The Dragon Legion Collection(99)

“And what of the firestorm?”

“Maybe the heat of it will help him. Maybe if I stay close, he will remain warm.”

“Do you understand why it wasn’t satisfied?”

Aura shrugged. “Because I didn’t want it to be?”

Hera shook her head. “Even your will isn’t enough for that,” she said. “Tell me about the firestorm.”

“It’s the sign that a Pyr has met the woman who can bear his son...”

“Woman,” Hera repeated, interrupting Aura. “You are a nymph. A woman is mortal. A nymph is immortal. The firestorm is keyed to the connection between Pyr and the treasures of the earth they defend.”

“Mortals,” Aura murmured. “And the elements.” She looked up at Hera. “Can you make me mortal?”

The goddess stilled “Are you sure?”

“He wanted the firestorm to be satisfied so badly. Maybe it would make a difference to him.”

“It would make a difference to you,” Hera reminded Aura. “And it would be no guarantee. You would be unable to find my garden, ever again, for example.”

A lump rose in Aura’s throat. She considered Thad and knew that if he’d been healthy, the choice would have been no choice at all. As it stood, she was taking a chance. But she remembered the joy of flying with him, the risk they’d taken together and their exuberance when they had succeeded in reaching this place. She thought of his conviction and his sense of purpose, and she knew that even if the chance of fulfilling his firestorm was small, she had no choice but to try.

She would willingly have Thad’s son.

She knew that being mortal would allow her to do that, but she didn’t want to lose the magic of their flight together. She liked that they were both shifters and they way they had frolicked in the air. She was glad that she’d been able to help him in his battle against Ladon, too. She didn’t want to surrender all that she was, even to make his dream come true.

She wanted them both to remain what they were and be stronger together.

Then she remembered Nephele’s story. “Those daughters of the elements,” she said to Hera. “The ones you included in your prophecy.” The goddess inclined her head. “Are there Airdaughters in their number?”

Hera smiled. “Of course. There are daughters associated with each of the four elements, although they are few in number.”

Aura got to her feet and met the goddess’s gaze. “Would you make me mortal, Hera?” she asked. “Would you make me an Airdaughter, please?”

The goddess took a step closer and framed Aura’s face in her hands. She bent to kiss her cheeks, one after the other. “I promised your mother to raise you as my own, and to do my best to ensure you found happiness.” She looked into Aura’s eyes. “Are you sure?”

“Yes, Hera. Please,” Aura said with conviction, then bowed her head.

She felt the touch of the goddess’s lips on the top of her head, even as the air cooled all around her. “Blessed be,” Hera whispered and Aura felt a strange shimmer pass through her body. It was like the tingle that accompanied her changing shape, but was colder and more vehement. She understood that her very nature was being changed.

And she was glad.

She shivered then opened her eyes, wanting to see the world shift as a result of her changed nature. For a moment, everything was just as it had been. Hera stood before her, her lips curved in a sad smile. The goddess blew a kiss at her, then bent to lift the pilgrim into her arms. He might have weighed as little as a feather for all the strain she showed.

A fine mist was descending, one that obscured the hills and the road and filled the air with moisture. Hera turned and stepped into the mist, her figure lost to view, even as she took the road that led uphill.

“I’m sorry, Aura,” whispered Nephele. Aura was glad the shrouding mist was someone she knew.

“I’m not,” she replied in kind. “I never will be, Nephele, although I will miss you all.”

The tingle slid from the tips of Aura’s fingers and toes, releasing a faint shimmer in the mist. Aura didn’t know if she would be able to see Nephele or the other nymphs again, or whether they would have to reveal themselves to her by choice. She wasn’t sure what would remain of her powers and what would be lost.


But she wanted to explore it all with Thad.

She wasn’t really surprised to discover that she was alone on a deserted hillside, Thad unconscious at her feet and the tree with silvery leaves casting shade over the two of them. There was no sign of Hera or the pilgrim. Aura knew that if she followed the road up to the high pass, she’d never see the garden.

A soft rain began to fall, and it made the leaves of the tree tinkle softly, as if in sympathy. Aura fell to her knees beside Thad, who remained now in human form, and kissed his cheek. Their lives were bound together now, whatever came to be.

She knew she shouldn’t have been surprised that no spark emanated from the point of contact between them. The firestorm was satisfied, just as he’d desired. She looked at him, letting her fingertips trail across his cheek and lips. Even though the firestorm was extinguished, he was still the most alluring man she’d ever known.

She would have his son.

Aura bent and touched her lips to his, then she twined their fingers together.