Kieran stood, his hands on his hips, staring at his mate. “Humpf! Nice save,macushla.”
Grinning, Logan replied, “I thought so. Now, you want to tell me why you were running in the dark?”
“Oh, crap! Where’s Fionn?” asked Kieran. “Hey, why aren’t you protecting him?”
“He’s waiting for us. C’mon, you need to tell him what the problem is,” Logan said, taking his mate’s hand and leading him to the clearing.
Pacing back and forth after Logan left, Fionn didn’t understand why he had to shift back because it wasn’t “safe” for him.Safe from what?Or maybe it’s a ‘who’?Snorting in frustration, he was getting pretty pissed being told what he could or couldn’t do. Suddenly Kieran’s screams pierced the night, stopping him in his tracks. Looking off in the direction Logan had disappeared and unsure what to do, Fionn took a step, then two, then stopped. Deciding to throw Logan’s cautions to the winds, he ran down the path leading to the marina, fearing something terrible had happened. Calling on hisdragon, Fionn opened his mouth, shooting a long flame in front of him to light the path, hoping it would frighten away anyone who was trying to hurt his friends.
When Logan heard the hiss, he knew what was coming and threw Kieran to the ground, covering his mate’s body with his, just before the flame flew over them. After the fire passed them, Logan jumped up, yelling, “Stop it! You nearly roasted us alive!”
Skidding to a stop in front of Logan, Fionn yelled, “What the fuck are you doing in my way?”
“Why the fuck are you here? I told you…no… Iorderedyou to stay in the clearing,” shouted Logan.
Raising his face after Logan rolled off him, Kieran found his mouth full of dirt from getting pushed to the ground. Spitting out several mouthfuls, his anger grew, listening to his friend and mate going at each other. Wiping his mouth on his sleeve, Kieran stood, hands on his hips, tapping his foot as he waited for them to notice him. When it appeared that wasn’t going to happen, he hollered, “Both of you shut up, NOW!”
Startled into silence, two pairs of guilty eyes stared back at him. “That’s better. I don’t know what’s happening, but I swear, the next person to scare me, or push me into the dirt or roast me is going to face my wrath…and trust me, you don’t want to do that.” Glaring at both of them before pushing between them and marching up the path, Kieran looked straight ahead, ignoring the apologies his mate was sending him through their mind link.
~/~/~/~/~
Reif locked his car, well hidden by a copse of trees and, selecting the path leading to the top of the small mountain, headed out, breathing in the clear, cold air of the Highlands night. After kissing Brian, he was amuddled mess of conflicting emotions that drove all other thoughts from his mind—including why he came to the loch in the first place.
Trying to make sense of them was impeded by his beast’s demand they return to his mate and the pain he felt from their bond. But what was most disconcerting was what happened when they kissed…no, when I kissed him.He knew the sea serpent was his mate, at least he thought so, because how his body reacted every time he scented him. However, none of that explained the bond that had been forged with his mate—just with a kiss.
The last time one of his people found a mate, like his father had, was too long ago for him to know anything about it. His only hope was that one of the elders could explain the bonding and why it was still hurting, even though he had kissed his mate hours ago.
Finally reaching the mountaintop, Reif gazed out over the dark, quiet valley below, inhaling deeply and, once he was certain he was alone, called forth his beast. The cracking and snapping of his bones echoed off the surrounding mountains, fading only when his shift was complete. Then, he launched himself in the air, catching an updraft, soaring skyward into the night.
~/~/~/~/~
When they reached the clearing, Kieran swirled around, facing his mate and friend. “I forgive both of you because you were trying to save me although I didn’t need saving and all I got from it was a mouthful of dirt, stains on my favorite pink jacket and a hole in my jeans…not that it doesn’t look fashionable but it wasn’t supposed to be there. My boots are scuffed, and I can feel my face has smudges on it, there are twigs in my hair and my gorgeous hat that matches my jacket perfectly has snags in it. Do you two know it will be impossible to find another hat because I bought it on sale when it was being discontinued although why anyone would want to discontinue such a beautiful hat is beyond me, but they did, so now I don’t have one.”
“Babe, I promise I’ll find you another one,” Logan said.
“Maybe someone could fix it,” suggested Fionn.
“I bet Zane can find a new one on the web,” Logan said.
“I hope so,macushla,because it is my favoritest of all time,” replied Kieran.
“So, can I shift now?” Fionn asked Kieran.
“Not right now, Fi. Brian’s gone to bed since his mate isn’t coming tonight so I thought since it isn’t safe for your dragon to fly here, maybemacushlacan shift and give us a ride up to the mountains where we don’t have to worry about anyone seeing you and, by the way why didn’t you tell me you’re a white dragon?”
“You never asked,” Fionn said. “Is that why I can’t shift here? Someone will see me?”
“If Brian’s mate’s not coming, then everyone can go home,” said Logan.
“Yes, and then we can take Fi some place no one will see him,” Kieran said smiling at his friend.
“I suppose we can do that,” agreed Logan, “but if he’s as rare as you claim, I’m not too eager even to do that.”
“STOP IT!” shouted Fionn, “I’m right here so talk tome. Ki, what’s the problem with my dragon?”
“Fi, I didn’t say there was a problem, only that it wasn’t safe,” Kieran said. “I think your uncle knows and that is why he wants custody.”
“I don’t get it, why?”
