Page 77 of The Soul of the Dragon

ChapterThirty

Ian

Scotland

“Ifeel like we’ve been through these books a thousand times.” I shoved the latest one, a tome of ancient alchemies, back on the desk and rubbed my fingers across my eyes.

“We have gone through them a lot.” Cordelia set her own book down and crossed over to my desk. She moved behind me and began rubbing at my shoulders.

“Too much time has passed. If Isaac and father’s plan to break the curse hasn’t worked by now, I’m afraid it’s never going to happen.”

“And would that be so bad? We have an incredible family and community here. And I’ve watched you agonize over what happened with those two and how hard it was for you to understand, let alone forgive. But you did. Whatever Isaac’s faults, he gave your father what he needed in the end. I don’t think we need more than that to be happy.”

A smile pulled at my lips. “I just don’t want their deaths to be in vain.”

“They’re not. I may not have known either of them all that well, but from what I’ve read and what your mother has seen in her visions, all they really wanted was for their family to be reunited. And that we accomplished despite the curse.”

I nodded. “I don’t even think of the way Isaac and I fought with each other anymore. Nor do I linger on the memories of all the trouble he caused. But I do miss him.”

She pressed her lips to my head. “Of course you do. The two of you shared everything growing up. He is your twin, and we both know that comes with a special bond. Hard or not, it shaped the man you’ve become.”

I twisted in my chair and pulled her onto my lap with a squeal from her. “Do you think if he’d made it through the veil and found the amulet it would have changed anything?”

“I think the what-if is not the point anymore. The thing is they had an idea, albeit a wild and risky one, and they were willing to risk their lives for their family. Even Isaac, who’d seemed to care about no one but himself had gone along with your father’s plan. That’s what we should focus on, don’t you think?”

“Perhaps you are right. Trying to break through to another realm seems ridiculous at best and foolhardy at worst.”

“Of course I am,” she giggled. “If only the rest of you realized it more often.”

“Ahh. Do you not think your King appreciates his Queen enough?” I smiled down at her as I palmed her breast through her blouse to discover her nipple hard and eager for my touch.

“I didn’t say that,” she whispered.

“Oh, but you certainly implied it well enough.” I pressed my mouth to the small indent of her neck and savored the sweet scent of her skin.

“Never,” she panted. “I only want you to be happy.”

I pulled back and stared into the dark depths of her eyes. Had my quest to figure out my brother taken too great of a toll? Mother’s visions were too vague to obtain any clear answers, but I’d had my own dreams about Isaac that had led me to an understanding of where his head might have been.

Every one of us had suffered in our own ways through those years and I was in no position to judge my father or my twin for their actions.

“I am happy. More than any one man has a right to be.” I touched her silky lips and thanked the Goddess once again for sending this woman to me.

“If anything, your resentment should be focused on me. If not for the evil works of my coven, none of this would have happened.”

I growled, loudly, filling the room with the warning I felt to my soul. “I have never, nor would I ever blame you for what happened. I know you know this, but if you need me to say it again, I will. You were an innocent pawn and had no culpability in their actions. What they did to you was as reprehensible to what they did to the rest of my family.”

“I know but—”

“There is no but in this discussion. I won’t have it. My issues with my brother have persisted for years, and what happened on the night of our wedding only brought everything to a head. It had to happen.”

Her gaze softened, and if not for the fact our children were afoot, I would have bent her over this desk and shown her once again how thankful I truly was for having her in my life.

“We should do something to honor your brother. Your father has that beautiful cliffside monument.”

I sat up straighter, pushing my mate to her feet as I realized what a perfect idea that was. Swatting her gorgeous ass playfully, I smiled up at her. “Have I told you recently how brilliant you are?”

A wide smile crossed her face and some of the tightness I’d carried in my chest lessened. If I couldn’t tell Isaac in person that I’d come to understand the sacrifice he made, the least I could do would be to speak it to the Goddess in front of the entire kingdom as my witnesses.

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