“But, nothing. If the Assassin wants to go, we’ll figure out a way for him to go. Kayne was one of his. I can’t get in the way of that. Like Kell said, not a damn one of us can argue.”
Laying his hand on the gate to Drago and Alicia’s house, Rian took a quick deep breath before pushing it open then headed to the front door and knocked. Alicia opened the door almost immediately with a knowing look on her face.
“Kyra, right?” Rian could do nothing but grin. His brother’s mate had been right to call ahead. It was something Rian should’ve done himself and would’ve, had worrying about his mate not become almost crippling in its intensity.
“Yeah, she called ahead. I told Drago you were coming with news of Kayne but that’s all. He’s out back on the porch.” She opened the door all the way and motioned for them to come in. “Head on out there. He knows you’re coming.”
Stopping in front of Alicia as the others filed in behind him, Rian touched the young witch’s shoulder before asking, “How is he, really? Getting any better?”
Alicia smiled and patted Rian’s forearm. “He’s better. It’s just gonna take time, lots of time. He was doused in black magic for over a century. His dragon left his body and even if it was only for a moment, it took time to build up their combined magic to the level he needed to begin healing. There is improvement every day but the stubborn old dragon wants to be back to full strength yesterday.” She laughed. “He’ll get there.” Then patting his shoulder, she motioned with her head towards the back door. “Now, get out there and tell him what you came to tell him. It might be just what he needs.”
Rian nodded, winked, and forged ahead. It was now or never. The Dragon Leader needed to tell the Assassin what he knew and get Drago’s buy-in on the trip to hell. There was no doubt the older Commander would be going with them; Rian just needed to know Drago could handle the journey and not come back any worse for the experience.
“’Bout time. What took y’all so long?” Patting the chair beside him, he commanded, “Sit down. I want to hear it all.”
Smiling, they all sat down. Rian began by pulling out the journal and handing it to Drago, who immediately opened to the bookmark and started to read aloud. The Dragon Leader listened to the Assassin read the same words he’d been looking at every day for the last ninety years, amazed that somehow this time they sounded different…almost as if life was being breathed into them.
As Drago read the words, he was attacked, bespelled by evil wizards, separated from his kin, and then imprisoned in human form, there was a slight hitch in the Assassin’s voice and a long exhale before continuing. Alicia had just stepped onto the porch, apparently feeling her mate’s distress. Her hand upon his shoulder seemed to calm the Commander and allowed him to get through the rest of the entry.
“Okay, I’ve read the book and have questions but this one here,” Drago pointed to Rory, “his thoughts are so loud I’m about to go deaf, so go ahead and tell me about Audrey and how she got herself locked in hell. Then you can tell me how you kept all this shit a secret for as long as you did and why the hell you didn’t tell me,” the Assassin smacked the book with the flat of his hand, “right away.”
Rian scowled at his youngest brother before giving Drago the details of Audrey’s stint in hell as the Chancellor’s plaything and then began to explain, the best he could, about his secrecy surrounding the book. “I really don’t have a good excuse for my actions, except to say I was in too deep. It was a decades old confidence I’d never shared with anyone but Eleanor, and that was only because I thought she could help. In my defense, I had no idea who the dragon was the text spoke of because essentially, you and yours were dead. It never in a million years occurred to me we would find you alive, let alone the possibility that there were others of your Force in the same situation.”
Drago’s intense stare never wavered. It felt as if he were boring a hole straight into Rian’s psyche, judging the honesty and integrity of every word the Dragon Leader spoke. Unwilling to let the Assassin think that Rian was being anything less than honest, the Dragon Leader stared back.
“All right, we all know you’re big bad Dragon Guardsmen, now cut the shit and figure out what we do from here.” Alicia’s exasperated tone broke their battle of wills and had the entire group chuckling.
Reaching for his mate’s hand, Drago smirked, “She’s a keeper, isn’t she?”
“Reminds me of the one I have at home.” Royce grinned.
“And this is why I fight so hard. Why I’ve kept the secrets and done the things I’ve done. Because I want this kind of relationship with my mate. Don’t I deserve it? Even more than that, doesn’t Audrey deserve to live a normal life, to be happy, to be out of the Underworld, and to be free?”
Rian paused and looked from Drago to Royce and back again. “Don’t we deserve to have what y’all have?”
Drago nodded and while handing the book back to Rian, agreed, “You damn sure do, son. I know your bullheaded father would’ve done the same thing.” He sat back and pulled Alicia into his lap, kissed her temple, and then finished. “This trip to hell is yours to command. I offer my sword, myself, and my dragon to you in any way I can.”
Rian saw the determination in the Assassin’s eyes, but it was the unconditional support that Alicia offered her mate that hit him square in the heart. Sitting there watching the couple, all the Dragon Leader could think of was Audrey and how much he longed to have her in his arms, safe and whole, and out of the clutches of Adramelech.
Lost in thought, Rian was nowhere near ready for the slap on the back that almost sent him out of his chair and onto his knees. “You stepped in it this time, asshole, didn’t ya’?”
Shocked that the golden dragon from the MacLendon Force had already arrived, all Rian could do was stand and hold out his hand while agreeing, “I damn sure did. You here to kick my ass or help me out of it?”
“I was thinking a little of both. More helping than kicking, but you know how I am?”
“Yeah, we do,” Royce was the one to answer and slap his brethren on the shoulder. “Y’all made good time. Weren’t expecting you for another hour or so.”
“I hurried it as much as I could with Doc on my back.” He paused, hugged his mate closer to his side, and kissed her on the top of her head before continuing. “I figured you’d run off halfcocked and get into even more trouble or try to leave me behind. I know how you are.” He laughed. “Seems like raising hell has become your specialty. Who knew?” Lance raised his eyebrows and tilted his head, the look the smartass was known for on his face.
Admitting defeat, Rian simply nodded and grinned. “Yeah, I’ve been a bad dragon. Now, you done giving me grief and ready to hear what’s going on?”
“Ready as I’ll ever be. But can we take this discussion to Royce’s house? Kyra is waiting for Sam and that is one little witch I don’t want to piss off if I can help it.”
“No worries. Kyra said to send her over. She’s got food ready and a fresh pitcher of tea.”
Samantha, Lance’s mate and one of the two human doctors the Guardsmen had been fortunate to have as part of their clan, stood up on her toes, kissed her mate soundly just as he was about to abject, and then said, “Stay. Get this all figured out. I know my way.”
“Hey, Sam, mind if I go to? I’m sure you boys can take care of yourselves, and it’s been ages since I’ve talked to Kyra.”
