Page 95 of Dragon Tempted

That’s it, Veronica crooned. Tell the sentries it’s time to come out.

“Sentry come out,” Lily said.

“Senty come ot,” Bella singsonged.

The air filled with static-like energy that ran along Sienna’s skin. Someone gasped as Eric’s and Adam’s wings started to glow. A bright white light appeared at the top of their right wings and then disappeared as the glow faded away. Except where the bright light had been, now the sentry mark appeared.

Yippee! Veronica chirped.

The girls started to clap. Thank goodness they were standing together in a tight group or Sienna’s knees would have given out. From the looks on Tessa’s, Megan’s, and her brothers’ faces, they felt the same. Of course the girls were tickled and giggled along with Veronica.

Ryan and Jonas stood outside their little group, gaping at the scene. When she turned to John, he was staring right at her. He nodded and just that little acknowledgment meant more than she could say. She took a step back, and it seemed to finally break the spell.

The girls held their hands out to their daddies and climbed into their arms.

“How do you both feel?” Megan asked.

Sienna’s brothers looked at each other. “The same?” Eric said and Adam nodded.

“Well, that new wing tattoo says something is up,” Tessa said.

The brothers examined each other’s wings since they couldn’t easily see their own. Eric moved Bella to his hip so that he could lift his other hand and touched the mark on Adam’s wing. “It’s raised on the skin like a brand.”

“Does Mia’s research talk about what sort of powers sentries have?” Adam asked.

Megan shook her head. “Not really.”

“Maybe it’ll take a while for you to get powers,” Ryan said.

“Or maybe they won’t have any powers without their dragons,” John added.

Sienna’s stomach dropped. They had figured out how to bring out the dragon sentries only to have them not gain any powers? Hadn’t Mia said the sentries would play a part in breaking the curse?

Adam frowned. “How are we supposed to protect our clan without the powers the symbol represents?”

“Let’s hope that your powers appear and you don’t have to wait for your full dragons,” Sienna said.

“And if not, it means we’re still vulnerable until then.” Eric scowled.

And it meant that Sienna needed to figure out now more than ever how to break this curse. She felt John’s determined gaze on her and knew he was in agreement.

John stared out over the valley and vowed to finally bring an end to all this pain—his grandmother had cut a slow and hateful path of destruction through the magical world even beyond her death. He’d tried for centuries to fix the hate his family had wrought, but he couldn’t do it alone. And now he was enmeshed in a clan that he felt guilty for involving in his plan. He should have known it wasn’t as simple as that. Instead the Simonsons were destined to be a part of bringing down the Templars and the curse.

Sienna was so strong. After a millennium of absence, her spunky dragon and two adorable and powerful nieces brought the sentries back. That had to mean that they were close to restoring all magic.

Footsteps sounded behind him, and he turned, not surprised to see Sienna walking across the lawn. She stepped up to his side and looked out over the valley with him.

“Has everyone settled down from the earlier excitement?” John asked.

“Somewhat. Adam and Eric have gone back to work, requesting that we stop staring at them like science experiments. Although Tessa and Megan are still keeping a close eye on them. The girls are fine. Laughing and smiling like they know a secret, but as long as they’re safe and happy, that’s what matters.”

John looked at her profile. “What about your safety and happiness?”

“I want my family and clan to be whole again.”

“And thanks to you, we’re one step closer to that,” he said, stopping himself from reaching for her.

She shook her head. “One step forward and two steps back. I feel like I’m failing them.”