Page 106 of The Mating Claim

“That’s right, honey. Keegan is home. Thanks toLacey.”

“Lacey good dragon,” Kara burbled. “Gift.”

To her astonishment, the baby flicked a finger and a ball of white light floated across the room into Lacey’s outstretched hands. Warmth poured through her, such love and warmth she wanted to hold onto it and cherish it forever. Then the ball’s brilliant white light slowlydied.

“Thank you,” she whispered toTristan.

The Silver Wizard’s smile was filled with mystery. “I did not do it. It was a gift from Kara. She sensed yoursadness.”

Lacey bit her lip. “Wow. Your kids are… special, Tristan. You sure have your handsfull.”

“We do.” Niki came over, bouncing Keegan in her arms. “Thank you, Lacey. Tristan told me what happened, and how you made it possible to bring Keegan back to us withoutincident.”

Searching for the familiar guilt regarding the book, she was surprised to find it gone. “Thank you for giving me the chance to make things right with mymom.”

She touched Keegan’s arm. So soft and sweet. He was just a baby, afterall.

“He’s so innocent,” shemurmured.

Niki’s mouth twitched. “Well…notexactly.”

The toddler yawned, showing a mouthful of sharp teeth, and fangs. He yawned again, and showed only a few babyteeth.

“Holy werewolf.” Lacey took several steps back. “He’s, ah,he’s…”

“Yes. I discovered this the other day when he was put down for a nap he did not wish to take. Kara has the most power of the twins, but Keegan is nothelpless.”

“It is a good thing we retrieved Keegan when we did. Apparently he has his own defenses, my love,” Tristan murmured. “If Melanie kept him any longer, he could have hurther.”

“Forget that. I’d say it’s a good thing he’s weaned,” Laceysaid.

Niki laughed. “I can control it. All I need to do is remind him who is the alpha incharge.”

“I am,” Tristanboasted.

“Right,” Niki and Lacey said at the sametime.

When the laughter died, she turned to Tristan. “Thanks again for the chance for me to reconcile with my mother. I feel more peaceful now, knowing what I must do to destroy the Book ofShadows.”

The Silver Wizard’s expression turned neutral. “Sometimes what you think is the only answer is not, Lacey. Give others a chance to prove themselves. I learned that toolate.”

Before she could question him on it, Drust appeared. “Time for us to leave. All set?” he askedher.

She nodded. “Good bye, you two, and goodluck.”

Lacey didn’t know where they headed, but she had the feeling Tristan’s advice had a much deeper, and ominous, meaning than sherealized.

Chapter 21

They dematerializedand appeared before a magnificent castle in thewoods.

Still squeezing her hand, Drust brought it to his mouth and kissed her knuckles. “Welcome to Castle Drakon, my home in NorthCarolina.”

A shiver wracked her as Lacey gazed around. Moss covered the lower walls, along with green vines that curled elegantly up to the lower windows. The stone castle soared skyward, its architecture simple in design and yet she sensed a complexity within, just like the wizard who had constructedit.

“The grounds are about 14 acres and include a small lake, a pool, really. I bought the property from a Lupine who wanted to move his pack further west. I paid a great deal of money, but the land is worth it, and I wanted to give him and his pack a nest egg. Then I constructed thecastle.”

“Whyhere?”