Page 15 of Secrets of Avalon
His hard features soften slightly and I swear I almost see the tiniest edge of a smile. “No, Domina, I will not be your husband.” He flexes his fingers, indicating again that he wants me to put my hand into his.
I raise my hand midway to his and stop. “What does this do?”
“Melinda.” The impatience and frustration in Nimue’s voice is more than evident.
“It is better than she understands fully, Queen Nimue,” Kellan addresses her directly then turns his intense focus back on me. “This bond will allow me to help you balance your emotions. My beast–my dragon–will be able to reach through the bond to help keep you level and stay in control of your magick.”
My bottom lip trembles. Could it be true? Is there a way that this man can temper my magick so it doesn’t run wild? Tears well up, blinding me. I furiously wipe them away and look back at Kellan.
His gaze is intense, but not impatient. Hard, but not aggressive. He’s not going to force me into this. Like he said no one forced him into volunteering for this position. To be my so-mah-toe-something bodyguard.
I let my gaze drift down to his open and waiting palm again. My breath halts midway to my lungs. There’s a small green slithering dragon-looking tattoo winding and weaving around his hand like it’s alive.
I point instead of putting my hand into his. “Your tattoo. It’s moving. I–”
He nods. “It’s waiting for you to take my hand. A piece of my magick must move to you for the bond to work.”
I swallow hard. “Wait. So that tattoo is going to what… slide over onto my arm?”
“Yes.”
Just. Yes. That’s it. He’s just standing there, waiting.
I hear the water-queen-lady breathing impatiently behind me, but to her credit she keeps her mouth shut while I stare at the living tattoo slithering around in circles on Kellan’s palm. Like small garter snake.
The King and Queen and the other guards are also silent. I steal a quick glance in their direction. The king has his arms folded over his massive chest, but he also doesn’t look impatient or angry anymore. Instead he’s studying me the same way I was studying the dragons in the sky earlier–like I was trying to figure out what I was looking at.
“Are there many kinds of magickal people in your world?”
“In the eight worlds, yes,” Kellan says, keeping his hand outstretched and steady.
I’m staring at the tattoo again. I want to touch it. I’m curious. What will it feel like? Also, eight worlds. That’s interesting. “Drakoné is one of them? Earth is one of them?”
“Yes, Domina.”
“What does that mean, that word you’re calling me.”
“Lady or mistress. It is a formal respectful way of addressing a woman without another title in my world.”
“You can just call me Melinda.”
He shakes his head. “No. Calling you by your given name would be disrespectful. You are not my wife or a family member.”
“Got it. Okay.” I don’t really, but I can fake it until I do understand more of what’s going on.
A shuffle of footsteps behind me makes me turn. The dragon Queen has stepped forward. “Being taken on by a drakonii is one of the highest honors in the eight worlds. Kings and queens and other royal families apply and wait for decades for an eligible warrior.”
I look between the queen and Kellan. “I am no one,” I finally say. “Why would you be willing to bond to me in this way?”
The dragon queen speaks again. “Queen Nimue saved my husband’s life many years ago. A debt has been owed since. And this is how she has requested the debt be paid. Kellan is showing great honor by fulfilling the debt we owe Queen Nimue.”
I turn to the water lady… to Queen Nimue. “Why would you use such a favor for me?”
“Melinda, you are the beginning. You are the first step in healing what has been broken. You must be protected at all costs and this is the best way I can do that. You are also dangerous and this is the best way to protect everyone else around you too.”
Nimue takes a hesitant step forward. “Please. Do this. I know you feel alone and scared and confused. I know I wasn’t up front with you when I took you here first. But you are the answer, Melinda. And I need you to be safe.”
Safe. There’s that word again. I suck in another deep breath, turn back to Kellan and put my hand into his. “Okay. I accept. Let’s do this.” Water-lady needs me to be safe, but I really need the people around me to be safe and if this is how I accomplish it, then I’ll take the Drakonii warrior.