Jedidiah: Dragon’s Savior – Ménage Erotic Fantasy (Dragon's Savior Book 2) (10 page)

“I met her dad this morning. He’s very strange, isn’t he?” Jed stiffened in her arms, and she looked up at him. “What is it?”

“You met Abraham? When?” She stepped back from the anger in his voice. “I’m not mad at you, love, but Abraham isn’t near here. He left here several months ago to stay with Caroline. She is helping him acclimate himself to this century.”

“He was in the field near the big cave. I didn’t go to him, but he sort of appeared there. I didn’t care for him, if you want to know the truth of it. He was rude and very…he asked a lot of questions that I never answered.” Lindsey tried to think what he’d looked like and came up blank. “I don’t know what he looks like to describe him to you. I’m betting that…it’s because I didn’t know the real one, so he had to fake it, didn’t he?”

“Yes. He more than likely wanted to get you alone and that’s why he met you there. Did he mention the pit? Or the demon?” She said that he had, several times. “He’s trying to figure out if we’re going to do as he asked. All of us get together like Zak’s mother had suggested.”

“So it was never the queen that came to see me, just as Asher said.” Jed nodded and told her that it was a good thing to know. “I know, but it was sort of cool to think that she’d reached out to me. And this demon, what do we do about him now? I’m assuming that I can’t call him out and get rid of him.”

“No, but I know someone that can. Caroline has been hiding in the house since she got here. I’m betting that he has no idea that she’s around. Because if he did, I’m sure that he’d not have approached you like he did.” Lindsey looked around the room again and marveled at how quickly things had soured. “He won’t be able to come to the house. There is a great deal of magic here, and that is keeping us all safe. But for the time being, stay around the houses. I’m not sure that he’d not resort to something to get to us.”

She told him that she would and went back to the kitchen with him. There were things in the pantry to eat, but there were no staples. Milk and butter for one thing, and eggs. Lindsey thought about raising chickens here, but decided that they might not care for the idea. But the longer it simmered in her head, the more appealing it became. She mentioned it to Jed in a passing sort of way.

“Chickens for eggs? I love the idea. And it would make it so that Grandda didn’t have to go into town every few days for them. What about a barn and a couple of milking cows? We could even learn to care for them as well.” She was warming to the idea, and even to the garden that he told her that he’d asked Asher for. “You might want to start smaller than he put in, but I think it’ll be fun for us all to have fresh things. I know that while Zak and the others don’t eat a lot of green things, they will eat them. But I enjoy a nice salad once in a while.”

It was cold now and getting colder, but spring wasn’t as far off as it looked. In a few short months she could plow up her garden and get it ready for things like tomatoes and corn. Giddy with it now, she asked if she could use his computer to look at seed catalogs.

“We need to get you a computer of your own. And I think Zak and I are going to open a business. I know you said you were good at filing and all, but what if you helped us out with our books? It might be fun for us all to work together.” Lindsey told him she loved the idea. “Good. We already looked at a building, and we think we might be open as soon as the New Year. Asher said that we have enough to keep us filled up; antiques, I mean.”

As they talked, like a real couple, Zak joined them. They decided to grill out and realized that they had nothing to use. Laughing about how they had a great deal but very little to actually go with things, they built a fire with Zak’s help and cooked the steaks out on the open flame. As she baked some potatoes, Lindsey realized how much she loved being here. And with these two. They were her life, and as far as she was concerned, everyone and everything else could just leave them alone.

As they enjoyed their dinner, Jed told her stories of them growing up in the area. How it had been to be with dragons and five brothers. Zak told about the Christmases they’d had as a family, and how Sally, their other mother, had never made them feel any less a part of the household than blood.

“She’d knit us the most amazing scarfs and sweaters. One year I got one from her that had this huge dragon on the back of it. I think I wore it well into summer, never wanting to take it off because she’d made it just for me. I fully expected her to make them all one the following year, but she didn’t. It was the only one I think she ever made.” Zak smiled softly at the memory, and Lindsey felt her heart overflow with love.

“I go to her grave and talk to her sometimes. I see that she…there is so much love in her headstone. I know that she can’t hear me, but I just tell her about what I’ve been up to and what I’m doing. I even told her that I love you guys.” Lindsey picked up their plates and took them to the kitchen, glad that no one followed her. Standing looking out the window, she saw a small bird and realized it might have been injured. Going out onto the porch, she realized two things at once.

It wasn’t a bird, and it was hurt.

The dragon, small and scared, moved to stand in front of her before she could call to the others. Essie came out of their house and moved toward her until Lindsey put up her hand to stop her. The dragon might be small, but Lindsey had a feeling that it was a great deal more powerful than it looked for its size.

“I felt it. Only when it touched the ground. Do you know what’s wrong with her?” Lindsey felt Jed and Zak come out onto the porch, but they didn’t move toward her as Essie continued. “Asher is getting Elbert. I think he’s in the back field.”

“I’m not going to harm you.” The dragon, about four or five inches tall and with her tail about twelve inches long, sat down on her hind feet and stared at her. “Can you tell me your name?”

“Daisy
.”
Lindsey nearly laughed at the odd name, but only nodded
.
“They told us that you’d be able to speak to us. I didn’t want to believe them. It’s been so long since…where are the king and queen?”

When she pointed to Essie and now Asher, Daisy made her way to them. She moved slowly, and that was when she noticed the mark on her back. Someone had hurt her recently. Lindsey asked her about it.

“There is one that would have us for his trophy room. I have only just gotten away with my life.” She turned to look at Lindsey as she stopped moving to Asher and Essie. “You can help me? I should like to be healed should he come here to get me and the others.”

“How many more of you are there, do you know?” Daisy said that she’d been with two others when they’d crested the mountain, but the man had been waiting for them. Lindsey told them what the dragon had said.

“He killed one of us. The other, I don’t know. He was flying higher than myself and Darthmeth were, but he disappeared as soon as we saw the man. I think Salomon was pulling his attention away from us.”

Zak said he’d go and look for him and shifted to his dragon. As soon as he was gone, Daisy bowed to the king and queen of dragons and then stared openly at Caroline. It was then that Lindsey realized how old all these people were. Caroline had been around so long that she had more than likely met all the dragons that were coming to them.

An hour after Daisy had found a place to rest, Zak returned. He had the body of the other female in his claws and the male was holding onto his back. Darthmeth had been killed by magic, it was determined…the same magic that had injured Salomon. He would live, but it would be a while before he’d be able to fly. Elbert was caring for him when Zak took the small body of Darthmeth to the field to give her a proper dragon burial.

“What is that? A proper dragon burial?” Elbert nodded to a book on the dresser, and Lindsey picked it up. “This is beautiful.”

“It was my own king and queen’s. They had it for generations, and when I was to help Sally and Jacob, they read it as well. Caring for dragons is not easy. You may use it, if you wish.” She told him that she would. “It is magical. If you need something, put your hand over the dragons then ask it, in dragon speak, and it will take you to the page. Or you may read it from cover to cover. I would suggest that you do the latter for the fact that you’ll understand more than most.”

“Because I can talk to them.” He told her that was some of it. “And what else? Do you know something, I don’t…well, I know you do, but I mean about myself and this book?”

“You are mentioned in the pages. Your name is there with the others to come. Do not show them what you find, but since you are able to speak the language, you can read it as well.” She nodded and told him that neither Zak nor Jed could read it, and she’d thought that strange. “‘Tis not strange, but the way things are. Read it. I shall be happy for the chance to share the knowledge.”

Lindsey had a feeling that she’d be a good deal more confused than helpful, but said nothing as they tended to Salomon’s wounds.

Chapter 10

Everyone stood around the open area. Jacob was scared, if truth be known, but he knew that if they were going to get this done, then that thing had to be taken care of. He had a feeling that the monster had played a part in the deaths of the king and queen, but hadn’t said anything to anyone but his Sally. She had, of course, agreed with him.

You keep our boys safe, now you hear me?
He told her that he’d rather die again than to let them be hurt.
And you don’t be getting yourself all tangled up either. I’m not there to tend to you now, and you might not get the proper healing.

“I got me Elbert. That man can heal about anything.” She told him that she knew that. “Lindsey’s got herself a right fine job. Did I tell you that she can speak with dragons?”

You did. What you failed to mention is that there are two more on the land. I knew little Daisy when she was just a hatchling. You should remember her too. Her parents had named her that hoping for the good graces of the earth to keep her safe, remember?
He did now that she reminded him.
Born in the dead of winter. Snow up to our bottoms, and they’re naming a dragon Daisy. Poor thing was made fun of for decades.

“That she was, that she was.” He laughed as he pulled weeds around her stone. “I got me some plants coming in. Lindsey and Essie are gonna help me plant them for you. Myrtle of all things. You can just go out and pull it up like a weed, and they’re ordering it from some computer thing.”

It will be tamer, Lindsey told me.
He’d been told the same thing, but he liked the wildness of it.
What are you going to do about the man that hunts them? If he finds them all on the land, he’ll make trouble for you all. I wish I was there to help.

“Me too, my love. I miss you more and more every day.” He lay back against the post that had been there since the day he’d put his only true love in the ground. “Jed and the others have them a house now. Asher put it up for them, but I think that little Lindsey would have been thrilled with a tent if they gave it to her. She’s all excited to be having a meal. Had to send them boys off to get her some proper things to cook with. And I got her a grill. Not one of them fancy kinds that you can put cold stuff in, but a regular one. Mayhap she’ll have me over for a meal or two soon.”

She loves you. Talks about you all the time when she comes to see me.
He had to think if he’d done anything to warrant him getting into trouble with his wife when she laughed at him.
You old goat. You know that she’d never tell me a thing that you’d done wrong. But don’t you think for a minute that I don’t know.
He nodded, then remembered she couldn’t see him.

“Tomorrow we’re gonna confront us that demon. I’m not sure what we’re going to do with him, but we’re going to do it. Lindsey said we’d do it our way and not his, in any case.” He thought of how passionate she’d been about it and smiled. “Got her a fine temper, she does. But I like her idea.”

Jed touched his arm and it took him from his memories of his wife. He had to blink several times to realize that he’d missed something, and when Jed smiled, Jacob told him he was sorry. Thinking about his wife would take away the worse kind of thoughts for him.

“Are you ready, Dad?” Jacob nodded and moved to stand where he’d been told…out of sight. Not because they didn’t think he could help, but they were going to show the man, or whatever he was, who was in charge. And this demon wasn’t. “Just come out when we call for you. All right?”

“Sure, sure, I got it. Don’t want him thinking he’s in charge.” It was full sunlight, and the moon, when it came up, was only a quarter. A full moon wasn’t for a few more weeks. Also, there were only going to be six of them, not all that he’d made sure of. And they were protected in a way that would not allow them to get hurt. Even Jacob had some of it spread all over him. Magic to keep them all safe and sound.

He could see everything from the place he was standing. Lindsey was standing with Caroline, and Essie, Asher, and Kiaran were with Jed and Zak. They were impressive looking, Jacob thought. He’d think twice about messing with them, should it come to that. When Caroline cleared her throat, he moved just out of sight should the demon come out.

“Show yourself.” Jacob nearly laughed. Nothing about Caroline was showy. If she wanted you to do something, by using her magic, you’d bet your bottom dollar you’d be doing it. And she never wasted words either. Come out or just do it was more her style.

The ground rumbled a little, but he didn’t take his eyes off what was going on. The rest of them, all his boys and even Elbert in his great dog, were close, too, should they need them. While little Salomon was still laid up, Daisy had even gone deep into the pit just this morning to tell them what she’d seen, which wasn’t much. And Silco, a proud new daddy, was on the hillside and could be at their side in moments. Everything was set.

There was a blur of movement at first. Then, as the creature pulled himself to just the top of the rim of the hole, it was clear that he was much bigger than they’d thought. But he wasn’t going to be any kind of trouble for these people. Or so Jacob hoped.

“You are not who I called to come here. Where are the rest?” The creature, a dark and smelly being, looked at Lindsey. “You were to bring them all to me. I cannot have you here now. The sun burns my skin. Come later, on the night of a full moon, and we will talk again.”

As he started to move down into the hole again, Caroline lifted her hands, as did Essie. He knew what they were about, but it was still a surprise to watch. The ground pushed the creature out of the hole, and he sat on the cold earth like he was a prized turkey at a shoot.

“You have no rights to do this. Unhand me.” The creature looked around as if to see who else was there. “You cannot do this to me. I demand that you put me back.”

“The home you have lived in is now sealed against you.” He roared at Caroline when she told him what was going on. “And now you will be tried against the harm that you caused this earth.”

“You should have done as I asked.” The thing sat up, his body taking the shape of a man but much larger than any that he’d ever seen. “I have lived here for many, many years, and I shall continue to do so. The king has given me permission. If he were here, he’d tell you that he had.”

“I am king.” The creature stopped in mid-shift, his body still partly human but mostly creature, a blob of a thing that was smelling worse and worse as he baked in the sunlight. “And even if you were given such permission, I’m revoking it as of now. You have lived here long past the time that was given to you.”

“Lies.” But even Jacob could see that the thing was afraid. “You lie to me. I have permission to live as I please. There is no one to gainsay me. Not even you.”

“I have spoken. And what I say is law.”

Jacob was proud of the tone his son had, the way that he seemed to grow with each word. But then he was shoved back, and it was all Jacob could do not to run to his side. The only thing that kept him in place was his darling wife telling him to stay put.

Lindsey moved forward, her hand outstretched as she moved toward the creature. As soon as she touched him, her fingers only just touching his flesh, the creature cried out, his skin blistered where her fingers had been. When she took her hand away, he could see that she, too, had been hurt, but nothing like the thing had.

“Your name is Slug. And you were warned, long ago, that you were not only not welcome in the castle keep, but that to return would mean certain death. You defied the king even then.” The creature was still screaming, his body contorting into several shapes at once. But his true self, the slug, was coming out more and more. “Helena, the Black Witch, brought you here when she was employed. In that, you were to give her any information you could that would help her cause. The one where she was to kill the king and queen.”

“I gave her it all, too. It was not my fault that the hatchlings were never known to me. I would have killed them myself should I have known where they were.” Slug glared at Lindsey when she laughed at him. “You will die, creature of the earth. And when you are dead, I will feast upon your body as I have done all the ones in this keep. I will eat away at your body and grow even bigger because of it.”

“I don’t think so. Even as we stand here talking to you, your flesh is melting off you. Your slimy skin is falling to the ground like the unwanted nastiness that you are.” He watched as Lindsey laughed again, her head thrown back with it, and Jacob couldn’t help but smile. She was as fearless as any of her sons were. “What do you suppose will come of you should you try to crawl your way back into that hole? I know, do you?”

“You will die.” She told him that he’d said that before. As soon as he moved toward them, Jacob felt the dragon on the hill. It wasn’t him that he felt so much as his great wings shifting the foundation of the earth. Trees bent to his will as he moved to land beside Asher and the others. “What is the meaning of this? You cannot have them here. The dragons are all dead. I saw them dead. Their hatchlings broken open and empty from their shell.”

“I think you should have another look, Slug. The king’s children are here. Their strength as great as their sire’s, and their mother’s magic running through them like a river down a hill.” Caroline nodded to the rest of them, and one by one, the sons of the king came to shift in front of him. “See them? See what great offspring that they had even though you murdered them in their home? The children of Anthony and Eve live on. And more generations of them will come to pass. You have failed, Slug. And the witch Helena is dead as well.”

He moved back from Silco as he stood up on his hind legs. He was enormous in his glory, his golden wings spread out wide so as to protect the others from his flame. Even as Jacob moved to the place he’d been told to go should Silco help them, all he could think about was that he wished his mate were here now. That his lovely Sally could see what their children, all of them, had done to protect the area and them in turn.

The screams would haunt him for a time, he knew this. The creature did not die quickly, nor quietly either. He was gone by the time Jacob was told he could come out of the rock formation that he’d been in, and when he looked at the earth, scorched now as the earth had been when the other monster had been killed, all he could think about was his Sally and how hurt she’d be from this stain. He moved to stand near the smoldering tree and put his hand near it, feeling its pain as Sally had taught him to do.

“I can help it.” He looked at Caroline when she came to stand beside him. “It’s why we put him here and not in the clearing. There is very little dirt beneath his spot, mostly stone that can take the heat better. The tree, he said that he would gladly take the heat if it meant that others could live in his area.”

Jacob looked around and realized that there was very little in this area. He’d thought it was because of the castle, but he could see now that the deadness of the area stretched beyond the area to include some of the trees too. He now wondered how much the slug had harmed this earth in his pursuit of living where he was not welcome.

Essie and Caroline worked on the ground. They’d called in their friend Gobi, the witch who lived in town and ran the little shop. Even her trailer, the one that she took to shows for extra income, was filled with all sorts of pots, most of them filled with trees and other plants that he’d not seen in a long while. He and the boys began planting them where they were told.

He saw Lindsey talking to the stone that was his wife’s, and said he needed a small break.

“I don’t know what to do with them.” He wondered what she was talking about when she turned and laid a bunch of little pots along the front of Sally’s headstone. “I have to go and look them all up there are so many, but I wanted to bring these out to you. I know from Zak that you loved roses, but I think you’ll enjoy these as well.”

When she pulled a small spade from her pocket, he started to go and help her. But Sally asked him to wait, that she wanted to have her near for a while. As Lindsey began turning over the soil, she also continued talking as if Sally were there.

“My parents are going to be here soon. The DNA test that I told you about confirmed that they’re my biological parents. I wish you were here. The others, the boys as Jacob calls them, said you’d know just what to say to them.” Jacob thought perhaps Lindsey would as well, but stayed back. “That’s not the only reason I wish you were here. I’m not…I love Essie very much, but I’ve never had a mother before. Not one that I wanted to be with. I think we’d get along just fine.”

The pot of something moved on the ground, and it took Jacob only a second to know that his Sally had done that. Lindsey sat back on her heels and watched the little pot move, not saying a word.

“Can you hear me?” The little pot seemed to rattle back and forth as if it were saying yes. “And can you see me?” This time the pot moved in a circle, saying no instead of yes.

She sat there for a few minutes. Jacob could well imagine what she was thinking. Was she nuts or was a dead woman talking to her? He sat down on the ground to watch the two of them, enjoying this more than he could say.

~~~

Lindsey wasn’t sure whether her fuzzy mind was playing tricks on her or not, but she sat down and picked up the little plastic pot before putting it back. She was nuts, she decided, when she realized that she wanted to talk to this woman.