Shifters Hallows Eve

by Lori King

  The corset bodice pushed her breasts up at just the right angle that Kyran had to remind himself to wait, and then growled into his brethren’s minds, “Na’ loooking below th’ shoulders, laddies, or Ah see a thrashin’ in yer futures.”

  Their stifled chuckles and attempts not to grin told him he’d made his point as he watched Duke lead Caitlin down the steps and toward him. The long, lace-covered silk skirt hugged her generous curves and flared at the bottom so just her pink polished toenails peeked out from under the soft material with every step. Stopping just as they practiced, five feet from the arch, Duke held Caitlin still as Rian began to speak.

  “Long ago, when knights and dragons fought side by side for King and country, it became apparent that dragonkin were no longer safe from those who would expose and destroy them. They sought to join with the knights who so valiantly fought by their sides during so many battles against their mutual enemies. Thus, through magic and the will of both dragon and knight, the Dragon Shifters were born.

  “In the infinite wisdom of our Founding Elders, clans were set up, one for each color of the Dragon Kings, whose soul we carry within our own. Each assigned a region in which to make their home and to protect. Over time, some have flourished, some have ceased to exist, and others have been born from the joining of many. As the Leader of the Blue Thunder Clan, it is an incredible honor to stand alongside not only my brother, Rory, but also four of the most distinguished and bravest of our kin: Drago MacLendon, Maddox MacQueen, Kayne MacGréine, and Kyran O’Connor, whom we welcome back from being too long separated from our clan. The Universe has truly blessed these two souls, and although our numbers are few here today, we carry the souls of our Dragon Kings and those of our ancestors looking down on us from the Heavens. We are family in blood, family in battle, family in loyalty, and family forever.

  “Gathered in this place that is so special to both Kyran and his mate, we look to join two souls created for one another by the Universe, Fate, and the Goddess of All. Upon every union, we welcome extraordinary women into our numbers. Their strength, belief, and dedication to the preservation of the light make us stronger, more united, more formidable against our foes. Every one of us that finds the light of his soul knows what a treasure she is. It is an honor to witness the power of what the Universe put into place at our inception. Tonight, we acknowledge and bless the mating of Kyran O’Connor to the one the Universe made for him, Caitlin Marianna Brookes. Will those seeking to witness this union please step forward?”

  Drago stepped forward, knelt before Rian and Kyran and began, “I, the Commander of the Enforcers of the Dragon Guard, am honored to witness and offer my blessing to one of my oldest and most faithful lads on this, his mating day. May he love the mate of his heart with all that he is, and never forget what it has taken to get to this day and this time. Let your combined strength see you through all the days of your lives and even until you walk into the Heavens hand in hand.” He nodded, stood and walked back to his place.

  Then it was Rory’s turn and, true to form, he had a cheeky grin on his face as he knelt and addressed his brother and the Phantom. “I, a representative of the Aherne Force of the Blue Thunder Clan of the Dragons, wish to witness and offer a blessing to one born of both dragon and banshee blood and his fierce banshee mate. May their lives now and forever be a testament to all we hold dear…love, honor, and loyalty. As you are one, let your strength see you through many years, and the children of your children’s children smile upon you.” He stood, winked and returned to his place only to be followed by Kayne, who did not kneel but did raise his eyes to the Heavens. “It is with the power of Lugh, the Celtic God of the Sun, that I offer a blessing of love and light to this union. May the sun always light your path, chase away the darkness, and shine upon you and yours all the days of your lives even until you reach your final resting place.” Looking at Kyran, he added, “We survived, my friend; now is the time to make it count.”

  “Aye,” Kyran responded, watching his old friend return to his place in line to be replaced by Maddox, the grumpiest of them with the biggest heart of all. He chuckled, “'N' noow comes th' mad dragon,” as Doxie took a knee and spoke. “From the oldest among us to the youngest, I stand as testament to the power of the dragons and offer this blessing from the ancestors who have gone ahead to prepare us a place in the Heavens. Live long, love often, and never look away from the light of your soul. The Universe does not make mistakes. She has given you both life that you may share it. Be happy, as that is Her fondest wish for all Her children.” He stood, cocked an eyebrow at Kyran and returned to his spot with the other Guardsmen.

  It took a few extra seconds before Rian spoke again, and when he did, his voice was full of emotion. “Your witnesses and blessings have been acknowledged and accepted, Drago, Commander of the Enforcers of the Dragon Guard, Rory, representative of the Aherne Force, Kayne, Son of Lugh and Maddox, Keeper of the Ancients. It is truly a blessed event to have such honorable dragons in one place to show favor on this very special couple. Kyran O’Connor, you may go to your mate. Please escort her to the Sacred Circle, here, before me.”

  As he walked to his mate, Kyran’s heart beat faster and harder than he could ever remember. Taking her hands in his, he sighed as the recognition of their love filled every fiber of his being, smiling when Caitlin gave a tiny gasp after experiencing the same phenomenon. Walking backward, he led his gorgeous mate to the circle of white roses he’d placed with his own hands just a few hours before. Once they were both inside the circle, Rian again spoke. “The Black Dragons were born from power and authority. They encapsulate the mark of humility and respectability. They symbolize resurrection and eternal life. So, just as Kyran was taken from us and assumed dead, he is reborn, once again with us, taking his rightful place with the mate of his heart at his side. Black Dragons are often called the ‘Power Dragons’ because they alone wield the power of the stars when the moon cannot be seen in the sky. They are associated with the deep sea, the night, and the time when most of the world rests and we of dragonkin are hard at work, keeping home and hearth safe from all harm. To mate a black dragon is to accept all that they are and honor the power shared between mates.”

  “Now is the time of the marking. May the Universe continue to bless you and yours all the days of your lives. We will be standing watch in the woods, protecting you from all harm as you receive the Blessing of the Universe and spend your first night as true mates blessed by the Universe.”

  It took only a moment for everyone but Kyran and Caitlin to exit the yard. The black dragon smiled as Duke walked back to the deck and sat patiently. Looking at his mate, Kyran was awestruck. She was the love of his life, so much more than he’d ever hoped for and in just a few moments would wear his mark.

  Unable to take the anticipation any longer, Kyran lowered his mouth to hers, stopping just as their lips would have touched and whispered, “Ta’ mo chroi’ istigh ionat,” and with that, pressed his lips to hers. Their first kiss as true mates was earth shattering. Caitlin was present in every cell of his body. Rapture unlike any he’d ever known consumed the couple, until the Phantom was sure he’d be but a pile of ash before he had enough of his banshee. They were laid open, body and soul, to one another, not knowing where one ended and the other began.

  Their kiss went on and on until Caitlin flinched at the precise moment he felt a twinge on the side of his neck. Kyran smiled against her lips, knowing the Universe was marking them, giving the outward sign of her forever sanctification of their union.

  Trailing kisses across her jaw and down her neck, Kyran reached the tender spot he knew still stung from their brand. Lavishing the offending spot with his lips and tongue until all thoughts of anything but their naked bodies loving one another were banished from both their minds, Kyran’s dragon roared his agreement loud in the Guardsman’s head.

  Pulling back from her neck, Kyran looked at Caitlin. He would spend every day of the rest of his life thanking the Universe fo
r her. Kissing the tip of her nose, he looked into her passion-fogged expression, and whispered, “This is oonly a wee pairt o' what Ah hae planned fur ye. We wull hae anoother ceremony wi' a' mah brethren 'n' Ah hae something special ye, fae mah mother, that A'm waantin' ye tae hae.”

  “Oh, Kyran,” she sighed, her palms on his chest. “This was enough. It was beautiful and more than I could’ve hoped for.”

  Shaking his head even though she couldn’t see it, he spoke aloud, “It wull ne'er be enuff. Ah wull ne'er stop showing ye how mooch Ah love ye. Ye saved me, mo mBean, 'n' fur that Ah wull spend eevery day of our lives showing ye what ye mean tae me.”

  Her simple nod was all it took. Lifting her into his arms, Kyran used his enhanced speed to get them to the house. Throwing open the door, the Phantom quickly carried Caitlin across the threshold and into their room, kicking the door closed behind him. The couple laughed in unison as Duke whined from the other side. Lowering his lips to once again kiss the love of his life, his little banshee surprised him with a question. “Know what I really want as a mating present?”

  “Na, tell me,”

  “Eve’s head on a pike.”

  Grinning from ear-to-ear as he ravished her neck with kisses and exaggerated growls, he chuckled, “'N' that is why a love ye so mooch …”

  “Then show me, Mr. O’Connor. Show me how much you love me.”

  “Yer wish is ma command, Mrs. O’Connor.”

  Epilogue

  “One day I’m gonna figure out why the heck we chose to live in the Godforsaken Arctic Circle.”

  “And when you do, let me know, because I’m still trying to figure it out almost a century later.”

  Elsa laughed out loud at her sister, Mona’s, reply. Not because it was especially funny but because it was the sad truth. Generation after generation of their kind had happily lived in one of the coldest places on earth. Mona, being the oldest, was just about to celebrate her hundredth birthday of freezing temperatures and dark days. It had originally happened out of necessity, to save their population from their dark cousins, the fairies of the UnSeelie court. Later, as the enemies against those considered ‘special’ grew in numbers, the Elves simply stayed in the frozen land where few other dared to tread.

  If they were lucky, they got three months of sunshine, and only one of those months, usually July, where the temperatures actually rose above freezing. But it wasn’t so bad. After all, it was all that Elsa had ever known, and most days she was okay with that. But the older she got, the more she wanted to experience something different, something new... something not frozen.

  “Hey, stop your daydreaming,” Mona teased. “If we don’t get this tree home before dinner, mom is gonna blow a gasket.”

  “Yeah, yeah, yeah, it’s a shame we didn’t have a brother to help do all the hard labor.”

  “A brother? Now, I know you have frostbite of the brain,” Mona laughed.

  “Pfft,” Elsa groaned, stomping over an odd-shaped snowdrift just to waste a few more minutes before heading home. It wasn’t that she wasn’t excited for the holidays, it was just that it always seemed like Christmas when you lived in the frozen north. There was nothing really special about it except for the presents and the food, and even that had grown tiresome.

  Standing at the apex, she looked across the mountains to the frozen waters of the Arctic Ocean. Due to the time of year, it was basically dark all the time but since it was still before four in the afternoon, Elsa could see a colony of penguins splashing into the icy water as they slid down the drifts and farther out a herd of walruses diving for fish to feed their young who were happily floating on a huge chunk of ice.

  She had to admit, compared to all the pictures she’d ever seen in books and on the internet that her home was the most beautiful place in the world, but the one thing that stopped it from being perfect was the lack of anyone or anything not Elven. Kicking the ice that had formed under the newest layer of snow, Elsa’s toe hit a large sharp metal corner of something that not only ripped the toe of her boot, but made her foot hurt so bad, she was hopping around and howling like a loon.

  “What happened?” Mona screamed, racing toward her.

  Plopping down on the snow bank, Elsa shook her head and cried, “I think I broke my toe.”

  Kneeling beside her, Mona looked at Elsa’s boot, pushed her finger through the rip and sighed, “Only you. What the hell did you kick?”

  “How should I know? I was just looking at the penguins and walruses and…”

  “And goofing around because you don’t want to go home,” Mona harrumphed, slapping the top of Elsa’s boot before adding, “I’ll get the duct tape out of my pack. That’ll get you home without frostbite.”

  Feeling like an idiot with her butt beginning to freeze through her snowsuit, Elsa saw a glitter come from where she’d kicked and true to form, her curiosity got the best of her. Digging through the snow and ice with her gloved hands, the elf felt a surge of unfamiliar magic dance along her arms and hang in the air around her. Not sure what to make of it and unsure of its origin, she continued to dig, ignoring the feelings of dread that grew within her with every swipe of her hand.

  “What are you doing now?” Mona’s bellowed retort took Elsa by such surprise that she slid down the snowdrift, uncovering the top and part of the side of a huge silver box covered with magical runes, the likes of which she’d never before seen.

  Unable to answer her sister’s question because of her excitement, Elsa jumped back to her knees and swatted at the snow, eager to uncover the rest of the box and see what was inside. It wasn’t long before Mona joined in and within just a few minutes they’d completely unearthed what looked like a seven-foot-long sterling silver coffin, with a lock the size of Elsa’s head holding it shut.

  Looking at her sister then back at the coffin then back at her sister, Elsa opened her mouth to speak just as Mona whispered, “Do you feel that? Something isn’t right. The magic coming off of it feels wrong…dark…scary.”

  Nodding her head, Elsa replied, “Yeah, but underneath it all, I feel something good, almost pure, trying to battle his way out.”

  “His?” Mona asked, grabbing Elsa’s arm to keep her from moving any closer to the box.

  “Huh?”

  “You said ‘trying to battle his way out.’ How do you know it’s a him?” Mona was no longer whispering, and her tone said she was just about to play the ‘big sister’ card and order Elsa to come home with her. So, the little elf did the only thing she could think of to finish what she’d started. Jerking her arm from her sister’s grasp, she pulled off her gloves, rubbed her hands together, and called on the High Magic she’d inherited from her mother.

  Warm green light burst from her hands as she recited the words, “Mother Earth to whom we owe all things, lend me your power that I may open what is locked and save the being who suffering,” over and over until her Elven Light literally hummed with power. Leaning forward, she touched her hands to the box, and added, “Pour your power into this metal. Free who has been imprisoned.”

  Shades of blue, red and brown mixed with the green creating a kaleidoscope of colors that flowed from all around Elsa into the lock. Smoke rose from the tarnished metal. It popped and cracked. The mystic runes began to slither across the silver, hissing and sizzling before blinking out of sight.

  Mona screamed. “Stop it, Elsa. Stop it, now! You’re going to get hurt!” But the elf would not be moved, she was determined to open the box and save whoever she felt struggling to survive just under the lid.

  Pushing more and more of her magic into the padlock until her arms ached and her throat was raw from reciting the spell so many times, Elsa was just about to give up, when the box began to shake. The top, bottom, and sides bowed out and back in like the metal itself was taking large heaving breaths. Then the one remaining rune, the biggest of all, rose from its place in the center of the lid to Elsa’s eye level, spun around in circles before exploding in shower of soot and ash.
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br />   Elsa’s Elven Light blinked out as the box gave its final shudder and the lock fell to pieces at her knees. A split second later the lid flew open with loud boom. Taking a deep breath, the elf leaned over the high sides of the coffin and gasped. Jumping to her feet, she took three quick steps back and screamed, “Oh, my Goddess! There’s a man in that box!”

  About the Author

  Hey, Y’all! I’m Julia Mills the New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author of the Dragon Guard Series. I without a doubt admit to being a sarcastic, southern woman who would rather spend all day laughing than a minute crying. Living with my two most amazing daughters and a menagerie of animals keeps me busy, but I love telling a good story. Now that I’ve decided to write the stories running through my brain, life is just a blast!

  My beliefs are simple. A good book, along with shoes, makeup, and purses will never let a girl down, and no hero ever written will compare to my real-life hero, my dad! I’m a sucker for a happy ending, and alpha men make me swoon.

  I’m still working on my story, but I promise it will contain as much love and laughter as I can pack into it! Now, go out there and create your own story!!! Dare to Dream! Have the Strength to try EVERYTHING! Never Look Back!

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