Burning Hearts

Chapter Thirty-Three

Casen

I carried Tana back to our room. I know she doesn’t like not training, but Callum is right, and I have been trying to figure out how to get her to rest. I thought she would go for an evening of making love and snuggling with me. It was why I kept sending her suggestions during class. I’m glad Callum did something about it. I can’t refuse Tana. She is my only real weakness right now.

Michael was coming down the hall as we approached our door. “Let me get the door for you.” “Thanks.” I replied. He opened the door and when we cleared it, he closed it for us. I sat on the couch with her still clinging to my front and her head buried in my shoulder.

“Are you okay Baby?” “I just want to get control of my light magic.” She spoke into my shoulder, and it sounded muffled. “I know, but you need to rest too. You’re going to have our baby. Missing one evening of training is okay.” She let out a sigh. “I know. I know.” She relented. I rubbed her back. “What do you want to do?” She lifted her head and looked into my eyes. She lowered her head and gently kissed me. My blood is on fire for her.

I held her and rolled us until I laid her back against the couch. My desire wanted me to rush, but I forced those inclinations down some. I want to make love to her slowly. I slid my hand under my shirt she is wearing, caressing her as I started to raise it. I like teasing her about wearing my shirts, but I don’t care one bit. I rub myself over them whenever I get changed because I don’t know which shirt she’ll choose for the day.

She watched me with hooded eyes as I lowered my head to her exposed stomach. I caressed it and kissed her stomach. I am excited about our child. I rested my head against her stomach for a few minutes. She held my head to her and ran her fingers idly through my hair as I rested on her.

I finished removing her clothes and mine. I looked at her beautiful skin and had to kiss the marks her sports bra left. I need to get her new ones, bigger ones. I may talk with Callum about having the personal shopper buy her larger sports bras and bras in general. I also need to figure out buying her a new car. I killed her car, but I can drive now. I’m not the best, but I am adequate enough.

“Casen?” “What?” I mumbled against her bra marks. “You seem distracted. Are you alright?” “Yeah, I just got lost in my thoughts for a couple of minutes.” I felt her relax more. I’ve been wanting to make love to her and that’s what I am going to do. I kissed her lips as I pressed into her body slowly. She gasped and I love hearing it every time I fill her body.

I cherished her as I made love to her so very slowly. I caressed her body and told her with every touch and kiss how much I love her. Her release felt like it came from the core of her being. I growled her name when mine hit. I laid down on the couch and situated her to lay on top of me. I pulled the throw blanket over us. She traced her fingertips over my chest, and I stroked her hair.

I opened my eyes and the room had gotten darker. I slid from under Tana. She was murmuring about the loss of me as her bed. I slipped my clothes on quickly and moved to the door to see who was there. The hallway was full. “We wanted to see if we could join you for dinner and maybe some movies,” Adrian said.

“Um, could you give us a few minutes? Tana is sleeping, and she uh…” “Certainly, we’ll go get dinner to bring back.” Adrian said. “Sounds good.” There were several nods, and I closed the door. I turned and Tana was sitting rubbing her face to get the hair that had fallen and stuck to it off.

“Everyone wants to join us for dinner. They’ve gone to get it.” “Okay.” She said as she stood and stretched with her arms over her head. It made me want to ask for more time, but if I know Tana, her stomach is going to be growling heavily very soon. She picked up her clothes from the floor and walked to the bedroom. She dropped her clothes except for my shirt in the hamper. She slid it back on and went into our closet and grabbed some panties to slide on and a pair of pajama bottoms.

She moved to use the bathroom and I straightened out the sitting room as best I could. Another knock came. I opened it and the guys were in the hall with the sectional couch from the main sitting room. They set it so it made a huge U shape of couches. A smaller coffee table was brought in too and rested against ours. Solay and Kalina were bringing stacks of dishes.

“Wait.” Tana said before they could set the dishes down. She went back into our room and came back out with a sheet. She unfolded it enough to rest across the coffee tables. It was smart. The wood won’t be damaged if anything spills onto it. They refused to let Tana do anything more. She was made to sit as the rest of dinner was brought in.

We settled in for dinner and watching movies. When Callum said dinner would be brought to us, he wasn’t kidding. Two huge pots of beef stew had been brought in with various rolls and garlic bread. I noticed the meat was heavy and they probably did that for Tana’s sake. She snuggled into me as she ate.

~~~

We waited nervously in Callum’s office for the lawyer. He should arrive any second now. I heard footsteps approaching the office. “She’s right in here.” Callum pushed the door open. An elderly stout man entered the room. “Ms. Tana McCoy?” The man asked as he looked at Tana. “Yes.” “May I see some identification to confirm.” Tana reached for her wallet that she set on Callum’s desk. She pulled her license out. The lawyer studied it and studied her.

“Here, this is for you.” He handed Tana two very large manila envelopes stuffed with whatever is in them. “Have a pleasant day.” He said as he turned to leave. “I’ll walk you out.” Callum said. Tana stared at the envelopes in her hand. Her name was on the envelope with an “open first” written under her name.

She began to shake, and I guided her to sit back down. “What do you suppose is in here?” She asked softly. “I don’t know. I suppose you need to open it and find out.” “I suppose.” She bent the clasps that held the envelope closed. She slipped her hand in and pulled a stack of shiny paper out. There were documents resting on top.

The top was a letter addressed to her. I realized the shiny paper was pictures. She handed me the unopened envelope and the stack of pictures and other documents as she took the letter from the top. She read in silence for several minutes. Tears fell down her face as she read. When she finished, she handed me the letter and took the pictures and envelope from me. “Read it.” She commanded.

My Little Fire Goddess,

I don’t know where to begin. I suppose I should introduce myself again. I am your father, Gydrus. People of Earth call me Grayer Kingsley. If you haven’t discovered it yet, I am a very special person as you are. You may not want to believe it, but there is a whole other world than that which you know. Many worlds, in fact. These worlds contain, as does yours, magical and supernatural beings.

You may think me crazy, but everything you think is fairytale is real. I am a dragon, but I am more than that. I was born a celestial prince so many years ago it would be hard for you to fathom. My brother is King Cepheus of all light celestials. Many eons ago, my niece and the celestial brothers that she was given to traveled to Earth to hide from a powerful dark celestial. My brother asked me to come to Earth to watch over them as they incarnate until all of them are born.

I chose the form of a phoenix dragon. I am the only one in existence aside from you. I hope you never have to gain your dragon, because the only way to do so would be to have your mortal body burned to ashes. Although I use mortal lightly. Your mother is the most powerful light witch and queen of the White Flame Coven. She has fae blood and she can call upon a flame to surround her body. Your mum was my true mate. Yes, I know what happened. I’m not sure you know what happened though.

First let me say that you are a rare specimen. If you choose to burn yourself to gain your dragon and magic know that dragon fire is the best. You will have to find a dragon. I would search out King Alexander Drake in America. The king here in Europe will kill you if you learn of our world. Know that you hold the blood of light celestials, fae, light witch, and, of course, the phoenix dragon. Should you gain your dragon, you will rule all dragon kind as their queen.

Your royal celestial blood is a rarity in and of itself. It is hard for celestial females to birth females. Try and find your cousin and the brothers she was given to. It may be difficult, but I think they will be waking soon. It still may take years, but I have sensed Juno’s soul has been born again. She will find the brothers. She will probably be called something else here, but if you have your dragon, you can sense her. She is just as rare and powerful as you will be. Help them.

I want you to know that I was a part of your life until shortly before your mum’s death. There is a dark elf queen named Syndra. She sought out my ashes. Whoever possesses my ash will have a very long life. She used help from a dark witch queen named Elle to find me. I thought leaving you and your mum would keep you safe. That wasn’t the case. Elle possessed the minds of your mum’s coven, killing them one by one for those that didn’t escape her grasp until they gave up your location.

I was told by Syndra that Elle forced your mum to fight dark witch after dark witch with her flame. Your mum made a final sacrifice and engulfed herself with her flame, taking out the dark witches attacking her. She turned to ash and the house burned. You escaped the fire. I am glad about it. Your mum’s flames would have triggered your change and you would have been captured easily by Elle and Syndra.

I am writing this to you hoping it’ll find you some day. I am going to seek out Elle and Syndra. I can’t let them get you. Your mum put a spell of protection around you that none will know unless you take dragon form. The spell will break then. You are strong Little Fire Goddess. I have enclosed pictures of our life together as a family. Your mum wanted me to hide them away when she took your memories of me.

There is also your real birth certificate enclosed with keys to safety deposit boxes. There is money and keys in them. Along with ownership of accounts with our names on them. The keys go to the deeds I have enclosed. I own homes all over the world and they are now your homes. You have plenty of money to live comfortably for the rest of your life. If you read this, it means I wasn’t able to make it back to you after my confrontation with Elle and Syndra. Don’t seek me out. I couldn’t bear it if she gets your ashes too.

I love you daughter. I always have and I always will. Please live a happy life. Pass on your knowledge to your sons should you have them.

Love Your Father,

Grayer Gydrus Kingsley

I looked up and Tana was being held by Callum as I read the letter. I hadn’t heard her sobbing as her sobs were muffled by Callum’s chest. My heart is pounding. She is a celestial princess too. I stood and touched her back. She turned into me. I wiped away her tears.

“It’s going to be okay.” I soothed her. “Everyone needs to know what this letter says.” She looked up into my eyes. “I know.” “Have you looked at the rest of the documents and the pictures?” I asked. She shook her head. “I can’t right now. I won’t make it to school if I do.” “I can lock them in the safe for safe keeping.” Callum offered. “Promise you won’t look at them.” She said. “I promise.” She nodded.

“Everyone meet in the main sitting room in five minutes. There is something very important you all need to hear and know.” I commanded everyone. Tana was still a little distraught that I lifted her and carried her bridal style to the sitting room. That was a lot of emotional load that she just took upon herself. I am glad her father has been a part of her life, at least when she grew up until the fire.