Finding the Dragon (Dásreach Council Book 1) (45 page)

My heart for you and family,

My soul to entwine us for all eternity.

Al didn’t know what she expected, some sort of magical binding, a feeling, or some sort of manifestation of what she and Kai had just promised each other. But there was nothing, except the look of love and satisfaction in Kai’s eyes. She saw pure joy in their depths. He pressed a light kiss two her lips.

“I love you, Alvena. My world is balanced in your hands, you are my everything.”

Al’s throat clogged with the joy she felt at having Kai in her life. She was speechless as he pulled her to the cot where the Shaman already waited.

*

Kai was holding her hands as she lay face down. He sat crossed legged on the floor at the head of the cot. The Shaman had positioned her arm and began to hum and sing, she didn’t recognize the words, but they were soothing. Kai’s fingers massaged the backs of her hands and her fingers. It was surprising how relaxed she was and how comfortable the cot was as she turned her head away from the Shaman and closed her eyes. She concentrated on the dual sensations of the Shaman’s voice and Kai’s fingers as they had told her to do.

Her mind quieted and she soon found herself leaving the world she knew…

*

Al found herself standing in a field surrounded by mist and fog. She couldn’t see more than five feet in front of herself. Turning in all directions she was lost, with no idea what direction to head. So, she took a deep breath and began walking in the direction she currently faced. Couldn’t be any worse than standing in one place. Flashes of her past began to emerge in the fog. All the times she had been wrong, all the times she had been right, and all of the times she had been neither. She saw herself at her worst and at her best. When she got to the point in her life where she met Kai, a shadow loomed out of the misty swirls of fog.

She stopped and watched as the sun moved from behind the clouds and began to burn off the fog. As the white veil began to disappear, she could see the bright sunlight glint off of bronze and emerald scales. There was no fear. She stood and waited as the large beast walked forward, stopping far enough away so that she could lower her large head and look into Al’s eyes.

Alvena, I’ve been waiting.

“I’m sorry.”

No need to be, you had to find your way.

“Yes.”

Are you ready to be all that you need to be?

“Yes.”

Are you ready to accept who I am?

“Yes.”

Good. Come, we will fly. The Shaman will be done soon, and we can return to your new life.

“I don’t like heights.” Al looked up at the dragon and wondered why this dragon would pick her.

The dragon chuckled.
Oh, that will change I’m sure. Come, I will show you the glories of the sky.

Taking a deep breath, Al climbed on the dragon’s back the way that Kai had showed her on her one and only other dragon flight.

“You sure about this?” She asked as she gripped onto the scaled neck.

Absolutely!
Her spirit guardian roared as she jumped into the sky. The beast’s strong wings beat the air and caused them to rise above the still foggy ground. Al could see for miles in all directions. Clouds soon drifted beneath them as they soared high in the sky. Strong and swift.

The dragon dipped and Al felt her stomach lurch from the drop in altitude. Not from fear, but excitement and joy. That is when she realized that she hadn’t even thought to close her eyes.

See. You are stronger than you give yourself credit for.
Her spirit guardian chuckled.

Destiny has chosen all of us, you, Kai, me, and my mate that resides with your Kai. Together we will bring change. Together we will lead the Dásreach. Humans need to be shown how to care for their home and together we will find ways to teach them.

Al’s spirit guardian began to climb back into the sky, before swooping around and returning to the field where they had started from. Al whooped in joy when they landed. She had flown on the back of a dragon. She had kept her eyes open.

She jumped down from the dragon’s back.
My dragon! My spirit guardian.
Her feet couldn’t help but dance around. She did the obligatory fist pump and turned to her spirit guardian.

“I didn’t even feel afraid.”

Most of your fears are not the fear of what is happening, but of your lack of control. On this flight, you let that need for control go and trusted me.

“I still don’t understand why you or Kai chose me.”

As we keep saying, you are more than you see, Alvena. You are the balance for Kai.

“But, what does that mean?”

You keep thinking you need to be good enough for Kai that you need to be the same as Kai, but that is not what he needs.

“I’m confused. Doesn’t he need someone who can lead with him? What does he need?”

Yes and no. He needs someone to stand by his side and help him handle the things he can’t change, the things he has to change, and the burdens that he thinks he has to carry.

Al thought back to the times that she had seen Kai weary and almost broken by the pressure that he put on himself. The many times she comforted him and told him to let go. When she explained to him how there are times that things are just out of your control. She had told him those things, even when she didn’t apply them to herself. Maybe, she and Kai both needed to understand that sometimes you need to depend on others and not expect everything from yourself.

“I can do it. I can be what we both need.”

Good, the Shaman finishes. Come and hug my neck and we will return together.

Al wrapped her arms around the dragon’s neck and held on tight as she began to hear the raspy singing of the Shaman. She felt a sharp sting on her arm and then Kai was whispering in her ear.

*

“Wake, my Valkyrie, come back to me. The Shaman has finished.”

She blinked open her eyes and looked into the eyes of the man she loved. Kai had moved to the side of the cot and squatted to look into her face. She turned her head and saw a bandage around her arm. The Shaman and his supplies were nowhere in sight.

“Alvena, here, let me help you up.” Kai moved to assist her. He showed her how to roll over without hurting her arm and assisted her to sit up on the cot.

“How are you feeling?” He asked with concern in his eyes as he looked her over.

Al sat and took stock of herself. As she flexed her fingers and toes and moved her arms and legs a little, she felt something move inside of her.
I am here, Alvena.

She smiled at the feeling of her spirit guardian.

“Wonderful. Strong.” She responded as she looked up into Kai’s beautiful face. “In love.”

“I love you, lass.” Kai pulled her into a hug and Al felt a twinge from her arm.

“When will I be able to see it?” Her gaze focused on the bandage wrapped around her bicep.

“Well, now that you can heal quickly, you should be able to take the bandage off in a few hours.”

“Really?” Al grinned and looked at the man that had changed so much, but given her so much as well.

“Aye. So, want to check out the other gifts you have been given?” Kai’s wicked grin made Al’s heart melt.

“Like what?”

“How about we head outside and see what you learned on your journey. You think you’re ready to shift?”

“What? Oh…” She realized that she had the knowledge of how to shift into the form of her spirit guardian. She could partial shift or full-shift just like Kai could. The knowledge was ingrained into her being now, just like her knowledge of how to breathe. She also understood how to create rain, wind, and other weather. No more inside cyclones. Al began to laugh. “Oh, yeah.”

Kai laughed as he wrapped his arm around her shoulders and led her from the room.

“There is a huge field just for us. We can shift and there is plenty of room to accommodate our size.” Kai said with excitement.

As they walked outside of the temple, the sun shown into Al’s eyes and reminded her of the sun on her dragon’s scales.

“Kai. Guess what?” She smirked at him.

“I’m not sure I like that look on your face, lass.” A grin belied his weariness.

“I can fly, Kai.” Her smile spread across her face.

“Aye. As a dragon you will have that ability, but I understand about your fear of heights. It would be nice to fly together, but I…”

She pulled him to a stop and stepped in front of him. She couldn’t keep the happiness inside; she bounced on her toes and grabbed his biceps to hold him in place.

“No, Kai, I mean I
can
fly.” His confused look made her giggle.

“Aye. Your dragon has the ability.” He still didn’t understand what she was trying to say.

“Kai, you’re not getting it. I’m not afraid of heights any more. I. Can. Fly.”

Al’s face felt like it was going to break from the wide smile she couldn’t help but wear. She not only got this amazing man. She also received a new appreciation for herself. Not to mention the coolest superhero persona ever. She could shift into a dragon, fly the skies, and create whatever weather she wanted. Al now had the ability, and with Kai by her side, the guidance to make a difference in the world around her, without any fear of making the wrong decisions. She had the Dásreach, her spirit guardian, the Great Spirit – that she could now feel all around her – and most of all, Kai to help her through each new day.

“You’re saying you can go up there,” Kai pointed up, “with me?”

“Yep.”

Kai whooped as he picked her up in his arms and swung her around. He laughed against her lips, as he brushed light kisses against them. Kisses that stirred ideas of things other than shifting and flying. She started to ask Kai if he had someplace private they could go instead, when they were interrupted.

“Kai… Kai.” A man with shaggy brown hair stopped in front of them, his breathing elevated by the brisk run he had done to catch them.

“Riordan.” Kai acknowledged the man. “What do you need?”

Ethereal aqua-blue eyes stared into Al and Kai’s faces as he responded.

“Dar’s been trying to reach you. Malkum called and he has news about the women who died.”

Kai looked between her and Riordan, their eyes clicked in total agreement and they turned without a word and ran for a phone to call Dar.

Epilogue

Four days ago.

Rogue sat on the front porch swing. The plantation style house was huge and she loved the wrap around porch. Trees and bayou stretched out, she could only assume for miles, in all directions. The noises of the bugs and animals, the wind through the branches of the trees, lulled her as she pushed the swing back and forth. Slowly rocking as her mind furiously tried to digest what had been said in the kitchen.

Shifters. Mates.

Not only Al who had met the man that had brought them here, but Nat and herself too. These gorgeous, tall, broad, muscled men thought that the three of them were their mates. It was too good to be true. It was one of her favorite books come to life.

Most would respond like Nat with total disbelief. However, Rogue had always believed in the supernatural and the possibilities that were in the universe that we as human beings did not know or understand. Growing up with a free-spirited mom and with a name like hers, Rogue Marie Phenix, you had to see the possibilities in life. She thought back to her and the girl’s trip to the cemetery. She had made a wish. She was grateful for finding the Book Worms, for having found friends like Al, Nat, and all of the other girls on their page, but at 29 years of age, it wasn’t enough. She dreamed of a man and a family.

In recent years she had taken her life into hand. A cancer scare will do that to you. She no longer waited for the right time, but took life by the horns and rode that bull full-tilt forward. That is why she had planned this trip with Al and Nat, why she was planning a trip to Europe, and why she had begun classes for a degree in IT Administration. She had goals and she was going to reach them.

But, Destiny could be a fickle bitch and it appeared she had other ideas. In the form of a six foot three inch bear of a man, with startling green eyes that seemed to look straight into her soul. She could say to hell with Destiny and her ideas, but between his size, those eyes, short brown hair that begged for her fingers, a five o’clock shadow, and tattoos, Rogue was already in lust enough to agree with just about anything that man wanted.