun shines bright. Keep all my kin and their kin too, safe and sound and near to you. I thank you for this day, in your loving grace I pray.”
For the first time in nearly fifty years, a single tear tumbled down Sadie’s cheek as she raised her eyes to the Heavens and pleaded, “Matháir, Athair, if ever I needed you, it is now.”
Chapter Four
“And this is what happens when you run off half-cocked,” Orion murmured to himself as he followed the scent of the woman who dominated his every thought, action, and dream. “You were even warned,” he scoffed.
It wasn’t that her scent was hard to follow; it not only filled the senses of both man and dragon, but also their souls. It was that the Guardsman was beginning to wonder if he should have been more prepared before meeting the dragoness he was sure had been made especially for him. He had never been the suave or smooth one of their group; that was Kayne’s job. Orion was more the strong, silent type who stood to the back and kept watch. Being the son of the Spiritual Elder of their clan, he had been taught patience and that there would only ever be one woman who captured the heart of both man and beast.
Sure, there had been dalliances over the years. The Heavens knew he had been a typical randy young man during his transformation years, but that had ended almost as quickly as it began when he was initiated into the Guard. It wasn’t long before he and the lads were off fighting one battle after another with barely a day between, lasting nearly a century before they were abducted.
Now, he was almost two hundred and fifty years old, traipsing through the woods, unsure what to say when he finally met the person who would complete him in every way possible. Stopping midstride as the sound of a branch snapping under the heel of a boot reached his ears, the Shadow took cover behind a pile of rotten logs and overgrown foliage.
Scenting the air, he found a Pegasus shifter and a Thunderbird, both of which he thought had been extinct for many years. Even more interesting was the fact that they were both female and carried the scent of the woman for whom he searched. Listening to them talk, he recognized their familiarity as being something like the relationship he shared with his brethren and smiled.
“I know she’s sitting up on that ridge, meditating and kicking herself over every decision she’s made over the last week.” Looking through the brambles, he saw it was the woman with short dark hair, the Pegasus, who had spoken.
The Thunderbird, a redhead with braids down to her hips, freckles covering her cheeks and nose, and bright green eyes that glowed as she spoke, chuckled. “Or she’s standing in the lake with a spear, taking her anger out on the fish.”
“Either way, our Sadie is tied in knots and I wish I knew how to help.” The brunette’s tone was part worry, part irritation.
“I just wish you could tell me what was going on,” the redhead shook her head. “I guess I should be used to it. I’m the last to know everything. Always have been.” She snorted. “Which in some cases, with you lot, is a good thing.”
“You know what’s even better?” The winged-horse shifter stopped as she spoke and from one breath to the next, pulled out her short blade, hurtled it through the air, and yelled, “Don’t move, dragon, or I swear the next one will be between your eyes,” as her blade stuck firmly into th
e piece of petrified wood standing less than two scant inches from his head.
Slowly standing, Orion held up one hand while holding the blanket to his chest and carefully explained, “I mean no harm. I simply came to return your blanket and thank you for helping me when I was injured.”
Glaring and unmoving, the brunette had a second blade aimed at his head and the Thunderbird’s bow had an arrow cocked and pointing at his heart. Deciding all he could do was stand absolutely still and plead his case, Orion took a deep breath, cleared his throat, and asked, “You are the ones who saved me when I’d been shot and returned me to my people, yes?”
The redhead barked, “No,” at the precise the moment the Pegasus nodded, “Yes,” while trying to hide a grin.
The Thunderbird’s head snapped to the side and he immediately heard the telltale buzz of mind speak. From the expression on the brunette’s face, he knew she was on the receiving end of what his mother used to call a tongue-lashing but was taking it all in stride and still holding back her smile.
In less than a minute, they were both staring at him again, neither one looking anymore pleased to see him than they had before. The Pegasus demanded, “What are you doing here? We returned you to your people. Don’t you know how to stay put?”
It took everything in Orion not to laugh out loud at the brunette’s bold attitude. He liked her. She was quick on the draw, good with a blade, and not afraid to speak her mind. He thought about telling her so, but somehow figured she would not appreciate his assessment. Instead, he said, “I apologize for trespassing. I simply wanted to thank those responsible for my speedy recovery and return this.” He again used the blanket as the excuse for his intrusion while telling as much of the truth as he could.
