Dragon Bites
Page 25
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Nessía stretched her sleepy body, then shrieked. Two warm arms immediately cradled her, shushing her and ordering her to keep still. She calmed down when the familiar voice speared through the cloud of pain.
“My shoulder hurts.” Nessía turned her face to Rory’s. Sleepy blood-shot eyes gazed down at her. Cradled in his arms, the pain subsided and the fear melted away. She was safe. He did not hate her. He had caused her injury, but did not act as if he understood it was her he had attacked. Should she explain? What if the truth threw him into a rage and he attacked her in this form? She might not survive.
“That’s quite a deep puncture. Did the creature hurt you anywhere else?
“Creature?” How dare he call me a creature? She shook her head and decided, then and there, that only the truth will set her free. Either the man she loved accepted the truth about her dragon soul, or he would speed her to her death.
“The creature of the loch is not a myth.”
“I know. I saw it. I stabbed it and…” Rory stared down at her. His gaze slid to her wound then back to her face.
“No. Impossible.”
“My name is Nessía of the Loch, and I have lived beneath the surface of Loch Ness for centuries. My search for a human existence brought me to the town of Na Cearcan Bã Na. Forgive me if I frightened ye, but I wanted to ensure ye did not drown.”
Rory stared at her, but did not push her aside.
“Is this some sort of sick joke?”
“Nay. I licked your bloody palm in friendship. I understand if you cannot—”
“No! Forgive me. I attacked you because I feared for …you. I knew Nessía…you…had disappeared beneath the surface where a large creature swam.”
“I forgive ye. Can ye forgive me?”
“What is there to forgive? You are well and in my arms.” Rory drew back and glared down at her. “How long will you stay in this form?”
“I do not know. I am too weak to change back. I prayed that I could stay, but ye hurt me.”
“Me? Hurt you? How?”
“Those American women.”
Rory laughed. “I assume you refer to the two women upstairs. The silly girls with two large men in their beds?”
Relief flooded her body, washing over her and strengthening her resolve to find her heart’s desire. If only she knew how to make the shape shift permanent.
Bright light filled the room, brighter than the dawn peeking from behind the curtains. A swirling mist hovered beside the bed, and turned into the Faerie Queen. Rory shot to his feet, placing his body between the floating figure and Nessía.
“Still acting the hero, I see,” Nessía whispered.
Rory threw her a quick smile then returned to his warrior stance. “Don’t touch her.”
The Faerie Queen smiled slyly, then winked at Nessía. “I see you have found your savior. Has he agreed to the terms?”
Rory turned to Nessía. She glanced from him to the queen. She turned to present her wounded back to the immortal creature. “We had an interruption. But, I love him and he says he loves me.”
“Is this statement true, warrior?”
“Ah, yes.” Rory answered, stumbling on the warrior tag.
“Do you give yourself willingly to this creature, to have as your mate until death?”
“This is sounding like a wedding vow,” Rory said. “We just met.”
“My Queen, this man is a foreigner to our land. He may want to return home.”
“Aye, I see the problem.”
“Wait a minute,” Rory interrupted, “Who says I want to leave?”
“Rory, I cannot leave. I must live near the loch. Though the fae tells me I can stay human, my heart is tied to this area and—”
“Okay. We stay. As long as you agree to marry me, of course. I refuse to live in sin.” The dignity expressed by Rory’s raised chin and firm fists on hips made both Nessía and the fae queen laugh.
“Did ye mean that to be a proposal? Americans!”
Rory fell to one knee. A beautiful ring of pink quartz in a brilliant gold setting materialized in his hand. He glanced at the queen who bowed her head ever so slightly, then he turned his attention back to Nessía. She swallowed hard as emotions turned her body soft and warm in the presence of the man she could imagine spending the rest of her life with, a man she would love until her death.
“Nessía of the loch, will you marry me?”
“What of the curse?”
“You know about the MacDonald curse?” Rory glared up at her, then laughed. “You cursed my ancestor, didn’t you?”
“Aye.”
“Remind me never to make you angry. But, does this mean you are going to say no?”
Nessía knew what he meant. She had conjured the curse centuries ago when she told Monty ‘No man born into your family shall win the heart of their soul mate with ease. Let them all fall in love. Then, when their intended denies them her heart, they shall feel this pain.’
“ ‘Tis a difference between you and your ancestors. I gave them the way to redeem the family, yet no one accomplished the job…until you.”
“Me? What did I do?”
“One simple act of pure selflessness will save your family,” the fae queen said, “and I believe jumping into a monster-filled loch, to save one woman constitutes the cure. Am I correct?”
Nessía nodded.
Rory grabbed her left hand and looked serious. “Nessía, I asked you a question.”
“Aye, I shall marry ye.”
He stood and, instead of gathering her up in his arms, kissed her on the mouth.
“What? No hug?” she pouted.
“I don’t want to hurt you.”
“Her wound is healed, warrior. Have a happy life.” The fae queen turned to Nessía. “And you…no more earthquakes!”
In a puff of sparkles, light, and a vapor as thick as morning mist on the loch, Nessía and Rory were alone. She stood and wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him on the mouth. He pulled away, even though she felt the swell of his arousal against her stomach.
“Earthquakes? I believe we have much to tell our grandchildren.”
She saw their smiles reflected in the bureau’s mirror. She turned slightly and found that the bandages were gone and the wound had healed. She rolled her shoulder, and pulled Rory toward the bed.
“Let me share my new brand of earthquakes.”
THE END
More About the Author
Nancy Lee Badger loves chocolate-chip shortbread, wool plaids wrapped around the trim waist of a Scottish Highlander, the clang of broadswords, and the sound of bagpipes in the air. After growing up in Huntington, New York, and raising two handsome sons in New Hampshire, Nancy moved to North Carolina where she writes full-time.
Nancy is a member of Romance Writers of America, Heart of Carolina Romance Writers, Fantasy-Futuristic & Paranormal Romance Writers, Triangle Area Freelancers, and the Celtic Heart Romance Writers. Nancy and her family volunteer each fall at the New Hampshire Highland Games, surrounded by…kilts!
CONTACT NANCY
Website:
http://www.nancyleebadger.com
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http://www.nancyleebadger.blogspot.com
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Reviews
of Books by Nancy Lee Badger
- My Reluctant Highlander: Great story, humor, romance, it has it all!—Lala
- My Banished Highlander: I love time travel novels and this one is one of my
favorites.--GCreamer
- My Honorable Highlander was a great read and I totally look forward to Iona and Cameron’s story in the next book of the series. —Shelly at Dark Diva’s Reviews
- Dragon’s Curse: Wow! This was a historical with a delicious paranormal twist… wild animals, a
shipwreck, a witch, and ghosts. I loved it! —Mickey
- Love To The Rescue: Nancy's writing style is edgy, provocative and realistic. The fire and rescue scenes were spot on. —BabsBookBistro
- Southern Fried Dragon: Nancy Lee Badger is a keen storyteller who draws you in and keeps you reading until you get to the happily-ever-after. —Jan Romes
- Destiny’s Mountain: Nancy skillfully paints a portrait where the reader can envisage the beautiful scenery… with a great display of action, romance, suspense and wonderful chemistry, this story is indeed awesome. —The Romance Studio
- Dragon In The Mist: A 2012 Reader’s Choice Award. Winner/1st Place in its category in the Silken Sands Self-Published STARS Contest. —Gulf Coast RWA
- Unwrapping Chris: This is a must read… I love all of Nancy's books… You will not be disappointed in this book. —BabsBookBistro
- Secret Love Match: This book has everything you would want: romance, a little mystery, suspense, and thrills… delightful book. —Barbara Hightower