Dragon's Gap: Set Includes Stories 4-5 Plus Love's Impulse

by L M Lacee

  Someone who had been on the run for over three months and almost captured as many times as this young female had been, did not sleep in unknown territory.

  Grace knew on some level the female would know she was there and sure enough seconds after she had sat honey colored eyes flicked open and she surprised Grace by not leaping to her feet in panic.

  Her voice was husky as she said. “Hello I am sorry to have intruded on your home.”

  Grace handed her a tall cold glass of tea.

  “My name is Grace and you are most welcome. All are welcome to Grace’s home.”

  Olinda took a sip of tea and said. “Thank you for that and this delicious tea. I am guessing you know who I am?”

  Grace smiled. “Olinda Keaton, recent arrival. I have been expecting you.”

  “Really?”

  “Oh yes, everyone at one time or another will make their way here.”

  “Why?”

  Grace sipped her tea and rocked as she thought about the question. “Some for comfort, some for advice. Some just for the peace my home and gardens gives them and some because they need to talk out the decisions they have already made.”

  They said nothing for a while just rocked and listened to the birds sing as they sipped their tea.

  Olinda broke the silence, her eyes a little wild. “She says he is my shadow. I have twins waiting for me. I can feel them pining their little hearts out. His dragon sings to me, for me. He is more than I ever dreamed of in a man, sorry, male. In fact I don’t think I could even dream someone like him up! They are Sun dragons. He is a dragon. Dragons for goodness sake and that is another thing, all these new terms. People, shifters, witches, faeries. What do I know of this world other than what I have read or been told. Why should I stay to be a wife, a mother? How is that even possible?” She muttered but Grace heard.

  Olinda looked at her and said. “She said he will never cheat. Never leave me. Love me for eternity. It is totally unbelievably in its simplicity. How does one trust that? Trust any of that? Two babies, a male that apparently loves me even though he knows squat about me, and me a librarian who has no idea how to live in this life. I barely lived in the one I had before. I ask you how I know you are a bear. How did I know they are sun dragons, that he was a dragon, that Charlie is half faerie? What would you do?”

  There she finally asked it! Olinda took a breath then sipped her tea. Grace rocked and nodded. “It seems like a handful alright but you know as well as I do what I am going to tell you.”

  She waited a minute then said softly.

  Olinda sweet girl. Everything you have gone through has brought you here to meet all these challenges. Your strength and tenacity will keep you balanced. You will fight to make this work for you and never, ever, undervalue love. Yours or someone else, it will see you through the good and bad times. Now you Olinda Keaton already know what you are going to do!”

  Olinda nodded, stopped the motion of the swing and finished her tea. Then stood and slipped her back pack on. “Yes I know! Well thank you for the drink and the comfort of your porch. Grace you were right, some do come here to vent and learn they already have the answers.”

  “You are welcome. Come back anytime dear. I will see you tomorrow.”

  Caught up in her thoughts Olinda nodded but did not register Grace’s words. She gripped the straps of her back pack and walked quickly away.

  Grace waited until she made the corner, then picked up the glasses and walked into her kitchen. “You were right, she found her way here.”

  Sage nodded. “I thought she may.”

  She did not tell Grace that a little help from the dragon lady and witch never hurt.

  “So did you help her?” Sage asked.

  “You did not listen?”

  Sage shook her head. “No, thinking deep thoughts.”

  “Ahh! Well she already knew her answers, so I hope I helped settle her enough to accept them. It must be terrible to have been betrayed as she was. Especially by someone you love and cannot find answers from, now.”

  “Yes.” Sage sighed thinking of Ash and his brothers. “Not as bad as when family do it but still…”

  “Oh no dear one. I meant her mother, she betrayed her.”

  “Really! Not her friend?”

  “No of course not I am talking of her mother. Olinda is not fully human, growing up believing the voice you hear is wrong, told that by your own mother who also did not tell you your father was not human.”

  “Maybe her mother did not know?” mused Sage.

  Grace sounded angry as she told her. “Oh she knew alright, she very much knew.”

  “How do you know?”

  “I, like you, am a mother. Would you not know?”

  “Yeah I would know, although Charlie and Storm have that problem. They have no idea what Cara is.” said Sage.

  Grace shook her head disagreeing. “No they know she is not all human and they will make sure she knows that as she grows up, they will not hide it from her. Olinda never even had that!” Grace sighed. “So very sad, betrayed. At least Ash will be able to help her with that.”

  “Yeah if anyone knows what that is like, he does.” murmured Sage.

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN:

  O linda stepped through what was obviously the back door to an empty building.

  Why she felt compelled to enter, she did not understand but she had tried the handle and the door had swung opened.

  Whereby she found herself in a place she knew well, the walls were different, the setting strange but the scent. That scent was unmistakable, she knew that smell of paper and books.

  This was a normal slice of her past life and she felt giddy with the anticipation of discovering something she could understand.

  She placed her backpack on the floor by a long table that was stacked with half opened books. She accidentally kicked several as she made to walk around to go towards what looked like the main library.

  Bending to pick them up she saw even more under and on the other side of the table. She almost giggled as bubbles of excitement exploded in her chest. Huh happiness! I remember what that feels like!

  “So food, drink and then work, although first I should look around.” She mumbled out loud and suited action to words. Walking through to what was going to be a library.

  Hands on hips she smiled at the scrawled words in hand writing on one wall which was a big clue to the use of the building.

  She read out loud. “Dragon’s Gap library.”

  On the other wall she saw the same hand writing but this time the words said, “Keepers Hoard! Come and Borrow a Book!”

  Olinda grinned, someone had a sense of humor. The place was huge with a mezzanine floor that had a wide spiral staircase between floors. She looked around and saw a lift tucked into a corner beside what looked like restrooms. Close to a door that was marked. Storage Rooms.

  It was larger than any library she had ever worked in. Shelves stood empty, row upon row of books littered the floor and were stacked in piles on the shelves. Someone had started to make towers of books in front of the book cases. As she toured around she saw a large room with cables coming out of the walls and ceiling. Internet, she reasoned.

  There were several conference or study rooms and several other larger rooms. Olinda pictured what she would do if she was able to design this library. She would use one room for a reading room, with large comfortable armchairs and couches. It would be for older people or just people that wanted company or just to sit with others and read. Maybe have a coffee and cake counter as well.

  Then there was a room she would definitely turn into a children’s play area. Where stories could be told, where young ones could come to look and select books.

  It would need restrooms for little ones close by. Then for one other room, she would make that for kids to use for after school, to do homework or assignments.

  Upstairs would be for the technical division, manuscripts, and old preserved documents. Aged tomes for all the sc
holars.

  She spun around in a circle and hugged herself, she could work here. She could bring the twins here while she worked. Immerse them in words right from the start, give them the love of reading.

  Yeah! She could see that. Olinda sighed, dreams, just dreams. She took her food and sat with her back to the wall, surrounded by books and took a bite of the still hot hamburger and dreamed of a future she wished for.

  Ash worried, Olinda had not returned by the time he was to be in court. Prudence was looking after the twins but he had hoped his shadow would have arrived back.

  He had paced his apartment after his brothers had departed for the hunt and Charlie and Storm had left to see their young. Shadow is frightened, she does not trust! Said his dragon.

  I know old friend we just have to give her the time Charlie said she needs.

  When will she return?

  Ash rubbed his head as he told his dragon,

  I don’t know, soon I hope!

  She may run, she is very good at it.

  Ash thought about that, remembered the love on her face for the twins. Remembered the sorrow he had seen in her face when she had stabbed him, the tears she would not let fall. No she will not run, she just needs to find her balance.

  His dragon asked hesitantly. When she has found it. Will she want us?

  Ash could hear the worry in his dragon’s voice but had no answer for him. He truly did not know if she would. Such a lot had happened to her in a short space of time, he was concerned she would not be able to get past. Well her past!

  He knew how hard it had been for him and his brothers as evidenced by Ace who had taken himself from his family.

  Ever since he, Ark and Axl had returned to the castle, to their extended family, to Verity and Rene’ they had found comfort and understanding. This had helped the brothers to see why the sins of the father were not their burdens to carry but their Sire’s alone.

  As he was no more it was time they realized the past was over. They were free!

  Now he was ready to help his shadow find that same freedom. But it was hard to help someone if they were not around to be helped.

  He stood now dressed for court and watched his hatchlings sleep. Prudence slipped in and stood beside him, she assured him.

  Commander Ash, I swear I will care for them and protect them.”

  “I know you will Prudence. I was just hoping their mother would have returned by now.”

  Prudence sighed. “Lady Olinda has much to overcome in a short amount of time. To find she is more than human and a mother and shadow on top of everything else. It must be confusing!”

  He nodded. “Yes it must be. Well I must leave, court does not wait for anyone. I will see you when we are finished.”

  “I will not leave until you are home.”

  “Thank you Prudence.”

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN:

  A sh strode into court. The normally cavernous room was reduced by three quarters due to the partitions put in place making the large courtroom a more reasonable size. He knew this was Sage’s idea and as he looked around he liked it.

  Edith waved him over to the seats placed for him and the others who were attending.

  “Hey how is it going?” she asked. He grimaced. “Olinda did not come back.”

  “Well she is shopping, females tend to get distracted shopping.”

  He nodded but did not seem reassured, Edith took pity on him. “Listen if she is not back when we are finished here. I will organize help to look for her.”

  Ash felt a little better about that. “I thank you Edee.”

  “Aww! No trouble…”

  Sharm arrived in the room and stopped whatever she was going to say next, they both watched him stalk across the floor with a sour look on his face. “Oh dear he must have seen the twat.” murmured Edith to Ash, who asked.

  “The what?”

  “Donald!” she hissed as Sharm arrived and threw himself into the chair. “He is an absolute nightmare. The foolish male thinks he is here to be rewarded for doing his punishment in record time.”

  Edith laughed as Sharm snorted. “Have you ever heard of that? A prisoner being rewarded? The male is delusional!”

  “Or he wants you all to think he is!” argued Ash.

  Sharm looked at him. “Damn it!” He got up and stormed from the room.

  Edith asked. “Is damn a cuss word?”

  Ash nodded. “Sorry Edee it is.”

  He was sure he heard her say, damn it under her breath. Keeper, Ella and Fin arrived they all took seats close to them. Ash was happy to see his old friend and they fell to talking immediately. Edith asked Ella, “You okay Ella?”

  “I am, he is so nice and he has photos of my parents. Isn’t that wonderful?”

  Edith agreed it was.

  Keeper smiled as he looked at her. Edith asked him. “You okay?”

  He nodded. “Ella is happy, therefore I am.”

  “You’re a simple kind of dragon aren’t you brother?”

  Keeper grinned. “I truly am.”

  Edith laughed at his smug expression.

  Charlie and Storm came in with Stanvis and his shadow Jacks. Lars escorted Claire and June in. Lars did not look happy.

  “Looks like things went bad for him.” said Edith softly to Keeper who nodded. Claire sat and winked at Edith and murmured. “He is so pissed off.”

  Edith nodded in return as Keeper said. “Five dollars for the swear jar.”

  “But it is court day!” moaned Claire. Keeper shrugged. “Tough! No one said exceptions.”

  “We could do that?” asked Edith.

  “Not now!” he replied.

  “So mean.” Both Claire and Edith told him.

  He grinned, then said. “And yet you love me.”

  Claire said to Edith. “You happy with this swear jar thing?”

  “Not now!”

  Before she could moan anymore. Sharm arrived back with a somewhat satisfied look on his face. Ella asked Keeper who the forty or so males and females that sat away from them were. He looked over at them and whispered. “Nobles that Reign has allowed to attend. I think they will bear witness or give testimony.”

  She was going to comment when the door that admitted the Dragon Lord and Lady opened. Sage and Reighn followed by Verity and Rene’, entered and none of them looked happy.

  Sage took her seat and Ella sighed. Sage had such a nice dress style, even when she wore jeans and shirts.

  Today she wore a knee length, full skirted dress in red and gold with a black cloak. Sage just looked so modern and regal, her hair was in a coronet. Even her jewelry was simple but sophisticated and Lady Verity was just as regal, her hair was in a bun at the nape of her neck. Her earrings were purple stones. She wore a similar outfit to Sage’s although her dress was a more mature style with a less full skirt.

  She however did not wear a cloak, just a small jacket. They both looked very royal, it was enough to make Ella sigh. Especially as they were accompanied by the dashing Dragon Lord and Lord Rene’, who wore full dress uniforms.

  Sage stared out at her family and friends, she was pleased to see they had all taken Verity’s advice on how to dress. It wasn’t like court was a normal occasion in any of their lives. Seriously if she could have avoided today she would have and she knew her friends thought the same. Well maybe not Edith.

  She, Sage was sure, lived for stuff like this and by the look of Charlie. Maybe her too.

  Sage smiled slightly when she saw Ella who looked lovely in one of her new purchases. She wore a three quarter length long sleeve dress with a square neck line in shades of blue. She had on a diamond pendant which she remembered Keeper had surprised Ella with at their bonding party.

  She looked very chic, her hair which she had styled in a French twist, showed off her matching diamond earrings, she looked very feminine.

  Sage almost swore when she noticed Edith in her sheathed black dress with a charcoal long sleeved jacket. She had left her white hair loose
to fall down her back. She looked young and happy, no not happy. She looked content it was a good look for her.

  Claire and Charlie must have coordinated Sage thought, they both wore dark trousers with cream shirts and three quarter length leather jackets. It was amusing to see they had similar styles. Maybe their previous lives dictated how they dressed.

  Claire still had the black and white hair thing happening. On the other hand Charlie’s short black hair looked like it had been blow dried. Amazingly feminine for her, Sage couldn’t wait to tease her about that later.

  June and Jacks wore nice pencil style skirts with buttoned jackets. Junes was green and Jacks was grey. Typical business styles with a touch of flare with the right amount of subtle make up and jewels showing.

  Sage’s attention was diverted from her friends as the doors opened. Just as well she thought, I’ll be cataloguing and critiquing the males next.

  She watched Johner walk in with a unit of guards, he gave Reighn a nod. Reighn stood. “Commander bring in the people I have asked to attend court.”

  The people in the other chairs all moved restlessly when Reighn had spoken. Obviously they were not too happy about being here thought Sage. Well, tough none of them were, except Edith and Charlie and maybe Ella and then there was Fin. Sage growled silently, Oh shut up Sage!

  Reighn asked through their bond. Why are you nervous?

  Sage growled back. I don’t know… I just feel… I don’t know! I wish this was over. There will be no winners here today.

  She felt rather than heard Reighn sigh as he told her. No my soul there will not be but justice will be done and witnessed. That is a win is it not?

  Yeah…Yeah! It is for Ella’s parents. I guess and for Ella and her uncle.

  Johner called out the names of the people as they entered the court. “Cuthbert and Yestoria Field.”

  The couple walked in for all intents and purposes as two middle aged people. They were dragons that were well over the four thousand year mark. The couple were followed by their daughters.

  Johner called out. “Eugenia and Auremia Field.”