Chapter Eleven
Navigating the airwaves, he flew towards the clearing where he’d left his mate. Reaching for her with his mind, Asher’s wings fluttered to a stop, leaving him to float on the breeze as he found himself dropped center stage into her dreams, overcome by the fear and pain of a much younger, much weaker Willa. Looking around the small, cozy décor of an older caravan he could tell had been well maintained, his eyes landed on his mate, not yet a teenager, huddled on the floor, using the couch as a barrier between her and the argument raging out of control on the other side of the room.
Refusing to shed another tear for her asshole of a step-father, Willa looked out from behind the sofa just as Raymond doubled up his fist and punched her mother in the face. Blood, Maria’s blood, splattered on his face and down the front of his grubby T-shirt as he shook Willa’s mom, her head flopping back and forth as she fought to remain conscious.
Throwing her down, the trailer shaking as her knees hit the floor, he railed, “You’re a fucking worthless piece of shit. You always have been and you always will be.” Snatching Maria’s head backward by a fisted clump of her hair, he shouted, spittle raining from his thin, bloodless lips, “I saw you whoring yourself out to that fuckin’ bastard, Joe.”
Maria’s agonizing screams made Willa’s ears ring as Raymond jerked the older woman to her feet and flung her across the room without so much as a backward look. Hitting the wall with a hollow thud and sliding downward like an old, worn out ragdoll, Maria never even had the time to take a breath as the bastard flew across the tiny kitchen, his every bellowed word punctuated with a kick to her ribs.
“You’re mine, you filthy fucking bitch. MINE! And I’ll kill you before I let some other man touch you.”
Turning his wrath towards Willa, Joe grabbed the arm of the couch, flung it across the living room, then wrapped his meaty paw around the young girl’s arm. Pulling her to her feet, he shoved his face into hers, the acrid stench of sour whiskey and stale cigarettes making her eyes water as he spat, “And you’re nothing but a whore in the making.”
Adrenalin flooded her system. Her body shook with such fury that her teeth chattered and her vision wavered. Mysticism, bitter, vindictive, and cold as the grave rose within her. Shoving her palms against Joe’s chest and looking directly into his soulless, mud-green eyes, Willa shot the malevolent enchantment straight into his rapidly beating heart. Grinning as her worthless step-father flew through the air, crashed against the far wall and fell face-first onto the scuffed, yellowing linoleum floor, unconscious and struggling to breathe. Running to her mother, Willa helped the older woman to her feet, vowing that Raymond would never again raise a hand against any woman.
Transforming from Fire Dragon back to man as he dropped from flight, Asher landed at the edge of the grass-covered meadow. Thankful Solveig had taken control, directing them to their mate, the Guardsman’s heart skipped a beat as a sleeping Willa rolled to her side, a tearful whimper escaping her beautiful lips.
Growling under his breath as he crossed the meadow in three strides, he knelt beside his mate, gently lifting her into his arms, reveling in the spark of their connection thrumming through his body. Getting to his feet, holding Willa close to his heart, Asher crossed the meadow, traversed the side of the craggy cliff behind them and ducked into the first cave he could be sure was unoccupied.
Sprinting to the center of the cavern, his preternatural senses assuring him that no one would bother them, Asher walked to the farthest corner of the grotto, sitting beside the stone basin being filled by the spring water trickling down the wall. Working with his Dragon, the Guardsman let the peaceful, calming feelings of adoration and budding love freely flow through their ever-growing mating bond.
Drawn to Willa, the need to touch her, to protect her, to heal her as she was healing him, Asher softly laid the back of the fingers from his newly-regenerated hand against the silken skin of her cheek. The electricity of their connection skittered up his arm, down his spine and into his soul, igniting the slow burn of a love designed by Destiny and guaranteed by Fate.
Racing, slamming to a stop and then racing again, his heart was searching, seeking, and finally landing upon the beat of Willa’s heart. Every single thing, the pulse of his veins, the air in his lungs, the Dragon of his soul, all confirmed what his mother and father had said and what the Guardsman already knew – she was the one, the only one, who could save him from himself.
Unable to look away, the pull of the One the Universe had made for him like nothing he’d ever experienced, his finger traced the gentle curve of her cheek. Smiling as her eyes fluttered open and immediately found his, Willa scowled, “What are you doing here?”
Scampering off his lap and scooting back until the wall of the cave touched her back, she added, “I thought you said…” Getting up on her knees, Willa pointed and gasped, speaking so quickly, her words were difficult to follow. “How did you…? Is that real? You can grow whole appendages?” Up on her feet, she rushed forward, plopped down beside him and lifted the hand his father had replaced, examining it closely she continued, “Is this like your other one? Is it bionic? You know, like the Six-Million Dollar Man? Can you crush steel and push through walls?”
Fervently shaking her head, she gave a stunted chuckle, “No, not bionic, you’re a freakin’ Dragon. You could do all that crazy shit without breakin’ a sweat.” Looking up at him she beamed, “This is incredible. I’m so hap…”
Suddenly silent, Willa schooled her features, dropped his hand and scooted as far away from him as the confines of that side of the cave allowed. Dropping her chin to her chest, his mate unfortunately completed her original thought, “I thought you said the Universe had made a mistake.” Glancing up, her eyes filled with sadness and despair, she added, “If that’s what you believe, why are you back here?”
Unsure what to say, how to act, sure he didn’t possess the eloquence to form a proper explanation, his father’s words echoed in his mind as the Madness continued to patrol the sidelines waiting for a chance to strike. Opening his mouth, for the first time in his life, Asher let his heart do the talking. “I am so sorry.” He shoved his fingers through the long tangles and snares of his filthy hair. “I am sorry for what I said, sorry that I walked away, sorry that you’re stuck with such a poor excuse for a mate.” Throwing his hands in the air, his words coming faster the longer he spoke, he went on, “It is you who should walk away. Get up and run as far and as fast as you can from me. Let the Madness win. I deserve it for being such a right foul git.”
Needing to move, his nerves causing his to sweat and stutter, Asher was up in a flash, ignoring Willa’s need to speak as he paced the length of the grotto, rambling on, “You’re going to think I’m crazier than I already was, but my father came to me while I was storming off like an idiot. I know, I know, I sound like a raving lunatic. The man who’s been dead for four centuries appeared right before ne, flesh and blood, no worse for the wear.” Scratching at his beard, he rammed his fists into the air over his head. “He restored my hand, reunited me with my Dragon and gave me a brief respite from the Madness.”
Doing an about-face when he reached the mouth of the cave, it was reassuring to see Willa hanging on his every word and not looking at him like she wanted to blast him out of existence. It was then he remembered the voice of Raynor, another of the Berserkers and one of his closest friends and one of the man’s favorite sayings. “Reveal your true self to those you love the most, for nothing you are will make them love you less.”
Heading straight for Willa, Asher sat down directly in front of her, mirroring her posture and reached for her hand. Relieved when she let him thread his fingers through hers, the Guardsman softly implored, “To understand, you need to see.”