A Dragon Speaks Her Name: A Nocturne Falls Universe story Read online

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  Kaylae found herself enraptured by the dragon man as he drove them back through town. As much as she wanted to take in the shops and the activity around them, she couldn’t tear her attention from the back-to-brooding hunk behind the wheel. She had given up trying to make logical sense of the things he had told her, things he had shown her. There was no sense to make. In part, if she could make any sense of the fantastical discoveries, it would only confirm her insanity.

  The thoughts and voices had returned before they left the fountain, but she was grateful for the few minutes of quiet that had allowed her to enjoy Zareh’s company. She didn’t question the whys behind the mental silence, even though she cursed the intruding voices when they came back.

  Zareh pulled the SUV into the small parking lot of a pretty building a couple of blocks from the hustle and bustle of Main Street. He cut the engine and hopped out. Kaylae allowed him to open her door. She gladly took his hand and slid from the vehicle.

  “I’ll get your bag once I’ve checked you in.” Zareh drew his knuckles along her cheek. The tender gesture did nothing to help her current, super hopeful condition. “You’ve had a tiresome day.”

  “Understatement of the year.” Slinging her purse on her shoulder, she followed Zareh up the stone stairs to the double front doors of this dead-and-breakfast. She gave a little “huh,” a sound that earned her a glance from Zareh as he opened the door for her. She stepped into the welcoming lobby and looked around. “This is pretty nice.”

  “It’s cozy.”

  He lowered a hand to her back and guided her into an adjacent room. A short, elven-looking man stood up from behind a desk, pushing spectacles onto the bridge of his bulbous nose. Kaylae tried not to stare at the man’s tapered ears or the strange green-gold flecks that glowed in his eyes. Did his skin have a green tint?

  Interesting.

  “Good evening, good evening.” The man shuffled some papers off his blotter and cleared his throat. “Are ye looking for a room?”

  “Actually, yes.” Zareh approached the desk, leaving Kaylae to drink in the room’s stunning design. Dark wooden beams, plants and small trees, free-flying birds. It was an elegant garden room without all the windows. The air held a pretty floral scent. “One room. I’ll be paying cash.”

  Kaylae stepped up beside Zareh, opening her purse. “I can get this.”

  Zareh rested a hand over hers and gave his head a small shake. “Don’t be silly.”

  “I have a suite on the third floor. Would that do?”

  Zareh said, “Perfect,” at the same time Kaylae said, “No.”

  The poor elven fellow exchanged a confused look between them.

  “I don’t need a big room. I’d be happy with a bed in a closet at this point,” Kaylae assured him with a smile. Zareh eyed her curiously when she looked up at him. “Let a family have the space.”

  He relented. “All right. As m’lady requests. A regular room with a bed. Not in a closet.”

  The man flipped open a book, ran a stubby finger down a column and nodded to himself. “Great.” He pulled a key from the desk drawer and handed it to Zareh. “It’s room twelve on the second floor.” The man winked. “A nice view of the courtyard from the balcony.”

  “Sounds beautiful,” Kaylae said.

  Zareh paid for the room—Kaylae was beginning to think the dragon hoarded hundred-dollar bills—and brought her up to her room. She dropped her purse on the bed and went straight to the balcony.

  “I’ll be right back with your belongings. Did you need anything else, Doe?”

  Hands on the wrought-iron handles of the balcony doors, Kaylae cast him a smile and shook her head. Zareh slipped out of the room, closing the door quietly behind him and leaving Kaylae to admire the view from her balcony. If the garden in the room downstairs stunned her, the courtyard stole her breath. Vines and plants and flowers galore. Small twinkling lights flickered among the greenery, enhancing the mystical allure of the night. At the far end of the courtyard was a large pond with a cascading waterfall and more twinkling lights.

  It was a scene out of a fantasy novel.

  The magic of Nocturne Falls was quickly sucking her in. She was seriously hoping she could rest here for more than a day. It sure seemed things would calm down now. The safety deposit boxes didn’t contain a new address, only a letter…

  “Oh, crap.”

  Kaylae spun away from the enchanting courtyard and rushed to the bed. She dug through the abyss of her purse and pulled out the crumpled envelope from the very bottom. The sweeping loops unique to her father’s elegant handwriting stared up at her, both ominous and adored.

  How had I forgotten?

  Easy. Zareh. He managed to give her the normalcy she so desperately needed. He washed away her worries with his smile. Lifted her spirits with his kindness.

  Oh, and that kiss…

  The lock on the door clicked. Her savior of the day shouldered into the room with her duffel, then kicked the door shut with his heel. Kaylae shoved the letter back in her purse. She looked up at Zareh, whose eyes rested on her purse for a lingering moment. Had he seen her stuff the letter inside?

  “Where would you like me to put this?”

  Kaylae motioned to the upholstered bench at the foot of the bed. “I’ll figure everything out in a little while.”

  Zareh unloaded the duffel on the bench and nodded toward the balcony. “How’s the view?”

  “Stunning.”

  “Really? Huh.” He crossed the room and stepped onto the balcony. “Wow. Pretty impressive.”

  “I told you.” Kaylae glanced at the envelope peeking out of her purse. Tension mounted in her shoulders. “I like how they do all those little lights. Really ups the magical feel of the town.”

  “The fairy lights?” Zareh leaned over the railing to observe the grounds. “They’re all over town at night. I know we left the park before it got too dark. Tomorrow, though, I’ll walk you around after the sun sets so you can really see how beautiful this town is, day and night.”

  Kaylae lowered herself onto the edge of the bed and folded her hands in her lap. “You said that the coin was from your home. Where do you live?”

  “Here.” Zareh came back into the room and leaned a hip against the dresser across from Kaylae. “Alazar and I came here about a year ago. I purchased a house over on Crossbones Drive.” Zareh leaned forward, his eyes sparking with mystery. “You know, our neighbor is a gargoyle.”

  “Like the fountain statue?” Kaylae lifted a hand to her mouth as she let out a feigned gasp. “Oh my.” Zareh’s mouth curled in a dark grin. “Does he know he lives next to a dragon?”

  “I believe he does. Especially when we decide to light the fire pit in the backyard.”

  Kaylae laughed. Zareh’s smile grew as he pushed off the dresser and closed the space between them.

  Lowering himself to eye level, he took her hands in his and kissed the back of each. “We fled our home years ago after the war came to our doorstep and threatened to wipe out the dragons and their Keepers. Alazar and I haven’t been back since our clan leader decided it was best to spread out and become elusive.”

  Kaylae’s lightheartedness fizzled as she watched the pain of his past seep into his expressive eyes.

  “Keepers and dragons separated. It was the first time in centuries that we were forced to split from our Keepers. Many dragons lost their Keepers. Many Keepers lost their dragons. It has been a dark time for the Firestorm tatsu.”

  “You’ve been on the run since?”

  “Not really on the run. It’s more leisurely than that. We move about when we feel we might be discovered. We don’t want to bring the danger of the Baroqueth to innocents.”

  “Do you think you’ll ever return to your home?” She gave his hands a reassuring squeeze. A sad smile touched his lips. His eyes took on a distant look and she guessed, “You miss your home.”

  “Yes. I do.” Zareh sank deeper into his thoughtful state before
he shook himself free of the memories. With a deep breath, he pressed up to her and gave her a small kiss on the mouth. “I’ll leave my cell number for you. If you need anything, don’t hesitate to call me at any time.”

  “How far is your house from here?”

  Zareh searched the room before finding what he was looking for. Kaylae twisted on the bed and followed him to the nightstand. He scribbled his number on the pad of provided paper.

  “I’m about ten minutes away.” He jabbed his hands in the pockets of his jacket. “Do you drink coffee?”

  Kaylae nodded. “High octane caffeine is a necessity in the morning.”

  “Good. I’ll be back tomorrow with fuel. Relax and get some sleep.”

  Zareh hesitated for a moment before heading to the door. Kaylae fiddled with her hands, tying her fingers in knots as she watched him leave. Having him around filled a void inside her, and he was taking that entire sumptuous filling and leaving her empty again.

  He started to pull the door closed behind him.

  “Kaylae.” She took a step toward him when he paused and looked back over his shoulder. One of his brows lifted, but his hand remained on the doorknob. “My name. It’s Kaylae.”

  Sweet heaven on Earth, that man had a sinful grin. It made her toes curl. She almost asked him to stay before her realistic self knocked her conscience about a bit. She barely knew the guy for more than a day and already her hormones were raging wildfires.

  Ugh.

  Okay. So there was definitely a pull. And he wasn’t human, which meant maybe crazy hormones were okay so soon.

  “Sweet dreams, little Doe.”

  Once the door was closed, the breath she was holding rushed from her lungs, leaving her dizzy. She couldn’t get Zareh’s grin and his satisfied expression out of her head. How could someone be so handsome in that dark and brooding way and still make a woman feel like she was a goddess?

  “Don’t know. Don’t care to analyze.” She pressed a hand to her forehead. “Analyzed. You’re in trouble.”

  Turning back to the bed, she braced herself to have her fun afternoon and evening shattered. She couldn’t put off the letter anymore. Nor could she ignore the strange box and the glass-encased key. It was time for her to face her new reality, whether she liked it or not.

  If Zareh was part of it, though, she could manage.

  She closed the balcony doors and drew the gauzy curtains. Climbing into the center of the bed after she shucked her booties, she turned her purse upside down and poured the mess of contents over the bedspread. A week on the road left her little time to sort through what she needed and what she didn’t. Crumpled receipts, single-sheet letters, envelopes, gas cards, you name it were stockpiled in her purse. She was a junk hoarder at the moment, which would change once she got past this important phase.

  The small key glinted through its glass container in the dim room light. She put it to the side, as well as the strange box. Her important documents with her false name and birth information were fished out of the pile and placed on the nightstand.

  Kaylae sucked in a slow, deep breath and slipped the letter from beneath the mess of knick-knacks. She didn’t waste time staring at her father’s endearment. She had done that plenty since removing it from the safety deposit box.

  She opened the envelope and pulled out two folded sheets of paper. Licking her dry lips, she unfolded them.

  My Dearest Kaylae-

  Rest assured that you have always been my greatest joy, my precious daughter. I have made no decision lightly, your well-being my guiding force. On occasion, you argued, but I hope you will understand why I’ve done the things I’ve done. Your safety was my priority. I would change nothing, not my choice to send you away nor my choice to give my life for you.

  By this time, you have been on your own for a few days at the least. You have had no contact with me, and you will not have contact with me again, my darling. I would never send you away unless our threat had returned. Alas, we have all awaited this time knowing it was inevitable to escape the wrath of our enemies forever.

  I have withheld information from you to protect you. I do hope you understand. Perhaps by the time you read this, I may have deemed it better for you to know who you really are. What you really are. If not, do not fault me. I realize I have most likely left you angry with no way for me, in my death, to fully explain why I made the decisions I did. I can only lead you to the one person who can.

  I was born into a very special lineage, darling. And so were you. We are protectors, Keepers, of an ancient breed of creature. Most believe them to be folklore, but you will soon discover that lore has its footing in truth. Do not discount what I am about to tell you. Do not shun the possibilities.

  Dragons exist, and we have been given both the privilege and the honor to be their companions. We protect our beast and he protects us. The relationship between dragon and Keeper is one that is sacred and cherished. It is one to respect, honor, and grow at all costs. We are their eyes and ears in the human realm. You have the gift of hearing the thoughts of those around you. You have always feared you were crazy, but rest assured, this is your gift. It is a gift I have chosen not to work with you to control, so as not to bring attention to you. You, darling, would have been a target because you are rare beyond Keeper blood. Beyond the Drayce name.

  You are female, and for that alone you are a threat to the Firestorm clan’s enemy. Your demise will be their priority. Their wish to wipe out the dragon breed to harvest their power places you in greater danger than that faced by any male Keeper. Why? Oh, sweet Kaylae. I can hear you asking me that question as I write this. But first, I must address an important topic.

  If you found this letter, your uncle and I are both gone. Had he survived an attack, he had sworn to take over as Keeper of our dragon and provide the protection you need. I have ensured that you are well equipped to be on your own. You will have no worry for money. My accounts have been transferred to you. What I have stored in the safety deposit boxes is only a small sum of what awaits you. You will need for naught.

  In the box you found this letter, you probably saw the key and the pouches of gems. Guard both. The key will unlock the box left in your possession. That box contains a priceless jewel, one that can never fall into the hands of our enemy. It is a dragonstone, a jewel as old as the dragon for whom you are now Keeper. It is also a binding stone. It contains the dragon’s blood and a witch’s spell. The jewel will allow your dragon to know where you are at all times, and whether you are in danger. He can find you through the dragonstone and you can call to him when you have need.

  Should this stone fall into the enemy’s hands, they can garner control over the dragon and lure him to his death.

  The gems I have provided are ones I have collected since the day of your birth. It is customary for a Keeper who sires a daughter to build a dowry. I know, darling. It sounds ancient, but it is sacred, just as your life is sacred. I would never force you to do something you do not want, but you must understand that not only are you Keeper to the dragon, you are a potential lifemate.

  As I close this letter, my beloved daughter, I leave you with these final points.

  The dragon we keep, Zareh Lutherone, is not to be feared. He is fierce, loyal, and stands behind his word. He is one of the oldest Firestorm dragons. He will place you above all else as long as you respect the bond of dragon and Keeper. You will find peace in him, a peace you have sought for years. He will help you with your gift. I trust in him explicitly to provide to you that which I could not.

  I withheld the fact of your birth from the dragon. He does not know I had a daughter. The decision to keep you a secret from him was due to the inevitable bond that will form once you take possession of the dragonstone. I did not want to place you in any more danger than you were by simply being alive.

  Whatever you do, guard that stone.

  I love you, Kaylae. I love you more than I could ever express. You have been my greatest joy, the beat of my hear
t, the reason I lived, and the reason I gladly gave my life. I would never choose a different path. Do not mourn my death, precious child. Know I live on in you. You have made me the happiest and proudest of fathers.

  With all my heart,

  Daddy

  Kaylae stared at the name written by her father’s hand. Tears streamed down her face. Her jaw ached from clenching her teeth to keep back the sobs that built up in her throat. Her father confirmed everything Zareh had shared with her. Deep in her gut, she knew he hadn’t lied to her, but reading her father’s final letter, she could finally let the flimsy threads of doubt go free.

  With those threads, the events of the last week shattered her frail reinforcements and she gave herself over to sobs of grief.

  Chapter Eight

  It was brutal leaving Kaylae alone in that room. It was sheer murder listening to her cry, knowing he could do nothing to comfort her, since he was supposed to have left. He didn’t want her to know he had hung around outside her door. He had to fist his hands deep into his pockets to keep from rushing in to comfort her.

  She had tried to hide the letter in her purse, but hadn’t been fast enough. He recognized the familiar handwriting before she managed to shove the letter out of sight. He could only imagine what she had read. His heart ached to hold her.

  He would be lying if he said he understood what she was going through. He didn’t, but he certainly was failing at being her dragon—oh heck, being a damn gentleman, at that—standing in the hallway like some stalker.

  Suppressing the wild urge of his anxious dragon to break down the door, he left the dead-and-breakfast on stiff legs.

  He arrived home to find Nick leaving his house, Alazar seeing him off from the door. Zareh parked the SUV and climbed out.

  “Hey, Nick,” he greeted as he rounded the front of the vehicle. “Off fountain shift tonight?”