Her Dragon’s Soul

Dragon Guard Series #9

By

Julia Mills

There Are No Coincidences.

The Universe Does Not Make Mistakes.

Fate Will Not Be Denied.

Copyright © 2015 Julia Mills

All Rights Reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the author except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

DISCLAIMER: This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or used in a fictional manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

NOTICE:  This is an adult erotic paranormal romance with love scenes and mature situations. It is only intended for adult readers over the age of 18.

Edited by Lisa Miller, Angel Editing Services

Cover Designed by Linda Boulanger with Tell Tale Book Covers

Formatted by Charlene Bauer with Wickedly Bold Creations

DEDICATION

Dare to Dream! Find the Strength to Act! Never Look Back!

Thank you, God.

To my girls, Liz and Em, I Love You. Every day, every way, always.

Also by Julia Mills

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Her Dragon to Slay, Dragon Guard Series #1

Her Dragon’s Fire, Dragon Guard Series #2

Haunted by Her Dragon, Dragon Guard Series #3

For the Love of Her Dragon, Dragon Guard Series #4

Saved by Her Dragon, Dragon Guard #5

Only for Her Dragon, Dragon Guard #6

Fighting for Her Dragon, Dragon Guard #7

Her Dragon’s Heart, Dragon Guard #8

***

Her Love, Her Dragon: The Saga Begins, A Dragon Guard Prequel

HER DRAGON’S SOUL

Index of the Words from the Original Language of the Dragon Kin

Draoi                                                        Wizard

A Chumann                                               Sweetheart

Mo chroi’                                                  My Heart

Mo ghra’                                                   My Love

Ta’ mo chroi istigh ionat                           My Heart is Within You

Srutha’n                                                    Burn

E’adrom                                                    Light

Mu’scail                                                    Wake Up

S’aoire d’uimm                                         Leave

Dul as ais I gea’a tu’ bhaineann               Go Back Where You Belong

Riamh ar ais                                              Never Return

Dofheicthe                                                 Invisible

Le Feicea’il                                               Appear

Ar bhaile                                                   Our Home

Scriosta                                                     Obliterate

CHAPTER ONE

“No way! No freaking way! It’s just not possible. Hannah has NOT become one of Cleland’s mindless followers. You’re wrong, Liam, just wrong!”

Liam looked from Melanie to Jace and back again, trying to decide if he’d done the right thing by telling them. The young nurse was pacing, throwing her hands in the air, alternating between yelling at him and mumbling to herself. He’d known it wasn’t going to be pleasant, but was in no way prepared for the tirade he was watching.

It had been necessary. He’d waited as long as he could. The last thing he wanted was to upset his best friend or his mate, but after what he’d seen in Hannah’s eyes earlier, there was no way he could put it off any longer. Telling them the beautiful girl with strawberry blonde curls was the one the Universe made for him had been easier than he thought it would be, but telling them he was sure she was being controlled by a malevolent force had royally sucked!

They’d already suffered so much at the hands of Melanie’s grandfather. A few weeks earlier, Cleland (aka Grandpa and the Grand Draoi of the Dorcha) had kidnapped his only granddaughter with the hopes of marrying her off to one of his minions, turning her white magic dark, and using her incredible power to rule the world. Needless to say, he is not in the running for grandfather of the year.

It was something the Dorcha—a group of black magic wizards who descended from the dark aborigines from the 13th century, the Firbolgs—had been trying to do since their inception. They almost succeeded! It had taken Liam, Jace, the Dragon Guard, and several very talented white witches to stop Cleland’s plans and save Melanie and her friends. Unfortunately, the piece of crap had gotten away. Now, Liam was faced with the horrible task of telling Mel he was sure good ol’ Grandpa was still meddling in their lives, albeit from afar.

Does this shit ever end?

“Mo chroi’, please stop pacing. You’re wearing a path in the carpet and I really don’t want to listen to Rory bitch about his precious décor. Besides, my neck is killing me from trying to keep up with you.” Jace’s attempt at lightening the mood was met with a death stare as he grabbed his mate’s hand, pulling her towards him. “I know you heard what Liam said. Hannah is his mate. There’s no way in hell he’d make this shit up.”

Pausing, the newly mated dragon and recently initiated Dragon Guardsman looked directly at Liam. “Tell us exactly what happened.”

Clearing his throat, Liam began to recount his breakfast with Hannah. His nerves threatened his resolve for the first time in years. “Everything was going great, just like every other morning for the last couple of weeks.” He paused for half a second then rushed on. “Breakfast has kinda become ‘our thing’.” He failed at holding back his grin then shrugged as he regained his composure. “It’s been our time to get to know each other. I wanted to make sure she really knew me before I dropped the big ‘I’m your mate’ bomb on her. Things had been going so well that I’d decided today was the day to tell her. She feels the pull of the mating call, of that I’m sure. I definitely know how I feel and my dragon thinks I’ve waited way too long as it is. From hanging out with y’all, she knows what being a dragon’s mate entails, but I knew I owed her a direct conversation about my intentions, ya’ know what I mean?”

He stood staring out the large picture window in the small cottage the Blue Dragons, more specifically Rory, had provided for Melanie and Jace while they continued the search for Kyra’s mom, Calysta, the Grand Priestess of pretty much all the white witches in the world. Liam knew what he was about to tell his friends would probably start the pacing and the yelling all over again, but just like everything lately…it had to be done.

Turning, he looked Melanie right in the eyes, praying she could see the sincerity in his words and feel the pain they caused. “I reached across the table to hold Hannah’s hand, the way I’d done every other morning, but this time she jerked away like I’d burned her. I thought she was just surprised, so I joked, ‘Jumpy this morning?’ When her eyes met mine they were lifeless, completely devoid of the brilliance or electricity I’d come to expect. The sparkling blue eyes I dreamt of looking into for the rest of my life were dull and sunken. The pupils so wide her eyes were completely black except for a thin rim of blue around the outside. What scared me the most was the way she stared over my shoulder, like I wasn’t even there. It made the little hairs at the base of my neck stand on end. Then I tried to connect with her through our mating bond, only to be met by a wall of slimy, dark muck that turned my stomach and caused my dragon to growl.

She must’ve seen or maybe felt my surprise and revulsion because in an instant, the brightness returned to her eyes and she reached out and touched my arm. But something was still off, so I tested our link again. The wall was gone, but so was my beautiful mate. All I found was nothingness. The longer I poked and prodded at our connection, the more I realized ‘something’ was pushing back at me.

Hannah didn’t acknowledge any struggle or give any clue she even knew I was reaching out to her. That had never happened before. Not since the day our eyes first met. She always gives me one of her sweet smiles, winks, or a mental nudge…something to let me know she knows I’m there. I know you don’t want to believe me, Mel, but I swear Hannah is not Hannah right now, and as much as I know it hurts you…it is killing me.”

Liam watched Jace and Melanie mull his words over for several minutes. Their silence like a ticking clock taking away time he knew his mate didn’t have. Something evil was attacking her from the inside and if he didn’t stop it, Liam feared he would lose Hannah forever. There was no way he was letting that happen. Just about at the end of his rope, the young Guardsman stood, prepared to leave with or without his friends’ help.

Melanie’s eyes met his as she slowly nodded. “I would know if something was wrong with my Jace.” She looked at her mate with such love that Liam had to smile despite the shit storm they were once again facing. Looking back to Liam, Mel continued, “Since Hannah is your mate, I have to believe what you’re telling me. However, I refuse to believe whatever is happening to her is her own doing. There’s just no way she’s following Cleland. She wouldn’t do that, not after all he’s put her family through, not to mention what he did to me.”

Liam remembered every detail Hannah had told him concerning the atrocities put upon the McKennon family by Cleland and his followers. It had all started when Hannah’s father, Jedidiah, joined the Dorcha after the slaughter of his own coven. He and Sarah Beth had returned from their honeymoon to find their tiny village burned to the ground. The bones of their friends and family strewn about like a set of Lincoln Logs.

After performing the burial rights for their murdered coven members, the young couple traveled on foot for over a week through treacherous terrain to the sister coven Jed had visited many times over the years. The smell of burning flesh and embers reached them as they crested the ridge. It was the same picture as before. Death and destruction as far as they could see. The stench of black magic permeating their every breath.

While once again performing the ritual that would ensure the safe passage of more of his people’s souls into the afterlife, Jed came upon an amulet only partially scorched by the fire. Carefully wiping the soot from the silver disc, he discovered not only the mark of the Dorcha, but also the markings of several low level demons. The white witches of both covens had been sacrificed in an effort to summon the dredge of the underworld. It was then he concocted the plan to infiltrate the Dorcha and somehow get revenge for those who’d given their lives.

Jedidiah and Sarah Beth spent the next several weeks perfecting their ruse and the magic they needed to hide their true natures from the dark wizards they sought to destroy. What they hadn’t counted on was the depth of the Dorcha membership or the power they drew from the underworld.

Year after year, they continued their quest to conquer the evil that had taken their family and friends from them. As each of their seven children was born, Jed and Sarah Beth coated them with love, light, and heavy mysticism to hide and protect their pure, white magic. When the girls were old enough, each was then taught to conceal their true nature. As Jedidiah welcomed his youngest child into the world, he realized his family had been blessed beyond anything he could’ve imagined. Not only had his beautiful daughters received some of the strongest white magic in history, but they’d also been given ‘The Gift’. It was what made the McKennon magic legendary, but hadn’t been seen in centuries. They only had to be close to one another and their power amplified. His heart sang as he realized they truly had a chance to defeat their enemies.

The girls grew and blossomed into not only gifted witches, but also amazing women. Jedidiah and Sarah Beth couldn’t have been prouder. The only thing dampening their joy was Cleland and his followers’ continued existence. It seemed no matter what the McKennons tried, the Dorcha always escaped, most times by nothing but pure and simple dumb luck. Tired of wasting time and watching his daughters hide their true natures, Jed hatched a plan to do away with Cleland and consequently, destroy his followers.

He waited patiently until the day before the Festival of Souls, a jubilee to celebrate the fallen Dorcha and enhance the dark power of those still living. Thankfully, the celebration took place just before the last leaves had fallen from the trees and the days had grown shorter, something Jed could use to his advantage. Using the cover of darkness, he hid behind a large boulder at the mouth of the cave Cleland always used to enter their Sacred Circle. Ready to pounce, continuously repeating the spell in his mind that would immediately steal the breath from Cleland’s lungs and leaving the Grand Draoi dead on the ground, Jed prepared to finally end the captivity his family had endured for far too long.

He held his breath, listening as the evil wizard’s footsteps echoed louder and louder the closer he came to the tunnel opening. What took only seconds seemed like hours to the loving father and devoted white wizard who wanted nothing more than freedom for his lovely wife and daughters. Jed had taken one step towards his goal when Cleland’s words froze his next movement.

“Now that we know for sure the McKennons possess “The Gift”, we must find a way to get them to publicly use it. Jed and Sarah Beth are highly respected. The coven will not blindly follow in their sacrifice and that of their daughters without proof. I knew from the moment I met the young couple they were the ones, but it was the birth of their seven daughters that fortified my belief. They may think they are hiding their lily white magic, but I am the Grand Draoi. No one hides anything from me.”

“Do you have a plan, Master?” one of Cleland’s many minions asked.

“Oh, indeed I do.”

Jedidiah could hardly believe his ears. He knew the Dorcha suspected his deception but had no idea they knew for sure. A million thoughts ran through his mind while he stood stock still, deciding what course of action to take. The crackle of footsteps on fallen leaves broke his concentration. Spinning, Jed’s next breath froze in his lungs as he witnessed the one thing he hadn’t planned for…Hannah!

Their eyes met. Hannah stopped. Fear and insecurity flashed in her eyes before immediately being replaced by her signature determination and fearlessness. She even had the audacity to squint her eyes, shake her head, and throw back her shoulders. It was the same stance Hannah had taken during every conflict since she’d uttered her first words and taken her first steps. Any other time, Jed would’ve laughed. He shook his head at how far from normal their lives had become. It was in no way what he wanted for his family.

That one thought strengthened his resolve. Without further deliberation, Jed marched forward, grabbed Hannah by the arm, and within a few seconds had them securely hidden from Cleland and his minion.

“What the hell are you doing here, Hannah?” Jedidiah growled through gritted teeth.

“I could ask you the same thing, Father.” Hannah returned his growl with one of her own.

“I am…” Stopping short, Jed took a deep breath, looked his daughter straight in the eye, and in a split second decided to tell her the absolute truth. “Setting us all free. Something I should’ve done a long time ago.”

Even he could hear the resolution tinted with just a bit of sadness as the words crossed his lips. He wasn’t surprised when Hannah‘s fists landed on her hips and she scowled before asking, “And?”

Not wanting to share the details of his plan with the most unpredictable and definitely most hotheaded of his daughters, Jed raised his eyebrows, shrugged his shoulders, and waited for Hannah to continue. He wouldn’t lie to her, but he wasn’t going to offer details if she didn’t ask for them.

Moving closer, Hannah’s voice took on an ominous tone as she asked, “What exactly does ‘setting us all free’ entail?”

Jed wasn’t surprised Hannah had asked, just pissed that the Goddess had seen fit to ignore his prayers. Cursing under his breath, he ran through all the things he could tell Hannah without revealing the one fact he’d purposely neglected to share with even his wife…Jedidiah McKennon was on a suicide mission. No matter what scenario he played out in his mind, it always ended with him dying alongside his nemesis. He’d made peace with the outcome. It was what he was willing to do to ensure the safety of his family. No sacrifice was too great if it meant Sarah Beth and the girls would be free of Cleland and the Dorcha’s tyranny.

“Hannah…” Jed’s next words were cut off by the sound of approaching footsteps. Acting completely on instinct, fearful they would be discovered, Jed grabbed Hannah’s hand and murmured, “Dofheicthe.”

Immediately, both he and Hannah were rendered invisible to everyone and everything around them, but thankfully, could still see one another. He mouthed, “Quiet,” and was pleased to see Hannah’s immediate nod of recognition.

A voice he recognized as the man who had been with Cleland shouted, “There’s no one here.”

“Keep looking. I know I heard voices,” Cleland ordered.

The dark wizard’s footsteps sounded to the left of the trees Jed and Hannah were using as cover. Pride filled his entire being as he marveled at Hannah’s calm resolve, but there was no way he could risk her safety. Without thought, Jed let go of her arm and shouted, “Le feicea’il!”

Surprise and anger colored Hannah’s expression as he reappeared for all to see, while she remained invisible. Cutting off whatever colorful retort he was sure his mouthy daughter was about to let fly, Jed mouthed, “I love you,” a second before whispering, “Ar’ bhaile,” the two words they both knew would send her back to the safety of their home. Her expression turned to pure rage as she fought the spell, while evaporating into mist before completely disappearing from his sight. If only he’d known how strong his daughter truly was.

Jed prayed to the Goddess, the Universe, and any other deities he could think of that she would understand he’d done what he had to. Nothing mattered more than the safety of his family…absolutely nothing. All thought fled as Zander, one of Cleland’s most trusted henchmen, burst through the foliage.

Their fight was brutal. Little could be heard over the sound of shouted spells and misdirected magic exploding all around them. It would’ve gone far longer had Cleland not magically appeared shouting, “Scriosta!”

In the blink of an eye both men collapsed to the ground…dead. Another dark wizard appeared on Cleland’s left, shaking his head in disbelief. “What a waste.”

“Yes, my dear Cain, it is a tremendous waste, but sometimes you must sacrifice a few bad apples to rid the orchard of the rotten ones,” Cleland answered as he turned on his heel and wondered back towards the Sacred Circle.

Liam’s heart clenched, remembering how Hannah’s voice had cracked as she bravely held back her tears while telling him the tale. He would never forget her final words, “And I had to sit there, hidden like a scared little girl and watch those bastards kill my dad. I was able to fight off the spell to send me away, but I was still invisible. I screamed spell after spell but I was still a novice, so they couldn’t hear them. My magic had no effect. But now I can kill them; I can kill them all and one day, I will avenge my father’s death.” 

Melanie’s voice broke the spell Hannah’s memories had woven. Liam saw the determination in the young nurse’s eyes, heard the thoughts his brethren was sending to him through their unique link, and for the first time in days felt real hope. “I agree. There’s no way Hannah’s done anything willingly, not the way she hates your grandpa. But that raises a whole new set of questions. If not Cleland, then who would do this? Are there people still loyal to the Draoi? To the Dorcha? Does anyone know how to stop whoever or whatever is poisoning my mate?”

He speared Melanie with a look even though he knew it wasn’t her fault. Liam just seriously needed someone…anyone…to blame. Jace quickly stood, took a step towards him, and in a low growl warned, “Back off, Li. It’s not Mel’s fault.”

“I know. I know. I’m sorry. It’s just…” He had no idea how to finish his statement or what to do, so he just shook his head and prayed his closest friends would understand.

Melanie walked forward and hugged him as best she could considering their huge height difference. Being six-foot-six from the age of thirteen had been a challenge, but one Liam had soon found he could use to his advantage. Bending at the waist, he hugged her back, nodding to Jace at the same time.

“Sorry, man. I didn’t mean to be a dick. You know I love Mel like a sister. It’s just that this shit is messing with my head. What if…”

“No ‘what ifs’ dude. You know better. If it hadn’t been for you when Mel was captured and hurt, I would’ve lost my fucking mind. We’ll figure this out. You gotta keep it together. You gotta be strong for Hannah. Now give me back my mate.” Jace winked. Liam smiled and for a moment, all was right with the world.

Melanie pulled away, looked back at her mate, and was just about to speak when a knock at the front door startled them all. Using his enhanced speed, Jace was at the door and had it opened in two seconds, revealing the oldest of their Force, Royce, and his mate. Both the six-foot-eight, carrot-topped giant and his barely five-foot platinum blonde witch of a mate frowned then walked through the door.

Kyra was the first to speak. “You two really need to learn to shield your thoughts better. I know you share a special connection with the big guy here, but he picks up damn near everything y’all say when you’re stressed. Which means I hear it and you know I have a bad habit of sticking my nose in where it doesn’t belong.”

She chuckled before playfully elbowing Royce in the stomach and taking a seat on the edge of the couch. Looking around the room, Kyra took a moment to examine each of them closely before continuing. “So spill. What the hell’s going on now?”

Liam would’ve laughed aloud, but the look on the older Guardsman’s face told him laughter of any kind would most definitely end with extra training and more than a little ridicule, not to mention a smack to the back of the head that would leave him seeing stars. Instead, he began explaining and ended with, “So now you know everything we do.” He paused, hoping one of them would comment instead of sitting there with their brows furrowed.

When nothing happened, Liam stood and paced, only speaking as he made his third loop around the living room. “Is there anything you can do to help?” He looked at Kyra, one of the most powerful white witches he’d ever encountered and daughter of the Grand Priestess.

Nodding, she answered with her usual unwavering determination and enthusiasm. “What the hell do you think we’re doing here? Of course I can help.” Jumping to her feet, she grabbed the bag she’d dropped at her feet when they entered and headed to the kitchen, talking over her shoulder as she went. “Come on, Mel, let’s see if all your training is paying off. I bet we find out what’s wrong with Hannah before these big lugs can even round up the rest of the troops.”

Kyra’s confidence was just the boost Liam needed. With more than he’d felt in the last few hours, he asked, “You want everyone to come here? Or the Great Hall? Or the Meadow?”

“Slow down, young’un.” Royce chuckled. “Why don’t you head over and check on Hannah? Stay with her until we know what’s up. Make sure nothing else happens while Kyra and Melanie get our game plan worked out. Jace and I’ll go to the training pit and explain what’s happening to the rest of the guys.”

Saying goodbye as he headed out the door and scolding himself for not thinking of watching over Hannah before being told to do so by Royce, Liam made his way through the dense forest surrounding the Blue Thunder Clan’s lair. He started to use his enhanced speed but stopped almost as soon as he started. Getting to his mate was his priority. Making sure whatever was trying to take her from him was held at bay was at the forefront of his mind, but he also had to come up with a reasonable explanation for why he was popping up in the middle of the day. Hannah wasn’t gullible and her suspicious nature wouldn’t be dulled by his mere presence alone. She would ask questions, and if whatever was inside her was also listening, Liam needed a damn good cover story.

Lost in thought, he missed the scent of sulfur in the air and the sound of footsteps crunching the fallen leaves on the forest floor until it was too late. A sharp blow to the back of his head had him falling forward as the world around him faded to black.

What fresh hell is happening now?

CHAPTER TWO

Where am I? How did I get here? What the hell is going on?

For the fourth time in as many days, Hannah awakened unsure of where she was, not sure how she’d gotten there, and with a hangover bigger than Texas. But it was the feeling of doom that left a boulder-sized pit in her stomach.

Oh joy!

This time, she was a few miles behind the lair of the Blue Dragons, sitting atop the cliffs, inside a quickly dissipating salt circle, with half burnt candles and sachets of herbs beside her.  The sea breeze left little scent other than a salty brine in its wake, so the only clues she had concerning what had happened were those in front of her.

The three candles were black, which meant little on their own. Black candles were used for many things magical, some good and some bad. Unfortunately, coupled with the Dandelion root, Dragon’s Blood, and crushed Elderberries she found when she opened the sachet, along with the Blackthorn blossoms she saw skittering across the rocky ledge, it was hard not to imagine the worst. There was only one spell that came to mind and just the thought of it made Hannah’s blood run cold. The Invocation of Lost Souls was a powerful spell that had been banned from the Dorcha, even before Hannah’s birth.

Super! I used a spell that scares even the bad guys.

That single spell, when worked correctly and tainted with evil intent, brings forth all the vengeful spirits within its reach. These phantoms are then under the control of the practitioner, willing and able to do her bidding, no matter how heinous.

Hannah searched her memory, finding nothing but darkness. A bone-deep chill unlike any she’d ever experienced caused her to shiver. Goose bumps rose up and down her arms and the little hairs stood on end. Walking as close to the edge of the cliff as she could get, the young witch looked at the waves below, marveling as they crashed against the rocks, imagining what the white foam would feel like against her skin. Suicide was a mortal sin for a white witch, even one who’d been raised with the Dorcha and taught to keep her true nature a secret for her entire life. It meant an eternity of roaming the Afterlife as a Fade, never really alive, never really dead.  It was in no way what she wanted. Hannah dreamed of a long life filled with love and kids and…Liam, but if things got any worse, she was afraid death would be her only choice.

For one of the first times she could remember, Hannah was really scared. Whatever was happening to her was occurring with increasing frequency and lasting longer every time, getting so bad she was having trouble keeping it all a secret. Early that very day she’d had a ‘mini-episode’ while enjoying breakfast with Liam. The two had been talking and laughing, as was their new routine. Hannah could feel Liam had something important to tell her. The air was filled with electricity and the promise of exciting things to come, and in the blink of an eye, everything had gone dark. When she’d come back to herself, the look on Liam’s face told her he’d seen her mental absence, but wasn’t sure what to do or say. Forcing a smile, she’d promised herself right then and there to give in and talk to her mother.

As Fate would have it that never happened, and now Hannah was standing on a cliff, watching the waves, and wondering where her life had gone off the rails. One thing was sure; she needed to get rid of the candles and sachets. They had to be destroyed. Until she could figure out what was happening, there was no need to leave evidence of her growing insanity for just anyone to find. Gathering up the supplies and rubbing out what remained of the salt circle with the heel of her tennis shoes, Hannah threw the offending items into the surf, watching as they disappeared beneath the waves. Once again wondering if it was her fate to follow in their wake.

Turning, she started back to the lair in search of her mother. Hannah, her mom, her six sisters, and the remaining white witches of their coven had been given refuge with the Blue Dragons after their Grand Draoi had tried to steal his own granddaughter and Hannah’s best friend’s magic, in order to take over the world. Thankfully, Jace and the Dragon Guard found them just in time, stopped the ceremony, and saved them all from certain death.

Over the years, Cleland and his devoted followers had gathered up all the lone white witches they could find, forcing them to join the Dorcha, and then used their pure earthen magic to super-size their own black magic. Had it not been for the Dragon Guard, all those souls would’ve been lost. If only they could find the Grand Priestess Calysta, these displaced witches could move on to other covens or establish one of their own. As it stood, they were in a kind of limbo, living with the dragons until a suitable solution could be found.

Way to avoid your own issues there girlie. Pull your head out of your ass and get moving.

It had been one of the craziest times in Hannah’s life and that was saying something. Life within the coven had never been easy. Hannah and her family were white witches living among some of the darkest and most evil wizards in the world, but it hadn’t always been that way. Her dad called it ‘hiding in plain sight’ and had promised to get them out of there as soon as he could. Unfortunately, before any of that could happen, he was killed on the orders of the same man Hannah and her sisters had been forced to falsely pledge her allegiance to. Even all those years of subterfuge and fear didn’t compare to what she was going through now.

Hannah remembered the stories she’d heard about Cleland before he’d turned to black magic to ease the pain of the death of his wife, Martha. It had happened years before Hannah was even a twinkle in her daddy’s eye, but the tales were told in secret almost daily. Cleland and Martha, along with their best friends, Arthur and Clarisse, were white witches practicing in the same covens they’d been raised in. After the couples married, they broke from those covens and started one of their own, with the complete blessings of their parents and the Goddess.

Cleland’s natural charisma made the decision to make him their leader an easy one. But Arthur was a humble soul with an unassuming nature and it was quickly discovered that those qualities gave him an advantage in mediating and negotiating with other covens and factions within their special world. It was a natural fit that he become Cleland’s second in command. Martha and Clarisse were strong, intelligent, independent women with a love of knowledge. Together, they were instrumental in setting up the educational and social guidelines, as well as assisting with the recruiting of members.

Between the couples’ youth and enthusiasm, and their ideas for reformation within the world of earthen witchcraft, it didn’t take long until their coven was one of the largest and most influential in the world. Along the way, Arthur and Clarisse had three children, while Cleland and Martha struggled to start a family.

Finally, ten years later their prayers were answered, and Martha became pregnant. Unfortunately, it was a difficult pregnancy that ended with a premature birth and both mother and baby spending almost a month under the special care of their strongest healers. During that time, Cleland and Arthur, along with their Council, continued to grow the coven’s membership. Their flock was thriving, but Cleland was becoming increasingly withdrawn and prone to outbursts. Several times, Arthur and the Council were forced to cover for his belligerence and make excuses for his absence from official events.

Finally, Martha and the baby came home. For a time, Cleland seemed to be returning to himself. There were still bouts of sullen behavior and an occasional missed meeting, but for the most part, things were back to normal. That all changed the day of the Harvest Celebration. Arthur, Cleland, and the other able-bodied men of their coven were in the clearing erecting the tents for the following evening’s festivities, when Martha’s frantic scream sounded throughout the entire valley.

With the thought of his family’s wellbeing driving him, Cleland dropped his tools and ran to his home. Arthur and the others followed as quickly as they could, but it was Cleland that reached the large, wooden structure first. Bolting up the stairs, he followed the sounds of his wife’s anguished cries. Running to her side, he dropped to his knees and at once saw the cause of Martha’s despair. There, lying in her arms was their beautiful daughter, cold and lifeless. Her tiny lips that had once been the color of tiny pink tea roses, were quickly taking on a blue tint that reminded the wizard of the biting cold of winter.

Unsure what to do, Cleland looked at his wife and asked, “What happened?”

Shaking her head, she sobbed, “I have no idea. She was sleeping and now she’s gone.” Pulling the small body to her chest, she wailed, “Gone! My baby is gone!”

Scooping his wife and child into his arms, Cleland sat on the edge of the bed holding them as tears wet his cheeks. He saw his best friend and most of their followers standing outside the bedroom door. Unable to speak, he shook his head and thanked the Goddess when Arthur understood his unspoken words, carefully shutting the door and leaving him and his wife to grieve.

  Time seemed to stand still. Cleland had no idea how long they’d been sitting when Martha calmly scooted off his lap, walked to the cradle that had been his beautiful baby girl’s, and lovingly returned the child to her blankets as if the last hours hadn’t happened. Unable and unwilling to ruin the first moments of calm his wife had experienced in hours, he simply sat and waited as she took her place in the rocking chair next to the cradle and began to sing. She sang in the language of old, her melody such a haunting mixture of beauty and sadness that Cleland became mesmerized by its sound. It was as if he was floating above the scene, capable of seeing everything but unable to do anything but sit and watch.

It was then he realized his precious wife was not singing a lullaby for their lost child but a spell of enchantment and he’d been caught up in it. Fighting as hard as he could against the continuing magic Martha wove, Cleland was helpless to break its bonds. Even worse, he was helpless to do anything but watch as she drew her athame across her wrist and preformed the ritual that would give their child her life force.

As she fell lifeless to the floor, the spell was broken—but it was too late. Martha was dead at his feet and their daughter crying in her cradle. As the story went, that day marked the end of the white wizard and the beginning of the Grand Draoi, whose heinous acts of terror against their kind are legendary. Hannah shivered, praying to the Goddess that the same wicked nature was not overtaking her soul.

 Walking deeper into the forest that separated the cliffs from the lair, the young witch thought about Liam. The vision of his gorgeous hazel eyes with flecks of gold that seemed to sparkle when he laughed pushed away the chill. Her heart sped up as she remembered how soft his short dark hair felt against her fingertips and the way his bronze skin warmed when she touched him.

He always made jokes about how tall he was, but it was one of the many things Hannah was coming to love about him. She had to stand on her tip toes and brace her hands against his broad muscled chest to kiss him. A chest she’d seen firsthand when he’d taken off his shirt during an exceptionally rigorous training session. The sun gleaming off his sweat soaked body had been the fuel for some of her most erotic dreams.

She remembered in vivid detail the spectacular dragon marking that seemed to look back at her as she ogled Liam’s luscious body. It was common knowledge that all the Guardsmen had their own specific glyph, but Hannah had to admit her young Guardsman’s was by far the most handsome. She loved the way the dragon’s regal head laid just over Liam’s heart as if protecting the man within, while the beast’s massive body swept down and across the young warrior’s torso and ribs like armor.

Her eyes had followed the dragon’s bottom wing as the tip disappeared into the waistband of Liam’s jeans. She’d practically giggled out loud as deliciously naughty thoughts danced through her mind. Her fingers itched to trace the upper wing as it followed the beast’s form, wrapping lovingly around her mate’s body just as she longed to do.

Hannah knew she was Liam’s mate. She felt the growing bond between them, recognized the place in her soul where part of his had taken hold, could feel the way he held her heart in his loving hands. She longed for nothing more than to spend eternity in his embrace. It had been obvious he was about to state his intentions earlier that day. Her mate was not the best at shielding his thoughts. Hannah had been so excited to finally have it all out in the open, but then the darkness had taken her consciousness and all had gone to shit.

It was the weirdest damn thing and only getting weirder. Hannah could always remember what she’d been doing right before when she reawakened, but had absolutely no knowledge what had transpired while she’d been adrift. She was sure had Liam not been there during breakfast, if he hadn’t touched her hand, that blackout would’ve been the longest so far. There was a power it left in its wake that hadn’t happened any of the other times. It was black and murky, leaving a heaviness in her spirit. As it was, the dark force only waited until she was alone to strike again and take her for its ill-gotten gains anyway.

Coming upon the house she and her family had been given to stay in, Hannah found her mother, Sarah Beth, and her sister, Alicia, wrangling the weeds in a long-forgotten garden. Their banter made her chuckle.

“You know if you just put a little effort into it, Alicia May, we can be done with this before the snow flies.”

“Mom, it’s spring. We’ve got forever before winter,” Alicia grumbled, obviously underwhelmed with her present task.

“My point exactly.” Their mother chuckled.

“Hey y’all. Find any gold?” Hannah hollered as she approached.

“As if,” Alicia huffed.

“Hello, dear,” Sarah Beth called, leaving the garden and meeting her daughter at the back door.

One hug later and they were in the kitchen, sitting around the table while Fiona, another of Hannah’s six sisters, made them all glasses of iced tea and a plate of her famous oatmeal cookies. Deciding to wait until she could speak to her mother alone, Hannah listened as her sisters giggled and gossiped about all the Guardsmen. They went on and on about their muscles, the way they trained day in and day out to keep the world safe, and most of all, how each sister wanted to see them transform into their dragons. 

Growing impatient, Hannah caught her mother’s eye and motioned with her head towards the other room. Having six daughters, Sarah Beth had always been very quick to catch non-verbal cues and immediately stood. Quietly leaving the table, Hannah followed her mom into the living room. Before she could begin, her mom pulled her into a huge hug and whispered, “What’s wrong, baby girl?”

Surprised that her mom already knew there was a problem, Hannah pulled back and met Sarah Beth’s knowing gaze. A lump began to form in the young witch’s throat and she knew tears weren’t far behind. It wasn’t that she was a crier or even someone who went to her mom for help very often, it was that Hannah was out of her depth and worried she might hurt someone if she couldn’t figure out how to stop the ever-growing darkness.

“Mom, I know you’re gonna think I’ve lost my mind, but here goes…”

It took about fifteen minutes to get through her tale, during which Sarah Bath sat completely still, focusing on her every word. When Hannah finished, she held her breath as a myriad of emotions crossed her mother’s face. Time seemed to stand still and Hannah thought she might pass out before Sarah Beth finally asked her first question.

“How many times has this happened?”

“Five that I can remember, and one of those was the few minutes with Liam this morning.”

“And what does your mate have to say about all this?”

“My mate? How the hell…?” Hannah gasped.

“Give me some credit, Hannah Marie. I wasn’t born yesterday. Not to mention that when you two are within throwing distance of one another, you generate enough electricity to light LAX.” Sarah Beth chuckled.

Laughing despite herself, Hannah mumbled, “I should’ve known you’d figure it out.”

“You betcha, baby. I’ve had to keep up with seven of y’all for so long, not much gets past me…but enough of that. How long do these episodes last?”

“The longest one was today, just a little over three hours.”

“And you woke up on the cliffs, in a circle with all the makings of a spell, right?”

“Yes, ma’am,” was all Hannah could squeeze past the tightening in her throat that was now threatening to choke her.

“Take a breath, darling. You look like you’re gonna pass out.” Once again, Hannah felt her mom’s loving hand squeeze her fingers. “We’ve made it through everything that’s ever been thrown at us. We’re the McKennons after all. There’s no way the darkness is gonna win. As long as we stick together, we can do anything.”

Hannah immediately felt better listening to her mom give the same pep talk she’d given so many times. Sarah Beth had taken over where Hannah’s dad left off, and there had never been a day that the seven McKennon sisters doubted their ability to conquer the world. Hannah knew her mother was right. There was nothing they couldn’t get through if they faced it together.

Just as she was about to speak, her mom added, “The one thing you need to do is get that man of yours over here. Our white magic combined with his dragon magic will be damn near unstoppable. You might want to get Melanie, too.”

“But, Mom, what if he thinks I’m crazy?”

Sarah Beth shook her head and chuckled. “Girl, that boy already knows about you and loves you all the more for it. I know you and Meli Rose have talked about what it means to be a dragon’s mate. In any other situation you wouldn’t be hiding from him but running into his arms.” Sarah Beth paused and looked right into Hannah’s eyes. The young witch felt the weight of her mom’s stare and the unconditional love Sarah Beth freely gave to all her children. It was the best feeling in all the world. Before Hannah could stop it, a single tear slid down her cheek.

Never one to miss anything, the young witch knew the minute Sarah Beth saw the tear and let herself once again be pulled into a hug. Her mother spoke without letting go. “You have to go to Liam and explain everything. Then come back here and we’ll figure out what to do from there.”

The last word was barely out of her mouth before Sarah Beth was pulling back and standing up. Hannah chuckled as her mom tugged on her hands until she was also standing. One kiss on the cheek later and Hannah was being ushered to the door.

“Now, get outta here and don’t come back without your man. I’ll tell your sisters what’s going on and we’ll give Melanie and Jace a call. You have enough to worry about.”

“Thanks, Mom. Love you,” was all Hannah could say as she made her way onto the front porch.

“I love you too, Darlin’.”

Walking as fast as she could without running to draw attention, Hannah thought about what Melanie had told her about the non-verbal communication between mates. She knew there were times she could feel what Liam was feeling or hear what he was thinking, but they’d never communicated through the bond she felt growing between them. Figuring it was now or never, Hannah reached through their link, surprised to find it dark and abandoned, so different than the other times she’d used it. Those times she’d been able to feel the warmth of Liam’s feelings, the light from his beautiful soul, and the strength of his unbreakable spirit, but none of that was there this time.

Where could he be? Can he shut this mating thing off?

The longer she searched the mating bond for her mate, the more frantic Hannah became, until she realized somewhere along the way she’d started to run. Stopping in her tracks and taking several deep breaths, the young witch worked hard to get her emotions under control. Deciding she needed answers and sure she’d find her mate with his best friend, she headed to Melanie and Jace’s.

No sooner had she changed directions than the scent of sulfur and brimstone caused her eyes to water. Searching for the origin of the offending smells, Hannah was once again lost to the darkness.

CHAPTER THREE

Liam had been dreaming of Hannah when he was hit right in the face with what he could only imagine was a tidal wave. Spitting and sputtering, he opened his eyes to then be confronted with total darkness. Not even his enhanced sight could cut through the inky blackness surrounding him.

Trying to sit up to escape any further deluge, his efforts were stopped short as he found his wrists bound and pulled above his head. A little more inspection and he wasn’t surprised to find his ankles also tied together. He felt cement at his back and could feel that he was several feet off the floor. As if all of that wasn’t enough, from the burn in his wrists and ankles, the young Guardsman knew his bindings contained silver.

Okay, so whoever is doing this knows I’m a dragon and knows how to subdue us. Great! Just freaking great!

Holding his breath, Liam listened for any clue of his location or who was holding him hostage. More frustrated than he’d ever been, with a headache sure to make him cross-eyed growing from the lump he could feel on the back of his head, the young Guardsman and his dragon wanted to roar until the walls around him shook. The thought of letting his beast out to take care of whatever and whoever was threatening them both was close to becoming a reality. One he knew was against all his training, but still a viable option as far as he was concerned. His dragon growled his approval, blowing smoke for emphasis.

Pushing his enhanced senses out as far as they could go, the only thing he could be sure of was that he was dealing with black magic and demons. The scent of sulfur was slight and probably undetectable to human senses, but the brimstone was unmistakable. Brimstone on its own didn’t always mean a piece of hell or one of its inhabitants had made their way to the surface, but when coupled with the stench of burnt Mandrake root and Wild Yam, it was damn near a sure thing.

“Fuck!” Liam spat under his breath.

A chuckle from the corner alerted him to the fact that he was no longer alone and reminded him to stay focused. It wouldn’t do to get caught unawares again. Seemed like these people meant business.

The chuckle was followed by slow, measured boot strikes against a cement floor. Every other footstep was followed by an additional click that Liam soon recognized as a cane.

I just saw someone with a cane. Who the hell was it?

Answering the question out loud he’d only asked in his head, he whispered, “Cleland.”

A high-pitched cackle Liam was sure could break glass came from the same direction as the footsteps and preceded the gravelly voice of the much older man, who until now Liam had only seen from a distance.

It was as if the darkness receded as the Grand Draoi spoke. “Well, well, young Guardsman, it seems as if you have been caught in my trap.”

Circling to Liam’s left, the leader of the Dorcha continued. “You see, it was you dragons who took everything from me…my power, my coven, my birthright. Seems only fair that I do the same to you. I must admit, I never imagined our little Hannah to be the mate of one of the mighty Dragon Guard. This is working out so much better than I could’ve ever hoped for. I’ve always known the McKennon family was the source of great power and because of that destined for great things, but never in my wildest dreams could I have guessed the little witch would be useful beyond her own power.”

Just the mention of Hannah’s name by the man Liam knew to be capable of heinous acts of evil had the dragon shifter pulling against his restraints and seething with a fury he hadn’t known he was capable of. His dragon thrashed against the constraints of his mind, pushing with all his beastly strength to come forth. Liam was just about to speak when Cleland once again spewed his venom.

“I originally planted the spell within Hannah so that I might keep tabs on my dear Meli Rose. My plans for my traitor of a granddaughter have not been forgotten, only put on hold, and I didn’t want her to get too far away, but then we had this unforeseen windfall. You see, my followers, the ones you and your kin were unable to abduct and turn against me, have been working very hard since you and your cohorts disrupted our plans. They have summoned and trapped a low level demon. Something that until now has eluded us. The only downside is that he has to have a permanent host to remain topside. I have repeatedly tried shoving him into your little mate, but that only works for short periods of time before she’s able to throw off the effects and push the demon out. I fear if I keep at it much longer Hannah may burn out, and I still need her to monitor my wayward kin.

So you see, Fate has once again afforded me an unprecedented opportunity…you. I happened to be listening to dear Hannah’s thoughts and was thrilled to find out you were her mate. It was then I decided there could be no better vessel than the strong mind and body of a Dragon Guardsman. The demon can lie dormant within you and be called forth only when I need him, hence stretching his time topside to as long as I find him useful. I’ve even solved the problem of your dragon. I can put the beast to ‘sleep’, thus keeping him out of the way for as long as I have need of your body and soul. Of course, I have no idea what shape you and your dragon will be in when we’re done, but then again, I honestly do not care.”

Liam shook with anger and disbelief. His mind raced from all the Grand Draoi had revealed. He had to get loose and save his beautiful Hannah from Cleland’s heinous plans. Shouting to each of his brethren through their unique mindspeak and the common ones alike, the young dragon prayed for at least one of his kin to hear his distress call. Yelling in his own mind until he thought it might explode, only silence was returned. Ready to double his efforts no matter the cost to him physically or mentally, the sound of metal scraping against concrete silenced his pleas.

Tiny footsteps filled the silence. The light lemony scent of Angel’s trumpets filled the cavern and his dragon whimpered. Liam’s heart dropped like a stone as Hannah’s light red tresses came into view, immediately followed by her beautiful face. The same face that had haunted his dreams since their first meeting. Her ivory skin glowed with an absolute purity he knew could have only come from the Universe Herself. He remembered the feeling of silk as her long, curly tresses ran through his fingers and the brilliance of her blue eyes that enhanced her every expression. Liam felt as if he was drowning every time he looked into them.

A lethal combination of sadness and fury swamped the young Guardsman as he doubled his determination to save the one the Universe had made for him. The dragon he’d shared his soul with for over sixty years blew smoke and pawed at the ground like a bull ready to charge. There was no way either man or beast was going to let the Draoi continue to take advantage of their mate.

The sounds of other footsteps echoed off what he was sure were stone walls. By his count, three more Dorcha entered the room. Liam could hear Cleland issuing orders, leaving the young Guardsman free to focus all his attention on his mate. He knew the only way they were going to make it out alive was if they worked together. And the only way that was going to happen was if Hannah woke from the trance she was under. He thought of calling for his brethren once again but decided against it. The Grand Draoi had to have placed some kind of dampening spell around the structure they were in and it was keeping him from communicating with his brethren. It was the only explanation for their continued silence. Sadly, he and Hannah were on their own.

Time to put up or shut up.

Going into warrior mode, Liam immediately came up with a plan. One he was sure was going to fail, but one he at least had to try. Focusing all his energy and that of his dragon on their nonresponsive mate, he began to probe their mating bond. Just like he’d experienced earlier in the day, the link was dark and dank, teaming with an evil Liam now knew was Cleland’s low level demon squatting inside his mate. As he pushed through the darkness, careful to avoid detection from the evil entity, Liam remembered a little of the magic his mother had taught him as a boy.

Thankfully, Kara Drennan had been a white witch and loved sharing her knowledge with her only son. Although her focus had been on Healing magic, she still knew a lot about Defensive magic and an attack spell or two, which she’d taught Liam before small pox claimed her life shortly before his first transformation. One incantation in particular he recalled was to wake a person from a coma. He had no idea if it would wake a person being possessed, but he was willing to try damn near anything to have his Hannah back.

Reciting the spell he remembered just as if Kara had said it to him yesterday, Liam chanted, “Mu’scail,” over and over in his head, pushing it into the mating bond, reinforcing it with dragon magic. Splitting his attention between his mate and Cleland, Liam also worked at his bindings. The more the silver-covered jute bit into his skin and blood flowed down his arms, the more determined he became to free both his mate and himself.

Looking deeply into Hannah’s eyes, Liam prayed he wasn’t imagining the focus he saw slowly surfacing. The dark clouds were being pushed back and the spark that made Hannah the incredibly special woman he loved was returning. He had to be careful that Cleland didn’t sense his use of magic or the Draoi was sure to figure out what he was trying to do.

As if the Dorcha leader had heard his thoughts, the room was suddenly awash in bright candlelight and the smell of burning herbs combined with a smoky, almost bitter stench. It was then Liam heard chanting filling the room behind him. The Dorcha were beginning the spell that would draw the demon out of Hannah and deposit it within his soul. He knew it was perverse, but one thought continued to circle his mind as he tried with all his might to break the dark hold the demon had on his mate and send the bastard back to hell.

Even if I fail, at least the demon will be out of Hannah.

She was, after all, the most important person in all of this. He had to protect her, no matter what, and had been cursing himself since waking up for not knowing right away what was wrong with his mate and putting an end to the hold the Draoi had on her. The son of a bitch had admitted to putting her under his influence the night they’d rescued Melanie and the others. How could Liam have missed the black magic within his own mate? How had he failed her in such a huge way? If…no, when he got them out of this mess, he was going to spend every day of their very long lives together making it up to her. All he had to do was get them out of there.

Piece of cake! Not!

“Now don’t sell yourself short there, loverboy.”

The sound of Royce’s voice boomed in Liam’s head. The young Guardsman was so shocked that for the first time since waking up he was glad to be tied to the cement slab, otherwise he would’ve landed flat on his ass from surprise.

“Royce?”

“You were expecting the jolly green giant?”

“No, Roy, he was expecting me. Everyone knows it’s the older, more handsome brother that saves the day,” Rian, the leader of the Blue Thunder Clan, who also just happened to be Royce’s older brother, chimed in.

“I thought it was the younger more dashing brother…” Rory, Royce’s younger brother, added.

“Y’all need to get the hell out of the way and let the little white witch work her magic or none of you will be taking another step and your family line will end with a boom,” Kyra teased, but Liam could hear the underlying stress in the tiny witch’s voice.

“How the…?” Liam was so overwhelmed that his brethren had somehow heard his distress calls that words escaped him.

“We heard you loud and clear, Li, you just couldn’t hear us,” Jace answered his almost-asked question. “Kyra and Melanie were able to get a lock on the black magic while Royce and I followed your call. I’m guessing our old friend, Cleland, is in there with you?”

“You got it in one,” Liam answered. “Bastard’s got a low level demon resting inside of Hannah, but he really wants it inside of me. They’re getting ready to make the switch right now.”

“We’re not going to let that happen, Liam. Is Hannah okay?” Melanie, who until that moment had been silent, asked.

“She’s fine. I was trying an old spell my mom taught me to get her to wake up. It seems to be working, but it’s taking forever.”

“That’s because Cleland has the whole building you’re in doused with serious amounts of black magic. Anything we do with white or dragon magic is gonna take at least twice as much power to work,” Kyra answered, but he could tell she was distracted by whatever she was setting up. “But don’t you worry, I got the terrible threesome, who as much as it pains me to admit are stronger than any other dragons I’ve ever come across. Not to mention Melanie and Jace.”

“Kyra…” Her mate and his brothers growled in unison.

Their complaining went unanswered. All Liam could hear was the little witch’s occasional mumbling. He knew from experience she’d jumped headlong into whatever spell she needed to work to free both him and his mate and blocked out the rest of the world.

Returning his focus to Hannah and his attempt to wake her, Liam recited his mother’s spell over again in his head while listening to the progress of his friends and keeping tabs on the Draoi and his minions. From what he could hear, it was only Cleland and three, maybe four of the Dorcha. They would be no match for the sheer size and power of the Guardsmen about to break through their defenses, but first the dragon shifters needed to get inside the building. 

Minutes ticked by, each seeming to stretch longer than the one before. The chanting of the black magic practitioners grew in intensity as did the voices of his brethren and their mates just outside his prison. Liam could feel dragon magic combined with powerful white magic building just beyond his reach and was pleasantly surprised that the Grand Draoi was giving no indication he even knew the dragons were there.

“Get ready, Li, we can’t pinpoint your exact location, so Kyra has no way of knowing how close to you the explosion will happen. She’s tried unraveling Cleland’s protection, but it’s taking too long, so we’re going with plan B.” Jace sounded tense but confident, giving Liam the push he needed to finally free his right hand from its binding. The silver had torn his skin almost to the bone, but it didn’t matter. He could now grab Hannah and roll away from whatever was coming at them.

“Do what ya gotta do. Just get Hannah out of here before they do anything else to her. We can get the demon out of her when we get her back to the lair. Right now she’s protected by the slab they have me laid out on and a half-wall made of stone.”

“Gotcha. Here we come.” Jace sounded almost giddy.

Royce began the countdown. “Ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three…” The rest of the countdown was drowned out by the most blood-curdling, inhuman screech Liam had ever heard. It shook the foundation of the building and sent the Dorcha and their leader scurrying from the room right before the wall beyond Liam’s feet exploded in a shower of dust and rock.

Quicker than his eyes could track, Royce and Rory had him untied and standing near the huge hole in the wall while Rian had Hannah over his shoulder and was leading the way out of the rubble. Moving as the well-trained unit they were, the Guardsmen made it to where Kyra and Melanie were waiting. It took mere seconds before the white witches were collected and together, the group made their way back to the lair.

Liam’s wounds were attended by Brenna, another of Hannah’s sisters. He grimaced and promised extra pain to Cleland and his followers, because had there not been bits of silver embedded in the rope, he would’ve already healed. As it was, as soon as Brenna removed a piece of silver, the skin it had evacuated began to knit itself back together. He listened intently as Kyra, Melanie, Sarah Beth, and two of her older sisters prepared for Hannah’s exorcism in the basement of Rian’s home. Liam wondered why the eldest O’Reilly brother had a Devil’s trap under his living room, but decided to save that conversation for another day.

More than once, all in attendance assured him the demon residing within his mate was little more than one of Hell’s whipping boys with barely enough power to keep himself awake. Liam knew he should feel better just knowing the evil spirit would be easy to remove and banish back to where it came from, but for some reason neither his nerves nor his dragon would be calmed. There was still a demon squatting inside his mate that had been put there on his watch, while he’d been clueless. It was his job as her mate to protect, not stand idly by while some dickhead dark wizard played ‘hide the evil spirit’ with his mate’s soul. Liam just wanted his Hannah back, whole and healthy, and would do everything in his considerable power to make it happen.

The last piece of silver hit the basin beside him right as Kyra called out, “Get your ass down here, Liam. We’re ready to banish this bastard back to Hell.” 

He had to laugh at the tiny white witch. She may be only five foot nothing, but Kyra was a powerhouse in every way, the perfect match for his grumpy old mentor. Stepping off the steps, Liam made his way to where Kyra pointed and picked up the white candle like the others in attendance had already done. Brenna explained while administering his first aid that they would be using the power of twelve, along with a very old Banishment spell, to get rid of the demon. As Liam looked around the room he counted thirteen in attendance, but realized Rian was standing at the far corner and didn’t have a candle.

I definitely need to find out more about the Blue Thunder leader. There’s a story there, I can feel it. 

Kyra joined the circle and used her magic to light the herbs in the copper pot sitting in the center. Liam recognized the scent of Angelica Root, Hyacinth, and Oak, as well as other herbs used for protection, luck, and strength. The tiny witch looked around the Sacred Circle, stopping for a just second to smile and nod at each person. He could feel the reassurance and power she let flow from her soul to theirs. It was a gift she freely gave to each in attendance to assure success with the ritual.

When she locked eyes with Royce, the last in the circle and the one closest to her right, Kyra began to chant,

I pray to the Universe around us, the Mother Goddess that protects us, and to Fate that divines our futures for protection, strength, and complete safety from the enemy, take this demon out of the body of our sister. Send it to the fiery depths of Hell, where it can be grounded in jail, never to return topside.

Guide us even through the darkness, take all evil from within our Hannah and around us, cleanse her body and soul through your ever divine healing, and free her from all evil and wickedness. Aid us in removing this demon from her bod, and help us banish this being to the place it belongs…the depths of Hell.

Blessed be. Blessed be.

Now, sa’oire d’uinn!

With the utterance of her last command to leave them, a gust of wind burst through the basement, blowing out all the candles and causing the flame in the cauldron to leap to the ceiling, followed by a thick pillar of smoke that filled the room before immediately dissipating. Through the entire rite, Liam’s eyes stayed glued to his mate as she lay on the cot in the center of the circle mere feet from the copper pot of herbs. He worked hard to stay in place when every one of his instincts and his dragon pushed him to go to his mate, to protect her from the forces, seen and unseen, that wanted to take her from him.

From one breath to the next, Hannah went from unconscious to wailing and thrashing about. Thankfully, Kyra had warned him this would happen, had told him to stay still and not to enter the Circle until the demon presented itself, but he still took a step forward. The longer his mate cried out, the more she threw herself from side to side fighting against her restraints, the weaker his resolve became, forcing him to take another step. It seemed to go on forever, when in actuality, it was less than a minute…a gut-wrenchingly painful minute for both he and his mate. One where he was sure he would lose his mind and vowed to lock Hannah far away from the world so she would never get hurt or suffer again.

Liam was just about to say the hell with it when Hannah stopped screaming and flailing and lay perfectly still, back bowed off the cot, eyes open wide, mouth stretched in a silent scream. It should have been better than her shrieks but it was so much worse. Unable to take one more second of her torment, Liam took another step forward, stopping in his tracks as a deep black pillar of smoke spewed from Hannah’s open mouth. It went on and on until the ceiling was covered, resembling the sky before an especially violent thunderstorm. For several beats of his heart, nothing happened, and then Hannah collapsed in a boneless heap.

Kyra and the other witches chanted with a conviction he could feel to his core in both English and the language of the Ancient Dragons…

S’aoire d’uimm. Dul as ais I gea’a tu’ bhaineann. Leave us. Go back where you belong. Riamh ar ais. Never return.

Sarah Beth threw a large burlap sachet into the cauldron and yelled, “Srutha’n!”

Fire shot to the ceiling, igniting the black smoke. A screech, reminiscent of the sound he’d heard as he and Hannah were being rescued from the Dorcha, echoed off the stone walls, filling every inch with an unbearable pain and torment. A flash of light like hundreds of fireworks exploding all at once in the night sky filled the basement, and then in the blink of an eye, they were bathed in total darkness and complete silence.

“E’adrom,” the witches all spoke in unison. Every candle lit, filling the eerie space with a bright, clean light. Liam rushed to Hannah, bundled her in his arms, and raced up the stairs. He’d had enough of demons and rituals and darkness for one night. All he wanted was to hear his mate’s melodic voice and to look into her loving eyes.

Making his way to the couch, Liam carefully sat in the corner, positioning Hannah with her head on his chest and legs stretched across the cushions. He stroked her hair, rubbed tiny circles of comfort up and down her spine, and whispered promises of a boring demon-free life together, as one by one, each of the others appeared. It wasn’t long before the rest of Rory’s Force arrived and everyone was in the kitchen preparing what Liam could only imagine was a feast. Every few minutes, either Sarah Beth or one of Hannah’s sisters came out to check on them and reassure him that she would soon wake.

All in attendance ate, talked, and laughed until the wee hours of the morning, and still Hannah slept. Not willing to let her go, Liam remained on the couch with his mate in his lap, finally falling asleep as the Grandfather clock chimed four in the morning.

He dreamt of Hannah as she’d been when he first saw her and remembered their first kiss. The memory so powerful Liam was helpless to do anything but give himself over to the miraculous sensation of the moment. The dream continued, growing more realistic, more passionate, until his dragon purred in his head, reveling in the fact that their mate was wrapped in his arms, showing him the same love he felt for her.

His dream took on a life of its own, going far beyond the chaste kiss they’d shared that first day under the Cherry blossoms. He could feel her passion rising through their mating bond, which until that moment had remained dormant. Fighting to regain consciousness, but fearing if he did the connection he’d reestablished with his mate would be lost, Liam finally opened his eyes to find Hannah very much alive and kissing him like she never wanted it to end.

CHAPTER FOUR

Hannah had been awake and out from under the influence of the demon and the Grand Draoi for almost forty-eight hours. All she wanted to do was make her mating with Liam official. He’d already asked. She’d said yes. Her mother, all six of her sisters, Royce, Rian, Rory, the Spiritual Elder of the Blue Thunder Clan, Royce’s Uncle Stefan, and even the Commander of Liam’s Force back at the Golden Fire Clan, Rayne MacLendon, had given their blessing to the union. All that remained was for Liam to set the date, something her contrary mate had been teasing her with all day.

Not willing to wait a moment longer, Hannah snuck out of the house and made her way to Jace and Melanie’s.

WOW! That was easier than it’s ever been.

She knew Liam had been staying with them since her exorcism and was sure the only way she was going to get what she wanted was to blindside the goofy dragon. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to make their mating official; the incredible feelings he let flow unchecked through their mating bond were confirmation of his love and commitment to her. He was just as excited and anxious as she was. What was driving her utterly mad was the fact that her mate was up to something and she wanted to know what it was.

Hannah made it as far as Melanie’s front porch when the door burst open and not only her best friend, but also three of her sisters and her mother greeted her.

“So, that’s how I got out of the house so easily. Y’all weren’t even there.”

The entire room erupted into laughter as Melanie took her hand and pulled her across the threshold. “Get in here. What the hell took you so long? When we were kids you could sneak out faster than all of us put together.” Her best friend pretended to be put out with her, but Hannah could see the twinkle in Melanie’s eyes and the grin she was trying to hide. Melanie’s next statement explained it all.

“We have exactly three hours to get you ready for your mating ceremony or there will be one very pissed off purple dragon. Not something you want to deal with, trust me.”

“Dragons in general or just the purple ones?” Hannah snickered.

“Smart ass.” They all laughed as Hannah was escorted down the hall and plopped in front of Melanie’s three way mirror.

Two hours into the process, her hair had been piled atop of her head in a beautiful style of loose curls and braids adorned with tiny flowers from the heather plants that grew in the meadow behind the lair. Her makeup had been applied with such perfection she barely recognized herself, and even her fingernails and toenails had been painted a shimmery light pink.

Sarah Beth made lunch and they were all sitting around the dining room table chatting when a knock at the front door silenced the group. With a knowing look, Melanie ran from the room, only to return moments later carrying a huge white box tied with a deep purple satin ribbon. Laying the box in the middle of the bed, she turned, and grinned. “Get over here and open it. I’m dying to see what’s inside.”

Standing, Hannah tried to feign annoyance and teased her friend by saying, “I bet you already know.”

Melanie batted her eyes and giggled like a schoolgirl. “Maybe I do. Maybe I don’t.”

Unable to hold out any longer, Hannah burst out laughing, careful not to smudge her makeup or mess up her hair, and made her way to the bed. Like a child at Christmas, she tore the ribbon from the box, threw the lid to the side, and tore through the tissue paper. Lying atop what she guessed to be her mating gown was a small white note with her name beautifully adorning the front.

Carefully lifting the envelope from the box and removing the card, she had to sigh. The words expertly penned on the linen stationary brought tears to her eyes. You are my soul, Hannah McKennon. My reason for being. My everything. Today you become truly mine for all time. All my love, Liam.

Taking a deep breath, she lifted the most gorgeous gown ever made from the box. Fashioned from a deep amethyst gossamer, the material glistened as the garment unfolded before her. Hannah held it against her chest and gazed into the mirror, marveling at the way the tiny crystals, which had been expertly woven into the fabric, looked like stars in the night sky. It was obviously handmade by an expert seamstress. Slipping the dress over her head, she was amazed at the perfect fit.

Chuckling to herself, she made a mental note to compliment her mate on his fashion sense. Although she’d never seen him in anything but a T-shirt and jeans, she knew from what Melanie had told her that each Guardsman designed his mate’s dress, and hers had done an impeccable job. One shoulder was covered with the silken material while the other remained bare. The bodice was fitted to perfection, making her more than ample bosom the focal point, a feature she was sure Liam would appreciate. She wondered when he’d found the time to order it and then remembered all the times he’d disappeared without explanation since her recovery.

Melanie appeared behind her with a wide satin ribbon the color of antique silver and tied it around her waist. She grimaced at the way it accentuated the roundness of her hips, but quickly remembered Liam’s words when she’d said something about losing a few pounds before their mating. Never change, mo chroi’. I love you just the way you are. Every erotic curve and sensual dip is a feast for my hands and eyes. You are perfection, both inside and out.

Her grimace was replaced with a smile just as her sister, Alicia, appeared behind her with a pair of satin ballet slippers the exact color of her dress. Turning, she slid her feet into the shoes where they’d been placed before her and then spun for everyone in the room to get a look at the amazing dress her mate had given her.

On the verge of tears, Sarah Beth stepped up to her, kissed her gently on both cheeks, and whispered, “You’re a vision. I’m so happy and proud of you I could burst. Be happy, Hannah Marie, just be happy.”

“Oh, Momma, I will.”

Unwilling to cry and risk ruining her makeup, she turned to her sisters and joked, “Do I clean up nice or what?”

Everyone laughed and agreed, each taking a turn wishing her well. Melanie had just gotten through giving her a few last minute pointers concerning the mating ceremony when another knock sounded at the front door. This time her best friend turned to her and said, “This one’s for you, kiddo. Fate awaits. Be happy. Love you.”

“I love you, too, Meli Rose.”

Chuckling at the use of Melanie’s childhood nickname, the girls linked arms and headed to the door. Melanie reached for the knob, pulling it open to reveal Tomas and Cole, two of the Guardsmen in training from Liam’s home clan. Hannah knew they were younger than Liam but could feel the warrior spirit within them.

They resembled knights from King Arthur’s time, just as the attendants at Melanie and Jace’s mating ceremony had. She smiled as she realized their uniforms actually made sense since the men truly had come from that era, or their ancestors had. Both wore surcoats of the same rich amethyst color as her gown and were trimmed with braided silver rope. On each, an expertly stitched dragon in the throes of battle was so realistically rendered she could imagine it jumping off their chests. Their long-sleeved undershirt and pants were black, just like their knee high boots that were polished to a high shine.

Tomas and Cole moved to either side of the door, facing one another as Melanie made a sweeping gesture for Hannah to exit. Bending their arms at the elbow, the young Guardsmen waited until Hannah placed her hands on their arms for support. Together, the three of them took the steps off the front porch, carefully following the round patio stones to a small vine-covered gate at the corner of Melanie and Jace’s yard. Hannah was surprised to see it led to a small wooded area.

About twenty paces into their journey through the woods, Cole stopped beside a large stump covered with silk, holding the largest bouquet of deep purple roses Hannah had ever seen. She started to count but gave up at three and a half dozen. Leaning forward past her escort, she buried her nose in them, inhaling their heavenly fragrance. Releasing her hand from his arm, Cole picked up the bouquet and gently placed it in her arms. It was then she saw the card attached, inscribed with a simple but poignant message. You are my soul, my love, my everything. Forever yours, Liam. She took one from the bunch as Cole graciously offered to carry them.

Placing her hand atop Cole’s arm once again, they continued down the path, talking and taking in the wondrous scenery. The sound of water reached her ears, piquing her interest almost as much as her excitement. A few more steps and they cleared the trees. Hannah gasped as she found herself beside a small grotto. Water flowed over large polished rocks into a reflective pond naturally decorated with lily pads and cattails. The natural landscaping was flawless, but the man-made, well, ‘dragon-made’, decorations that surrounded the grotto were perfection. Maypoles decorated with hundreds of amethyst, silver, and white ribbons flowing together with the flower garlands winding around their lengths dotted the perimeter, making it seem dreamlike. 

Her escorts led her to the far side of the water where a gazebo, decorated to match the maypoles, sat. It contained four incredibly ornate chairs resembling small thrones positioned in a semi-circle. The entire scene was nestled within a group of blossoming Cherry trees. One moment the chairs were empty, and then suddenly, the four Elders she’d met over the course of her stay with the dragons appeared. Rian, Stefan, Niall, and Marcas moved faster than her eyes could track. It somehow shocked her that even the old dragons moved fast.

As one, the Elders nodded their greeting as Tomas and Cole left her standing next to a small decorated chair holding her roses. A rustling to her left alerted her to the arrival of the other Guardsmen. Since Liam and Hannah were not with Liam’s home clan, the Golden Fire Dragons, Rian and the other Blue Thunder Elders had conferred with Carrick and Rayne from Liam’s home clan, and all agreed to allow the Blue Dragon Force to witness the young couple’s union. The six Blue Dragon Guardsmen, along with Jace and Royce were dressed in their finest, similar to her escorts but in colors matching their specific dragons. Rory was at the head of the line, standing tall and proud in a surcoat of royal blue accented with swirls of deep green. Hannah expected him to look more like the Commander he was since it was a solemn ceremony, but true to form, he wore a shit-eating grin and winked as she glanced at him. Then came Kellan, the recluse of the group. As always, his long, dark blond hair covered the scars on the left side of his face. She’d been told of his valiant service as a Marine but had yet to thank him. His midnight blue surcoat was so dark Hannah really had to focus to make sure it was blue and not black.

Next was Declan, who everyone referred to as their techie. His surcoat was the brightest blue of them all and reminded Hannah of the noonday sky. Lennox, the ‘mad bomber’ as they all called him, wore a surcoat of an almost teal color, equal parts blue and green. Pearce, the one responsible for everything no one else wanted to do, had a dress uniform almost as dark as Kellan’s, but with a silvery luster to it. Lastly for the Blue Dragons was Brannoc, the only one Hannah hadn’t met in person. He was dressed in such a light color of blue that she wondered if he’d ever been mistaken for a white dragon.

Looking at her with fatherly pride was Royce, her mate’s mentor and the oldest of the MacLendon Force of the Golden Fire Dragons. His beautiful royal blue surcoat with green accents truly fit the gentle giant who seemed to care for everyone while grumbling and complaining all the way. Lastly was Jace, Liam’s best friend and her best friend’s mate. His glistening bronze surcoat exactly matched the dragon she’d seen on the day they’d been saved from the Dorcha. All the men smiled, filling her with the true acceptance of a family she’d never expected to have. Add that to her sisters and the man she would love for the rest of her life, and Hannah was overwhelmed by her blessings.

Liam came striding around the gazebo, looking better than any man had a right to look, essentially stealing the breath from her lungs. His deep purple surcoat with silver braids and embroidery accentuated the amazing body she knew lay beneath. His smile lit up the twilight as he looked directly into her eyes. The electrical current she was quickly coming to associate with her mate snapped to life. She realized he’d felt it too as his pupils dilated and his nostrils flared. Her body intimately reacted to everything when they were together. She only hoped she would make it through the ceremony without dragging him behind the gazebo and making love to him until neither could walk, much less think. She knew he heard her thoughts when his smile widened and he winked.

Great minds think alike.

He stopped ten feet from her, almost at attention. Hannah held her breath, waiting for what would come next. Rian cleared his throat and began speaking in his low, commanding voice. 

“Long ago, when knights and dragons fought side by side for King and Country, it became apparent dragon kin was no longer safe from those that would expose and destroy them. They sought to join with the knights, who for centuries had fought so valiantly as their allies. Thus, through magic and the will of both dragon and knight, the Blue Thunder Clan and Golden Fire Clan of the Dragon Shifters became a reality. It was through the joining of many different clans that we have all become the strong and powerful Force we are today.

“We are here, at the Grotto of Prayer, a place long blessed by our ancestors that went before us, to honor what the Universe put into place all those many years ago. To acknowledge and bless the mating of Liam Alexander Drennan to the one the Universe made for him, Hannah Marie McKennon. Will those seeking to witness this union please step forward?”

From their place next to the gazebo, the eight Guardsmen stepped forward. She knew they had all trained her mate, fought with him, bled with him, and now shared the happiest moment of both their lives with them. They knelt as one and bowed their heads. Rory then stood and addressed the Elders, “We, the six of the Aherne Force and our brethren from the MacLendon Force, wish to witness and offer our blessing to the union of these two souls, two halves of the same whole. May they live long, fight hard, love harder, and produce many young to flourish in this world when their souls have gone to the Heavens.” He knelt next to his men and bowed his head once again.

Rian began again, “Your witness and blessing have been acknowledged and accepted Aherne and MacLendon Forces. Liam Drennan, you may go to your mate.”

Hannah didn’t even see him move before he was standing in front of her with a look in his glowing hazel eyes that filled her with love, adoration, and awe-inspiring humility. She was truly blessed by the Goddess and the Universe to have found real love. He took her hands in his. All the emotion and power he held for her flowed from his fingertips to hers.

Rian began again, “The Purple Dragons are warriors who represent devotion and royalty. It is the purple dragons who first took the throne of power from those that would’ve seen us destroyed, even before man walked the Earth. The Universe shows favor on her purple-scaled warriors as they delivered her chosen ones from certain death. They symbolize extreme passion from the red side of their nature, which is balanced by the reason from their blue-scaled ancestors. They use those characteristics to protect all they hold dear and dole out justice fairly with unwavering commitment. Their love never tires, but instead, grows stronger with each passing year. To mate a Purple Dragon means to accept all that they are and honor the power shared between mates.

“Now is the time of the marking. May the Universe continue to bless you and yours all of your days here and in the Heavens.” She knew the Elders were leaving by the boot strikes on the wood of the gazebo, but she couldn’t look away from her mate and assumed the other Guardsmen had followed.

Hannah had no idea how long they stood ensnared in one another’s gaze before Liam pulled her the last few inches to him. He lowered his head and stopped right before his lips touched hers. His breath tingled on her lips as he whispered, “Ta’ mo chroi istigh ionat,” before closing the scant distance between them. The first brush of his lips touched every cell of her body. A heat unlike any she’d known consumed her from the inside out, laying her open, heart and soul, to her mate.

One perfect moment in all of time, just for us.

A sharp pain on the left side of her neck caused her to flinch and try to pull away. Liam left her lips, taking a moment to look into her eyes before trailing kisses across the sensitive skin of her neck until he reached the tender spot. He licked and sucked until all thoughts of anything but their bodies loving one another were banished from her mind. Her fingers wound through his hair, pulling him closer as he continued to lavish her neck and shoulders, making spontaneous combustion imminent. Pulling his mouth to hers, Liam leaned back just as her lips would’ve met his and winked, denying her what she desperately wanted.

“Are you trying to kill me?” she asked, using their mindspeak for the first time.

Liam threw back his head. Hannah saw a mark on his neck she knew hadn’t been there before as he laughed his marvelous booming laugh, making her tingle all over. She reached up, touching the brand that resembled a flame with a scale in the center. As she ran the tip of her index finger over the mark, Liam growled low in his throat. His fingers then found the spot on her neck where she’d felt pain just a few minutes before. Intense arousal flooded her body. Hannah was sure she would lose consciousness from just his fingertips on her mating mark. As she looked into his eyes, he nodded, “Yes, mo chroi’, they match, and if we don’t stop touching them, there will be no stopping us.” He wiggled his eyebrows as she removed her hand from his neck.

“Now you stand right there. I have something I want to show you.”

He winked as he backed away, leaving Hannah to imagine what he was up to. Thankfully, she didn’t have to wait long before the feel of magic, like a million butterfly kisses, touched every exposed inch of her skin. She watched as the man who held her heart turned into an amazing purple dragon right before her eyes.

“Come on over. I won’t bite…much,” Liam teased.

“You better not breathe fire or anything else that might mess up my dress.” She chuckled and then laughed aloud when she realized the weird, almost hacking noise she heard was Liam laughing in his dragon form.

The front of his snout and nostrils were black and led to numerous peaks and valleys, displaying every imaginable hue of purple scales running from his nostrils to his eyes. Hannah marveled at all the different patterns his scales made. She’d only made it as far as his face and already, she was absolutely mesmerized.

The scales around his eyes were much lighter, almost translucent, with a violet hue, and smaller than any other she could see. They were layered in a protective manner that also accentuated the large gold-flecked hazel orb looking down at her.

A row of imposing spikes started at the base of his head, growing in length and width as they ran down the entire the length of his spine and ending just before his tail. Glancing back to his head, she saw he also had two very lethal looking horns growing from his brow ridge and curling back over his cranium for at least six feet.

She walked closer, placing her hand on the side of his muzzle, massaging as she moved towards his wings. They were gigantic, even folded into his sides, she imagined they would cover the better part of the grotto. The thin cartilage resembling veins ran throughout his wings, accentuating the deep purple of his scales. The skin between those ‘spines’ felt like a heavy raw silk to the touch.

Making her way back to the front of the beast, she likened his scales to hand blown glass, but the longer she touched them, the more she could feel their incredible strength. Placing one hand next to the other, she massaged under his jaw, feeling how much softer and thinner the scales were there.

Hannah walked all the way around his head, making her way to his hindquarter and back paw. She laughed aloud when faced with the huge appendage before teasing, “I’m glad dragons don’t need manicures.”

“Very funny, mo ghra’. Remember there are lots more witch jokes than dragon ones, and paybacks are a bitch.”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah, tough guy.” 

 As she rounded his rear end and came to his tail, Hannah was immediately reminded that these creatures were warriors. The tip of his extremely long tail sported a huge triangular shaped spade, what she’d heard the others call tail-spikes, covering the entire surface. One swipe and she knew everything in its path would be devastated.

Walking back to his head, she kissed what she guessed was his cheek, and stepped back. Magic filled the air, and once again Liam stood before her, beaming like he’d hit his first home run and sexier than a man has a right to be.

He guided her to a blanket expertly spread on the grass to the side of the grotto. Once they were seated, he produced a small purple velvet box. “What’s this? Presents? But I don’t have anything for you. You’ve done too much, Liam.” She smiled while looking at the beautiful decorations and thinking of the magnificent ceremony he’d just given her.

 “No way! You are my soul, Hannah Marie. The best part of me. I’ll never stop showing you how important you are to me. If I could wrap up the entire world and present it to you on a silver platter, I would, just to have you always look at me just as you are right now.” He leaned forward and kissed the tip of her nose. “You are all that matters,” he whispered, and the depth of his emotions brought tears to her eyes.

Unable to speak, she nodded and then gasped as she opened the box. There, lying against the purple velvet, were the most beautiful earrings she’d ever seen. Two delicate bells, fashioned from purple dragon scales, hung from petite golden chains, which flowed from emerald cut diamonds that shimmered and shined. “They are absolutely stunning.” She laid her hand on his cheek and sweetly kissed his lips.

“They were my mother’s. I’m sorry I wasn’t able to have something new made especially for you, but I couldn’t let this day go by without giving you just a small token of my love and devotion. I promise to get you something all your own as soon as we get home. I already have Emma working on designs.”

“You will do no such thing, Liam Drennan. I love these earrings! They are part of your heritage, a long, proud lineage I only want to enhance and continue. I’ll wear these earrings every day of my life with pride and try to live up to the woman who wore them before me.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Liam chuckled and then immediately became serious. “Thank you, mo ghra’. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Now put them on. I want to see them in their new place of honor, adorning my mate.”

As quick as she could, she replaced the pave balls she’d worn for her mating ceremony with the earrings Liam had given her. Shaking her head slightly, she smiled slyly as the bells hanging from her ears rang. “You know what happens when a bell rings,” she chuckled.

He pulled her onto his lap and looked deep into her eyes. “Who’s been sharing my secrets? I wanted to show you what happens.” She knew he was just feigning hurt feelings, but played along anyway.

“Mel did, but you can remind me.”

“Oh, I will, Mrs. Drennen. You will never forget that when a bell rings a dragon is kissing his mate.” And then he kissed her with the absolute assurance of all their love-filled tomorrows. The kiss was slow and passionate and so completely enthralling, Hannah simply melted. They continued until both were panting and fighting to stay clothed.

Pulling back, Hannah gasped for air before spearing him with a look she hoped conveyed raw passion and unbridled emotion. Avoiding his advances, she refused to kiss him until she had her say. Placing her hands on either side of his face, she held him still. Mustering all the courage she had, she said the only thing that had been on her mind since they met. “Make me yours, Mr. Drennan. Now and forever, make me yours.”

CHAPTER FIVE

Hannah’s words were music to his ears. There was nothing in the entire Universe he wouldn’t do to make her happy. The need to be joined with his mate and consummate their union had been a living being within him since the day they’d met, but he‘d decided to let her call the shots. The moment she asked to be loved, all plans of a slow mating flew out the window and both man and beast were figuring out the quickest way to get them home and naked.

Grabbing her up, Liam used his enhanced speed and flew to the cottage Rian had given him for the remainder of their stay. A place he and his mate could be together…alone...to love one another as was the way of dragon mates. In less than two minutes, they were standing next to their bed, looking longingly into each other’s eyes.

Wanting their first time as an officially mated couple to last as long as he could stand, Liam kissed the column of her neck, nipped across the apex of her shoulder, and dragged the satin strap of her gown down her arm with his teeth. Kissing his way back to her mouth, marking every inch of her as his and his alone, he kissed her breathless and then repeated his efforts on her other bare shoulder.

The more he tasted, the more labored Hannah’s breathing became, making her breasts a temptation he could no longer resist. Kissing across the neckline of her dress, letting his tongue dip under the satin ribbing to taste the decadent flesh, was a treat from the gods. He loved that she moaned with pleasure and pushed into his mouth, unable to resist the bonds between them. Pulling down the zipper at her side, Liam kissed every inch of naked flesh as it became visible. Hannah writhed under his attention, grabbing his head to force it where she most wanted his touch. “Patience, a chumann. I have a lot of time to make up for.”

She groaned her disapproval as he continued his slow perusal. His mouth watered as he peeled away the cloth of her bodice, revealing her voluptuous breasts and deep pink nipples begging for his lips and tongue. Licking across first one and then the other, he was rewarded with an, “Oh, sweet Goddess, Liam…please…don’t…don’t…” from his mate

“Don’t what, mo chroi’?” he asked against her heated skin.

Before she could answer, he took the nipple he’d been teasing between his lips, sucking and nipping until Hannah bowed her back, holding him to her chest, and screaming his name. His hand kneaded her other breast, working her nipple to an even harder point between his thumb and forefinger.

The scent of her arousal filled the room with the tantalizing aroma of warmed Angel’s trumpets and Hannah, something he would never get tired of inhaling. His dragon pushed and roared in his head, demanding he continue undressing their beautiful mate, both man and beast driven to taste all that she was. Releasing her breast, Liam immediately latched onto the other, pushing her dress over her beautifully rounded hips, letting his hands linger on her amazing curves, loving the fact that his mate was all woman. His fingers stilled as he felt the thin lace of her underwear.

His mouth moved from her nipple, kissing the valley between her breasts, leaving a trail of heat and seduction down her body. Reaching the silk of her panties, Liam inhaled long and deep, immersing himself in Hannah’s wonderfully unique scent. Unable to resist, he knelt between her thighs, tore the gown from her body, and threw the offending material over his shoulder. Her panties received the same treatment, leaving her gloriously naked and open to feast upon as he desired.

Hannah was gorgeous when clothed, but naked she was a thing of absolute beauty. As slowly as his growing need would allow, his eyes worked their way from the bright pink of the polish that covered her toes, up her shapely legs that very soon would be wrapped around his shoulders, to her soft thighs he could not wait to have pillowing his head. Her rounded stomach and curves fueled his extremely vivid imagination and begged to be kissed over and over again.

“Liam?” His name on her lips drew his gaze.

“Yes, mo chroi’?” he crooned, massaging up and down her thighs, sure to brush the outer lips of her pussy on every pass, loving that her hips sought out his touch at every pass.

“Liam…I need…” She gasped, unable to complete her thought as his index finger ran up and down her slit, wet with the proof of her arousal.

“What is it you need, mo ghra’?” he teased, enjoying her ragged breathing and inability to hold still. Liam stared at Hannah in the throes of passion, wondering what he’d done right to have such an amazing mate. He loved that her head was thrown back, eyes were closed tight, and mouth was open wide as she called his name over and over like a mantra.

 “I…oh Goddess, yes…” She wailed as he pushed his finger through her folds and teased the opening, her juices wetting his entire hand. Her pussy contracted around the tip of his finger, attempting to pull his digit all the way into her warm, wet passage. Adding another finger, he began gliding in and out, her honey providing the perfect lubrication. His thumb drew lazy circles around her swollen clit while his fingers continued to work her towards an explosive orgasm. Every few swipes he bent the tips of his fingers and gently brushed the very special bundle of nerves that drove his mate insane.

Needing to taste her more than he needed his next breath, he quickly removed his fingers, chuckled as Hannah whined at the loss, and then drove his tongue into her pussy as far and as fast as he could. Her taste exploded on his tongue, flashes of light bursting before his eyes. He devoured his mate like a man possessed, grabbing every drop of the honey that flowed from her. She tasted of sunshine and home and everything good and right in the world. The more his tongue moved within her, the drunker he became on her heavenly juices. Her hands pulled at his hair. Her legs came over his shoulders and closed around his head. Breathing became almost impossible, and still he consumed all she gave.

He felt her tense just a second before her orgasm overtook her. Screaming his name, she came on his tongue, filling his mouth until her juices ran down his chin. He continued to lick and tease as she came back to earth.

Looking up, he found her smiling a lazy smile and gazing at him through passion-filled, half-opened eyes. His only thought was to keep that exact look on her face for eternity.

His cock pulsed against the zipper of his black pants. Not wanting to leave his place between her thighs, but needing to feel her skin against his, Liam stood in one fluid motion, threw off his surcoat, and tore the black long-sleeved T-shirt over his head. His hands reached for the buckle of his belt, only to be knocked away by Hannah’s.

His eyes flew to hers. “What…?”

“It’s my turn, Mr. Drennan,” she winked. He had no idea how she had moved so quickly, but when she looked at him with such mischief in her eyes and a grin that was perfect parts sweetness and seduction, all thoughts of anything but being buried deep inside her fled from his mind.

Hannah undid his pants, never once losing eye contact. She pressed her body to his, the sensation better than anything he’d ever felt. Her hardened nipples pushed against the muscles of his chest and his mouth watered with the need to taste her all over again. With her thighs pressing against his, she turned their bodies until the bed bumped the back of his knees. His pants slid down his legs, held up by his knee length boots. Liam started to bend, but Hannah’s hands on his shoulders stopped his progress.

Shaking her head, she gently pushed until he sat on the side of the bed and then drove the breath from his lungs as she knelt before him. The look she gave him as she glanced up through the fringe of her long lashes made his heart skip a beat. Needing to be inside her more than he needed to breathe, Liam grabbed her shoulders, attempting to pull her onto his lap, boots be damned. But Hannah simply shook her head once again, denying him the pleasure he so desperately needed. His mate had a plan, one she would not abandon, no matter how close to death she pushed him.

Lifting first one foot and then the other, Hannah removed his boots and then his pants. She ran her nails, painted the same bright pink as her toes, up his shins and across his thighs, stopping inches from his straining cock. Hannah painted figure eights up and down his thigh, the friction of her touch against the smattering of short, dark hair raising goose bumps all over his body.

Her thoughts were completely open to him, letting him feel as well as hear that his pleasure was her only focus. She wanted to please him as he had pleased her and mark him as hers, just as she was his.

Coherent thought became impossible when her lips closed around his cock. The air fled his lungs when she sucked as much of his considerable length into her mouth as she could fit. Lost to their combined thoughts, Liam had once again missed Hannah’s movement. With slow precision that threatened his hard fought patience, she worked him in and out of her mouth, her tongue massaging the pulsing vein that ran from base to tip.

His head fell back as his body shook with the sheer power it took to restrain himself from lifting her off the floor, throwing her on the bed, and burying himself deep inside her. The pleasure she gave him threatened his very sanity.

“You are killing me, mo ghra’,” he sent directly in her mind.

Her answering chuckle was maddening and incredibly sexy. “You can do it, my winged warrior. I believe in you.”

Any response he could have thought of was driven from his mind when she pulled her head back until only his mushroom head lay in the confines of her miraculous mouth. The tip of her tongue dipped into the slit at the very tip, causing his cock to jump and the muscles in his thighs to shake. She continued her exploration, licking all around the ridge while her hands closed around his balls and massaged. Her nails scratched against his ass, adding a whole new dimension to the web of love and seduction she wove.

In one swift motion, Hannah sucked him deep into her mouth, the tip of his cock touching the back of her throat. She hollowed her cheeks and swallowed while her hands worked the base of his shaft. He fell back, his arms keeping him semi-upright as his balls drew tight against his body right before he released into her mouth, his shout of ecstasy echoing throughout the cottage.

As he floated down from the best orgasm of his life, Hannah’s thoughts of undying love filled his soul while she continued to work him across her sweet lips. Needing to feel her skin against his in the worst way, Liam pulled his already hardening cock from her mouth and slid his hands under her arms.

Hannah resisted. Instead, she pushed him onto his back and Liam watched as his mate climbed over his body with the grace of a jungle cat. Her heavy breasts hypnotized him as they swung side to side. Her hips followed in the same seductive dance, making him cross-eyed with desire. The closer she came, the clearer he could see the evidence of her desire as it wet the inside of her thighs. His mouth watered with the need to once again have her taste on his tongue.

However, her hands on his chest and the look in her eyes stilled his movements. Hannah licked her lips, her tongue wetting a trail across the top and then the bottom. Unable to look anywhere but her mouth, Liam moaned in total bliss as she straddled his waist, his straining cock fitting perfectly between the cheeks of her beautiful bottom. With her eyes locked on his, she rocked her hips back and forth, lifting ever so slightly in order to drag his erection through her juices.

Liam growled low in his throat as Hannah lifted to her knees, gripped his cock, and positioned it at her opening. As she slowly seated him within her warmth, her walls quickly adjusted to his girth, fitting around him like a glove. They sighed in unison, the sound of complete bliss a loving embrace between them. Never had two people fit more perfectly together.

He felt through their mating bond how important it was to her to control their first coupling, and Liam resisted the urge to move. Her feminine walls contracted more frequently and with more pressure until he was sure he would embarrass himself.

“I’m going to die beneath you, mo ghra’,” he panted, wheezing with the effort to breath.

“Can you think of a better way to go?” Hannah chuckled, thankfully as breathless as he was.

Finally, right before Liam lost consciousness, Hannah lifted, tightening around him as she raised high enough he feared falling from her tight, warm sex. Instead, his mate descended, rolling her hips when she touched down, starting a rhythm…rising and falling…tightening and rolling…driving Liam and his dragon nearly insane.

His hands cupped her breasts, feeling the pebble of her hardened nipple against his palm as he squeezed her silky skin. The sight of his mate riding him with such wild abandon brought the beast to the forefront, the dragon would no longer be denied. Grabbing her waist, he rolled them until Hannah’s blue eyes were looking up at him. Her legs automatically tightened around him, her hands grabbing his shoulders for purchase as he began thrusting into her.

His control completely shattered as she met him thrust for thrust. The sounds of their flesh slapping against one another mixed with their harsh breaths filled the room. The faster they moved, the louder she moaned. Her hands slipped from his shoulders and he felt the bite of her nails as they slid down his back. His dragon roared and the man arched his back, thrilled he had driven her to such heights.

Her pussy contracted tighter and tighter as his cock swelled and his balls again grew tight. They were both so very close that he would do whatever possible to see them release together. Reaching between their bodies, he rubbed his thumb against her clit. Hannah’s nails bit deeper into his back. She bowed up until only the weight of his body kept her from coming off the bed. She was frantic beneath him as he slammed into her, bumping her cervix on every thrust.

“Look at me, Hannah,” Liam sent directly into her mind as he lightly pinched her swollen nub between his thumb and forefinger. Her eyes snapped to his and together they released. Her pussy contracted around him, holding him tight, milking him of every last drop. When Hannah began to relax, he moved slowly in and out of her, wringing the last of her orgasm from deep within. He smiled as she shivered from his semi-erect cock rubbing against her sensitive walls.

Her eyes began to clear, a satisfied sparkle replacing the clouds of euphoria. His heart clenched in his chest and his dragon purred when she stretched beneath him, the lazy grin of contentment once again gracing her lips. Unwilling to leave the haven of his mate, he rolled to his side, taking her with him until their heads rested comfortably on the pillows at the head of the bed.

It wasn’t long before Hannah cuddled against his chest. Her sigh leaving a path of heat across his cooling skin that caused him to give a tiny shiver. “Chilly?” She chuckled.

“Never with you, mo chroi’, never with you.”

He could feel her thinking, but avoided being nosy and waited patiently, confident his mate would share her thoughts with him. Seconds later, Liam was rewarded for his patience.

“I love you like no other, Liam Drennan.”

“And I love you with all that I am, Hannah Drennan. Eternity will never be enough.”

EPILOGUE

“Out! All of you get the hell out of my sight!”

He watched as the future of his coven scrambled from the room like rats scurrying from a burning building. It was the most disgusting sight he’d ever seen. The last person left the room, slamming the door on his way out, causing the Grand Draoi to throw his cane and anything else he could get his hands on in a fit of rage. When the leader of the Dorcha finally calmed down, he took in his surroundings and was immediately infuriated all over again.

“How the hell did those fucking dragons get the best of me again? It’s just not possible. I’m more powerful than they are. I’m sure as shit more cunning. But at every turn, they take away my chance to regain all that I’ve lost. And this time they almost found the Priestess. Something that I simply cannot allow. She is the only link I have to Thantos and the key to unlocking the doorway to the Underworld.”

He mulled over what to do next. The need to know that Calysta was still secure and being tortured as he’d ordered got the best of him. For the tenth time since securing the hidden bottom level of their compound, he called to Mara.

“Yes, Draoi?” she asked, kneeling as soon as she crossed the threshold of his office.

Smiling at her unwavering obedience, Cleland asked, “Is our prisoner still secure?”

“Yes, Draoi.”

“Is she receiving your utmost ‘care and attention’?” He snickered at his own joke.

“Yes, Draoi.”

He watched the subservient witch kneeling before him, amazed that the spell he’d used to steal her from her family was still holding strong, even after her more powerful, older sister had been within their walls just hours earlier. It would’ve been a true achievement to take two daughters from the sanctimonious Sarah Beth McKennon, but Fate had not been on his side.

He’d known for years that she and her family were white witches and not following the ways of the Dorcha. He had been willing to overlook their indiscretions as long as he could feed off their immense power, but now they were with the dragons. And if that wasn’t bad enough, one of her daughters was mated to one of the winged mongrels.

Not wanting to run the risk of pushing Mara too far, Cleland dismissed her. “Thank you, Mara. You may go.”

“Thank you, Draoi.” Mara stood and backed out of the room without once daring to meet his gaze. It was a level of obedience he wanted from all his followers. A level of commitment that was going to be essential to the Dorcha’s continued existence.

It was time for a new plan. One that would run the dragons from their homelands far away from the power of this ancient land and the legacy Cleland was trying to build. He called to two of his most trusted advisors. If anyone could help come up with a plan that would work, it was Nexus and Siam. They would know how to defeat the dragons and anyone else that got in his way.

“I will not be beaten. This is my Destiny.”

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Alicia crept through the forest, careful not to run into any of her sisters, her mother, one of the other witches, and most definitely, a Dragon Guardsman. It wouldn’t do to try to explain why she was traipsing all over the countryside before the sun had even risen. Not that she was really going anywhere near the entire countryside. In all actuality, her destination was always the same—a cave on the far side of the clearing that had been sealed tight with a huge boulder.

Her daily, sometimes twice daily, hikes had started the day after they’d come to stay with the Blue Dragons. It began with a dream that she couldn’t get out of her head. One that reoccurred every night, twice if she woke up. She tried to ignore it and return to sleep. Always starting and ending the same way. A haunting scene inside what she could only imagine was a deep cave. The scratchy, heavily-accented voice of a man calling her name over and over. He searched for her as if his life depended upon it. She could feel his panic always coupled with his absolute need to find her. It ended just as abruptly as it had begun, and always left her feeling as if she’d somehow failed him.

How do you fail a man you’ve never met?

The worst thing was the dream would then begin again, like a recording stuck on a loop. Every once in a while to break up the monotony, she would catch a glimpse of the side of his face, the slope of his broad shoulders, or if he ran in the opposite direction, his bare feet that were cut and bruised as if he’d climbed mountains without shoes. Unfortunately, nothing that gave a real clue as to his identity.

Alicia had tried calling out to him to no avail. He never answered or gave any indication he could hear her. She’d tried every spell or charm to stop dreams she knew of, and a few she’d looked up when Kyra had let her peruse her library, but nothing worked. Her mystery man still came to her and left her feeling as if she’d somehow failed him.

The dream was taking over every aspect of her life. There were even times it came to her during the day while she was zoning out doing dishes or pulling weeds in their ‘almost living’ garden. When she wasn’t trying to avoid sleeping and dreaming, she was searching for anyone that knew anything about the sealed up cave, just sure that whatever had been locked away in its rocky interior held the solution to her dilemma. 

The only thing the young witch knew for sure was that if she didn’t get a good night’s sleep soon, she was going to go bat-shit crazy, and that was not a good look on anyone.

About Julia

Julia Mills is a USA Today Bestselling Author of the Dragon Guard Series. She admits to being a sarcastic, southern woman that would rather spend all day laughing than a minute crying. She has two of the most amazing daughters ever created, a menagerie of animals and a voracious appetite for reading. She decided to write the stories running through her brain and is having an absolute blast!! She read her first book, Dr Suess' Cat in The Hat and has been hooked ever since.

She believes a good book along with shoes, makeup and purses will never let a girl down. She knows for a fact that all heroes in all the books she has ever read or will ever write pale in comparison to her hero, her dad! She's a sucker for a happy ending and loves some hot sweaty sex with a healthy dose of romance.

She's still working on her story but can guarantee you that it'll contain as love and laughter as she can cram into it!!!!! Dare to Dream! Have the Strength to Try EVERYTHING! Never Look Back!

Julia absolutely adores stalkers so look her up on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/JLakeMills?ref=hl and sign up for her newsletter at JuliaMillsAuthor.com.