The Mating Season: Werewolves of Montana Book 6 (39 page)

It stung like a hot needle, and felt worse than the ritual that he’d undergone to become the Silver Wizard. But he bravely endured, though tears came to his eyes. Finally, Danu pulled the sword out.

It was over.

She waved a hand and the sword vanished. She looked at the others. “The rest of you also will suffer the consequences of your actions. Though you did it for noble reasons, you were forbidden from draining your magick without permission, leaving yourselves vulnerable as when you were mortal.” Her gaze turned emerald hard. “Vulnerable at a time when you are most needed and I had not the sentinels in place to cover for your weakness.”

She turned to Xavier. “You were the first to do so, Xavier.”

“My lady,” Xavier began.

“All of you must suffer the consequences.” She smiled gently. “This is not to be cruel, but bring you to a greater lesson, and to what your heart desires the most, which will make you whole and even stronger for the times to come.”

The three looked at each other.

She lifted her hand. “Xavier, my Crystal Wizard, you shall lose what is dearest to you. Your memory. You will walk the earth as a wizard, but with no recollection of your true identity.”

Xavier paled. “No…”

With a flick of her hand, he vanished from sight.

Gideon swallowed hard and Caderyn looked deeply worried. The goddess gave them a severe look. “Times of darkness are approaching. You will all serve your punishment before they arrive. In the meantime, go, return to your duties and do not break the law again.”

They vanished from the meadow. Danu called out Nikita’s name. The white wolf instantly appeared, tail wagging.

With a pat to her head, Danu turned Nikita back into a woman again, draped in a fine silver gown.

Nikita looked at him, gnawing on her lip.

“Ask your question, my dear,” Danu said gently.

“Are you ok?” she asked him.

Tristan nodded. “I am fine, my sweet.”

Nikita turned back to Danu. “What happens to me now? I had the choice of taking the potion of the Blood Moonflower and staying here, or remaining mortal and being on Earth. Must I still choose? Will I lose all my new powers?”

Her voice broke. “Will I ever see my twin again?”

Danu gave a gentle smile. “The choice was taken away from you by Camilla’s evil and Tristan’s sacrifice to save you. Such a sacrifice made for love is the greatest of all and Tristan has paid the price. You will maintain your powers and your immortality if you drink the potion again, which you must in order to guard the child inside you. And you may see your twin again, but you will never again walk the earth as you once did.”

Nikita looked at him, her gaze steady. “I thought long about that as I ran with my mom and her pack as wolf, Tristan. If I had the chance to choose, I would have chosen you.”

Overcome with joy, he went to her, but did not touch her, mindful of respecting the goddess. “I love you, Nikita. You are my heart, and my life, and always will be.”

“I love you, Tristan. All these years you waited for me, and my heart knew I would return to you some day.”

Danu held out her hand. “Tristan, my Silver Wizard. Approach me and take my hand.”

Kneeling, he took her hand. “My lady.”

Danu gently placed his hand into Nikita’s. Standing, Tristan felt a surge of joy, for this indicated the goddess formally approved of their union.

“Take your beloved Nikita as your forever mate. Make her happy. Love her, as she deserves to be loved. As you work together, you will be nearly invincible, and she will help you find balance, so much balance that you will not miss ruling over those troublesome dragons.”

Nikita bit her lip. “What of our baby? Will he or she be all right?”

A slight smile curled Danu’s mouth. “It is a he, as Tristan predicted. And rest assured, he will be fine, though both of you will have your hands full in dealing with an immortal child who has powerful magick. Having a child who is immortal will be your greatest adventure, my dear.”

He looked at her and grinned. “I shall let you change the diapers, my sweet.”

Nikita rolled her eyes.

Danu turned to Nikita and kissed her cheek. “Go my sweet child, and be happy. Be his mate and live the life you were denied all those years ago.”

With a flick of her hand, she vanished.

“Danu,” Nikita whispered. She wiped her eyes. “I’m so happy I met her, and remembered. And I got to see my mom, finally! I can’t believe how happy I am.”

“I can make you even happier. Let us return to Earth and have sex. Lots of very hot sex.”

“Tristan!” Laughing, she ran to him and punched him lightly in the chest.

He grinned and kissed her. “I have permission to make you very happy. I know what makes you happy.”

Nikita looked at the spaces where the wizards had stood. “I stood at the edge of the meadow and saw what happened. Are you okay?”

He nodded. “The goddess’s punishment was just. I worry, however, for Xavier.”

“That was very scary. What will happen to him?”

He did not know. But deep inside, he had a sense that their punishment was benevolent, and intended for a reason. “Danu does nothing without a greater purpose. Let us return to the Mitchell Ranch. I know you are anxious to spend more time with your twin”

“Not as anxious as I am to spend more time with you.” She rubbed her cheek against his jaw.

They materialized inside the guest bedroom where he had nearly gasped his last breath. Tristan pulled Nikita into his arms, his heart no longer heavy. He kissed her again, and tumbled backwards onto the bed. Niki laughed as he rolled her over and straddled her soft body, eager for love.

“Are you sure you’re up for this? You just came back to life.”

“Very much so,” he murmured. “I was dying and I want to celebrate life with you. Our lives, Nikita, and the life growing within you.”

She caught a brief flicker of lonely vulnerability shadowing his expression. “You’re scared that something bad could happen to me again, Tristan. It won’t. I told you before, I’m stronger now. I’m not the Nikita from the past.”

“You were my life once, Nikita. And you are my life again, and my heart. I would have died over and over again, to protect you and keep you and our babe safe. Being separated from you caused more agony than the executioner’s blade. Not knowing if I’d ever see you again, hold you in my arms, hear your laughter and see your smile. That uncertainty became the knife slicing my heart over and over again.”

This was more than she’d dared hope for—a wolf who admitted how deeply he cared for her, and didn’t regard her as someone merely to carry his child and fulfill a promised legacy. He surrendered all his powers to save her, choosing love over his duties as Silver Wizard.

This was the Tristan from her dreams, the partner she’d always wanted who wasn’t afraid to share himself. And living with him and raising their child would prove to be as freeing, and as adventurous, as her dearest hopes and dreams.

She pressed a hand against her belly. “This time, we’re with you to stay, Tristan. We’ll never be parted again.”

As he began to kiss her, she glanced with anxiousness at the closed door. “Are you certain we have time for this?”

“More than enough,” he murmured, his heart filled with joy and peace. He smiled down at her. “We have eternity.”

Epilogue

This was going to be one hell of a reunion.

Drust took a deep breath and dematerialized, appearing in the courtyard of Skylar and Sebastian’s castle. Damn, the process still made him dizzy. But what the hell, he’d been immortal only a few days.

Or so it seemed.

And his target was all wrong. He’d wanted to end up in their living room.

“At least I didn’t materialize in the bathroom,” he muttered to no one in particular.

His great-grandsons, Sebastian and Alexander, were meeting within the castle. He had a little surprise for them. Actually, a big one.

Drust opted against doing the whole dematerializing gig again. Dragons were accustomed to flight. Being immortal and a wizard would take a little time, as Tristan advised.

Before leaving Tir Na-nog, Drust had drunk the goblet of Blood Moonflower, the secret and sacred fairy drink that all the wizards of the Brehon imbibed every six months to maintain their powers. As a new wizard, he had to drink once a week.

It had filled him not so much with power as purpose.

The goddess Danu had granted him immortality for a reason, and the reason started here, with family. Tristan had given him a parchment signed with his silver blood.

It was a start.

He walked into the castle through the open oak double doors. Hearing his kin’s voices, he followed them to the living room.

Skylar and Sebastian sat on the sofa, talking with Alexander, who paced before the great stone fireplace. Alexander glanced up, saw him and halted.

“Holy shit,” Alexander burst out. “Are you a ghost?”

“Mind your tongue before the lady.” Drust strode over to Skylar, and nodded. “My lady.”

Skylar’s mouth hung open. “I’ve seen your painting in the history books. You’re Drust!”

Alexander growled deep and Sebastian looked anguished. Drust held up a hand. “Before you go all dragon on me, I did not betray Tristan.”

The crown prince to the throne of Clan Drakon looked clearly irritated. “That’s not what Tristan said. Or what you admitted.”

“Control that temper of yours, Alexander. It will prove troublesome to you in the future if you are not careful,” Drust warned. He sighed. “Tristan told me you would not believe me any more than he had. So he wrote this to give to you.”

After he handed over the scroll and the three sat, reading it, he gazed at the ugly painting over the fireplace mantel. Another dragon.
That should be me.
I am their blood, not some paint-by-the-numbers dragon.

Alexander looked up, stricken. “It’s a blood oath stating you didn’t kill Tristan, and you didn’t have anything to do with Nikita’s death. But Pops, you said it was your fault.”

A shard of guilt pierced him. “It was my fault, Alexander. I failed my friend. As you go through life, you will find that family is most important and you will defend them to the death, but some bonds of friendship can be equally strong and important and deserve the same.”

Skylar rose, her lovely eyes wet. “I’m so glad you are innocent, Drust. Welcome to our home. I am most honored you are here.”

She glanced at the painting hanging over the mantel, and then at him. “We can finally replace your portrait. I really hate that dragon. He looks so…fake.”

Pleased, he smiled at her.

“But how are you here?” Sebastian looked totally flummoxed.

He drew himself up. “I am the new Coldfire Wizard, guardian to all dragons.”

“Hot
damn
,” Sebastian crowed, while Alexander paled.

“You?!” Alexander burst out.

He pointed to the chair. “Sit, Alexander.”

Alexander sat, looking even more upset. “Why are you here, Pops? Because I am a Shadow Jumper and I did something wrong?”

He gentled his voice. “You did nothing wrong, Alexander. But I am removing that power from you until I can teach you how to control it.”

Before Alexander could react, Drust went to him and placed a hand on his forehead, yanking the ability from his great-grandson. Alexander yelped and Sebastian winced.

Alexander rubbed his forehead as Drust resumed his seat. “That hurt. And that’s the only reason you’re here?”

He sat and looked at them. “No. I am a young wizard, and there will be a transition time until I fully take charge of all dragons. Until then, Tristan and I are working together as guardians and judges of dragons. I need your help.”

The trio exchanged glances.

“The coming days will be difficult for our kind, and the dragons must unite in all the clans. All three of you must initiate this.” He turned to Alexander. “You must set aside your grievances with Clan Tyrith. There is a special dragon there, Michael, who can teach you much. You may require his assistance in the future.”

He waited, watching Alexander grow red-faced as the prince struggled with his temper.

His formidable temper.

Alexander pointed at the fireplace and a flame shot out of his finger. Logs ignited. “No one from that clan can teach me anything. The dragons that attacked Em are from that clan.”

“Leave them to me, Alexander.”

“No.”

“Take heed, Alexander,” Drust warned, drawing on his newfound power. He fisted a hand. When he opened it, blue fire glowed there.

“Tristan and I will deal with justice for Emma. Is that understood?”

Alexander scowled, but nodded. “If you fry their asses, I’ll agree.”

“Frying their asses is not the first item on my agenda,” Drust said dryly. “But all of you are. You are my legacy, and you must survive. Things happened for a reason.”

He turned to Sebastian and Skylar.