Fighting For Her Dragon (5 page)

“I’m good…really.”

“Then I have to ask what are you doing here?” Siobhan asked with a suspicious tone.

“Well, let’s see: he was my mate, I never met him in person, I shared the most intense pain of both our lives with him, I felt him die, and…Oh, yeah! Sydney says she can hear him talking and I feel like he’s just this far,” she held her thumb and forefinger about an inch from one another and put it right in front of the Elder Healer’s face to make sure she saw it before continuing, “from me every second of every day. I came here to see you and happened upon a conversation I was obviously not supposed to hear. After bullying Devon,” she winked over her shoulder, “he explained the whole ‘poof into oblivion thing’ that was supposed to happen with Andrew’s body but didn’t, and then brought me here to see for myself.”

Emma took a breath and stood staring at Siobhan, daring her to say another word. She knew her actions were out of character, but her ‘family’ had been keeping things from her and were trying to baby her, and those were two things that she could not have if she was going to get the answers she wanted…needed…deserved. 

“I see,” was all Siobhan said before turning to examine the symbol.

“Devon said he thought it meant the balance between two opposing forces. What do you think?”

“Devon is correct,” she answered without looking up. “I can also feel power running through it. Just another anomaly of his death.” Straightening up, Siobhan looked down at Andrew and then reached forward and moved a wayward stand of hair from his forehead. Emma saw the same sadness she felt reflected in the Healer’s face, and felt bad for the way she’d spoken to her. But that quickly evaporated.

The words,
“It is too late to worry with a man that was just not good enough for you. He is gone now. Focus on yourself and getting better,”
came to her mind. Emma’s spine stiffened; her resolve to make them listen to her renewed.

“No more coddling, no more sending me away or telling me I’m better off without him, Siobhan. I know you can feel something more than just power in that symbol. Stop trying to protect me and help me find out what’s going on. One way or another, I will get my mate back or send him on to his final destination so that he can find some rest. I promise you I will…with or without your help.”

Siobhan looked away, bit her bottom lip, and made a ‘tsk’ sound before answering. “Well, I suppose you will want to stay as close to him as possible, am I right?”

“That you are.”

“Okay, then we will work in here until the others come. Let me show you what Pearce and I have been able to find so far. And that symbol just may be the break we needed.”

Not waiting for an answer, the Healer stepped around Emma and walked to the table that held all her books. Emma stood looking at Andrew, wondering what he’d been like before his capture and knowing he’d been a real pain in the ass, but someone she would’ve liked. Laying her hand over his still heart and her lips upon his cool forehead, she said the words in her mind she wasn’t ready to say out loud.
“Come back to me. I know life was hard and you really screwed up, but I need you…at least for a little while. I’m pretty sure if I cannot see that you’re real and know that everything you’ve made me feel is not a figment of my imagination, I’m gonna lose my mind.”

It was several more minutes before she could move away from her mate. Nothing that had happened since the man had set foot in the lair made sense, and this new development was no exception. Emma had tried to fight it, had stayed away from him and had ultimately hidden what was happening from all those she trusted, but now there was no way she could deny their connection or her need to have him in her life.

Fate may not be denied, but it might just kill me too.

CHAPTER FIVE

Nothing he’d ever endured at the hands of any of his captors had left him as gutted as listening to Emma fighting for him did. It wasn’t what she said, although her words were beautiful. It wasn’t the vehemence with which she said them, although that was humbling to say the least. It was her complete belief that bled from every word, persuading others to believe just as she did, that he was more than the sum of his deeds. She was the first person that accepted all of him–the good, the bad, and most definitely, the ugly. 

He wanted to get back to her and that shocked him more than anything. Andrew O’Brien did not want to be with anyone; he was a loner and capable of dealing with anything and everything on his own…but…he wasn’t. He not only wanted to be with Emma, to be a better person because of her, he
needed
to be with her. Needed to show her that her faith in him was not unfounded. He just knew if he could get back there, he could be the man and dragon she needed.

Then came the part that didn’t surprise him, not even a little bit. The part, where even in his death, those fucking dragons dismissed him like yesterday’s garbage. It had been bad enough when they treated him like scum at the bottom of the pond when he was alive, but when they’d had the nerve to tell his mate…his mate… that he wasn’t worth her time. They’d gone too damn far.

Well, from what I’ve seen of her, I’m really not. She is the best of the best and I’m…well…I’m me.

They’d also told her to get over him, move on, and that she was better off without him. And maybe they were right on a certain level, but they had no idea how deeply he and Emma had bonded. Couldn’t know that she was the ultimate light. That she wiped away the deep, dark stains of all he’d done. She couldn’t offer him the forgiveness that he would have to earn from all that he had harmed, but she could cleanse his soul and accept him just as he was. He’d seen that for himself. Figured it was the only reason he was still floating around the Fades like a balloon in the Macy’s Day Parade instead of barbequing in Hell like a pig on a spit.

He was glad to see Emma was no longer lying in bed wishing for death, and he had to admit she had a strength that surprised even him. He’d felt power within her but would never have guessed she could be tough and demanding. Emma was light and sunshine and goodness, which most people, even him, took for granted. Andrew could not have been prouder of her.

Tired of waiting, he called out again. “Dad! Please! Tell me how to do this.”

No answer again, and tired of being ignored by his father, Andrew asked his question to the emptiness, hoping that someone, something, anyone… would answer. “How the hell do I get back to my body, or at least communicate with my mate on the other side?”

Long silent seconds ticked by. Andrew imagined himself pacing. It was a new activity he’d learned in those few hours after Michael had left him to stew in his own juices. All he had to do was picture his body as he’d been in life and then imagine himself pacing. Next step was to give himself over to the illusion. The first time he’d tried, the vertigo made him want to hurl, but the longer he worked at it the better he became, until it actually began to combat the fury inside him.

On his fourth trip around his imaginary library, he heard a voice from his past. A voice he was sure had been lost to him forever. “Drew, love, what do you need?”

“Mom? Is that you?”

“Yes, my sweet boy. It is me.”

“What are you doing here, Mom? Where is Dad?”

“He’s being stubborn,
mo mahc
. Like father, like son.” Margarite laughed and Andrew’s heart swelled. He hadn’t realized how much he’d truly missed his mother until that moment.

“I just came myself, dear boy. Time is running out. Your dragon can only sustain you for so long and that sweet girl of yours is going to wear herself out.”

“Thank you so much, Mom. I really want to get back to her and make things right, but I’ve tried everything I know. How do I do it? How do I get back to the other side…back to Emma?”

“Oh, darling, you do not get back on your own. You really have little control over the process at all. It is up to those that love you, along with Fate, Destiny, and the Universe. All of their energies have to be in sync. The best that you can do is be ready when you feel the pull and follow your mating bond to the light of your soul.”

“Thanks for coming, Mom, but I’m pretty sure I’m screwed. Emma’s the only one that wants me there. She’s the only one that’ll fight for me. The others are happy I'm gone. They told her to get over me and move on, that I wasn’t worth her time.” He paused, feeling defeated. “Let's face it, Mom, can you blame them?”

“Don’t you dare give up hope, Andrew Myles O’Brien. Your brothers are angry. They are hurt. They feel betrayed, and rightfully so. You were horrible to them and you will have to make amends, maybe even beg, but they are still your blood and in their hearts still love you as their own. It is the same with your brethren. And before you interrupt, they are still your brethren. That will never change, no matter what you do or how angry they are. But you have to believe you are worthy of their forgiveness. You have to work to earn their trust.”

His mother stopped talking and he thought she was finished. Just as he was about to respond, Margarite added, “But most of all, you have to make sure you are worthy of the love of that beautiful woman. The Universe has given you a precious gift. She is perfect and she is going to need you to be there for her…your fates depend on it. DO NOT WASTE IT!”

“What? What do you mean ‘our fates depend on it’? Depend on what, Mom?”

“That’s enough for you now. Your father’s calling, and with any luck you’ll be back where you belong soon. Know that your father and I love you very much. We love all our boys. Now, get it together and make us proud.”

“But, Mom, you didn’t…”

From one second to the next, the air around him went from full of love and life and his mother, to utter nothingness. Margarite was gone and Andrew was once again left with his thoughts. A position he was beginning to detest. He thought about the time in the cave at the lair when he’d hallucinated his mother’s presence. She’d been much more direct, almost uncaring in his delusion, and he’d wondered a few times how much truth there was in his vision. Happily, there was none, and she was the wonderful mother he’d known for all those years and would love forever.

He thought about what Margarite had said, worried that Emma was going to need him and he would be stuck in the Land of the Lost, unable to get to her. Cursed himself for most of the decisions he’d made and had to laugh at the fact that his mother thought Aidan and Aaron, or any of the Guardsmen for that matter, would ever forgive him, let alone ever trust him again. Of course, it was ultimately their fault that things had transpired as they had, but he was beginning to see where he’d played a part in the mess he was trying to escape.

It was absolutely maddening that he could do nothing to aid in his escape from the Fades. His mother had been very specific. There was nothing he could…or was there? A thought crossed his mind that had him once again believing there may truly be a chance. All he had to do was somehow reach the little sweetheart, Sydney. They’d met under harrowing circumstances but she’d never feared him, and told him how one day things would be okay.

Just another of my less than stellar decisions.

Banishing his negative thoughts, he focused on Sydney. He knew she was so much more than ‘just a little girl’. Had known it the first time he’d spoken to her. He also knew she’d been poking around the expanse of nothingness where he presently resided. They had not been able to make contact, but they each were aware of the other, and now that he was a little better with the inner workings of the Fades, he was ready to try again. All he had to do was focus on her extremely unique energy signal, and with the help of his dragon, who he was thankfully on speaking terms with once again, he should be able to get a message to her.

Thinking of her bright blue eyes and open smile framed by the curliest, blondest hair he’d ever seen made her more real in his mind. He then thought of her tiny voice and the caring way she’d grabbed his hand, squeezing for reassurance when in all actuality he was the villain…the traitor.

“Don’t say that about yourself, Andrew. You’re getting better now. I can feel it.
” Her childlike voice filled the space around him.

“That you, Sydney?”

“Sure is. I’m at the clinic with all the grownups and Jay. Emma’s yelling at Aaron. They’re fighting ‘bout you. Siobhan’s looking at some yucky old book with Kyra and it looks like they are gonna work a spell. Aidan is pacing because Grace won’t sit down and her babies are almost ready to come out. Everyone else is just kinda standing around. What you doing?”

He smiled at her play-by-play, but was worried about Emma yelling at Aaron. That sanctimonious prick better not yell back at her, or Andrew would have to kick his ass. No one yelled at Emma…absolutely no one.

Possessive much? Chill. You don’t even know for sure if she wants you. She may have just felt bad for the dead guy.

“I need you to do me a favor. Can you see if the book Siobhan is reading is the one I brought with me to the lair…please?”
The word almost got stuck in his throat and he cringed at what a Neanderthal he’d become. There had been a time not so long ago that whatever he commanded was done without question or reservation, or the offending party ceased to exist, right where he stood. Those times were long gone, at least in his mind. He only prayed he could make them fade away in the hearts and minds of the dragons and his mate.

“Yep. I already know it is. That book is nasty. It stinks of death and darkness. Why would you have something so ugly, Andrew?”

“I thought I needed it, but I was wrong. What I need you to do is have Siobhan look at some of the pages from other books I hid between its pages. Those passages are not evil, not at all; they might actually help me talk to Emma. She does still want to talk to me, doesn’t she?”

“Well, of course she does. She wants that real bad. That’s what she and Aaron are fighting about.”

Andrew growled under his breath and his dragon chuffed. The beast was right. This was what the traitor needed to prepare himself for. Everyone but his mate thought he was better off in hell and out of their lives. They would’ve been right had he been the same old Andrew and hell, they were partially right now. He still held them responsible for what he’d suffered, no matter how many times he’d been told Aidan had come back for him. But none of that mattered right now. If he did, by some miracle, make it back to life, there was still gonna be hell to pay and the Tribunal would want to sentence him to death. It was all part of the gig and something he’d have to worry about later.

It seemed to take forever before Sydney spoke again, and this time she was whispering.
“Siobhan already found those pages. Pearce and Kyra are helping her translate them.”
The little girl giggled.
“Ms. Siobhan just told them that you did good figuring out some of the old words, but that your ancient language translation was way off in some places.”

Andrew had to chuckle with the little girl. A few weeks ago he would’ve ordered Siobhan Walsh’s death for even suggesting he didn’t know what he was talking about. Now? He wanted to kiss her on the cheek for figuring it out.
“Sydney, are Emma and Aaron still fighting?”

“No. Shhhh. Ms. Siobhan is talking, and from the looks on everyone’s faces, it is not good news.”

“What do you mean, Sydney? Can you tell me what she’s saying?”

“Gotta go, Andrew. Mom’s on the way over. She’ll be mad if she knows I’m talking to you. She said this is adult business. Pfft. What does she know?”

Andrew knew Sam was only trying to protect her daughter, and in an effort to show he was turning over a new leaf, he wanted to tell Sydney to do as her mother had told her. But if he did that, the little he was able to keep up with Emma would be lost, and he knew it would be a matter of hours before he lost his ever-loving mind. He could, however, ask the child to contac
t
him when things had quieted down.

He was about to do just that when there was a loud pop and he could hear suddenly what Siobhan was saying. “Will you please stop yelling at one another? With the help of Pearce and Kyra, I have corrected the translation of several of the pages Andrew had hidden in the old tome. These appear to have been torn from an ancient journal detailing prophecies of the future. Since all of you are here, I think you need to listen. It affects all of us in one way or another. For some of us, life will never be the same.”

“Sounds like SSDD.” A voice he recognized as Lance shouted.

“Yes, well, be that as it may, I am not professing to understand everything I’ve read, but some of it is very obvious. Whatever we don’t figure out here tonight, I’ll work on until we understand it all. Any questions before I start?”

A few seconds of silence and she spoke again, this time with a reverence to her voice that spoke to the sacredness of not only having a prophecy, but that they would be reading the old teaching as a group, the way they’d always meant to be read.

“A powerful white witch of long regal lineage sworn to the Earth, made whole by human love, must mate a dragon of royal descent, marked by devastating loss and the heart of not one clan, but two.