The Jade Dragon (27 page)

There were five in total. The little dragonettes would not leave the nest for several months, but they made their choices of whom they would connect with within minutes of being born. It was imperative those that wished to bond with one were present when a dragonette emerged from its shell.

The first hatchling to break through was always considered the strongest, likely to be the most forward and therefore more dominant in nature. That thought was correct. The moment the first dragonette stood, wobbly on its feet, its wings still too weak to use, eyes wide and whirling as it took in its surroundings, an immediate understanding of what was expected sent it to the edge of the nest.

A parade of hopeful Dragons, including Goran's apprentice, Nathan, formed a line. Gregori tacked himself on to the end.

“You have a familiar,” Nathan was clearly disappointed there were more candidates than eggs.

“I did have.” Gregori inclined his head towards Lyzander. “He believes it's time to retire, to look after my beloved instead. It seems I have been abandoned by my old companion and require a new familiar.”

“Not abandoned,” Lyzander said. “We await my mate. I sense her. She is here.”

“Well!” Anton clapped his hands. “What a turnout this is.”

“A happy occasion indeed,” Eleisha concurred.

“Go on,” Aden encouraged Rosa. “Get in line.”

The line of hopefuls included four apprentices and Gregori. Rosa objected. “If I get in line, that's six candidates. There are only five eggs. They should go to Dragon's apprentices first.”

Aden walked her down to the end of the line and placed her in front of Gregori. “You're a warlock Dragon's mate. You are entitled to a familiar. Get in line.” He softened his order with a swift kiss on the cheek.

One by one, each person stood before the little dragonette, pausing long enough for it to choose them by searing them with what was termed, the mark of the dragon. If the dragonette did not choose them, that person moved to the back of the line until all had chosen their future master or mistress. If a dragonette remained in the nest and none of those standing were chosen, a call would go out to Marylebone for others to visit the Belfry.

The first was a female, the color of the Mediterranean at night. Midnight blue. And on its back was a single golden mark that resembled a star in the night sky.

It was evident it was not only imperious, it was extremely picky. Everyone leaned inwards, watching, waiting. Anticipation charged the room with magic. It ignored the first and second candidates in line. The third person, Rosa recognized as Nathan's apprentice, Sam. A strong individual, stronger perhaps than Nathan. With bated breath they watched avidly. The dragonette sniffed, swayed side to side, quirked its head, and just when she thought Sam would be chosen, it looked away. Sam sighed good-naturedly, accepting he wasn't the chosen one and moved to the back of the line.

Next was Nathan. The little dragonette offered no interest whatsoever. Rosa's stomach churned. She held no hope this one was for her. Standing before the little dragonette, she waited and was unsurprised when she received nothing but the whirl of blue eyes and a little puff of smoke. She walked on.

Gregori stepped up. Lyzander emerged from Alanna's hair and flew to Gregori's shoulder.
This is she,
he smoked.
Just as you knew Alanna was your beloved, Starlight is mine.

Starlight? Gregori studied the little blue dragon as seriously as it studied him. It quirked its head at Lyzander, and its little eyes seemed to whirl faster.

Are you sure? You are old.

Lyzander's rebuttal came swiftly.
As are you. It has not stopped you forming an alliance with a woman thousands of years younger.

Gregori nodded.
You are right. My apologies for doubting you.

The little dragonette's talons gripped the edge of the nest, it leaned forward and let out a large searing blue flame. Gregori didn't hear the gasps of everyone surrounding him. All he felt was the pain, as his skin burned. Immediately, he held his hand out to Starlight, and its tongue snuck out and licked the burn, sealing and healing it with its saliva.

Anton stepped forward and pounded Gregori on the back. “Well chosen. And what is this little dragon's name?”

“Starlight,” Gregori answered immediately, grinning from ear to ear. “Her name is Starlight.”

Alanna pumped her arm. “Whoop! Whoop!”

Lyzander bounced up and down. “Our family grows.”

Gregori stepped away and pulled Alanna into his arms and swung her in a circle. “It just gets better and better.”

Starlight moved back into the nest and Clarissa and Albert descended to fuss over it.

The next dragonette, which had broken free, stepped forward. Round and round they went until eventually there were only two dragons and three candidates remaining, Rosa included.

If she were chosen there would be dissention between the two apprentices Sam and Nathan. She felt the tension between them, and also Nathan's resentment because she stood in line with them. Where was his pure intention? His good heart?

I should step out of this line
, Rosa sent her message silently to Aden.

Stay!
Aden's response was swift.
You are their equal. The dragonette makes the choice, not you.

Sam was next. A little female gray dragonette inspected him. It was if the little dragonette had yet to decide her color. Rosa closed her eyes, not wanting to witness the little one that had immediately stolen her heart from choosing Sam.

It wasn't until Gregori whispered in her ear, “your turn,” that she opened her eyes to discover Lisa — the little dragon's name was Lisa — waiting for her. In seconds, Lisa transformed to pale pink, burned her hand, soothed it and returned to her parents.

Rosa stood open-mouthed in astonishment. “I have a familiar,” she said.

Alanna rushed over and hugged her tight. “You deserve it. Oh, this is so wonderful. Congratulations.”

Aden reached out and grasped Rosa's hand and kissed her knuckles. “What is her name?”

“Lisa.”

There was one egg left and two apprentice Dragons remaining. Tension was high. Nathan was Sam's superior. Anton looked worried. “One dragon remains. Step up both of you and await the choosing.”

The dragonette that emerged from the shell was male. The runt of the litter was small but wiry in appearance. Alanna whispered to Gregori, “That one's got a mind of its own. I should know. I recognize me in there. Whoever it chooses will be tested on a daily basis.”

Gregori huffed his amusement and placed a finger over his mouth. “Sshh.”

Alanna merely smiled and waited, her interest as avid as everyone else in the belfry. The dragonette had a mottled body, striped gray and white, almost zebra-like.

Both men waited. It inspected them both, its head moving from one to the other and back again. It blinked. A small amount of smoke erupted from its tiny snout. And then it flapped its delicate, still fragile and weak wings took flight and headed straight for Alanna and before she could stop it, burned her nose, healed it and flew back to crash land in the nest.

She would have laughed at Sam and Nathan's expressions if she hadn't been so astonished. Her heart raced in her chest from the sheer exhilaration of immediately bonding with the little one. “But I have Lyzander.”

“Alanna is mine,” Lyzander protested. “I am hers.”

No one knew what to make of it. Voices were raised.

Alanna looked to Gregori for answers. “Is it permitted to have two familiars?”

“She's not bound to Gregori. She's not immortal yet. How can this be?” Sam asked.

Nathan stood silent, his extreme disappointment evident.

Goran was immediately at his side. “Who knows why this happened. Don't take it personally. The dragon always chooses its master or mistress.”

“But she's a nobody,” he muttered.

“She's my beloved.” Gregori's voice was strident, filled with warning. “The dragonette has chosen. Accept it. Get over it.”

“What's its name?” Zelda asked, finally speaking for the first time since the hatching began.

Alanna colored. “Ah … , Twinkle Toes.”

“Twinkle Toes! What kind of a name is that?” Anton chuckled.

“Makes sense,” Zelda muttered. “Someone naughtier than you to keep you on your toes as it were.”

Anton raised a hand. “We cannot undo a choosing. It's most unusual, but it is done.”

Lyzander had flown down to the nest to meet its new companion and take a closer look. He flew back seconds later. “I am senior dragon. I teach Starlight and Twinkle Toes my tricks. I have apprentice and future partner. Lyzander very important dragon.”

Cabasson — Villa Paradis

The binding of Gregori and Alanna took place in Cabasson and was celebrated with everyone they loved and held dear around them. Everyone, except Beth. Goran chose to remain behind to bring her to the celebration if she changed her mind about attending.

Marylebone saw no reason to object to performing the ceremony at Villa Paradis and everyone had arrived, including Ruth and Joseph who had entrusted themselves to Gregori and Aden to translocate them there for the celebration.

“My love,” Joseph stood with Ruth and stared at the glistening Mediterranean. “You finally get to set foot in the homeland of your father.”

Ruth tilted her head to lean against her husband and they stood side by side, with champagne bubbling in their crystal glasses. “I never imagined it would be so beautiful. It surpasses my expectations in every way.”

Alanna walked up beside Ruth. “I know what you mean. It's the most amazing place.”

“We will miss you,” Ruth told her. “With you gone and Rosa busy with Marylebone, how will you manage the Gallery?”

Alanna's happiness dimmed momentarily. “Beth will work there. As will Rosa and Zelda. I will, too, when I'm in Raven's Creek. We wondered if you would be interested in a part-time job.”

Ruth flushed. “Really?”

“Only if you wish. We will employ another person as well as I'm sure you have no desire to work full-time. Plus, you're going to need time to teach me French.”

“I'm honored,” Ruth gripped one of Alanna's hands and squeezed it. “I would love that.”

Alanna kissed her cheek. “Good. We'll sort out the details in the next few days.” She raised her glass and clinked it with Ruth and Joseph. “Here's to new experiences.”

“And to love,” Ruth laughed, and the joy in her voice matched the tone of the celebration.

“To love,” Alanna responded and raised her glass as her husband, her lover for eternity, joined them.

He swooped her up in his arms. “To love,” he called out loud enough for all to hear, and everyone raised their glasses, cheering as he kissed her thoroughly before placing her back on her feet.

Out of the corner of her eye, in the distance she saw movement. She squinted into the sunlight and for a second she saw Beth standing at the perimeter, with Goran at her side. She'd come, even if for a few moments.

The last worry, lifted from her shoulders. She felt as light as the bubbles in Gregori's marvelous champagne. She spun to tell Gregori, but he had already seen them and was raising his glass in acknowledgement.

Her heart leaped to life in her chest and hope wedged it's way into her heart. Eventually, in time, she and her sister would find a way to repair their relationship.

She looked into Gregori's eyes and grinned. She was free to have the life she'd always wanted, but thought she would never, ever have.

“Life doesn't get much better than this.”

“My love,” Gregori said as he gazed adoringly into her eyes. “I can assure you, the best is yet to come.”

The End

My first memory of wanting to become a writer was as a child after reading my very first full-length book,
Heidi
. From there came the
Famous Five
series. After that it was a wonderful journey as I made my way through all the books on the library shelves, all the while thinking, I'd love to be able to write books. At night I would lie in bed with the lights off making up stories and telling them to my sister before drifting off to sleep. Eventually I discovered romance. I love a great relationship story. I love magic and humor.

One night I dreamed the first book in this series
The Silver Rose
and from that book,
The Jade Dragon
, Alanna and Gregori's own story was born. I hope you enjoy reading their story as much as I enjoyed writing it.

I'm currently working on Book 3 in my Greenwood Witches trilogy, Beth and Goran's story.

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www.rowenamayosullivan.com

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The waves of the lake crashed next to Dane Burke like greedy reporters descending onto a crime scene. Dane picked up the severed hand, careful to touch it only with the tips of his gloved fingers, all in an attempt to save what little evidence remained.

The fingers were wrinkled and pale, the color of rotting fish. The skin of the palm flapped back, exposing the white lines of the tendons and the bloated pink muscles of the victim's hand. He pushed back the skin, covering the hand's viscera. The flesh was rubbed raw in several places, but whether it was from the time in the water or something else Dane couldn't be sure.

Behind him, the secondary officer, Grant, talked with the woman who'd phoned in the find. The woman was blonde, thin, and uncomfortably beautiful.