Page 80 of Lahaina Noon

She cried harder, and Vaughn cursed himself. Apparently, that had not been the right thing to say.

“My love! I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to make it worse. I just wanted you to know that I would rather die than ever let him touch you. And I have no plans of dying; dragons are very long-lived.” He kissed her temple.

Her tears slowed, and she gripped his shirt tightly. “That’s the other problem,” she said softly, her voice shaking.

He pondered a moment, “I’m so sorry, I don’t understand. What is the other problem?” She was silent for so long that he became nervous. “Bridget?” he prompted, his voice thick with emotion.

“You’re so long-lived. You’re already over two hundred years old, I’m thirty-seven, you have centuries, I have forty, fifty years at most. I’ll be an old, wrinkled mess, and you’ll still look like that,” she said, waving at his face. “Why would you shackle yourself to that? And when I die from being an old woman? Will you lose your magic? I don’t want you to die!” She was nearing hysteria.

Vaughn couldn’t help it; he burst out laughing.

Bridget was so shocked she stopped crying and stared at him incredulously.

He sat up and leaned over her, covering her lips with his, kissing her fiercely.

She responded with a desperation that scared her.

“I’m so sorry! I don’t mean to laugh. I’m not laughing at you; I’m laughing at my own stupidity. I shouldn’t have assumed you knew.” He shook his head.

“Knew what?” she sniffed, suspicious.

“Bridget, Wielders already age very slowly. They are very long-lived as well. Killian is almost a century old. When a dragon mates with a Wielder, that Wielder receives part of the dragon’s magic and longevity. That’s why there is a ritual for the mating bond. It transferred some of my life force to you. You will age at the same rate I do.”

She stared at him, not quite believing what she was hearing. “But, but,” she stammered.

He smiled gently, “Iamsorry, my dear. Why else would dragons willingly tie their lives to humans if that wasn’t a perk? No dragon ever wants to outlive their mate. You and I will be together for a long time. Avery, long time. I hope you don’t get tired of me.”

She sniffled a few more times, whispering, “Thank you, my love. Sorry, I flipped out like that. I guess a near-death experience left me off balance.”

He kissed her forehead and laid back down, pulling her to him again.

She snuggled right back like a puzzle piece locking in.

“Don’t ever apologize for having normal feelings. You went through an awful situation. Quite frankly it surprises me you didn’t fall apart before now. You’re one tough lady.” He closed his eyes.

“Vaughn?” she said softly.

He opened his eyes and saw a green bear dancing in his face.

“Gummy bear?”

“Bridget,” Vaughn whispered sometime later.

“Mmm,” she mumbled back.

“Bridget,” he said a little louder and shook her gently.

“Five more minutes,” she grumbled into the pillow. She heard a deep, rumbly laugh.

“My darling, you know I would give you all of the time in the world, but we are landing soon, so you have to go back to the main cabin.”

Bridget opened one eye and saw Vaughn smiling at her. “It’s a good thing you’re cute,” she grumped. The medicine had helped herheadache, but she was still out of sorts. Almost being kidnapped and strangled by a shadow creature, dangling from a dragon’s claws, and having an emotional breakdown could do that, she supposed. She stretched, her arms up over her head, arching her back and pointing her toes. She looked at Vaughn and saw him staring at her with hunger in his eyes as her shirt rode up, exposing her stomach.

Caught staring, he smiled at her wolfishly, reaching for her.

She laughed, smacked his hand, and rolled away. She got out of bed and straightened her clothing. She let out an “oomph” as Vaughn wrapped her in his arms.

“Are you feeling better now?” he inquired softly.

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