Page 121 of The Mating Claim

“Ready?” Tristan gestured to the cavern’s entrance. “The exit is thisway.”

Drust nodded, smiling for the first time since he’d entered the Shadow Lands. “Let’s blow this joint. Forgood.”

Chapter 27

Funnyhow easily she slid back into a routine. Lacey spent the next two days working in the store, going over the new inventory with Tara and the marketing plan her daughter, Danica, had created. Business wasbooming.

Funny how once all she wanted was money, and now that she had it, she didn’t care. Drust had left her stacks of gold in his treasure vault. Sebastian had taken her there to the vault, hidden deep inside a mine in a mountain, but she refused to take onecoin.

She’d rather stand on her own two feet to make it, especially now that she wasn’t really a dragonanymore.

But she still missed Drustterribly.

Later that afternoon, she took a break in the back storeroom. Tara had transformed the room into a comfortable break room, with a few chairs and a sofa, as well as a full-size refrigerator andmicrowave.

Lucky dozed on his dog bed nearby as she drank water and sat at the sofa, wistfully wondering about Drust. Maybe her gift had been in vain, and wasn’t enough to lift him out of the Shadow Lands. Was there anything else heneeded?

I don’t know what else I can givehim.

Suddenly a brilliant light filled the room. Wincing, she shielded her eyes. It faded and to her astonishment, she saw Ciara, the immortal mate of Xavier, standing beforeher.

Lacey bounded to her feet. “Hi. I heard you haven’t been at the reading group with Sonia. Is that why you’rehere?”

Her mouth wobbled. “If it’s for more dragon rides for Sonia, I’m out ofcommission.”

Ciara gave her a gentle smile. “No, I’m here on official business. The goddess Danu requests yourpresence.”

The water container slid from her trembling fingers and landed on the floor, spilling out. Lucky woke up, saw Ciara and gave a happy woof. The woman went and petted the dog as Lacey tried to gather her lostcomposure.

Oh damn. She’d broken some rule, did somethingwrong.

“Why?”

Ciara smiled. “You will see. It is all good, Lacey McGuire. Danu sent me because you know me and it would seem less…scary.”

“Not quite,” shemuttered.

“Take myhand.”

She closed her eyes. Damn she hatedteleporting…

When she opened them, they stood in a lovely green field outside a magnificent stone castle. Fairies fluttered around her like dragonflies, their iridescent wings sparkling in thesunlight.

“Where arewe?”

“The castle grounds of the Shadow Wizard. Danu has called a meeting of all the wizards of the Brehon and you are required to attend,Lacey.”

Ciara pointed to a group of men in the near distance. “There. Go to them. I must leave you now. Goodluck.”

Ciaravanished.

A group of men stood in the near distance. She began walking toward them, feeling uncertain and shy for the first time in her life. Such power radiated here, it felt like walking on a live wire. Yet it did not hurt her, only reminded her of the tremendous magick these wizardspossessed.

But she cared not for the other wizards. Onlyone.

Her heart beat faster as she spotted one tall, black-haired wizard clad in blue, talking with Tristan and Xavier. Wings on his back stretched wide, beautiful forest green wings that shone like emeralds. The underside was pure cobaltblue.

His wings had melded with hers, sherealized.