Who was crazy enough to break into the triplet's home? I tried to look around Thane's shoulder. But they were so broad that all I saw was the edge of the room. I wanted to see the face of the idiot stupid enough to breach their lair. Not to mention, that feminine voice was so familiar. I had to know what was going on."Who are you and how the fuck did you get in here?" Tag snarled. The former Marine and ultimate protector of the group. My Grumpy.The female snickered. "I've never heard of a deaf dragon. I just told you my name. Breet. Although it's spelled B-R-I-G-I-D. Make sure you get it right." Her accent was wonderful. Along with the sing-song cadence of her voice."Telling me your name doesn't mean shit. Who are you to Hollyn?"Brigid chuckled, the sound musical. "You really need to brush up on your history, love. But fine, as I can see you're big and strong. I'm Brigid. One of the goddesses. Who do you think has been hearing your prayers of late?"My eyes went huge.
Almost as if I could hear the wheels spinning in Stretch's head, I surrendered myself to the idea that she was going to jump on this like white on rice. She'd constantly put the needs of us, our protection, our safety, ahead of her own. Even though it resulted in her being kidnapped.But there might be a particular hiccup based on something Brigid had said. I cleared my throat. "Brigid, you said that the three of us are dragons. Is that correct?"The goddess nodded. "Yes. Of the Old Faith. Clan Ladon was one of the highest ranking clans in Eire."I nodded. Glad to know our ancestors had been top of the barrel back then. "Well, when Hollyn here touched us the first time, each of us had a strong reaction. None of them similar."I looked at Tagan, our middle brother. I wasn't up to date on all dragon lore, but I was pretty sure fangs and sucking blood weren't characteristics of them.Tag's eyes widened before he shut down his expression. He turned to the goddess. "What if all th
I didn't care if the man was her father or the savior of the natural world. I was going to damage him. Especially for treating this moment like it was something on a game show.Sweetcheeks had never mentioned her father in all the time we'd known each other. Granted, it had only been a little more than a week, but still. For him to just traipse in here like this. I was going to shoot him. Hopefully soon. Not kill him. But let him see how it felt to have holes ripped into him without warning.Sweetcheeks shook her head. Her heart was pounding so hard, I could feel it against my chest. Along with the slight vibration of her body.I wrapped my arms around her, secured her to my body like I was the parachute and she was getting ready to jump from the plane.She settled slightly. Pushed herself further into my grip, tugged my arms around her tighter.I was afraid I was going to crush her lungs. But not my sweet girl. No. She was made of sterner stuff.She released a heavy sigh a
I clenched my fists to keep from erupting like a fucking volcano over this petite goddess. I had to count to ten a number of times to make sure I was able to talk instead of shout at her. I swallowed once more, just for good measure. "WHAT THE FUCK DO YOU THINK YOU'RE ABOUT?!"Well, I had tried. She rocked back into her chair, her eyes wide. Right before they narrowed. Stretch made a noise in the back of her throat. She pulled the goddess' attention. Shook her head. Brigid's jaw flexed as she looked back at me. "Hollyn cannot afford for you to have divided attention. Therefore, my fellow gods and I have brought in people to make sure your day-to-day happenings are well seen to. We are doing you a favor. One for which you should be thanking me, not yelling." She stuck her nose up in the air. Stretch snorted. "You think you've done them a favor? I've known them less than two weeks and I know none of them would appreciate that kind of gesture. They are grown men. And whil
I spun around to Brigid. "Fix him! What the hell have you done to him, you spinach tossing lint licker?" I stabbed my finger back at Thane. My beautiful Thane. The spikes of bone that sprang from his spine looked so painful. The mangled web of wings that ran from his elbow to his midback reminded me of a bat-those horrid flying rats we had in the Valley. I looked back at this man who had saved me. My gaze trailed down the rest of his body. He had a spiked tail that curled between the counters of the kitchen. Watching it grow from his body had curdled my stomach. His beautiful brown skin was now shaded with an opalescent sheen as scales covered him from forehead to toes. His short brown hair was an odd covering on a head that was more elongated than square. His fiery golden eyes, those were the same. And they were sparking like he was getting ready to light the whole apartment on fire. "What the fuck?" He stared past me to the goddess who had ruined all of our lives in a ver
I came rushing back out of Tag's suite, his massive medical bag in hand. I hadn't heard that kind of terror in his voice in a very long time. The last had been when he'd been struggling with his nightmares. I would do just about anything to keep from hearing it again. Not to mention the fact that it was concerning Hols. I couldn't lose her. We'd just found her. If I had to lock her in one of our rooms until she finally figured out that we weren't going to toss her aside, I'd be willing to do that. Listening to her thoughts as she sat on top of Thane's new gargantuan body had been like having her shove knives into my eyeballs. Into my heart. She didn't know how we felt about her. Hell, how could she? Unless I was mistaken, none of us had shared anything of our emotions. Only the cravings of our bodies. I wasn't going to let a little thing like pride keep me from pronouncing my intentions. My pride could go jump off a fucking bridge. Fuck, saying I wanted Hols and that I'd
Torrential rain pounded against the glass. I let out the breath I'd been holding. Thank the stars it wasn't more gods and flaming goddesses. As lightning lit the black skies overhead, a shot of power burst through the room. As if I were walking outside in the storm, I felt the crackling electricity of it surge through me as it raised every hair on my body. I gasped as I felt the wounds on my body close and the pain slide away like water down the window panes. Tag and Tove jerked me to my feet and crushed me between them. Another crash of lightning and magic pulsed through the air as I reached out for Thane. As my hand landed on his scales, the room lit up like it was high noon instead of the dark of a storm. My eyes were blinded for a brief moment. Bright stars flickered in my vision as I blinked rapidly. When my sight was finally clear, there was Thane. Naked. Human. Hunger in his eyes. He pulled me from the sandwich his brothers had made of me and up into his arms. I s
"Bring her back," Thane yelled."She's having a flashback, you idiot. You know from my history that we have to wait it out," Tag snarled back. "Get her tucked in, turn the lights off, and leave her alone. She'll come back when her brain is ready."Thane helped maneuver our girl under the covers of his bed. We made sure to pull up the blankets so nothing was tucked too tight around her body, just in case.I climbed off the bed. Looming over her while terror etched its way across her face made me feel even worse than I'd thought possible. We kept screwing up with her. By accident, granted. But that was twice now in less than an hour that her mind had turned traitor.I was sick of it. Sick of hurting her feelings-even without meaning to. Sick of seeing the heartache and sorrow on her face-even if we weren't the direct cause. She should be loved, cherished, treated like a princess. Stopping at the door, I waited while Tag and Thane fussed around her. Seeing her lying there withi
Eleven Months Later"Give me my babies, Grumpy. I carried them. I get to hold them." I held out my arms. My tired and noodley arms. I didn't care if I could barely hold them up. I was going to snuggle with my three girls until we all fell asleep anyways. He slid the one wrapped in purple into my arms. "So bossy, cheeks." He kissed my sweaty brow. "I love it. But I'm still the boss." My daughter's blonde hair and dark purple eyes were a startling combination. Her dusky skin made her even more exotic looking. I blew a raspberry at him. "That's what you think. We've got you outnumbered now."Tove carried over the little girl snuggled in pink. "Yes, you do. We're all going to be wrapped around your fingers. Hell, I already am and I have no problem admitting it." With her citrine eyes and black hair, she was just as pretty as her sister. Thane smiled. He laid the little bundle of yellow on my chest. "I'm right there with you. They're perfect, Stretch. Just like you." Little Miss Sun
One month laterI looked at the little computer screen. Squinted. When that didn't help, I rubbed my eyes. Blinked. Looked at the screen again. "Are you sure?" I asked. The nice dragon smiled at me. "Very sure, my lady."I grimaced at the name. But no matter how many times I told people not to call me that, they continued to do so anyways. I shook my head. "I still don't believe you.""Cheeks, you're pregnant. You can't tell me all the crazy mood swings and eating us out of house and home has been lost on you," Grumpy snapped at me. His face was basically plastered to the little screen. I glared at the back of his head. "If that's so, maybe I should go live with Drace and Finn. They won't bitch at me."He turned with a snarl. "Try it and see what happens."The dragon healer chuckled, the sound a little uncomfortable. "Perhaps we could all calm down. New mothers, especially dragon carriers, need to be calm and happy." I raised my eyebrows in victory at Grumpy. "Yeah. No m
"Where is she? Where's my granddaughter? Hollyn, he was lying. He was lying, baby!" Ari raced up. Tears and fear soaked her voice. "I would never do that. Not ever. You're mine. Just as your mother was mine. I don't trade one for the other. I'd never do that." I looked up at Tove, his blue green eyes smiling down at me. "Think I should talk to her?"He nodded. "You know you want to. I can tell." He gave me a cheeky wink. I narrowed my eyes at him. "Watch it, mister."He smacked his lips to mine. "You just smashed Merlin into light particles. I'm pretty sure you can handle a discussion with your Grams."I smiled hugely. I had smashed Merlin into light particles. His bitchass was no more. My eyes widened. "Shit!" I pushed Tove off me. "We've got to get out of here. Merlin's gone. The Valley could collapse at any second."Ari crushed me into her body. "He was lying. He was lying. I swear to you he was lying." She kept saying the same thing over and over again, her eyes wi
I still rushed forward. I would do whatever was necessary to help her win this. To get her back. To bring her home. Literally blind, I plowed into someone. She gave a hoarse oomph as we smashed to the ground and rolled. "Batman," she whispered. Then she settled her lips on mine. Two more heavy bodies crushed down on us. She inhaled sharply. "Can't...breathe."With a grunt, I forced myself to my hands and knees. Made a cage of protection over her. My brothers rolled off to the sides. "Sorry!" Tag said as he popped back up."Damnit, Tag," Thane snarled. "You good, sweet girl?" I whispered. She nodded. "As long as you're all here, I'm better than good."Soon, she was in our arms in another Hollyn burrito.
I saw his smug stupid face as he smiled up at me.He raised a hand. The energy crackled like pale pink lightning in his palm. His lips moved. The stores of my magic that had been topped off with Chaos' boost bubbled and writhed as I filled them with starshine. There were no longer any stars in my bright Autumn sky. None. Save for one. The sun. Using a thread of Chaos' magic, I linked up to the shining orb that rested high above our globe's heavens. The power shivered and danced through me. An unbreakable link that let me see far beyond what my eyes were capable of. The hint of pink shot from Merlin's hand, straight at me. I steadied myself. Prayed that my magic would hold me true. That I wasn't going to be the reason everyone in my life, in this fucking Valley, died. Just as the spinning, crackling sphere of pure energy neared me, it burst into a rainbow of motes. I hurtled towards the earth and an idea began to form. I had no idea if it would work, but I was out
He dies. Right now. I was torn between screaming in victory and yelling at my girl until I ruined my voice forever. Either way, I was out of time. As we raced up the final small hill, I saw her dart down from her spot in the sky. We thrust through the line of Wardens as she angled herself like an arrow at the man who had caused all of this. "You shouldn't have told me my men were dead." Her voice was in my head, but I could also hear it as if she'd whispered it to me. Shit. I poured on the speed.
I gritted my teeth. Tried to convince myself it was a lie. He wrapped a hand in my hair, yanked my head back. With his free hand, he displayed another screen of some kind. "Watch, pet. Watch with me as you realize your doom." A picture wobbled and then steadied in front of me."My daughter, Hollyn's mother, crying out for me," Ari said as she turned to look at someone.Grumpy. She was with Grumpy. They were both wearing the clothes we'd arrived in. The backdrop of the picture showed the hollowed out remains of the Village. Body and pieces of creatures dotted the ground."She's gone. You said yourself that she was gone. Cheeks told us." Grumpy squeezed her arm. Ari's gaze darted over his shoulder, back to his face. Her blue eyes were wide, scared. She shook her head. "You don't understand.""NO!" I screamed and thrashed against his hold. My heart stuttered in my chest. "No!" She was just like everyone else. Only using me for my power. For what I could give her. She wanted
I sliced through the last zombie that stood in front of me. Wiped a hand over my brow. I hadn't thought there were that many people in here the last time. But I guess if Merlin could raise one, he could raise all the dead people here. Time wouldn't really be a factor. Ari yanked her sword back, spit on the corpse that still twitched at her feet. "And stop touching my shoes!" She hacked off the creature's hand. I snorted, causing her to look up at me. A blush rose over her cheeks. "Sorry. That wasn't very goddess-like."I shrugged it away. "Honestly, I liked it better than the goddessy parts you usually show. A bit more real."She smiled as she looked around the Village. Dead bodies littered the ground like trash in an abandoned alley. "Where is everyone else?" She looked at me. I pointed to the right. "Apparently there were a lot coming in from the standing stones. I'm guessing these were the old Villagers?" I shrugged. Oh well. They'd deserved to die for treating my Sweet
I bent my knees to keep my balance as I soared on Drace's back. I hadn't really been thinking about anything but destroying Merlin when I launched myself towards the sky. Luckily, my bestie had my back. Although...I think I might have been able to fly for a little bit there. I focused as huge, gleaming balls of pure energy were launched into the sky. He's throwing magical grenades, I announced to the dragons. Hold on, Mistress, Drace said. She started dipping and dodging, weaving and winding in the sky as she tried to miss being hit with the missiles of unadulterated power. I lost my balance and landed on my ass between her spikes. Luckily, they felt like feathers instead of the sharp knives of Thane's scales the first time I'd hit those. I clenched my hand around the one directly in front of me as I held on for dear life. I'm going to swoop down and let you off. You're nothing up here but an easy target, corcra. Just make sure you stay alive down there until I can come and