Page 10 of Mistletoe Wishes and Dragon Kisses

“Well, I….”

"Yes, you have and will again, but that is neither here nor there. What I meant, and I am sure you knew what I meant, is that you must go to Miss Gloria's home. It is where she feels the most comfortable. It is, so to speak, her territory, and that is central to her being receptive to what you have to say. You will be showing her that you are willing to come to her with your hat in your hand. It will further demonstrate that you are repentant and want to make things right–to do whatever shedeems necessary to make up for taking so long to see her, and it will start your lives together on the right foot.”

“Good thinkin’.”

“I am glad you agree.”Clearing his throat, the Dragon King continued,"Now, it is imperative that you not let the pleasantries go on for too long. Gloria Angelica Brown is not one to suffer fools. I believe too much banter will make her think you are ill-prepared for your first meeting and highlight your nerves."

"You know that's right. Glo is an awesome girl with a great sense of humor and a love of life and laughter, but when something needs to be done, she wants it done quickly and without a lotta hoopla. That goes for saying what needs to be said, just as much as moving a pile of mulch or tilling land to plant Oak trees for her precious Mistletoe.”

“Indeed. She will want to hear what you have to say about your abrupt departure when you were children sooner rather than later.”

“Okay.”

“So, you will go right into it, saying something like–as you know…”

It always amazed the Guardsman how well the Dragon King with whom he shared his soul could imitate his voice–complete with the long drawl of his heritage and the involuntary pauses. It was uncanny, and for reasons Chris wasn't about to question, it had always made him feel better.

“…when we were all kids…” Rí was still laying out his plan even as Chris’ mind took a small, unplanned break."…Nate, Liam, Mick, and I thought we didn't have any Powers–that our Magic was nonexistent. We believed, and so did our parents, that we were products, or maybe it is better to say that we were unwilling participants in the Null Conundrum as your Auntie Eleanor so aptly named it."

“Now, as mad as I am at them, the whole Null thing was not my mom and dad’s invention. Oh, they told a lot of lies and shoveled bullshit like they were cattle ranchers stuck in a pasture full of Bulls, but they believed we were Nulls just as much as everyone else.”

“I gotta give you credit, Old Man, you really sound like me.”

“Years of firsthand experience,”Rí scoffed."Now, listen, please. I do not want to forget anything."

“As if you ever could.”

“Indeed.”Clearing his through, the Dragon King went on."From the minute Nate, the eldest of us, but you know that, was old enough to understand what Magic was, he was told, and then each of us was also told that although we had Supernatural Ancestors, Shifters one and all, the four of us were born without an ounce of Magic to call our own. Some called us genetic abnormalities or anomalies. Others were sure we were cursed for some past transgression of our Ancestors. But your Auntie, one of the wisest Witches to ever be born, the Honorable Eleanor Brown, the Head Elder of your Family Coven, believed it happened as part of the Grand Design by the Universe, the Great Goddess of All, God with a capital G and all the other Powers That Be. She was sure all of these Omnipotent Beings were controlling the Other population by creating Nulls."

“Okay, I’m with ya’ so far.”

“Good, I am glad.”Ríoghnán nodded, the gesture visible in the Guardsman’s mind’s eye."When you get to this point, you need to explain that you, Nate, Liam, and Mick are not the only Archer Dragons to walk the Earth. Be sure to mention that her cousin, Davina, is Mated to your cousin, Jackson, and he was given access to his Magic and Dragon King from birth. Then reiterate something we both know she has been told–that your cousin, Noel, who is Mated to Lucy, was also told he was a Nullto keep him from the clutches of Big Daddy and Mother Archer. Be sure she understands that there are other Archer Dragons, aside from you and your brothers, Jackson and Noel, and some have known who they were from birth, and others grew up being protected like you and your brothers. You also need to add that there are others out there not unlike your parents, other Nulls, who think they should have Magic and are will to do whatever they can to get it."

"From there, you will reiterate that you and your brothers believed you were merely casualties of the Grand Design by The Powers That Be and that in cases other than yours and the Archer Dragons, the Null Conundrum is real. Let her know that in all honesty, you believed you were a Null and your Family was being given a 'break' from Magic because it was all you ever knew. It made sense. After all, Eleanor based her theory on the fact that the Null Conundrum never lasted longer than three generations in one Family. So, if your parents were the first generation without Magical abilities who could not Shift, then you and your brothers were the second."

“I like this so far. It really sounds like something I would say.”

“I thought so, too,”Rí agreed, sounding truly pleased with his plan."It is very important that, at this point, you tell her that your Uncle Diarmuid came and saved you. You could say that Mom and Dad had just left to go somewhere or another, and there was a knock at the door. Diar explained the situation to you and unlocked your Magic so that you knew what he said was the truth. You and your brothers packed a bag, and off you went to the Isle of Skye to be trained in the ways of the Dragon Guard."

“Now, I need you to listen very carefully, Lad.”King Rí’s tone was so serious and stern that Chris sat up straight and put his feet on the floor. Leaning his elbows on his knees, he focusedon the tiny Mistletoe plant growing on the branch of the Oak tree right outside the sliding glass door at the back of his home and hung on the Dragon’s every word.

"You will take her hands into yours, look deep into her eyes, and completely open your heart and soul to her. Once you feel the connection–the one created by the Universe and only shared by True Fated Mates,you will tell her with all the sincerity and love in your heart that you had to leave at that very moment. That you did not have time to get in touch with her to say goodbye. And you will not stop there, Christopher. You will tell her that you were also forbidden from reaching out to her over the years. Make sure she understands that your Uncles, Grandparents, and even I made sure you understood the importance of keeping everything that happened a secret. Your parents could not know that you and your brothers were alive, nor could they know the four of you had Magic."

“Of course, she will have heard all the stories from her cousins, but she needs to hear those words from you.”

“You have never been more right, Old Man. I am so impressed.”

“And I am not done yet.”

“Somehow, I knew that.”

"Pay attention, Lad, this is imperative. You must make sure Miss Gloria understands that there were a few people–those The Powers That Be implicitly trusted–who knew the truth. They were sworn to secrecy and were the failsafe, assuring that if anything happened to your Uncle Diarmuid or Grandfather Cayden, you, your brothers, and any others who mistakenly thought they were Nulls would know the truth."

“Okay, I understand,”Chris slowly nodded.“What next?”

Bursting into laughter that was filled with a true fraternal affection that was only shared between a Guardsman and the Dragon King with whom he shared his soul, Rí guffawed, “Oh,Lad, if Miss Gloria hasn’t fallen into your arms and told you how much she loves you at this point, then you may just have to spend eternity as a philodendron.”

“Well, shit! Guess I better get it right the first time.”

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