Page 112 of The Mating Claim

In the fewyears since he became a wizard of the Brehon, Drust had seldom seen the goddess. Never had he requested a formalaudience.

Untilnow.

When he was certain Lacey slept, Drust headed for Tir Na-nog.

Waiting patiently in a green field where Danu liked to stroll, he laced his hands behind his back. Fairies heralded her arrival, floating on the air, with sprites darting playfully around them. Drust dropped to one knee and bent hishead.

“Rise, my wizard,” her musical voiceinstructed.

A shining light wreathed her as he stood. Her expression wassolemn.

“Your heart istroubled.”

No one, not even an immortal wizard of the Brehon, could hide the truth fromDanu.

“Yes. I have questions about the Book of Shadows. Must it be destroyed? Can it remain on earth, locked securelyaway?”

“Not without severe consequences. The evil within will soonspread.”

Danu waved a hand and a vision appeared in the air. Drust’s immortal heart nearlystopped.

Blackened, scorched lands, grass, shrubs, trees ravaged by fire. A barren world, charred and ruined. Dragons gasping as they cascaded to earth, screaming as theydied…

“Enough,” he muttered. “Iunderstand.”

The goddess regarded him not unkindly. “I know what you are considering. You must know the risks, Drust. The book’s evil influence will transfer to you if you touch it without protection and to destroy it, you cannot wear gloves. It will try to overcome you, turning your thoughts dark, your joy into despair. You cannot shift into your dragon form either to leave or enter, for you are now immortal. The longer you remain, the longer your spirit will growdespondent.”

His chest felt hollow. “Sounds like, as Xavier says, a real bitch of atime.”

Danu’s mouth quirked a little. “Have faith that you will escape,Drust.”

She came closer and put a hand on his shoulder and he felt a soothing warmth invade his body, easing his trepidation. “Tell me what troubles you. You are a courageous and loyal dragon, and you have nothing to lose sharing with me what shadows yoursoul.”

Her kindhearted gaze flickered, and he suddenly knew that he didn’t even have to tell her, for she already knew. Danu knew hisheart.

Giving voice to the fear would make it real, but suddenly he needed to talk. “I fear if I go into the Shadow Lands, I will never leave. I will be lost, wandering, the memories will overwhelm me. Part of me… in a way… remains there. If I go into the Shadow Lands, I will lose my sense of being dragon again and be forevergrounded.”

“Yes,” shemurmured.

“I lost my sense of being dragon when I was there last. The loneliness… overwhelmed me. If you get too much inside yourself there, you start to believe no one will ever care what happens to you. That everyone has forgotten you everexisted.”

“And yet you were never forgotten. You have family, those who love you, and you have your friend,Tristan.”

Enough of this vulnerability. Drust smiled to hide his tension. “If I became lost, Tristan and the others would send out a search party as they would have to take on my wizard responsibilities. It would be especially difficult for Tristan, dealing with all those dragons when he’s not terribly fond ofbarbecues.”

Danu laughed. The sound gladdened his heart. For amoment.

“I wish Caderyn had never created the book.” Finally, he voiced his realregret.

The goddess nodded. “He knows he was wrong, and he already received his punishment for it. I tell you this, so you may know the depths of the heart of our wise and esteemed Shadow Wizard. His punishment was to rule over witches, the species he detests and loathes. It was a witch who broke him, and he has learned to judge and guide them with both temperance and discernment over the years. You are the ruler over dragons, Drust. But you do it out of deep love for your people. They set your immortal soul on fire and you would, and will in the future, make tremendous sacrifices forthem.”

Absorbing this information, he felt an even greater respect for Caderyn. “It takes a great deal of inner strength to rule over those you cannottolerate.”

“True. Though I will share with you that he has learned to tolerate them, and I foresee him doing more than tolerating one particular witch.” Danu’s brilliant green gaze twinkled withmischief.

Drust bowed low. “Thank you, mylady.”

“You realize by now why you could not easily track Lacey before, Drust?” Danusmiled.