Tempting the Dragon (17 page)

Plus she had a way of looking at him as if she thought he stood ten feet tall. Around her, he felt like he did.

For him, the future had never been a source of worry, at least not until Violet had become ill and died, and then he’d nearly lost Eve. He’d taken solace in his freedom, comparing himself to the wind—here one day, and gone the next. He’d taken care to make sure he was always available for Eve and, to a lesser extent, her father, Jim. He never wanted Violet’s beloved daughter to ache with missing someone the way he had.

And he vowed never to miss any woman again. He wouldn’t risk that kind of agony. Once was enough.

Except Jade had somehow sneaked her way past his defenses. Her beauty intrigued him; her generosity of spirit captivated him.

His life would be much less beautiful without her in it. Lonely, even. He’d miss her once he’d left Forestwood.

Stunned, he froze. He’d also miss Libby, he told himself. And Sapphire and Pearl, Amber and Opal and the rest of the Burnett family.

He could definitely visit, right? Except since he’d lost Violet, he’d tried to make it a habit never to retrace his footsteps, other than the one exception he’d made for Eve. And he’d deliberately kept himself busy so he’d never been lonely since taking to the road. But now he felt the ghost of loneliness whistling around him like a specter, just waiting for him to strike out on his own.

Not many men were given a second chance. Many of his kind went their entire life without finding a mate, never mind two.

Torn, he swallowed hard. Eve had to come first. He needed to focus on his daughter until she got well. Then and only then, could he turn his attention to a relationship.

Jade would wait for him if he asked, he knew. But he never wanted to condemn such a vibrantly alive woman as Jade to a half-life, always waiting for Rance to brush through town on his way to somewhere else.

With a flush of heat, he realized that was exactly how he’d been living, halfway, always on the fringes of things, never jumping fully in.

Maybe the time had come to make more out of life. Maybe he should consider seizing what he and Jade had with both hands and holding on tightly, so tightly he’d never let go.

Again, he forced himself to stay on track. First, he needed to rescue Eve. Assess her condition and get her well. Then and only then would he allow himself to take a second look at what he’d be letting go if he went back to his former life.

“Are you all right?” she asked, her voice breaking into his thoughts. Once again, she’d pushed aside her own hurt and what should have been anger to care about him.

He wanted to kiss her so badly it hurt. How could it be possible that he could ever deserve a woman like her?

“I sure am,” he replied, standing up and holding out his hand for her to take. “Come here. Walk with me to the car. I want to tell you good-night and head on back to my motel so I can go to bed. It’s been a long day and we’ve got a lot to think about. We can talk again in the morning.”

She slipped her hand into his without a word, stunning him again with her generosity of spirit. Side by side, neither feeling the need to break the silence, they walked down the porch steps toward his rental car.

After he unlocked the driver’s door, he turned and cupped her face with both his hands. A hundred words he couldn’t say ran through his mind. Instead of speaking, he lowered his head and kissed her. She opened her mouth, giving him full rein to taste her sweetness. For a brief moment, he let himself drown in her and then he did one of the hardest things he’d ever done. He pulled away and smiled gently down at her. “See you in the morning.”

* * *

Jade stood in the driveway long after Rance’s taillights had disappeared in the darkness. Then, giving in to impulse, she turned and ran into the woods behind her house. As soon as she could no longer see the yellow lights from the kitchen, she stripped off her clothes, leaving her necklace on as she always did, dropped to the ground and initiated the change.

She didn’t need to think, to worry. She needed to give vent to her savage anger, and the best way she could think of to do this was in her wolf form.

Because she rushed the shape-shifting, it hurt. She didn’t care; in fact, she reveled in the pain. As soon as she’d become fully lupine, she took off in a run, keeping low to the ground while her amazingly talented nose detected the presence of the small game she planned to hunt tonight.

Though she did her best, a couple of hours later Jade finally admitted defeat. She couldn’t outrun her pain.

Plodding back to the spot where she’d left her clothing, she shifted back, slower this time.

Her entire body aching as much as her heart, she dressed and hurried back home. She slipped inside the front door, praying she didn’t run into anyone. Her luck, at least in this, held, and when she reached her bedroom, she actually locked the door and kept the light off.

The last thing she wanted to do tonight was talk to anyone. She needed to be alone, to allow herself to wallow in the misery she couldn’t seem to shake. Maybe that way, she could act normally in the morning. As if her heart wasn’t breaking.

First thing after dawn, her cell phone rang. Libby. Calling to tell her the Fae princess was there and had asked to see both Jade and Rance. Which meant Jade needed to suck it up and call Rance.

Glancing at the clock—shortly after seven-thirty—she punched in his number. She kept her tone brisk, didn’t apologize for waking him up. Instead, she told him what had transpired and asked him to meet her out at Libby’s place in thirty minutes.

Then she rushed through her morning routine—a quick shower, not washing her hair, then brushing her teeth and applying some mascara before dressing.

Again she lucked out. In the kitchen, she managed to snag a cup of coffee in a travel mug and get to her car without encountering anyone.

At this hour, traffic seemed lighter. Forestwood didn’t exactly have a rush hour, but most people had to be at work at eight or nine, so there was a bit of traffic in the downtown area. This eased up as she left the outskirts behind her.

When Jade arrived, Rance had just pulled up. He got out of his rental car and waited for her to park.

Her heart rate sped up and she unbuckled her seat belt and opened her door. Eyeing him, his faded jeans low on narrow hips, his gaze shuttered as he watched her approach, filling her with such a sense of familiarity and rightness she nearly stopped in her tracks.

And then she remembered the dreams. She’d had them every night for several weeks in a row prior to Rance’s arrival in town. In one of them, she’d actually been here, right at this spot, walking toward him with her heart full of longing.

Just like now. More than anything, she wished he’d meet her halfway, pick her up in his strong arms and crush her to him.

Right. Telling herself to get a grip, she managed to smile brightly up at him. “You made good time.”

“Not much traffic.” He didn’t smile back. “As soon as I heard Breena wanted to meet with us, I rushed. I figure she found out what her brother has done. I’m guessing this meeting should have something to do with a plan to get Eve out of Fae.”

For his sake, she hoped so. He’d been out of his mind with worry, and the delay only made him champ at the bit. She felt a swift stab of pain that she knew him so well, then pushed it away. Good old Jade, she thought. Nothing but practical.

“Come on.” She took his arm. “Let’s go inside and find out.”

Breena stood in Libby’s living room, looking as out of place as a rare flower in the middle of a woodpile.

“I’m glad you could make it so quickly,” Libby said, greeting them both with her trademark hugs. “Please, come in and sit down.”

As they made their way into the room, Breena spoke. “The hour has come.”

Relief flashed across Rance’s handsome face. “It’s about time,” he muttered under his breath.

“Time for what,” Jade asked, causing Breena to fix her with an incredulous stare.

“I’ve helped you,” Breena pointed out, including both Jade and Rance in her bright gaze. “Your cousin and the babies are safe. Now you must assist me. I claim my repayment.”

“Payment?” Jade asked.

“The Fae do nothing for free,” Libby told her, patting the younger woman’s arm.

“Plus she told us she’d need our assistance.” Rance continued to study the Fae princess. “Just as we also need hers.”

“Again?” Breena arched one brow. “What now?”

“My stepdaughter and her father are being held prisoner by your brother. We need your help to free them.”

“That can be accomplished,” Breena said. “Once you help me complete my task.”

“Which is?”

“Your aid to regain my kingdom.”

Chapter 17

A
battle? Not what Jade had been expecting to hear. After all, she and Rance had no magical powers. Libby had some abilities, but very little that would aid anyone in a fight.

“How?”

“In the days of old,” Breena spoke carefully, “Fae royalty rode dragons into battle.”

Jade stared, but Rance nodded. “I remember reading about that.”

“Me, too,” Libby chimed in.

“That’s what we need now.” Gaze skirting over Jade and Libby, Breena locked on Rance. “Not an army, but enough Drakkor that Cai’s people will realize we are the rightful rulers.”

“Are you?” Jade had to ask. “I mean, how do we know who is supposed to be on the throne?”

Breena blinked. For a second, Jade thought she might have angered her, but then the Fae princess laughed, a pleasant sound like bells tinkling. “Because I’m the oldest and my father designated me the heir before he quit.”

“Quit? Like a job?”

“Sort of. Since Fae are immortal, when one of us decides they want a different life, such as a ruler who no longer wishes to be king, we can quit and use our magic to not only change our appearance, but our identity. The last I heard, my father is living somewhere in the South Pacific as a beach bum.”

“Why wouldn’t he help his family?”

Breena snorted. “He says not only does he not want to take sides, but he wishes to wash his hands of everything to do with the land of the Fae. He’s a character, let me tell you.” Still smiling at the memory, Breena waved her hands and a rolled-up parchment scroll appeared in her long-fingered hands. With its yellowed color and crackly edges, the document was clearly ancient. “Here.” She held it out to Jade. “Read it yourself.”

Accepting it awkwardly, Jade hesitated. She hated to try to unroll it and somehow damage the thing.

Her dilemma must have seemed clear to Breena. The Fae woman made another gesture with her long fingers, and the scroll unrolled itself.

“There.” Breena pointed. “Second paragraph, lines three and four.”

Sure enough, the flowery and archaic language named Princess Breena as ruler. Prince Cai had been named, but only with instructions that he assist his older sister in any way she needed.

“Satisfied?” Breena asked. At Jade’s nod, she gestured and the scroll magically rolled back up before disappearing into thin air.

“Ok, but I still don’t understand about your father,” Rance put in. “If the document lists you as heir, even if he wants nothing to do with this land, why wouldn’t he take steps to ensure his wishes are followed?”

“I asked him that exact same question.” Breena rolled her eyes. “He says figuring out how to deal with conflict is part of what makes a ruler. Anyway, Jade, now you have confirmation. Is that enough for you?”

“Yes. Thank you,” Jade said. She refused to feel foolish. It never hurt to check on the truth of someone’s claims. Especially when that someone was about to ask Rance to join her in battle.

“Now, back to my request.” Breena drew herself up to her impressive height—Jade guessed the other woman easily topped six feet. “I need just a few Drakkor willing to allow me and my supporters to ride them. We will enter the castle by flying. It’s my hope the sight of the majestic Drakkor will be enough to make Cai’s followers realize that they’ve backed the wrong person.”

“I can get a couple of men,” Rance said, voice thoughtful, his expression wary. “No women, as they are far too precious to risk. And most of them are pregnant.”

“I can go.” Libby spoke up, the firmness to her quiet tone telling them all she refused to take no for an answer. “Though I’m female, I’m far beyond my childbearing years. And I’ve spent way too long hiding in Forestwood Lake. I’d be honored to assist in your reclamation of your kingdom.”

“No.” Jade gasped, causing everyone to stare at her. “Libby, you can’t risk yourself. I don’t know what I’d do if something happened to you.”

Libby crossed to her, wrapping her arms around Jade and pulling her in for a hug. She smelled as she always did, of cookies and vanilla, and home. Jade’s eyes filled with tears as she hugged her charge back.

“Honey, look at me,” Libby ordered. When Jade did as she requested, Libby gently wiped a tear off Jade’s cheek. “You’re my Guardian, and I understand your fears. But I can no longer live in a tree-lined bubble, hiding out from everyone and everything.”

“But the danger...”

“Is slight,” Breena interrupted. “Actually, I’d even consider it nonexistent. No Fae, not even ones as avaricious as my younger brother, would dare to attempt to harm a Drakkor. Our history with the dragons has made them precious to us. Even more so now that their numbers have dwindled.”

The certainty in her voice made it difficult to doubt her. Still, the thought of losing Rance and Libby made Jade want to weep.

Except she wouldn’t. She was much stronger than that.

The determined set of Rance’s jaw told her he’d already made up his mind. And the steel in Libby’s eyes spoke of her own resolve.

“Let me make a few calls,” Rance said. “I’ll see who else I can round up.”

Breena nodded. “I appreciate this.” Her crystal blue gaze found Jade. “And I promise, your cousin and her friends will survive their pregnancies. As will the babies. The mothers will need lots of support and understanding to deal with such powerful children.”

Jade nodded, trying not to resent the beautiful princess. She didn’t dare look at Rance, for fear he might see her emotions on her face or in her eyes. She didn’t know how she’d breathe while he was off fighting a battle for the Fae.

To her shock, Rance moved to stand in front of her, lifting her chin with his large hand and making her face him. “Imagine what a beautiful sight it will be,” he said, his voice quiet, the gray of his eyes darkened to the color of the lake after a storm. “I’d love for you to use my camera and capture some images for me to look at later.”

Since his camera was his most precious possession, that registered first. And then, as she took in the rest of what he’d said, she swallowed, almost afraid to speak in case she understood him wrong. “Are you saying...that I’ll be there?”

He kissed her, his mouth lingering on her lips. A quiet kiss, but one that seared her to her soul just the same. “Of course you’ll be there. That is, if you want to be.”

Now she lifted her head and gave him her truth. “I can’t think of anywhere else I’d want to be than by your side.” Of course, she didn’t have the heart to remind him that he couldn’t bring his camera into the land of Fae.

One corner of his sensual mouth quirked with pleasure. For a breathless second, she thought he might kiss her again.

“Good, then it’s all settled.” Breena spoke briskly.

“No.” Rance turned from Jade to face the others. “It’s not. I need assurance that Jim and Eve will be safe.”

“Like I said, I can make no promises,” Breena began.

“And by safe, I mean we get them out of Fae, away from your brother. And finally, you’ll heal her.”

“I...” Breena closed her mouth, biting back whatever else she might have been about to say. “Of course we’ll attempt to liberate her from Cai. As to healing her, I will do my best.”

“Your best isn’t good enough.” On this point, Rance’s tone made it clear he wasn’t going to budge. “From what Jade told me about the pregnant shifters, you have the ability to heal whatever this illness is that’s killing Drakkors. Don’t you?”

Breena bit her lip and didn’t answer.

Now Libby stepped forward. “Do you understand what it will mean to the Drakkors if this is true? We are very close to becoming extinct. If you truly value us, revere us, as you said your people did in the past, then you will think very carefully how you answer.”

Jade stared, amazed. In all the years she’d known Libby, she’d never heard her speak with such forceful authority.

“My magic isn’t always foolproof,” Breena finally admitted, looking like she’d swallowed something vile. “As queen, every spell I cast should be successful. But ever since Cai seized the throne...”

Before she’d even finished, Libby nodded with understanding. “I have the same problem,” she said. “Though I don’t cast spells, I have other abilities. Lately, I’ve noticed some stuttering. As if I’m having trouble starting and then sustaining.”

“Exactly.” The relief flooding Breena’s face made Libby smile. When Libby enveloped the Fae princess in one of her comforting hugs, Jade watched as longing, amazement and finally gratitude flashed in Breena’s exotic eyes.

“And you think I have an expressive face,” she muttered to Rance. He chuckled and gave her a quick shoulder hug.

“Breena.” Libby’s soft voice seemed edged with steel as she continued to push for an honest answer. “Are you or are you not able to attempt to eradicate this awful plague that’s taken so many of my kind?”

To her credit, this time the other woman carefully considered the question.

“I can make no promises,” Breena finally answered. “All I can do is my best. I know I can help Di and her unborn child, as well as her friends, but only because I have done that before, with great success.”

“What about my stepdaughter?” Rance asked. “I need a guarantee that she’ll be safe if we attack Cai and his followers.”

This time she shook her head and met his gaze full-on. “You know as well as I do that there are no guarantees in life. Again, I will do the best I can to make sure she is protected.”

Rance eyed her with a narrow gaze.

This time, Libby spoke up, becoming the voice of reason. “Honestly, if Breena and her people fly at his castle on the backs of dragons, wouldn’t you think the last thing Cai is going to be thinking about is some halfling child?”

“Good point.” Breena laughed. Then, expression once again serious, she held Rance’s gaze. “We need to act now. How long will it take you to get a couple other Drakkor?”

“Honestly, I have no idea. Let me make some phone calls.” Rance stepped out onto the deck with his cell phone, leaving Jade alone with Breena and Libby.

“Do you really think this will work?” Jade asked, curious. “I only met your brother once, but he doesn’t seem like the type of person too impressed with a few dragons.”

Tilting her head, Breena smiled. “I’m not worried about Cai so much. It’s his people. My people. I need them to see me on the back of a majestic dragon, and realize it’s my destiny to lead them.”

The plan still sounded far-fetched to Jade, but she kept her mouth shut. Instead, she pulled out her own cell phone and busied herself checking her email and Twitter.

A few minutes later, Rance came back inside. The defeated resignation on his face told them that he’d had no luck. “I can’t get anyone else,” he said. “Libby and I will have to do. Are two Drakkor enough to accomplish what you want?”

“They’ll have to be.” Breena’s grim voice matched her expression. “How long does it take you to shape-shift?”

Now Libby and Rance stared, both wearing identical amazed expressions. “You want to do this right now?”

“Yes.”

Ever practical, Jade took charge. “We’ll need to get closer to the portal. If they were to change into dragons here, it’d be too dangerous. Someone might see them.”

“Point taken.” Breena gestured, and they found themselves back in the forest, the two birch trees a few feet away.

Again Rance and Libby exchanged glances.

“I need a minute,” Rance said. He took Jade’s arm and drew her a few paces away from the others. “I know you’re aware that you watching me change breaks every law of our kind,” he began.

“Unless we’re committed mates,” she finished. Though she hadn’t intended to sound like she was fishing for anything, the second she spoke she realized what her words sounded like. “I didn’t mean...” she tried to explain, aware the more she talked, the more flustered she became.

“It’s okay.” He kissed the tip of her nose, sending a jolt of heat all the way to her toes. “Let me finish. Most shifters aren’t even aware of the Drakkor. What you see might be frightening to you, but you know it’s still me. Just like when you become... whatever beast you are.”

Lifting her chin, Jade nodded. “I’m a wolf, as I’m sure you guessed. Part of the Pack, of course.”

He nodded. “I figured. Anyway, remember when you see me after, it’s just like when you shift into a wolf. All right?”

She nodded, wondering why he felt the need to explain this to her. “Once you’re in your dragon shape, what do you want me to do?”

“I’ll lower my head. There are some ridges on my nose and neck. Use those to get up on my back. And hold on. Once we’re in Fae, I want you to get down and take yourself somewhere safe. I imagine Breena will have a few of her people she’ll want riding me.”

“A few?” Heart in her throat, she searched his face. “How many people can you hold?”

“I dunno. I’ve only seen others do it. They only carried a couple at a time. I’d imagine not more than three.”

“Three.” He’d sounded supremely unconcerned. She swallowed. “What about Libby?”

“She’s a female, so her dragon will be a bit smaller. She can only carry one.”

“I will ride her,” Breena said, so close she made Jade jump. “Enough of this nonsense. We need to get through the portal. Time is growing short.”

Rance didn’t move. “What are you not telling us?”

Breena sighed. “I’ve received word that Cai is working on a magical spell to attack me. We need to strike first.”

Until now, Jade hadn’t truly considered that this was a war. She’d tried to buy in to the picture Breena painted, of majestic and fierce dragons in the sky, and the awestruck population being so thunderstruck they fell to their knees in reverent acceptance. Doing so kept her fear at bay. Now she had to face the fact that Cai and his people might actually fight back.

“Keep Rance and Libby safe, you hear me?” Jade rounded on Breena. “They’re much more than just some props for you to use as transportation.”

Breena shook her head. “Enough.” She gestured at Rance. “Do your shape-shifter thing. Libby has promised to get started once you do.”

Instead of answering, Rance turned away and dropped to the ground. “Give me some space,” he growled.

Jade let Breena lead her away, though she kept her gaze glued on Rance. She’d seen her own kind change a hundred times, witnessed numerous humans become wolf, but she’d never, ever imagined a dragon.