Chapter Seventeen – Ruby

She parked her car in front of the house she’d lived in for the last few years. Since coming here as an obnoxious teenager, with too much emotional baggage for her own good, Ruby had changed and blossomed. And grown used to an uneventful life.

Until a couple of months ago, they’d lived in bliss. She longed for those days. Did that make her a coward? When she’d embarked on her hunt for dragons, Ruby had done so with a romantic notion of being a hero. Right now, she didn’t feel like a hero. She was scared. Scared for Magnus and the darkness his memories might contain.

“There you are, I thought you were going without saying goodbye.” Fiona came out of the house to meet them.

“We won’t be gone long,” Ruby assured her mom. “We just need some answers.”

“You didn’t answer my question.” Fiona stood with her hands on her hips, making it clear an answer was necessary.

“I hate goodbyes,” Ruby answered feebly.

“You also hate being told what to do,” Fiona said pointedly. “Not that I was going to. I think it best you leave Bear Creek for a couple of days. It gives us a chance to figure out what’s going on.”

“I don’t want anyone going near Thorn Manning.” Ruby knew her mom’s personality. Confrontational if her family were threatened, she could potentially make the situation a lot worse. “I want you to promise.”

Fiona’s eyes flashed green. “What if he comes near us?”

Ruby rolled her eyes. “Then I’ll expect you to be polite and helpful and leave his head on his shoulders. He won’t hurt us, I’m sure. And Sapphi and Alex are going to block the trail up to the cave where Magnus’s treasure is, meaning he can’t go looking for that either.”

“You have it all planned,” Fiona sounded impressed.

“I think we have it under control.” Ruby walked over to her mom. “I’m not a kid anymore.” She blushed, glad of the darkness surrounding them which hid her face. After being with Magnus, she truly did feel like a woman in charge of her own fate.

Fiona studied her closely for a moment, and then said, “Let me meet this man of yours properly.”

Magnus stepped forward. “Fiona.” Her mate stood tall and proud, ready to defend himself and his mate against the formidable woman before him.

“Magnus. Welcome to the family.” She smiled briefly and then said pointedly at Ruby, “I approve.”

“It wouldn’t have made any difference if you hadn’t,” Ruby told her mom. “You know even a great dragon like you can’t take on fate and win.”

Fiona laughed. “I’d have a good crack at it if your mate wasn’t suitable.” She hugged Ruby. “Take care. I hope it all works out for you.”

“Thanks, Mom.” Ruby hugged her back. “I love you.”

“I love you, too.” Fiona pulled back and looked at her daughter. “You’ve grown in so many ways.”

“Are you ready?” Sapphi called from the porch, and Ruby was grateful for the distraction as tears welled in her eyes at Fiona’s words.

“We are.” Ruby gave Fiona one last hug. “We’ll be back before you know it.”

They all walked around to the back of the house. Ruby said goodbye to everyone as Harlan joined them, carrying his son in his arms. Harlan Jr. loved watching the dragons fly. His favorite game was playing dragon with his friend Jack. They would spend hours running around the backyard with colorful blankets draped over their shoulders, pretending they were wings.

“Helena and Tiberius are expecting you,” Sapphi told them.

“My mom can’t wait to meet a new dragon.” Alex welcomed Magnus to the family with a hug. “We have to stick together.”

“I’m not certain I am a dragon,” Magnus told him awkwardly.

“Yes, you are.” Ruby firmly believed he was, and until they had undeniable proof otherwise, no one was going to convince her he wasn’t.

Sapphi and Alex shifted first and took off, soon becoming lost to sight as they skimmed the top of the trees. The inky blue sky was just dark enough to hide them from anyone who might be looking. Next, Ruby shifted, and Magnus climbed onto her foreleg and vaulted onto her back like a rodeo king. Immediately, her dragon crouched down, the thrill of having their mate on her back sending her into ecstasy as she leaped into the air and beat her wings so hard the people below had to hold onto each other to keep their balance.

Show-off, Ruby told her dragon.

I know, her dragon replied with a goofy grin as she raced to catch up with Sapphi and Alex. The three dragons flew side by side over the lower slopes and then climbed higher, following the route Ruby had taken with Fara and Magnus. When they reached the valley where his cave was, Ruby pulled ahead and guided them to the exact spot. Once there, she beat her wings, keeping herself in one place in the air, while indicating the cave entrance with her tail.

I always wondered what your tail was for, Ruby told her dragon. It’s like a pointy stick.

Her dragon huffed in response. Once she was sure Sapphi and Alex were blocking the trail in the right place, she lifted higher into the air, blew a stream of fire at the others as a farewell message and then headed southeast, using her dragon senses to guide her to their destination.

Her dragon flew on, with only their mate as company while the sky darkened and the stars came out one by one. There was something magical about the night and the sense of freedom the wide expanse of sky above gave her. She could let go of her hopes and fears because in the immense scale of space and time, they were inconsequential.

Using her dragon senses, she changed course whenever they strayed near an airplane. Then, in the distance, she saw the mountain range where Tiberius lived. The place where they might find their answers. She angled her body and flew straight and true toward the hidden valley that had been their home for years. If Magnus being in Bear Creek caused trouble with Thorn, they could always come live here, hidden away.

But Bear Creek is our home, her dragon protested.

And Magnus is our mate, Ruby replied. Which is more important?

Her dragon gave no answer as she tucked in her wings and aimed for the valley where Tiberius and Helena were waiting. But as they neared the valley, a large dragon uncurled itself from a mountain peak and rose up before them. Helena was majestic.

And she knows it, Ruby’s dragon replied. But that didn’t stop the thrill of excitement coursing through her body as she opened her wings and chased Helena along the top of high ridges, bouncing off mountain peaks in a game of cat and mouse, until finally, they spiraled down together to land on the ledge outside Helena’s home.

Helena shifted immediately, laughing as she joined Tiberius who stood under the overhang that protected the cave system in which they’d made their home. “That was fun.”

Ruby landed carefully and lowered her body so Magnus could dismount. Looking sheepish at her mate, she gave him a dragon grin, hoping he’d forgive her for the ride since she’d almost forgotten he was there as she’d chased after Helena.

“You must be Magnus.” Helena rushed forward and hugged him, while Tiberius shook his hand.

“Good to meet you,” Tiberius said. “You have to excuse my wife’s excitement, she’s like this every time she meets a new dragon.”

“Good to meet you both. But I’m not a dragon,” Magnus informed them solemnly.

“Not yet,” Helena replied. “But I am convinced Tiberius can solve this conundrum. Ever since we found out there were more dragons he has gone back to his studies.” She smiled in adoration of her husband. Helena might be the stuff of myths and legends, but she loved her husband very much.

“I have been seeking out the ancient tomes, filled with enough dry reading to make me choke,” Tiberius said. “Those guys really needed to get a life.”

“Thank you for letting us stay,” Ruby said as she joined them. She hugged Alex’s parents.

“Any time, we are family.” Helena’s words reminded Ruby of how she’d acted toward Sapphi. It was a lesson learned and not one she would repeat.

“Come, let’s eat and you can tell us everything.” Tiberius led them inside. The caves were light and airy, with comfortable soft furnishings, most of which looked handmade. The large table they ate around was hand-carved, too, but then with no TV and no internet, they had to do something to fill their days.

I can just imagine you sitting around a fire on a winter’s eve knitting baby clothes, her dragon said.

Ruby kept her answer to herself. But her dragon was right. Living here might be safe, but it also promised to be boring.

So we fight for the life we want, her dragon told her.

Ruby sighed. We fight for the life we want.

“And you can’t remember waking up?” Tiberius asked Magnus as he cleared the plates after the meal of rice and vegetables flavored with herbs from the garden Tiberius tended each day.

“No. Nothing. My first memories are from when I met Fara about a hundred feet down from the cave entrance.” Magnus looked relaxed as he sipped a homemade beer. “This is good.”

“I grow the hops myself,” Tiberius said.

“I’d love to see them. The new world is so different than the old world I lived in.” Magnus took another gulp of beer, looking the most relaxed she’d seen him.

“I agree,” Helena said. “I don’t get the need for all these new gadgets people can’t seem to live without.”

“And since when did a horse and wagon not get you where you wanted to go?” Magnus asked with a nod. “Life is so fast today.”

Great. Ruby might not like this simple way of life, but what if Magnus did? Would she give up everything to make him happy?

“Do you think you can help?” Ruby asked, wanting an end to the nostalgic conversation of which she had no part in.

“Perhaps. There is a temple high on a peak to the north where the great dragon masters lived. Shanrah Da, the locals call it. Untouchable by man. There are many books there that I haven’t read yet. Tomorrow we should go and take a look at them. Between us, we may find what we need.”

“We should all get an early night,” Helena said. “We’ll start out at first light and spend the day at the temple.”

“Shall we help you clear everything away?” Ruby asked.

“I’ll do that while Helena shows you to your bedroom.” Tiberius lit a stove and set water to boil. “Goodnight.”

“Night.” Ruby followed Helena into a tunnel leading off the kitchen.

“Good night and thank you, Tiberius,” Magnus said and nodded, before joining the two women.

“Here, it’s a comfortable room,” Helena said. “Help yourself to whatever you need.”

“Thanks again, Helena. For everything.” Ruby went to the bed and sat down as Helena left the room, closing the door behind her. “I’m so tired.”

Magnus flopped down on his back beside her. “Do you think he can do it?”

Ruby lowered herself down next to him, and he put his arm around her shoulders, holding her close. “Tiberius is a good man. If anyone can find a way, he will.” She turned onto her side and kissed his cheek. “And if it doesn’t work out on this visit, we can come back.”

“Or stay here until we do find an answer,” Magnus replied, stroking her hair. “I could imagine you here working the gardens and tending to my needs.”

Her face clouded, but she held her tongue, too tired to argue with him now.

“In my time, a man was the master and the woman his chattels…”

That did it. “We do not live in your time, Magnus.” She went to get up but he pulled her back down beside him.

“A woman should clean the house, tend the garden, wash the clothes and service her man’s every need.”

“In my world, men and women are equal.” Her eyes flashed. If he wanted a fight, he was about to get one. But then his eyes crinkled, and he burst out laughing.

Swatting him on the chest, she refused to see the funny side of his jest, until he said, “I don’t think I will ever be your equal, Ruby. You are incredible.”

“Don’t ever forget that. Even if you do get your memories back. If you want someone to wash your clothes, get a maid.”

“And what about servicing my every need?” he asked.

Ruby moved to straddle his thighs, her fingers entwining with his, and she lifted his hands above his head, pinning him down to the bed. “Only if you service mine in return.”

“I promise.”

“Well then.” She lowered her head and kissed his lips, feeling him harden beneath her. Slowly, she rubbed herself against him. He hardened further, and the breath hissed through his teeth.

Rolling her onto her back, he kissed her mouth until she was breathless. “I have lost my heart to you, Ruby red dragon.”

She threaded her fingers through his hair. “And I’ve lost my heart to you, Magnus Dumas.”

“I will always hold it safe,” he promised, and she believed him.