Page 40 of Lahaina Noon (Modern Legends of Dragons & Shadows #1)
Chapter 40
T wo weeks later, they were all gathered for dinner, with everyone packed into a banquet hall at a local restaurant. Vaughn believed the Council space still wasn’t safe, and he refused to enter. Word was sent, summoning dragons and wielders to join the cause. In addition to the group they’d brought with them, they were joined by Bunny’s parents, Circe, Wu, Hilde, and many other dragons and wielders Bridget hadn’t met yet.
Others went ahead to the US to rendezvous with the team in Dallas. They were waiting for their food to be served before they began full-scale conversations, so the staff didn’t overhear too much.
Jorrie had stepped out to use the lady’s room and had been gone for some time. Bridget was just starting to get concerned when she came back. Jorrie looked thoughtful when she walked in but quickly put on a smile and skipped to her chair next to Bridget.
“What’s up?” Bridget asked her friend.
Jorrie smiled, “Nothing, just trying to remember if I asked that cute waiter for red or white wine. ”
Bridget looked at her, not quite believing her but too distracted to dig into it. She shifted in her chair again. She was a little sore from her time in the bedroom earlier that day. The man was gifted, for sure. Sex God, she sent him and smirked when she heard him cough into his glass behind her.
Behave, young lady, or I’ll have to spank you again, he rumbled back to her .
You like it, she replied before shifting around again and smiling at Jorrie.
Her friend studied her with a knowing smile, asking with studied innocence. “Everything okay? You seem a little antsy.”
It was finally time to make their plan. Everyone was all in to wipe out the Shadow Claw. They discussed the whereabouts of the Shadow King, having narrowed it down to a heavily guarded compound in Hawaii on the island of Maui. It was a large windowless base with escape tunnels, its own utilities, and lots of patrols.
They’d discovered this because Baltrus was a traitor. He had been secretly siding with the Shadow King for years. His treason was uncovered, and information extracted before he was put to death by the remaining members of the Council. He was complicit in the plot that had resulted in Brian’s murder. Bridget’s only complaint was she hadn’t been there to witness the execution.
“Great,” huffed Jack.
Bridget gave him a questioning glance.
“This guy’s living it up in paradise while we are slogging halfway around the world trying to find him and end him. Doesn’t seem very fair. I’m stuck in rush hour traffic every morning and he’s relaxing on a tropical island sipping Mai Tais.”
She tried not to laugh; it wasn’t time for jokes, but it was pretty funny.
Jorrie held no such compunction and burst out with her usual bright laughter.
Bridget noticed several male heads turned towards Jorrie in appreciation, including Shepard, who grinned at her.
Liam noticed, too, and she heard a faint growl coming from him. She needed to give him some advice before some of the other dragons moved in on what he clearly wanted.
Davis did not need any encouragement and had his hand on Jack’s knee.
Bridget heard some whispers about Mai Tais, and they were smiling at each other. She shook her head; she knew they’d started sharing a room. She laughed at their obvious delight in each other, it was adorable. Vaughn absently laid a hand on her leg, and she blushed, remembering her own activities earlier.
“Okay so that covers most of it. We know where, and we know our approach.” Vaughn recapped for everyone. He looked around and saw nods of agreement. “We need a large squad to infiltrate and subdue the guards. My team back in Dallas has been running drills for this type of scenario, and I’m confident they can handle it if any of you want to join that group. As soon as we adjourn, I will update Marco and have them begin preparations immediately. We just need to finalize how we will actually take out the King. The prisoner we interrogated seems to feel his King has no weaknesses and believe me, he has told us everything he can, but I disagree. He’s not immortal.”
Bridget nodded vigorously; she wanted revenge and justice as well.
Hilde spoke up, “This is all good and well, my friend.”
Bridget glared at her for daring to call him friend.
Hilde continued, “But it doesn’t answer how the prophecy will be put into motion.”
Circe giggled, and Hilde shot her a look full of daggers.
“Oh, dear sister,” Circe trilled in a singsong voice and stood. She began to spin around in slow circles, dancing about the room. She hauled Shepard up from his chair and spun around with him, dropping him next to Jorrie, where they grinned at each other. She continued to dance and spin, picking someone up, dancing them around and dropping them in different chairs. She moved Gabe next to a lady with blue hair and several rings in her nose. They laughed at each other before she was spun off and then deposited in Jorrie’s chair, while Jorrie was deposited in Liam’s lap, where Circe stopped spinning.
“You see, dear sister, the prophecy is already in motion, bringing all of these fine people together. The circles brought our Drake and his Bridget together. Then it brought Ivan to Drake and Drake to us. It brought Jack and Davis to us, and it brought these two together.” She motioned at Jorrie and Liam, who were staring into each other’s eyes.
They really need that pep talk, Bridget thought, turning her attention back to Circe.
“The circles create ripples, which create more circles, which make waves, waves become larger and large waves can topple buildings. Buildings fall and topple empires until boom !” she clapped, making everyone jump. “The circles start anew.”
There was absolute silence in the private room, only the quiet hum of conversation and clinking forks from diners in the outer areas of the restaurant filtered through. Hilde stood, walking to Circe where she was swaying, petting Liam like some small animal.
He looked very confused and was making faces at Jorrie, who had decided now was a good time to find a chair of her own.
Hilde sighed, “Sister, as usual, you speak in riddles and insanity, but I understand.” She looked at Vaughn, “You know how to take down Azrael don’t you.”
Everyone in the room gasped as she used the Shadow King’s name. Bridget looked at her friends, who were as confused as she was. Is using his name like some taboo thing, like He Who Must Not Be Named, she sent to Vaughn.
He snorted and tried to cover it up by drinking wine. The old ones believe names have power, so in a way I guess you are right. They fear that saying his name anywhere there are shadows can draw his attention to the speaker. Many avoid saying it. I don’t care. I want the bastard dead.
Bridget held his hand under the table.
Vaughn realized everyone was staring at him, waiting for his answer. He squeezed Bridget’s hand and stood up, pulling her with him. “I do,” he said.
Murmurs went around the room reminding her of when he’d spoken to the group in Dallas. That seemed so long ago, although it was only a few weeks. Bridget just hoped there were no surprise guests this time. Vaughn refused to speak about his father’s betrayal. No one had seen or heard from Ivan since.
Vaughn continued, “It was my dear brother Jack here who gave me the insight I needed.” He nodded at Jack, who waved jauntily around the table.
What? When did that happen? Bridget thought. Obviously, Vaughn hadn’t told her everything he and Jack had talked about.
“We need to get as close as possible to him, obviously, and we will need to keep him in solid form without him being able to escape into shadows. That’s the hardest part. We need a diversion. Davis, Shepard, and Jack have been working on that plan. They assure me it’s a good one, but will be hard to pull off. They will need a green wielder to go with them.”
No one was surprised when Siobhan volunteered. Vaughn shook his head, “Shi, I appreciate it, but you will be needed at base; we have another task for you.”
She frowned; she clearly wanted to be on the front lines but deferred to Vaughn’s leadership.
Another hand rose. It was a wielder from Greece who was quite powerful. He and Shepard had been hanging out and quickly became friends. Many nods indicated this was a good choice.
“Thank you, Dio,” Vaughn said, then turned and faced her. “My darling Bridget, you know I promised to keep you safe always. I promised I would never hurt you.”
She nodded, nervous about where this was going.
“You know you are the key to the success of our efforts. Only with your powers can we stop the Shadow Claw. ”
She shrugged and nodded again.
“This has to be your choice, my dear. I cannot protect you from harm during this mission. It will be my number one priority, but I cannot guarantee it. Some of us may not make it out, but we are all going into this with years of knowledge of what the Shadows can do. Prophecy or not, this is your decision.”
Hilde started to protest, but Circe slapped a hand over her mouth and sighed happily. “I love a happy ending,” she whispered. Hilde looked at her like she was insane. Bridget figured she might be, just a little bit.
Everyone was waiting for her answer. She stood tall, “Of course, I’m in. These shadows have caused my family too much pain. I can’t let them do it to anyone else when I have the ability to stop it.” The group cheered, toasting each other.
After a round of drinks were passed out, Vaughn nodded at Jack who smiled and came around behind him. Vaughn tapped a spoon on a glass to quiet the room. He stood, looking extremely uncomfortable.
Bridget looked at Jorrie, who looked back at her and shrugged; she didn’t know what was going on either.
Jack waved at Gabe, who bolted from his chair and ran to stand next to them. He was bouncing on his toes and grinning.
Bridget tried to link Vaughn to ask him what was going on, but Drake was humming and not responding. Something was up.
“As we are here, surrounded by our closest friends and family, I have one more thing to do before we launch this mission. I have been warned and threatened that I am, under no circumstances, to leave this child.” Here he wrapped Gabe in a playful headlock, then let him go. “ What was it? Ah, yes, a poor motherless child. So, to that end, I need to get some insurance. It’s something that I never thought I would be able to do, so I’m not the best at this. In fact, I’m probably doing a terrible job. But you know when something is right, you must move on it. You must move quickly before life throws changes your way. I had this wonderful speech all prepared, but I can’t remember a word of it.” Vaughn paused and blushed.
Everyone was looking at him in shock. He was babbling. Vaughn Drake did not babble. And he did not blush.
Jack leaned forward and stage whispered, “Just get on with it.”
Vaughn pulled Bridget to her feet. As she stood, he dropped to one knee. A loud cry went around the table as they realized what was happening. He held out a hand to Jack, who passed him a velvet box.
Bridget’s eyes were fixed on Vaughn’s face.
“Bridget, I know we haven’t been together long, but we are bonded mates, and that is a bond that transcends a lifetime. I’m usually more eloquent, but all I can think to say is I love you beyond reason and everything else in this world. You are my world and my reason for living. Please, do me the honor of becoming my wife.”
A tear rolled down her face as he slipped a large black diamond on her finger. The band was gold, with two sweeping pieces cradling the diamond, reminding her of his beautiful wings. It was stunning. She looked at him and nodded. “Yes, of course, Vaughn Drake, I will marry you.”
He stood and wrapped her in his arms, delivering a passionate kiss that made most of the ladies and some of the men fan themselves. Cheers resounded around the room, and everyone clamored to congratulate the couple.
Gabe tugged on Vaughn’s arm and whispered in his ear. Vaughn held his hand up for silence. He motioned Jorrie over. She stepped warily to the growing group. “Earlier, I mentioned this was also an insurance policy. Now, Jack and Gabe have already given their blessing. Obviously, I love Bridget and want to marry her as soon as possible, but I have been advised that if we were to get married without giving Jorrie the opportunity to participate, she will—”
He turned to Gabe, who announced, “Rip your balls off and feed them to you.” The room was suddenly full of choking sounds as people tried to cover their laughter.
Jorrie covered her face with one hand and shook it.
Vaughn continued, “So to ensure that Jorrie does not get her hands on my balls,” more laughter, “We will hold the wedding after we defeat the Shadow King to make absolutely sure Jorrie gets her chance.”
Applause broke out, and Jorrie decided to accept it and bowed deeply.
Jack popped the first of many bottles of champagne. “We expect you all at the wedding, but for now, drink up everyone! Tomorrow, we fly.”
Jorrie ran around Vaughn to Bridget and grabbed her friend’s hand. She looked at the ring and then up at Bridget’s happy face. She squealed in that high-pitched shriek of hers that shouldn’t be in the audible range of human hearing but somehow was. All of the dragons in the room with their super sensitive ears clapped their hands to the sides of their heads and stared at her wide-eyed .
“Hey Bridget,” called Liam, “If you don’t defeat the Shadow King, maybe Jorrie can do that and liquefy his brain!”
Jorrie pointed at Liam, motioned like she was cutting a throat and pointed at him again. The grin fell from his face, and the guys around him slapped him on the back, laughing. Jorrie turned back to Bridget. “Girl, my teeth hurt from all this sappy sweetness.” she smiled, then faltered. She whispered, “Can we go somewhere and talk? In private?”
Bridget looked at her friend in concern, Jorrie wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t important. She sent Vaughn, be right back! She saw him nod while he was having his ear talked off by Gabe and Bunny. She took Jorrie’s arm, and they left the banquet room, going outside under the guise of getting fresh air.
There was a lovely bench outside under some hanging bougainvillea, so they sat and breathed in the warm night. Jorrie was sitting with her hands on the edge, leaning slightly forward over her knees. She was tapping her left foot at a fast tattoo.
Bridget became concerned. This was very unlike her friend. She waited for her to speak, but she continued to sit there, tapping her toes. Finally, she couldn’t take it and grabbed her friend’s hand. “Jorrie. Talk to me. Now,” she ordered.
Jorrie looked at her. “I need to tell you something, but I don’t know how. I don’t even know if I believe it, but I promised I would tell you.” She took a deep breath. “I need a minute. Talk about something else.” She waved a hand at her.
Bridget sat back and thought, then smiled and said, “Okay, something else? You’re on, sister! So, tell me when you are going to jump the lovely, masculine, and oh-so-yummy Liam. Hmm? Don’t you want to? What was it you told me, oh yes, climb him like a tree? I recall that’s what you told me to do with Vaughn, and here I am, bonded and engaged?”
Jorrie stared wild-eyed at her friend.
She laughed and had mercy. “I’m not saying you need to do all that, but come on, Jorr. The sexual tension wafting off you two is enough to get ten virgins pregnant. He wants you so bad, he’s ready to roast any man who comes near you. You don’t have to marry him, but you need to have sex and find out if you’re compatible. It’s exhausting watching you circle each other.”
The blonde woman nodded, her curls bouncing furiously. “I know, it’s frustrating because he doesn’t want to overstep, with you being my best friend and mated to his boss, and he’s sorta old fashioned. He wants to ‘court’ me. I just don’t know.” She looked at Bridget for guidance. “It doesn’t seem this is the time to start something, with this battle on the horizon.”
Bridget gazed softly at her best friend. She put her arm around her and leaned their heads together. “Jorrie, that’s why this is the best time. You never know what tomorrow will bring. It’s not guaranteed. Also, let me tell you, girl, it will be the best sex of your life. Two words: magic healing.”
Jorrie laughed and gave her a thumbs up. “Sold! Okay, Bridge, here’s the rest.”