Page 70 of Lahaina Noon

She cried harder, “Please, Bri, no, please, no! I can’t lose you again!” Her heart ached, and she knew it was about to shatter all over the floor.

He smiled and began to fade. “Go to him, Bridget, I love you.” He was gone, and she was standing in the suffocating dark, unable to see anything around her.

“BRIAN!” she screamed. She screamed his name over and over again until her throat was raw. She collapsed, sobbing until she could cry no more. She pulled her knees to her chest and lay curled up, waiting for Death to take her, too.

She lay there so long; time had no meaning. Shivering in the cold and completely dark, desolate place of her grief, the blackness so thick she could feel it like a hand on her skin. Eventually, she heard the rustle of leaves in a cold wind. A chill breeze blew over her. She looked around but still couldn’t see anything. She strained to hear a whisper on that wind. Maybe it was Death… finally coming for her. She searched for the source.

Fight,the whisper said.It is for you to finish. Fight now.

“I can’t,” she whispered back. “I have nothing left.”

You have everything. Now FIGHT, Bridget. I command you. FIGHT!

Bridget slowly stood and looked around shivering. “Hello?” she whispered. She thought she felt warmth behind her and turnedtowards it. She heard the flapping of large wings. She couldn’t see them, but she knew they were black and gold.

“Vaughn,” she croaked, her throat sore and clogged. The warmth became stronger, and she thought she could see some light. “Vaughn.” she tried harder. She heard a faint roar. “Vaughn!” she screamed.

Suddenly, she was enveloped in the soft feel of her mate’s wings, and the warmth seeped into her bones, into her heart. The pieces came back together, and she was whole again. She gasped;now, how do I get out of here?

“She wakes,” said Circe, also known as Silver Hair. She wiped Bridget’s forehead and smiled at her patient. She wasn’t the Goddess known long ago by that name but could trace her lineage there. The magic was strong in this one; she knew Bridget would come back. She looked over at Drake, a more haggard-looking man she’d never seen. When his Bridget had dropped to the floor, his roar had nearly brought the mountain down on them. There were still shifting cracks throughout the structure as it settled.

Baltrus had been foolish to ever think they could contain or control a dragon of that power. Drake had to be the way he was so he could be the one for Bridget. It was the only way. She dipped her cloth in a nearby bowl and dripped cool water on Bridget’s forehead.

Bridget sighed and shifted. Her eyes fluttered and gradually opened. Squinting at the light coming through the window, she closed them again.

After the mountain almost collapsed, they’d moved Bridget back to her hotel room and placed her in bed. Vaughn slept in the chair next tothe bed, Bridget’s hand in his. He had refused to move from her side. Not to eat, not to drink, and not speaking to anyone.

Circe had come along to tend to the Wielder of Prophecy. “Come on, little one,” she whispered in Bridget’s ear, “Your Drake needs you.”

Bridget turned her head to stare at Circe, no doubt trying to figure out where she was.

Circe gently turned Bridget’s head towards Vaughn. She could feel Bridget’s pulse flutter.

She tried to speak, but all that came out was a croaking sound. Circe helped her sip some water and she tried again. “Vaughn.” She was barely able to whisper. It was faint, but it was enough.

Vaughn instantly came awake, tightening his grasp on her hand. His eyes met hers, and his world clicked back into place. He knelt on the bed and gently kissed her forehead. Tears fell from his eyes as she reached up and cupped his face.

“Vaughn, my love,” she whispered.

“Bridget, my heart,” he whispered back.

She smiled, “I’ll never leave you.” Her eyelids fluttered closed, and she fell back asleep.

Vaughn gasped, but Circe calmed him.

“It’s but a natural sleep. She needs real rest. She’s been fighting against fate, that one. She’s exhausted, and so are you, my handsome Drake. Although, not quite as handsome as usual. Go take a shower, you smelly man. Then get some food, for she will be hungry when she wakes. And tell her family so they stop pacing in the hall. One can hardly think with all the noise.”

He grinned and proceeded to do just that.

Vaughn eased open the door and took in the scene in Jorrie’s room. Gabe was sitting on the floor against the wall, Bunny holding his head on her chest. Jorrie was being held by Liam as he rocked her and wiped her tears. Jack was sitting in a chair staring into space, his face a mask of pain, Davis holding his hand. Shepard and Siobhan weren’t there, but he imagined they were close by. His father, well, he hadn’t seen him since the Council chamber, and as far as he was concerned, the old dragon should have stayed dead.

As he strode in, everyone looked up, their faces filled with pain. It had been two days since Bridget fell into darkness, and they were all sick at heart. Vaughn had refused to leave her side, only sending them messages with unchanging news. Circe had filled them in on the finer points, and he knew that Jack was hurting almost as much as he was. Seeing him could only mean one of two things.

“She’s okay!” he held up his hands to ward off their questions and fear. The tension left the room as if someone had pulled a plug, letting it swirl down the drain. “She woke and spoke a little. She’s resting now, real sleep, and you can all see her after she’s had some food and a chance to clean up. She’s back.” Tears fell unchecked down his face.

Jorrie stood, wrapped her arms around him and squeezed tightly. “Thank you, Vaughn,” she whispered.

Vaughn squeezed Jorrie back and kissed the top of her lifeless curls. He hoped she’d get her bounce back soon. Bridget would worry about her friend instead of caring for herself. He let Jorrie go and turned to Gabe, who was quietly crying. Bunny was stroking his hair. Vaughn leaned down and pulled the boy up to him. Holding him tightly, hewhispered, “Your mom is fine. She’s okay, buddy. I know she can’t wait to see you. Gabriel, I’m so sorry about your father.”

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