Page 13 of Dragon Mine (Dragon Kings 2)
“I’ll see you two later, I’m sure,” Vaughn said before shifting and taking to the sky once more.
He wasn’t sure how long he flew before he saw the loch. It was so still, it looked like glass. A mountain stood on one side, a thick forest on two others. The last was undulating fields. It was simply too beautiful to pass up. Vaughn landed and took in the area. The sound of dragons nearby made him sigh in contentment. He waded into the water and swam around the large loch first as a dragon and then as a human.
When he finally came onto shore, he lay naked near the forest beneath the bright sun. He laced his hands behind his head and closed his eyes as he enjoyed the silence. There were no planes, no cars, no trains, no horns, no people talking on their mobiles. No hum of electricity ran through the wires strung around the world. The wonderful, blessed peace lulled Vaughn.
How would he ever return to Earth after this paradise? It wasn’t only because the dragons were here—although that played a big role. It was because he could live as himself—a dragon. He wouldn’t have to pretend or hide who he was. He wouldn’t have to worry about humans learning that he had magic, or only flying at night during a storm because the mortals might see.
Then there was Eurwen.
Vaughn opened his eyes as he thought of her. He wasn’t sure what to make of her. She had haunted his thoughts and dreams for centuries. He had searched Earth for her again and again, and he would’ve kept searching. Because he knew he had to find her. Somehow.
Some way.
He spotted a dragon flying by itself. At first, he couldn’t see its color because the sun cast a shadow. He slowly sat up, staring in awe at the metallic peach scales and gold wings. He caught sight of two gold horns curling outward and straight up from atop its head. The long, peach tail had a gold tip. It was Eurwen. He was sure of it.
Vaughn didn’t know when he had gotten to his feet. He was about to shift and fly with her, but something stopped him. He knew the minute she spotted him. His heart thumped, wondering if she would come to him. One way or another, they needed to talk. If she wouldn’t come to him, then he would go after her.
He took a step, ready to shift, when he saw her turn slightly and head in his direction. He couldn’t look away from her. He’d never seen a more beautiful dragon. Then again, Eurwen and Brandr weren’t just any offspring. They were descended from Fae royalty and a Dragon King, who was the epitome of nobility. How could Eurwen be anything but exquisitely regal and utterly unique?
She landed gracefully, her pearly gaze on him. She tucked her wings against her body before shifting to her human form. He fought the urge to cross the distance separating them and haul her against him for a kiss.
“You’re naked,” she said.
He blinked, the words not registering for a moment. Then he looked down and realized that he was, indeed, still without clothes. “I seem to recall a time when you couldna get them off me fast enough.”
“You remember?”
Vaughn wasn’t sure what surprised him more. The fact that she actually thought he could forget her? Or the uncertainty in her voice. “Aye, lass. I’ve never forgotten you. I looked for you every day.”
“Why?”
“Why?” he took a step toward her. “Have you no idea?”
“Maybe I need to hear it.”
He looked from her golden blond hair to her silver eyes. “You felt what passed between us that night. I know you did.”
“So?” she asked, lifting her chin in defiance.
“Why did you no’ come to me? Why did you stay away?”
Her eyes skidded away for a heartbeat. “I belong here.”
“You could’ve told me.”
“We were to have no interaction with the Kings.”
That made Vaughn frown. “Who told you that?”
“It was something Brandr and I agreed upon,” she answered.
“Was that before or after you met me?”
She swallowed. “Before we ventured to your realm.”
“To spy upon Con and the rest of the Kings? Rhi? Why would you do that?”
“You wouldn’t understand.”
He shook his head. “Hard to answer that since you never gave anyone a chance. You and your brother assumed you knew best. Two incredibly powerful beings may have created you, but we have all been alive much, much longer than you and your brother. You’re infants compared to us.”
“Do you think I wanted to like you?” she shouted, finally losing her cool.
Vaughn looked at the ground and sighed. He lifted his gaze and said, “I know the woman I spent that night with changed my entire life. She has never left my mind, no’ for a single day. That woman controls my dreams. I would’ve given my life for her. That woman had courage and spirit and would’ve made her own decisions.”
Of all the ways he’d thought this encounter might go, it hadn’t been like this. He turned and walked toward the forest.
“Where are you going?” she called.
He halted. Without looking over his shoulder, he asked, “Why should I stay? You didna even speak to me when I first arrived. I thought we’d shared something amazing and profound. I guess I was wrong.”
Vaughn waited for her to speak. When she didn’t, he continued into the woods. He was hurt and angry, and he wasn’t sure if it was at Eurwen or himself. How had he not known that Eurwen was a dragon that long-ago night? She must have used some sort of magic. Worse, he’d just told her of his feelings, and she said nothing. All these centuries he’d spent pining after a woman he believed was his mate, only to discover that she wanted nothing to do with him.
Zora suddenly lost its luster. Vaughn needed to go somewhere and lick his wounds. He didn’t want to run into Varek, Jeyra, Con, or Rhi. He could find his way back to where they’d come through the doorway, but he wasn’t sure where it was exactly. Which meant, he had to wait for Rhi or Eurwen to tell him.
Perhaps it would be better if he spent some time alone. As he meandered through the forest, he realized that for the first time in a very, very long time, he was utterly alone. At Dreagan, he had a manor full of Kings and mates. Vaughn had his own room, but he could still hear others in the house.
Even when he had to travel for his duties as solicitor for Dreagan, mortals were always around. It made him claustrophobic at times. Zora reminded him of a time long forgotten, a period when his only duties had been those of his clan. A time before the humans’ arrival.
He sat beneath an oak and leaned his back against it, the bark scratching his bare skin. As much as he felt at home in this realm, like the Teal had said, this wasn’t his world. The Dragon Kings might be welcome for a visit, but he was sure they wouldn’t be allowed to stay. Not that he blamed Eurwen or Brandr. They ruled this realm. Vaughn wouldn’t have accepted anyone else coming to Earth, trying to remove him as King of Teals.
And there was no way the Dragon Kings could live on Zora and not rule. It’s what they had been born to do.
