Page 8 of Dragon Charmed
Eric smiled. “Sometimes.”
Tessa shook her head. “At least you’re honest.” But Tessa knew he was a good man…dragon. He showed it in how he treated his daughter. In the looks he shared with Megan. They were raw and honest, and they made Tessa ridiculously happy for her friend—but if she were honest with herself, a little jealous. Not that she needed a man to fulfill her, but to have someone to share a life with? That wouldn’t be so bad.
An hour later Tessa stood at the window watching Megan climb into the car before Eric shut the door and jogged around to the driver’s seat. Her best friend didn’t know it, but Eric was taking her to see her birthday gift. He had bought the summer cabin that used to be Megan’s grandmother’s before she died. Megan was going to bawl like a baby. Hell, Tessa cried when Eric told her what he was doing. He wanted to give Megan a place filled with happy memories and a place for new memories to happen for their family.
A babble had Tessa looking over her shoulder at Bella sitting in her playpen in the office. “You are one lucky baby, Arabella. You have a mommy and daddy and clan who loves you so much.”
Bella giggled.
She picked up the baby and cuddled her close. “And of course, your Auntie Tessa loves you too.” And would do anything to protect her. The oracle mark on her hip could mean many things. Hopefully it meant the beginning of the end when it came to the curse as long as it didn’t put Bella in danger.
Tessa bounced her as they walked around the room. She was happy to see that Eric’s sister, Sienna, had put her mark on the space, getting rid of that ostentatious chair of her father’s. They had also taken down the family portrait of Eric, Sienna, their brother Adam, and their father, replacing it with the painting of Death of Magic. It was a striking piece representing a real event of dragons attacking a small witch village. It had been painted by John’s witch grandmother, and the event had been the impetus for her casting the curse.
John had given the painting to the clan after Megan helped him discover the scroll hidden in the painting’s frame. Hanging the painting might have seemed maudlin to some people, but Tessa understood. Megan had explained that they saw this picture not as a threat but a possible clue to finally ending the curse.
Tessa walked over to the desk and sat with Bella on her lap. When Sienna wasn’t working in the office, Megan would often come here in the evening and do research. Several history books were piled there, and from the looks of things, Megan had been taking notes.
Bella laid her curly head against Tessa’s chest as Tessa looked through Megan’s notes. “You won’t tell your momma that Auntie Tessa was snooping, will you?”
“Bah!”
“I knew I could count on you, my sweet.”
If Tessa could find out how to break this curse, they would all be the better for it. And speak of the devil…the scroll that held the curse was also on the desk. Megan had straightened it and put it in a protective plastic sleeve. Tessa stared at it for a moment. Not that she could read the print on the page. The first paragraph only became legible when Eric touched it. The pendant necklace he wore somehow allowed the curse to be translated.
She reached for the scroll and pulled it closer, resting her fingers on the unintelligible scribble. Bella leaned forward and slapped her hand on the plastic covering the scroll as well.
“Be careful, sweet.”
Before she could move the scroll, the print turned to words. The curse was revealed, and Tessa held back her gasp.
A call to nature
Free us from the flying demons
Fire, air, water, earth
Take their wings
Take their fire
Take their powers
Free the sky
She had seen that before, but this time the second paragraph also changed as chills rippled down Tessa’s spine.
An oracle born
Templars united
Blood will be shed
Forgiveness and Sacrifice
Magic restored
She looked down at Bella, who had her hand still resting on the paper. “Well aren’t you a special little one. Yes you are!”
