Page 3 of Hidden Dragons

“I’m with you, friend,”Robert sent to Growloranth privately, knowing he had been silent too long. Again. “Milady, would you share the meal with us? And then, after, we will see you safely home.”

“I don’t want to impose,” she said, biting her lip in the most innocent, enticing way.

“It is no imposition. We have plenty of food to share and unless I am much mistaken, our partners approach with some fresh meat. There will be enough for all five of us, and then some. Please stay.”

She was about to answer when Tildeth and Bear stepped into the clearing…and Isabelle was entranced. Robert had to smile. Tildeth often had that effect on people. She was the most delightful shade of pale crystal blue. Together, she and Growloranth were a sight to behold. Light and dark. Bright day and shadowy night.

“Lady Isabelle,”Growloranth said into the minds of all those present,“please allow me to introduce my mate, Lady Tildeth.”

The stunning blue dragon walked up to stand beside Growloranth and rubbed her neck scales along his in greeting, while eyeing Isabelle. Bowing low, Isabelle returned the greeting mind-to-mind, making Tildeth blink.

“Lady Tildeth, it is my honor to meet you. And may I say, you are lovely.”Robert could hear the genuine awe in Isabelle’s tone as she broadcast her delicate voice for all those with the ability to hear.

Tildeth preened. She wasn’t a vain dragon, though she had every right to be. She was one of the most graceful, well-formed female dragons of her generation. And her coloration was rare. She matched the sky almost perfectly, and was the next best thing to invisible during the day.

And her mate, Growloranth, was the exact color of a twilight forest. Between the two, they made a great team for stealth maneuvers.

“Thank you, Isabelle. It has been a long time since I spoke with one of your kind,”Tildeth surprised them all by saying. Including, it seemed, Isabelle.

“Sorry. My kind?”Isabelle’s head tilted in puzzlement.

“You may not look it, and it’s probably dilute, but you have the blood of the Fair Folk in you, do you not?”Tildeth too, tilted her great head as if in question.

Understanding and a bit of shock dawned over Isabelle’s features. “My mother was fair in complexion and face, but she never really spoke of her origins.”

“It would make sense, though,”Growloranth added.“There is a flavor of magic about you that is completely benign, yet unfamiliar to me. I have never met a Fair One.”

“Trust me, the flavor of her magic is of the Fair Folk. I knew a few of them in my youth,”Tildeth said.“Can you not hear the musical note in her voice? The fey have the most musical of all voices.”

“Mama used to sing to me,” Isabelle said softly, as if remembering, and her eyes took on a sad, faraway look.

Silence reigned in the clearing for a moment, the only sound that of the rushing water behind them. Bear chose that moment to step forward.

“I am Sir Bernard,” he pronounced, his voice gruff, but a welcome distraction from the serious turn of their conversation. He offered his hand in greeting and Isabelle took it, allowing him to raise her small hand to his lips for a tender salute.

Robert cursed himself for not doing the same sooner. As it was, Bear had already touched the woman—even kissed her hand—and Robert had done nothing more than talk her ears off. He wasn’t going to get anywhere in figuring out if she was their mate this way.

Sir Bernard—known as Bear to his friends—marveled at the beauty his partner had somehow found in the woods. Her skin was soft, even if she did have hands roughened from hard work. That was no sin. In fact, it showed just how much this gentle woman did to make her way in the world. He could not find fault with that. Not in the least.

Bernard might be gruff on the outside, but he had been raised in a family that respected hard work and honesty above all else. He had partnered with one of the loveliest dragons of their time and many had thought it a mismatch when Tildeth chose him, but Bear knew the truth. Tilly chose him for what was on the inside. Although pretty to look at, she saw straight to the heart of him, as he saw beneath her pretty shell to the heart of the warrioress that lay beneath her sky blue hide.

They were perfect for each other. The only thing that would make their partnership complete was if Bear could find a mate. And any mate Bear found would be shared with Robert because Tildeth and Growloranth were mates of long standing. Each had partnered at least one knight before Robert and Bear. They had lived for many centuries already and had two fully grown children. They had not been able to be together as mates since choosing Robert and Bear.

It hurt Bear to know that his single status kept his fighting partner from her mate. He would do just about anything for Tilly. She was part of him—bonded on a soul-deep level. But the mate bond could not be forced. Not just any woman would do. The woman that bonded with them and completed their family unit had to be just right. Destined for them by the Mother of All Herself.

“Do you think she could be the one?”Tilly asked Bear privately.“Growloranth thinks she might be.”Bear noted the eager tone in his fighting partner’s voice. He couldn’t help but feel a bit of eagerness himself.

“I can’t be sure yet. It is too soon. But I will say that she is lovely. I wouldn’t mind spending the rest of my days with a creature as beautiful as Isabelle,”Bear answered Tilly honestly.“But outward appearances—as you well know—are not enough to base something so important on. We need to get to know her.”

“We need to get her to come back to the Lair with us,”Tilly replied.

“I agree. Let me work on it. We will make this happen. I promise you.”

“Nice to meet you, Sir Bernard,” Isabelle replied to his kiss on her hand.

Reluctantly, he let her go and tried to smile. He had to be charming, which was difficult for a homely fellow like himself.

“Please, call me Bear,” he offered, pleasure streaking through him when she smiled.

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