Page 33 of Dragon Mine (Dragon Kings 2)
“They willna,” Con said softly.
Vaughn saw movement out of the corner of his eye. When he turned his head, he spotted Eurwen’s pink skirt blowing in the breeze. Across the distance, their gazes met. His heart began pounding when she started toward him.
Please,he inwardly begged.
He didn’t know why it was so important that he show her Dreagan, but it was. She had been to Earth many times, but this would be different—if she decided to go. Vaughn knew she was troubled over Brandr’s reaction to her being with a Dragon King. Personally, he thought Brandr could shove it.
Vaughn managed to remain where he was until Eurwen reached him. She briefly looked at Con before her gaze returned to Vaughn. The sunlight on her hair made it look like spun gold. Her beauty was stunning, and her smile made him tongue-tied.
“Hi,” he said.
She grinned, causing his heart to jump in his chest. “I’d like to accept your offer to go to Dreagan.”
Vaughn couldn’t remember the last time he had been so happy. “When do you want to leave?”
Eurwen glanced to the side, reminding him that Con and Rhi were there. Though he couldn’t remember when Rhi had walked up.
“We plan to stay,” Con told Eurwen. “If that willna cause any problems.”
She shook her head. “Use my cottage. Brandr knows both of you are here. Hopefully, he’ll come to see you.” A frown furrowed her brow as she slid her gaze back to Vaughn. “How long will we be gone?”
“As long or short as you want,” he answered.
Con grinned. “I just told Varek. He and Jeyra will be along shortly.”
Eurwen licked her lips as she hesitated, looking between Con and Rhi. “Please, don’t do anything while I’m gone.”
“I’ll make sure he doesn’t,” Rhi said as she wrapped her arm around Con.
When Vaughn looked up, he spotted Varek, his lichen scales flashing in the sun, Jeyra upon his back. After Varek landed and shifted, he and Jeyra walked to them.
Eurwen bowed her head to both. “I’m Eurwen.”
“I was hoping I’d get to meet you,” Jeyra said.
Varek grinned at his mate before turning to Eurwen. “I’ve heard a lot about you. Are you coming?”
Eurwen met Vaughn’s gaze. “I am.”
Varek’s smile widened. “That’s good to hear.”
“Ready?” Vaughn asked everyone.
Jeyra looked pale and a bit green. “I’m nervous.”
Varek laughed. “You captured a Dragon King, prepared to fight me to the death, and you’re nervous about going to another realm?”
“Yes.”
“You’ll be fine,” Eurwen said with a wink. “Promise.”
Jeyra visibly swallowed and linked her hand with Varek’s.
“Follow us,” Eurwen told them as she started down the hill.
Vaughn stayed by her side. He wanted to grab her hand, but he held back. Then, suddenly, she took his and met his gaze as they passed through the doorway. In the blink of an eye, Vaughn found himself back in the Dragonwood on Dreagan.
He couldn’t say why, but it seemed vitally important that Eurwen be here with him. He pulled her closer and lowered his gaze to her lips. She had no idea how tempting she was. He wanted to kiss her right then, to remove her clothes and make love to her in the woods.
“No,” she said with a grin.
He blinked. “What?”
“Your feelings are in your eyes,” she whispered.
That made him smile. “Really?”
“Yes. Stop grinning.”
“I’m not sure it’s my feelings in my eyes. I think you’re feeling the same things I am.”
She glanced at Varek and Jeyra, who were off to the side, talking. “Maybe. Can we come back here? Alone? At night?”
“Absolutely,” he said, right before he lowered his head and pressed his lips to hers.
For just a moment, she sank against him. Then she pulled back.
“You have to know how I feel about you,” he said.
She shook her head. “I don’t want to talk about that now.”
Vaughn was disappointed, but he didn’t press. Not now. Later, he would have the conversation. But she was right. They weren’t alone. Now wasn’t the time to talk about his feelings or the fact that he knew she was his mate. As part dragon, he assumed that she felt the same thing. Given the way she kissed and made love to him, she felt something.
Varek and Jeyra were laughing when they started toward the manor. Vaughn let the couple get ahead of them before he asked Eurwen, “Ready?”
“Yes,” she said breathlessly.
They meandered through the forest. He heard Jeyra gasp when they emerged from the trees. Vaughn hid his smile when Eurwen’s steps quickened. Her gaze searched, her head tilted to the side as she tried to catch a glimpse of whatever was outside the wood. Then, finally, they cleared it.
Vaughn paused, watching Eurwen as her eyes moved over the mountains in the distance to the rolling hills dotted with sheep and cattle. He knew the moment her gaze landed on the manor because her lips parted in surprise.
“I’ve seen it in pictures,” she said. “But this is different.”
He squeezed her hand. “Wait until you see the inside.”
“The magic here is…”
He chuckled. “I know. It can be a bit overwhelming.”
“I’ve felt it every time I came to this realm, but here, on Dreagan, it’s like I’m standing in the middle of it,” she said as she looked at him.
“Because you are.”
