Chapter Twenty-Six

Drawing from Within

Turning the Tide

Just as Rath thought he felt the wound right over Dàn's heart, something bit his searching hand. The mist! It just kept getting better and better. Rath pulled his hands back as the mist thickened and began to take form. Take form! But what form?

In the space of a heartbeat, the mist had formed a delicate, shimmering red dragon, which stood protectively on Dàn's chest and hissed at Rath. It was about two feet long, but consisted mostly of tail, neck, and two delicate wings. If it had weight, it was probably less than two pounds. Maybe less than one.

The dragon circled about on Dàn's chest and lifted its tiny head to study his face. Its long neck stretched, and it placed one delicate, clawed foot on Dàn's chin for balance. It breathed a cloud of red mist directly into Dàn's slightly open mouth.

Dàn immediately shuddered and breathed in the mist. He opened his eyes to meet the gaze of the tiny dragon. Then Rath's.

And he smiled! "So, I see you've met Dearga."

"Well doesn't that beat all?" Rath said. "Here I am, bemoaning your demise again and you have a dragon guardian angel. I swear Dàn, this is the last time. The very last time!"

"I'm sorry." Dàn said, although he didn't look sorry at all. He sat up and stroked the dragon like it was a pet kitten. Actually, it folded its wings and arched its back into each stroke, while making a satisfied humming sound. "I promise I will try to ‘learn to duck' as you so indelicately put it. Incidentally, you and Dearga were ranting at me on very similar topics. She has even adopted the same tone," he added dryly.

"Dearga, huh? That's a good name. She is very red. Where did she come from, anyhow?"

"She's the mist I've had with me. You saw when it started. I've asked her, but she doesn't know where she came from before that. Only that she was sent to be with me." He used one finger to scratch her chin while she cooed up at him in adoration. "I've been able to see her clearly whenever I closed my eyes, but this is the first time she's taken solid form. I rather like her."

"Dàn, you really are...well, I don't know what the hell you are. Except interesting. I will give you that. I never get bored around you. Do you feel up to helping with this situation?"

"Definitely."

* * *

Sgrios spun, but not quickly enough. Bequlf, in his wolf form, pounced and his fangs tore at his shoulder.

Before Sgrios could react to the savage attack, the girl's pony jumped into the fray. He grabbed the wolf by the back of the neck and brutally shook him, using his sturdy muscles to throw the wolf against a tree. Not satisfied by far, the pony stomped Bequlf with his front hooves, then bent to his knees, dropping his full weight on the still body of the one who had dared hurt his girl.

He sniffed at the wolf, then turned and shook his painted body in satisfaction, or perhaps to leave his anger behind. He pranced back to the girl.

She gave her companion a thank you pat and then dropped to her knees beside Sgrios.

He gritted his teeth against the pain, forcing his body to obey enough to get upright. "Looks like we're even now." He stood and patted the pony.

"Thunder is the bravest pony ever."

"Thunder is indeed heroic." Sgrios went to Bequlf's inert body to check for life. Unfortunately, he was still alive. "Do you think Thunder will carry the wolf out of the woods?" He couldn't bring himself to kill the worthless beast in front of the girl.

"I think so." She froze in place. "The wolf is the man, isn't it?"

No point in denying it, the girl was brave and smart. "He is."

"Are you like him?"

That was a loaded question. He was too much like Bequlf. Many already thought he was a lawless rogue deserving the justice of death. They were probably right. But not for any crimes committed in the past three centuries. Still, he knew the answer she sought. "Yeah."

"Oh." She picked up Thunder's trailing reins and led him closer to the wolf's body. "Can you lift him? I don't think I can."

Such courage in one so young. Pain shot through his chest, but not from the knife wound. The girl reminded him of Cairistione in so many ways. He closed his eyes briefly to control the emotions welling up within him. "I can lift him."

She steadied the pony as Sgrios shoved Bequlf up and over the saddle, and then used his bolas to tie him securely in place.

"So, he's not dead?" she asked.

"Not yet."

"What will happen to him?" the girl asked as she turned Thunder and started back down the trail. "Do the police have a division for your kind?"

"We police our own."

"Oh. So, you're like a cop?"

Yeah right. He was the long arm of the law. The kid had a sense of humor. He smiled. Well, he sort of smiled, but he didn't answer her question.

* * *

Hope drove the car dangerously fast all the way to the park and right into the picnic area. Never mind the car or the act of driving. Forget the storm. She had to get to Athair. Nothing else mattered.

When she saw him fighting hand to hand with one of Bequlf's men, she aimed the car in his direction.

"Athair, watch out!"She called to him as she sped directly at the enormous man who fought her lover.

Although her plan, if it could be called that, had been to run the man down or at least force him away from Athair, Athair used the distraction to jump the villain. He pulled the man off balance and wrapped his forearm around the man's throat. She slid the car to a stop but didn't see what Athair did to cause the man to fall unconscious.

Hope ran to Athair's side and hugged him tight. She had been so afraid he would be killed before she could get back to him. Before she could tell him how much he meant to her.

There were still several people fighting, and a couple had shifted into wolf form. But mostly the battle had turned in their favor.

Granny climbed from the car and hurried to where Hope saw Dàn and Rath standing up. Dàn took the staff from Granny and listened to something she said. Then he walked into the center of the picnic area. Whatever he was doing seemed to flood the clearing with energy. But the energy seemed to affect each person or wolf in a different way. Hope felt it flow through her body like a caress, but one of Bequlf's men fell to the ground and covered his head, screaming in pain. In only a few moments, all of Bequlf's supporters were either asleep or unconscious.

The battle was over, at least for now.

There might still be plenty of details to sort out, but she wasn't going to wait even a moment longer to claim what she wanted. She reached up sinking both hands into Athair's soft hair and pulling him down to meet her kiss.

For the space of one heartbeat, he felt as if he might object to her timing and then he relaxed in her arms. And when he turned his focus fully on her she could picture just what kind of life they could have together. One full of love and laughter, passion and commitment. The beauty of that dream was painfully wonderful.

Athair pulled back. "Hope?" He brushed aside her tears with the pad of his thumb. "Are you okay?"

"I love you."

"I love you, too."

She laughed. "I know you do. I mean, I really know everything you feel for me. Every time we touch your feelings come through as clear as a love letter. And I love that about you."

He pulled her into another kiss, this one shorter and quite a bit hotter. "Hope, I want to spend my whole life with you. Will you accept me?"

"Silly question. You are already my wolf. And I'm never letting you go."