by L M Lacee
He sat beside her which showed she must have slept because no one could get that close without her knowing. Dear Goddess he was beautiful for a male. Short black hair, green eyes that just screamed Irish moss and lips that begged for her to kiss them.
Harper almost let the moan of desire that trembled on the edge of her tongue pass her lips as she stared into the face of her future. Her voice came out all husky, which she would have been embarrassed to know sounded sexy as hell to Ace, as she said. “Hello, so you are a healer?”
“No, I can heal on rare occasions, there is a difference due to me being a fire dragon. I use a different type of healing power.”
Harper was positive she was going to swoon and thanks to Frankie she actually knew what that word meant. Oh goddess the voice, that voice just made her want. There was no way she was gonna walk straight now. Harper cleared her throat. “Huh who knew? You settled in okay?”
“Yes the family has made me more than welcomed.”
“Yep they do that are you staying?”
“I am.”
“They must be pleased.”
His voice got all growly as he answered her. “Yes they are. You were hurt and when have you slept last?”
Harper grinned inwardly. Wow! He sounded annoyed and when she wondered did she let anyone other than Reighn growl at her. Although shadows where allowed too she supposed, at least once, mind you, she would growl as well and probably more than once. “I know bruises and a rib or two, maybe a kidney. I find I am unable to sleep when I am away.”
“It was that way for me as well.” He told her.
Harper sighed as he released her wrist. “Thank you. So I am guessing you know who I am?”
“I do Harper Easton sister to Charlie, Storm’s shadow.”
“Yep that is me and you are Ace Battle, elder brother of Ash, Ark and Axl.” He grinned which just about made her fall from her seat. So handsome! Did I say hot!
“I am.”
“Yeah I can see that. So you finally came home?”
“Yes it was time, my dragon and I found some answers to some very hard questions. We dealt with the darkness that was taking our soul. Other than that we found we accomplished nothing by shutting ourselves away from my family.”
Harper looked out over the room, saw Frankie had returned flushed and happy amusing Johner and Verity as she told them a tale of something she found funny, and watched as Edith and Rene’ tried to figure out what it was Frankie had just said. She let her eyes rove over all the little ones walking, crawling or being cuddled in willing arms and sighed deeply. “It does no good to be away. I get that, they amuse and annoy me when I am here and when I am away I worry constantly about them.”
“Yes the same for me.”
“You sang for me?”
“We did.”
“I am a bad bet.”
“Maybe! We will stand with you Harper, it makes no difference to us. We have fought wars and won. We have waited thousands of years for you so do not push us away. I have learnt we will only end up lonely and hurt if you do, and I do not know about you but I am very tired of feeling that way. I want to demand happiness in my life, to enjoy my family, my new nephews and Ash’s shadow. Your family, and just you!”
She placed her hand on his cheek. Ace felt his dragon recede the first time he had done so since the trial. She whispered. “I am unsure if I can win this battle but I will fight hard to make sure I at least give it… Give us a good shot!”
She felt and heard his growl as did everyone else. Harper pulled her face back a little not releasing her hand from his cheek, liking the feel of his skin under her fingers, knowing the whole room watched them.
“I protect what is mine, I will be with you to fight alongside you.” He promised her.
“I want to deny you, to say this is my fight not yours but…. She whispered. “I am frightened I just made it back last time from that dark place if I slip again. I know I will never come back.”
“It will not happen, I am here and together we fight. The dark side will not win, my shadow trust me. Trust us on that.”
“I do not want you to think I am bonding with you just for your strength.” She told him with raised eyebrows.
He shrugged. “Why not I am bonding with you for your body!’
Harper burst out laughing. “Well as long as we are straight on our reasons then!”
Ace felt his heart lighten. “Of course, Frankie told me you cannot cook.”
“Frankie!” Harper yelled not taking her eyes from the male that her heart had decided to open for.
“Did you tell my shadow I cannot cook?”
“Yep I sure did!”
Unsure whether it was her answer or the fact Harper admitted to Ace being her shadow, whichever it was the room erupted in chaos. Frankie squealed as she ran to Harper and grabbed her up in a hug. “I am so excited for you, he is so very nice.”
Clint shook Ace’s hand as Joy hugged him. “We will move out tonight.” Clint told him.
Harper cocked an eyebrow at Ace. He said dragging both young ones to stand beside him. “Clint and Joy live with me or us.”
Harper smiled as she looked the two over. Clint she knew, the girl she did not. “I do not know you?”
Joy ducked her head. “No Lady Harper.”
“Oh no sweet wolf, it is just Harper.”
“Oh okay.”
Harper grinned at the young girl then Ace. She knew there was a story there but it could wait, to Clint she asked. “So you are leaving why?”
Clint blushed. “Oh umm. I understand you are newly bonded.”
“Family stays together otherwise, he will worry then he will tell Frankie and she will bitch to Charlie then I will have to pull my knives and then there will…”
“Yes…. yes dear we get the picture.” Verity hurriedly told her. As Clint and Joy’s eyes grew huge at her words.
Harper saw first Frankie then Charlie shaking their heads at Joy and Clint as they drew them slightly away. It brought a smile to her lips as Verity hugged first a laughing Ace and then Harper who asked him. “Oh where are we living?”
Verity said “You have an apartment on the same level as Sage, Edith and Charlie.”
“Seriously?”
“What does that mean?” Charlie snarled as Sage crossed her arms with a scowl on her face. Harper opened her mouth to explain it for them when she heard. “Antee Harper, you live wif me and Kelsey” said Molly.
“Oh sweetie, Uncle Ace and I will.”
Kelsey looked up at her. “Can we still come and wake you in the mornings?”
Charlie said. “Of course you can but same rules apply you have to knock. Like you do for mama and dada.”
“Oh okay.”
Harper whispered to Ace. “Otherwise they find you naked walking around.”
Ace eyed her then the youngster. “Yes do not forget to knock. Now why don’t you all come for lunch on Saturday and Aunty Harper will show you her new home and you can help organize the sleep over room.”
“We have one of those?” Harper asked wide eyed amongst all the young voices cheering. Ace grinned at her saying. “We do now.”
“Wow! You are the coolest Uncle.”
“I know.”
Axl and Ark came and hugged Harper after the others moved off. Ark told her. “We are pleased he has found someone. We worried no one would want him!”
“Huh!” Was all she had time for before Axl grabbed her from Ark. “You realize he is the ugliest of us?” Axle told her with a glint of humor in his green eyes so much like Ace’s. Harper just stopped herself from choking on her laugh as she replied mournfully. “Well needs must. Sadly I will have to just cope.” Axl nodded the glint of laughter turning into a full laugh. “Well just grin and bear it. If it helps lay back and think of England. I have been told that helps!”
“Aha okay! You know he is right behind you right?”
“I run faster than him.”
“You would have too.�
� Harper told him but she was talking to air as Axl was gone leaving an amused Ace behind. “Ark and Axl will stay with the young ones tonight.” He told her.
“Uh huh! Where will we be?” He enfolded her gently in his arms. “Why I hear there is a very nice apartment in a barn not a hundred feet from here.”
Verity smiled as she took Harper’s arm firmly in her hand. “Yes…Yes, dinner is ready.” She dragged Harper from Ace who told Reighn “Your mama is mean.”
Reighn grinned as he said. “Yep she is!” They both watched Charlie then Storm hug Harper and Harper’s face as she tried to scowl at Sage, as she hugged her hard.
“She wants this. Needs this!” Rene` said as he gave Ace a quick hug.
Ace grinned. “She does. We both do.”
Rene` cautioned. “It remains to be seen if she will stay now?”
“It does, doesn’t it?” Ace agreed as he wandered after his shadow. Rene` and Reighn both sighed, deeply twice.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN:
L ater that night after dinner was finished, Ace and Harper had been toasted and a party for their bonding and Frankie’s and Johner’s was arranged. Ark came and gathered Joy and Clint to leave. They were doing popcorn and movies and with a wink to Ace they left. After that there was no reason to linger, mostly everyone was leaving to see to their little ones or to have a pleasant night with each other.
Ace and Harper walked slowly to her barn as they moved along the paved walk way and breathed in the night air. Ace asked a very silent Harper. “You seem hesitant?”
Harper sighed. “What do you know about me?”
“Mostly what I have gleaned from those that know you.”
Harper clicked her tongue against her teeth. “Huh well okay. So what you do not know because I never ever talk about my personal life with anyone. That means Frankie.”
He made no comment and Harper stopped talking as they moved towards her barn, the night was still and it seemed a shame to disturb it with talk.
Silently they walked to where her barn appeared, it loomed up like a huge monolith in the soft moonlight. She led him around the side of the building and up some stairs and as they let themselves in she did not switch on lights. She could just make out his large shape as he closed the door behind him. “What I was trying to say was this will not be my first time. I just need you to know that.” She boldly told him. Ace grinned a flash of white in the darkness as his voice growled out from the shadows and his arms scooped her up against his chest causing a small squeak to escape. “Just so you know this will not be my first time either.”
His lips crashed down on hers making every coherent thought Harper could have had leave on the last train. Harper moaned and wound her arms around his neck returning passion for passion. Slowly she became aware they were moving like a guided missile he unerringly found his way to her bedroom. He laid her down on the bed, it was the last clear rational understanding of what was happening and where she was for the remainder of the night.
This night, their first together was filled with wanting, need and soft loving whispers. Harper and Ace lost themselves in the magic of being together, of finding the one to fill and heal all the places their souls and hearts had hidden away the hurts of years gone by.
There was no past or future only what was here and now in each other’s arms. For the rest of the night they stayed in that magical place loving each other until the light of day intruded. Rolling over Ace came up against a small warm body and his dragon purred his contentment.
“I can hear you purring.” Said a sleepy voice.
Ace grinned. “My dragon is content and happy.” That same sleepy voice that fired up his imagination said. “You know what would make me happy?”
Ace thought about that, he could think of several things they had not done last night.
“No not that!” The voice that was not so sleepy now said. Trying not to sound disappointed he asked. “What did you have in mind, my shadow?”
Harper laughed quietly to herself at his tone. It was gratifying to know he wanted her again especially after the wonderful night they had just spent together. She traced a design on his chest and felt him shudder before she could change her mind she said. “I would love to fly with my dragon just sail through the winds. Can we do that?”
She was in his arms and being carried towards the door before she could do much more than make an ‘Eeek!’ noise. When they reached outside he placed her on her feet. Somewhere along the way he had grabbed a pair of her old sweat pants and tee shirt that she wore when sculpting, they were covered with dust. But before she could protest he was shoving the shirt down over her head and while she was struggling not to laugh and get her arms through the armholes he was pulling her pants up her legs. When she was dressed enough. There was a swift flash of air, like a quick puff of warm wind and a majestic crimson dragon hovered before her, a beautiful seventy foot fire dragon graced the sky.
Her eyes lit up with delight as her senses hummed. “Oh my Goddess, you are beautiful, just magnificent. My dragon!”
With a hop and shuffle she was seated in the join of his neck and he shot a tongue of dragon’s fire into the sky causing Harper to make that squeaking noise again, much to her chagrin. Then before she could scold him, they were swooping high into the sky. What breath she had left she used to laugh with glee!
CHAPTER SIXTEEN:
L ater that day after the amazing flight and a scrumptious breakfast, which Ace’s brother Axl delivered and an extended shower, Ace and Harper moved most of her possessions into their new apartment. Luckily she had not unpacked since moving from the bronze apartment so it was no hardship to have all her boxes filled with her possessions moved. When he asked her how she had got the bed to the barn’s apartment she showed him what her magic could do.
This earned her an hour of loving on the bed for not telling him sooner she had that gift. In truth it had completely escaped her mind, which she explained. She did manage to blame him, she was befuddled by his gorgeous body she told him and that earned her another hour which she had to admit was delightful. Eventually they made it to their new apartment to be met at the door by Joy and Clint. Joy dragged Harper into the apartment saying. “You are just gonna die when you see your room it is a turret.”
At Harper’s look she said. “I know!” her eyes wide with excitement. “And it has its own bathroom.”
Harper grinned at the enthusiasm of the girl apparently having its own bathroom was a big deal. But to girl who had slept most of her life on the streets or in rat invested motels, as Joy had, this would be a slice of heaven.
Over breakfast that morning Ace had told Harper Clint and Joy’s stories as told to him by Hayden and Clint himself, and Joy. He had then gone on to explain how he first met Joy. When Harper reached for her knives to go hunt down the Prince Ace pulled her to him and soothed her anger away. The Prince, he told her was confined to the Grove.
Harper saw the happiness in Joy’s face and could understand how the apartment would be like a dream come true for the girl, living in the castle itself would have been amazing all by itself. So she allowed herself to be pulled behind an excited Joy as Ace and Clint wandered after the two females. Ace asked Clint. “You alright?”
He nodded. “Yeah the Queen called this morning she apologized to me and Joy, she is nice. We are allowed to go to the Grove next week. Is that okay?”
“Do you want to go?”
He nodded. “Joy is real excited. The guard Sparrow said she would be our guard so we would be okay. Joy was happy about that.”
“Well it should be fun are the others okay?”
Meaning the other youths who had been sleeping rough. Clint nodded. “Yeah Johner and Claire were really mad at me. Healer Sharm said what I was doing was good but I should have told someone they could have been hurt.” He sighed, Ace squeezed his shoulder. “I know sometimes it is hard to know what to do but you have Harper and me and the brothers now.”
Clint smiled “Yeah th
at was what Ark said and Hayden will be home soon.”
“Yes soon, so you see you are not alone. Burdens shared are easier to bear. Remember that.”
Clint nodded seriously. “I will. Thanks Ace.” They followed the sound of Joy’s happy voice as she said again. “And you have your own bathroom it is magnificent!”
Harper stood just inside the door of their bedroom looking at the most beautiful room she had ever seen. The bed had to be the biggest king, in fact it had to be three times the size of a normal king size bed. Ace sighed with pleasure. “I love me a big bed!”
Harper raised her eyebrows. “I am going to get lost in there.”
Joy giggled and Clint laughed, more so when Ace said. “I excelled at seek and find!” Harper looked at the predatory anticipation in her dragon’s eyes and hurriedly said. “Oh well okay.”
The room was decorated in tones of blues which were Harper’s favorite color, with touches of crimson the color of Ace’s dragon. It was easy to see Verity had thought of Ace when decorating the apartment and Harper paused on her way to view the magnificent bathroom designed for two. To wonder if Verity had the foresight or was she lucky that Harper would love the color blue, either way the place worked for her with its combination of colors. They were all a delight to her senses. The room was indeed one of the turrets of the castle that housed the huge four poster bed and bedside tables which were in a light hard wood that gave just enough diversity to the room to stop it from being opulent. Glass doors lead to a curved balcony that Harper fell in love with as soon as she saw it.
The bathroom was as promised, exquisite with a large shower and bathtub it boasted twin sinks, all in soft blues and whites. Harper to Joy’s delight fanned herself as she told her. “This is just amazing!”
