Conner was silent for a few moments. This does not surprise you. You knew this was coming. Didn’t you?
Yes. Adara was destined to be the catalyst for the druid resurgence.
Where is she?
I do not know. She has a new name. That fact had his dragon grumbling. His beast hated change. The centuries had been a struggle with his dragon dormant, uninterested in modern life. Now the beast focused on the musical voice in his head. The one that thought he was imaginary.
His dragon sent him an explicit image that made him lose this altitude and natural rhythm within the airways. He had to correct his flight pattern for the first time since he was a fledgling. In their thousands of years together, his beast had never had an interest in sex. That had changed. Legion hadn’t asked Ash about his mating with Robin. She was new to her powers and wouldn’t possess the power of transmutation for centuries. Yet, his own dragon had sent him an image of Adara in dragon form.
Conner interrupted his thoughts. Are you sleeping or flying?
Legion sent his second an image of him, holding up a middle finger. I don’t think she knows what she is. Her magic is untapped. I am unsure what prompted her to reach out.
Robin had no idea she was a druid either. She must be close to her twenty-third birthday, and if she is, she will draw the black dragons to her like a magnet.
Legion cut his connection to Conner to allow the flaming roar to infuse the air. His dragon hated the thought of the dark ones near his mate. Images of him ripping black scales from a dark’s back played in his mind. He could smell the iron in the air, feel the thick blood in his talons. Enough! We must find her. His beast grumbled his assent.
Is she close? Conner asked.
Legion exhaled, sending steam billowing from his nostrils. I needed to be in Colorado the last hundred years, despite several attempts to try alternate locations. Now, I understand why.
You have always had a special connection with Adara.
Legion felt his chest contract with the thick feeling of betrayal. Yes.
Did you see anything that can help us find her?
I saw an image in her mind, a shop that sells occult items. Check every store in Colorado that possesses that kind of inventory. There shouldn’t be too many with that sort of inventory. I will get you more information when I connect with her again.
Conner sighed. I am not that great with computers. I’m going to miss Ergen.
Legion had a flutter of regret, his failure as a leader every time a dragon sought his rest. We always miss our brothers when they choose to sleep. Perhaps when more druids emerge, our brethren will as well.
I hope so. Conner messaged before cutting communication.
Legion soared through the clouds. He surveyed the land below him as his magic reached out with unseen tentacles. Where are you, Adara?
Chapter 3
Mara put the phone down on the glass store counter. Silver handcrafted jewelry sat on black satin holders within the case. Many pieces sported faux gems or polished rocks. She glanced around the shop that had been in her family for generations. They packed old shelving units with various books, carved statues and handmade soaps and creams. It had always seemed foreign to her. Yet every witch or wiccan customer swore her items were of the best quality. Her mother had loved this place. Mara maintained it out of duty and the fact Natalie loved it as much as her mother had.
Natalie came behind the counter, polishing a silver cat figurine. “How did it go?”
Mara glanced at a patron who sat on a purple couch sipping coffee. “I have a meeting with the gallery curator tomorrow.”
Natalie put the figurine in the counter display before grabbing the coffeepot from the warmer. “But that’s the day we planned for your birthday. I arranged for the shop to be closed. You and I are spending the day watching chick flicks and eating pizza and ice cream until we barf.”
Mara laughed. “That is the dream birthday right there, but I can’t turn them down. The Dark Art Gallery isn’t going to re-book because it’s my birthday. I will be an hour or two. My appointment is before lunch, so we will have plenty of time to gorge ourselves after.”
Natalie put her hand on her hip. “Okay, but you have to help me shine the figurines since you are cutting into my movie marathon.”
Mara grabbed a polishing cloth. “Deal.” She picked up the dragon sculpture in the glass case. It was her mother’s favorite and was one of the few items not for sale. The unique carved wood with golden accents was rare for the era it was created. It was likely worth thousands, but her mother had made her promise never to sell it. Mara found it strange that the dragon was the most valuable piece in the store, and not a single person had ever asked to purchase it. She rubbed the smooth surface as the wood distorted. It shimmered like her mirror had earlier, rippling like waves of water, before the dragon turned its head. The eyes glowed with golden fire.
She closed her eyes, willing the apparition to disappear. There’s no time for this Mara. Get your shit together. She glanced down at the dragon statue, only to find it solid and perfect. “Natalie!”
Natalie ran over, splashing coffee on the floor. “What’s going on? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
Mara stepped over the brown liquid that steamed from the floor. “I need to lie down. I’m not feeling very well.”
Natalie put her hand on Mara’s forehead. “You don’t have a fever. Is it a stomach flu?”
Mara faked a smile. “Maybe.” She headed upstairs, hoping Natalie was right. That her predicament was something that would pass with lots of fluids and rest.
A gentle voice in her head, that sounded like her own, told her not
