Opening her mind to say hello, Nessy never got the chance. Peaches pulled a blade from the Magical Ether and took on the She-Wolves, trying to sneak into the fight. The battle was in full swing all over the compound. She felt the presence of more Bobcats than she could count, and they were all fighting the Blackwood Wolves with the valor of true warriors.
It was a truly humbling experience. It had always been Vanessa’s responsibility to fight for others. Save those who couldn’t save themselves. Be the leader she was born to be. Neither she nor Celeste would ever admit it out loud, but it felt good to be the one on the receiving end of being rescued, and they owed it all to Cyrus.
As if he’d heard her thoughts, her Dragon glanced in her direction and winked. The last piece of the puzzle fell into place. Their souls became one. Vanessa was whole. It was everythingshe’d imagined it would be and so much more. It didn’t matter that they were standing in the home of their enemy, fighting for their lives. It was simply perfect.
Starting to smile, she instead ended up screaming, “No! Cyrus! Duck!”
Unfortunately, her warning was too late. During the split second it took Cyrus to look at her, the huge Wolf swept his hand into the ash bucket, grabbed a handful of soot, and threw it into her Dragon’s eyes. Using Cyrus’s momentary blindness to his advantage, the huge Wolf lunged forward, the deadly point of his blade sliding easily into Cyrus’s chest.
Opening her mouth to scream, nothing came out. There wasn’t enough air in the room. Celeste roared. Their unborn baby shoved Magic out of her body and into Cyrus’s.
Shock replaced the look of determination on her Mate’s handsome face. Fighting to stay upright, Cyrus rocked forward and then back before falling to his. The force of the Guardsman falling to the floor pulled the blade from his chest. His blood flowed freely, immediately covering the front of his light gray T-shirt and turning it a ghastly crimson as the huge Wolf raised his sword for the killing blow.
Of their own volition, Nessy’s hands once again flew out in front of her. Fire burst from the fingertips of her right hand while ice shot from the left. A howl unlike anything she’d ever heard flew from her lips, but it wasn’t her voice. It was Celeste, empowered with the same Magic and Power that had been with them through the whole horrible ordeal.
“You. Will. Die!”
The flames grew in intensity. The enormous, frozen shards of ice grew larger and colder. Combining in midair, they shot in every direction, engulfing not only Aamon but all the Blackwood Wolves within its reach. Vanessa had given total control to Celeste and her unborn child, and together they weredetermined to rid the world of anyone who dared to harm Cyrus MacDonald, their Mate and father.
A tall, broad-shouldered Wolf, who looked enough like Aamon to be his twin, appeared at the far side of the room. Vanessa recognized him from Bonnie Sampson’s bar in Valentine and knew he’d been the one who kept tabs on her for his evil brother. Before Celeste could redirect the ice, the coward bellowed his retreat. The Blackwood Wolves that remained scurried like cockroaches from the light. Only the thought of Cyrus bleeding out on the floor kept Vanessa from pursuing the bastard she was sure had saved his twisted sisters.
Racing to her Mate’s side, Vanessa knelt in a puddle of Cyrus’s blood as she touched his throat to check for a pulse. His face was deathly pale and sallow grey. Deep, dark circles painted the skin under his eyes. His breath rattled in his lungs, telling her they were filling with blood. Rubbing his cheek with the back of her fingers, the electric current of recognition flew up her arm, landing deep in her heart.
Then she felt it. Not only the Dragon King with whom he shared his soul, but the baby within her womb, pushing white-hot Healing Magic at the gaping wound in Cyrus’s chest.
The red scales still protecting her body flashed in sync with Cyrus’s heartbeat. Hers skipped a beat, then began again in time with his and the baby’s.
Needing to be outside, away from the conflict and death of their enemies, she raised her head to ask for help. Before she could speak, Carrick nodded. “Yes, of course.”
Moving toward her with the utmost care as more Bobcats took their place in the fight, Luke and Ruairí lifted Cyrus from the floor. Walking out into the moonlight, they laid him on the redwood patio.
Shutting out everything but Celeste, her baby, and Cyrus, Vanessa did as she’d been taught. Calling out to the Celtic deityArtio, she reverently asked, “Dear Lady of the Bears, Blessed Mother Artio, a Child of the Earth calls out to you. Please, dear Healing One, Protector of your folk, the one who has worn the fur and felt the beat of the mighty Ursus heart, wrap those in pain in your healing arms. Bring them warmth if they are cold. Soothe our fears, heal my Mate, the father of my child. I ask you with a pure heart and the love of the woman made for this man by the Universe."
Repeating the prayer, she was joined by Celeste and the warmth and Magic of the babe she carried. Starting for the third time, Vanessa smiled and nodded as Luke knelt on Cyrus’s opposite side and laid his hand over hers that covered the wound.
A light, glowing with the reddish orange of Dragon Fire and the shimmering blue of Celeste’s Ice, sprang to life in the center of Cyrus’s chest. The longer and louder they prayed to Artio, the brighter it grew.
When she could no longer speak past the tears clogging her throat, Luke took over with a prayer of his own. “Oh, Great Ancestors who’ve gone before us, please hear my prayer. Please provide our new sister and the Mate of her heart with the strength they need to heal their wounds. Give her the vision to see beyond the pain to your Light of Healing Power and that of the Great Ursus who looks over and protects her children. Let the love Vanessa feels for Cyrus and the love he feels for her flow, and the love of the baby who will call them mom and dad fill their hearts and souls. Touch each of us that call them Family, that we may lend our strength and Power to their struggle. Help us see the Light. We thank you for your strength, for your guidance, and for your all-encompassing love, for without it we would be but dust in the wind, lost and directionless. It is in your name and that of the Universe, which makes everythingpossible, that I give you my undying loyalty and love. Peace be with you.”
“And also with you,” Vanessa responded, finally able to speak.
“Peace be with you,” Luke repeated.
“And also with you,” A chorus of Bobcats, joined by two Dragons, who’d gathered at their backs, answered.
Looking up in surprise, Vanessa’s heart filled with love and determination as she saw the unconditional love each Shifter standing there had for her Mate and also for her. Celeste pulled back the Ice and replaced it with the warm strength of her thick, white pelt.
Threading her fingers through Cyrus’s limp, cold ones, Vanessa bowed until her forehead touched their clasped hands. The red scales covering her body receded, but the warmth remained as she whispered, “Please, dear Artio, dear Ancestors, dear Powers That Be, please be with us. Do not take my Mate before he knows I love him and meets his child.”
The same warmth she’d felt since the scales had shown to protect her returned with even more vigor. Not only were Celeste and King Dom doing everything in their incredible Power to heal Cyrus, but the Ancestors, the Ancients, and the Powers That Be had answered their call. They were helping to heal her Mate.
Feeling as if she could move mountains, Nessy squeezed her eyes shut and pulled the first vision of her and Cyrus sitting together on the couch in her home. She remembered that very moment in time as if it were happening all over again. It was their first night together– when she knew she loved the crazy Dragon with all her heart.
Looking at his face, remembering that night and all the others that followed, especially the night they made the life growing inside of her, a bright white light burst to life inside herheart and soul. Celeste threw back her head and roared to the Heavens, singing the Song of the Bear for all to hear.
Eyes going to their combined hands, Vanessa gasped when she saw the glowing shadow of tiny fingers intertwined with hers and Cyrus’s. In that instant, she knew what had to be done.
Lowering her lips to her Dragon’s, she unconditionally opened her heart and soul to him. Gone were the pain and the sorrow, the regrets and the disappointments. There was only love. Shocks of electricity had Nessy and Celeste burning with a bright Healing Light and, most importantly of all, unconditional love.
