The Jade Dragon (26 page)

Gregori cupped her face and pressed a swift heartfelt kiss to her lips. “You've always been worthy in my eyes.”

“You have the kindest heart of any man I've ever known,” she told him and threaded her arms around his waist and rested her head on his shoulder. She inhaled. He smelled of the Mediterranean and grapes. “So when do we go?”

“Now,” Gregori laughed. “They're waiting for us.”

Alanna sprung from his arms. “Now?” She brushed her hands down over her crazy hair and then inspected her clothes. She was in tight, obscenely short pants and a skimpy top that revealed her lack of a bra underneath. “I can't go like this?”

Gregori shot her an appreciative glance. “I love how you look, but if you like, I'll take you home so you can change.”

Alanna looked about her. The lane was short. The only homes on it belonged to her and her sisters. She nodded. “Let's do it,” and then she wrapped herself once again in Gregori's arms and they dissolved into a million particles.

• • •

Ruth gasped, seeing Gregori and Alanna disappear, leaving only the trace of Alanna's heady perfume. She sorely wanted to run home and screech what she'd just witnessed to Joseph. And perhaps she would tell her husband who knew everything else. Because of Gregori, the Greenwood sisters had entrusted her with their secret and as far as she could tell, had placed no spell over her to make her forget. Alanna had come to her only yesterday, and not once had she asked her to not speak of it. Instead she'd asked, if, when she returned to Raven's Creek, would she still like to teach her French? Perhaps they could have coffee and get to know each other better.

Ruth's heart ached for the guilt Alanna must have suffered all these years. She had been lonely on the inside. Whereas, she, Ruth, had been lonely on the outside. She'd tried to make friends but in her attempts to befriend others, she instead had found herself tainted as the town gossip.

Well, all that was over. She would never reveal what she'd learned. If they trusted her enough to not make her forget, then she would hold their secret safe. They could stick her with a thousand pins and needles and her lips would remain sealed. She made a zipping movement with her hand across her lips and then she giggled.

She had the beginnings of a real friendship. Someone to share her thoughts and emotions with. Her heart felt lighter than it had been in a very long time.

Gregori and Alanna arrived in a burst of blazing light in Gregori's old office. Lyzander was waiting for them. He was old. He didn't fly in crazy circles like the younger ones. He preferred to remain on a perch or a shoulder and watch them flit about. It amused him to see them waste all their energy.

“I am here,” Lyzander hopped onto Gregori's shoulder.

“Lyzander. I would have you officially meet Alanna, my beloved, before we head to the Dragons' Lair.”

Lyzander bowed his head. A small flame erupted from his snout. His head bounced up and it seemed as if he grinned. “My flame is back. Happy times. Pleased to meet the one who has captured my master's heart.” He rose up and landed on Alanna's shoulder.

“Dragonettes are being born as we speak.” Lyzander looked to his master. “We go first to the Belfry. Everyone is there. If we are lucky, we will impress a hatchling to add to our family.”

Alanna couldn't believe it. Spilling out her heart had changed her life so completely. The acceptance of Gregori's familiar warmed her heart and she lifted a hand and ran it gently over Lyzander's leathery hide. “Thank you for accepting me as part of your family.”

Lyzander snuggled himself right up tight into the crook of her neck amongst her wild and tangled hair despite a strenuous brushing only minutes before. His color began to change until it matched her hair and he blended in so totally, he was practically invisible.

“We will be good friends,” he whispered. “Gregori will impress a hatchling. I will be yours.”

Damn it.
She'd sworn never to cry again, but she couldn't help it. A sob burst from her lips, her eyes filled with tears and she blinked rapidly as a swell of wonder rushed through her veins.

She looked to Gregori and the astonishment in his eyes told her he'd not seen this coming. When he spoke his voice was gruff. “Let us hope then that Alanna accepts Marylebone's conditions.”

“Right now,” Alanna told him. “I'd say yes to anything.”

• • •

Marylebone Coven - The Belfry

Aden's familiar, Albert, was a whirl of colors, changing from green to purple and red. He was that excited.

Clarissa stood to one side, leaning over the eggs and nudging them with her snout. She looked up as Gregori, Alanna and Lyzander arrived. “Clarissa wishes Goran was here too.”

Alanna was completely overwhelmed. Not only was she at Marylebone, but before her stood Anton, Eleisha, Zelda, Aden and Rosa as well as numerous others she didn't recognize.

Anton clapped his hands to quiet the chatter. “Goran will be with us shortly. That is, if Alanna agrees to our terms.”

“Yes,” said Alanna. “I agree.”

Rosa moved to stand next to Alanna. “You don't know the conditions yet.”

“If it means Goran can return to be by Clarissa's side when her eggs hatch, then I say yes.”

Rosa grasped Alanna's hand and gave it a squeeze. “Good answer.”

“I mean it.”

“I can see that,” Eleisha observed. She stared at Lyzander on Alanna's shoulder. “I also see you've made a friend in Lyzander.”

Rosa jumped as Lyzander's face and big dark eyes peeked out from behind Alanna's hair. “Crumbs! Where'd he come from?”

“It seems Lyzander has taken a liking to my beloved and he insists I'm to impress a new dragon,” Gregori informed them.

Anton blinked. “Is that right? Eleisha! What say you of that, my darling?”

“I say, get on with it. The eggs are cracking. Lay out the conditions so Alanna is completely aware of what she must do.”

Everyone turned to stare at Alanna. Clarissa's eyes swirled an array of colors. “My Goran will be here soon.” She bounced up and down.

Albert twirled around the eggs and Clarissa, changing from one color to the next in a rainbow of joy. “Albert happy Clarissa is happy.”

“So what are these conditions then?” Alanna asked.

Anton raised a hand. “Silence, everyone.” The chatter stopped and the only sound to be heard came from inside the dragon eggs.

Assured he had everyone's attention, he continued. “There is something no one knows that I feel I must tell you. Goran was being sent to Raven's Creek at the time you accidentally Called him down. He was on his way, as we knew Gregori was about to break free and that you, Alanna, were old enough to bind your magic with his. This all would have been much easier if you had not Called him and we were not forced to bind your magic until the mayhem you created was untangled.” He coughed and colored slightly. “Your magic has been unbound. It is back already, if you were to test it. But … “ He held up a hand when she would have spoken. “You are not here to agree to terms on this subject. There is another request on the table with far greater implications. I have been informed of how your parents died. Such action requires punishment.”

Rosa gasped. Zelda fixed Anton with a glare that would scare the soul out of most people. Anton glared back.

Alanna refused to be cowed even as she felt the color leave her cheeks. She swayed on her feet, thankful for Gregori and Rosa's presence on either side of her and of Lyzander's warm breath against her neck.

She held Anton's gaze with an unwavering resolve. “Whatever you believe my punishment should be, I will accept it.”

Anton coughed. “Yes. Well. Gregori, Rosa, Zelda, and even my Eleisha all believe you've suffered enough. I'm not entirely convinced. They all think highly of you and have championed you to be Called to Marylebone. What say you to that?”

She must have wax in her ears. “What?” She studied everyone, looking for the joke. All she could see was light and hope in everyone's eyes. She dug a finger in her ear and waggled it about. “I'm sorry. I think there's something wrong with my hearing. I thought you said Called?”

“Called, Called, Called,” Lyzander repeated in her ear.

“We have no wish to lose Gregori or his magic. He is the younger brother of my Eleisha,” Anton elaborated.

Alanna knew this because Gregori had already told her.

“His magic is ancient. It would be impossible to separate it from him if he tried to sacrifice it. He's a Dragon of Marylebone. He loves you and stands here today not only as your beloved, but also to vouch for you. As do your sister Rosa and Zelda, Prime Wizardess of the Supreme Council, Wizardess of Winterbourne. If we elevate you to neophyte status, you will become an immortal in training.”

Her legs were wobbly. Her head was buzzing. “This is unreal,” she said. “I must be dreaming.”

Lyzander puffed out a small flame and seared the skin on her earlobe. “You do not dream.”

Alanna fingered the burned skin. Lyzander's snout breathed smoke and he edged out from under her hair. He blinked innocently at her and then one eye winked.

Eleisha stepped forward. “If you agree to abide by all our rules here in Marylebone, then it will be done.”

“Is it really as simple as that?”

“Not so simple,” Zelda added. “My darling girl, the repercussions will be severe if you break a single rule. It is vital you truly understand just how grave your situation is.”

Anton cleared his throat. “One false move on your part, and your magic, immortality, neophyte status will be removed and will never, ever be returned. All of it at once. No second chances. You will be banished forever.”

“Witches' Warts!” Alanna swallowed, digesting the rules and the implications of any impetuous action on her part.

“Warlocks' Toenails,” Gregori responded.

“You don't think I can do it?” Alanna's stomach churned. If Gregori didn't have faith in her, then she was doomed.

“You can do it,” Gregori said. “I will be at your side to guide you all the way.”

His affirmation gave her heart.

“We will not quash your individuality,” Eleisha insisted. “We only ask that you speak to one of us before acting until we are satisfied you have learned your lesson and can operate without our guidance. That you can be trusted implicitly. We thought, that perhaps with your understanding of tragedy, you could be a sounding board — a counselor if you will — for the young who are facing difficulties in their teenage years.”

Alanna was more than just a little astonished. “Me! A counselor?”

“You understand how difficult it is to reveal the truth.” Rosa added her two cents' worth. “You will need to learn how to sit still and listen.”

Some things never change. Rosa was still her bossy older sister and she loved her for it. “Sitting still isn't exactly my forte. And what about sculpting? It's in my blood.” She couldn't begin to imagine never using a chisel and hammer to craft ever again.

Gregori lifted Alanna's hand and raised it to his lips. “There is no need to give that up. You will teach also.”

The impact of what they were telling her hit home. She paled even further. “I'll be too busy to get into trouble. Does this mean I'll have to remain here forever? That I won't be able to live with you in Cabasson or Raven's Creek?”

The idea of being forced to remain at Marylebone without ever leaving sounded like a prison sentence. She was humbled by what Gregori had been through just to ensure her safety. He'd been imprisoned for ten long lonely years. If he could do it, then she could do this for him. “If you insist, I will remain here.”

“No,” Eleisha said as Anton declared “Yes.” They glared at each other and communicated silently.

Finally, Eleisha turned to her. “You will be able to come and go at will. We will place no restrictions on the use of magic to take you between Marylebone and your home. But when here, I will be your mentor. As will Lyzander, by the looks of things. Gregori will be responsible for you outside these walls. You will not perform magic of any kind on your own until we say you can. As you slowly earn our trust, we will allow you more leeway.”

Relief flooded through Alanna. This she could do. To know she had the backing of all these people, that they only wanted the best for her was truly humbling. To have the freedom to come and go was far more than she'd ever hoped for. To have Gregori permanently in her life was the greatest blessing of all.

She turned to him and he pulled her up into a tight all-encompassing embrace. “I don't deserve you. But I'll have you. I accept. I accept. I accept.”

The room erupted into euphoric chatter. Zelda threaded her arm through Rosa's and they performed a little jig on the spot.

Anton scowled. “Remember. One misdemeanor and you're out.”

Alanna nodded. “I understand. It will be difficult, but I can do it. I
will
do it. Gregori and my family are too important for me to consider ever breaking another witch law. You have my word. Witches' Promise.”

“Then it is done.” Anton clapped his hands. “Nathan!” The apprentice standing on the perimeter stepped forward. “Go quickly to Goran. Tell him he is to return to us now.”

Nathan nodded and disappeared less than a second later. In the time it took for the first crack to appear in one of the dragon's eggs, Nathan arrived back with Goran at his side.

Clarissa was ecstatic. Finally, her master was home. She flew in happy circles about his head. Fire erupted from her snout and everyone ducked.

“Clarissa,” Albert called. “Our babies are hatching. No fire today.”

It had been several years since there had been a hatching. All the available Dragons of Marylebone were crowded into the room, hoping they would connect with a dragonnette. Albert hovered anxiously by Clarissa. Victoria, Mistletoe, Lyzander, and several other dragons perched in a line nearby as they waited. Everyone spoke in whispers, afraid to disturb the little one currently breaking its way out of its shell. Just as a small talon hooked the shell and a snout appeared in the widening crack, another egg rocked in the nest.