For the Love of Tia: Dragon Lords of Valdier Book 4.1 (2 page)

Jett grinned at his
friend.
“
What fun
is there in that? Besides, what if she were to say
no?
”

Santil watched as his
childhood friend sprinted down the dark tunnel, shaking his head in
resignation.
“
How
could she say no? No one
ever
has to you. Beside even if she did, you wouldn't
listen.
”
He
chuckled as he talked to himself before jumping back up onto the
ledge and leaning back against the rocky side so he could stare out
at the bright sky waiting patiently for his friend to
return.

Tia stared in disbelief at
the unconscious figure lying on the dark red moss. The stories
flowed through her mind in vivid detail. She would never forget
them. They were a part of her. The legends spoke of a beautiful
goddess with hair the color of white gold
that
would return life to their
world. Several generations ago, giants from a distant world came in
great ships and took the small creatures that
fed
on the minerals in the
sand
. The creatures, in
return,
had
left their
excreta
that
fertilized
the planet causing the growth of the huge mushroom
forests.

When the last of the
creatures were taken, their world began to die as there was
nothing
to fertilize the seeds buried deep
within
the sands. The vasts forests of
mushroom trees withered and died. The great storms that frequently
developed grew worse because there were no forests to buffer their
winds. Soon, the sand began swallowing everything. What was worse
was the giants had brought with them great worms that attacked
Tia's people, killing most of her clan. Their only hope of
salvation was to seek the protective walls of the rock caverns.
Over the last ten generations, they had developed their world until
it was the beautiful kingdom that lay before her. Her body trembled
as her heart jerked uncomfortably in her chest. Her last wish had
been to see her people free to go to the surface but she never
believed that it would happen in her lifetime. Now, she
knew that the gods had heard her desperate plea
and were giving her this last gift before she died.

“
What do you think,
Tia,
”
Tamblin
asked quietly as he studied the still figure lying on the
moss.
“
Should I
order it destroyed?
”

“
NO!
”
Tia cried out, looking at him in
horror before remembering he did not have the knowledge that she
did, at least not yet.
“
No,
”
she said in a quieter
voice.
“
She has
been sent by the gods and goddesses. She is the one. She has the
knowledge to heal our world above so that we may live once more in
the brightness.
”

Tamblin looked at Tia in
disbelief before turning his head to look down at the figure
that
was now beginning
to stir. He raised his hand in a silent command for his soldiers to
be ready for anything. He would order the sharp spears, laced with
the poison of the Guardians of the
Cavern
, to strike if the creature
tried to attack. How could the Gods or Goddesses send such a large
creature as their salvation? He had listened to the stories his
mother had told Tia when she didn't think he was listening. He
could not see the stories in his head like his sister could but he
knew they were important.

Tamblin pushed Tia behind
him when the creature slowly sat up. It was obvious the creature
was female. She had many of the same features as their females did.
He watched suspiciously as she blinked several times before she
glanced around her. His soldiers had taken to the
a
ir and were making careful
sweep
s around her, keeping just far enough
away to stay out of her reach but close enough that they could
launch the spears if need be. He straightened to his full height,
refusing to cower in fear.

“
Hello,” the golden
goddess said with a soft smile as her gaze settled on him and his
sister.

Tia stepped nimbly around Tamblin to
get a closer look at the giant female but stopped at the husky
sound of her voice. Tamblin moved swiftly next to Tia, scolding her
to stay behind him. Tia ignored her brother. She knew deep down
that the golden creature wouldn’t hurt her.

“
She will not harm me,”
she hissed out to her brother. “She is the one! I know it.” She
could see the images in her head of the golden goddess her mother
told her would come to save their world.

Tamblin fought the urge to bundle his
sister back up onto the flying beast and lock her away in the
palace where he knew she was safe. He knew she was sick even as she
tried to hide it from him. He could see the tremor in her hands,
the weight she had lost, and how she had trouble breathing at
times. He feared if she got too excited it might bring on an
attack. He glanced worriedly from Tia’s face to the creature who
was sitting quietly waiting for them to respond to her.

Tamblin reluctantly nodded his head.
He knew deep down that this was something he could not deny his
sister. The golden goddess kept her hands on her thighs and waited
as Tia slowly approached her. Tia tilted her head again, her ears
twitching to and fro when the creature spoke again. She might not
understand her words but she did recognize the gentle
tone.

*.*.*

Tia stepped cautiously closer,
reaching out and touching the larger female with the tips of her
long green fingers. She smiled when the creature remained still.
Feeling more confident, she moved a little closer.

Her heart pounded erratically when the
female slowly raised one of her arms. She froze in fear, wondering
if she could have been mistaken. As much as she was confident that
this was the creature the stories told of, she was still unprepared
for the size of it. Tia watched as the female slowly lowered one of
her hands down onto the soft moss, palm upward. Tia looked back and
forth between the palm and the creature’s eyes before making the
decision to trust her instincts.

She took a tentative step forward,
stopping when Tamblin hissed out again in alarm. Shaking her head
at him, she climbed up into the open palm. She couldn’t resist
running her slender fingers over the warm flesh of the creature. It
was soft and smooth – almost comforting. Tia glanced up and watched
as the beautiful golden haired goddess nodded to her before
carefully raising her hand, lifting Tia up into the air. Tia stood
up, holding onto one of the long slender fingers for balance and
looked around her. Slowly, her people began to kneel down in
reverence of the creature and Tia’s courage to communicate with it.
Only when her brother knelt as well did Tia turn to face the
goddess who came from above with a smile on her tiny
face.

*.*.*

Jett slipped out of the
dark passage and climbed down until he could see what was going on
more clearly. The passage opened
out near
the smallest waterfall and onto the ledge that ran along the edge
of it. It would be a quick climb down to the balcony of the palace
where he often saw the slender green female standing and looking
out over her kingdom.

His eyes suddenly widened in concern
when he saw the huge golden giant sitting in the middle of the red
moss field. A low growl escaped him and his hand tightened on the
short sword he carried at his waist when he saw the creature
lifting his bride. His lips drew back to show his small sharp teeth
as he fought the urge to attack it. He would if it harmed the
female he knew belonged to him. He didn’t care how big it was, he
would destroy it.

Moving along the side of the cliff, he
nimbly began the climb down until he was a few feet above the
balcony of the palace. He pushed off, landing silently on the
spacious ledge. He turned as he landed, his knees bent and one hand
stretched out to balance him before he stood. Moving into the
shadows, he watched as the events below unfolded. He had to hide
behind the thick curtains when three of the armed soldiers returned
briefly to the palace only to return to his bride and the creature
holding her in the palm of its huge hand.

Jett watched as his bride presented
the creature with a glowing, red stone. He sucked in a breath when
he realized he could understand what the creature was saying after
she placed it around her neck.

“
My name is Ariel,” the
creature replied with a soft chuckle.

“
I am called Tia.” Jett’s
breath left him in a hiss of painful desire when he heard Tia’s
name for the first time. He leaned forward trying to get a better
view. “I am the Keeper of the Stories. This is my brother, Tamblin.
He is our leader,” Tia replied in a silky voice that sent waves of
heat rushing through him.

Jett smiled, Tia – a beautiful name
for a beautiful woman. He continued to watch from his viewpoint,
gaining confidence that the creature meant no harm to his bride or
her people as he listened to her talk. He debated whether to follow
when the creature stood and Tia, Tamblin, and many of his soldiers
moved away but decided against it. They would return, of that he
was confident.

No, now would be a good
time to explore my bride’s home and pack a few things that she
might need,
he decided.

Jett moved silently through the empty
palace, exploring one level after another until he came to a room
he knew must belong to Tia. He let the long curtain doorway fall
behind him as he gently touched the delicate fabrics hanging on the
walls. He breathed in, inhaling her fragrant scent. It made him
think of the wild flowers that bloomed briefly after the heavy
rains. He ran his tawny fingers over the silky woven lengths of
cloth that she wrapped around her body. He couldn’t help but
imagine what it was going to be like when he unwove it from her
slender frame.

Scooping up several long lengths, he
quickly bundled them up so that they would be easy to carry. Inside
of the bundle, he rolled the comb she used on her bright red hair
and several delicate hair combs. He would have to make her more.
Combs made from the sands were beautiful and would look good
against her silky strands. He pulled back the last tapestry hanging
on the wall and discovered shelves filled with carefully rolled
scrolls. Pulling out the one on top, he walked over to the low
table in the center of the room and unrolled it. Inscribed on the
thick fiber paper were images depicting different scenes. Each was
done with delicate strokes filled with the same vibrant colors that
reminded Jett of his beloved. His eyes moved to the writing below
them. He frowned as he concentrated. It was difficult but he was
slowly able to decipher the words. They were in the ancient
language his mother and father taught him when he was
young.

*.*.*

“
What are you doing?”
Tia’s outraged voice sounded from the doorway. “Who are you? How
did you get into my rooms?”

Jett had been so absorbed in
deciphering the scroll and the tale it was telling that he had let
his guard down. Now, instead of him having the element of surprise,
his bride did. He took a quick step back from the table. He
couldn’t help but grin as his bride, upset that he had been reading
her scroll, made the mistake of marching over to the table instead
of calling for help or running away.

The moment she was within his reach,
he wrapped his arms around her trembling body. “Do not fear, my
heart. I have not come to harm you but to claim you,” he breathed
out in her ear.

Tia jerked in surprise, her eyes
widening as she stared up at him startled. “What do you mean -
claim me?” She asked bewildered.

Jett chuckled at her innocent look of
confusion. He couldn’t resist leaning down and brushing his lips
briefly against hers. Her startled gasp pulled a groan from him and
he took her lips in a savage kiss that spoke of his desire. He had
wanted to do this since he first saw her several months
ago.

Tia pushed weakly against his broad
chest until he reluctantly lifted his head. “What do you think you
are doing?” She gasped breathlessly, looking up at him with huge,
confused eyes.

Jett smiled mischievously. “I thought
that was a bit obvious! I’m claiming you as my bride.”