“There is magic all around you, mistress.” Raven turned toward her bird, the one that had landed in her bed the day she’d been birthed. It was what she’d been named for. “You must eat soon. Even I can hear your belly telling you that it needs to be fed.”
“I am searching for something that will give me energy as well as fill me. There is a fine patch of wild berries just over there, I think.” She headed that way now, with Poe on her shoulder. “I should be there tomorrow, early. Have you found me a place to stay that will keep me safe?”
“I have. There are numerous houses that are being worked on in the town that you can use without being seen. But, I should like you to know that your mate, he has a lovely home for the two of you.” She asked him how that was possible when she’d not met him yet. “He has it from one of his family members. It is a large house that I think will suit you well. I have also taken the liberty to make it safer for you, as well as the other homes.”
“Butler is close, I think. He will have to find them soon enough, or everything that he has been planning will come to an end.” Not that she cared about the man…he had made her life a living hell for nearly all her life. “Once I am there, will you please go to see my mate? Not to warn him that I am here, but to see how he is faring.”
“He has a shifter.” She stiffened and asked him how he’d come to have one. “It is not his, but Butler’s. He sent it in your form to kill him. Lucky for him, he could call the dragons to him.”
“The pair?” Poe told her that was them. “I see. I didn’t know that he could call them as yet. I thought they were a part of the necklace.”
“Nay, they are a part of all. And the couple that has them, they live upon their bodies until called. A couple of the women are breeding as well, one a dragon. They have been taking care not to be too far from each other, and that is keeping them safe.” She sat down near the patch of strawberries and let her hand guide her over the ripest ones. “My lady, do you suppose that when you have your mate, you will have your sight restored?”
“I don’t know why that would bring it back, Poe. Do you?” He said that he was hoping. “I will just be his mate, nothing more. And help him when he should need it. But from what I’ve heard from Lord Caelin, they are doing a good job of staying ahead of Butler.”
She knew from Lord Caelin that she would be one of the brides for the McCades. While Raven didn’t care to be a wife to anyone, she knew the importance of what was going on, and to just do as told. It wasn’t in her nature to be submissive to anyone, but in this, she knew it was what was needed.
“In all the generations that have tried to do this, not once have I been this close to having a mate. There has been no family that has been closer than this one.” Poe said that he knew this as well. “Do you think they’ll be strong enough to make it so? That the dragon and all the others can be called forth again?”
“I do.” She asked him why when she’d had her fill. “The other men were too lazy, if you do not mind me saying so. This family, they have a mother that keeps them in line, but she has also taught them humor and humility. She is what I have heard referred to as stern but gentle. Much like your own mother was.”
Her mother had been murdered the day she’d lost her sight. It had been Butler, too, that had taken her life. He’d said he’d only hold her until Raven had done what he wanted, but instead of releasing her, as he had promised, he had murdered her. Removing her head, and then laughing when she lay at his feet.
“He shall pay for that.” He hadn’t so far, but she didn’t say that to Poe. It would do her no good to point out that it had been so long since it had happened that she could no longer remember her mother’s face. “When you get to the McCades, do you have a plan, my lady?”
“No. I will be his mate, and from there, I don’t know what will happen. For all I know, he could be as bad as his first sire.” Poe told her that the two men left without a mate were not like him at all. “We shall see. If he would give me some space to call my own and a little garden, I can be very happy.”
“I do not believe that any more than you do. Be happy with a plot of dirt and a little room. You would rather die than to have so little to do with your craft.” She laughed at her bird. “I wonder at times if you have your head in the right place. You will make me an old bird soon.”
“You are an—”
The forest around them was suddenly quiet. Raven pulled her magic around her as Poe left her side. He could tell her what was about, and she’d have to trust him to keep her safe. Being out in the open this way, it was nothing that she should have done.
“I haven’t any idea what you think I’m going to find here.” The man’s voice, while frustrated, didn’t seem to be angry. “You said that you knew where some strawberries were. So far all I have to show for this trip to the woods is a basket of wild clover and a few very sad looking violets.”
“I tell you, Uncle Lewis, I was out here yesterday with Aunt Emma, and they were right around here. I’m not sure where, but that tree looks....” She tensed up when the younger voice stopped talking. “What is it, Uncle Lewis?”
“I’m not sure. Ever since that shifter thing came in my restaurant, I have this feeling that everything is wrong. Like that bird there. What the heck is it doing just staring at me?” The young man laughed. “You’d not think it was so funny if it just started talking to you. And just so you know, that’s exactly what I think it can do.”
“Uncle Lewis, you need to chill out.” She put her hand over her mouth when laughter bubbled up. “Birds do not talk. Ravens are really smart, but I don’t think they’ve gotten to speech yet.”
“So you say.” She felt them grow closer to her and wanted to back up, but knew that they’d see her. “Gavin, I want you to stand very still. Something is here with us. Someone...I’m not sure, but stand still.”
She knew who the man was. She also knew who the child was, but that didn’t make her feel any better about this. The thought of putting them to sleep so she could run was taken out of her hand when Poe started talking to them both.
“Thank you, young man. I am very intelligent, but I think that has more to do with my magic and age than anything else. I am Poe. Raven to Raven.” She felt the earth laugh with her; the man hit the ground and the young boy laughed. “She is here, but hiding. As you can well imagine, it has been a while since we’ve been able to talk to anyone besides ourselves.”
“You’re talking.” The young boy laughed again as he spoke. “My goodness, you’re talking to us, and we can understand you.”
“Well, of course you can. Sir, are you unwell?” She let go of her magic at the concern in Poe’s voice. She couldn’t see the man, but she could feel his fear. It was as if he were wearing it as one would a shield. “This is Lady Raven. Mate, I think, to you, young Lewis.”
“No. I don’t...I don’t trust this.” She stood up and bowed before the two of them. “She was here before. Not you, but a person who was pretending to be you. She wanted to kill me. And she would have because I was so trusting.”
“The shifter.” Poe told her that was correct. “I’m not a shifter. A witch, but not a shifter. If you were to take me to it, I could—”
“No. You’re not going anywhere near my family. I don’t know anything about you. Or why you’re here now.” The man was terrified, but it surprised her to realize it wasn’t for himself, but for the young man. “Gavin, go back to the truck. And lock the doors. I don’t know if that’ll help, but you go there now.”
“Uncle Lewis—” The young boy was told to go now, but before she could assure him that she wasn’t going to harm either of them, the dragons were there. Raven could feel their need to destroy. Then happiness.
Lyna came to her first, and when she sat upon her shoulder, Raven knew that Roderick wasn’t far from her. Without moving too quickly, Raven ran her fingers over the hard scales of the dragon. As she did so, she spoke to the man that the earth told her was standing up now.
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“They’re friends of mine. They would know immediately if I was friend or foe to any of you.” He told her that they’d not killed the other thing either. “No, they’d not be able to. Simply because they are white magic, and I am not. I’m neither. But I can destroy it for you, should you want me to.”
“I don’t know what to think or believe anymore.” She could hear it then, his anger at not being informed. Also, his frustrations with himself. “Are you real? I mean, are you the real Raven Wood?”
“I am, and you are Lewis McCade, one of the dragons that is awakening Warrior. I know him as well. Should you ask him, I’m sure that he could tell you. Even the earth, a good friend of mine, she could also tell you.” She wasn’t upset that he wasn’t believing her. Raven knew better than most what it cost to trust someone at their word. “I am the mate to you. You were told by Warrior that I was to come to you.”
“Yes. I know that you’re blind and that you’re beautiful, which you are, and that you have magic.” She thanked him. “How did you become blind? I know that’s rude, but Warrior told me to ask you.”
“I helped Butler, the king at the time, with immortality. He held my mother hostage while I performed the magic. Then after I was finished, making him what he asked for, he killed my mother, a great witch as well, and her blood spilled across my eyes. Because I had a hand in killing her, though indirectly, I was cursed by my sight being taken away. To me, it wasn’t enough for what I did to her.”
“He said that you’re right, but I’m still leery, if you want to know the truth.” She told him that she didn’t blame him. “I’m going to stand up now, and walk toward you.”
“I know what you’re doing, Lewis. The earth, she helps me when necessary. It’s the reason that I’ve been able to get around so well all these years.” Waiting for him to come toward her, his shadow fell over her. “You’re very tall. A big man too, without any fat on you. And your dragon, he is there now as well. I couldn’t feel him before. Are you going to touch me?”
“Yes, if you’d allow it.” She put her chin up and waited. “You have a smudge of dirt on your face, and a stain of berries on your mouth. Like you’ve eaten berries for your meal.”
“The strawberries that you were in search of. I’m afraid that I might have eaten them all.” His finger was gentle, and she could tell a great deal about him by it. “You cook with herbs. Own a restaurant that caters more to well-dressed people than your brother does at the diner.”
“How did you know that?” His hand stopped moving; fear was there again. “Who told you about us?”
“Caelin. He is a friend of mine as well. But, as you can feel my thoughts and memories, I can yours as well.” He said nothing, but pulled his fingers from her face. “You are satisfied then?”
“No, but for now, I’m okay with it.” She nodded. It was more than she could hope for. “The raven, Poe, he is with you? Will he be staying at the house too?”
“Yes, but he will mostly live out of doors. Is that all right with you?” He took her hand into his larger one and said that he didn’t care. “All right then. Are you taking me someplace? To a hotel?”
“No, to my home.”
She didn’t say anything else as they traveled to his truck. He was kind to her, not allowing her to step over fallen branches or trees. And when they were in the big truck, he helped her to buckle in, but he said no more. Raven spoke with Gavin, who had lots to say as she thought of the man beside her.
Chapter 3
Lewis started for home after dropping Gavin off at his home. He wasn’t sure this was a good idea. But he also knew, from Warrior, that she was really his mate and that she had the brooch. He’d not seen it as yet, not even asked about it, but he had been told she wore it.
It’s on her person, Lord Lewis, but not to her skin. Lewis asked why that made a difference. I cannot speak with her as well as I can you without it being to her skin. Should you ask her to—
I’m not going to ask this stranger where she has the brooch that she brought to us. I think I’ve been rude enough to her, don’t you? And he had been. But instead of telling her he was sorry, as he knew that he should, he stretched his neck and thought of all the things he was going to do when he dropped her off. That bird, is it all right for it to be out? I mean, with the magic that it has, will anyone trace it to her?
No. She is very powerful, and has kept them both hidden away for some time now. Raven will need to be shown the house. If you drop her off, she will not know where things are. He cursed and then told Raven he was sorry. You are not happy with your mate?
I don’t know what I am. I’ve had enough going on the last few days that I’m sort of in shock. This isn’t like the other mates. I mean, she came here without any assistance, and she’s magical. Like stronger than us, magical. Warrior told him that she was also just a woman. Don’t do that. I’m dealing here the best that I can.
“If you were to talk to me, I’m sure that I can answer any questions that you might have.” He looked at Raven when she spoke. “You’re upset, I can understand that, but if you would talk to me, perhaps we can get to know each other.”
“You were told about the shifter. Were you told what it did to me?” She said that she knew now, that Poe had told her. “He’s just a wealth of information, isn’t he?”
“You’re very snarky, and rude. Your mother, does she know how you act when she isn’t around to keep you in line?” He shook his head, then said no. “You should be leery, I agree with that, but there is no cause for you to be nasty to me. I’m just as much upset about things as you are. I’m a very old witch, much older than you might guess. Set in my ways, yet here I am, trying to make the best of this situation that I had nothing to do with.”
“I’m sorry.” He was too. It wasn’t her fault that he was in a crappy mood. “I have so much on my plate at the moment. Not that I didn’t want you here, that’s not it, but I’m planning a wedding, having a grand opening of the restaurant, as well as having someone new in my home. Our home.”
“Thank you.” He nodded as they pulled into the driveway. “This house, it’s been enhanced. Poe was afraid that I would be located, so he came here and spread more magic over what is already there.”
“My family is close by. If he can, do you think that he could do it to their homes as well?” She said it had been done. “Thank you. And I’m very sorry, as I said, I’ve not been in the best of humor lately. Mostly it’s because I’m overwhelmed about a couple of things. You, mostly, but now that you’re here, I think that part will calm down. Also, I should have said it earlier…I’m very sorry about the loss of your mom. I don’t know what I’d do without mine.”
“She was all I had. My father, he wasn’t a good man.” She opened the door and he got out on the other side. “I can tell what is out here, but once we’re in the house, if you could guide me around, telling me where things are, then I should be all right for you to leave.”
“No. I mean, that was my plan, but I’m not going to do that. But you might be surprised to find that the house is mostly empty of bigger furniture. I’ve been filling it with pieces that I like, so if there’s anything you want or want to change, let me know.” She only looked at him. “I’m sorry. I guess you’d not know if it matched or not, would you? I’m doing this badly.”
“No, you’re doing very well, and I can tell what the pieces that you have in the rooms are because of my magic. Not size or color, but where it might have started and who made it. Perhaps even who might have owned it. You can do that too.” He wasn’t so sure that would come in handy as a chef, but she just smiled at him.
“You’re very beautiful. I was told that you would be, but you’re much prettier than I dreamed you’d be.” She thanked him as they entered the big hall. “This is where I’m having trouble with furniture. Well, the whole house really, but I don’t know what sort of things should be in here. Mom told me to put in a table, but that seems so lame.”
“Give me yo
ur hand, please.” He put his hand into hers again and felt the warmth of her all the way to his toes. Also, her magic. “Now, you look around and I’ll see what you do. I cannot do this with anyone else, but as my mate, I can see what you do.”
“Okay. We’ll go slowly. Some of the workers are still here, and I don’t want them to trip you up with wires and things that they’re using.” She nodded, and he led her into the front room. He looked around with fresh eyes, thinking that she was going to see what a failure he’d been at this so far.
“You’ve enlarged the dining room.” He told her how he had five brothers, their wives, his mom, and nieces and nephews too. “I know of a man who works with wood. He has a design for a table that can expand easily enough for your entire family or just a few of them. If you’d like, I can have him come see you.”
“Yes, I’d like that. I have some wood that was left over when the house was remodeled. I think the plan had been to cover the barn in old siding, but that failed for some reason.” She said that he could work with anything. “Good. This is the way to the kitchen. The most work is going on in there.”
She asked him questions and he answered what he knew. Her suggestions for this room were good; put in a little greenhouse off the kitchen area for his own herbs. He was having a walk-in freezer and refrigerator put in as well, but she said that he should put them into an addition to the house with its own power. So if the electricity ever went out, he’d still have his food.
“I should do that at the restaurant as well. That way we won’t have too much food loss if the power goes out to the building.” He felt better as they went into his office. “I have lots of books along the walls. None of them in braille, I’m afraid, but I do have a computer that can read to you if you’d like that.”
Lewis: The McCade Dragon –Erotic Paranormal Romance Page 3
