Bramble Burn Read online

  “Okay…” she said slowly, wary of his smile. “Um, I appreciate the assistance.” She wasn’t sure of his motives, but she did know that young dragons were precious to a race that had few young, and females were treasured. Males outnumbered them two-to-one, and a female of her line had guaranteed fertility.

  Besides, Breaker was a dragon leader, a protector. He would not appreciate Justin’s reckless endangerment.

  He inclined his head. “Gilly is young and strong. She will recover, and so will you.”

  His words comforted her when the dragoness confirmed that Gilly had three broken ribs and a lacerated spleen to go with her bites and bruises. “She’s going to hurt for a while, but a dragon is strong. If she were human, I would advise no heavy lifting for a month and keep her in the hospital for a few days. As it is, we can transfer her to the hospital for observation, or you can hire a nurse for the night.”

  “Nurse,” Gilly croaked from Juniper’s bed. “I don’t want to go anywhere.”

  Juniper pursed her lips. “If it were your sister, what would you do?”

  The healer smiled. “I’d lecture her on safety and let her stay home. She won’t enjoy moving, and should be fine here. The pain medicine will keep her comfortable, but not so comfortable that she will get frisky and damage herself.”

  So Gilly stayed home, although she did move to her own room. A nurse sat with her while Juniper talked her mother out of rushing over. It helped that her mother was visiting family and was at least a day away. “I’ve got this, Mom. Besides, Indris will be here tomorrow. Yes, I promise. I love you, too.”

  Kjetil called. Grigori’s mother brought them dinner and made sure all was well before she left. Relatives called, proving that the family grapevine was alive and well. By the time she got off the phone, Juniper was exhausted and tired of talking. So much for moving away from the family. As long as they had technology, family was only a phone call away.

  The tree alerted her that a dragon had landed. Juniper slipped out of bed and pulled on jeans and sandals, slipping on a sweatshirt over her t-shirt as she headed to the door. She peeked, confirming it was Indris, and stepped outside.

  The huge copper dragon filled the park, his tail coiling lazily around the oak. His head was the size of mini-van and tilted as she approached, curls of smoke trickling from his nostrils. His belly gleamed with verdigris colored scales, the green-blue color winking like polished gems on his horns and neck ridge. The sound of his breathing filled the air like the slow pump of a blacksmith’s bellows.

  Juniper smiled widely, happy to see him. “Indris! Good morning. Would you like some coffee?”

  Indris shrank, assuming his human form. Dragons weren’t tall men, but they didn’t need to be. His eyes were verdigris, his hair and neck scales gleaming copper. Copper and turquoise leather armor covered his hard form, accentuating his predator body language. His voice was deep, promising trouble. “So now it’s Indris.”

  She flushed and squished an imaginary bug with her foot. “Um…I was panicked yesterday. It sort of slipped out.” She’d hated him at first, when her mother remarried. She’d been a child and still hurting from her father’s death, and she’d felt betrayed when her mom married a stranger and let him move into her house. She’d lashed out, and Indris hadn’t let her get away with disrespecting him or her mother. It had taken years to iron out their relationship; in many ways, she’d been worse than Gilly.

  He snorted, but not in a displeased way, and put an arm around her shoulders in a quick hug. “Get used to it. Your children will train you to deal with all manner of crisis. Now, where is your sister?”

  Gilly lit up when he walked in her room. “Daddy! You came.”

  “Of course. I had to make sure you were mending well.” He gave her a gentle hug and quizzed the nurse on the extent of Gilly’s injuries.

  Juniper left him to it and rummaged in her icebox. She’d just started the omelets when the door rang.

  Kjetil handed her a vase. “Could you hold Gilly’s flowers? My hands are full. Oh, and here’s yours.”

  Juniper absently let him in, her eyes on the bouquet of red and white striped roses and fragrant burgundy carnations. She put her nose to them and breathed deep, letting the baby’s breath tickle her nose. No one had ever given her flowers.

  Kjetil watched her as he unpacked fruit, meat and pastry. “They had carrot cake muffins, and I picked up steak for Gilly. Dragons need the protein after an injury, right?”

  “Yes.” Distracted, she set the flowers on the kitchen island. “My father is here,” she warned him, half expecting he’d run.

  “I know. I smell him, and I saw him land. I wanted to meet him, anyway.”

  “You did,” she said slowly. She wasn’t used to prospective dates wanting to meet Indris. Running the other way, yes. She began to doubt his sanity.

  He sent her a chiding look. “I’ve already talked to your mother and grandfather. Why would you think I would skip him?”

  She bit her lip, mulling it over.

  Indris walked out, preventing further comment. He looked at Kjetil like a sergeant surveying a raw recruit, sizing him up. He had his daddy face on. “Kjetil Bjorn, I presume.”

  “Sir,” Kjetil said politely. He extended his hand.

  Indris raised a brow, intrigued. Humans rarely shook his hand, fearing he would break it off. He shook, resisting any urge to squeeze. “Well met.”

  Juniper exhaled, surprised she’d been holding her breath. “Right. I’ll fix some coffee.” She reached for the coffee grounds and flushed when she realized she’d already brewed some. Muttering, she fetched mugs and added sugar and cinnamon to Indris’s.

  “Thank you,” he said, appearing amused. “I heard from your mother that Kjetil’s wolves patrol your park.”

  “Technically, they’re not his wolves,” she said uncomfortably. “They’re just wolves he knows.”

  Indris looked at her blandly. “Hm. I heard you met when he rescued you when your tree was on fire.”

  “I had that under control,” she said quickly, shooting a glare at Kjetil, who had taken over her kitchen.

  “I saw the news,” Indris said mildly.

  He was standing, and she was too uncomfortable to sit, so she took a moment to make her bed, searching vainly for clutter to fuss with. “You know what? I need to brush my teeth. I’ll be right back.” She grabbed a new t-shirt and headed to the bathroom to change and stress-groom.

  The sound of male voices trickled through the door, mostly indistinct. She wasn’t sure why it made her nervous, except that they might be discussing her. It made Kjetil’s interest more real, more serious.

  The worst thing was, it was her fault. She wasn’t even sure what her feelings were, and Kjetil was already talking to her father. She’d insisted on a proper courtship. What did she know about men, or dating? She’d just wanted more time, hadn’t been ready to deal with it, and the wolf had called her bluff.

  She groaned silently, afraid they would hear her, and hung her head. She leaned on the counter, telling herself to get a grip. This was no big deal. She could tell Kjetil to back off if he got too intense. Indris would be the first one to back her up.

  Gilly’s skin was yellow from her system breaking down and absorbing the internal bleeding from her spleen, but she insisted on eating at the kitchen table. Juniper was grateful, as it gave her something to focus on besides the men.

  Kjetil and Indris chatted agreeably, having apparently found instant common ground. Their camaraderie made her nervous, and she had the absurd thought they were plotting on her.

  “I’d like your family to have dinner at my house tomorrow,” Kjetil said, taking her by surprise. “Juniper hasn’t met my family.”

  She froze like she’d been blasted by an ice dragon. Wait. What? She wasn’t ready for dinner!

  Indris smiled at her reaction. “We’d love to. You can learn a great deal about a man from his family. I’m curious about yours.”

  Argh! She
searched for an excuse, but the head of her family had said they’d go. Saying she was busy would be an insult to Indris.

  She looked at Gilly, but knew her sister would be healed enough to go by tomorrow. There was no salvation there.

  “What do you think?” Kjetil asked her, wicked laughter in his eyes. “Am I courting you properly?”

  Her eyes narrowed. There was only so much she could say with Indris listening. “You’re baiting me.”

  “You seem to like it,” he said blandly, taking a sip of coffee.

  She growled.

  “Your eyes are pretty when they glow like that,” he commented. “You need some green diamonds to complement them.”

  “Diamonds aren’t green,” Gilly commented, launching a conversation on natural and man-made colored gems that left Indris deeply disturbed.

  “I’ve neglected your education,” he said regretfully. “We will remedy that at once. A daughter of a dragon must know her gems. How will you be able to function in society if you can’t recognize a sapphire from a blue diamond? You’ll be cheated in business and romance.”

  The girls exchanged mystified looks. Gilly voiced her confusion. “Er, Daddy…we don’t go into dragon society, so what does it matter?”

  His expression darkened. “That is about to change.” He looked at Kjetil. “I have some things to discuss with my daughters. It was a pleasure meeting you, and I look forward to our dinner appointment. I will fly out today to fetch my wife so she may join us.”

  “What?” Juniper protested. “Mom’s visiting her relatives! That’s a long flight. Maybe you should…” She trailed off at his implacable look. He’d decided Mom should be here, and that was what would happen.

  “Of course. Juniper, I’ll see you later.” Kjetil smoothly kissed her hair and left, leaving her frustrated and oddly bereft. She could use a buffer. She had a feeling the conversation was about to get thorny.

  Once the door closed, Indris said, “I understand Verbreaker has expressed an interest in you.”

  Juniper looked accusingly at Gilly.

  Gilly took a sudden interest in her tea cup.

  Juniper fidgeted. “He’s talked to me, it’s true. Maybe flirted a bit.”

  Indris’s eyes glowed. “Define flirting.”

  She blew out a breath. “I don’t know how serious he is! Sheesh, Dad, why are you grilling me? The blasted dragon became a tripping hazard, that’s all. It doesn’t mean he wants to marry me.”

  “I listened to your mother and let her raise you according to human customs. She convinced me that gems would arouse jealousy in your neighbors and family. She wished you to blend in.” He began to pace. “The truth is, you were already different. Special. I let guilt muddy my judgment. Her idea of a ‘normal’ life robbed you of so many things.” He straightened to his full height, his voice full of dragon. “No more! I’ve had enough.”

  He pinned Juniper with a hard stare. “Verbreaker is interested in you because you are a potent woman of a powerful line. Do not take his interest lightly. He is a lord, but you are also the daughter of a lord. It’s high time I introduced you both to dragon society. You need to meet your grandmother and your cousins, Chaldaic’s hatchlings.”

  “Wait. Chaldaic has hatchlings?” Juniper said in confusion.

  “They are years older than you. Your mother thought you’d have difficulty with it, but you are dragon, Gilly. You’re not so delicate.” He met her gaze without pity. “They want nothing to do with you.”

  Gilly took a long moment to process that, and then her shoulders went back. “He was never my father. I have a sister and a family of my own.”

  He nodded. “Good girl. My daughters are strong and beautiful. I want you to be happy, too.”

  Juniper hesitated, but it had to be said. “Happy like you and Mom?”

  He looked at her thoughtfully. “What’s on your mind?”

  She exhaled heavily. It had weighed on her for so long, but it had to be said. “You don’t love her.”

  “Have you ever seen me less than attentive and respectful of her?”

  “No, but that’s not always the same as love.” It was a relief to be said. “You wouldn’t be able to leave all the time if you loved her.”

  He regarded her kindly. “I am faithful to your mother, child. We are comfortable together. You don’t have to fear I will abandon my family.” He placed a hand on her shoulder. “A dragon lives long; we view these things differently. I am not missing the chance at love because I choose to honor my human marriage. Neither your mother nor I are suffering. Do not mistake drama and poetry for a good relationship.”

  She threw up her hands. “I can’t do that, Indris! If that’s what marriage is, why bother? I want hearts and flowers, and yes, maybe a love song! I want to feel loved.” It was the real reason she was skittish of relationships, she realized. Her parent’s example was so…staid. Her parents always assumed she’d end up with a dragon, and now she realized she dreaded the idea. Just because she was powerful didn’t mean she was looking for man who was, too. He didn’t have to have magic or breathe fire to protect her; there were other options.

  She didn’t want to end up in a “logical” relationship. She wanted romance to last beyond the courtship.

  “Then don’t choose Verbreaker. Your wolf is a good choice…unless I find something wrong with him. Other than the obvious, of course.”

  “What do you mean?”

  He shrugged. “He’s not a dragon, of course.”

  Juniper huffed. “That’s not his fault!”

  “I question his ability to protect you.”

  “Are you kidding? He took out a dragon! A pack mate helped him, but it’s nothing to sneeze at.”

  Gilly giggled. Indris grinned at her.

  “She really likes him,” Gilly said confidently. “She even lets him cook for her.”

  Juniper grunted and gathered up the used cups. She’d forgotten how they could team up on her. Dratted, sly dragons. “Whatever.”

  Indris kissed their cheeks and gave them a quick hug goodbye. “Behave, girls. I’m off to fetch your mother. You might add a guest room.”

  Juniper sighed after he left. “I don’t know why I bothered moving. My whole family follows wherever I go.”

  Gilly shrugged and winced as it pulled on her ribs. “Yeah, it’s tough to be loved.”

  Someone knocked. Frowning, Juniper looked out the window and grunted. “Oh. I forgot that the elf was sending people over from the University.”

  “Right. I’m going to make myself scare,” Gilly said, heading to her room. “I need to heal if I’m going to vet your boyfriend’s house.”

  Juniper made a face and composed herself to greet her guests. Stepping outside, she shook hands with two enthusiastic professors and three students. She’d just begun to form a stairway up the trunk to the newly formed balcony off the greenhouse when Grigori’s mother walked up to her, an unhappy Grigori in tow.

  “Juniper, a moment?” Tatyana said, drawing her aside. “I wanted to thank you for your generosity and hospitality, and to tell you that I’ve found an apartment for my family. We’ll be moving this week.”

  “They will. I’d like to keep working here,” Grigori said, ignoring his mother’s chiding look. “I’ll be staying with my family at night, though. They need a man to keep them safe.”

  “Oh. I hadn’t realized you were unhappy,” Juniper said, surprised. “Did something happen?”

  Tatyana sighed. “One of the wolves found us a safer place. I’m afraid the flying snakes were the last straw.”

  “Ah,” Juniper said, comprehension dawning. “I understand. I’ll miss you, but you’re right. Bramble Burn isn’t the safest place for children. You’ll need Grunt to help move, right?”

  “Actually, Bryan is helping, and he has a truck.” Tatyana blushed when she said his name.

  Grigori didn’t look impressed. “Mom has a boyfriend.”

  “He’s a good man,” Tatyana said sternly. �
�He helped us find the apartment.”

  Romance strikes again. It was good for Tatyana, but a bit depressing for her. She’d gotten attached to their family. “Okay. Well, good luck. Let me know if you need help. I’ve got to see to my guests.”

  She smiled at the head professor, a silver haired halfling in slacks and a short sleeved buttoned shirt. “Okay, let’s get cracking!” She formed a banister to go with the steps and led the way up the tree, opening the door to the fragrant greenhouse.

  “Musa velutina,” murmured the lady professor, gently touching a hand of pink bananas. She was dark haired and in her early to late thirties, sensibly dressed in slacks and a summer blouse. “I see you like tropical plants.”

  “I like the challenge,” Juniper admitted. It was fun to see fellow horticulture enthusiasts enjoying her collection.

  “Is that a cacao tree?” one of the students asked, enthralled. “I’ve always wanted to see one. She sniffed at the cacao pod the size of a football. The orange pods grew directly from the tree and were filled with a fragrant white pulp surrounding the cocoa beans. An automatic mister spritzed it, misting her lashes. “This is awesome!”

  Juniper smiled and popped a sweet-tart coffee cherry into her mouth, offering samples to her curious guests. “I’m glad you like it. It needs a dedicated space, of course. If I could be sure it would survive the monsters, I’d grow a greenhouse tree with proper humidity and temperature. If I had the time to tinker with the plants…” she trailed off wistfully. “I’d love to select for hardiness and better adapt them to the climate.”

  “I’d think managing the collection would be the most difficult thing,” the lady professor said. “Harvesting and processing cocoa beans by hand is time consuming and processing equipment is expensive. I’m afraid the same goes for coffee beans.”

  “Plus I had to hand pollinate these trees,” Juniper added.

  “But what a fascinating experiment! Think of the jobs that could be produced. With a properly managed group of volunteers, a small cocoa factory could make artisan chocolate. If done right, the business could become profitable quickly, especially since Ms. Baily could provide rent free space, trees and a building...if she were so inclined, of course,” she added hastily.