Dragon Wish (49 page)

which held her, protected her, and carried her. In silence, she

fought against the growing fear of losing the one constant on

this planet—Paladin’s tenderness. He walked to the door,

and she followed him out the room.

* * * *

Flocks of dracs, rainbow streams, flew in tight bunches

on either side of the ship. They hawked, shrilled and danced

over the strong air currents. She held Legion to see them. He

batted his hand and kicked his legs in excitement.

Lior’s island drew closer. Sorrow rose in Seren,

remembering the mighty creature whose influence brought

her to Avaris. Lior made it possible for her son’s existence. In

her heart, Seren thanked the great white dragon.

The eroded sandstone cliffs along with the giant pillars

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grew larger with the ship’s approach. Most of the passengers

stood at the rail near her, gazing at the tiny land mass.

“Seems strange,” she murmured, positioning Legion so

he rested on her shoulder. She patted him on the back in a

gentle rhythm. Coos and tiny happy gurgles came from him

every few seconds.

“What?” Leo shifted from one foot to the other.

“Last time I came here, I was scared to death.” She

smiled, glancing at him. “This time, I’m still scared.”

He nodded in understanding. “I suppose I’d be the same

way.” He stood quiet for several moments. He cleared his

throat before he faced her. “You sure you want to go back?”

Surprised at his question, she hesitated. Was this what

had bothered her these last few days? She’d wandered the

deck both day and night, soaking in every second of her time

left on Avaris, wanting to engrave each part of this new world

in her heart so she’d never forget. She looked over Leo’s

shoulder to where Paladin stood at the helm. He, too, stared

at the island.

No emotion showed on his features. Ever since they’d

departed from Durfalin, he’d kept his own company. She

tried to decipher what he thought of her leaving, but he

revealed nothing, except polite courtesy. She started to go to

him several times during this voyage, but her pride stood in

the way. He hadn’t helped either, avoiding her by attending

to one task or another. Besides, if he wanted her to stay, he

would ask.

She mentally groaned. Yeah right, after all the times she

went on and on about going home to Earth. He’d never come

to her. He believed she desired to leave Avaris above

anything. And he was right.

She frowned. Wasn’t he?

“Of course it is. That’s all I’ve thought of since I came

here.” Her smile faltered. “This place isn’t for me. I’d never

completely fit in. You even told me how hard it was for you.”

“But in the end, I did. You could too.”

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Unable to argue with his logic, she stayed quiet. The ship

flew alongside the island. The dragons waited. She counted

six, the golden one absent. She glanced at Ren. He stood with

his feet braced apart, one hand holding his staff. He stared at

the empty pedestal where the great beast should have sat.

Disappointment flashed across his face. She wanted to

step to him and reassure him, but it’d do no good. He didn’t

believe the dragon existed. Nothing she said would change

his opinion. He had to see it with his own eyes.

Just on the other side of the wizard, Paladin oversaw the

placing of the off ramp. Wood thumped against the stone.

Seren jumped at the sound. A few more minutes and she’d

return home. Moments from now, she’d never see him again.

Her chest tightened. Her eyes burned but she fought to keep

the surge of overpowering emotions inside.
I have to stay

strong.

One sailor loped across the ramp. He tied the end off with

a length of rope around natural protruding rocks. When he

finished, Seren’s gaze flew to Paladin. He gripped the railing

with one hand, the knuckles white. His chest expanded and

he released his hold to turn to her. Their glances met and

locked. Her breath froze in her chest. Hope sparked within

her. If only he’d ask her to stay. She was more accustomed to

this world. If only...

He inclined his head and held a hand out. The moment

fled in the salty sea breeze. Instead of going to him, she went

straight to the ramp. Swallowing the sorrow growing in her

heart, she hurried across the wood planks to the solid ground

on the other side. Her resolve weakened once she stepped on

the island. She looked over her shoulder. He followed, his

jaw clenched, the muscle ticking with each step he took.

For the best.
Her grandmother loved to say those words

whenever something failed to happen. Well, in this case the

old lady was right. This was for the best. Paladin had been

reinstated as king. The dragons had accepted the role

humans played on Avaris, and Arcane, the mystic dragon had

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been all but destroyed. Now she was leaving. All for the best.

She waited for him to pass her and take the lead. He

walked toward one of the caves, going to the center where

Lior’s cave was situated. Ren came behind them, Leo after

him.

The small party worked their way through the narrow

tunnel until they came to a ledge across from the huge slab in

the middle of the island. A wide gap with the sea below

separated them from it. Ren stepped to the edge. He

mumbled a spell. Glittering blue light formed a bridge

spanning the distance. Without hesitating, Paladin moved

onto it, motioning for her to follow.

Why didn’t he hold her? She needed his arms around her.

She yearned for just one more kiss, a touch, anything to

prove he still cared for her.

She moved onto the lighted bridge. After she reached the

slab, she brushed by him. The slight contact with his body

weakened her knees. All her concentration centered on

staying on her feet and not collapsing from the stress. Legion

cooed. She sniffed back the rising tears. Wrong thing to do.

She drew in a deep breath of sandalwood, his scent. It would

haunt her for life.

From the dark inner sanction of Lior’s cave, a smooth-

cheeked young man emerged. His entire body shook, the

trembling carried through to his white robes. By his looks, he

appeared no more than fifteen. She glanced over at Paladin.

His face softened, and he smiled at the boy, extending a hand

to him.

“Sachel, it is good to see you.”

The boy nodded in response, gripping Paladin’s hand. He

sneaked a quick look at her. She smiled, hoping to put him at

ease.

Paladin motioned at her. “Seren, this is Sachel, my

uncle’s youngest son. He has trained under Bask’s hand since

he was a small child.”

Heart softening for the boy, she nodded and said. “Glad

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to meet you.”

“My lady.” He bowed low before her. “I hope my service

here will be a blessing to you.”

Oh, yes, she liked him. Polite, courteous, nothing at all

like Bask. Still, a twinge of grief went through her over the

loss of the great wizard.

Looking from her to Paladin, Sachel almost stuttered with

his next question. “Shall we begin?”

Unable to resist, she stared at Paladin. He swallowed and

inclined his head. He showed no signs of asking her to stay

with him.

“Very well. Step to the edge, and I will inform Melina the

conjunction between the great dragons may begin.” The boy

turned. He leapt into the air, glistening white wings appeared

on his back, unfurling and carrying him to the new clan

leader.

So this was it. In the next few minutes, she’d be home in

New Orleans. After a while, this world would be like a dream

with some good and bad parts. Her throat tightened. She

blinked to fight the rise of tears. Damn it, her nose burned.

She clenched her teeth, determined not to let Paladin see her

cry.

After a brief conversation between the young wizard and

the mighty clan leaders, Sachel descended to the slab. He

stood separate from the rest of them with his staff held

before him. The dragons leapt away from their pedestals,

soaring in a circle the same way as when they’d purified her

blood.

So long ago with a flood of events between.

The dragons came to a stop, facing Sachel, with the black

beast on bottom and each of the others halting above the one

in front until, Melina hovered at the top. Stacked in a

multicolored tower, they released their fiery breath at the

dragon stone tip in Sachel’s staff.

A light beam reflected from the stone, coming to rest in

the center of the slab. Brilliant white light lengthened and

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widened across the area. In the center, a door appeared.

Heart racing, excited over seeing Earth again, Seren took

a step to the door.

Two more steps and Legion cooed. She glanced at him.

His gaze, so clear and innocent, held hers.

“It’s okay. We’ll be home soon.”

She walked the remaining distance without stopping.

Reaching the door, she hesitated. The golden knob sparkled

in the gleaming light.

All she needed to do was grasp and turn it. Simple

movements, but she froze. Memories assailed her with

images from her past.

Her wedding and Mandy’s birth. Wonderful thoughts

ending in tragedy. First with her daughter’s death followed

by divorce. With no immediate family, she and Legion would

be alone. They’d manage. She had the confidence to realize

this. But would it be enough?

What if someone noticed Legion’s powers? What would

happen to him—to her?

In the middle of these tormenting thoughts, more images

came to mind of her time on Avaris. The picnic in the

beautiful meadow, dancing aboard the airship, meeting so

many new people, and seeing the unique places on this

planet. New friends, most were closer to her than even her

distant blood relatives back home.

Paladin
.

How could she leave him? She loved him.

Struggling to catch her breath, she glanced over her

shoulder. Her gaze found him. He stood stiff, staring at her.

A single tear slid over the curve of his cheek.

Her heart shattered.

“I can’t do it,” she whispered.

His stride devoured the distance between them. His arms

encircled her, pulling her against him. Holding tight, he

murmured against her hair. “You want to return. It’s what

you’ve desired.”

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“No.” She buried her face into his shoulder. “Not any

longer.”

“Then what? Tell me.”

She lifted her gaze to meet his. Vision blurry, she sniffed

and tried to smile. “For you to love me.”

“You have that. Can you doubt it?”

She shook her head. She slipped an arm around his waist.

“If I leave, I’ll never see you again.”

“Probably, but I am willing to let you go if it will bring

you happiness. When I first married, I tried to make my wife

happy, but she spurned my attempts. With you, though, all I

desire is for your peace and joy. Nothing for myself, all for

you.”

She smiled through her tears. “And that’s a good thing for

you?”

“Always.”

“I guess you’d better tell them I’m not going. Maybe one

day, when Legion is older. When he can control his power.

We’ll go visit my world so he can see it.” She hoped so. Her

child was a part of both Avaris and Earth.

“I see no reason why this cannot be.” Paladin leaned away

and stared into her eyes. “I do love you, Seren.”

Those words stopped time for her. They shone from his

eyes with pure truth. Her heart caught with the realization he

did love her.

He kept an arm around her shoulder and turned to the

others waiting on the side of the slab. “Enough, Sachel. The

dragons can release the spell. She has decided to remain with

us.”

Within a second after Paladin made this announcement,

the dragons broke free from the tower, spinning off. They

circled to land on their pedestals.

Leo moved to meet them, a wide grin stretched across his

face. “You won’t regret it. I was hoping you’d stay. Even to

the point that I almost made a wish.”

“Hush,” Seren said. “Only one wish per decade and

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Paladin used it.”

She glanced at him. Placing a hand against his neck, she