Kelly Lucille (5 page)

I definitely
see the resemblance, and I’m not talking about the eyes and hair. 

They are
unhurt? 

No one would
dare hurt these two.
 

Bring them to
me.  Please, Ladon. 
He could feel her worry and relief and he sent her a
wave of reassurance.

“Morgan is waiting
beyond the walls for you both.  If we keep her waiting much longer she will
probably storm the gates herself.”

Clare stepped in
front of the boy, her eyes hopeful but suspicious.

“Morgan is here? 
Where is she?  We thought she was taken.  Who are you?  Where’s Morgan?”

“Yes.  She’s
waiting for you outside the valley.  It’s a long story, but once I get you to
Morgan all will be explained.”

“How do we know
this isn’t a trick?”  This from the suspicious eight year old.

“Would you rather
stay here?”

Then Clare raised
that stubborn chin.  “We aren’t leaving without Melly.”

“Melly is being
extracted, even as we speak.”  He hoped. 

Eben had been
strangely cut off for the last bit of time.  He shook that off; if anyone could
take care of himself, it was Eben Kinkaid. 

Before he could
say anything else, a great dragon roar trumpeted above them.  Eben in a rage
could not be a good thing. 

“Time to go.”  He
said all humor gone. 

He expanded out
with his power until the walls bulged outward and he shimmered into his dragon
form, whipping the kids up into his clawed arms and wrapping his tail around
them.  He didn't give them a chance to do anything but squeak and he was
flying, hunched low to protect them from the debris.

He met blue sky
and saw Eben exploding forth from the highest tower.  The sight of the fiery
red tresses shining from within his arms had Ladon breathing a sigh of relief. 
But Eben was still mad about something because he turned mid air and blasted
the falling towers with a wave of dragon fire.  If anyone had survived his exit,
they were dead now.

Ladon, Eben is
closed to me.  What is happening?

 He’s fine,
little Falcon and I have your hatchlings.  Eben is in a rage but we are clear
and heading your way.

Melisande?

Eben has her.

By then Ladon was
clear of the city.  Eben took a few more flybys spitting fire at any soldiers
he could find.  Whatever had set off his temper was still riding him.  Ladon
was careful to keep Morgan out of his thoughts.  He was sure that whatever was
making Eben kill as many as he could, it had to do with the fiery haired wind
talker he was cradling in his scaled arms.  He hoped he was wrong.

Ladon reached the
cliff where Morgan waited first.  He placed his small wiggling burdens at her
feet and watched as they squealed and threw themselves into Morgans waiting
arms.  This, come to think of it, was what Ladon wanted to do too.

They all started
talking at once.

“Did they hurt
you?  Are you well?”

“We thought you
were taken.”

“We came to rescue
you.”  That from Rhune.

“You did what?! “

He looked from her
to the Dragon.  “Well, we didn’t know you had a dragon did we?”

Before they could
get into that Eben landed.  He didn't set his burden down, but changed back to
his man shape with her still in his arms.  His face was as blank as Morgan had
ever seen it.  She swallowed hard, leaving her suddenly quiet siblings behind
her she reached Eben, her hand brushing back a fall of titanium hair to show a
bruised and beaten face.

“Melly.”  She said
her voice a whisper of pain.  As quiet as she was the girl heard it and opened
the eye not swollen shut.

“Morgan?”  The
voice was a whimper of hope.  Ladon wanted to break something.  Go back and
level the fortress to the ground and burn the ashes.  The little face that
looked so much like his mate smiled, her abused lips broke open and bled at the
movement.  Morgan took the hand she reached out to her.

“It’s me Melly.” 
Then her voice broke.  “I came for you.”

“Knew you would. 
Told him you would.”  She coughed and the sound was like glass breaking.  “I
kept them safe, hid their powers.  I made sure he couldn’t touch them.  He...” 
She started crying, great sobs of pain that had Morgan wrapping herself around
her in Ebens arms. 

Rhune buried his
face in Clare’s stomach.  They were both crying.  

“Shh, Melly,”
Morgan was crying so hard herself she could barely get the words out.  Eben
looked up at Ladon, and the rage firing behind dragon gold eyes matched his
own.  There would be a reckoning for this, but for now…

“We must fly
little heart.  We have healers among our people who are unparalleled.  In the
meantime,” Morgan felt his dragon magic wrap around them, and then Melly
slipped away, unconscious.  “She will feel no pain.”

Morgan shuddered
one more time, wiping her eyes and stepping back.  “All right.”

She turned to
Clare and Rhune.  Her chin rising as she found her inner strength.  “You think
you can become a dragon for the flight?”

Clare was shaking
her head.  “We can’t change; we haven’t been able to since we were caught.”

“Then you shall
ride a dragon and we will leave this dead valley behind.”  Ladon said switching
back and reaching for the little ones, proving beyond a doubt that the argument
about having to carry too much was ridiculous.  Morgan waited for Eben to
change and then stepped up, taking the unconscious Melisande in her arms and
feeling Ebens dragon tail wrap around them both.  Even the feel of the wind in
dragon flight was not enough to distract her from her sister’s battered face.

The Dragons spared
no time in play.  Eventually they passed the North Gate as a blur and were
swooping into the majestic fortress growing out of the Forsaken Mountain.

The dragons placed
their passengers down gently.  Eben had put out the call for the healer as soon
as they passed into dragon territory and she was fast on their heels, her
protective mate by her side.  Both flashed into their human bodies as soon as
they landed.  Both were incredibly beautiful in both forms, and clearly
surprised at the human/dragon gathering.  Then they caught sight of Ladon.

“Prince Ladon.”  The
healer squawked, before continuing in more disapproving tones.  “Your family
has been frantic since you disappeared.”

Morgan narrowed
her eyes at the dragon healers tone and just managed to bite back a heated
response at her obvious judgment when she saw how Ladon stiffened at the
censure, his eyes flashing an angry dragon gold.  But it was Eben who spoke.

“
Prince
Ladon does not answer to you Shehar.”  He said with bite, his voice a powerful
boom that had the healer cringing and her mate bristling.  “Here is your
patient.”  Eben gestured to the woman still held in his mates caring arms.

Despite the
obvious fear Eben inspired in the other dragons one look at Morgan kneeling on
the floor with her sister across her lap had the dragon healer sneering.  “I do
not waste my talent on
humans.
”

“They are mage.” 
Eben snapped, “And mine to protect.  Refuse them and you refuse me.”

The healer paled,
no small thing since she was already so pale, if her eyes had not been silver
Morgan would have thought she was an Albino.  Without more than a brief worried
look at her mate, she stepped up and placed her hands above where Melly and
Morgan waited. 

Morgan felt the
dragon magic as it shimmered around her.  She held Melly protectively close,
not quite trusting the beautiful healer.  Though she could feel through the
bond that while Eben and Ladon were angry at her attitude they didn't worry she
would do aught else but what she'd been commanded. 

The bruises and
cuts disappeared even as Morgan watched.  She had always been able to heal
herself with her own fire but this was something greater.  To be able to heal
others in such a way was a truly wondrous gift.  One her mother had carried,
but none of the children had inherited. 

Too bad it was in
the hands of such a self-righteous bitch.  Ladon snorted at her thoughts, part
in agreement and part in amusement. 

Shehar is one
of the oldest of us and set in her ways.
  Eben’s voice whispered through
her head to join Ladons even as the healer faltered, her eyes flashed sorrow as
the magic intensified around Melisande.  Finally, with a sad huff she stepped
away just as Melly opened her eyes.  She didn’t have a scratch on her.

“Are you all
right?”  Morgan asked pushing Mellys hair back from her face.

“I feel...Fine.”  Melly
said, then smiled.  Morgan laughed in relief.  Rhune barreled into his sister’s
arms with a happy whoop as Clare followed.  Soon they were all laughing. 
Morgan among them until she looked up and caught the pitying eyes of the
healer.  She pulled out from beneath the others and left them laughing behind
her.

She went to the
healer who stood a whole foot taller.  “What is it?”  She whispered so the
children would not hear.  It was not until Eben stepped behind her in obvious
support that she was answered.

“There was much to
be healed and not all of it physical.”  She said her haughty voice dropping to
a low octave.  “I have blocked the memories but she has much power that is
still growing.  Eventually she will remember...and she has been marked.”  The
dragon looked to Eben when she said that.

“Impossible.” 
Eben said immediately as Morgan felt her blood turn cold.  “Mages cannot mark
as dragons do.”

“He used dragon’s
blood and magic to do it.”

There was a great silence;
even the healer’s mate looked shell-shocked.  Morgan tried to get through the
block that was erected in Ebens head but he was too determined to keep her
out.  When that didn’t work, she turned to Ladon. 

His thoughts were
full of both horror and anger.  But the problem was suddenly crystal clear. 
The dark mage had been drinking dragon blood and he had fed his dragon-fuelled
blood to Melisande to bind her, sexually.  Morgan lost the feeling in her legs
and would have fallen if Eben had not picked her up into his arms.  “Was she
raped?”  She whispered the abomination so that only the dragons would hear.

“No.  I believe
his intent was to breed her.”

“And you can’t
force a mage to bear children.”  She buried her face in Ebens neck and held on
tight.  Whatever the blood mage had intended to do to Melly it was more than
physical if he needed her consent to breed. 

“Do you know whose
blood was used?”  Eben asked, his voice a cold northern wind. 

“Not the specific
dragon but the house.  Yes.”  She looked pointedly at Ladon.  “It was blood
from the royal house of fire.”

Ladon choked on
his shock, even as he prepared to roar his innocence.

Easy young
one.  You forget that we are bound.  You could not keep such from me.

But someone
from my house?  I can’t believe any would do this thing.

We already know
you were betrayed to the humans.  Perhaps that is not the end of the traitor’s
crimes.

Then the rest
of my family could be in danger.

“Ryall.”  Eben
said finally.  “You will call the Council together.  There is much to be
disclosed and they must hear it first.”

Ryall saluted a
fist against his chest and then the ever-silent warrior dragon was pulling his
mate behind him as they departed in a hurry.

“What is it?” 
Melly said in an unsure voice behind them, Clare and Rhune both looking at
Morgan who was holding onto Eben like a child scared of the dark.  “What’s happening?”

Pulling herself
together Morgan stepped from Ebens arms and took a deep breath.  She turned to
her brother and sisters.  “This is Eben Kinkaid and Prince Ladon.  They have
offered us sanctuary in Dracon away from the blood mages and the nullmags.”  She
drew another deep breath.  “They are my mates.”

It was Rhune with
awe in his young voice that finally broke the shocked silence.  “You have
two
dragons?”

After spending
their whole lives in a place where magic was seen as an abomination, to
suddenly be in a place where the very air they breathed sparkled with it, was
heady stuff.  Within half an hour, everyone was enchanted clean, with a new
wardrobe and their own rooms in a dragons Forsaken castle. 

Finally, Morgan
felt like she could breathe.  Her family was as safe as they could be.  If not
for the blood mage mark on Melly, the upcoming dragon council meeting to decide
the fate of mage kind and the still undiscovered traitor in Ladons family, it
would be perfect. 

Both Clare and
Rhune had decided to sleep in Melly’s room for the night so they were all
cuddled up in a giant bed that was softer than anything they had ever slept on
before.  Morgan sat beside them her arm around Clares shoulder.

“Can we really
stay here?”  Clare asked, her eyes going around the vast room in awe. 
Everywhere she looked her eyes hit on something beautiful from the lush rugs to
the silk drapes blowing at the open terrace.  Even the walls cut directly from
the mountain glowed with embedded jewels and precious metals.

“Yes.  We really
can.”  Morgan said, pulling her tightly against her side.  “I have to leave for
a little while, but I’ll be back before you wake up in the morning.”

“You’re going to
talk to the dragon council.”  Rhune said jumping up excitedly.  “Can I come?” 
It made Morgan laugh and Melly had to grab him and pull him back down to the
bed.

“No.”  Morgan said
leaning over Clare to buss him on the cheek.  “And don’t even think about
changing shape and flying out of this castle unless one of us is with you.”

He huffed, wiping
off her kiss and looking belligerent. 

“I mean it.”  She
stated firmly.  “It’s magical here, better, but we need to be careful until we
know what to expect.  For now, you have a whole enchanted castle to explore. 
How about you stick with that for now?”  At the reminder that they were now
living in an enchanted castle Rhune perked right up.  “Do you think there’s a
real dragon treasure here?  Like in the stories.”

“You’ll have to
find out won’t you?” 

He smiled happily,
snuggling back down between Clare and Melly.  

 Morgan would have
said more but something was happening on the mountain that distracted all of
them.  Outside the sun was setting, bathing the mist that surrounded the
mountain in golds and reds as if the sky itself was on fire.  All around them,
the walls started to glow with it.  When it was over Clare said what they were
all afraid of. 

“What if they
won’t let us stay?”

Morgan was still
forming an answer when Eben spoke from the doorway.  “You are family to my
mate.  That makes you mine as well, I guard my treasures well.”  He said his
voice a harsh growl that reassured even as it warned.  “And hatchling.”  He
said directing his words to Rhune of the wide eyes.  “No one ever takes a
dragons treasure.”

Come Morgan,
the Council awaits.

Will they be
safe here?

I will set the
guard spells.  No one will be able to enter or exit the castle until our
return.  They will be fine.

Morgan sighed in
relief trusting Eben knew what he was doing and said her goodbyes.  She was
worried about how quiet and tired Melly appeared but hoped that a decent nights
rest would help.

Meanwhile she was
not looking forward to meeting the council.  From what she had seen, dragons
did not have a high opinion of humans.  What would their reaction be to a human
mate?  Would her family be forced to leave the only place of safety they had
ever found?

You will remove
this worry from your mind.  A mate is a sacred thing.  The council is old and
set in their ways, as am I, but they know what it is to find a mate. 

And my family? 
If they make them leave, I will not desert them to the world.

As I told the
hatchling.  I protect what is mine.

Against your
own people?  I know you work for the council.  What if it’s an order?

You need not
ask, only look into my heart and you will know the answer.

So Morgan opened
her senses fully and felt the conviction and absolute surety that Eben could
and would protect her family against all comers.  She'd been afraid to look,
she realized, afraid of what she would see.  The tension went out of her
shoulders as Eben pulled her into his embrace, and off her feet, his words
spoken directly into her ear.  “There is nothing that could take you from me.  To
my last breath of fire I will keep you and your family safe."

Her doubt had hurt
him.  She hugged him close sending him her love and faith.  "I should have
more courage."

He laughed, and
she felt it in her bones.  "More courage?  I have not felt fear for 6000
years, but you bring me to my knees with worry over the courage you display
hourly.  Have pity on the mates that wish for nothing more than your safety and
happiness.  I beg you, no more courage.  No more flying on bed sheets or trying
to storm blood mage castles." 

He placed her back
on her feet smiling down at her while she rolled her eyes at the impossible
idea of Eben Kinkaid "brought to his knees".  

"You old
dragons seem prone to drama.  As if anything would bring you to your
knees."  She teased, rubbing her hand down his fierce face.  "You
forget I've seen inside your stubborn proud head.  There is not one thing on
this earth that could bring you low." 

He took her hand
from his face and kissed the back of her fingers.  "There is one
thing."  Then his grip tightened and he used his other arm to sweep around
her waist and pull her bone crushingly close.  "I will not lose you.  Shameaa." 
His eyes of old gold bore into hers.  "Not your smile, not your scent,” He
breathed in; his eyes closing in appreciation.  "Not the way you feel in
my arms and not the way you feel in my heart.  Not any part of you.  I would
take on the world to keep your family safe and you by my side."

The intensity of
his deep need was as awful as it was awe-inspiring.  It buffeted her from all
sides like a great tide that would drown her.  How could she, as young and
insignificant as she was give this powerful being what he yearned for?  How
could she be enough?  Morgan shivered out a breath and opened her heart as far
as she could flooding him with her fears and insecurities, but also her wish to
be all that he needed.  She felt his full body shudder and then he relaxed his
grip incrementally. 

And, in his love
that flowed over her, she found the words to speak.  "I don't have great
wisdom, or courage.  My powers may seem truly insignificant in your world where
magic can be breathed like air, but I know you, Eben Kinkaid, I see you, not
the nightmare of dragon kind.  I see the heart that you think has been long lost
to blood and time.  I doubt myself and my good fortune to find you when life
has always been so hard.  But I do not doubt you, or your strength, or your
valiant heart.  It's precious to me," she said once again brushing her
free hand down his cheek, “as is your smile."

His grip released
further and he leaned down placing his forehead against hers.  She wound her
arms around his neck and held him as he breathed her in.  "Would that you
always see me thus."

"I believe I
am jealous."  Ladon said, causing Eben and Morgan to look up.  He stood
leaning against the wall, his well-muscled arms crossed.  He was dressed in
brown leather breeches and a sleeveless tunic held almost closed over his
massive chest by a wide leather belt.  There was gold threaded through the
tunic marking him house of fire and his shiny black boots stopped above the
knee.  He was mouthwateringly gorgeous from his leather shod feet to his
incandescent gold hair.  Morgan felt her mouth fall open further and again had
to wonder at her good fortune.  He was entirely too beautiful to be hers. 

Ladon pushed off
from the wall with a sudden broad smile.  "Never mind."

Morgan continued
to gawk as he came closer and lifted her chin pulling her eyes off his amazing
chest and closing her mouth.  "If you keep looking at me like that we'll
never make the council meeting."

That was bad right?

"Now I
believe I am jealous."  Eben said darkly, making Ladon laugh.  Eben
grabbed Morgan around the waist until her back met his front.  She couldn't
hide her all over body shiver when he bit the arch of her neck in warning.

"Come Shameaa. 
We must make ourselves as presentable as the young princeling."  Morgan
couldn't help a disbelieving sniff.  Maybe Eben would look that good but her?

Ladon stepped
forward until they were nose to chest with Eben at her back.  She looked up
into his suddenly serious face her head falling back to hit Ebens chest. 
"You will look stunning dressed in my fire, little falcon.  Never doubt
it.  There will not be a dragon who sees you that will not wish to steal such a
treasure."

She felt Ebens
growls resonate everywhere they touched.  "And there is not another dragon
alive who could handle you."  Ladon said smiling wickedly.

Morgan rolled her
eyes.  "Very funny."

He leaned forward
and rubbed noses with her playfully.  "Who jokes?"  He said then,
stealing a kiss, his lips soft on hers.  "Clearly the great father knew
you couldn't be tamed by one measly dragon mate."

"Tamed?" 
She grumbled tilting her head in clear invitation for another kiss.  "You
are taking that falcon nickname too much to heart.  I'm not a bird to be trussed
and hooded."

He kissed her
again this time he did such a thorough job of it she had completely lost track
of what he was saying.  Or that the council still had to be faced.  Or her
name.  "I would have you always flying free and at my side."

"Come." 
Eben said kissing the top of her head before stepping back and pulling Morgan
along by her arm.  "Time grows near and there is much to do."

"Wait till
you see what I made for you to wear."  Ladon laughed again at her
chagrined face and grabbed her hand to follow, or keep her from escaping.  One
or the other.

Why does that
statement make me want to run away?  Very fast?

"You just
haven't seen it yet.  My family is known throughout the dragon reaches for
their impeccable style.  Just wait, you’ll see."

She looked at Eben
for help. 

"The house of
fire is known for its flair with artifice."  He said.

"Hey, just
because you never wear anything but black, black, and more black doesn't mean
all dragons are so inclined."  Ladon harrumphed, rather snootily too.  "Some
of us have an imagination."

That statement
wasn't at all reassuring.  She was going to look ridiculous she just knew it.

It was worse than
she thought.  The dress was beautiful, full to the floor in burnished gold
nearly identical to Ladons hair; it came off the shoulders and hinted at her
cleavage.  The sleeves were long and narrow, the waist cinched in to the top of
the hips.  Her hair had been magically twirled up in a deceptively simple upsweep
and shimmered.  The problem was in no way that it was an ugly dress.  The
problem was the sparkling lady looking back at her was not one she recognized. 

She felt like she
was playing dress up.  Every dragon there was going to know she was an imposter. 
Even her brown hair seemed to have an added shimmer, almost like dragon scales.

The shoes were
high healed and butter soft, the same color as the dress with tiny gems
embedded so that they shimmered a rainbow when the light hit them.  She kept
catching herself watching them when she moved her foot.  She was forced to
admit she liked the shoes.

Of course you
do.  And you look amazing in them,
Ladon said, the exasperation with her
thoughts clear.  "But now we have to be off.  The council is convening as
we speak."

"Fine, but
when I trip and fall on my face I'm going to tell you 'I told you so'."

As if either
Eben or I would allow you to fall.

Morgan laughed at
the dragon arrogance that assumed he could stop her from tripping on her own
gown.

"Come, your
other mate grows restless.  We must be off."

Why do I feel
like a herd beast being led to slaughter?

"Because
you're a teeny tiny little human and you are going into a room with a dozen of
the oldest and most dangerous dragons in existence?"

"Right. 
That's probably it."

"Don't worry
puny human,” Ladon said, exaggerating his deep voice and patting her on the
head.  "I'll have the healer revive you if you faint from fear."

She slapped his
hand away, the spark returning to her eyes.  "And pigs will fly." 
She thrust out her chin and threw back her shoulders bringing majesty to the
outfit that would rival any dragons.  "Let's just get this farce done so
we can get back to the children."

Ladon waited until
she swept out of the room before he smiled.

Well done. 
Eben
said via mind speech. 
Now who is going to protect the dragon council from
our fiery tempered mage?

I will leave
that to the council’s executioner.

Sigh.  Somehow, I do
not doubt that.