Page 109 of The Mating Claim

She had carried his memory in her heart until the time came for them to reunite. Lacey did not fear what she knew she mustdo.

Not anymore. She had a clear vision, for the first time in her life, of the path she must take, not for her own sake, not even to save others, but forDrust.

Because he could not bear once more to see her die, and he would do everything in his power to preventthat.

All her life she’d longed for love and acceptance, to know she was loveable. As good and kind as her mother was, the woman whom she knew now was her foster mother, she didn’t truly love Lacey. She raised her as best as she could, but there was always a distance. Evie loved her, but depended on her and Lacey could not lean onher.

Drust was the only one who accepted her fully, loved her unconditionally, despite her flaws. Or maybe even because ofthem.

He wanted what was best for her, wanted her to be her best, cared about her more than anyone else she’d evermet.

When she at last opened her eyes, Drust was sitting across from her, his own gaze wary anduncertain.

He could not read her here. He could not see the visions she held in herheart.

So she pretended, for his sake and resorted to her usualsarcasm.

“Wow. Mind blowing. I saw the winning Powerball numbers. Can we go now and find a convenience store? And say, conjure me up a few dollars so I can buy thetickets.”

His lips quivered in the ghost of a smile. “Ah Lacey, my Lacey. Always with thehumor.”

Drust reached over and wiped away a tear with the edge of his thumb. “I cannot read your mind here, but I know what this place does. It is the keeper of memories and the bearer of difficultnews.”

She gathered his hands into hers. “Drust, level with me. I know you don’t like to talk about it, but what was it like in the Shadow Lands? I… need toknow.”

“It can be beautiful at times. And haunting. Every individual has a different experience. Mortals cannot leave as easily as wizards may. Tristan showed me that when he freed me a few yearsago.”

“You can go there now, as awizard?”

“I’m a new wizard, Lacey.” His grip tightened on hers. “Yes, I may enter the Shadow Lands and exit to Tir Na-nog, but I will pay a price. I cannot shift into my dragon form. I lack the wisdom of the ages that Tristan, Caderyn, Xavier and Gideon have. And yet I am the guardian ofdragons.”

Lacey sensed he withheld something from her, something critical. “Level with me. Must I die to destroy thisbook?”

“No.” But his expression and taut body language indicated he would not discuss the other options. Notnow.

He stood, stretched out a hand. “Let uscontinue.”

A sparkling, crystal clear stream wended through the forest. Though the trees were thick, sunlight speared the ground and here and there she spotted woodland creatures. It was far from the eeriness of the abandoned forest outside Drust’s gardens. Peaceful,even.

They followed a worn path next to the stream until it emptied into a sunlit pool surrounded by trees. A sandy bank invited one to stretch out and relax by thewaters.

Far from the menace she envisioned in herthoughts.

“It’s so beautiful.” Crouching down, she touched the water, watching it ripple. “It doesn’t lookdeadly.”

“It isn’t.” Drust sat on the ground, hands braced on his knees. “This is the amethyst pool, where I swim at times. Refreshing, cool when I am too overheated, warm when I needwarmth.”

“Then where is the entrance to the ShadowLands?”

He gestured to the distance. “Do you really wish me to take you there, Lacey? Of your own, freewill?”

She sucked in a breath. “Yes. With thebook.”

He nodded. “Then let us celebrate our lives tonight, and when dawn breaks, I will take you to theentrance.”

Chapter 22

Instead of diningin the cavernous dining hall, he arranged an intimate dinner in the less formal smaller dining area off the kitchen. A chef cooked them a prime rib, rare, with fire roasted vegetables, as a butler and maid waited onthem.