Dragon Wish (19 page)

happens in a flash, branding onto their minds for eternity. I

believe this is very possible. Is it because you are from Earth

you do not believe thus?”

Not ready to explain or even to look too close at how she

felt for him, she asked, “Did you love your wife?”

His expression changed—hardened and his body

stiffened. With his reaction to her question, she regretted

asking. Lifting a hand, needing some kind of contact to help

him understand she didn’t mean to pry, she reached for him.

He stepped back. A deep sense of loss came over her.

“No. I am only honor-bound to her. The marriage was

121

Dragon Wish

arranged. No links with our souls were involved.”

Seren studied him for a moment. His expression

remained blank, unreadable. “Yet you made love to her. She

became pregnant with your child.”

Pain flickered in his eyes. It flashed for a second to

disappear, leaving the blue unreadable. His grin was tight

and false when he answered. “Two people need not love to

create a child.”

The painful reflection in his gaze gave her a vital piece of

information. He had wanted to love his wife, but for some

reason, the dead woman had rejected his feelings.

Paladin had remained at Seren’s side the entire time

since she had come to this planet. He didn’t take his

responsibilities lightly. “Are you honor-bound to me?”

He raised a hand and touched the tip of her hair. “No. I

keep you close to me out of choice, not duty. Even before I

knew of the child, I wanted you to remain near to me.”

“Why?” She had to know his reasons. Had he experienced

what he’d described? Toward her?

“I wanted you. From the first moment.”

Relieved he hadn’t fallen in love with her, she leaned into

his palm. He slid his hand to her throat. He leaned nearer

and whispered. “I do desire you.”

Seren’s heart accelerated. “I loved my husband. When my

daughter died, the love ended. I often wondered if I even

knew what love was. And now, with you, all I can think of is

having you hold me, touch me....”

She shook her head and stepped back. “But it’s not love

though, it’s lust. Not a good basis for a relationship.”

“You affect me much more than in a physical way. You

lightened my days. Brought laughter and joy into my life

after I believed they had deserted me.”

Her heart clenched. When had her ex-husband ever told

her something so sweet? The answer was simple. Never.

Now, this beautiful man, the one whose child she carried,

touched her to the center of her heart with just his words.

122

Dragon Wish

She blinked away the sudden burning in her eyes. She

wouldn’t cry in front of him.

123

Dragon Wish

She twirled away, hoping to hide how much he had

affected her. “Then my work here is done. Come on. Let’s

enjoy this place without anyone else around.”

Running ahead of him, she sent what she hoped was a

come hither look over her shoulder. He grinned, following at

a slower pace. Sunlight flowed over her while the breeze,

coasting in from the ocean, caressed her face. Coming to stop

along the edge of the bluff overlooking the water, she waited

until he stood next to her.

“You never did tell me why you’re not a king anymore.”

“My brother took the throne in my place.”

This caught her attention. “Why? Is he older than you?”

“No. The oracles declared he would rule, so the throne

went to him upon my father’s death.”

She looked over at him. His face revealed nothing. “Are

you okay with that?”

“We were both raised to rule.”

“Is he a good king?”

“From what Largin has told me, he is acting in a fashion

unsuitable for the throne.” Paladin lifted his gaze to meet

hers. “He would see you dead before our child is born. I will

have to stop him. Not a task I look forward to.”

“I’m sorry. I’ve caused you so many problems.” Her heart

ached for him.

Voices came from the trail behind them. Several villagers

appeared on the path through the trees. Many of them called

out to Paladin. He took her hand and led her to the people.

Seren smiled, concealing her confusion over the increased

attraction for him in her heart.

* * * *

bright circle, she assumed midday had passed. An array of

124

Dragon Wish

meats cooked over a fire pit, strange fruits and vegetables,

some cooked, others left raw, sent her taste buds into

ecstasy. Overstuffed from eating too much, suffering from

the drowsy aftereffects, she leaned against the trunk of a

tree, listening to the insects buzzing in the meadow. Birds

cooed and chirped in the leaves above. Dappled shade

covered the ground around her. Lids half-lowered with

lassitude, she silently admired the golden haired man

stretched out on the grass not far from her. He’d pillowed his

head with a bent arm. Dark lashes hid his eyes so she

couldn’t tell if he slept or just rested. She’d considered

crawling to his side, but with her full stomach and sleep

tugging at her to close her eyes, she’d decided to remain

against the tree, satisfying her desire for him through her

unwavering stare.

A few feet away, Felerian children sat in a circle and sang

clan songs, clapping their hands. Their youthful voices

brought a smile to her lips. She wanted to remember this day

long after she returned to Earth, every second here in this

place, keeping it locked deep within her heart. Never had she

experienced such peace.

One moment, she basked in paradise, the next, Paladin

leapt to his feet with his swords drawn and held ready before

him. Her energy returned with a blood rush to her head.

He faced the meadow with his head back, his eyes on the

sky. Flapping wings brought her focus to where he looked.

From the sound, huge wings. Her vision of Paladin, the

dragons attacking him, flashed through her mind. Fear rose

inside her.

Two gigantic dragons glided over the rim of the bluff

overlooking the water. They coasted for several yards. Blue-

green scales glinted in the sunlight. They extended their back

legs, both heavy with muscles, and landed several yards

away. The ground shook. The leaves bounced in the nearby

trees. Birds took flight, squawking in fear.

Paladin stood like a physical barrier between Seren and

125

Dragon Wish

them. He lifted his right hand, the sword glinting in the light.

“Be gone, Biaotoc. Be gone from here.”

Both dragons lowered their massive bodies to rest on

their shorter arms. Long necks, the scales rippling with their

movement, stretched to the side, their lime green eyes, the

pupils slit, focused on her. An inner lens opened and closed

then stopped.

Low mewls came from their gaped mouths. Those low

grunts, growls, and mewls transformed into words. She

glanced around to see if anyone else heard, but most of the

Felerians, their bodies tense, faces lined with unease,

watched from behind the trees edging the meadow. They

seemed unaware of the dragons speaking.

“We have come to see the truth.”

The words, slow and elongated, slid into her thoughts.

Paladin answered. Her attention caught on him. He

understood what they’d said too. “What truth, Biaotoc?”

The second dragon, smaller than the other, leaned toward

the left, its words softer, more feminine in tones.
“Our king.”

Biaotoc, the male with its much larger body, stretched its

head nearer, its nostril flared with its inhalation.
“We have

heard the King has been created.”

“It is no concern of yours.”

A gust of sea-scented air shot toward Paladin as Biaotoc

reared back.
“Human.”
He twisted his head to the other

dragon.
“A human carries the dragon king.”

Icy shards of fear lashed at Seren’s insides, freezing her

limbs. Someone touched her arm. She tore her gaze away

from Paladin to where long, ebony fingers curled over her

upper arm. She looked up, meeting Leo’s eyes. He squatted

next to her. “It’s okay. They shouldn’t attack.”

“Oh, that’s great,” she mumbled. His reassurance did

little to relieve her.

In the seconds it took Seren to look back at the huge

creatures, the other dragon slipped her head forward.
“I can

smell him. Oh...he sleeps in his human mother.”

126

Dragon Wish

“You will not call to him,” Paladin ordered, taking a step

toward them.

A white blur passed in front of the female’s face. It landed

with a dull thump in the grass before the beasts. Standing on

its lanky hind legs, the lone white drac spread its wings. The

miniature dragon cawed and flapped its wings at the two

larger ones.

Biaotoc’s nostrils widened, his eyes narrowed as he stared

down his snout at the drac.
“You dare order me—leader of

the sea dragons.”

The drac flapped harder. Frightened for the small beast,

Seren jolted upright. The little reptile shooed the larger

dragons away. She raised a hand and the words spilled out

before she thought, “Please...don’t hurt it.”

The male dragon focused on her for a moment then

looked at the drac.
“You have been magic-kissed bold one for

your actions this day. We will leave you in peace.”

He nudged the female’s neck with his nose.
“Come,

Faelee.”

Paladin remained with his back to Seren, swords ready.

The dragons rose, their wings stirring the grass along with

the flowers. A moment later, they took flight.

The drac hopped in place a few times then wobbled to

Seren. It flopped down onto the ground next to her, lying on

its back. Rear legs stretched out, the front ones hung over its

chest, leaving the smooth white belly unprotected.

Without giving any thought to the matter, Seren touched

the drac’s stomach. She marveled at the soft texture of the

scales. “He’s so pretty.”

Glancing over his shoulder, Paladin grunted. “He is a she.

Do not grow attached, they do not survive long. Few live to

be dragons.”

Surprised at his uncaring comment, Seren glared at him.

“I don’t know. She has a ton of courage. She’ll live. Maybe

even become
the
great white dragon.”

The tension faded from his stance. He turned to her and

127

Dragon Wish

slid his swords into their scabbards before he responded.

“Perhaps. Her actions reveal strength.”

Seren scratched at the corner of the young female

dragon’s jaw. Low, deep moans rolled from the drac’s throat

and one back leg bounced. Laughing, Seren passed a hand

over the downy neck to pat her narrow chest.

Paladin squatted next to her, bringing her attention to

him. “We must depart. Come, the storms will return before

long.”

Disappointed, Seren nodded and stood, brushing the

pieces of debris from her rear. The little drac rolled over and

came to her feet, tilting her head toward Seren. With a laugh,

Seren motioned with her head, speaking to the drac. “Come

on, you can ride home with us.”

They told the villagers goodbye and promised to return

soon. Seren turned to walk down the path to the village.

She’d miss this place and its peacefulness.

The pat-pat of the drac’s feet came from behind her.

Surprised the little beast had listened when she’d told her to

come, she glanced at the drac. Her lips stretched over

pointed teeth in what might be called a smile. Seren giggled.

Turning to Paladin, she asked. “Can we keep her?”

He looked at the drac, shaking his head with a grin.

“Dracs do not belong to anyone. They are free to come and go

how they please. From the look of her though, it appears she

might stay for a while. There must be a purpose for her

appearance here. I for one do not want to anger fate by

driving her away.”

Seren took his arm with a grin. He cocked a brow in

question. She touched her cheek against his shoulder and

murmured, “Thanks.”

They hurried to the village, where they mounted their

well tended dragoons. Seren turned in the saddle for one last