by Julia Mills
Around the next corner, hiding behind her heart, the barbed tips of its long spidery tentacles barbarically burrowed into the soft tender layers of Bitsy’s Spirit. The throbbing bulbous grotesquely misshapen miasma of perverted magic and unadulterated hate and envy expanded and contracted to a staccato rhythm all its own, completely unaware that its existence was about to be terminated.
Careful not to make any sudden movements while rousing his ancestral magic, Tristan accepted Diarmuid’s gift of ageless Dragon enchantment, hopefully welcoming the burn in his fingertips as he floated ever closer to a miniature copy of an enemy he knew all too well. Focusing every molecule of his strength, every glimmer of his mysticism, and every ounce of adoration he felt for Felicity, Tristan thought of everything the abomination had already taken from him, letting his anguish fuel the purifying flames of his fire flowing freely from every fiber of his being.
But the evil bastard was prepared.
A blur of flailing legs accentuated with the unspeakable screech of a flock of buzzards feeding on roadkill, the repugnantly evil abhorrence leapt from side-to-side. Over and about, spinning left and twirling right, the spawn of the Obscured launched oozing, steaming balls of noxious scum into the flames of Tristan’s fire, creating a smokescreen of venomous fog to use as cover.
Refusing to be beaten, roaring with the rage of centuries of pain and loss, the Dragon doubled his efforts, letting Diarmuid spring forth as his human form faded into the background. Embracing the raw power of the ancient Dragon King, looking for the Obscured’s weaknesses from a different perspective during the heat of battle, Tristan’s agile mind searched for a new plan of attack.
Back and forth, left then right, zigging and zagging, Diarmuid was barely able to stay ahead of the disfigured blight while maintaining a steady stream of fire, snarling his fury at what was beginning to look like a losing battle. Spinning to the left before instantly rotating to the right, the Dragon King raced forward, dropped to his underbelly and slid underneath the Obscured, slicing and instantaneously cauterizing a massive gash from what Tristan could only guess would be called the Obscured’s stem to stern.
Yowling in agony, black globules of gore and tacky glutinous strings of foul fluid oozed from the aberration’s gut, the monstrosity struggled to remain standing while raising its two front appendages, and pelting BBs of sizzling acidic pustules at the underside of Diarmuid’s neck. With the upper hand, adrenalin racing through his every metaphysical scale, the Dragon King moved in for the kill, so completely enthralled with the victory at hand that he misread the Obscured’s intent, catching a series of deadly furuncles in the center of his chest.
Using the tips of his wings for support, repudiating any notion that he would or could be beaten by such a miniscule lump of discarded, unwanted magic, Diarmuid continued to pelt the Obscured with flames and bolts of Dragon magic until the atrocity finally, blessedly exploded into millions of aberrant, putrid, smoldering bits of filth. Dropping his underbelly to the ground, forcing Tristan to the forefront, Diarmuid wheezed, “The Fairy is safe. The spawn of the Obscured is no more.”
“Thank you, my friend,” Tristan rasped, the stinging in his chest morphing into a slow burn that quickly dimmed the spark of his life force, leaving him feeling weightless and drowsy.
Reaching for the trail of magic he’d left on his way into Bitsy’s soul, Tristan repeatedly failed to grasp his only lifeline. Exhausting the very last drop of his energy, the Dragon laid back and whispered to Diarmuid, “We had a good run, my friend.”
“Indeed, we did, mo chara. I could’ve asked for no better companion.”
Chapter Nine
Caught between her need to stay by her sister’s side now that Bitsy was stirring and the unrelenting fear that Tristan was most definitely not okay, Felicity screamed her frustration at the wall before grabbing the Lion she was sure was named Miguel as he walked by the swinging metal door and ordering him to stay with Bitsy until she returned. Taking the steps two at a time, barely noticing the dark narrow stairway that had freaked her out when she’d been going the other direction, she burst through the heavy wooden door, ran down the hall and followed her Dragon’s scent to an obscenely tall wooden door with an obnoxious brass handle that was inconveniently locked.
Raising her foot and slamming the sole of her dark brown Doc Martens into the carved wood just above the nob, Felicity flew through the broken door and ran across the room before dropping to her knees beside Tristan. Growling at the fact that he was unconscious and propped against a deep blue velvet covered ottoman, she grabbed her Dragon by the shoulders and screamed, “Wake up, you big dumb idiot. Wake up right now.”
Again and again she shook him, demanding he open his eyes, ordering him to wake up, pleading with him to return to her and somewhere along the way admitting, “Damn you, Tristan O’Doherty, don’t you leave me. Don’t you dare do it, not before I’ve had the chance to tell you that I’m sorry, that I need you, and that I love you, ya’ big dumb Dragon.”
Letting her chin fall to her chest and her head to Tristan’s chest, Felicity groaned, “Go away,” as large warm hands gripped her shoulders.
Unwilling and most definitely unable to move away from Tristan, she wasn’t surprised when Max’s calm, smooth baritone asked, “What will you do to have him back?”
“Don’t toy with me, Panther. You may be the King, but I’m a pissed off Flower Fairy with a Royal heritage and the will to fuck up your day in a really big way. Tell me you know how to bring him back or get the hell off of me.”
“Oh yeah, I like this girl, Max. I can’t wait to see her wrap Tris around her little finger.”
Recognizing the snickering voice as Julian Mattice, Tristan’s friend, partner, and Goddess help her, another friggin’ Panther, Felicity lifted her head and looked over her shoulder. “Who are you?” She glared at a tall blond who looked like he belonged on a surfboard or at the very least hanging out on Venice Beach.
“Name’s Drákon. Sea Dragon’s my gig.”
His name did ring a bell, but Felicity had neither the will nor the inclination to dig for the information. Her focus was putting Tristan’s soul back in his body and waking him up so she could kick his ass for doing something so dangerous without her.
A staticky buzz alerted her to the fact that one, two or all of the men – Big Cats and Dragon alike - in the room were speaking telepathically. Lifting herself off Tristan’s lap and getting to her feet, she stepped to the side, turned towards Max, Julian, Sebastian, and Drákon and demanded, “Tell me how to fix him.”
“You’re not going to like what has to be done,” Sebastian replied.
“I’ll be the judge of that,” Felicity deadpanned, before growling through gritted teeth, “Tell me.”
“Good Lord, I’ll tell her if you won’t,” Julian sighed with a roll of his eyes as he stepped forward, stood in front of her and announced, “You have to formally mate Tris. Only by forming the irrevocable mating bond and accepting your mark from the Universe can you lead your Dragon home.” Covering his mouth with his hand, he cleared his throat before adding, “And I hear that’s not on your list of top ten things to do today.”
Opening her mouth to disagree, Felicity slammed her lips back together and looked into the eyes of each and every one of the men standing before her. Making sure they saw the truth in her eyes and could feel her conviction to do whatever she had to do to bring her Dragon back to the land of the living, the Fairy adamantly swore, “With the Goddess as my witness, I will do whatever it takes to save Tristan.” Clenching her fists by her side and working as hard as she could not to scream, she added, “Are you going to help me, or waste what little time he has left?”
Grinning like the cat that ate the canary, Max nodded, “Indeed, we will help.” Turning to Drákon, he added, “Will you do the honors?”
“Sure, I’m a bit rusty, but as I was told not so very long ago, it’s time for me to get off my lazy ass and start acting like the King I am.�
�� Chuckling, he went on, “What better way to start then saving Tris’ life and helping the One the Universe made for him?”
Crossing the room, Drákon stopped by her side, smiled the most genuine smile she’d seen since the whole blasted mess started and winked. “Sit down there by Tristan. We’re gonna do this the only way I can think of when the Dragon is unresponsive…we’re gonna improvise.”
Doing as she was told, Felicity wound her fingers around Tristan’s, held on tight and silently prayed that what they were about to do would work.
“Now, remember, it’s been a really long time since I’ve done any of this. It’s been Poseidon’s duties since I washed up on the shores of his Acropolis, but I’m gonna do my best.” Clearing his throat, Drákon continued, his voice taking on a reverent tone that reenforced the importance and significance of what was about to happen.
“Long ago, when Knights and Dragons fought side by side defencing King and Country, it became apparent that Dragon kin were no longer safe from those who sought to expose and destroy them. Their only hope of survival and completion of the mission the Universe had given them as Her chosen warriors was to join their souls with the knights who had been their greatest allies through so many battles. Through magic and the will of both Dragon and knight, the Dragon Shifters were born.”
“Tristan is a proud Bronze Dragon who has suffered at the hands of enemies both magical and common and has also been victorious more times than even he can remember. He and Diarmuid, the Dragon King with whom he shares his soul, like their ancestors before them, were forged from the hard core of the Earth. They are powerful, unyielding Dragons whose scales are harder than diamonds and more durable than time itself. Because of this, they are often referred to as ‘Warrior Dragons’.”
“Protective to a fault, they will fight to the death to defend all they hold dear. They seek justice at every turn. They have meticulous with ambitious attitudes and use a combination of their mind, body and heart to make every decision. They love hard, strong, and without fail or end. They never lose faith in whom or what they believe in and will stand beside their convictions without fail. To mate a Bronze Dragon is to accept all that they are and honor the power shared between the sacred bond of mates.”
“Do you, Felicity Morgana Fairweather, Daughter of King Owain of the Seelie Fairy Court, and Queen Cecily, the great-grand-daughter of Morgan le Fey, also of the Seelie Fairy Court pledge your love, your life, your heart, and your soul to the One the Universe made for you, Tristan O’Doherty?”
Looking at her Dragon, unable to believe what he’d done for her, the sacrifice he’d been willing to make to save her sister, Felicity answered without reservation, “I pledge all that I am. I would give my life right this very second for his. Tristan is all I could ever want, all I will ever need, and I now know, the only man I could ever love.”
Looking up at Drákon, she couldn’t help but return his smile as he nodded before jesting, “Now comes the interesting part.”
“Interesting?”
“Yeah, that’s the only way I can explain it.” He gave a half-shrug. “If Tris were awake, we’d all leave you alone to make with the kissy face and receive your blessing and marks from the Universe, but since he’s not, we’re gonna ad-lib.”
“Okay,” she answered, unable to keep the skepticism out of her voice, glad when the Sea Dragon hurried on.
“We are still gonna leave because I’m pretty sure even in this extreme circumstance, you two have to be alone. So, when we’re gone, you’re going to have to kiss Tristan while opening your whole self to him.”
“That’s it?”
“That’s the best I can come up with. Any questions?”
Shaking her head, Felicity quickly replied, “No, I have faith this is gonna work.”
“That’s what I like to hear.” Drákon gave her a thumbs up that made her chuckle before he turned around, pointed towards the door and cheered, “Forward ho, gentleman. Let’s leave our young Fairy to it.”
Waiting until Sebastian had pulled the door closed even though it wouldn’t lock since she’d kicked it in, Felicity straddled Tristan’s lap, placed her hands on either side of his face, and without hesitation laid her lips to his. The same magical connection she’d felt earlier in the day when he’d kissed her so passionately and made her feel things she’d never imagined, zinged through her body, lit her up from the inside-out, and threw her heart and soul open to the promise of her own happily ever after with the one true mate of her dreams.
Falling into their embrace, never wanting it to end, the transition of her spirit out of her body and into the ether where Tristan’s essence was trapped, was seamless and only interrupted by the sharp burning sensation on the side of her neck. Weightless, floating on air, not sure what to do or how to do it, she focused on her enchantment, following the sparkling trail that reminded her of shimmering snowflakes of her youth and imitated what Tristan had done when he’d spoken directly into her mind.
“Alright, hot stuff. I’m here and we’re mated. Hope you’re not mad at me, but I’m gonna take you home or die trying
Chapter Ten
“Tristan? Tristan, where are you?”
He’d spent only the Goddess knew how long ignoring Diarmuid’s continuous harping that he needed to stay awake, but this was different, nicer, beautiful…melodic. Images of his Felicity, her long light brown curls flowing across her shoulders and her expressive lavender eyes sparkling with excitement at her latest floral creation refused to be pushed away as the voice became more insistent, almost growling.
“Tristan O’Doherty, I swear to the Heavens I’m gonna kick your ass so hard your Dragon’s gonna lose scales if you don’t answer me.”
“Felicity? Is that you?”
The words were barely off his lips before the bend where his neck met his shoulder began to sting, and his entire spirit was filled with devotion, commitment and a love he’d never expected to feel. Everything came together in one brilliantly bright shining light that was nothing short of miraculous.
Opening his eyes as wide as they would go, he bellowed, “Felicity? Felicity, mo ghrá, where are you?”
Holding his breath, letting his enhanced hearing reach as far and wide as he could at the same time that Diarmuid’s soul collided with his just as it had when they’d been brought together by the Mage’s spell, Tristan felt them melding them together. He experienced the merging of their union, the one that had been torn asunder when the Obscured exploded, was sewn back together. Tristan was finally ready to call out again when Felicity answered, “Tristan? Tristan, where are you?”
“I’m here. I’m coming.”
Moving as quickly as he could, reinvigorated by the strength of his brilliant connection with Felicity, Tristan’s spirit darted towards the sound of her voice, not breathing normally until he laid eyes on his spectacular mate. Rushing to her, his hands reaching for hers, an explosion of lights, sounds, and emotions locked them together, transported them through time and space and shoved their souls back into their bodies.
Unwilling to let another moment pass without kissing Felicity, Tristan placed his hands on her face and pulled her lips to his. Kissing her as if she was the very air he needed to survive, his hands slid down her neck, across her shoulders, and down her back, committing her sensual curves and erotic dips to memory, promising to never again leave her side.
Getting to his feet with Felicity in his arms, Tristan laughed out loud when his amazing mate shrieked, “Put me down!”
“Oh, I will. In just about forty-five seconds.”
“No! You will now.”
Stopping at the obstinate tone of her voice, Tristan looked deep into her eyes, holding his breath as she scowled, “If this is gonna work.” She motioned bac-and-forth between them. “Then you have to promise never ever to put yourself in danger like that again. My heart can’t take it.”
Looking away and taking a deep breath, he could hear the wheels turning in her mind but refused
to eavesdrop, instead summoning his hard-fought control to be as patient as possible. When she spoke, her tone was soft and incredibly apologetic.
“And I promise to never lose my temper, act like a spoiled brat and shout horrible names at you.”
Unable to hold back his laughter, Tristan chuckled, “I might just hold you to that.” Kissing the tip of her nose, he went on, “And I promise to never scare you like that again, because Felicity, my gorgeous Flower Fairy, I love you more than every bloom, blossom, flower and vine on the entire planet.” Winking, he added, “Now, if there’s no further objections. I’m gonna show you exactly hove very, very much you mean to me.”
“Lead on, Dragon Man. Make me yours, cause baby, you’re already mine.”
Pulling her back to his chest, loving the way she curled into his body, laid tiny kisses on the side of his neck, and paid special attention to what he now realized was his mating mark, Tristan had to look down at hers. Shaking his head as he immediately recognized the image of a snapdragon etched on a Dragon scale, he made a promise to himself to plant an entire field of the gorgeous flowers, in honor of the amazing mate the Universe had blessed him with.
Climbing the back staircase to the room he used when he stayed at Max’s, Tristan barely made it to the door at the end of the hall before his lips met Felicity’s in another life-altering kiss. Pouring his undying love and wholehearted commitment into their caress, he made absolutely sure she would never doubt how truly special she was to him, by speaking directly into her mind, “Thank you, Felicity, thank you so very much for saving my life and making me the happiest Dragon in all the world.”
Stepping over the threshold, he kicked the door shut with the heel of his shoe stalking across the room like a man possessed. Gently laying his Fairy on the soft down of the navy comforter Max’s housekeeper always put on his bed, Tristan settled his body atop hers, holding his weight on his forearms positioned on either side of her head.
