Fianna the Gold

by Louisa Kelley

  Huge smiles broke out on every face, and the Elders pounded the table in the traditional manner of agreement.

  “About time,” Eremon, Aedhan’s brother, called out. “She can have them!”

  The Council broke into laughter.

  Fianna heard the draclings had given Eremon no end of trouble during his stint as her replacement.

  The table shook with eleven sets of palms slapping the old wood in approval. Nareen glowed with pride as she joined the Council in enthusiastic agreement.

  “Fianna, would you like to say anything?”

  Fianna soaked in their warmth, love, and forgiveness with an overflowing heart. “I will never let you down again,” she vowed. “And you’re all invited to the wedding!”

  The Council meeting dissolved, and Fianna stepped into hugs of congratulations and sweet, excited chaos.

  Just the way she hoped.

  Fianna walked out of Council chambers and into the bright, Dracan sunshine. She strolled to where the noise was coming from in the distance, knowing it was probably where she’d find Abbie. Abbie created a small commotion wherever she went, a fact that didn’t surprise Fianna.

  She headed toward the dracling practice field. Eight draclings, five girls and three boys under the age of nine, sat on the stone wall, kicking their feet and laughing while they watched Abbie carry on. She was showing them how to bounce a soccer ball off her head. Every time it bounced, she made a goofy face, and they chortled in amusement. Abbie wanted to help Fianna with the younger draclings and decided to teach them Earth sports, starting with soccer, since it was the only one she knew. The parents had been quite enthusiastic about this idea.

  Abbie noticed Fianna and her face lit up. “Fianna!” she yelled. “What happened?” She started running across the field.

  “I’m back!” Fianna kicked off her heels and raced to meet her. The draclings called out, “Auntie Fi! Auntie Fi!” and scrambled off the wall to join the sprint to Fianna.

  They collided in a raucous, joyful group hug, laughing so hard they collapsed to the ground.

  Fianna grinned at her mate over the giggling heads of draclings. “We’re going to have so many adventures,” she said.

  “And so much fun,” said Abbie.

  Their smiles blazed in perfect understanding. “Okay draclings, who wants a lesson?” Fianna asked, and everyone cheered. Minutes later, eight young Draca lit out behind two dragons, one gold and one blue, shining in the azure sky.

  The End

  About the Author

  Louisa Kelley is the author of a series of well-regarded erotic paranormal books and urban fantasy stories. Her writing features sensual romance, intrigue, and magical mayhem, often with modern-day characters based in Portland, Oregon, where in a strangely perfect combination of rainy winters and urban skyline, her writing inspiration abounds.

  She’s also slightly obsessed with dragons.

  www.louisakelley.com

  https://www.facebook.com/louisakelley.author

  Member of Romance Writers of America

  Coming Soon from Dirt Road Books

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