As I stepped closer to the shimmering, I could feel the pull of energy. The magical essence of that glowing space was strong, even in a land built on the Gold. Closing in on it, I could finally see through the glow to find a dais in the center. The pedestal was intricately carved with circular patterns, starting thick at the base and getting thinner as it ascended. On top was a circular plate, curved slightly on the sides. I zeroed straight in on the jewel in the center.
A jewel?
I wasn’t sure what this was meant for, but it was certainly exceptionally beautiful. I reached for the shimmery bauble, its red tones reminding me of Chrysandra’s eyes. The moment my hand closed around it, I heard her voice in my head.
This is the blood of our ancestors forged into a stone of Faerie. It’s our offering in the battle, our repayment for all of the dragonlings and supernatural lives lost. Embed this pendant into the heart of the shifter, break the stone, and the shining ones’ blood will shatter the bonds between him and his army. It will destroy the curse.
More than one voice joined hers, and I knew the other shining dragon ones were with her again. The tinkling chorus of voices sounded a lot like the ones which had spoken to me in those first few moments after I’d slept with Braxton, quite possibly the very moment I conceived our child.
I still worried about what tough decision they were talking of, the one which could cost the supe races everything? Dammit. I was so not cool with this shit in my life, but at least I had a solid weapon to use against Larky. I would take great pleasure plunging my hands into his heart, especially now that I knew everything he’d done, everything he’d planned. Impregnate me and then give away my child. I was not only going to shove my fist into his heart, I was going to tear out that shriveled blackness and feed it to the wolves.
The voices were gone now, and I knew they wouldn’t be back. I held the pendant gently, worried that I’d accidentally break it. As I brought the jewel closer, I was astonished at the multiple tones of red in its depths. It was more than evident that this was no ordinary pendant. A chain dangled from it, long enough that I could easily slip it over my head and allow the jewel to fall and rest between my breasts. My own energy took a second to adjust to its power. Josephina shifted closer to the front of my body, toward the pendant. It called to us.
Warmth washed along my spine then and I shivered as Braxton’s energy tugged at my soul. I felt his presence everywhere, all the way to my toes. As I turned to meet my mate – who had just landed and was shifting back to human – there was a flash of light from the dais. By the time I looked again there was a large table in its place.
“Hells yeah.” I shouted, fist pumping a little. Gift two was freaking awesome.
Before me was a massive table spread with more food than I’d ever seen in my life, piles of deliciousness, a plethora of colors, textures – and the scents … shit, don’t even get me started on those. I wiggled side to side like a confused puppy. I didn’t know which choice to make. I was dying to wrap myself around my mate … but there was food … so much glorious food. Braxton laughed then, and my attention was instantly a hundred percent on the sexy dragon shifter. I would never have a single doubt about how much I loved Braxton. If he could draw my attention from food when I was starving, there was nothing that could steal me from him.
I growled as my gaze dragged slowly over him. He was naked and freaking delicious.
Actually we were both naked and alone … whatever could we do with our time? Ignoring the food, I stepped closer. He wore the wildness of this land across his tall, muscular body. Arms hanging at his sides, palms facing toward me as if he was somehow drawing me closer with his energy, I wanted to go slowly, to savor this moment between us. We’d so rarely been alone since our mate bond kicked in. The chain and pendant swung gently against my body. I paused, just briefly, my smirk teasing as I drew out the last moment before we touched.
A grin cut across his rugged features and those dimples knocked the breath out of me. “Get your sexy ass here, Jessa.”
He lifted his arms and my legs scrambled forward. I wanted to be home. I needed him more than anything. I launched myself at him, and with both of his hands under my butt, he lifted me with ease. Our bodies were flush against each other, his hard and unyielding, mine a touch softer.
“We’re going to have a little chat about all of this disappearing you’ve been doing lately, babe.” He was being light, but I could hear the tendrils of worry. “But first I think I’m gonna need a second here just to hold you.”
Braxton did not like feeling out of control. He wasn’t used to it and there were no real precedents for him to learn how to deal with it. This whole dragon marked thing kept shooting up obstacles that he couldn’t protect me from. It was throwing him off his game and I wouldn’t be surprised if he didn’t explode into a mass of angry energy soon. Well, another mass. It sounded like he’d been plenty angry when I disappeared into Faerie.
I hugged myself closer to him, taking this single moment of togetherness. Very soon I would have to tell him what I’d learned from the shining dragon queen, and some of it was life-changing stuff, including the fact that we might be pregnant, and that Larky might be planning to steal our child and give it to the evil ugly-ass Faerie demons.
There were no pregnancy tests this early for shifters. Generally we waited until the first full moon after our fertile period, and a witch would call to the gods asking for an answer.
Shit, I couldn’t even imagine being pregnant. I was sure to screw the poor kid up. I had no idea how to raise a regular supe, let alone one with the power to control all five races. I’d have Braxton though, and my pack. We’d all just have to do the best we could and hope the kid was not a little asshole. Plus, we couldn’t screw them any worse than Larky, who had zero values, or the shadow spawn, who were kinda on the evil side.