dragon archives 04 - dance with a dragon (43 page)

“Yes,” she breathed. He grinned and turned to face James, the smile vanishing a moment later.

“Clearly I’m being set up, with even my wife chasing me away, so I will join you. But hunting is all I intend to do. This is not a chance to catch up with hours of conversation.”

James nodded. “Very well. Let’s go.” He rose to his feet and strode out the door, Max a few steps behind. Anna released a slow breath as the door closed behind the two men. The conversations in the room had stopped, and she looked down, embarrassed. Had they all heard the exchange between her and Max?

Cathryn cleared her throat. “Will and Bron have been practicing a duet. Will, why don’t you get your fiddle?”

Will sighed, but a moment later was reaching into a corner to bring out a four-stringed instrument. He plucked the strings for a moment, then picking up a bow, scraped the hairs across the strings as Bronwyn rose to her feet to sing her tune. Their voices harmonized well together, and soon the others were joining in, tapping their toes or clapping their hands. Cathryn grabbed Anna and pulled her to her feet, linking their arms as they hopped in a circle in time to the music.

It was a cheerful evening as the small party laughed, sang and danced, and when Anna pleaded exhaustion a few hours later, she stumbled her way up the stairs and fell onto the bed she was to share with Max. She fell asleep instantly, but awoke a few hours later shivering with cold. The fire had died down to a few low embers, and she turned to glare at them balefully, but something else caught her eye. Max was seated in the chair near the fire, his long legs stretched out as he leaned against the back. His eyes were closed, but Anna could see the light of flames shining beneath his lashes, making his cheeks glow. She watched him for a moment, her eyes sweeping over his handsome form as she shivered. She saw the light grow slightly and knew he was not asleep, and she smiled.

“Come to bed,” she coaxed.

“No,” he replied, his eyes still closed. “I’ll not lie with a shrew.”

“Your mate is cold,” she whispered. His eyes opened slowly and his gaze caught hers as he looked at her in silence. “Is a dragon really scared of a shrew?”

He rose to his feet and walking to the bed, leaned over her. “Even a dragon feels the bite of such a nasty little creature.”

She reached up a hand and ran her fingers over his face. “Then let me kiss it better,” she whispered. He groaned, then collapsing onto the bed next to her, pulled her into his arms.

“A very persuasive and manipulative little shrew,” he whispered, bringing his lips to hers.

She pulled away. “In that case,” she said, her voice breathless, “I can just leave you in peace,” but he wrapped his arms around her and no more was said for a long, long time.

Chapter 55

They left Drake Manor the next afternoon, after a leisurely morning and a hearty dinner. James and Beatrix left before them, but Anna noticed that even though Max tensed at the sight of James, he did not seem quite as angry as he had the night before.

“How was your hunting last night?” she asked as they flew towards Civitas.

Max looked at her with a grin. “I don’t think I should tell you,” he said. Anna gave him a small kick and he laughed. “James wanted to apologize for leaving when my mother was with child.”

“And did you accept his apology?”

Max was silent for a moment as he turned his head forward. “What he did was inexcusable. He was thoughtless and arrogant. He abandoned his children – children who desperately needed to know their father. But I suppose we all make mistakes, and if you can extend forgiveness to me for leaving you for so many years, then I can try and extend it to him. Not,” he added quickly, “that I am willing to make James a part of my life. But maybe I can let go of the anger a little.”

Anna leaned forward and ran her hand over his neck. “Good,” she said. “Because if it hadn’t been for James, I would never have had you!” She rested her cheek against the shiny bronze scales, and when her arms wrapped around his neck, he leaned down and bumped her hands with his snout, his warm breath washing over her skin.

They landed behind the small hillock that hid the city from view, and followed the path that led them over the bridge and through the gates. It was a gray, wintry kind of day, and the mud was thick on the ground. Max led Anna along the sludgy streets before turning onto a wider, cobbled boulevard that led towards the nicer part of town. Anna recognized the road where Favian and Cathryn had a house, but Max walked past it, turning in the opposite direction onto a street that was little more than an alley. He stopped outside a narrow building, the walls abutting similar houses on either side. The house had two storeys; the lower was built of dark, age-stained wooden planks, while the walls of the upper floor were whitewashed mud and wattle. Windows made up of many small squares of leaded glass overlooked the street from both floors.

Max lifted the latch and pushed the door open, then swept Anna into his arms. “Welcome home, my darling,” he said with a smile as he stepped over the threshold. His arms were warm around her, and as he slid her to her feet she took a deep breath before glancing around the room they had entered. A long, narrow passage stretched out in front of her, with a staircase at the end. To the left was a small room, with a table, and a few chairs and benches. Behind it was a kitchen, with a long bench and a brick stove built into the wall. The walls were stained black, but the room was clean and ordered. Max took her by the hand.

“Come,” he said. “I’ll show you upstairs.” He led her from the room and up the rickety staircase. Another long passage stretched down the length of the house, directly above the other. There were two rooms upstairs – one furnished as a study and the other a bed-chamber. “It’s not much,” Max said, “but it is mine.”

Anna glanced into the bedroom, then back at the study. The rooms were small, and the house was only as wide as one room plus the passage. The staircase was unsafe, the passages were dark and the windows did not let in much light. She turned to Max with a smile. “It’s perfect,” she said.

Max wrapped his arms around her and pulled her against his chest. “It will do for now, but when the baby dragons come, we will need something larger.”

Anna shivered. “Baby dragons?” she whispered.

“Hmm,” Max breathed into her hair as his hands explored her back. “We will start with a dozen and take it from there.”

Anna pulled away with a laugh. “Why don’t we start with one, and take it from there!” She walked over to the window and looked down at the street. A woman was walking along the road, her head covered with a gray cloak. She stepped off the street at Max’s house, pausing a moment before walking up to the door. She lifted her face and pushed off the hood, glancing up as she did so. Anna stepped back into the shadows, but not before she had a chance to see the smiling countenance of Mistress Jane. She heard the door downstairs being pushed open and a voice calling out Max’s name. Anna swung around, but Max was already striding out of the room, taking the stairs two at a time in his eagerness to greet the visitor. Anna hurried after him, her face set in anger, reaching the top of the stairs as Max arrived at the bottom.

“Jane!” he said, and Anna could hear the pleasure in his voice. Jane smiled at him, and gently touched his face.

“I came as soon as I knew you were back,” she said. She glanced up as Anna started descending the stairs, and stepping around Max, hurried towards her. “Mistress Anna,” she said, “I would have come to see you at Drake Manor, but Max told me to wait here.”

Anna stared at the woman for a long moment, her forehead creased with a frown as she glanced at Max in confusion. She knew that Max had created an unbreakable bond with her, but then why was Jane here? He stepped towards her with a gentle smile.

“Anna, this is my sister, Jane.” Anna looked back at the woman in confusion.

“Your sister? But … why …?”

Jane took another step towards her, her hand outstretched. “I wanted to tell you, but Max asked me not to. But now that you know who I am, I want to say how glad I am that you are finally my sister. It is all very well having a brother like Max, but I have always wanted a sister.”

Anna was still standing next to the stairs, and she sat down with a thump. “Jane is your sister?” she said to Max. “Why didn’t you want me to know?”

“I wasn’t meaning to keep it a secret, at first,” he said. “The first time you saw us together, Kathleen was there too, and it just seemed easier to keep silent. But then the rumors started swirling, and you made your own assumptions, so I didn’t contradict you. It gave me an excuse to always be at court, while giving you time to untangle your own feelings.”

Anna looked at Jane again. Her resemblance to Max was so clear, she wondered that she hadn’t seen it before. “I’m sorry I made the wrong assumptions about you,” she said. Jane smiled.

“I hold Max completely responsible,” she said.

“So are you also a …” Anna paused.

“A dragon? Yes. Max and I share the same father.” She turned to Max. “I can smell James’ scent. Was he at the manor?”

Max sighed. “Yes. I went hunting with him.”

“You did?” Jane was clearly surprised. “Why?”

Max smiled wryly. “My mate would not allow me in her bed.”

Jane turned to Anna with a laugh. “Well, you have accomplished more in a few weeks than the rest of us have in years.”

Anna blushed. “Perhaps we can all be a little more forgiving,” she said.

Jane stayed with Anna and Max until long after the sun had disappeared and the sky turned dark. She was six years younger than Max, she told Anna, and had lived with her grandmother until James and Beatrix finally found her and invited her to live with them. She had only been nine years old, but her grandmother was relieved to be free of the burden and expense of caring for a young child. It was while she lived with Beatrix and James that she learned of her true nature, and when she first changed, it was Beatrix who had helped her through the transition.

“I know that Max is unable to love James,” Jane said, “but I am grateful that he found me when he did.” Max had scowled at that, but Anna ignored him.

“How long did you live with them?” she asked.

“I came to Civitas five years ago, after Max left, and lived here while he was away.”

“You lived here? Where are you living now?”

“I’m staying with a friend,” she said.

“But you must stay here!”

Jane laughed. “Actually, I think I will find more peace where I am for now, but thank you for the offer.”

Max grinned, and wrapped his arm around Anna’s shoulder, drawing her close. “Absolutely right,” he said. “It would be very noisy here. Best to stay away.” Anna turned to glare at him, but he grinned back shamelessly. “What?” he said. “Am I wrong?”

It was late when Jane rose to leave. She clasped Anna by the hands as they stood at the door. “I could not be happier about Max’s choice of mate,” she said. “I already know how well suited you are. He has been as cross as a bear these last few years, but it is clear that each of you completes the other. I wish you many, many years of happiness!”

“Thank you,” Anna said, clasping her hands tightly around Jane’s. “I have already been blessed in Max, and now I am doubly blessed, knowing I have such a wonderful new sister.”

Chapter 56

Anna and Max went to the palace a few days later, crossing the courtyard to reach the doorway on the opposite side. It was bustling with people as they went about their duties, shouting at the children and animals that were underfoot. Anna looked at the low wall where she had been wont to meet Garrick, then glanced away as Max squeezed her hand.

They asked the whereabouts of Matilda, and were directed to the throne room, where she was listening to petitions with the new king. As they made their way through the passages, a familiar face stepped out of a doorway.

“Tobias!”

Tobias looked up at the sound of his name, an expression of surprise crossing his face before quickly being replaced with a smile. He hurried towards them.

“Mistress. What brings you here?” He looked at Max, and his eyebrows drew together in a slight frown. “Master Max. You, too.”

“We are here to see the queen,” Anna said.

Tobias looked away. “You may not find her as welcoming as before,” he said.

“I know,” Anna said with a sigh. “Do you believe the rumors, Tobias?”

Tobias glanced at Max again, but when he looked back at Anna, he smiled. “Frank told me what happened, so no, I don’t believe the rumors.”

“Is Frank here?” Anna asked.

“No.” He frowned again. “The last time I saw Frank was when we left Master Cameleus. I thought he was behind us, but he never showed up.”

“He was detained by Rupert,” Max said.

Tobias’s eyes opened wider as he looked at Max. “We heard that Rupert was found dead. Do you mean to say …?”

Max nodded, and Tobias looked away, his expression troubled. “He escaped and went to Terranton,” Max said.

“He’s alive?”

“I believe so.”

Tobias smiled. “Good.” He looked back at Anna. “It is good to see you again, Mistress,” he said. “Good luck with the queen.”

“Thank you, Tobias,” Anna said. She and Max continued along the passage, heading to the small, windowless antechamber off the throne room where petitioners waited to see the monarch. Long benches ran down one side of the room for the commoners, while on the opposite side were wooden chairs with velvet seats for the more nobly born. Max led Anna to one of the chairs to wait.

Only a few minutes had passed when the door to the hall opened, and the Lord Chamberlain stepped into the room, his gaze searching the people gathered there. His eyes fell on Anna, then moved on to Max, narrowing as he stared at him searchingly. Max returned the gaze, until finally the Chamberlain turned to look at the people seated on the other side of the room. He waved to a young man carrying a roll of parchment under his arm. “The king will see you now,” he said. He glanced once more at Max with a slightly perplexed expression, then disappeared through the door.