Only For Her Dragon (Dragon Guard Series Book 6)(17)

“The story goes…Their Elders met in one of the most ancient and holy places of our kin. They prayed day and night for years and years, asking the Universe to give them a solution. The night before the Joining Ceremony in which the all-powerful mage was going to combine the souls of the Dragon Kings with the Knight of their choice, the Elders’ prayers were answered. Two lovebirds entered the cave where they were holed up. Now, this cave was deep in the earth, surrounded by miles and miles of rock, not some place birds would just happen into. It was a true sign from the Universe.”

“The birds landed on the altar in the center of their Prayer Circle and started to sing. If that wasn’t enough, words appeared in the air above them, as if handwritten with a quill or whatever people used back then, while the birds continued to sing. It was the words that gave the Elders and all dragon kin by extension, hope. It said…”

“’From the human race, women with great power will be born. Not the power to maim or destroy, but the power to love, to heal, to uplift, and to rebuild. The beautiful ones will be created as the perfect complement for the men who take up our spirits. One woman destined for one man, to live on Earth and in the Heavens, joined for all times. When the time is right, they shall discover one another. Fate will not be denied in this matter. The two will become one. The woman will provide the man and the beast with love, light, and hope. Man and beast will be protector and provider. Their partnership will be real and mutual. Together they shall provide heirs that will allow our great race to continue for all eternity.’”

Charlie let all Aaron had said sink in. Could it be true that Fate and the Universe had designed her for him and him for her? Could everything that had happened in her life bring her to this moment with this man? Did she even have a choice in the matter?

That last question pissed her off. Charlie Gallagher was not a pushover, no one, not even Fate or the Universe or whoever, was going to tell her whom she was supposed to love. Letting her anger take over, she stopped on the path and asked, “I get no choice? We get no choice? Our free will has been taken from us? We’re just supposed to skip off into the sunset because it’s written in some old book somewhere?”

The minute the words were out of her mouth and she saw the look on Aaron’s face, she wished them back. Replaying them in her mind, she knew she’d let her mouth get ahead of her brain. Sure, it was what she meant to say, but even she had to admit there were about a thousand better ways to say it.

She had to give Aaron credit for a quick recovery and the amazing control of his temper. Fire flashed in his eyes and his brow furrowed, but never once did she think he might turn it on her. There was just a faith inside her that said he would never do anything to hurt her or even upset her if he could help it. That made her think about what he’d said and she went to speak, but he cut her off.

“Let me start by saying…you always have a choice. There is no way anyone, including me, will ever force you to do anything you don’t want to do as long as I draw breath.”

She heard a slight accent that hadn’t been there before. It made her think of rolling, green hills and foggy moors. It all fit with what he’d told her. Even though he’d paused, he still was able to stop her when she began to speak…again.

“Secondly, let me ask you something…when Sam explained mates to you, what did she say?”

Thinking back to her conversation with her friend and remembering the immediate jealousy she’d felt at the way Samantha had talked about Lance, Charlie was almost embarrassed to answer, but she did it anyway. Throwing back her shoulders and faking a confidence she didn’t feel, she answered, “Sam talked about the Dragon Holy Book and said that she just knew from the moment she laid eyes on the big goofball that they were meant to be together. She said she felt it in her soul. But it wasn’t really what she said; it was how she said it. I could feel how much she loved him.”

She stopped and watched, thinking Aaron would react or gloat, but he didn’t. He just stood there, looking at her for several long seconds. When he spoke, she could hear more of his brogue and could see the rising conflict within him, only she didn’t really know what it was all about.

“How did listening to Sam talk about her mate like that make you feel, Charlie? In here?” He reached across and laid his fingers over her heart for just a moment before stepping back and waiting.

Contemplating not answering, or at the very least just giving him some flippant answer, Charlie opened her mouth and quickly shut it again. She knew there was no way she could lie to him, even if it was by omission. Something within her heart simply would not let it happen. Looking at her feet and kicking the dirt, she sighed and said, “I was jealous.”

When she looked up, Aaron was still just standing there, but this time a tiny bit of the twinkle had returned to his eyes. It was nothing like usual, but it was so much better than what she’d seen just a moment ago.

“Did you think of me?”

Boy this guy just doesn’t give up!

Throwing her hands in the air and starting to pace, she all but screamed, “Yes, dammit! Is that what you wanted to hear? I thought of you!”

Stopping in front of him, her fist on her hip and finger pointing at his face, she went on, “And before you ask…Yes! I think about you all the time! And yes, you make me crazy! And no, I’ve never felt this way about anyone else! But most of all, I’m scared shitless, okay?”

She gulped in a breath to continue, but never got the chance. Aaron had her in his arms and was kissing her until her toes curled and she couldn’t think straight. Then, just as quickly as it had begun, it was over. Her feet touched the ground. Cool air touched her body where his had just been warming it, and her lips ached at the loss of his.

Slowly opening her eyes, she found him standing in the same spot he’d been before, looking as if nothing had happened. The thought of punching him in the gut crossed her mind, but she knew from experience ‘rock hard abs didn’t come close to describing his amazing body.

I’d probably just break my hand.

It was then she noticed the slight bulge in the crotch of his Levis. She didn’t even try to hold back her evil little grin. If her brains had to be scrambled, it was good to know she had some effect on him. Still, there was no way she could let him off the hook. “What was that about?”

“I wanted to kiss you, so I did.”

“But why?”

“Because I could and because you admitted to thinking about me. You could’ve lied or deflected or even walked away and refused to answer, but you didn’t. You told me.”

“Oh, well, if I expect you to be honest with me then I have to be honest with you.”

“Just another of the hundreds of reason I’m sure you are my mate. You have honor. Something that is rare in this day and age.”

“You sound like an old geezer, there, dragon guy. Be careful, I might mistake you for a dirty old man.” She snickered and wiggled her eyebrows before running off down the path.

It was time for a tension breaker and she could think of nothing better than running, although ‘exercise’ was usually a four-letter word in her book. She could hear his footsteps pounding the ground behind her and knew he was just messing with her. He could move faster than she could track, she’d seen it with her own eyes. If he really wanted to catch her, he could.

Hearing the sounds of water crashing against rock, Charlie realized she was deeper in the woods than she’d ever been before and slowed to a stop. Aaron came up beside her, not even having the decency to pretend to be out of breath, while she thought she might need a tank of oxygen.

“Everything okay there, Flo Jo?”

“HA HA HA!” She wheezed. “You could at least act like you’re winded.”

“Why would I do that? You’re the one that took off running.”

“Pfft…Whatever.” She rolled her eyes and walked towards the water, just knowing he would follow.

The water roared, the air felt heavier, and the foliage appeared denser, a darker green, the farther they walked. Aaron grabbed her hand and electricity flew between them. She shivered at the contact. He smirked, “Just another sign we’re meant to be together.”

She started to argue but knew it would be an effort in futility. He was determined to convince her they were mates. And deep down inside, she knew what he was saying was the truth. She had thought of nothing but him since that first day in the hospital. When he’d kissed her the night of Devon and Anya’s wedding, it had been a dream come true. She’d never felt anything so right. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to be with him; it was that she wanted it to be her choice. Thinking that some crazy, centuries-old lady with long, grey hair and wrinkly skin was sitting on her cloud with her crystal ball deciding who loved who pissed off the hotheaded, raised by an Irishman, Charlene Gallagher.

Stopping dead in her tracks, she looked straight ahead, and shouting over the noise of the water, asked, “Is what we feel real? I mean the whole Destiny, Fate, Universe thing is new to me. Doesn’t make sense.” She tapped her temple and spun to look at Aaron. “How do you know it won’t change? You won’t just get over it one day? Wake up and say…next!”