Resurrecting Her Dragon (Dragon Guard Series Book 13) (3 page)

“He explained to the angry male leaders that the women of the Clan of the Sun were the stronger of the sexes. They were to be revered, not treated as second-class citizens. He pointed out that the women were the ones who had always protected their homes and kept their families safe, while the men did little more than spend their days hunting and creating wars.

“You see, over time Lugh had come to love the women of the Clan of the Sun like a father loves his children and decreed that each daughter born into the clan from that moment forward would indeed be a child of his. He said his blood would flow through their veins and each would be imbued with a fraction of his power. Not only would they be able to heal with their tears, but they would also be given the power of flight and the ability to change forms. It was the largest blessing any clan had ever received from their god.

“Your ancestor, Emmaline Featherstone, became the first matriarch of the Clan of the Sun. She was fearless and sought to see her clan grow and thrive. But the men resisted. They didn’t care that everything she was doing had been decreed by Lugh and was for the betterment of their people. They wanted things back as they had been and when that didn’t happen, they packed up and left the mountain, leaving only the women and their daughters to fend for themselves.

“The Sun God foresaw the extinction of his beloved clan and refused to stand idly by. He asked the Universe for favor upon his chosen daughters that they may find mates from other clans. That these strong, vital women be given a chance to thrive and live out the destiny he had planned for them.

“In Her infinite wisdom, the Universe granted Lugh’s wish, but with a condition that every five-thousand years, the matriarch be given a test. That her loyalty to the light be challenged. It would be the one time she would have a choice of mates and her choice would determine the way of the world. Lugh was confident in the goodness of his daughters so without a second thought, he agreed to the Universe’s terms.

“So you see, my little Claire Bear, you are the first to be faced with this choice. When the time is right, you will know. I know in my heart of hearts you will make the right choice. You, my sweet girl, are destined for greatness.”

The memory ended there and Rory was flung back into the present. No longer in Claire’s mind but still able to see her racing across the countryside. He watched the confident smile on her face fade into a determined scowl as she glanced at the dark clouds getting closer, growing darker, dropping lower, dogging her every mile. They’d taken the shape of a great winged beast with the head of an eagle and the tail of a lion. The darkness he’d seen in her thoughts had become a reality, and it was gunning for her.

A smoky contralto that could only belong to Claire drifted through his mind a single heartbeat before the engine of her Soft Tail roared with renewed vigor and the mysterious matriarch disappeared in a blaze of fire.

“Hold on, dragon man, I’m on my way.”

C
laire couldn’t help but chuckle at the irony of her situation. Here she was racing across the countryside trying to beat the poison threatening her mate’s life, while a madman hell bent on world domination, who by the way, thought
he
should be her mate instead of Rory, was hot on her heels. Oh, and the asshole only wanted her for her power. Thought he could steal it from her or, even sillier, make her use it to harm others.

Guess I never have done anything the easy way. Why start now?

She’d known of the existence of both her mates for quite a while; one dragon, one griffin. One the representation of everything good and right in the world. The other a power-hungry, megalomaniac with serious mommy issues who represented the worst the world had to offer. It was the classic struggle of good and evil. The one she’d been trained to conquer from birth.

The Leader of the Clan of the Sun often wondered if this was what Lugh had envisioned when he created his race of exotic birds in his own image. Claire knew they were born to be leaders, born to create not destroy, born to shine the light into the darkness, born to be the Celtic God’s likeness on earth. It was common knowledge that throughout the ages the phoenix had been responsible for restoring balance in times of evil and destruction. That they and they alone had been given the power to heal through their tears and would always know where they were most needed. He’d given them incredible power with incredible responsibility, and the matriarch had to wonder if he’d known even after making her decision that she would be faced with a race for her mate’s life.

Wouldn’t surprise me. God or not, he’s always one step ahead.

From the first spark of recognition the choice had been clear. Claire had been walking along her mountain, enjoying the sounds of children playing floating on the light breeze that kissed her freckled cheeks, when a feeling of pure and utter bliss filled her being. It was unlike anything she’d ever known, and with too many centuries to count under her belt, that was saying something.

Pure unadulterated joy, followed by a happiness that made her feel complete, exceeded all the tales she’d either been told while growing up or read in the chronicles of their clan. It was as if she could fly without her wings, could see the path she was meant to take and the future that was meant to be hers. It was all crystal clear for the first time in her very long life.

Lost in thought, Claire walked aimlessly for hours, enjoying the visions of her imminent happiness. Hours passed before she finally found herself in the sacred Meadow of Peace—the place that held the ashes of her ancestor. Making her way to the stone bench surrounded by the orange and red blossoms of the Firebush plants her mother had planted for Claire’s grandma, the matriarch sat in silence, enjoying her newfound feelings.

She could see her mate with his deep brown eyes and curly red hair just as vividly as if he were standing before her. He was tall—at least six-foot-four—which was perfect since she stood almost five-foot-ten inches in bare feet. She ogled his broad chest that she couldn’t wait to rest her head upon. Her body tingled thinking of how his muscled biceps would feel wrapped around her.

The image shifted and she could see him walking along a mountain pass. Claire had to fan herself as she watched the muscles of his well-toned thighs push the legs of well-worn jeans to their limits. As if that wasn’t enough to make her heart race and her palms sweat, the phoenix damned near lost consciousness when he turned around and she saw his bum perfectly encased in denim. Her fingers flexed at her sides with the need to explore every inch of his magnificent body. 

The sounds of bees and hummingbirds flitting from one blossom to another in a game of hide-and-seek pulled the matriarch from her thoughts of deep brown eyes and curly red hair to thoughts of a darker nature. Wanting to stay with Rory just a bit longer, Claire let her head fall back and her eyes slide shut. She reveled in the all-knowing power of the Sun and sighed as it called to the other half of her soul; the being who longed to soar on its fiery rays just as the phoenix of old had done.

One creature called to the other and from one heartbeat to the next, the hard body of the man of her dreams was replaced by the brilliant shimmer of royal blue scales and an ancient strength that stole the breath from her lungs. As the image crystallized in her mind, Claire could feel the raw power of Rory’s dragon as he blazed across the sky. Every dip and turn of his massive body gave different perspective to the perfection of the creature designed to protect all that was right and just in the world. Her phoenix pushed against the restraint of her mind wanting...
needing
to fly alongside the mate of her heart.

Her skin tingled as soft tufts of down replaced the hair on her arms and her fingers stretched toward her phoenix’s natural talon shape. Claire didn’t resist the change as she’d done when she was younger or push it as she’d had to do when in battle earlier in her reign as matriarch. No, for the first time she simply let the thrill of embracing the one with whom she shared her soul rush over her. She could feel the heat of her fire building within and looked forward to painting the sky with its flames.

Completely immersed in the change, Claire was caught unaware as the vibrant gold and red of her flames flashed to the deep hues of purple and blue. Her eyes shot open. Anger and rage chased away the happiness she’d only just found. Her feathers retreated. Goose bumps covered her skin. Her hands returned to their human form as she jumped to her feet and ran toward home.

Dark clouds filled the sky. Thunder rolled and lightning clashed. Frosty gusts of wind chased her up the mountain as petals and leaves that had been ripped from their plants dotted the landscape. Claire’s jaw ached from her grimace as she threw open the door of her cabin.

Racing to the old wooden trunk at the foot of her bed, the matriarch retrieved the bronze blade that had belonged to every Leader of the Clan of the Sun since the beginning of time. Turning on her heel, she sped out the back door and headed straight into the storm.

I’ll show you who’s boss, buster.

Unlike the dragon, the griffin knew of her existence and wasn’t wasting any time letting
his
intentions be known. He wasn’t waiting for the phoenix to make her decision or even bothering to ask the question. Malick Slade was just as ruthless as his reputation stated. He was on a seek and possess mission, with Claire the prize to be won.

He was the creature mothers warned their children about. He was the wolf in sheep’s clothing. Malick Slade was looking to steal not only her soul and her freedom, but her power as well. Had Claire been a lesser being, she was sure she’d have been fooled by his rakish charm and roguish good looks. He was tall with wide shoulders and a tapered waist; more of a swimmer’s body than a footballer’s.

In every picture she’d ever seen of him, he wore his thick ebony hair in a style that made him look laid back but also put together. Dressed in the latest fashions definitely meant to impress whoever he was with, his smile was that of a shark and his black eyes soulless. He looked like the well-to-do millionaire, but what bothered her, what not even photographs could hide, was the evil that tainted everything he touched. 

Standing in the clearing behind her house, the matriarch closed her eyes and cleared her mind. Wrapping her fist around the bronze blade engraved with the spear of Lugh, Claire let the words that would call upon the power of the ancients fill her heart as she sliced through the palm of her hand.

I seek the power of the Sun, the power of the gods, the power of the ones that came before me, and the power in my undying belief that what I do is for the good of all.

Squeezing the blade with all her strength, Claire threw back her head, opened her eyes, and shouted, “Be gone, Malick Slade. Take your darkness far from these lands. Let it be known that neither you nor any of the Griffin Clan are welcome here. I revoke the treaty with our clans and close the borders of territory belonging to the Clan of the Sun. Let my commandment be sealed with the blood of Lugh himself as it runs from my veins.”

The last word was still warm on her lips when bolts of lightning shot from the sky. Electricity filled the air. The ground trembled beneath her feet. The smell of burning foliage and scorched earth filled her senses. Not willing to give into the griffin’s intimidation, Claire stood strong, staring into the eye of the storm, seeing the hatred and contempt bleeding from Malick’s filthy soul.

“Bow down, Claire. Give in to Fate. We are destined to be together. Destined to rule the world,” the griffin’s deep, confident voice boomed from above.

Chuckling sarcastically, Claire shook her head as she responded, “We? There is no we, Malick. There never has been nor will there ever be. Go home. You’re embarrassing yourself.”

Malick roared, “How dare you speak to me like that? You are my chosen mate and nothing you say or do can change what will be.”

Unwilling to listen to anymore of the griffin’s bullshit, Claire let go of the blade and turned to her left. She’d taken exactly one step when lightning struck the ground right in front of her foot.

Malick growled, “I will not be dismissed. You will submit or pay the consequences.”

Fury unlike anything she’d ever felt flared to life. Deep, dark crimson colored her vision. Acting on pure instinct, pushed beyond all reasonable thought, Claire spun around and raised her hands toward the Heavens. Without any thought, phoenix fire flew from her fingertips. Malick howled in pain as the mere image of the malevolent griffin burned from the sky.

Claire continued her assault until ash and soot covered the ground around her. Falling to her knees, spent from expending such a great amount of power, the matriarch trembled as tears ran down her face. She’d known there’d be a fight. Had been ready for it for years, but nothing could’ve prepared her for the unadulterated rage she felt from what should’ve been a simple metaphysical contact with the griffin. It only confirmed what she’d known all along; she would never stray from the light.

Months passed and Claire settled into a new routine that included learning all she could about the dragons. Specifically, Rory O’Reilly. Research had never been her strong suit. The gods knew she’d only ever done just enough of her studies to be allowed to run and play with the other children. More than once she’d been grounded for half-done homework and daydreaming instead of studying. But this time it was different. This time, more than bad report cards and a new pair of skates were at stake—this one was for all the marbles.

Starting with her aunties, the Elders of all the Aviary Shifters, Claire had been surprised at how little information they had about the dragons. It seemed they were just as mysterious and secretive as the phoenix. Never one to give up, the matriarch called in tons of favors and made more promises than she probably should have just to get her hands on any real information about the clan that was her mate’s.

Auntie Lillian, an eagle shifter, had spent some time with a small clan of dragons in her younger years and shared the story of their existence. Claire was amazed to learn of the sacrifice both dragon and man had made to ensure their mutual existence. It had been a choice, not something they’d simply been given from the gods or inherited from their kin. An honest to goodness choice made by Rory’s ancestors to do what was right. To make the selfless decision to help not only an entire race but the whole world. Claire was filled with pride to know the Universe deemed her worthy to be the mate of one with such honor.