Jackson: House of Wilkshire ― Paranormal Dragon Shifter Romance, page 8
Nicole played in the sky with the rest of them. For their size, she thought them gentle, kind to each other. It was obvious to her who was who, and it thrilled her to no end that she could be a part of this. The others, Bryce and a few of the faeries, were atop their dragons, riding the winds and waves as if they had done this their entire lives. She supposed that they had. It was her that was the novice.
Enjoying the skies had taken its toll on her. She landed on the grass outside the cave as gently as she could. Kneeling down, she thanked the earth for its support and asked it what she could do for it.
You are here, my lady dragon, and that is all that any of us ever wanted. You will see that the trees now bloom that were all but dead to the world. Berries and other flowers that were used to keep you happy and healthy are sprouting again. In a few days, less I would think, the other creatures, brownies and faeries alike, will be wrapping up the seeds for replanting. Drying the leaves and flowers so that they can be crushed into medicine for the unwell. The town, too, will prosper, and that is what you will need to be careful of, I fear. Too much too quickly will bring us to ruin faster than anything else.
Shifting to her other self, Nicole did notice that her hand was covered in a silken glove. It too was red, and she loved the feel of it on her. Before she entered the cave opening, Jackson landed beside her and the two of them entered together. There were other things that she had to find, and Nicole didn’t want it to come flying at her like a bug on a windshield when she needed it. That shit hurt.
~*~
The riches in the cave were not theirs, so neither one bothered them. The rest of her armor—a blade, a helmet, as well as a few other fighting tools—were laid aside. They both went to see the eggs. Noah had asked that they see if they could identify them for future hatches. Jackson knew that he was aware of things much more than he ever had been before.
“Did you know that I can tell you the amount of each item in this place? Not only how many trunks there are, but what the weight as well as worth each of them are?” Nicole asked him why he’d want to know that. “I haven’t any idea. It just popped into my head as I was looking at the big one over there. Where on earth do you get a trunk that big anyway?”
“Trunks are Us. How the hell do I know? Look at the bags over there. Bryce said that they’re seeds that have been lost to the outside would. And that we should take a couple of them back with us.” Jackson said that he’d been told to take what they wanted or needed. “No, not yet. I have a feeling that it’s safer in here than just lying around the house. By the way, I heard that we have one.”
“We do. When we’re finished here, we can go and see it. I’ve yet to have a look myself.” Nicole turned to look at him. “When Devon said that he’d have a look for me, I was just getting into the big warm tub of water with my injured mate. You look pretty good too, by the way. I love the way you seem to shine.”
“You aren’t going to get lucky, so back the fuck off.” Jackson loved the way she could turn a phrase. He said as much to her. “Yes, I was thinking of opening a greeting card company. I was going to call it Created for Annoying as Fuck People.”
Jackson was still laughing when he walked over to the big trunk. It was heavy, he could tell that, but the two of them had no trouble gently taking it down to sit between them. The lock looked complicated, but he knew how to open it. Also, he knew where the key to it was hidden.
The entire inside of the trunk was filled with paintings. Not all of them, he realized once they started pulling them out to study, were painted by the same hand. Some of them were done by famous artists. A few of them were by people that he knew personally. One of them, which he stared at for a long while, was one that his mom had painted. Jackson was going to ask if he could please have it to hang in his home.
“She knew.” Nicole came to stand with him as he contemplated the actual art. “This is your mother’s work, isn’t it, Jackson? She was very good.”
“Mom had plenty of time to practice.” He looked at the painting of he and Nicole standing side by side in front of a large castle, which looked a great deal like the one he’d lived in as a child. “My mother had no idea about the children my father stole and then killed. She cursed him—I think so, anyway. With magic that would have cost her a great deal. To have your mate only be able to sire female children when he only wanted more sons was something that few witches would do for a dragon.”
“Why did he do it? I mean, it was not as if he could claim the child as a dragon, could he?” He said that wasn’t the point. “Then what was it? He could, so he did?”
“Pretty much. When I was born, there were two of us. Two eggs that my mother produced at one time. One was red, me. The other white, who was Hanna. It would have meant that my sister, Hanna, would have been able to produce dragons of whatever her mate was. It was very rare to have a white egg.” He looked over at the three white eggs that were in the corner of the cave. “My mother hid her away. I don’t know what she might have been thinking. Perhaps she was going to steal the other away when she left my father? She could have been keeping her in reserve in the event something happened to me. Mom would never tell me. But when my father found out that she’d gone to the council of dragons and witches, there was no recourse for him, or so he thought, than to kill mother off. My sister was just in the wrong place at the wrong time, and lost her life as well.”
“He sounds like a real peach, that father of yours. I’m glad that he’s no longer around, Jackson, or I’d be making tar-tar out of his fucking ass. I hear there are all kinds of good things to take from a dragon. Not that I’d use his, I don’t think. They’d be tainted with who knows what sort of shit. How did he kill her? I was to understand that mates can’t kill each other.”
“The council was hot on his trail, I heard. He had found the little house that my mom worked in. She only painted, which as you can see she mastered, but she also dried herbs, which she would hide by weaving them into baskets.” He pointed to the trunk. “Those are two of hers, if I don’t miss my bet. But back to how he killed her. When she was in the cabin of sorts, he came up behind her and tried to remove her head. Mom wasn’t stupid, and she made sure that she kept enough faeries around to warn her and Hanna of his comings and goings. When the blade wouldn’t cut through her neck, he shifted, bringing the house down around them as they fought dragon to dragon. But before Mom was able to become fully hers, he burnt her badly from her shoulders to her head. And because she wasn’t going to be healed by Father—he didn’t last much longer than my sister—she would never heal. Neither as her dragon nor her human self.”
“She died then too.” He shook his head. It hurt him in ways that made him want to stop talking, but he knew that she’d have to know what his father had been. “Then what happened to her? You told me that you had no family left.”
“My father’s trial ended in him having his name taken from the book of dragons, his title taken from him, and all that he was given to my mother. Not just for what he’d done to all those babes and their mothers, but to my sister and mom too.” Nicole asked him what taking his name from the book meant. “It meant that even if someone were to find his body—all of it is still intact in the lower levels of the prison where they put him—his body could not be used for anything. Not even to start a fire should you be freezing. He was nothing more than stone and bone. As useless in death as he had been in life.”
“You inherited from your mother.” He nodded, and sat down on the ground with Nicole in his lap. “There are a lot of rules about dragons, aren’t there? I mean, the few that I have going on in my head about him were enough for someone to have killed him several times over. What about the families? I’m sure that somehow they were compensated for what he’d done.”
“Yes. Each of the families received a scale. Worth several million dollars, if one were to sell them off. Also, they’re good for a great many things. Just having one in the household can create a richer home. Not just in coin, but in health and happiness as well.”
“Children too.” He said if they wanted, yes, they could have children. “Being a dragon, it has a lot of responsibilities, doesn’t it? I mean, not just with the earth and the things in it, but the magic as well.”
“I was told that dragons were created so that the magic in the world would have balance. The faeries, too, were there for us to use, and to safeguard us while we learned to live in this world. Had it not been for the two creatures working together, then our lives, as well as everything around us, would have been failing.” Nicole stood up. “We really need to go figure out if we have a home, love. Are you ready for that?”
“I am if you are. By the way, I’ve spoken to Noah and Bryce, and they said that the trunk that we opened is ours. It is something that he’d been told but had forgotten. And Bryce wants us to make sure that when we leave here, we do bring down some of the seeds. She’s been going over the books I found for her as well.” Nodding, Jackson went outside, dragging the large trunk with him. “You lay down as your dragon and I’ll load this thing on your back. You can carry it all right, can’t you?”
“Yes. Just be careful of other things that might fall when you move it again.” She promised him that she would. As soon as she entered the cave to get the rest of the things, the earth and Aurora spoke to him.
“You are happy, young Jackson?” He told them both that he was, very much so. “Good. She will make a great protector, don’t you think? Someone that will watch over all that there is.”
“I do. She was made for this. Did you see how she’s taken to the skies, my lady? Like it was something that she’d been born to.” The earth told him that she had, from the very start. “She’ll be able to still cook, won’t she? She told me the other day that it’s what she does when she needs to think. I think that it’s more than that—she needs to create—but I do believe she will not be as happy without that.”
“She will be able to create a great many things with you, Jackson.”
That wasn’t what he’d asked, but the earth spoke again before he could get clarification. Your home is safe now. The faeries and all the other creatures of this world have done a great job on building it for you. Also, the land around it, it butts up against this mountain so that you’ll be able to keep it safe for the others. I believe that Devon has a stash within its belly as well.
When Nicole came out with her arms loaded with items, the earth moved in a way that the trunk was lifted and slid onto his back. Jackson thanked the earth as Nicole was then lifted to put all her items in the trunk as well. Under her arm she carried the painting, rolled up now so that they could take it home.
Bloom and a few other faeries came to help. “If you would like to give that to me, my lady, I will make sure that it is put in a special place in your home. The baskets too, all that we have found, will be put in a display so that you can remember the woman that made them.” Nicole said she thought that a good idea. “Also, before I forget to tell you, you will need to name your home. It must have a fitting name to suit the lady and the lord of it.”
Nicole rode upon his back to where the home was. He thought the directions were wrong, and that the house that they were being led to was not theirs. As soon as he was assured that it was theirs, Jackson landed in the yard and stared at the exact replica of his childhood castle from long ago. Shifting to his human self, he could only stare at what he had.
The curved driveway turned toward a six car garage, the only addition that he could see that hadn’t been on the original. There were full grown trees in the yard, and flowers of such an array of colors that he was sure that a crayon company would have fun creating them. Flags that bore their crest, stones that looked as old as the mountain holding them in place. Even the front doors to the place looked cut and gouged from battles long since finished.
“It’s beautiful.”
It was, too, Jackson knew, as the two of them entered the great hall. As soon as he saw the paintings on the wall that made up the countryside, Jackson was flooded with memory after memory of he and his mom having fun. Nicole went toward where Jackson knew the kitchen was, and he went to the library. He needed to see if all the books that had been read to him and the ones that he’d read were there waiting for him to do the same for his own children.
Wandering from room to room when they came together off and on, Jackson would point out things that he’d had when he lived there. The swords that had hung over the mantel that had belonged to his mother’s family. Crocks that were cracked from age filled the large display cabinets that looked nearly as old as the stone. Jackson could tell that Nicole was as excited about her kitchen here as she had been about the one in the restaurant. And the large herb garden out back was enough to make a cook or witch very jealous.
The house was wired for Internet, Bloom told them. There was cable too, should they wish to watch television. The pantries would not be filled until Lady Nicole thought of something. Their rooms, their bedroom, was completed too, with the finest of linens as well as the softest of towels.
“I have picked a name, my lord and lady. I should like to be call Striker. I am told that I look like the strike of a match to a flame. I think I should like to be called that.” Nicole agreed, saying that the name suited her a great deal. “Also, my lord, you will have faeries too. A male and a female. The lady Nicole will only have me, as I am her dragon’s helper.”
“All right, Striker. It might take me a couple of days to remember your new name, but I’ll get it. I, like Nicole, think that it’s the perfect name for the red faerie of the red dragon.” She laughed; the little woman was so happy. “If you’d be so kind as to do us a favor, Striker, I’d like for you to gather all the others up and bring them here. Tell them that we will have a meal fit for the kings and queens that we are. And a meeting to introduce ourselves to everyone as the red dragons.”
“Yes. It would be my pleasure to do that, sir. And if you do not mind, the faeries that are awaiting your approval of the house and lands would like to hear from you both. They were all very excited to help in this, and even more so to do this for the protectors of the king and queen, as you both are.”
“Invite them all. I don’t know what we’ll feed them, but I’m sure that you can think of something.”
Finding Nicole in the kitchen, he saw that she was standing next to a library of books. He noticed the titles, all of them favorite cookbooks for a great many households. He told her what he’d done.
“Good. I have to see how this kitchen compares to the one at the restaurant. Also, Devon wants me to figure out a name for the place. I thought about Red Dragon, but that is just too obvious. We’ll have to give it some thought.” He said that he would. “What is it you’d like to have for dinner tonight? I was thinking steak with all the trimmings. And for dessert, Striker told me that the faeries have been making cakes. Small ones, I guess, but much to their delight, big enough for us to have a good tasting of.”
“We’re going to be all right, I think. Don’t you?” She nodded, and he led her to the big library. “They made these to store her works in. Just having them here, it’s like I have her nearby too. I’m going to ask Aurora if I can have her ashes put here with a garden.”
“I’d like that.” She looked out the window that gave them a beautiful view of the mountain and all its beauty. “It’s going to be so wonderful here in the winter. The Christmas tree here in this room for just us. A bigger one in the main room for company. I love you, Jackson. I never thought I’d ever be able to say that, but I do love you.”
In less than two hours the dining room was changed to accommodate the family, and the grill was enlarged to hold all the meat. There was a variety too. Chicken and beef, some pork chops, as well as grilled pineapple and other vegetables that seemed to be what the women enjoyed the most.
As the day was winding down, Jackson realized that he was home. More at home in this castle than he’d ever felt in the one that his father had destroyed. The gifts that were brought for the two of them were things that he’d forgotten about. Toys that only a dragon could enjoy playing with. A painting of he and the other five men. As they laughed and teased each other about nothing at all, Jackson also felt like he wasn’t just in a home, but he was home. And he had a wife and growing family to help with the loneliness that he’d dealt with for a great many years.
Chapter 7
“Mother fuck.” Jackson opened his eyes and realized that Nicole’s side of the bed was empty, then she cursed again. “I’m looking for them. Oh. Yes.”
“What’s going on?” She growled loudly, and he just barely contained his laughter. “If you tell me what you’re looking for, maybe I can help you find it. What time is it anyway?”
“Two in the morning. And my shoes. Some shithead doesn’t know the meaning of patience, so I have to search for shit that you rip off me like there is an endless supply.” Before he could comment that his clothing was in shreds as well, Nicole spoke again, but not to him. “I know, Striker. I know. I’m hurrying.”
Getting up, he dressed himself with his magic. He was sure that was what Striker was reminding her of when she’d said “Oh” earlier. When he turned on the light, she tossed a shoe at him, hitting him in the chest. Today, he thought, was starting off just fine and dandy.
“They’re here.” He asked her who was here and where they were. “That’s all I heard before you started talking. I’m not mad, but I hate being woken up when I’m sleeping that hard. You, my fine sir, are wearing me out.”
They were in the yard by then, and she shifted and took off toward the mountain. Following her, all kinds of things were running through his head, none of them good.
