by Kira Nyte
Gabby stepped back. Taryn held her still with a gentle squeeze of her hand. “The mountain isn’t crumbling, I promise.”
“Doesn’t seem that way.”
The grooves in the rock deepened. At last, Taryn moved his palm from the stone to the door-like cut-out. Gabby’s eyes went wide as something strange and vibrant thrummed through her body as the cut-out moved inward and to the side.
“This is what we dragons don’t have in the human world.” Taryn leaned into the opening and gave a sharp exhale.
Fire lit several lanterns along a curving tunnel. Despite her wariness, Gabby couldn’t keep her curiosity suppressed as she followed Taryn into the mountain.
“Our magic is stripped from us the moment we leave our world for yours. Here, very few things can match our strength and power. Each of our homes is secured through magic, a magic that identifies with only one individual unless permission is given to others.”
“So only you have access to your home.”
Taryn cast a glance over his shoulder. His eyes glowed like embers in the dim tunnel. “And you.”
She wrinkled her brow. “Okay, I have a feeling there’s more of an explanation coming my way.”
“You know me well already.” He led her further into the tunnel before the rumbling sound of the doorway sealing shut made her jerk around. “Broomsticks, wings, or hover boards are the only ways of getting up here, but I don’t like to leave my door open. My brothers enjoy pranks.”
“Amelia doesn’t ride a broomstick.”
Taryn laughed and shook his head. “No. She only has an eye-pecking crow for a pet.”
“Is Talib here, too?”
“Talib has a place he goes when Amelia leaves town or there’s danger. Trust me, that bird is a conniving little smartass that would just as soon lose his beak before he loses a feather he doesn’t pull himself. In other words, he’s safe and sound back on the outskirts of the Big Easy.”
Gabby took a moment to drink in the tunnel. It really wasn’t a tunnel, considering the glow from the intricate black lanterns reflected off walls and a floor that gleamed like high-polished stone.
“Marble.” Taryn knocked on the wall. “All marble. Makes it feel more like a home than a mountain.”
“I know I didn’t say anything in my head.”
“No, but your curiosity is potent. Wait until you see the main living quarters. I think you’ll like it. And if not, you can change it to your liking.”
She remained silent as they moved through a maze of tunnels and stairs lit only by more of the same intricate lanterns and his ember-glowing eyes. If it were any other person, she would have been caught in the grip of a severe panic attack by now. Yet with Taryn, it was a sense of excitement and adventure, anticipation of what lay ahead that held her in its grip.
“You had an explanation on the tip of your tongue,” she reminded as they climbed another set of stone stairs framed by marble walls. She was thankful for the socks she had pulled on before all hell broke loose. The chill of the marble crept through the material. She could only hope the main living area wasn’t as cold.
“The entrances to our homes are protected with spells and wards. The magic knows the dragons, and whoever might be an extension of the dragon. Your father was an extension of me, being my Keeper and having bled into my dragonstone. That doesn’t mean there aren’t other ways in. Most of the mountains have a landing shelf for us to use in dragon form. Some of the mountains have underground entryways. We trust each other with those secret entrances. That way we have access to each others’ homes for emergencies.”
“Or pranks.”
He chuckled. “Mostly pranks.” He grew serious. “We hide our hoards here. And if you know anything about dragons, I’m sure you understand how protective we are of what is ours.”
Those ember-red eyes found her through a patch of darkness between flickering lanterns and imbedded the true meaning of his words deep inside her soul. He didn’t speak it, but in that single look, she realized he considered she belonged to him.
She should have sensed impending panic. The sharp twist in her gut and chest as anxiety crept in. She should have wanted to pull her hand away and run, or seek solace in her pills.
Instead, alien emotions claimed her.
Peace.
Contentment.
“You called me ‘love’.” She hadn’t missed his switch-up of endearments, but refused to believe them to be anything more than words. After all, who could love a woman like her?
Taryn didn’t say anything as they reached the top of the stairs and another door. She heard the click of his talons against metal and the door swung away to reveal a humongous room drenched in rays of golden light from both sunlight that drizzled through holes in the walls and a blazing fire. Everything in the room was in pale shades, from beiges to whites and accents of silver and glass. It had a very modern flare despite the natural jagged walls and archways from the internal mountain structure.
The sheer size and warmth of the space stunned Gabby. The floors were smooth stone covered by large area rugs. What looked to be antique statues and furniture had been placed among all the modern items, giving it a cozy feel. A balance of old and new.
“This is nothing.” Taryn lifted her hand to his lips and kissed her knuckles. “Love.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
Deliberate.
Taryn’s single word was deliberate. And confirmation of her curiosity. Her hope.
He didn’t acknowledge her earlier observation, but the power in his gaze as he kissed her knuckles and clearly stated that single word again was more than any indulgence he could have made.
She walked on dream clouds as he showed her room after room, her head floating due more to his declaration than the extravagance of his home. And extravagant it was. His riches were subtle accents, but powerful ones, that he explained as he gave her a tour. An original sculpture here. An original painting there. Original furniture preserved for centuries throughout. Gold and jewels.
The kitchen was a combination of modern and something she imagined might have existed pre-electricity. The cabinets and countertops were all sleek and dark. There was a gas stove, but on the other side was an old-style fire pit oven she recognized from movies and history books. A black cauldron hung on a hook over fresh wood.
The bathroom was no less impressive, with marble accents and a huge soaking tub.
“Fit for my princess,” Taryn said with a smile. “You can soak all day long if you choose.”
Gabby rested her head against his arm and held his hand with both of hers. “Everything so far is magnificent. I can’t believe it looks like this on the inside when it’s a mountain on the outside.”
He reached up with his free hand and molded his palm to her cheek. With gentle pressure, he urged her to look up into his warm gaze. “You never know what treasures lie behind the walls we prefer to see.”
And for the second time today, and the second time in her life, she followed the drive powering her to her toes, and kissed the man who continued to steal her breath, show her what it meant to truly live, and tend to her fragile mind with determination and a tender hand.
He groaned against her mouth, following the slow, sensual pace she set. She refused to release his hand from hers even as he slipped his arm to her lower back to draw her closer.
Closer.
Flush to his body. She felt everything. The muscles in his chest tensed and those in his arms flexed as they tightened around her back. His arousal, thick and hard, dug into her hip.
A piece of her, that broken creature she’d known all her life, desperately wanted to push away. To put space between herself and the pain she knew that anatomical part of a man could cause her.
Oh, God, the pain she’d endured.
Yet another piece of her, a larger and stronger piece of a soul she was only now discovering, enjoyed the feel of him. Enjoyed a secret notion that she drew his arousal from a sacred place in his heart rathe
r than the corrupt darkness of a twisted mind.
Gabby lowered her head, ending the kiss with a sigh.
“What, my lovely Gabriella?” Taryn asked softly, smoothing a hand over her hair.
After collecting her thoughts, she took a half-step back. She refused to relinquish his hand.
“I went to therapy for a short time. Recently. It’s how I was able to get the prescriptions for the medications. My mother supplied me with some beforehand. I took the pills until I realized I didn’t know if she was feeding me something to help my attacks or something that would make me forget being assaulted.”
Her face grew warm at her first admission out loud about the horrors of her past. In therapy, they choked her up. Seldom could she face what had happened to her without shame cinching a noose around her neck. Yet here she stood, in front of a man she had only met a short time ago, feeling at ease enough to speak without stumbling.
“I did it behind my mother’s back. I worked a short stint at a bar and was able to save enough money to see a doctor about my anxiety. She wasn’t a great doctor, but she gave me the prescriptions. She told me that I may never live without the panic attacks. She said I have PTSD and that the pills would be the best thing to help me.”
Gabby shrugged, her mouth pinched. Taryn’s hand in hers and resting on her shoulder gave her the strength to face her past.
“She never questioned me when I asked for something more or something stronger. She wrote the scripts and gave them to me, knowing I was paying for her time in cash. It was so easy and yet she gave me no hope of ever being normal.”
Taryn lifted her chin. “Head up, love.” He dipped his head to catch her eyes. “In case you haven’t noticed, we’re already not normal by human standards, so you have nothing to worry about. Your lifemate is a dragon, you’re a Keeper, we’re in a magical world, and you’re in a mountain home.” His smile shattered the weight of her confession. It had a way of dashing all negativity from her mind. “As for fears and PTSD, we’re working on that.”
“I think what I wanted to say was that all this time I’ve suffered from fears and panic and anxiety. Then you come along and it’s like a distant memory. I learned to despise touch, knowing that touch leads to horrible things. I learned to accept solitude, knowing I was always safest when I was alone.” She took a deep breath. “And with you, I don’t want to be alone because I feel safest when you’re near. I want to feel your touch because it makes me feel right and alive and human.”
Taryn’s smile faded. The russet of his eyes deepened, intensifying as he traced her brow with his fingertips. When he spoke, his voice was soft and sincere, anchoring deep within her heart. “You never have to be alone again. I’ll be wherever you need me to be, whenever you need me to be there. I will hold your hand, caress your face, hug you close. I will guide you forward or follow in your stead, and I will never let you go. The life that burns bright inside you burns with Corvin’s strength. You are his daughter to the very core. A fighter. A survivor. A light that rises from any darkness that tries to shadow you.”
Gabby reached up and slipped her palm against his neck. “I would like you to show me more about my father in the future. Can I see your memories of him like you saw my memories?”
Taryn nodded. “I think I can make that happen. Just tell me when.”
* * *
So many rooms created the mountain home, but Taryn kept the rest of the tour short and to the point, showing Gabriella the most important rooms. Another day, he’d show her the rest, but she lost her interest in his home in anticipation of learning more about Corvin.
Another leap in the right direction, at least that’s what Taryn believed. The more she wanted to learn about who she truly was, the better. He hoped it would help in her healing process.
His kitchen was meagerly stocked with fresh vegetables and some wild game, plucked and seasoned. He made quick work of roasting the birds and throwing together a salad while Gabriella showered and changed into fresh clothes one of his brothers undoubtedly procured for her while she slept under his watchful eye. He’d have to find out who was responsible for the few outfits and thank them. He’d make a trip back to the human realm in a day or so and buy out all the stores for her, once he was certain she felt comfortable in this land with the other women.
“We’re not paragliding dragon-style again, are we?” Gabriella asked as she finished the last of her dinner and washed it down with water.
Taryn couldn’t help but snicker. “Don’t tell me you didn’t enjoy it.”
One of her delicate brows arched. A lock of hair, still damp from her shower, fell from behind her ear to dangle over her eye. She was a stunning sight, her angelic face rosy and glowing, like her eyes.
“It was awkward, the little I recall.”
He wiped his mouth with his napkin and sat back in his chair. “Would you like to learn how to ride? On my back, that is.”
“We call those piggy-back rides.” A grin touched her mouth. Oh, how that sparked a playful fire in his head. “I gather that’s what you mean?”
“Well, now. Harnesses for a piggy-back ride?” He cocked his head as her eyes widened. “We’re treading on some interesting territory.”
She gasped and pitched her napkin at him. “You’re terrible.”
He joined her laughter and shook his head. “I thoroughly love making you laugh. Your smile is breathtaking.”
He did. He loved her smile, the glitter in her eyes, the joy he could bring to her days. He loved her timidity and her strength. He loved watching her overcome the hurdles in front of her and grow with each accomplishment.
“I should say the same about yours. It comes so easily to you.” Her cheeks darkened. “Makes you approachable.”
He feigned seriousness. “And this doesn’t?” He straightened his shoulders and his spine, lifting his chin and tightening his mouth. “How about now?”
“Now you look like you belong in a painting on the wall of a castle. All stuffy and stiff.”
“Hey, don’t go making fun of my stiffness.”
She rolled her eyes. “Which stiffness are you referring to?”
“Well, hell.” Taryn leaned forward, resting his forearms on the table. “Are you implying something, my sweet Gabriella?”
Because his cock gave a painful throb at her innuendo.
“Perhaps it’s nothing.” She motioned to the empty plates as she stood up. “I’ll bring these into the kitchen and clean up.”
Taryn gently caught her wrist when she reached for his plate. The heat that fled up his arm at their contact added to his hunger for her. When her gaze shot to his, he watched her pupils swell. “I’ll clean these up.”
“You’ve done so much for me. It’s the least I can do.”
He understood and didn’t want to strip her of feeling useful. Although, truth be told, he wouldn’t mind stripping her in other ways. Goddess help him, he was losing his head over his lifemate.
He released her wrist and nodded once. “Okay.”
Distance might be best, especially if the thickness of his voice implied anything. He listened to her retreat at his back into the kitchen. Once he heard the clink of plates and the run of water from the faucet, he squeezed his eyes shut and let out a sharp breath as he rubbed his thighs hard with his hands.
There had to be a better way of handling this insane need. Something that didn’t involve a constant hard-on, an infuriating set of blue-balls, and a mindset that followed a track down one path. Amelia had to know a spell or a potion. And if not, he might find himself shacked up with one of his single brothers until he had better control over himself.
Now he understood the quiet torture Syn endured in those beginning days with Briella. Torture, the kind that made him want to bang his head against a wall until he blacked out because no amount of self-treatment or cold showers helped.
“It’s interesting that you have plumbing here,” Gabriella called from the kitchen. “I wouldn’t think it possible
without underground pumps and pipes.”
Taryn opened his eyes and stared through the thermal gaze of his dragon. Plumbing. His precious woman offered up the topic of plumbing. He quirked a grin. Goddess help him.
“It’s a different kind of plumbing. One that works with this world.”
He blinked until his vision returned to normal, despite the faint pulse of thermal heat along the periphery. He pushed to his feet, adjusting his jeans to accommodate the severe discomfort at his groin, and crossed the room to the narrow balcony off the living space. The cooler air of the impending night filled him with renewed strength. Goddess, how he missed his home. Everything, from the untouched beauty to the underlying thrum of magic. And now, with Gabriella here, it was perfect.
Gabriella stepped onto the balcony beside him, wringing her fingers by her stomach. Her eyes glittered with concern.
Taryn kept his elbows glued to the jagged wall of the balcony, hands tightly folded. He rested his chin on his shoulder, gauged her expression, then asked, “What’s the matter, precious?”
“What are the others like?”
His brow lifted. “The others? The dragons, you mean?”
“The lifemates. What are they like? You know.” She made a flittering motion with her hand before she tangled her fingers again. “So I can prepare myself.”
“You don’t have to prepare. They’ve all got their histories, love. You’re not the only one.”
Her eyes lowered and she turned her head away. Taryn kicked himself mentally before he reached for her arm and pulled her close, back to his front. He encased her between his body and the wall, and nuzzled his nose against her temple.
“I didn’t mean it like that, but it’s true. They all have histories. Kaylae’s father was killed and sent her on a twisted treasure hunt until she landed in a paranormal town in Georgia. She knew nothing about who she was, or who we were. Similar to you. She thought she was crazy because she heard voices in her head, not realizing until she and Zareh crossed paths that it was perfectly natural for a Keeper. Now they have a little one and are happy as can be.”
