Resurrecting Her Dragon (Dragon Guard Series Book 13) Read online

  Claire’s voice in his mind made him grin, “Things are always better when we’re around. Haven’t you figured that out yet?”

  “Oh, baby, I’ve been thinking about nothing else since the moment I knew you existed.”

  Just the sound of her low laughter in his mind made the Guardsman and his dragon long to be alone and naked with their mate. Once again, Claire picked up on his thoughts, but this time, she used his own trick against him by sending visions from their recent past, along with several she’d thought up all on her own, into his mind. Had catching the griffins who’d dared to touch his mate not been so important, Rory had no doubt he would’ve already had his mate over his shoulder and be heading for home.

  Deep in thought, Rory almost missed Rian’s command, “Kayne? Kellan? Are you ready?”

  His brethren, who were stationed on the ridge directly behind the mountain, answered as one, “Yes.”

  They found on the way over that Claire could piggyback her connection with Rory onto his connection with his brothers and communicate directly with Rian and Royce. It was quickly decided she would be the liaison between her cousins and the Dragon Leader. “Claire, everything good to go with your family?”

  “Yes, they’re ready to fly.”

  Rory heard Rian speak to Max, using the same earpieces they had used at the griffin compound. “Cats ready?”

  “That they are,” Max replied, his Spanish accent more prominent than usual, a sure sign that he was spoiling to be in the fight.

  Both in mindspeak and out loud, Rian ordered, “Kayne and Kellan, time to fly. Send ‘em up, Max. Tell the ladies to take off, Claire. Everybody on the ground, start the climb.”

  The air once again filled with magic as everyone with wings took to the sky. The Guardsmen kept in constant communication as they scaled the mountain and Rian gave updates of the panthers progress every sixty seconds until everyone, no matter of their form, was in position surrounding the mouths of the three caves serving to hide the griffins.

  Tension mixed with awe filled the air as Rory watched Kayne and Kellan in dragon form glide across the sky. Seeing his brothers’ beasts flying overhead made his dragon long to feel the air on his wings. His beast pushed against the confines of Rory’s mind and chuffed to be free.

  Soon, big guy, very soon, I promise...

  Watching intently, Rory stood at the ready, broadsword drawn with his mate at his side, right outside the cave they knew held Sylvia and her sons. After hearing what the old bitty had subjected Claire to, Rory wanted to rip her head off her shoulders and throw it off the mountain, but he would reserve the honor of taking Sylvia’s life to his mate. The youngest O’Reilly brother couldn’t kill Malick again for stabbing him but he could do the next best thing...kill his brother. Zanus would die at the end of Rory’s blade. It was a foregone conclusion and one the Guardsman would watch come to fruition or die trying.

  “On my mark,” Rian instructed in both mindspeak and out loud. “Three, two, one, go!”

  His call to action rang through their minds and through the air at the exact second Kayne and Kellan touched down. Rory and Claire, along with Rian and Maddox, who’d come up the other side of the mountain to attack from the opposite side, charged into the cave at the apex of the mountain. Griffins in human form, brandishing blades of every variety, came running toward them, stopping in fear and running for the exit or retreating farther into the caves when they saw Claire.

  Had they not been in battle Rory had no doubt he would’ve laughed out loud at the spectacle. They didn’t have to do anything but watch their enemies fall all over themselves. It was obvious his phoenix had made quite an impression on the cowardly griffins and they were not willing to suffer the same fate as their leader.

  Screams came from outside the cave as the retreating griffins saw the dragons and then were grabbed up by the panthers. Kayne was having such a good time watching their inept adversaries that he was sharing his view of what was happening with the entire Force. Funniest Home Videos had nothing on the debacle the demi god was sending into his brethren’s minds.

  Royce and the rest of the Blue Thunder Force, along with Max and Rafael, at the other caverns weren’t having as much fun. It seemed those griffins were ready to fight to the death. Seeing what was happening and that they were more needed in human form, the aviary shifters decided to change back and lend a hand below. Rian readily agreed when Claire told him of Ettie’s suggestion.

  Making their way through the twists and turns of the tunnels deep in the cave, Rory led the hunt for the Slades with Claire, Rian, and Maddox at his back. Rounding the corner, the youngest O’Reilly brother raced toward the sounds of running water. He knew the spring would be at the center of the cavern, the safest place to hide and therefore, where the cowards he hunted would be holed up.

  Stopping ten feet from the opening of the grotto, Rory opened his enhanced senses wide. He counted twelve heartbeats. From the pounding of all but the four at the very back of the cave, he knew the front eight were the guards. It was sad that the men who’d faithfully protected the Slades for many years knew they were being used as fodder, but Rory really couldn’t feel sorry for them. He was making sure the Slade’s reign of terror ended before he mated his lovely phoenix and that was all there was to it.

  “It’s your call, Ror,” Rian spoke so they all knew the Dragon Leader had given command to Rory.

  “Then let’s do this,” was his only response and as he walked to the mouth of the grotto and announced, “One way or another, this ends tonight.”

  “Just don’t die,” Claire, Rian, and Royce answered in unison.

  Promising to kick their butts later, Rory raised his sword to block a rather weak strike from the dark-skinned griffin at the right of the opening. Claire, Rian, and Maddox raced in behind, blades drawn, immediately becoming engaged in battle. The clash of swords and the grunts of fighting filled the air as one by one, the griffins fell. Their blood staining the floor of the cavern until only Sylvia and her sons remained.

  Raising the sword Rory recognized as the one he’d been intimately acquainted with less than a week ago, Zanus attempted to appear intimidating. Rory couldn’t help but provoke his opponent as the now oldest Slade brother stood between him and the Slades. “Well, lookie there. Zanny got a big boy sword.”

  The griffin seethed. His anger was palpable. Zanus looked to his mother and looked back but stood still, sword still raised.

  “What’s the matter, Zanny? Can’t make a move without Mommy’s permission?” Rory chided.

  The griffin growled. His face turned a deep red. He took a step forward followed by another griffin who’d appeared out of the shadows. This one looked identical to Malick and Zanus only younger, and he held a katana at the ready.

  “My, my, my, family loyalty at its best. Looks like ya’ got some backup there, Zanny.”

  Rory continued to antagonize the enemy, but his patience was growing thin. His dragon was hungry for the fight and he could feel Rian and Maddox’s restraint fraying at the edges.

  Royce, Max, his brethren, Claire’s cousins, and the werepanthers finally had the upper hand in the other caves. They had disposed of the griffins that wouldn’t be taken alive and chained the others in silver for transport to the Tribunal’s prison. Kayne and Kellan were still waiting in dragon form at the ready, just in case any of the Slades got past Rory and the others.

  Not likely...

  More than ready to put an end to their standoff, Rory said the one thing he knew would spur the Slade boys into action. “How about we make a deal, Zanny? Since your useless waste of feathers and fur brother is already charcoal, how about you just hand over your mom and we call it a night? I mean, really, what’s that cow in Chanel ever done for you?”

  A war cry echoed off the stone walls of the cave as Rory’s words hit home. “You worthless pieces of dragon shit, I’ll bathe in your blood. No one speaks about my mother that way!”

  Zanus flew at Rory with his bla
de aimed at the Guardsman’s neck. Easily ducking the griffin’s clumsy strike, Rory spun on his left foot with his sword at the ready, slicing across Zanus’ waist. The griffin howled in pain, lifting his sword and swiping it back and forth like a novice.

  Rory struck again, slashing the tendon behind Zanus’ knee. The griffin hit the ground screaming as Claire raced toward Sylvia, blade drawn, while Maddox and Rian crossed swords with the other two Slade brother’s.

  Not giving up without a fight, Zanus swung his sword at Rory’s feet while balancing on one knee as his other leg laid lifeless and bleeding at what looked like a very painful angle. Deciding to give the griffin one more chance to save his life, Rory said, “Put down your blade and come along quietly.”

  Sounding like the deranged villain in an old Carey Grant movie, Zanus bellowed, “Never!” Then by some miracle made it up on one leg, moved his grip higher up on the handle of his sword, and jabbed with all his remaining strength.

  Easily dodging the griffin’s strike, Rory held his sword with both hands, pulled it back over his shoulder, and in one fluid motion sliced through Zanus’ neck as the griffin was falling to the ground. Blood dripped from the Guardsman’s blade as the head of his enemy flew through the air, landing with a splash in the once still water of the grotto.

  Both Rian and Maddox appeared at his side, having left the youngest Slade brothers bleeding out on the ground. Looking to his mate, he saw Claire locked in battle with Sylvia. The griffin’s grey hair was dirty and matted to her head, her once pristine clothing tattered and torn and her face a mask of evil and treachery. However, none of that seemed to matter as the older woman fought like a well-trained warrior.

  Rory could see Claire was holding back and thought about asking why but didn’t want to derail her concentration. Sylvia’s jab with her short blade was easily blocked by the swing of his phoenix’s bronze blade. Using the force of her strike, Claire spun to her left leaning into the turn, lifted her right leg, and with the skill of a trained fighter, kicked the griffin right in the sternum.

  Crumbling to the ground, Sylvia gasped for air. Her blade fell to the ground several feet from where she landed after having been dislodged from her hand. Not missing a beat, his mate advanced, held her athame to the griffin’s neck, and growled, “Surrender or die?”

  Impressed with Claire’s show of restraint, Rory almost laughed out loud as Sylvia repeated the words of her son in the same melodramatic tone, “Never!”

  The word still echoed through the cavern as Claire lifted her blade and removed the head of the griffin matriarch. Silence filled the chamber. The turmoil of Claire’s emotions flooded their bond. Rushing to his mate’s side, Rory lifted her in his arms, kissed the top of her head as she cuddled into his chest, and whispered, “You’ve done good, mo laoch beag, you’ve done good. Let’s go home.”

  Walking out of the cave, Claire asked, “Can we get mated now?”

  Leaving behind the past and looking to the future with a heart full of love and his mate in his arms, Rory chuckled, “I’d like to see someone try to stop us.”

  Chapter Ten

  It took three days for everything to settle down after their battle with the griffins. Although Claire, Rory, Rian, and Maddox had done away with the Slades, there were still over a hundred griffins that either needed to stand trial in front of the All-Species Tribunal or to be relocated. Thankfully, an ambassador from the Griffin High Council had arrived to handle the refugees and he and his aides had set up camp in the former Slade compound. Ambassador Reynolds met with Rian and the other Elders to establish a peace treaty so that both clans could live without threat of repercussions.

  Rory had been busy planning their mating ceremony, which was really weird for Claire coming from a matriarchal society, but she had to admit she liked it. Stefan, Rory’s uncle and their clan’s Spiritual Elder, had shown up the day before the ceremony to go over everything with her. She surprised him by knowing all she needed to know and then some.

  Claire admitted to having done a fair bit of research when she realized her chosen mate was a dragon. She and Stefan talked for several hours until Rory arrived with a sneaky grin and an extra spring in his step.

  “Looks like someone’s in a good mood,” Stephan chuckled.

  “Yes, I am, and how the hell are you today?” Rory asked, sitting down beside Claire on the couch and pulling her into his lap before kissing her cheek.

  “I am good, son, really good, thank you. I’ve been talking with your lovely Claire and she is ready to become your mate no matter how many stories I told her about your childhood.” Stefan snickered and it was then Claire noticed the family resemblance.

  Rory laughed out loud before saying, “I’ve already told her she’s stuck with me. I brought her home, she’s mine.”

  Turning her head and raising her eyebrows, Claire asked, “Is that so?”

  “You know it, Baby. Don’t make me tickle you into submission.” Rory waggled his eyebrows. Claire knew he would do it even with his uncle sitting not four feet away so she simply nodded and then added, “I’ll deal with you later,” directly into his mind before jumping off his lap and standing on the other side of the coffee table.

  “I can see the Universe has once again done well with her selection.” Stefan stood and walked to the door. “I’ll see both of you tomorrow. Best wishes and many, many years of happiness to you both,” he said as he walked out the door, leaving Claire blessedly alone with her mate for what seemed like the first time since they’d returned home.

  Walking back over to Rory, she took her place back on his lap and snuggled into his chest. The couple sat in silence, feelings of undying love and amazing happiness flowing between them. Claire had just closed her eyes when she was startled by a knock at the door.

  “Come in,” Rory called out.

  “Everybody decent?” Kellan asked as he walked in carrying a huge stack of pizza boxes, followed by Lennox, who had what smelled like chicken wings, and Royce and Rian with coolers of beer.

  “Party anyone?” Brannoc asked, carrying a bag of chips and a bag of soda.

  “Do I have a choice?” Her dragon chuckled as Claire crawled off his lap and walked to the kitchen to help set up.

  Pearce, Declan, and Kayne followed, carrying paper plates, cups, and napkins. Maddox walked in with a fifth of Scotch and blustering about damn fool kids two seconds before Kyra, Audrey, Calysta, and Clair’s cousins arrived with enough cakes and cookies to feed an army, which was good because as she’d found out since meeting her mate and his brethren, they could eat...lots.

  As soon as everyone had their food and drink, Rian stood and spoke above the noise, “I’d like to propose a toast.”

  “Oh shit,” Rory chuckled under his breath.

  “That’s enough outta you,” Rian feigned irritation before grinning and continuing. “No, seriously. To Claire, all I have to say is good luck.” Rian had to stop as the roar of laughter drowned him out. When everyone calmed down, he went on, “And call any of us when he gets outta hand, because he will. We’ll kick him back into shape for you.”

  Again everyone laughed so loud Claire couldn’t hear herself think. When she could finally talk, she chuckled, “Not to worry, if he pisses me off I’ll just burn his dinner...or his clothes...or his...”

  Everything else she was going to say was swallowed up by the dragon’s laughter and the jokes Rory’s brethren were throwing around. Rian waited until everything quieted down and quickly finished, “And to my youngest brother, you got lucky. Claire is awesome. Don’t screw it up.”

  The house was again full of amusement and teasing, which lasted until the wee hours of the morning. When everyone had gone home, Claire happily let Rory carry her up to bed and was asleep before her head hit the pillow.

  The sounds of whispers and giggles woke Claire from a sound sleep. Laying her hand on Rory’s side of the bed, she was surprised to find it empty. Rolling over and rubbing the sleep from her eyes, she saw a long st
emmed red rose laying across a note.

  See you in a few hours, Mrs. O’Reilly. I love you, Rory.

  Sniffing the rose, she recognized Olive’s laugh and hollered, “Y’all could wake the dead.”

  “Whatever, lazy bones. Time to get up and get ready. You’ve got a date with a dragon,” Gabby yelled back with a smile in her voice and Claire heard the rest of her cousins chuckling along.

  “We have coffee,” Karleigh sang like a little girl on the playground.

  “I’ll be right there.” Claire jumped out of bed, wrapped herself in Rory’s huge terrycloth robe, and headed down the stairs.

  “See, told ya’ that would get her down here,” Olive grinned, handing Claire a cup of coffee with the perfect amount of cream and sugar.

  “Have I told you, you’re my favorite, Olive?” Claire laughed before taking her first drink of the best cup of coffee she’d ever had.

  “Yes, but you can tell me again,” Olive snickered while the others teased, “Suck up.”

  “Since you’ve stayed in bed all morning, we gotta get you ready. Kyra said she trusted us to get you there on time while she, her mom, and Audrey worked on the reception.” Ettie was eating a muffin almost as big as her head that smelled so good Claire’s mouth watered.

  Looking in the basket on the table, she found a blueberry one and took a huge bite, moaning as the scrumptious pastry filled her senses. When she was able to talk, the phoenix finally answered, “If the food is anywhere near as good as this, all anyone’s gonna do is eat.”

  “You know it. I got the recipe,” Olive chuckled, sitting down with a fresh cup of coffee.

  “So, as I was saying before you decided to make love to a muffin,” Ettie snorted a laugh. “You need to get showered so we can do your hair and makeup before your escorts get here.”

  “Escorts?” Claire asked, wondering what that was all about.

  “Yes, escorts,” Karleigh said while flipping through a magazine, “I thought you looked this stuff up years ago?”