Dragon Mine

by Donna Grant

  Eurwen lifted a shoulder in a half-hearted shrug. “Vaughn and I have had two nights. That’s it.”

  “He’s searched for you. He never stopped looking.”

  “You believe he thinks I’m his mate.”

  Rhi laughed and sat back against the cushions. “It’s obvious. Don’t you think?”

  “If I thought he was my mate, wouldn’t I have returned to him many years ago?”

  The smile faded from her mother’s face. “As someone who fought against what I knew in my heart on many occasions, I’ll say that sometimes we only see the things we want to see. You have many responsibilities here. Aside from that, you kept a big secret from Brandr, and I suspect that has weighed heavily upon you all this time. Just those two things alone could be enough to keep someone here instead of going after what they really want.”

  Eurwen couldn’t argue her mother’s words.

  “What would it hurt to go with Vaughn, Varek, and Jeyra to see Dreagan?” Rhi asked. “You could meet other Dragon Kings and their mates. I know they will have a lot of questions for you. Whether you answer them or not is another matter entirely.”

  The more Eurwen thought about it, the more she wanted to go. “You’re right. Nothing’s stopping me from going.”

  Chapter Twelve

  There was a dozen different reasons Vaughn thought that Eurwen should come with him to Dreagan.

  And a dozen why she wouldn’t.

  He wanted to pace, fly, roar, do something. Instead, he stood calmly in the same spot she had been in when he, Rhi, and Con had emerged from the doorway the day before.

  “You doona fool me,” Con said as he walked up beside him.

  Vaughn looked at him and grinned. “Oh?”

  “The stiller you are, the more torn-up you are inside.”

  “When did you learn my secret?” Vaughn asked with a frown.

  Con laughed and clasped his hands behind his back. “Long, long ago, brother. It’s what makes you so formidable as a lawyer.”

  “What are you doing out here?”

  “Rhi wanted to talk to Eurwen.”

  Vaughn wrinkled his nose. “Is that good?”

  “I can never guess these things. Rhi saw something, and she obviously believed it would be better if she were alone with Eurwen. Did last night go well?”

  “I thought so. Now, I’m wondering if I was wrong.”

  Con’s gaze locked on a trio of Violets flying in the distance and followed them. “There are many explanations for why Eurwen would refuse to go to Dreagan. The main one, I suspect, is Brandr.”

  “Varek speaks highly of him.”

  “I’d like to meet my son, but I’m no’ sure that will happen this trip.”

  Vaughn turned his head to Con and waited until the King of Kings met his gaze. “Will you force it?”

  “It would be beneficial to everyone if I didna. It’ll crush Rhi, but getting to spend even a little time with Eurwen will make up for it somewhat.”

  “Maybe you and Rhi should take Eurwen to Dreagan,” Vaughn offered.

  Con shook his head. “We’re going to remain in Zora. I want Brandr and the dragons to know that we’re no’ coming to take control.”

  “I doona feel good about leaving you without backup,” Vaughn said as he faced Con.

  “You think my son might challenge me?”

  Vaughn’s brows rose. “He could.”

  “If he does, he does.”

  “You want to subject Rhi to witnessing a fight between her son and husband? Knowing that one will lose? What if it’s you? Then she dies. And if you kill Brandr? What would that do to your relationship?”

  Con’s eyes lowered to the ground as he stayed silent for a time. “I know my words make it sound as if I’ve no’ considered any of this. I have. Rhi and I have spoken of it several times.”

  “Speaking of it and being here are two different things.”

  Finally, Con looked at him. “I’m no’ sure it’s sunk in with Rhi yet. But I became acutely aware of things when the Golds wouldna answer me.”

  “You could’ve made them.”

  Con smiled sadly. “Could I have? I’m no’ so sure. We may be Dragon Kings on Earth, but what are we on other realms? What are we here?”

  “We’re Dragon Kings.”

  He shook his head. “We’re dragons who can shift. Nothing more. Nothing less.”

  “You and I both know that we Kings could take back control of the clans if we wanted.”

  “Is that what you want?”

  Vaughn hesitated, unsure of his answer.

  “Exactly,” Con replied. “We want to return to normal, but after seeing the dragons, it’s hard to think of forcing them into a life they no longer know. The world we knew and loved, the one we fought for, is gone. The dragons we knew and loved, those we sent away to save them, are gone. They have a beautiful, protected place here. I willna take it from them. Nor will I allow anyone else to take it from them.”

  Vaughn nodded in agreement. “What reason do we have to stay on Earth?”

  “It’s our home. No being has more magic than us there. We’re the realm’s protectors. Perhaps that was what we were destined for all along.”

  “Some Kings will want to live here.”

  Con’s lips flattened. “My children willna accept that. The dragons willna accept that. Something has to be set up so the Kings and their mates can come for short periods of time, never interfering with how Eurwen and Brandr reign here.”

  “Seems logical and fair. I hope the twins feel the same.”

  “They willna,” Con said softly.

  Vaughn saw movement out of the corner of his eye. When he turned his head, he spotted Eurwen’s pink skirt blowing in the breeze. Across the distance, their gazes met. His heart began pounding when she started toward him.

  Please, he inwardly begged.

  He didn’t know why it was so important that he show her Dreagan, but it was. She had been to Earth many times, but this would be different—if she decided to go. Vaughn knew she was troubled over Brandr’s reaction to her being with a Dragon King. Personally, he thought Brandr could shove it.

  Vaughn managed to remain where he was until Eurwen reached him. She briefly looked at Con before her gaze returned to Vaughn. The sunlight on her hair made it look like spun gold. Her beauty was stunning, and her smile made him tongue-tied.

  “Hi,” he said.

  She grinned, causing his heart to jump in his chest. “I’d like to accept your offer to go to Dreagan.”

  Vaughn couldn’t remember the last time he had been so happy. “When do you want to leave?”

  Eurwen glanced to the side, reminding him that Con and Rhi were there. Though he couldn’t remember when Rhi had walked up.

  “We plan to stay,” Con told Eurwen. “If that willna cause any problems.”

  She shook her head. “Use my cottage. Brandr knows both of you are here. Hopefully, he’ll come to see you.” A frown furrowed her brow as she slid her gaze back to Vaughn. “How long will we be gone?”

  “As long or short as you want,” he answered.

  Con grinned. “I just told Varek. He and Jeyra will be along shortly.”

  Eurwen licked her lips as she hesitated, looking between Con and Rhi. “Please, don’t do anything while I’m gone.”

  “I’ll make sure he doesn’t,” Rhi said as she wrapped her arm around Con.

  When Vaughn looked up, he spotted Varek, his lichen scales flashing in the sun, Jeyra upon his back. After Varek landed and shifted, he and Jeyra walked to them.

  Eurwen bowed her head to both. “I’m Eurwen.”

  “I was hoping I’d get to meet you,” Jeyra said.

  Varek grinned at his mate before turning to Eurwen. “I’ve heard a lot about you. Are you coming?”

  Eurwen met Vaughn’s gaze. “I am.”

  Varek’s smile widened. “That’s good to hear.”

  “Ready?” Vaughn asked everyone.

  Jeyra looked p
ale and a bit green. “I’m nervous.”

  Varek laughed. “You captured a Dragon King, prepared to fight me to the death, and you’re nervous about going to another realm?”

  “Yes.”

  “You’ll be fine,” Eurwen said with a wink. “Promise.”

  Jeyra visibly swallowed and linked her hand with Varek’s.

  “Follow us,” Eurwen told them as she started down the hill.

  Vaughn stayed by her side. He wanted to grab her hand, but he held back. Then, suddenly, she took his and met his gaze as they passed through the doorway. In the blink of an eye, Vaughn found himself back in the Dragonwood on Dreagan.

  He couldn’t say why, but it seemed vitally important that Eurwen be here with him. He pulled her closer and lowered his gaze to her lips. She had no idea how tempting she was. He wanted to kiss her right then, to remove her clothes and make love to her in the woods.

  “No,” she said with a grin.

  He blinked. “What?”

  “Your feelings are in your eyes,” she whispered.

  That made him smile. “Really?”

  “Yes. Stop grinning.”

  “I’m not sure it’s my feelings in my eyes. I think you’re feeling the same things I am.”

  She glanced at Varek and Jeyra, who were off to the side, talking. “Maybe. Can we come back here? Alone? At night?”

  “Absolutely,” he said, right before he lowered his head and pressed his lips to hers.

  For just a moment, she sank against him. Then she pulled back.

  “You have to know how I feel about you,” he said.

  She shook her head. “I don’t want to talk about that now.”

  Vaughn was disappointed, but he didn’t press. Not now. Later, he would have the conversation. But she was right. They weren’t alone. Now wasn’t the time to talk about his feelings or the fact that he knew she was his mate. As part dragon, he assumed that she felt the same thing. Given the way she kissed and made love to him, she felt something.

  Varek and Jeyra were laughing when they started toward the manor. Vaughn let the couple get ahead of them before he asked Eurwen, “Ready?”

  “Yes,” she said breathlessly.

  They meandered through the forest. He heard Jeyra gasp when they emerged from the trees. Vaughn hid his smile when Eurwen’s steps quickened. Her gaze searched, her head tilted to the side as she tried to catch a glimpse of whatever was outside the wood. Then, finally, they cleared it.

  Vaughn paused, watching Eurwen as her eyes moved over the mountains in the distance to the rolling hills dotted with sheep and cattle. He knew the moment her gaze landed on the manor because her lips parted in surprise.

  “I’ve seen it in pictures,” she said. “But this is different.”

  He squeezed her hand. “Wait until you see the inside.”

  “The magic here is…”

  He chuckled. “I know. It can be a bit overwhelming.”

  “I’ve felt it every time I came to this realm, but here, on Dreagan, it’s like I’m standing in the middle of it,” she said as she looked at him.

  “Because you are.”

  “How do you leave?” she asked in wonder.

  He shrugged. “It isna easy. I think it’s knowing that we can return that allows us the ability to leave.”

  “This is where you came after you sent the dragons away?”

  He pointed to the mountains surrounding them. “Dreagan is sixty thousand acres. Most of it is comprised of mountains. Each of the Kings has their own mountain, a place we go to be alone. For many of us, we slept away centuries. Only two Kings never slept.”

  “Which ones?”

  “Ulrik. And your father.”

  Her lips twisted. “Somehow, I knew Con would be one of them.”

  “He takes his duties as King of Kings seriously. He’s always protected us, Dreagan, and the world.”

  “Including the humans, even though it meant sending the dragons away.”

  Vaughn sighed as he nodded slowly and looked to his mountain. “That’s right.”

  “You were right, you know.”

  He jerked his head to her. “About what?”

  “Telling me that just because I heard the story didn’t mean I knew what happened. Or how it made any of you feel.”

  “I’m sure Erith did her best while sharing the story.”

  “I’d like to hear it from you. If you want to tell me.”

  He flashed her a smile. “I doona like to talk about it. None of us do. But you have a right to know. All the dragons have a right to know everything.”

  “I agree.”

  “There is something I’d like from you, though.”

  Her lips curved. “What would that be?”

  “For you to explain why you and your brother hate us so much.”

  “I think you deserve to know. Brandr might not agree with me, but he hasn’t agreed with me in some time.”

  Vaughn turned her toward him. “You’re twins, siblings. For the longest time, it was only the two of you. Whatever created the rift surely can be mended.”

  “I’ll make sure of it,” she said with a nod.

  Vaughn glanced to Varek and Jeyra, who were almost to the manor. “Are you ready? There will be a lot of people. We could bypass them, and you could teleport us to my room.”

  She laughed, her face lighting up. “I want to do this properly.”

  “Then proper it is,” he said as they faced the manor and began walking.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Zora

  * * *

  Brandr placed a knee on the ground as he looked around, his eyes searching the area. For what, he didn’t know. It was just a feeling that had been growing inside him for days now. A gnawing uncertainty that wouldn’t let him rest.

  He’d sent his dragon generals to look for anything out of the ordinary, hoping, praying that whatever he felt had nothing to do with his sister opening a doorway to Earth for their parents. And any other Dragon King who wanted to venture to Zora.

  Brandr didn’t like keeping secrets from Eurwen. At one time, they had known everything about the other. As time passed, they each began their lives while ruling the dragons together. It had worked. He hadn’t known every detail of her life, but she hadn’t known his, either. It was better that way. At least, he had thought that. Now, he wasn’t so sure. Especially after he’d learned of her night with Vaughn. He didn’t want to think what might happen if they were mates. All he could do was pray that Vaughn was purely an infatuation for his sister.

  He trusted Eurwen with his life. Partly because they were twins and connected on a deeper level than other siblings. But it also had to do with the fact of how they had grown up, found Zora, and got the dragon world ordered again. They’d only ever had each other. Erith had been there, but merely as a peripheral figure.

  Brandr blew out a weary breath. Zora was supposed to be free of the troubles that had—and always would—plague Earth. Yet he couldn’t push aside the suspicion that whatever had disrupted the peace was somehow connected to Earth and the Dragon Kings.

  He knew how important it was to Eurwen that she have a relationship with their parents. The last thing he wanted was to tell her that he’d been right all along, and that their parents and anyone else from Earth could never return. Because he feared if he told Eurwen that, she would leave Zora.

  Or worse—he’d have to banish her because of Vaughn.

  Brandr had hated the Dragon King immediately. He knew the basics of all the Kings, and he’d never felt one way or another about Vaughn. Until now. What had the bastard said to Eurwen to make her keep a secret from him for so long?

  “Enough,” Brandr said to himself as he shook his head to dislodge his thoughts.

  He spread his fingers and placed his right palm on the earth as he closed his eyes. He wasn’t sure what he searched for. He only knew that he would find it in the ground—or the absence of something. Brandr had started near his and Eurwen’s cottages
at Cairnkeep and then expanded out in a circle. The farther from the center he moved, the more troubled he became. All he could do was hope that whatever this was, it hadn’t gotten a foothold on Zora and could be eradicated quickly.

  When he found nothing, Brandr rose and continued walking. He was getting closer to the border with the humans. He had no interest in being around any of them. It was one of the reasons he had stopped visiting Earth. In his opinion, they were mortal enemies of all dragons. If he came across one, he wouldn’t hesitate to take action—in any way that was needed.

  As he reached the stream at the edge of their domain, he knelt and put his hand upon the earth. That’s when he felt it, the coldness that hadn’t been there before. Brandr walked along the edge of the water, stopping every fifty meters and testing the ground, his concern growing. But he found no more answers.

  He backtracked and went the other way. To his shock, the ground grew colder and colder the closer he got to the spot where the crone had managed to pull Varek from his realm to theirs.

  Brandr straightened and dusted off his hands. “It’s time I find this crone.”

  The instant he learned of her existence from Jeyra, Brandr had been curious about her. Unfortunately, Jeyra couldn’t give him any answers. Brandr hadn’t been able to do a proper search for the crone, but perhaps it was time he focused on locating her. She might very well be the cause of everything.

  Whatever—or whoever—had disrupted the balance on Zora would be dealt with. Swiftly and severely.

  He turned and was about to shift when his enhanced hearing picked up the sound of someone approaching from the woods across the stream. Brandr ducked behind a tree and waited. He swallowed his disappointment when it turned out to be a couple of human teenagers wanting to get a look at the border. Brandr shook his head because adolescents were all the same, no matter what species. They always got into trouble, pushed boundaries, and went places they had no business going.