Just as she was about to give him a piece of her mind, she noticed they were in a beautiful shaded oasis. The dense bush gave way to a clearing with a pool and waterfall that fell as mist from a rocky ledge into a gorgeous pale green bath-like pond.
Devon got out of the Jeep and wanted to immediately dive into the cool water. “Can I take some pictures here?”
“Yes.” Kibo nodded toward the waterfall. “Miz swim?”
He’d read her mind. A dip sounded wonderful. “Is it safe?”
Typical Kibo, he offered an evasive nod. “Mostly.”
“What do you mean, mostly?” She glanced around. Of course this place was too beautiful to resist. “What should I beware of? Little creatures?” Maybe swimming with microbes wasn’t a good idea.
“Water is clean. Look out for big creatures.”
The brush was thick. A big cat could be standing thirty feet away and she might never know it until it was too late. “How big? Leopard big?”
“Bigger.” He rolled his eyes.
This was such a lush place. The wet southern side of Kilimanjaro was full of life. “But the water is clean and safe?”
He thrust his lip out, and she took it to mean mostly. “Would you swim in this water?”
“Yes, miz.”
Well okay, that was the answer she needed to hear. She was hot and dusty and her shirt clung to her back. Within seconds, she loosened the seat belt and flew out of the Jeep, her camera held tightly in her hand. Snapping pictures of her surroundings, she concentrated on a particularly lovely view of the misting falls with the idea that it would make a beautiful framed birthday gift for Arcona.
Devon tucked her hand into her pocket and felt the wish stone glide between her fingers. Maybe this was a good place to bury the stone and make her wish? She wanted to strip down and go swimming, but it was an awkward situation, especially with Kibo sitting nearby in the Jeep. “I’m going to do a little exploring around this pool. I’ll remain within earshot.”
Was that hint too subtle? Would Kibo understand that she wanted a little privacy, or would she get an embarrassing surprise? A tiny yellow orchid caught her eye and she stopped to photograph it with her macro lens then walked around the far side of the falls. She was tempted to strip down to her bra and undies, but felt it wildly inappropriate in front of Kibo, who was such a reserved man. Since she had no clue about his personal rules or boundaries, she decided it was best to go in fully clothed, but did pause to remove her boots and socks, and carefully set her camera aside. The camera was supposedly water-resistant, but she was unwilling to test that assumption on such an important trip.
Dipping her toe in, she was surprised by how refreshing the water was. She thought that rushing off the glacier, it’d be ice-cold. It was definitely on the cool side but enjoyable on such a hot day. The water instantly soothed her heated skin, and she moved farther in, hoping to feel the spray of the waterfall. The swimming hole grew deeper, so she swam across to the other side where the water tumbled into the pool. As she treaded turbulent water, a beautifully peaceful feeling swept over her. I’m in Africa. A lifelong goal was being realized, and it was better than anything she’d ever imagined.
Devon glanced downward into the green water, deciding this was the sign she’d been waiting for. “If I were a wish stone, this is where I’d want to be,” she whispered. Witch Casey had promised love would come into her life once she made a wish and buried the stone. More than anything, she wanted love in her life, and vowed to find the perfect spot, perhaps somewhere close to the waterfall. Her excitement rose as she drew closer to the base.
Making her way around the tumbling sheets of water, she investigated a dense tangle of tree roots that ran up the cliff face behind the falls. The roots clung precariously to the cliff and wove a weblike ladder between the mossy rocks. She touched a slick tree root, and a sharp jolt of something like recognition raced straight to her core. This place was special, sacred, and felt unlike anywhere else she’d ever been.
She gazed upward; the thick roots twisted in and out of the rocks as if they had been braided into the earth. The image was so striking she wished she’d brought her camera. Maybe later she’d walk over here and take a few photos. But now was not the time for work; now was the time to explore with the eyes of a child. Climb, a tiny voice within commanded, and she did.
As she moved her hand along the tree’s bumpy spine, something inside told her this was the answer. This tree hid the secrets she’d been looking for. She glanced behind. Kibo had left the clearing and was nowhere to be seen. Perhaps he intended for her to enjoy a moment of privacy, or wanted a moment to himself.
“This is crazy,” she mumbled. Yet it didn’t stop her from grasping the root and pulling herself upward. Despite the cool mist, her skin grew warmer as she placed her toes between the roots and inched her way higher. She carefully climbed the slippery roots, feeling drawn to go ever higher.
Near the top of the falls, she stuck her hand between a knot of roots to reach higher and came in contact with a narrow opening. Immediately, she withdrew her hand, fearing the hole was the ideal hiding place for some irritable creature. Scanning the surroundings, she felt great relief when no outraged occupant appeared to defend its home with fangs, venom, or nasty little claws poised. But something was definitely strange about this spot. The cavity held more warmth than the rest of the tree. It was as if this hidden area beside the cool mist of the falls was radiating its own source of heat in an inexplicable, almost magical way. Slowly, she waved her palm back and forth in front of the space. The phenomenon was mysterious but apparently real. She wasn’t imagining heat rising from the gap in the tree trunk.
Using caution, Devon removed one hand from the tree roots and retrieved the stone from her pocket. Its crystalline half glowed. The closer the stone came to the hole, the brighter the amethyst became. Even the dark bronze side seemed vibrant in its own way. As it warmed in her hand, she noticed how much it truly did resemble a tiny dragon egg.
The mossy interior of the tree trunk looked like a cozy nest. Her body hummed with tension. Did she really want to do this? The stone was so beautiful. It was a souvenir of her trip with a dear friend to Salem. Could she abandon it here? Doubt hung heavy in her mind, but then Witch Casey’s prediction filled Devon’s thoughts as if the woman were standing beside her whispering.
What if that was just a crazy woman’s bullshit? Devon tried to drown out the voice, but it continued like a chant. How could she find love in the middle of the bush, half a world away from home? That prospect felt outrageous, but then again, she hadn’t believed in the powers of the stone until it left the mark on her palm. “I want to find love, and I want to believe that there’s something good out there for me,” she whispered reverently as she released the stone and heard a soft thump as it rolled deeper into the heart of the trunk. The moist air surrounding her felt electrified.
Suddenly, a strange bluish mist slowly swirled from the hole in the tree and twisted in the air like a dancing snake. “What the hell?”
The sight was so startling that Devon drew back, lost her grip, slipped, and fell toward the pool below. “Ah!” Spray pummeled her as she dropped. The pounding waterfall swallowed her and dragged her toward the bottom of the pool, where she flipped and tumbled in the current until the downward force let her go. Kicking off the floor of the pool, she bolted to the surface with a gasp and paddled away from the cascading water, shaken, winded, but basically unharmed.
She climbed from the water on trembling legs and walked into the clearing. Kibo wasn’t where she’d left him. “Kibo!” She waited.
Nothing.
“Kibo, where are you!” Her voice cracked. Where the hell was he? She jogged barefoot to where the Jeep had been parked. It was gone, and its tire treads had flattened the grass. The only thing that stood between her and more brush was an empty space where the Jeep once sat. She hadn’t even heard it start or drive off.
Why would he take off and leave her
in the middle of nowhere? What the hell was going on? This didn’t make sense. Kibo was her guide, and he wasn’t supposed to leave her stranded. She turned on her heels. How would she get back to the village without being eaten by wild animals, and could she even find her way by herself? Would she spend the last few hours of life roaming the bush and being stalked by a predator? She screamed at the empty spot the Jeep had occupied. “You deserting, no-good son of a bitch!”
As she limped back toward the waterfall, the full magnitude of being stranded in the bush sunk in. Goddamned Kibo. It wasn’t acceptable to be left without warning. Where was he?
“Kibo!” She did not expect an answer. After all, the Jeep hadn’t driven off by itself. A terrible thought occurred to her: what if Kibo had fallen prey to poachers or some other nefarious element? That would be bad. She was alone, and he was the one with the rifle. She looked toward the waterfall and noticed the thin bluish mist that had startled her earlier had grown into a dense wall that loomed over her like a pair of large wings spread wide across the falls. The sight was stunning, but foreboding.
What next? How many daylight hours did she have left to try to get back to camp? She glanced around, searching for her boots, and frowned when she saw them haphazardly tossed near a shallow puddle at the edge of the pool. Most likely they were soaked, but who had moved them? Did Kibo do that, or someone else? It looked like she’d be walking back to camp in wet boots. Where was her camera? She looked around. It was gone. Fuck, this is terrible!
Devon clambered onto a flat, slimy rock to retrieve her boots and nearly slipped. The dense mist above the falls thickened and descended. A harsh shriek with the same threatening tones as an eagle rang through the air and gave her chills. What was it? She glanced upward as uncanny forms took shape within the mist, and two shimmering winged creatures appeared.
Covering her mouth with her hand, she fought to contain a rising scream.
The creatures had long tapered faces, keen eyes, and heavy wings with spiked tips. Holy crap!
At the top of the falls, they flapped their wings and shrieked skyward like monstrous birds of prey. Together they pushed away from the rocks and swooped toward her in a long graceful descent.
What the...? Panic overwhelmed her. She didn’t know which way to run first. Screaming her heart out, she scrambled across the mossy rocks. Her knees buckled, and she blacked out.
Chapter 6
Jace carefully cradled the back of Devon’s head in his palms. He felt terrible. Poor Devon was out cold, and it was completely his fault. “Oh fuck.” He’d scared her to the point that she’d passed out, and that was not his intention.
Beau leaned down to cautiously place an ear to her chest. “Her breathing’s normal, but she might have hit her head. This could be serious.”
Regret burned in his gut. Why had he done that? What made him think a traditional dragon salute would impress her? He’d not been sure of Devon’s initial reaction to them in dragon form. Yes, he’d expected a startled scream, followed by a quick transformation and a hasty explanation on his part, but not this. Devon was their mate of choice and he’d hurt her and undermined Beau’s trust. It just didn’t get worse than that. As the alpha, what he’d done was unforgivable.
“I warned you it would be too much.” Beau’s gaze was accusing. “You’re my mate and I depend on you, but sometimes you’re just too stubborn.”
It was true, but he was new to all this. Being an alpha was a tricky tightrope to walk. Along with the privileges of being in charge of a mated trio, there were terrible risks. The worst was unintentionally acting against his partner’s best interests, like scaring them and letting them bonk their heads on rocks. If his partners’ couldn’t trust him, he was worthless, and a worthless alpha’s days were literally numbered. The process of formally claiming his once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to form a mated trio was off to a shitty start.
Jace knelt over Devon, stroking her face, but she wasn’t coming to. Her lashes weren’t even fluttering. She had such a pretty, heart-shaped face with bold, sweeping brows and a delicate little chin. Her luminous skin with its smattering of freckles reminded him of spiced chai.
She lay perfectly still. Obviously their little surprise was too much of a surprise. A double dragon appearance in the African bush, or anywhere, wouldn’t be an easy sight to deal with, but Devon was a courageous woman. He’d loved the idea of making a big entrance, but the sight of real flesh-and-blood dragons must have caused Devon’s mind to shut down. Now he was so sorry and he had so much he wanted to say to her.
Beau looked at him with intensity. “What do we do?”
Devon opened her doe-like eyes and looked confused. “Jace? What the—” she mumbled, then passed out again.
He patted her cheek. “Devon!” Thank God she was waking up. Since he’d learned of the stone, he’d anxiously waited for this moment. At first, he couldn’t believe Devon had gone to Salem and found a dragon egg, a rare totem and one that defied casual coincidence. If there were any doubts in his mind that Devon was the one, they were gone the moment he saw the stone she’d chosen randomly from a witch’s wish bag or some such story; he wasn’t completely clear on every detail.
What mattered most was Devon had shown real interest in him and Beau days before the mating season started in earnest, and she’d been eager to return to the homeland of the Marduko, which was another excellent omen.
Beau lifted Devon’s head. “We shouldn’t let her sleep. It’s dangerous. We have to wake her.”
Jace pulled Devon onto his lap. “Come on, honey, wake up.” He’d considered several different scenarios to introduce her to the world of Marduko dragons, and obviously he’d chosen the wrong one. He’d intended it to be a romantic gesture; the falls were a traditional mating place from long ago in Marduko history. He’d heard tales since he was a boy that when the first Marduko came to Earth, they spied beautiful women bathing in this waterfall and took them as mates. It was a time-honored tradition to stand on the falls with wings spread wide and shriek a victorious mating cry. Devon should have been swept off her feet. Actually she had been, but in the wrong way. Who knew it would backfire this badly?
Beau leaned over Devon, looking concerned. He brushed his fingertips against her cheek. “She feels cold.” He grabbed his shirt and laid it on top of her. “Maybe she wasn’t ready for us? I’m worried this was a really bad idea.”
Half-conscious, Devon weakly flailed her hands in the air. “Run!” she muttered.
Reaching for Devon’s limp hand, Jace turned her palm upward. “Look.” He smiled in vindication. “I was right. The dragon egg branded her with our mark.” She’d instinctively known to place the stone inside a nest. He’d thought he was going to die when she started climbing those slippery roots and gone straight for the knot in the sacred tree. “I’m telling you, she’s got the Marduko spirit in her blood. We chose Devon as our mate, but on a deeper level, the mark proves she’s already chosen us. Look at how dark the coloring is. She’s our mate for sure. When Devon wakes up, we’ll just to have to convince her it’s going to be okay.”
“What if Devon doesn’t want two mates and a nest full of dragon babies?” Beau grew somber. “These aren’t the good old days when a man could get away with swooping down on a startled woman and carrying her away to his cave in the mountainside. Modern women won’t put up with that crap, and I wouldn’t want or expect them to. We’re not on Draca.”
“Who wants to be on Draca?” Jace touched the side of Devon’s face. “It was a fucking miserable place. No wonder our ancestors came here and never looked back.”
“She could be in shock. Shouldn’t we be wrapping her in a blanket and warming her up?” Beau’s brows sank. “Devon’s going to be so confused and angry when she wakes up. Maybe we should have prepared her a little better?”
Jace shrugged. ”How do you prepare someone for something like this? ‘Close your eyes, and when you open them, you’ll get a big surprise with wing and talons.’
There’s no easy way to do this.”
“We could have done better.” Beau hovered over Devon. “Maybe we could have told Devon we were dragons and then shown ourselves.”
He was being confronted, and rightfully so. It felt awful. Could he ever be a proper alpha? This was the time to make his case and make things right. “We had to wait to show our true selves until Devon had buried the dragon egg. She needed to do that completely on her own.”
Leaning down, Jace gently kissed Devon’s forehead. He’d been impatient and he knew it, but damn, he was new at this stuff too. A man was bound to make a few mistakes. “She could have kept it or buried it in her backyard, but Devon brought it all the way to Africa and buried it in a sacred place. Do you think those are the actions of a clueless and unprepared person?” He shook his head. “Never. She’s already trying to form a psychic link with us. I can feel it in the center of my chest. This is fate. Devon’s soul knows this is right and led her straight toward us, and I’ll take full responsibility for her.”
For days he’d sensed Devon presence entering his thoughts and dreams so strongly, it often felt like they were in the same room together having a conversation. As a new alpha entering his first mating season, he was blown away by the intensity of the experience and humbled too, though he didn’t admit it to Beau.
Sweet Beau was a worrier and a planner, and if he revealed himself to be the least bit uncertain in his approach to taking a mate, poor Beau would internalize the stress, and he didn’t want that. He was the head of this hopefully soon-to-be trio and it was his duty to put the needs and well-being of his betas first. And here he’d terrified his chosen mate so badly she’d fainted and knocked her head on a rock, proving he was a dumbass. “Maybe we should fly her to a hospital?”
The Lady Prefers Dragons Page 9
