dragon archives 03 - loved by a dragon

by Linda K Hopkins

  “Yes, he’s in the parlor,” said Hannah, sitting down again and picking up the gown. Keira nodded her thanks and headed towards the parlor, pausing at the open door. Aaron was sitting on a chair, his face lined with thought as he absentmindedly tossed a ball of flame from one hand to another. Keira watched from the doorway for a moment and Aaron looked up to meet her gaze. He stared at her, his eyes flaring into flames as his gaze held hers. Keira nodded at the flames in his hands.

  “What are you doing?”

  He looked down at the fiery ball and shrugged.

  “A parlor trick,” he said, lobbing it into the fire.

  “When did you return?” Keira asked.

  “Shortly before dawn,” he said.

  “You didn’t come to bed.”

  “I wasn’t sure you wanted me to.” He glanced at her again, then looked away. She stared at him, unsure what to say. She loved him, and every fiber of her being yearned for him, for his touch, for his love, given freely and openly. She walked over to the chair, knelt down on the ground and rested her head in his lap.

  “I love you,” she said. She felt a shudder go through him, almost a sob, and felt his hands light on her head and twist into her hair. He set his hands on his knees, and she pulled back to look into his face. He was staring into the flame once again, and she stood up, taking a step away.

  “What happened last night?”

  He took a deep breath and rose to his feet. “Our first priority is to find Jack. It seems that he has been moving from place to place, but I intend to spend the day tracking him. He cannot hide forever.” He opened his palm, throwing a flame from hand to hand as Keira watched. A light tap sounded on the parlor door, and Aaron closed his hand over the flame as Thomas entered the room.

  “Milord,” he said, nodding at Aaron. “Milady.”

  “Thomas. You have news for me?”

  “I do, Milord.” He paused and looked uncomfortably at Keira as he cleared his throat. “The, uh, black dragon was in the city again last night. There were some” – he glanced at Keira once more – “casualties.”

  “The duke,” Aaron said in resignation.

  “No,” Thomas replied. “The duke’s daughter, Lady Isobel.” Keira gasped as Aaron looked up sharply.

  “Lady Isobel? Wasn’t she the one who gave the Black Knight her token?”

  “Yes, that was her. But she wasn’t the only one to lose her life. Another five people were killed, but she was the only one who … whose body was touched.”

  Aaron turned away with a growl as flames escaped from his mouth, the air shimmering around his body. His fingers stretched into talons as he curled them into fists, the muscles straining against his skin. A falling log pulled Keira’s attention to the fire, and she drew in a breath when she saw the flames in the grate rising higher, spreading beyond the confines of the fireplace and up the length of the wall, leaving a black scar on the whitewashed surface. Aaron was pacing the small room, his face a mask of anger. His face was changing as he paced, half dragon and half human, and Keira could see his teeth, sharp and pointed between wisps of flame.

  “Jack has gone too far,” he snarled. “He will be begging for mercy by the time I have finished with him.” He turned to Thomas. “Go find Max and tell him his presence is required.” Thomas nodded, but made no move to leave the room. “Is there something else?” Aaron said.

  “A messenger from the palace delivered this first thing this morning.” Thomas held out a small scroll of paper, tied with a leather thong. Aaron stared at it for a moment, then took it between his claws.

  “Go find Max.”

  “Yes, Milord.” As Thomas left the room, Aaron slid the cord off the scroll and unrolled the heavy sheet. He stared at it for a long moment, then handed it to Keira. Written in elegant script and embellished with purple and gold was an invitation to the annual winter ball at the palace. Keira studied it for a moment before looking up at Aaron.

  “It includes Anna,” she said.

  “So it would seem,” Aaron said. “We won’t be going, of course.”

  “Why not?”

  Aaron turned to her with eyebrows raised. “Because I have no desire to return to the palace, and even less to take you there. Besides, why would you even want to go?”

  “Because I have never been to a ball.” She took a step towards him and laid her hand on her arm. “Please?”

  “No.” He glared down at her. “I have no time for a ball.”

  She dropped her hand. “Very well. There is no need for you to go. Max can escort us.”

  “He will do no such thing,” he said. His eyes blazed as he looked at her, matching the flames that suddenly flared once again in the grate. Keira darted a look at the fire, but Aaron did not seem to notice as he clenched his hand around her arm, his talons scraping her skin. His skin was hot, hotter than she had ever felt, and she felt his palm sear into her skin through the fabric of her cloak. “Are you going to burn me where I stand?” she said, lifting her chin to look at him.

  He glanced down at where his hand was clamped around her arm. Releasing it, he stepped away from her at the same instant, a look of horror on his face. The fabric where his hand had been was scorched, and beneath it Keira could feel the pain of burnt flesh. She pushed the cloak aside and watched as the blistered skin slowly smoothed over, turning from red to pink as the dragon blood in her veins healed the wound. She looked up to meet Aaron’s appalled gaze.

  “You burnt me.”

  “I’m so sorry.” His voice shook slightly. “I had no idea. I don’t know what happened.” He opened his hands and stared down at them as his talons receded. “Something is changing within me. As though I am becoming one with the flame.”

  “Like you were in the cave?” Keira whispered.

  “Yes.” His voice was low. Keira took a step towards him.

  “Do you know you did something to the fire in the grate?”

  He had been examining his hands, but he lifted his gaze to look at her. “What do you mean?”

  “You were angry, and the flames suddenly flared up.” She pointed at the black streak on the wall. “That wasn’t there before. You made that happen.”

  “That’s impossible,” he said. He turned back to the fire, his eyes narrowing as he stared intently into the blaze. The flames suddenly grew, reaching higher than they had before. As Aaron fell back in shock, the flames dropped down again. He glanced back at Keira, his eyes wide, then looked back at the flames once more. As Keira watched, a small ball of flame left the fire, drifting higher into the air, and then as Aaron stepped back, it followed him into the room. He held out his hand and the flame landed on his palm, vanishing when he closed his fingers over it. For a long moment Aaron stared down at his hand, then turned towards Keira as she stared at him in shock.

  “How …?” she said.

  “I’m not sure. I used my mind to imagine what I wanted to happen, and then …” He shrugged. Keira took a step backwards as a wave of uncertainty rushed over her, but in two long strides Aaron was before her, and grabbing her by the shoulders, dropped a quick, hard kiss onto her lips. He stepped back as the door opened and Max stepped into the room. He paused, looking between them, before closing the door.

  “You wanted me, Aaron?” he said. Aaron stared at Keira for another long moment, his eyes holding hers as she gazed at him wide eyed, before finally turning to Max. He drew in a deep breath before responding.

  “Yes. I need you to go to Drake Manor. Owain needs to know what Jack is doing. Tell Favian I’m going to spend the day tracking Jack, starting at Potters Field, if he wants to join me. Come back here as soon as you are done – I don’t want Drake House left without security.”

  “Very well,” Max said with a nod. Aaron turned back to Keira, tapping his finger on the scroll still in her hand.

  “I believe we are done discussing this,” he said as he followed Max out the room. Keira watched as the door closed behind them.

  “For someone who has
lived over a century,” she said under her breath, “you don’t know very much, Aaron Drake.”

  Chapter 32

  Anna could not believe she had been invited to a ball at the palace.

  “How does the palace even know about me?” she said to Keira. Her sister laughed.

  “I already told you, Anna. Princess Matilda asked about my family and I said you were in the city with us.”

  “But what am I going to wear?” she said.

  “We will ask Hannah to help us,” Keira replied, smiling at Anna’s excitement.

  “Is Max going?” Anna asked.

  “I believe so. Why, do you want him to?” Keira asked. The color rose in Anna’s cheeks, but she waved off the question.

  “It doesn’t matter to me whether he goes or not,” she said. “I was just curious.” She pulled a gown out of her chest and held it up against her shoulders. “What about this one?” she asked.

  “Maybe.” Keira tilted her head as she examined the gown.

  “What did Aaron say when he read the invitation?” Anna asked as she twirled around the floor.

  “He was … less than enthusiastic. But he finally agreed to escort us when he realized it would offer him an opportunity to check in with other dragons who had been invited.”

  Not only had Aaron agreed, but he had decided that Keira and Anna needed to be suitably attired for a royal ball. The following morning, Anna’s chamber was filled with different fabrics while Hannah directed a small army of seamstresses as they cut, fitted and sewed. It was only three days until the ball, but somehow they accomplished the impossible. Of Aaron she saw very little, and even Max seemed preoccupied. She overheard him talking to Keira one afternoon as she was fitted for her gown yet again.

  “Has Aaron managed to track Jack at all?” she heard Keira asking.

  “He’s tracked down his lair in the mountains, but Jack has been keeping to the city since Aaron arrived.” Max sounded frustrated. “He keeps himself surrounded by humans, making it almost impossible for Aaron to do anything without revealing himself and other dragons. But Aaron has dragons watching him continually, so Jack has been keeping to his human form.”

  “But he’s no longer killing?”

  “He’s not killing.”

  “So what is he doing?”

  “That’s what Aaron is trying to figure out. He thinks Jack is just biding his time, but he doesn’t know why.”

  The river was a sea of bobbing lights on the evening of the ball as boats plied the waters, ferrying the royal guests to the palace. Anna could not help staring at the people stepping gingerly into the floating vessels, their jewels and finery sparkling in the light of the swaying lamps at the end of each boat, but when the palace came into view, she gasped. Thousands of lamps lined the path that led to the palace courtyard, making the night seem as bright as day, while hundreds of footmen stood on guard. There were people everywhere, streaming from the river towards the palace, or appearing through the trees that surrounded the walls.

  Anna felt like they were being swept along in a tide, unable to change course, even if they wanted to. She glanced at Keira, who looked back with eyes shining, her face reflecting her own excitement as their gazes met for a moment.

  They followed the crowd through a door where still more footmen were waiting to greet the guests. One of them stepped up to the small party, and Aaron held out their invitation. Max had his own, and these were both duly inspected. Satisfied with their authenticity, the footman bowed low, as another liveried servant stepped forward to lead them up the huge staircase and through the doors of the hall.

  “Master and Lady Drake, Anna Carver, and Max Brant,” he shouted out before stepping back and gesturing for the group to enter. For a moment, Anna could only stare as she looked around the enormous hall. Intricately carved wooden beams curved over the room, while along the top half of the whitewashed walls were huge arched windows, the leaded panes filled with colored glass. The lower half of the walls were covered in wood paneling, carved with scenes of hunting, romance, and nature. The walls were lined with torches, while above them were silver chandeliers filled with brightly burning candles. At one end of the hall was a raised dais with a long table covered in a white linen cloth, in front of which were two ornately gilded chairs, carved with a pair of lions. Behind the dais stood an embroidered screen, and strains of music could be heard coming from behind it, almost drowned by the general hubbub. Further down the hall were trestle tables, each lit with dozens of candles, while at the other end of the hall was another elaborately decorated screen. In the center of one wall stood a huge stone fireplace, so big a person could stand upright within it, while flames blazed and flickered behind an iron screen.

  Aaron and Keira were moving into the room, and Anna followed at Max’s side, her eyes darting to take everything in. People crowded into every corner, chatting and laughing. Someone was calling Max’s name, and Anna turned around to see a woman pushing her way through the crowd.

  “Max, darling, you’re back! We have been so forlorn without you.” At the sound of the voice, Max paused, but when Anna glanced up at him, she was startled to see he was looking not at the woman but at her. His eyes met hers for a moment, his gaze unfathomable, and then he was turning to the woman with a smile.

  “Jane. As you can see, I am back for now.”

  “For now? Oh Max, you cannot leave us again. We are lost without you.” She was right upon him now, her hand stretching out to take his arm. He took a small step backwards as she touched him, creating a space between them. The woman’s eyebrows went up, and her gaze shot over to Anna, whom she looked at thoughtfully. Taking a step backwards, she dropped her hand.

  “Ah. I see,” she said. Max inclined his head slightly, meeting her gaze.

  “It is lovely to see you again, Jane,” he said. Anna looked at him in confusion. She felt like a child watching through a window, seeing something just beyond her ken, but when Max pulled her hand through his arm and turned to follow Aaron, she allowed herself to be led away. A footman walked past with a wooden tray in his hands, and Max passed her a silver goblet of wine. More and more people were joining the crowd, spilling from the hall into the passages beyond. Anna was sure that no more people could squeeze in when a clarion sounded and a hush fell over the company. A man stepped onto the raised dais, his voice ringing over the crowd.

  “Their Royal Highnesses, Prince Alfred and Princess Matilda.”

  The clarion sounded again as the eyes of everyone in the room turned to follow the pointed hand. There was a wide doorway through which a man walked into the hall, a crimson robe falling from his shoulders and a chain of office around his neck. Following behind were the royal couple, the prince beaming at his loyal subjects as he led his wife to the raised dais and sat down on the larger of the gilded chairs, while the princess sat down next to him.

  The entrance of the royal couple marked the official start of the evening, and it was not long before people were instructed to take their seats while food was served. Anna could not believe the variety of dishes offered – fish, peacock, woodcocks and swan, venison, lamb and suckling pig. Fruit, nuts and cheeses, baked quince, fruit compotes and spiced baked apples. It seemed like the fare was endless as each course was removed and another brought forth. Ale and wine flowed from the jugs held by servants as they hovered around the tables, and when the spiced wine was served at the end, Anna felt like she would not be able to eat again for a week.

  The meal done, servants entered the room and removed the trestle tables, clearing the room for dancing.

  Max was already at her side when the music started, and grabbing her hand in his, he pulled her into the line of dancers who were forming a large circle that wound its way around the room. Her feet flew as they executed the simple steps, moving first one way and then another. She laughed when her other neighbor tripped over his own feet, knocking her off balance, but in a moment Max’s hands were at her waist, keeping her steady. She felt a flash of
heat where his hands touched her, and she pulled away in momentary confusion before returning her attention to the steps of the dance. The musicians were skilled and it was difficult to tell when one piece of music ended and the next began as they flowed from one tune to another. By the time they finally stopped, Anna was panting from the exertion.

  “Wait here,” Max said. “I will return with some refreshment.” Anna watched as he weaved his way through the throngs of people, pausing to speak with Aaron who was on the other side of the hall. Anna had seen him and Keira dance for a while, before Aaron left to speak to some men who had arrived after them. Anna wondered if they were dragons, but couldn’t be sure. The music struck up again as the royal couple made their way onto the dance floor.

  “We have a new dance to teach all our friends,” Princess Matilda said with a smile at her guests. “It is already being danced in all the royal courts across Europe.” She looked at the prince, holding out her hand to him; he took her hand in his and held it at shoulder level. Facing each other, she made a slight curtsey while he made a bow, and then they repeated the movement facing outwards. Taking a few steps forward, they repeated the action once again, then released hands and circled around to meet up once more further down the hall.

  “The Basse Danse,” a voice said close to her ear. “They probably learnt the steps from their lovers.” Anna turned around to look at the man standing near her shoulder, her eyes widening as she took in his visage. He was dressed in black from head to foot, the only relief to the dark color being a silver ribbon that held his black hair at the nape of his neck. His lip curled as he looked down at her, and Anna felt a thrill of fear run through her.

  “Are you enjoying yourself, Mistress?” he asked, bending closer to her ear.

  “I am,” she said, pulling back to look into his face. The man was darkly handsome, and looked infinitely dangerous, but when he smiled at her it softened his whole face, and she smiled back.

  “Good,” he said. “A girl should always enjoy her first ball.” He held out his hand. “Will you join me in a dance?”