Page 65 of Fire Dragon
He gave himself to the intensity of all these feelings, letting them flow until the tough sensations passed.
After a few minutes, he was surprised to find that the pain had dissipated. Breathing was easier.
He shut off the water and took his time toweling dry. He finally began to understand that so long as he lived, he would always feel sad about losing Vinia and their son. Always. Nothing could change that, not now, not ever.
Grief was part of life, of having things taken away that were treasured and necessary to his happiness. Only a hole could remain. In their long-lived dragon world, maybe grief was even more profound because it would mean centuries of feeling sad.
But sadness wasn’t the only thing he could feel. Emma had showed him that. She’d come into his life and he’d fallen hard for her. The sensations of love he now felt for her were as real as what he’d known with Vinia. And no less powerful, which meant that should he outlive Emma, he would grieve her loss whether it was today or hundreds of years from now.
This was the real risk he’d taken when he’d invited her back to Dragonslip Gorge and brought her into his bed. He’d risked the pain of losing her as well.
Worse, she now carried their child and that baby was as real to him as his son had been.
It dawned on him that the pain he’d been feeling about Vinia was also about Emma. He’d just opened up his life to her, and the Magi were on the way with a weapon of mass destruction.
Emma could die in the forthcoming battle.
A few powerful curses sliced through his head. Odd how much it helped.
When he was in his sleek black flight suit, he closed-up his house and headed into the air once more. He took his time returning to the cliffs above HQ where Emma lived.
Despite that he knew she was right about her role as his partner in the upcoming battle, he felt he had to make one final plea. She could still go south.
But when he saw the light in her eye as she braided her ponytail, he knew it was useless, and something more. “You’ve had an idea.”
“Yes. I’ve already called Jane to set it up. I think I should take along the modified rocket launcher. Between my kinetic ability and the fact that I work out, I’m sure I can manage it. I’ve practiced quite a bit in training.”
At that, a smile touched his lips. “I’m sure you have.”
She didn’t acknowledge the compliment, instead she narrowed her gaze as she stared at him. “What do you think?”
“That it’s a great idea.”
She nodded. “The other thing I’m super confident about is that I know your fire dragon can take the heat, whether amplified or not. So, we should have plenty of opportunity to destroy this weapon even if they put the amplification feature on its highest setting.”
“I agree. It’s the one thing we have on our side right now.”
She quickly wrapped up the end of her braid with a black stretchy band. “You’re also able to protect me with your energy, so I wouldn’t fry either.”
“Damn straight you won’t.”
“I’m thinking we should practice as much as we can before we head out. Or would that be too much?”
“I’m with you.”
He drew close and kissed her on the lips, a quick dip of his head. She responded by letting her braid go and as she often did, she wrapped her arms around his neck. She kissed him in response, a full kiss that involved a lot of dueling tongues.
He was in a semi-erect state and had to draw back. “Wish we weren’t going to be so busy over the next hour or so, otherwise we could finish this right now.”
She grinned and he loved it. They were facing an enemy in a situation that might cost them their lives and she was smiling.
His inner dragon moved through his body, letting him know how much he wanted Emma with him now and forever. His dragon had always been much wiser than his logical human mind.
Yet, as though his dragon knew this day would come, he aligned with Liam and it was as though the entire universe shifted on its axis in a sudden swift move. He finally saw what a fool he’d been to keep Emma at arm’s length for an entire year. He’d been trying to avoid the pain of a life lived to the max. But he couldn’t.
Pain was part of the package.
Emma was what he wanted even if their time together ended while facing the enemy. Never again would he allow a past loss to dictate his future. “I have a question for you before we head out.”
