Chapter Seven – Ruby

The journey into the valley was slow, which did not suit Ruby or her dragon, who huffed smoke out of her snout. She was impatient to be the center of attention and allow their mate his first glimpse of her vibrant red scales, and to sample her flying prowess.

Show-off, Ruby told her.

Which her dragon ignored.

Although Ruby’s patience was tested, she didn’t hold it against Fara, who was strong and supple despite her more advanced years. With a fierce look of concentration on her face, she worked her way along the valley, climbing over obstacles, and ducking under fallen trees, which had fallen from the tree-lined sides of the valley over the years. In various states of decomposition, they littered the valley, leaving the impression of a tree graveyard. This whole valley gave her the creeps, the shadows deepening the further they ventured inside its jaws.

“This should be far enough.” Ruby stopped. The ground surrounding her was relatively clear, but it was shielded by a recently fallen Scots pine. Its branches still believed it was alive, and no needles had yet fallen. It rose up into the air, a good ten feet or more, and would hide her dragon from anyone who might be watching from the entrance of the valley.

But not from above the valley. Ruby’s dragon would scan the area once she had shifted. If there was anyone close enough to see, she would sense them.

“Let me have a drink.” Fara retrieved her water bottle from her backpack, took a long drink and then passed it around. “Maybe I should have swallowed a couple of Valium, too.” She closed her backpack securely. “I don’t like flying in an airplane, so I’m certain I’m not going to like this.”

“I promise to look after you,” Ruby told her, then her eyes rested on Magnus.

“Well, here’s the thing. I’m going to get this strapping young man to put his arms around me and hold me tight.” Fara cackled as jealousy flickered over Ruby’s face. “Only because I know full well you won’t allow a single hair on his head to get damaged. So if he’s attached to me, I’m safe.”

Magnus laughed. “You are an old fox.”

“An old wolf, actually,” Fara corrected him. “And damn proud of it. Takes a lot to get one over on Fara.”

“I believe it,” Ruby said. “You remind me of my mom.”

“You don’t say that as if it’s a good thing.” Fara folded her arms across her chest, ready to take offense.

“My mom is one of the best people I know. Loyal, strong, kind. With a hard exterior, she used to protect herself for a long time.” Ruby stepped back from the others, figuring out how much room she needed and whether it would be better if Magnus and Fara hid behind the fallen tree before she shifted.

“You love her,” Magnus interjected, watching her every move. Ruby shuddered, liking the way his eyes followed her as if he couldn’t tear them away.

“I do.” She glanced over to Fara. “Saying you reminded me of my mom was a compliment. You’d protect those you care about from anyone or anything that might try to hurt them, and damn the consequences.”

“Ahh, stop blabbering and get on with it,” Fara said brusquely. “We’re wasting daylight.”

“Okay. I’m ready, but I want you two to stand back. Way back. There’s enough room here for me, but only just.” Ruby watched as Magnus wrapped his arm around Fara to guide her to a safe distance.

“I can do it,” Fara said bluntly. “I’m not an invalid. You brought me up here to help, not so you can mother me.”

Magnus let her go, waiting until she’d taken a position behind a boulder and then standing next to her, shielding her with his body. If she noticed, she didn’t make a comment. With the two people watching, Ruby was ready to shift. It was an unusual feeling to shift in front of two strangers in broad daylight. Normally secretive, she was used to hugging the darkness or staying out of sight.

“We’re waiting,” Fara interrupted her thoughts.

Ruby didn’t answer, she simply allowed her dragon to speak for herself. With a rush of air, static electricity sparked and crackled across her skin as she left this world, only for her dragon to burst through the veil that separated the woman from her beast. Large, red, and fierce, her dragon swished her tail like an angry cat as she looked above them to the clifftops, making sure it was safe before she relaxed.

Exactly what her dragon would do if there was someone up there looking down on them, Ruby didn’t want to contemplate. Although her dragon had always been a preserver of life, except for the few small animals she’d killed in her younger days, when mastering the art of hunting, she’d never hurt a soul. Yet Ruby was aware of the simmering primal force that was barely kept in check by the human side of the partnership.

Ruby never forgot her dragon was a beast from ancient times when self-preservation kept you alive and hunting your own meat was the only way to satisfy your hunger.

“Are you done posing?” Fara asked as she and Magnus approached. Despite her words, there was a look of awe and intimidation on her face. Ruby was tempted to breathe fire and burn the Scots pine to a crisp, just to remind everyone who was in charge, but she resisted. Just.

“You are amazing,” Magnus told her, reaching out to touch her snout, which her dragon kindly lowered to make it easier for him. Who wouldn’t want their mate stroking their nose like they were a soft, cuddly kitten?

Ruby’s dragon puffed smoke from her nostrils in contentment, pleased when Magnus didn’t shy away from her. As he ran his hand along her nose, she closed her eyes in pleasure. He could do that all day and she wouldn’t complain. Not one bit.

“So how do we get on?” Fara asked, breaking up their intimate moment.

Ruby opened her eyes and surveyed the old woman, trying to decide if there was enough meat on her for a snack.

Be nice, Ruby warned her.

I was joking, her dragon replied, puffing smoke in Fara’s face.

“Charming.” Fara wafted her hand in front of her face, while the dragon bent her leg and angled her body down toward the ground.

“Here, I’ll help you up,” Magnus said, taking hold of Fara’s hand and leading her around to stand by the side of the dragon.

“Are you sure it’s safe?” Fara asked as she lifted her leg and placed her foot on the dragon’s foreleg.

“Ruby won’t hurt you,” Magnus assured her.

“It’s not Ruby I’m worried about.” Taking hold of her courage, Fara pushed herself up, reaching for one of the spines that ran along the dragon’s back. Her fingers closed around the horny spine, but as she tried to clamber aboard, her center of gravity shifted, and she toppled backward.

With lightning fast reflexes, Magnus caught her in his arms. “I’ve got you.”

Fara went limp and rested against him for a moment, before wriggling free. “Let’s try that again.”

Ruby’s dragon crouched down, lowering her body as close to the ground as she could. Magnus reached out and stroked her shoulder, while he placed his right hand under Fara’s arm and helped her up onto Ruby’s back. There were no protests from Fara, no comments about saving her dignity as she sat straddling the red dragon and adjusted her position until she was comfortable and relatively secure. Although, by the way she gripped the dragon’s spine, Ruby was certain she was scared, nervous about what was to follow.

With an agile leap, Magnus seated himself behind Fara, and wrapped his right arm around her and held onto the spine with his left hand. Her dragon shivered at his touch, thrilled with the sense of connection between them. If her dragon had any doubts as to whether Magnus was their mate, they were now gone, buried in the dirt that crumbled beneath her huge talons as she took one step forward and then launched herself into the air.

Fara cried out and then fell silent. The only sound filling the valley was the steady thrum of wings as Ruby rose into the air, skirting the high cliffs, using them as cover as she flew along the length of the valley.

When she reached the end, she followed a line of trees that clung to a cliffside. They had once sat on top of the cliff, but heavy rain had caused a landslide some years ago, and they now stood in a crumpled heap halfway down the side of the rocky outcrop. They faced in all directions and gave good cover to the dragon as she beat her wings slowly and methodically.

Her dragon knew where she was heading, the description of the place where Fara had found Magnus was not far from the valley she’d flown through earlier this morning.

Wait, was it only this morning? So much had happened, so much had changed since her early morning flight. She’d reveled in her freedom and pitied herself for feeling lonely. Meeting her mate had meant she’d lost her freedom to do as she pleased and think of no one else. It also meant that if Magnus stayed with her, she would never know loneliness again.

How she wished he had his memories. How she wished he would remember his dragon. Or any other shifter, she would settle for that. Because a shifter would never leave.

Ruby pushed herself faster, the need to get to the valley and check the area out thoroughly strong. When they returned from the mountain later today, she wanted this to be over. She wanted to know all the answers, not just for her own sake, but for Magnus, too.

But that might bring him heartbreak, her dragon said quietly.

What do you mean? Ruby asked as the trees ended and she banked, hugging the edge of a cliff. Soon she would have to risk abandoning the scant cover and flying in the open. Between this section of the mountain and the area they were headed, she needed to cover two hundred feet during which time she would be completely exposed.

When he remembers. Her dragon was in no doubt he would. When he remembers, he will remember it all. Not just the reason he was sent into Ancient Slumber, but also the people he knew, family and friends who are now past.

And he’ll mourn them. Ruby understood her dragon’s concerns. We’ll be there for him.

But will we be enough?

Her dragon closed her mind to Ruby and concentrated all her senses on the surrounding area. They were about to break their cover, and they had to be sure they would not be seen. All shifters were secretive, but the dragons even more so. A bear or a wolf could pass for a real wild animal as long as no one saw them actually shifting. A dragon did not have the same luxury of blending in.

Confident they were alone, but aware that Fara and her mate were on her back, she broke cover and flew fast and true. The wind whipped at her face, and her lungs burned as her wings beat fast. She hadn’t noticed the added weight until now, but the two passengers she carried slowed her down. Ruby pulled on her energy reserves and forced her muscles to work harder.

Ahead of her, the next mountain peak grew closer. Her dragon aimed for a valley that ran along the side of the rock like a jagged scar. The space between her and safety grew less with every wing beat, until she counted down, three…two…one.

Relief swept over her and she slowed, shifting her attention to the two people on her back. Were they okay? Magnus rested the flat of his hand on her side and stroked her scales. “That was amazing.”

She wanted to tell him he hadn’t seen anything yet. Instead, she opened her mouth and a stream of fire burst out in front of her.

Fara’s laugh echoed off the sides of the valley. “I’d gladly have you by my side through any fight.”

Ruby’s dragon grinned and took in a large gulp of air, before spewing it out of her mouth, its red glow lighting up the narrow valley. She didn’t often let off steam like this, but it wasn't often that she had people on her back.

The first time with our mate, Ruby reminded her.

The only reply Ruby got back was that her dragon would much rather fly alongside her mate than have him sitting on her back.

Ruby had no answer for her, only hope that when they reached the place where Fara had found Magnus, they would be able to retrace his steps and find some answers.

If not, Ruby would tear the mountain apart if she had to. Somewhere, in the mountain range she called her home, was the key. She knew it.

But knowing is never enough, her dragon reminded her sagely.

She hated it when her dragon was right. Resigned to their mission, her dragon flew on.