Resurrecting Her Dragon (Dragon Guard Series Book 13) (2 page)

Featherstone? What kinda name is that?

“Why would she not come the quickest way possible? If the legends are true, which I’ve been assured by every witch from here to Timbuktu that they are, then she can feel how dire the situation is. She knows how badly we need her here.” There was a slight tremor in Calysta’s hands as she wiped his brow. One that hadn’t been there before. One that provided no comfort at all.

Great! Now even the Priestess is worried...

Rory knew Calysta, as well as everyone else, was concerned and doing all they could, but her shaking hands brought the harsh reality of his situation crashing down around him. Guardsmen were damned near invincible. Minus silver and beheading, they could withstand anything else that would fell the ordinary human, not to mention the extraordinary ones too. Facing his own mortality had never been anything Rory had considered, and if he had to be honest, it pretty much ranked up there with warts and the clap (neither of which he’d ever had but had heard they were truly wretched ailments).

“I think I know why the matriarch is covering her tracks.” Max’s voice sounded distant...thoughtful. “Raphael is sure there’s a third party pursuing our Miss Featherstone. One with less than honorable intentions.” The Leo paused and when he began again, Rory could hear the click of the heels of his boots against the concrete floor of the clinic.

Max is pacing? Must be some serious thinking going on there. Oh! And why does everyone know about Miss Featherstone but me?

“Correct me if I’m wrong, Calysta, but isn’t there a prophecy or foretelling or some such mystical thing about the matriarch of a clan being pursued by the light and the dark? I seem to remember hearing about it somewhere over the years.”

“Yes, there is. But...”

“But it has always been assumed they were talking about a dragon, and since all the female leaders were killed some time ago, no one has mentioned it in years.” Kyra’s intrusion into the conversation announced the arrival of both she and her mate, Royce, the middle O’Reilly brother.

“Glad you could join the party.” Rory could hear the smile in Max’s voice and wondered what was coming next. Thankfully, he didn’t have to wait very long.

“Yeah, super glad to see you, ya asshole. Thanks for the wake-up call.” Rory could tell Rian was just giving Royce a hard time and wished like hell he could join the fun.

At least I have a front row seat.

Royce’s booming laugh filled the clinic as he answered back, “I always told you paybacks were a bitch.”

The room erupted in laughter as Rian commented, “Yes, but did you have to let Lenn set off fireworks on my patio?”

Kyra’s tinkling giggle rose over the others as she struggled to speak. “Sorry, Ri, that was my idea. I forgot how he gets with explosives.”

It was obvious he was trying to hold back his laughter as Rian responded, “The scorch marks go all the way to the roof. How the hell am I supposed to get them off the brick?’ He paused and Rory imagined his brother’s patented scowl. When he began again, Rian’s tone was less harsh, “Thank the Heavens Audrey just laughed.”

Everyone howled and Rory could only imagine the look on Rian and Audrey’s face when Lennox, one of his oldest friends and an ex-navy seal with a love of all things explosive, had set off his display. The youngest O’Reilly brother remembered last Fourth of July when Lenn let off so many fireworks they had to turn three different fire departments away at the gates to the lair. To say Lennox loved all things that went boom was a serious understatement.

“You got a good one there, Ri,” Royce chuckled.

“Speaking of your lovely mate, is she coming by?” Kyra asked.

“Yep. She said I was distracting her and told me she’d be over after her shower.” Rory laughed at the grin in his oldest brother’s voice and the way the others gave him a hard time about distracting his mate. “She’s really worried about, Ror.” Rian’s tone was suddenly solemn and his comment left the room bathed in an uneasy silence.

After several heartbeats, in which Rory wished someone—
anyone
—would make a joke, a cell phone rang. Rian’s quick, “Whatcha got, Kell?” filled the silence.

Kell’s gruff brogue filled the clinic. Thankfully, his oldest brother had put the call on speakerphone. “Have you ever heard of the Tale of Dark and Light?”

“That’s what it’s called!” Kyra shouted, making Rory imagine the five-foot platinum-haired witch nearly vibrating with excitement. She wasn’t only the mate to his middle brother but also the daughter of the Grand Priestess. She was probably the most powerful witch in the world with a heart of gold and the desire to help those in need. The youngest O’Reilly brother was damned glad to have her on his side.

“Max was just talking about a prophecy of some sort. Is that what you mean?” Rian asked. His tone no longer that of a concerned brother, but as the leader of their clan.

“I don’t know that you’d called it a prophecy so much as a history lesson. Homer’s not just a friend of Claire’s, he’s also the Chief of the Choctaws. Even better, he loves to talk. He told me that once every five thousand years, the Leader of the Clan of the Sun is tested. She’s given the choice of two mates; one whose magic is light and pure, and one whose magic comes from the darkness. The Chief said it’s the Universe’s test to make sure the matriarch is worthy of her position.”

Claire Featherstone! The mystery woman has a name! And the Leader of a clan, so not a witch. Hmm...

Rory chuckled to himself and imagined the scowl on Kellan’s scarred face. Not that he smiled very much anyway, but it was evident from how pronounced his accent had become that the Guardsman was not at all thrilled with what he’d learned.

“Homer went on to say that Claire’s been having visions of both her suitors for more years than he can remember but had decided to let nature take its course. She never told him who or what her destined mates were, only that she knew of their existence and would wait for them to seek her out. He never doubted that she would choose the light, which was reinforced a few days ago. It was right about the time we were in Hell fighting our way out. I guess our girl went into a trance. She walked to one of the portals to the Underworld somewhere in the forest surrounding the Clan of Light’s mountain and tried to open it. Thank the Heavens she had no clue what she was doing or there could’ve been a whole lot of uglies running amok.”

“It took the Choctaw medicine man and the Healer of Claire’s clan to bring her out of the trance. Then a few hours later, dark clouds filled the sky and the matriarch started talking about being watched. No one found any trace of a stalker, so Homer’s pretty sure her trance triggered the mating call. And now, whoever her dark suitor is has started his search for her.”

“Wait. I’m confused,” Kyra chimed in. “What does one thing have to do with the other?”

“I’m getting to that,” Kellan growled and then quickly added just above a whisper, “sorry
ceann beag.
It’s been a bitch of a day.
”

“No worries, Kell. This whole damn thing sucks.” Kyra’s voice was soft and accepting. Royce was one lucky son of a gun. Hell, they all were just to be able to call the little witch family.

Clearing his throat, the scarred Guardsman continued, “Because Claire had been dreaming about her mates, she knew the minute our boy was bitten and her beast took over, doing whatever she could to get to her chosen mate.”

Wait! What did he just say?

“So you’re saying that our boy is...” The end of Rian’s comment was cut off by his laughter. Unfortunately, Max was right there to pick up the slack.

“That is absolutely brilliant.” The chuckle in the King’s voice made Rory wish he could slug his old friend in the jaw.

“Hold on just a damned minute!” Kell yelled over all the frivolity, making Rory laugh to himself.

The old boy seriously has no patience.

“There is no way to know for sure that Rory is Claire’s mate. It can be any of us. She would also be duty bound to help any of her mate’s brethren because of our blood bond.” There was a shudder in his voice, echoing the youngest O’Reilly brother’s feelings. Both were confirmed bachelors and had made a pact to stay that way for as long as they could. “All I’m sure of is that she knows her mate is a dragon and that one of our Force needs healing that only she can provide.”

Good news is Kell thinks she can heal me. Bad news is I can tell he thinks this chickie is my mate.

“So it could be any of us.” Declan, who was with Kellan and the others searching for Claire, added in his typical deadpan tone.

“And that doesn’t freak you out just a bit?” Max asked.

“Nothing I can do about it. It’s gonna happen one way or another.” Rory had to smile at Dec’s detached answer.

Nothing gets that guy excited...not even the prospect of a mate.

“I’m guessing you think Claire is taking the scenic route as a way to avoid her dark mate?” Rian commanded an answer more than asked a question.

“Yeah, that’s my best guess. We’re only a few minutes behind the panthers and from the tracks she’s leaving, they’re only a bit behind her. Hopefully, we’ll all catch up at the same time and can escort her to the lair without any more trouble.”

Kell sounded tired and frustrated. Something Rory was getting used to hearing in everyone’s voice. Laying around like a corpse was no fun, especially when the clock was ticking and he had to depend on others to save his backside.

Speaking of that...Wake up, you useless fire breathing blow hard! I need your help! Some of us have an expiration date, ya know?

Rory’s rant included a few mental jabs, a swift kick in the tail, and a poke in the eye, only to be answered by an obnoxious snore and a gust of smoke.

Dumb, stupid, good-for-nothing...

The prick of a needle in his upper arm, followed by an immediate sense of euphoria, cut the youngest O’Reilly brother’s newest tirade short. Audrey’s voice sounded like it was coming from the bottom of the barrel when she asked, “What was that injection for?”

Niall’s answer was little more than a whisper as the medicine’s full effect began to take over. “It’s a sedative combined with an analgesic. A slower heart rate means slower spread of the poison. And then there’s his fever to worry about. Don’t want there to be any permanent brain damage since it’s been slowly rising since you lot returned from the Underworld. I’m just trying to give him enough time for Miss Featherstone to arrive and work her magic.”

Magic? But...not a...witch...so...sleepy...

“I’ll get her there.”

“You do...” Rian’s response was cut short by the sound of silence. Kell had already disconnected.

Rory worked hard to stay awake, not wanting to miss any detail of his condition, but the medicine Niall had injected into his vein was too strong for his toxin-ridden body to fight. Feeling no pain for the first time since losing his battle with the hellhound, images of a crimson-haired beauty with eyes the color of storm clouds and lips so perfectly bowed his mouth watered from his desire to taste them invaded his mind. Instantly, he knew this was the woman who could save him. This was Claire.

Her long red curls flowing behind her like dragon fire as she rode across the countryside made his palms itch to see if they were as soft as they appeared. Long sleek legs held tightly to the coal black seat of her Soft Tail as it hugged the curves and sailed over the hills like it was riding the rails. Rory’s skin tingled with the need to feel the touch of her long, beautiful fingers that just as easily could’ve been playing Mozart’s Requiem in D Minor as manning the throttle of her Harley.

This woman was real, not just some fantasy his drug-induced stupor was making up. He could feel her strength. See the determination in her every movement. She was used to being in charge and took her responsibilities very seriously, but there was also a softer, gentler side Rory could see in the depths of her eyes.

Claire Featherstone was tired of being alone. She had a clan. Had good friends. Had distant relatives. Had all the things any other living being would’ve been content with. But even in a crowd, she was alone. Maybe even kept herself apart. It’s who she was. How she’d been raised. But it was the part of her she was readiest to lose.

Rory had no clue how he knew all this about his savior, only that it was as clear as the nose on his face. He watched Claire look at the dark clouds chasing her, that looked like a winged beast, and shake her head. He expected her to frown or become agitated by the image, but as he was quickly learning, Miss Featherstone was anything but ordinary. Instead of doing as he expected, her lips curled into a knowing smile just as her hands gave a quick twist to her throttle and she shot down the road, laughing like she hadn’t a care in the world.

I think I could like this one...

The thought had barely crossed his mind when Claire looked up. Their eyes locked. He could feel her awareness of him like they were standing face to face. Not only could he feel what she was feeling, but now, he could see into her mind. Rory was sure he was dreaming and damned if it wasn’t just too good to wake up from.

He felt a mingling of kindred spirits, a familiarity he didn’t want to feel but was helpless to stop. Not only could Claire save his life, but there was no doubt in Rory’s mind she was going to irrevocably rock his world to its very foundation. She was everything he’d spent all his adult years avoiding and she was careening toward him with no signs of stopping.

Not willing to out a name on what he felt—what he knew without a shadow of a doubt— Rory searched for a way to sever their connection. Instead, he was thrown into a sea of memories...Claire’s memories...with one taking center stage....

An old man with deeply tanned skin and long ebony hair bounced an adorable freckled-face girl with long red curls on his knee. The little girl’s giggles were contagious, making everyone around them, especially the elderly gentleman, smile and laugh along. The little girl begged again and again until the man finally relented and began to speak...

“Long ago when the gods still roamed the earth and spoke to their chosen disciples, Lugh, the Celtic God of the Sun, bestowed a precious gift upon your ancestors,
banphrionsa beag.
He saw a greatness, a strength in the women of your clan, and right here on this very mountain he gave them the power to heal and to rule. Many thought he was crazy. Women were not meant to lead. Women were meant to take care of their husbands and to have many children, but the Sun God knew what he was doing. The men had taken advantage of their positions long enough. It was time to set things right.