Chapter 10

David

Three days had passed and they were some of the longest David or Daniel had ever experienced. Daniel seemed to fall into a deep depression while David had forced himself to return to his normal routine as a distraction. Every minute that he wasn’t busy ruling the kingdom, he missed her. His dreams were driving him mad!

The second night David again dreamed of Stormy. She was standing in the same field with the brunette. Stormy was struggling to form a clear crystal looking ball around the two of them. She was sweating and looked exhausted. At one point it seemed to enclose around them like a snow globe but the minute it was in place, it was shattered by a fireball. The flames glanced off Stormy’s arm and David could swear he felt the sting of it. He was certain if he hadn't been a dragon, there would have been a mark on his arm when he woke up.

Late on day three, David had decided to take a break from court to clear his head. He was trying hard not to think of the dreams as he sank down into the hot tub. The king groaned as the jets began to massage the muscles in his back. He took a giant swig of his sweet ice tea and opened the book he had been reading. It was the latest in a series of dragon fiction stories written by a human.

He had read about ten pages when he felt the tiny hairs at the back of his neck stand up. He looked around the room and was in the process of laying his book aside, when Stormy suddenly appeared in his lap in the middle of the water. He jumped as the book went one way and the tea glass beside him went the other. He heard to book thud onto the floor behind him as he let out a surprised squeal.

Stormy threw her arms around his neck and held him like her life depended on it. She kissed his cheek and hugged him a second time. She might even have kissed him again if she hadn’t been interrupted by two guards charging into the room to check the commotion.

They had their swords drawn and were rushing at Stormy. Her expression changed and she leapt out of the hot tub so lightly it almost looked like she floated.

She moved with the grace of a cat as she spun around and knocked the feet out from under the guard closest to her. He fell backwards and Stormy used his chest as springboard as she flew towards the second guard. She disarmed him and landed squarely on his back before his face even registered that he was falling as well.

Stormy snatched the sword he dropped before it hit the ground and whirled on them. She had a foot on each of their chests and the sword to their throats so quickly it didn’t look real.

“My Sweetness!” David managed to choke out as he tried to wrap his brain around what he had just seen. His mate had attacked his guards. He watched as she kept the sword on the soldiers with one hand, and seem to be reaching for him with the other.

David noticed her posture. She wasn't acting like she wanted to hurt the men, but rather she looked like she was in a defensive position. She backed up slowly until she was near him. He suddenly realized she believed she was defending him.

“Sweetheart, those are our men. You need to let them up. They were also trying to protect me.” He said as calmly as he could. He finally managed to make his mind connect with his feet, and stood up.

Stormy glanced over her shoulder at him and she visibly relaxed. She tilted her head for a moment and seemed to take stock of the scene. “It's okay,” he told her. “They were only responding to me being startled. No one is trying to hurt me or you.”

Stormy nodded her head. She made the gesture that he remembered, meaning that she understood and lowered the sword. She walked over the two guards who were still trying to catch their breaths on the ground. She offered each of them a hand up and gave them back their swords.

She hung her head and made a fist against her chest and drew a large circle. She bit her lip as she glanced at David and back to his men. “The queen apologizes for the misunderstanding.” David said as he realized what she was saying.

Both men bowed low to Stormy, “We are sorry your Highness, we did not know who you were.” They said sheepishly.

Stormy again gestured that she understood. She patted them both on the shoulder and gave them a small curtsy.

“Thank you for your service my friends,” the king said dismissing them. He noticed they had both eyes on her wearily as they returned to their posts.

As the men left, she stayed in her place. Stormy chewed on her bottom lip nervously. She lowered her head and looked guilty. He could tell from her posture that she expected to be scolded. He instead held his arms open to her.

“Come here, My Sweet!” He ordered her softly.

Stormy ran to him and into his hug. She threw her hands into his hair and placed a kiss on his temple. She pointed to herself, to her chin and then to him. She drew a heart into his chest.

“I missed you too.” David said as he crushed her body to his. She put her head in his shoulder.

“We didn't know what happened to you, and I was worried.” He scolded. He hated to fuss at her considering how long it has been seen he had seen her but he didn’t want her to get the impression he thought her behavior was okay.

She again made the sign that she understood, and also for the one that meant she was sorry. She bit her lips, shook her head no, pointed to him and then made an angry face. She put her hands together in front of her like she was praying.