CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
How could she be so warm and so cold at the same time? It was the very first thought that popped into Valeria’s mind when she woke up. And at that instant, this thought reminded her of the time she had been saved from the river by Asher, sick with pneumonia.
But too soon, memories flooded her with images, sounds and emotions that happened since she had woken up that day in her basement cell, saved by her golden wolf. Asher.
When she blinked her eyes open, she realized first that she was facing a window overlooking a forest. The sun was slowly descending through the trees, illuminating the shivering leaves in a colorful wave. She shifted to glance around, realizing that she was in Asher’s room. Alone.
Restless, she got out of bed, her dragon already rearing its head, searching for its wolf. Her mate. The sun was setting, and she quickly found a blue shirt of his, as her beast sensed Asher in the kitchen. Not alone. She needed to see him now, and know what happened between the last image she remembered at the stone circle and her waking up in his bed.
As she quickly padded downstairs, she saw her friends all sitting at the table, and Asher at the counter pouring a cup of tea. He barely had time to put the pot of boiling water down before she catapulted herself into his arms. Immediately she buried her nose in his neck and inhaled deeply. Her dragon sighed and settled when his arms closed around her. Gently, he brushed her dark hair away from her face and kissed her deeply. Valeria tried her best to remember all the sensations, the tastes of him, as she was running out of time. Pushing her sorrow away, she broke the kiss and smiled.
“I was bringing you tea, my love.”
“I don’t need tea. I only need you.” Asher grinned and kissed her again.
Someone coughed behind them, and she heard the laughter of Sera and Violet. Nipping at his lips one last time, Valeria turned. “What are you laughing about?”
Violet smirked at her friend as Sera blushed. “You should have put on something a little longer. When you kissed your wolf, the shirt revealed a little bit too much. I don’t mind your behind, girlfriend, but I think Finn and Ian enjoyed it a bit too much.
Asher growled behind her but released his grip as she approached her friend. “Then conjure up some clothes for me quick, because I’m going to hug you now, my silly Vi.”
No sooner had she stated her request, a pair of jeans, boots and a dark blue sweater appeared on her body. As if on cue, as soon as she was covered, Violet took her in a hard hug. A second after, the gentle arms of Sera came around them both. What she hoped to be light, became profound and emotional for the three of them. Valeria kissed them both and released them, struggling to keep the tears at bay.
Ignoring her moist eyes, she went to Ian and hugged the dark werewolf and the surprised Finn before coming to sit beside Asher. They may only have but one hour left, but she owed answers to her friend.
All eyes on her, she started telling her side of the story, from the moment she entered Lionel Lancaster’s study until she lost consciousness. When she finished, she noticed Finn looking at Asher.
“What?” And then it struck her. “Genevieve! Maya! What happened? How are they?”
Asher took her hand. “Calm down, my love. They’re safe. Once we freed them, they decided to leave. Genevieve contacted her brother, and they’re both staying with him.”
Exhaling in relief, Valeria shook her head. “What happened to you Finn, and you guys, when I was transported outside?”
Finn smiled as Violet groaned. “Don’t listen to the vampire. Everything he says is a lie.”
Sera giggled and shook her head. “What those two are saying is we got lost in the basement.”
Valeria blinked. “Lost? In the cellar?”
“A labyrinth spell, that’s what the witches said.” Finn snickered, and Violet elbowed him.
“How did you get out?”
Sera winked. “At some point, Finn disappeared. One of Lancaster’s spells. Ian was our savior. With his nose, he could find our way out.”
Ian only shrugged. “It’s a wolf thing. Happy that I could help.”
“When we were finally out, we heard screaming from the clearing. We ran to the sound and arrived with Asher as you…”
Violet stopped speaking, hesitating. She turned to Sera, then back at Valeria.
“Vi, Sera, just tell me, would you? Knowing that Finn, Genevieve and Maya are well, I don’t really care about the rest.”
Her friends both looked at Asher who finally answered. “When I reached the clearing, I saw you kneeling outside the circle, chained with silver. I was about to change when you … you blew flames at Lancaster.”
“Not exactly flames.” Ian explained. “It was more like flammable goo.”
Finn shook his head. “No, no, it was viscous, and when it touched Lancaster, the man caught fire.”
Valeria rubbed her eyes for a moment, torn between disbelief and laughing. “So I threw up at him and he caught fire. Elegant.”
Violet winked at her. “But efficient. I vote for the end result.”
Valeria turned to her mate. “And you’re a courageous man kissing me after seeing that.”
Asher’s blue eyes twinkled in mischief. “I can get enough of your fire, my love. I never feared you the entire time. I was in awe.”
“But I fainted. I remember the fire inside me, and then I was out.”
Sera touched her shoulder. “Yeah, my best guess is that you did some sort of overcharge when you couldn’t change. The magic built up, surfing on your emotions and when you finally could burn Lancaster down, your energy dropped suddenly, making you faint.”
Valeria took a moment to process all that information, taking one of Asher’s hands in hers and taking a look through the windows to the setting sun. “Well, it was quite a ride.” And she glanced at each of her friends, old and new, and finally at the man who owned her heart. “And I don’t regret a single thing. I’m honored to have been by your side.”
At her words, Asher squeezed her hand and brought it to his lips when his attention was drawn outside.
Soren.
The weredragon was standing by the trees, eyes only on her. Waiting.
“Well, it seems that my ride has arrived.” Her attempt at humor didn’t work, but at least she tried. As a single unit, everyone came to their feet, but Valeria took a step back. “I think it would be better if we part ways now.”
Asher slid his arm around her waist and kissed her brow. “Love, I don’t think you would be able to keep any of us away. I thought you would have known that by now.”
Drawing a breath, she forced herself to smile at each of them and walked through the door. Asher never let go of her hand, and to be honest, his hold bolstered her. And it would be the last thing she would abandon in this world.
Walking toward her biological father, she realized she respected more the man about to end her life than the monster who raised her.
The weredragon waiting, all-powerful and so old. Impossible to read, appearing so young, barely ten years older than her, beautiful and ancient at the same time.
As they approached, Asher’s energy increased, enveloping her like a protective blanket. And everyone tightened the circle, acting as a silent shield. And for that, she would be forever grateful.
Soren arched an eyebrow. “Well, it seems that you have brought a farewell party.”
Valeria looked around and shrugged. “The family I made for myself, as my blood has mostly died or betrayed me.”
Nodding, Soren extended his hand to her. Without turning back to Asher, she tugged her hand free and gave it to the weredragon. It was too difficult to look back now. The touch of her father was so warm, and when his hand closed over hers, her heart skipped a beat. It was soon to be over. The very thought calmed her somehow even if her sorrow never ceased to pound in her heart.
Just as he started to pull her toward the forest, Soren halted suddenly, turning to her with suspicion in his golden eyes before they ignited into a raging inferno. The dragon sniffed the hair around her and snarled.
“You’re mated!”
Valeria blinked before answering. “Well, yes. Last night.”
Soren's eyes darted from her to Asher. “And do you know what will happen if I kill you now?”
Valeria gaped. “Well. I die, I guess. Isn’t that the standard practice?” She knew it was a dumb answer, but she was at a loss.
“Not only you, him too.” And as Soren pointed at Asher, she turned to see her beloved, a fierce expression on his face.
“What do you mean, Asher will die?”
“When he mated with you, he linked his lifeline with you. Every cell, every beating of his heart is now indissociable from yours.”
Her breath caught as she glanced back at Asher. “Is that true? Are you insane?” She stared at Asher, her heart shattering at the very thought that, for indulging one last time her love for him, wanting to feel she belonged to him for one night, she had put him at risk.
Turning back to Soren, Valeria didn’t know what to do.
Something passed in her father’s golden eyes before they settled to Asher. “Sanctuary Master, I have a question for you, and you know I can smell a lie a mile away. Why did you mate with her, knowing what was to come?”
Valeria frowned at the question and examined Asher, whose gaze never wavered from the weredragon, proud and all-powerful in front of the ancient shifter.
“I love her. I don’t care about the stupid rules from the High Council. My wolf knew she was his mate even before I realized it, and I prefer to have her by my side only a minute, if it’s all I have, then spend eternity alone.”
Valeria’s heart broke at his words, but she felt there was something underneath the words.
Soren narrowed his eyes, still on the werewolf, until he sighed and relaxed significantly.
“You’re telling the truth. Well played.”
Asher shook his head. “There is no trick, Racovan. Never.”
Soren nodded and, slowly, a smile stretched across his beautiful mouth. Valeria shook her head at both men.
“Okay, not that I’m impatient to die, but what’s going on?”
The weredragon shook his head. “Your mate has knowingly found a loophole. As I said, when you mated with your werewolf, you linked your lifeline with his. Meaning that if I kill you, I also kill him. The High Council frowns upon mate killing. Particularly prominent figures such as the Sanctuary Master, Asher Stonelake.”
The blue eyes that she loved locked with hers and as she felt him through their link, she understood. He was unable to let her go. Same as she.
“And also, as a member of the High Council, I don’t have any proof of mixed blood in you.”
“What?”
“I don’t smell anything but dragon on you.”
“Soren, I’m not a pure dragon, even if dormant, a part of me is still a witch.”
Surprisingly, the weredragon came forward and kissed Valeria’s forehead. “You will learn not to contradict your father in time. Especially not a member of the High Council.”
Soren nodded at Asher as he turned, and before disappearing behind the trees, took one last look at her. “And when you have properly thanked your mate, you’re welcome to my cabin, daughter. I believe we still have much to discuss.”
And he was gone.
Before she could even process what happened, Sera came and jumped into her arms followed closely by Violet. When she could speak, Valeria felt still stunned.
“Wow. I can’t believe that happened.”
Sera laughed and sobbed. “I searched for anything that could save you, but I’m not well versed in politics, but Finn is. But we couldn’t find anything. And we didn’t know about that mating.”
Finn nodded. “It seems that Asher made his choice last night. And it appears my old friend was only waiting for a reason to spare your life, Valeria.”
And for the first time, Valeria saw Violet offer a real smile at the vampire. “Let’s say it was teamwork. Asher wasn’t about to let you go and that Racovan wasn’t the asshole I thought him to be.”
Valeria kissed both her friends’ cheeks and winked at Ian and Finn before turning to Asher.
“Well, it seems you’re stuck with a dragon, you complete crazy wolf.”
“We’re safe for now, but even if Soren Racovan recognizes you as his daughter, you may eventually be discovered as a mixed blood. Even if protected by Racovan and the Sanctuary, others won’t accept you. Us.”
“Meaning we’re not out of the woods.”
“Unfortunately not. But I think it’s time for a change. Don’t you think?”
Valeria glimpsed at Sera and Violet, knowing more than she could say, and admitted that he was right.
“Well, my dear mate, with you, and everyone here, I’m ready for anything.”
As everyone left, Valeria’s eyes were only on Asher as the moon rose higher in the sky.
His hand came to her cheek, and she nuzzled his touch for a while. “I don’t sense any sentinels near, do you?”
Asher looked around. “They’re not close. Why?”
“Do you remember that pond in the forest? The first time I transformed for you?”
At his slow smile, he remembered. Tugging at her hand, he led her through the trees, the heat in his eyes feeding her own fire.