Page 46 of Emerald Waves
I drew back, but only enough to free one arm. “I’m so sorry. Aris, this is my mate, Caro and the leader of the protectors, Ionus.” Both nodded to him. “Aris was another in our clan who was cast out when he couldn’t shift.”
One of the Merdragons neared and wrapped a protective arm around Aris and together we kept him safely tucked between us. “It’s amazing what happens when you think your life is over and dive into the water to take away the pain. Then suddenly a knight in shining scales rescues you. Emerson, broken as I was I never thought I’d find love, let alone my mate.” Aris snuggled into the Merdragon beside him. “This is my mate, Laken.”
“I’m so happy for you, Aris.” How many more of us were out there? Had they all found their mates or were they wandering aimlessly, beyond lost in life.
“And I you. I worried you were lost to the harsh, cruel world.”
“A wonderful dragon and his family rescued me, gave me a home and a job. I’m the archivist and historian in Dragon City now.” Goddess, if this is how it feels to find even one of my dispelled brothers then I’d make it my life’s mission to find as many as I could. I wasn’t foolish enough to believe they’d all still be with us, but now I at least had more hope than I previously did.
Wait, does that mean? “Is your dragon a Merdragon?”
“It is. It was so exciting the first time it called to me. My dragon refused to surface for our abusers. It wasn’t until Laken and I had mated that it felt safe enough to present itself.”
That explained so much. My long-lost friend was all smiles. “Same thing happened to me. We’re not broken, our dragons were just protecting us.”
My goddess, that made so much sense. Our dragons were far wiser than us, guarding us on instinct without being asked. Granted, it would’ve been nice not to have endured the abuse we had, but it gave me hope that all the castaways were alive and once they were out of the harsh reality that was once our lives, their dragons came to them or kept them alive until they found their mates.
Well, one was nothing without hope. But the joy of realizing this emanated through me. Not all dragons are of land and just because you’re bred of a particular lineage doesn’t mean you’ll fall in line and be like the others.
Mate, so much joy is radiating from you.
Don’t you see how wonderful this is? Not all land dragons breed land dragons.
Huh, I hadn’t realized that. You’re correct in your excitement. This is a major turning point.
“Like I said to Emerson,” Kai began, “we too have had our run in with his bloodline.” I appreciated his choice in words as the Gorynych were no longer my clan, the Denarius brothers were. “How do we know we can trust you?”
“An accord. To seal your blood with a protector will allow you to reach us through the mental connection it creates.”
“To break a bond sealed in blood is to slit one’s own throat.” Kai eyed Ionus, ensuring he understood the depth of the connection he proposed.
“Aye, it does. The vow as a protector ensures we put other’s needs above our own, promise to protect dragons and humankind, and to remove those who mean to harm.” Though Ionus’ words held even more weight.
Mate?
Trust in Ionus, he knows what he’s doing.
My mind hadn’t stopped since I got here. Every second was committed to memory. At this point I’d be locked in the horde documenting it for days on end. New water dragon species, Merdragons, their ability to teleport, finding a lost friend who wasn’t a land dragon, and now a blood pact between clans.
Best kidnapping ever!
Though this does bring forth even more questions—before this were any dragons aware of cross-mating? Meaning land dragons and water ones? That little tid-bit might be worth keepingbetween this group for now. At least until we deem it safe and the bad guys are gone. I could only imagine what they’d do with unhatched eggs. Were they vile enough to sell them on the black market?
“Aris,” I whispered, not taking my eyes off Kai and Ionus. “Do you have any dragonets?”
He smiled fondly at his mate. “Not yet, but we’re hoping to soon. We only just found one another and mated.”
I’d so be back for that birth. I hope they will let me document their child’s development for the archives. Best not to ask now as I’m about to witness history in the making. Well, everything these last twenty-four hours honestly has been.
This was all so interesting, especially when considering the same had just happened for Caro and me. Had my mating with a protector triggered this? Were others in the midst of finding their mates too?
Then, it hit me.
Blood.
Bond.
“Oh my god, Caro. Can Raven use my blood and do a locator spell so we can search for all the outcasts?”
