dragon archives 04 - dance with a dragon

by Linda K Hopkins

  “You asked me once about the purpose of my life,” he said softly. “You, Anna, have given my life purpose. Without you, I am nothing, but with you, I can do anything.”

  She lifted her head to gaze at him. “I love you,” she whispered.

  They lay in the mossy grass of the meadow as the sun passed above them, watching the clouds paint patterns in the sky. Max told her about his time in the city, while she talked about the happenings at Storbrook and in the village. They watched as the sun moved across the sky, and when a slight breeze rustled through the trees above them, Max drew her closer, wrapping his heat around her. The sun was starting to sink behind the mountains, casting long shadows on the ground, when Anna let out a long sigh. “We should get back,” she said.

  Max was lying on the ground, his hand stroking her back as she sat against his side. “Why?” he said.

  “Because Keira and Aaron will wonder where I am.”

  Max laughed. “Aaron already knows,” he said.

  Anna pulled away to look at him in consternation. “How does he know that?” she asked suspiciously.

  “Because he’s Dragon Master.” Anna raised her eyebrows, and Max lifted himself onto his elbow. “You forget I have a bond with him. He knows that I have taken a mate.” Anna’s eyebrows rose even higher.

  “No!”

  Max nodded, grinning shamelessly. “He also knows, through my connection with him, that it is you I have claimed.”

  Anna dropped her head into her hands. “That’s –”

  Max laughed, and pulled her hands from her face. “He doesn’t know your intimate feelings, Anna, although he may hazard a guess, I suppose. All he knows is that we are now bonded.”

  “So if he knows, then Keira knows too?”

  “I would imagine so!” Max sat up and pulled her into his lap. “So there’s no need for us to return to Storbrook.”

  “Actually, I don’t think I ever want to return,” she said.

  He grinned. “You will have to face them sometime, my darling. But there’s no rush. We will remain here for the night.”

  Anna darted a look into the trees. “But there might be wolves. Or wild cats.”

  Max laughed, and rising, lifted her to her feet. “You are with a dragon,” he said. “Nothing will venture anywhere near you when you’re being protected by the world’s most dangerous creature. Except maybe faeries.”

  “Faeries?”

  “Hmm. Faeries like to come out and dance on moonlit nights, and this looks like a perfect place for dancing.” He leaned closer, and his breath brushed her cheek. “Will you dance for me, Anna?”

  She pulled in a shuddering breath. “There isn’t any music.”

  He placed his hands on her hips and swayed to an unheard rhythm. “The music is within you,” he said. “Dance like a faery for me.” She caught the pace of his movements and started to glide with him, her skin brushing against his. He took a small step backwards. “Don’t stop,” he said when she paused.

  She resumed the motion, swaying gently, then lifting her hands, moved them through the air above her shoulders. Max dropped his hands and took another step backwards as she glided on her feet, sashaying from side to side. She twisted slightly, her arms curving to follow her movement, then throwing back her head, spun around in a circle. Her hair flew out around her face, whipping through the air. She closed her eyes and danced as heat wrapped around her, the swish of her feet moving on the ground the only sound.

  She felt Max stepping up behind her, and she shivered slightly when his hands stroked her upraised arms. He clasped them in one of his, and slowly pulled them backwards behind his neck as she leaned her head against his shoulder. The movement thrust her chest forward, and his hands slid down her arms and gently stroked her skin, cupping her breasts. Her movements slowed as he swayed behind her, and when his lips dropped to her shoulder, she was barely moving. He caressed her skin with his tongue, stoking a burning flame within her that slowly consumed her.

  There was a movement of air as he unfurled his wings, slowly and languorously, and the ground disappeared from beneath her feet. She lay against him as he hovered in midair, caressing her with his hands, and when his mouth moved along her neck she groaned with pleasure. His wings were stretched outwards, and he leaned back against them, pulling her against his chest, before slowly turning her in his arms.

  She stared down at him as he lay beneath her, floating through the sky, supported by his outstretched wings. His arms wrapped tightly around her, one beneath her thighs, the other around her head, and his feet tangled around hers. He pressed his lips against hers, and slowly rolled himself over in the air until she was beneath him, only his arms wrapped around her preventing her from falling. Her head rested heavy in his hand, and he pulled her closer as he slipped into her, catching her gasp with his mouth. She wrapped her legs around his waist, and when his lips slid to her neck, she cried out, before biting down on his shoulder when it seemed she would be ripped apart. She tasted his blood, and swallowed it as he grunted, grasping her so tightly she felt as though they had melded together into one.

  Her hands slipped from the clasp around his neck, and her arms fell back, hanging limply in the air. He rolled over again, and she collapsed against his chest. His fingers trailed over her back as they drifted through the air, his wings outstretched beneath him. She stretched out her hand and stroked his wing, taut behind his back, her fingers weaving patterns as she watched the moonlight glitter against the smooth surface. He sighed into her hair, her name a whisper that filled his lungs and turned into a flaming blaze.

  Chapter 52

  They slept in the alpine meadow, Max curled around Anna as he held her against his chest. And when she awoke, she watched the sun rise over the peaks of the mountains as his arm cradled her head.

  They were flying back to Storbrook when Anna asked him the question that had been teasing the edges of her mind. “Max?” she said as they flew through the air. He turned to look at her.

  “Hmm?”

  “That time at the battlefield, you told me to stay away from you. Was that because of the blood?”

  Max turned back to look at the mountains. “The blood heightened my desire for you. If you had come closer, or touched me, I might not have had the control to stay away from you.”

  “You would have killed me?” Anna’s voice was a whisper. Max turned to look at her again.

  “Killed you? Is that why you were afraid of me the next day?” His fiery breath filled the air around them. “I wanted you, Anna – wanted to taste your blood, and have you taste mine. I wanted to feel you in my arms, and might have taken you right there and then, whether you were ready or not.”

  Anna blushed. “Oh,” she said, looking away from him. Max stared at her for a long moment.

  “Know this, Anna,” he said. “There will never, ever, be a time when you need fear that I will harm you in any way. Your life will never be in danger because of me.” Anna nodded, but kept her eyes averted. “Look at me,” he said. She dragged her gaze back to his. “I love you more than anything else this life has to offer me, either as a man or a dragon,” he said.

  “I love you, too,” she whispered.

  He landed them back in Anna’s chambers, and no sooner had Anna slipped off his back than the door was flung open and Aaron strode into the room.

  “Max,” he said, “good of you to seek out your Master on your return.”

  Max grinned. “I was just about to do that, Aaron, but I had some other matters to attend to first.”

  Aaron nodded sardonically, but he turned to Anna with a smile. “You were already my sister, Anna, but now you are doubly part of my family. I’m glad this lad has finally come to his senses and taken you as his mate.” Next to her, Anna heard a soft snort. She lifted her chin.

  “Thank you, Aaron,” she said. Aaron grinned.

  “Keira is in the parlor, making plans for your human ceremony,” he said. “If you want any say in the matter, you had b
etter go find her.”

  Anna nodded. “I will.” She turned to the doorway, but Max grabbed her hand, and pulling her into his arms, kissed her, before releasing her with a look that made her wish they were alone again.

  Anna found Keira in the parlor, scratching her quill over a sheet of paper. She looked up as Anna walked into the room, then quickly replacing the quill in a pot of ink, rose to her feet and wrapped Anna in an embrace. “Finally,” she whispered. Anna pulled back.

  “Finally?” she said. Keira smiled.

  “When Max returned to court, I told Aaron it would just be a matter of time,” she said.

  “But I was engaged to Garrick.”

  Keira frowned. “I know, and I’m so sorry Garrick had to die before you discovered it was Max you loved.”

  Anna turned away. “Garrick told me he wouldn’t have married me,” she said softly. “He gave me his blessing as he lay dying.”

  Keira was silent. Anna turned around and tapped the sheet that Keira had been writing on. “What is this?”

  Keira glanced down. “I was making a list for your human ceremony.”

  “Perhaps we aren’t going to have one,” Anna said teasingly as Max and Aaron walked into the room.

  “We’re not?” Max said, taking her hand. “I don’t mind.”

  “You can’t do that,” Keira said with a look of consternation. “What will you tell Mother?”

  Anna laughed. “I wasn’t being serious,” she said. “Of course I want a human ceremony – I am human after all! I want all the world to know that Max and I belong to each other. And Mother has been longing to hear news of my nuptials.” She glanced at Max, who was watching her with a peculiar look.

  “If Mother was well enough we could have the ceremony here,” Keira said, “but she is quite unable to travel the distance, so we will ask the village priest to marry you, and then have a dance in the village square, as we did for our wedding.”

  “I’ll speak to Father Brown,” Aaron said. “I’m sure he will be willing to do the honors later this week.”

  “But we must first tell Mother and Father the good news,” Keira said, glancing at Aaron.

  “Of course,” he agreed.

  “And you need a dress,” Keira said. “I have some fabric in my chambers.”

  “You have fabric?” Anna said.

  “Yes.” Keira’s tone was defensive. “I wanted to be prepared for any eventuality.”

  Anna shot a quick grin at Max. “Just tell us when and where, and we will be there.”

  Keira sighed. “Don’t be silly, Anna,” she said. “We will go find that fabric now, and then this afternoon we will go into the village to make the arrangements and inform Mother and Father.” She turned to Aaron. “Meet us in our chambers at noon. And you, too,” she added, wagging a finger in Max’s direction.

  “Yes, Mistress,” he said meekly.

  Richard came out of his workshop as the two couples walked up the path to the house. “Aaron,” he said with a smile. He turned to look at Max. “I remember you,” he said. “You were at Storbrook a number of years ago. Max, is it?”

  Max nodded. “It is good to see you again, Master Carver.” He glanced at Aaron, then at Anna. He reached out his hand and wrapped it around hers, pulling her closer. “We have come to bring you some news,” he said.

  Richard looked at Anna, his eyebrows raised. She had not mentioned Max in any of her visits. She smiled sheepishly, and he looked back at Max. “You are not after my permission, I take it?”

  “No. It is too late to ask your permission. But we would like your blessing.”

  Richard’s eyes narrowed, and his gaze flew back to Anna, but it was Aaron who spoke. “Richard,” he said, “I think you are well aware of what Max is. He is a member of my clan, and has claimed Anna as his mate. They have already shared a blood bond, but they wish to have a human ceremony as well.”

  “I see,” Richard said. “Is the ceremony for Jenny’s benefit?”

  “Partly,” Max said as Richard looked back at him. “Even though Anna is already my mate, she is human, and I want to honor her by having a human ceremony, too.” Anna glanced at him as he squeezed her hand. She smiled and turned back to Richard, who was watching them intently.

  “When is this ceremony to take place?”

  “If Jenny is well enough, we will speak to the priest and settle on a day as soon as possible.”

  “I see,” Richard said. He stared at the ground for a long moment, then raised his head with a nod. “I will provide fare for a village dance.” He held up his hand when Aaron started protesting. “I insist,” he said. “There has been precious little I’ve been able to do for Anna these last few years, and I will not forfeit this right too.” He turned to look at Anna. “I wish you many years of blessing and happiness, my daughter,” he said. Anna felt the tears welling in her eyes as his gaze moved to Max. “Welcome to the family,” he said. “If Aaron believes you worthy of my daughter, then so do I.”

  “Thank you,” Max said.

  Richard nodded, then turned towards the house. “Let’s go give Jenny the good news,” he said.

  Jenny was lying in bed when they stepped into the room, her eyes closed. Her face was pale against the pillow, and the outline of her body was barely noticeable beneath the blankets. She opened her eyes as Anna drew closer. “Anna,” she said softly. Her glance flickered between Aaron and Max, then came to rest on Keira. “Where are my grandchildren?” she asked. Keira stepped forward.

  “Anna has come to give you some news,” Keira said. Jenny’s gaze traveled slowly to where Anna stood.

  “What is it? Are you finally getting married?”

  “Yes, Mother, I’m going to be married,” Anna said. She reached out a hand to Max and drew him closer. “You remember Max, don’t you?”

  “Max?” She frowned for a moment, then smiled. “Yes, I remember him. Charming and honest. I thought you didn’t like him.” Max shot Anna an amused grin, before stepping forward and leaning down next to the bed.

  “Mistress Carver,” he said, “I love your daughter. I have loved her for many years, and would like your permission to take her as my wife.”

  Jenny reached out a thin, wavering hand and took Max’s in hers. “Yes,” she said. “Take the girl and marry her. I must warn you, though, she is rebellious and disobedient. She gave her sister many hours of grief. But if you want her, she’s all yours.”

  Max glanced at Anna, his eyes shining with laughter as Anna glared back at him. “Thank you, Mistress Carver,” he said. “I will be sure to keep her under control.” He lifted the frail hand and gently kissed it before returning it to the coverlet.

  Jenny beckoned Anna forward. “Better make it quick before he changes his mind,” she said. Anna drew back and bit her lip.

  “I will, Mother,” she said. “Right away.”

  The wedding was two days later. The morning dawned rainy and gray, and cloud covered the tops of the mountains, swathing Storbrook in mist. But as the morning wore on, the cloud lifted and a few weak rays of sun broke through the thick covering. Anna wore a gown of dark blue linen, the color of a clear night sky when the moon is full. It had been finished the night before, and as she slipped it over her shoulders, Anna smiled in satisfaction. It fitted her form perfectly. One of the maids had brushed and braided Anna’s hair, twisting it in complicated braids that wound around her head and joined at the back, secured by a pair of combs made from the antlers of an elk, a wedding gift from Max, given to her the night before. They had been carved with the image of a flaming dragon, each comb carrying half the design which became complete when they were combined.

  Max was already at the church when Anna arrived with Aaron. He was standing at the bottom of the stairs, Lydia’s hand in his, but as Anna crossed the square towards him, his eyes were intent upon her. The cords between them flexed and tightened as her heart gave a little lurch. She dragged her gaze away and glanced around the square. A few of the villagers had gathere
d to watch, including Sarah Draper, who was staring at Max, her mouth hanging open. Corbin stood a little to the side, along with Zach; and Thomas and Peggy stood together at the edge of the square. They had traveled from Storbrook on horseback, starting their journey at dawn. Near the church sat Jenny on a wooden chair, a blanket wrapped around her legs. Richard was standing behind her, his hand resting protectively on her shoulder.

  Anna looked back at Max, then smiled down at Lydia. The little girl had a small posy clutched in her hand. As Anna drew nearer, she dropped Max’s hand and ran up to Anna, holding up the posy.

  “For you,” she said.

  Anna bent down and took the flowers. “Thank you,” she whispered.

  Max stepped up to her as she straightened, and taking her hand in his, pulled it through his arm, squeezing her fingers gently as he did so. He led her up the stairs and to the doors of the church where Father Brown waited with an open book.

  Father Brown nodded and cleared his throat, then glancing down, recited the marriage vows, pausing as Max repeated the words after him. He turned towards Anna, and she too repeated the vows, before the priest led them into the church for the nuptial mass. As they entered the shadowy recesses of the building, Max leaned down and brushed his lips against her ear.

  “You belong to me in every way now,” he whispered against her skin, and she smiled. She might belong to him, but he belonged to her, too. They knelt down to receive the mass, then followed the priest from the church as the people gathered in the square let out a cheer. Tears streamed down Jenny’s cheeks, and Keira beamed at her sister. Lydia, who had joined Keira when the vows were recited, broke free from her mother and ran over to Anna, wrapping her arms around Anna’s legs. Max lifted the girl and settled her in his arms as Lydia reached out her hand and stroked his face.