Loving the Dragon (Vintage Collection)

“Of course it has.”

Anthea’s blue eyes darkened. “Do not lie to me Micah. I have disappointed you, I know. But I am still your mother. And I know you’re not in love with her.”

“I could grow to love her.”

“Perhaps in time. Right now your heart is so full of hate for me and for your father and uncle and even your brother, that you cannot begin to experience love.”

“And whose fault is that, Mother?”

“I fear I had much to do with it, but you chose the path of evil and hate, Micah. Not I. Do you really think I would have chosen it for you?”

“You chose Aidan over me.”

“I did not. Your father left with you. Josiah died soon after our coupling because I refused to leave your father. I knew the day would come when he found out. Even if he hadn’t found out when Aidan’s scales appeared, he would have eventually known when the two of you pursued the same mate.”

Kristen listened intently. Clearly she still didn’t know the whole story.

She turned to Micah. Tears wet the whites of his eyes. The bond deepened, and Kristen started to pull away from Aidan to go to him.

But something held her back. She stood still, though she ached for Micah—for the little boy whose mother had left him with an angry and betrayed father.

“Why didn’t you come for me?” Micah asked. “Fight for me?”

“Your father enchanted you. I could no longer sense you. Don’t you think I would have done anything to have both my sons with me? To this day I cannot sense you. But I do have one gift left, and it’s with my life that I give it to you.”

“What are you talking about, Mum?” Aidan asked. “I won’t allow you to give your life for anything.”

“I’m an old woman, Aidan. I’ve only kept myself alive this long with enchantments, and I did so for this very reason. So that both of my sons would live.”

She pulled out a dagger from the golden bag at her side. “I give my life for my sons, gladly. With the spilling of my blood, Micah will be free of his bond to Kristen, and she free of any ties to him. Micah, you will be free to live and find a love of the heart.”

“Mum, no!” Aidan cried.

Micah lunged forward as well, saying nothing.

But both were too late. Anthea plunged the blade into her heart.

“God help me. I couldn’t choose between your fathers. I adored them both and was equally drawn to them. Kristen, you are stronger than I. You and Aidan will have a wonderful future, thanks to your strength of heart and character. And Micah, though a dragon has but one soulmate, a mate of the heart is just as precious, and in many instances, more rare. You will find her…”

Time seemed to flow backward as Anthea’s hair changed from white to raven and her skin from wrinkled to rosy and fair. She slumped to the ground, blood soaking the silvery fabric of her cloak.

“Call 911!” Kristen cried. “Do something!”

Aidan shook his head. “It’s too late.”

Kristen’s heart broke as Anthea’s body faded into to the ash surrounding them. A moment later, a swift breeze blew what was left of her into the air.

The ground seemed to shift, and Kristen knees buckled. She dropped to the ash.

“Baby!” Aidan fell over her. “Are you all right?”

“Yes, I just… It’s like I got the wind knocked out of me.”

She sucked in a breath, and a sharp pain lanced through her chest. Then it disappeared.

Micah stood over her. She looked up at him, at his green-blue eyes devoid of feeling. The invisible bond between them was gone.

She was free. Free to love Aidan and have a life with him.

“I guess it worked,” Micah said.

Aidan turned to his brother while holding Kristen in his arms. “How do you feel?”

“No bond. It’s gone.”

Kristen nodded. It was true.

“And I see you’re still alive,” Aidan said to Micah.

“Well, we won’t know if it works for a few years. It took Dad a little over two years to die without our mother.”

“But the bond is already broken. You’ll be fine.”

“Yes, it is.” He sniffed at Kristen with disdain. “I’m glad to be free of you. You were never my type anyway. I’m out of here. If I never see either of you again, it will be too soon.”

He walked away, the ash clouding around his legs. A few moments later he shifted, and the black dragon flew over the mountaintops and disappeared.

Kristen gulped. Micah’s words shouldn’t have hurt, but they did. They sliced into her. She’d always been plain, and she still was. Of course a man as spectacular as Micah wouldn’t be interested in her unless he was under some kind of spell.

And what of Aidan? Was it the same type of thing?