Banning Read online

  “I don’t fucking know!” Mimi swore at the top of her lungs. “Just get it back on! She’s fucking dying!”

  Pushing buttons on the machine the Guardsman had just figured out was breathing for Myanna’s mother, the woman now known as Lillian worked with a professional swiftness he had no doubt came from years of experience. Over and over his mate pushed her clenched hands against her mother’s chest, yelling, pleading, crying, and finally, begging that Robin breathe once again.

  The sound of the front door flying open, presumably unlocked by Lillian, had Banning moving farther into the corner, shrouding himself in the shadows just before lowering his magic and redirecting it through the bond he shared with his mate into her mother. A man’s voice boomed, “Fayette Country EMTs.” The sounds of footsteps following his announcement like the beat of native drums.

  Three large men burst onto the scene, one looking him right in the eye, his voice flowing through Banning’s mind, “Hello, Guardsman. Is the woman in the bed your mate? Why are you not healing her?”

  The image of a large, brown grizzly bear filled Banning’s mind as the fresh scent of pine filled his senses, overpowering the lingering odor of illness and death. “No, she is my mate’s mother and although I am here to help, neither my mate nor her family can know of my existence.”

  The smooth slide of the bear moving past the shields in Banning’s mind felt comforting, reassuring, nothing like the intrusion the dragon expected. Watching as the shifter took over for Myanna, the Guardsman listened to the man’s words.

  “Name’s Beau. I can see the dark stain on your soul and the pain in your heart. The memories of your years of torment hang around your neck like a stone. I think our Healer can help you. She has helped others. We will come to you at the next Blood Moon.”

  And with that, Banning felt his connection to Beau sever as the Guardsman continued to push all the healing magic within himself and his dragon into Robin. Looking across the room, he found Mimi standing just behind another of the EMTs, tears streaming down her face as she watched them try to revive her mother.

  Pain slashed at the Guardsman’s heart. His dragon roared in agony. Just as he learned so very many years ago, Banning was once again reminded of how life can change in the blink of an eye. Mere minutes ago, he and his Beloved were together in a dream world of their own making, so full of love, life, and hope. Now, there was only despair and sadness.

  Movement to his left drew Banning’s gaze. Turning toward the adjacent corner of the room, he saw the spirit of Robin Havers floating above the mayhem, smiling down at her daughter, love and pride filling her expression.

  “I see you there, Banning MacCallion,” her voiced sounded in his mind. “I have been waiting for you for a very long time.”

  “How do you know me? Or of me?”

  “The Goddess spoke to me when I was struck by the Virus. She said that my time was limited, but not to fear. She assured me that you would come for my Mimi, to be there when I could not and save her from the curse that was laid upon the women of our family many generations ago.”

  “I am sure ye are mistaken, milady,” Banning contradicted, the accent of his homeland coming back with his rising trepidation. “I…”

  “Trust an old lady in her last moments on earth,” Robin interrupted. “The Goddess was very specific. She spoke of your curse, of the answer you would receive from an unlikely source, and the future my daughter would have as the one created for you by the Universe.”

  “But…”

  “Noooooooo!” Myanna’s desperate wail cut through Banning’s words as she fell to her knees, crying out to the Heavens at the death of her mother. Never in all his years had the Guardsman felt the depth of anguish he experienced in that moment. Not only was his mate suffering, but he was powerless to do anything but stand idly by and watch.

  “My time has come, Banning. Take care of my Mimi, for she is my greatest treasure.”

  Unable to speak, he watched as Robin’s spirit wrapped around her daughter one last time, giving Myanna the love and support that can only come from one’s mother. He heard the words of an old Irish lullaby his ma used to sing float through the air…

  Angels are guarding and they watch o’er thee…

  Tears wet his cheeks as the soul of Robin Havers silently ascended into the Heavens.

  Chapter Six

  “Yes, Lillian,” she answered tersely. “I am well aware of how long it’s been since my mother…died.” She hid the crack in her voice by turning on the blow dryer.

  “I just think…” Lillie yelled over the loud whir of the appliance while tapping Mimi on the shoulder, before trying again with more gusto, “I just think you need more than a week to recover.”

  Turning off the hair dryer and slamming it onto the granite counter of her vanity, Mimi turned toward the other woman and through gritted teeth ground out, “I will only say this one more time.” She leaned a bit forward, glaring right into Lillian’s eyes. “I am fine and I am going to work.”

  Not willing to listen to any more of the older woman’s reasons why she should take another week off, Mimi spun on her toes and swept out of the bathroom, heading straight for the front door. Grabbing her coat and briefcase, she slammed the door on her way out, jumped in her car, and sped out of the driveway.

  Slowing as soon as she knew she was out of sight of the house, Mimi found herself turning left instead of right and following an all too familiar route to what had become her favorite place to be alone. Parking under the low hanging limbs of a huge maple tree, she could see just the top of the dragon statue.

  Putting down her window, she listened to the gentle fall of the water from the base of the sculpture into the granite pool below the winged warrior’s feet. Holding back the tears that seemed to be never-ending since the moment her mother had passed, Mimi sat staring at her hands, wondering if she would ever feel the same again.

  Hitting the button, she listened to the whir of the windows as they went back up, opened her car door, and put her feet out onto the concrete. Sighing, Mimi let her chin fall to her chest, hid behind the long fall of her hair as it fell forward on both sides of her face and let go of the tears she’d been working so hard to keep at bay.

  Watching each tiny drop of water cascade from her cheeks to the heavy material of her navy dress pants, she pictured her mom as she used to be, so vital and carefree. Mimi thought of their last trip together, the one to celebrate her new job. Both women had always wanted to visit Florida and to ride on a glass bottom boat, so Myanna made it happen. They’d flown first class to the Keys, taken their boat ride, snorkeled, ate all the seafood they could hold, and sat on the beach every night to watch the sun go down. It had been the vacation of a lifetime…

  Flying home, Robin had remarked about how much better she felt and Mimi hopefully agreed. Being a doctor, she’d kept a close eye on her mother even though Robin refused to let her daughter examine her. Mimi knew what signs to look for and was pleased not to see anything new. It had been a relief to watch the color return to her mother’s cheeks and the circles under her eyes fade.

  They’d been in the house almost an hour when the phone rang. Unpacking her suitcase, Mimi had dismissed the call when she heard her mother pick it up. She’d been in the back of her closet hanging up some clothes when Robin’s wail echoed through the house, crawling inside Mimi’s chest and wrapping around her heart like a vice grip.

  Dropping her clothes, she dashed through the house and slid into the living room the exact second her mother dropped to the floor, holding the phone to her chest and howling as she rocked back and forth. Taking the phone from Robin’s clenched fists; Mimi held it to her ear and listened as their last hope, the last specialist they could find, uttered the six words that clicked the lock on the door of her mother’s fate… “There’s nothing more we can do.”

  “Talk about a waste of money.” Mimi sighed, angrily swiping at the tears on her face and pushing to her feet. “What’s the point o
f a degree in medicine if you can’t even save your own mother?”

  Slamming the car door, she locked them tight and stalked toward the fountain. “Lies, that’s all they’d ever been. A child’s fairy tale that, like a fool, I bought into.”

  Stopping just short of the granite base and the tall bronze dragon, Mimi took a deep breath, squared her shoulders, and marched on. With her shins against the decorative marble, she leaned forward and stared into the dragon’s downturned eyes. Ignoring the feeling that he was well and truly looking back at her, she snarled through gritted teeth, “There is no magic. You really are just a figment of my mother’s overactive imagination. Not real, completely useless, and a total waste of time and space.”

  Fists clenched at her side, her anger turning to venom, Mimi spat, “You should be ashamed of yourself. Think of all the people, young and old alike, who’ve made wishes to you, put their trust in you, only to be let down, disappointed, and left to pick up the pieces of their shattered dreams.”

  Opening her mouth to scream at the inanimate object that had become the focal point of all her rage, Mimi’s jaw snapped shut as a child, no older than four or five, holding tightly to his mother’s fingers, braced his free hand on the edge of the glistening pool and whispered with a lisp, “My daddy’sth a stholdier in Afrighanisthan. Pleasthe keep him sthafe.”

  All the wrath and fury simply evaporated as Mimi watched the silver dollar fall from his chubby little fingers into the clear, blue water of the fountain. The little boy’s smile, so bright, so warm… so completely trusting, ripped holes in Mimi’s dense, dark clouds of despair as he looked up at his mother and beamed, “He’sth gonna do it. The dragon’sth gonna keep Daddy sthafe.”

  Warring emotions—pain, anguish…bone-deep exhaustion—their bulk insurmountable, weighing on her shoulders, eating away at her soul, the burden just too much that Mimi simply couldn’t withstand the load. Crumpling to the ground, she knelt beside the fountain like she was a child saying her bedtime prayers and looked up at the dragon.

  He was the symbol she hadn’t known she was holding onto, that little piece of childhood innocence that keeps those who have been able to retain it moving forward, working toward the goal of happiness that many have simply forgotten, or absolutely refuse to believe exist. That dragon, that inanimate statue, hadn’t let her down, hadn’t failed her, hadn’t really done anything but stand on his pedestal, listen to her problems, and never, ever judge her.

  Hours passed. The sun rose and fell. Long shadows rode the ripples of water, joining with the purple and pinks of the evening sky and during it all, Mimi talked about her life. She told stories about her mom and dad. Relived some of the best and worst moments of her life. Let the words flow, able to say things that before had only been thoughts, ideas, dreams…

  She could open up to this statue…this dragon…her dragon, unlike anyone else.

  Then, like the magic she just hours before rebuked, somewhere in all those seconds, minutes, hours… thoughts and words…Mimi recognized what had been there all along… him, her dragon…and his unyielding strength…

  Chapter Seven

  Banning had listened intently to every word she said. Memorized the expressions on her face, let the unending emotions his expressive mate experienced be branded upon his heart. What he’d thought would be the last time he would ever see Myanna, soon became so much more.

  Completely captivated by the one made for him by the Universe, the Guardsman was shocked when she looked at her watch, jumped to her feet, and exclaimed, “Oh crap! I was supposed to be home by now. The medical supply people are coming to get their equipment and Lillian has choir practice.”

  Looking up, smiling so sweetly his heart felt as if it would fly from his chest, Banning could hardly believe his ears when she conspiratorially whispered, “Thank you for listening. See ya’ tomorrow.”

  Watching Myanna walk away, unable to do anything to stop her, powerless to accompany her, Banning fought the waves of desperation and held tight to her parting words. She would be back tomorrow, back to see him...to bond them even more closely together.

  He’d heard her thoughts, finally been able to reach through their magical link that connected their hearts and souls and see into Myanna’s spectacular mind for more than just a brief moment in time. It had been nothing short of wonderful. Both man and dragon were filled with a renewed hope that they both prayed would somehow lead to a life by her side.

  Then it happened…she called him her dragon. Yes, it had only been a thought, a whisper in the deep corner of her mind, but she’d said the words and claimed him as her own. If only he could speak to her, use their bond to communicate, let her know how very much she already meant to him. Searching his memories, looking for a way to cut through the old crone’s magic, Banning began to count the minutes until he would see her again.

  When she returned, just as the sun was rising in the east, she’d been drinking her coffee and talking about her day to come. Each word, each syllable, drew Banning closer to actual telepathic communication with his awe-inspiring mate. He’d seen in her mind that she worked with criminals, men convicted of violent crimes. The conflict within both man and dragon was immediate and explosive. Myanna was a strong, intelligent, independent woman, very different from the women of his time, but so alluring and irresistible. Deciding right then and there that if he was ever able to spend eternity as a real and true mate of her heart, he would accept everything about her with no reservation. He would be whatever she needed.

  And so it went, day after day, week after week, Myanna would stop on her way to work in the morning, visit him during her lunch hours, and then return in the evening to talk about her day, staying until the last rays of the sun disappeared from the sky, no matter the weather. It was the most glorious time of Banning’s entire life. Love, something he’d never truly understood or expected to have, bloomed like the first red rose of spring, pushing through the barren earth, unfolding its petals toward the sky, spreading the sweet, life-affirming scent of hope for the days to come. It flourished and grew, making the Guardsman and the Dragon King with whom he shared his soul believe in miracles and pray that the Heavens would grant them the only one they truly desired.

  It had happened slowly, during the hours that he stood motionless, listening to the woman who’d captured his heart and brought light to his soul, a complete change in his original plans. Banning realized that he had to see her. Had to be with her. Had to look into Myanna’s eyes as he told his tale. There was absolutely no way he could live out his life, whether as a statue or a man, without professing his love. He had to try to break the curse that had kept him prisoner for nearly two centuries.

  “And should she reject me, I will return to this fountain and live out eternity as an inanimate object, knowing I did everything in my power to claim the mate of my heart,” he declared to his dragon.

  Growls followed by scalding plumes of smoke and the thrashing of his long, barbed tail, signaled Gerallt’s dissatisfaction with Banning’s decision to accept defeat should it happen. Chuckling at his dragon’s discontent, the Guardsman answered, “Yes, my old friend, I too wish I could simply whisk her away. That I possessed the time to woo her, to show her how very much I already love her, and to assure her that I would protect her with my very life, but time is not our ally. We will take the few moments that we are given and make the most of them.”

  Calmer than he had ever been, Banning heard the sixth chime of the clock in the tower of the old abbey across the park. Listening intently, his mind free of everything but thoughts of his mate, his heart nearly leapt from his chest when the distinct sound of Myanna’s car echoed through the twilight. Not only was he a bundle of nerves, but his dragon adamantly refused to calm, pushing with all his might against the confines of the Guardsman’s mind and slashing at the black film of the crone’s evil curse.

  Focusing on Myanna, waiting for the moment she would be close enough for their minds to connect, he immediately sen
sed that something was terribly amiss. Her gait was slower than usual, her head was bowed, and her normally bright and shining yellow, pink, and blue aura had become subdued, the colors taking on a gray hue, looking dusty and lonely.

  Time stood still as she took that last, all-important step, passing the row of holly bushes he watched the landscapers trim to perfection every thirty days. In an instant, Banning could feel the warm caress of Myanna’s mind. The worry that had been festering within his own psyche simply evaporated. He felt whole, alive…at home.

  Watching as she sat in her usual spot on the marble deck of the fountain pool, the Guardsman could feel his mate’s melancholy, her worries became his, and from one heartbeat to the next, the reason for her distress was playing out in his mind. Looking through Myanna’s eyes, Banning took in the tall, thin, disheveled man, prison inmate, who sat across the table.

  Tattoos covered his bald head, neck, and arms; markings of skulls, curse words in large, dark ink, pentagrams, and even a swastika. The Guardsman had to believe there were more but couldn’t see them as the prisoner was covered by the baggy orange jumpsuit monogrammed with the letters DOC and an eight-digit number over the left side of his chest.

  “What the fuck are you doin’ here?” the man rasped, leering at Myanna, his blackened teeth showing beneath his sneer.

  “I am here to complete your court-ordered therapy. My name is Dr. Myanna Havers. I’m the prison’s psychiatrist.” Banning could hear the trepidation in her voice but was very proud at the way she squared her shoulders and looked the convict in the eye.

  If this man dares to touch her, I swear by all the Ancients that I will find a way off this bloody podium and rip his head from his neck…

  Grinning as his dragon wholeheartedly agreed, the sound of Myanna’s voice drew his attention back to her memory.

  “Why don’t we start with why you’re here, Mr. Dubronski?”