Living in a dream.. {Kyle}

[Lillie Galleau]

There was nothing in the world that could make a woman heal faster than a freakishly attractive man, Lillie decided some three weeks later. At first, her recovery had been slow and annoyingly painful, leaving her at the mercy of Kyle’s more-than-capable hands. She’d felt guilty for being such a burden on him, for her lack of sight made things a bit more touch and go. She couldn’t even count the number of times she’d almost fallen down the stairs, or found some hidden niche in the old plantation house that hadn’t been covered by careful exploration. She’d had to be walked around the entire estate multiple times to get a layout in her head, and even then, she still found herself getting lost at times.

She had no idea how Kyle hadn’t broken down and strangled her at some point. If their roles were reversed…okay, so maybe she wouldn’t have either, but she was amazed by the level of patience that the dragon possessed. Was it an immortal thing; had he seen it all and dealt with so many kinds of people, that he no longer felt frustrated at their inadequacies? Well, that being it or not, she did her best to give back as much as she could; taking over the kitchen with a gusto once she realized that the dragon had a sweet tooth.

Now that she was back on her feet and moving like a sixty year old woman, instead of the annoying 145, she was ready to tackle the world. The first thing she’d done was call Tyson and her brothers, probably racking up a nice phone bill as she listened to all six men freak out and scream- though that one was mostly Tyson- into the receiver. Pat had demanded that she tell him where she was and come home, but she’d refused, blatantly informing him that she was happy right where she was. After that, she’d made sure that their calls were short enough so that her crazy-protective brother couldn’t trace the line. She started checking in with the Gallery, doing some dream-painting when Kyle surprised her with canvas and paints…all in all, things were going back to normal.

Except for the fact that, despite her body's healing, she couldn’t bring herself to go back to her homey apartment behind the shop. She knew that she needed to check on her things and she couldn’t hide in the dragon’s house forever…but she just couldn’t make herself go.

It was with that on her mind that she curled up in Kyle’s large bed, huddling into the warmth of his body. After their night together, he had gone back to his usual gruff and growly self, but she’d noticed a change in him. For one thing, he didn’t run away or poof into thin air when she started showing signs of affection, and at night? Oh mama, there was definitely something to be said for having a shifter for a lover.

Making a little cocoon out of the sheets and whatever appendage Kyle let get too close to her, Lillie sighed and pushed the thoughts away, sinking down into slumber.

Unconciousness claimed her, and she floated in a black void. Somewhere off in the distance, a baby cried, and she strained against the darkness around her. She passed her hand in front of her face, searching for something solid and started in surprise when her fingers met wood. As if knowing where to look, she found a handle sticking out of the black mass, turned and pushed.

Light seared her eyes and she fell back in alarm, shielding her face from the brightness. Slowly, blinking and tearing, she strained to see...and immediately wished she hadn't.

New Orleans was on fire. The street around her was smoldering, orange-yellow flames reaching the sky. Everywhere, people were running, screaming, burning. Frightened, she turned and ran with them, instantly carried off by a wave of people whose only care was to survive. A child's scream cut through the air and she paused, catching sight of a little girl running toward a cemetary. Like someone was guiding her, she immediately broke free from the crowd and ran after her, calling for her to stop. The tombstones of the cemetary loomed over her, mockingly promising, and she ran through the maze of stone and ivy. The little girl's retreating back was before her, urging her on...

And then she reached the center of the cemetary. A body lay on a cold stone alter, ankles and wrists bound. The child was nowhere to be seen, and she slowly approached the cold slab, that same force pushing her toward it. What was she meant to see? Who was trying to make her see? The body was that of a woman, lying still as death, a once-white night gown stained by blood. There was a tear in the upper chest and lower abdomen, and she could hear the steady drop of blood on the ground. Lillie stopped right beside the alter and looked down, not wanting to see, yet needing to.

The woman's face jerked to the side, and her filmy white eyes opened wide in fear. The woman had her face, and she opened her mouth, jaw stretching unnaturally wide, an ear splitting scream blasting through the air. A child's high pitched laugh sounded, making a horrific duet and out of the shadows, the form of a man appeared, reaching for her with arms stained with blood—

Lillie gasped and jerked awake. A strangled 'NO!' was lodged in her throat, and she cringed, bringing her arms up over her face, expecting to feel those bloody hands grab her...but there was nothing. Going still, she listened, throwing out her surviving senses for evidence that she was safe. There was no scent of burning flesh, no screams. She was warm, lying in a bed, blind...

A dream, oh thank God. Relief pouring through her, she finally took a breath she hadn't known she'd been holding. She felt sunlight on her face and absently realized that she'd probably been in bed all day and night.

In Kyle's bed, in his house...in his arms. Warmth instantly replaced the cold burst of fear. Sensing the man in question nearby, she reached a hand out, suddenly needing to touch him, feeling as if his presence was the only thing capable of grounding her. Had she woken him up? Was he already up? Despite the warnings being whispered in her ear, she needed him close to her.

Well, on the upside, at least she hadn't sat up screaming this time. Lucky Kyle, not managing to see her usual morning welcome, thanks to her inability to get a full night's sleep. The urge to paint, to put her dream to paper poked the back of her brain, but she ignored it with a practiced ease. Man, please say she wasn't being a clingy fool; that he wasn't about to become as cold and professional as he'd been before...

"Kyle? Are you there?"

[Kyle Aodhagán †]

I can't see the stars anymore living here
Lets go to the hills where the outlines are clear

Bring on the wonder
Bring on the song
I pushed you down deep in my soul for too long



Kyle came awake with the sunrise; smiling as at that very moment, Lillie yawned and shifted in her sleep, hazily pressing her middle against him as her ankle linked over his calf. He breathed in deeply, drinking in the scent of her and laying an arm affectionately across her hip. He was unable to keep the contented smirk from riding his lips and softening his usually unyielding eyes. Instantly, a heady scent of spices erupted from his skin; the shifter’s attachment to the human confirmed in the heady aroma he exuded and the rigid swell pressed against her waist.

The dragon laid his head back down on the pillow and reached up to brush the tousled russet waves from her cheek so that he could watch the gentle orange and lilac shafts of light dance across her face. Even in the morning, she was ethereal.
Replacing the lazy hand across her waist the shifter couldn’t help but think that everything about the past three weeks had been divine, almost unreal.

As Lillie healed, she held off her brothers and Tyson until she was able to receive them minus the contusions and gashes, and some of the mental lesions that were still very, very raw. For this Kyle was grateful. Time alone was what they both needed. The soul deep wounds that he had encompassed for too long were beginning to heal as well.
And so the dragon catered to her every whim and need; ensuring that what ever his female required, no matter necessity or fancy, was at her fingertips. He enveloped them in a blanket of blissful seclusion; getting to know the female he had been waiting for too long, and letting just a little bit of himself out as well.
Of course she knew him already. Sometimes Lillie would accidently comment on things that had happened in his past that she had seen through dreams, and it always leveled him. She never asked questions, or pried, or asked him to bring up painful memoirs of the past, but she was ever a kind, warm shoulder with which to bear the difficult reveries.

Lillie was happy there; painting, making lists of food for the kitchen for the gardener who had quickly taken to the woman and volunteered to be an assistant of sorts. This worked out very well. Kyle hadn’t left her for even a moment, and the kitchen was stocked for a house full of guests.
Lillie’s happiness was an emotional banquet in and of itself for the shifter, but then she learned his secret weakness. A love for sweets.

He consumed every bit of it; the cooking, the dream-like state of normalcy, the quiet time at night when words weren’t needed, only the feel of lips on skin and mouths and bodies united.

But Kyle felt a pang of guilt riding him as well. Yes, the rest and healing were required, but he had begun to feel as if unbidden, he was keeping her locked up in a prison of happiness. Dread ate at the very core of him when he thought about her out there again, amidst the wolves and the quiet pandemonium happening all over New Orleans. Corbin Muunokhoi. Just the thought of him loosed a quiet growl from his throat. Heat exploded from his pores.

The heat dissipated quickly when Lillie stirred in his arms, a soft moan escaping her slightly parted lips. From the tango going on behind her lids, he guessed that she was dreaming, and hazard a guess what it was about. Like a child, he hoped it was about him.
Though their bodies had told stories of the passion they felt for one another, no mention of it had breached lips. Another reason he was terrified to take her out of the comfort of this cocoon. Out there, as the reverence to her hero wore off and she got back to her daily life, and the shifter went back to his swords and sacrifice, would she still want him?

‘Kyle? Are you there?’

Lillie’s gravelly inquiring voice drew him out of his mind, and he beamed as he gently rolled over to hold his weight up on an outstretched arm, and leaned his chest down across hers. “I am here...” Kyle answered as he pressed his lips against her neck “Always…” He finished in a breathless whisper against her throat.

He pulled back and sighed contentedly, his hand going down to grasp her belly as if somewhere deep inside he knew of the baby’s echo in the nightmare. “And I would keep you here underneath me until the end of time if obligation did not prevent it.” Kyle continued with a playful disappointment. Truthfully, the dragon was fairly energized about pulling her out of the spider web of contentment. A call to Ilani at The Pit had already been made. Her friends would receive her in the form of celebration at the tavern, and it would be a good homecoming.

“Arrangements have been prepared and I require you to…I need you to…” A faint blush crept up the dragon’s tawny cheeks and that dark spicy aroma bloomed out of him, marking Lillie’s skin like an unseen tattoo. “Would you come with me?” He finished in a rush of breath, a foreign sheepishness replacing his usual unwavering calmness.

[Lillie Galleau]

I don't want another pretty face
I don't want just anyone to hold
I don't want my love to go to waste
I want you and your beautiful soul
You're the one I wanna chase
You're the one I wanna hold
I wont let another minute go to waste
I want you and your beautiful soul

[/i]



Oh man, talk about some kind of calming agent floating around them. With a little frown, she took a little sniff of the air, not for the first time wondering what that delicious aroma was. It smelled like…dark spices and cookies, as far as she could tell, and she seemed to be noticing it around them more often, of late. Was it something with the house? Something blooming outside? Either way, she was really going to have to find a way to bottle it for women everywhere. Mmm, how it made her feel all tingly inside.

With a relieved sigh, Lillie turned her face into the shifter’s shoulder, tilting her head back to give him more access to her neck. Like a switch had been flipped, all of the anxiety and fear that the dream had brought on immediately dissipated, leaving her basking in warmth and comfort. She had a feeling that that little whispered promise hadn’t meant to be heard, but her sharp little ears caught it before he could change the subject. She did her best not to smile widely, knowing that he’d catch the expression before she had a chance to think up a suitable lie- not that she ever could fib with a straight face around the shifter- but heck if she could help those butterflies from going insane in her stomach.

There hadn’t been any particular words said between them, but the artist knew that there was definitely…something. Given the poor man’s past and the battles he’d had to fight, she was adamant about giving him his space; letting him figure out for himself that the three weeks they’d spent together could be just the beginning. Despite what had happened in the past, or what would happen in the future, she was more than willing to fight tooth and nail to stay with him. Bring on her brothers, the end of the world, that freakishly scary witch that was tearing the world apart…she didn’t care.

Move over, Lillie the Wonder Slut and make room for Lillian, Warrior Princess! Ayayayayaya!

She couldn’t help but snort at the thoughts, letting herself be drawn back to the present as his arms closed around her. She knew that she was probably using him as a crutch of some kind…but she couldn’t help herself. Petulant ‘I need you’s’ or no, she had never been able to wake up after a particularly nasty nightmare without about an hour’s worth of shivering.

“I’m sorry if I woke you,” She said, voice a bit muffled against his shoulder. With a little sigh, she sank back into the pillows and pressed her lips against his collarbone, reveling in the feel of him around her. “I had another ‘dream.’ It was so vivid and…so weird…” She trailed off, stopping herself from explaining it to him. Kyle had enough to worry about; he didn’t need to know that she’d seen herself tied to an alter. A shiver crawled up her spine as she remembered the child’s wail in the background, as those bloody hands reached for her.

Ruthlessly, she shoved the memories back. She’d purge them soon enough on canvas, and leave out some details so that she wouldn’t make her dragon crazy. With the end of the world, his hunt for the bitch-witch, and trying to put together a ragtag army to put the veils of reality back together again, she didn’t need to add to his stress. It was probably just a symbolic dream, that was all. Some kind of guilt-thing for not calling her brothers like she’d promised, and for putting off her going back home, now that she was healed, instead of mooching off of her lover.

Oh, there went those shivers again. Kyle Aodhagan was her lover. She’d never get used to the idea that such a handsome, virile man could want to spend so much time with her scrawny behind—

She started a bit when his hand came to her belly, right over where the bloody slash in her ‘other self’ had been. Reflexively, her good hand came down to close over his, a frown cutting across her mouth. The baby’s wail kicked up again in her mind, and she scooted closer to him, hanging onto his words to pull her back to the present. As his question sank in, she slowly tilted her head up to look at him.

“Obligation? Arrangements? What kind of arrangements? Do you need my help with something, Kyle?” Absently, she sniffed as that wonderful scent started to kick up again. “Mmm, I love that smell…oh my gosh, wait a minute,” It always took her a few minutes to understand the meaning behind his words; given his background, he spoke in a brogue so different than what she was used to. Arrangements? Asking her to accompany him? “Are you asking me out on a date? You are, aren’t you?”

A smile burst onto her lips as she did her best not to start giggling. No wonder there was an extra blast of heat coming off of him! Was he BLUSHING? Really? Oh, holy guacamole, she wished she could see what he looked like! Letting her hand come up from where it lay over his, she brushed her fingers over his cheek and felt the telling heat on them. He WAS blushing! Oh, God, he was the cutest man on two legs…

Leaning forward, she managed to find the tip of his nose, and gave it a fond little kiss. Her dream forgotten- for the moment, that annoying voice whispered- she gave him another quick kiss on his lips and wiggled out from under him, practically prancing over to the closet, where some of her clothing had been stored. So excited was she to be going out- a date! With Kyle! A date! Kyle asked her on a date! Heck if she could form coherent thoughts at this point…yeesh- that she forgot for a minute that she was probably flashing her bare butt to the poor guy. Rooting through the closet, she found her favorite yellow dress that had somehow appeared in the plantation sometime during the past three weeks and scuttled for the bathroom.

“Just give me…um…well, I’ll need a half hour to get ready, then a little time to sketch out what’s in my brain, but I’ll hurry.”

[/center]

[Kyle Aodhagán †]

Bring on the wonder
Bring on the song
I pushed you down deep in my soul for too long

Kyle’s brow furrowed at Lil’s brief mention of the nightmare she’d had, his hand instinctually tightening around her hip. He wanted to tell her that she shouldn’t ever be sorry for waking him. Sleep could certainly wait. Every moment with her was a blessing that could be stolen. Sadly, the shifter knew this better than anyone.

The hand over her belly was met with another warm palm, and like a thief the dragon leaned in and stole a kiss; lips whispering lightly across her sudden frown before claiming them with an intensity like it was his first time. And it was like that, each time a brilliant miracle that stimulated him to the very foundation.

When Lillie brought up the topic of that ‘smell’, Kyle flushed darker, burying his head into the crook of her neck and wanting to die there. He had marked her, irrevocably mated himself to this human, though the realization terrified him like nothing else.
The what-if’s flew at him like large black winged birds of prey, talons clenched and waiting to tear his heart out. She didn’t love him back. Or, she -did- love him and he lost her again. She would remain human he would outlive her. Dear Gods, there were so many what-if’s. A tremble crawled across his skin and he found himself steadied only by the spellbinding aroma of her skin.

And then she said yes. She said yes.
His skin tingled with the heat as it rose from within him, and Kyle let out a genuine laugh as she kissed his nose and then flew from the bed like a pixie in the sugar cane, moving animatedly to the closet and then hurrying to the bathroom. Kyle couldn’t help but watch in amusement, his eyes sparkling roguishly at the sight of her lovely bisque skin and perfect curves.
It drew a discontented moan from his throat and he fell backwards into the mattress, a satisfied grin written across his face and gaze wistful and distant.

His hand moved down from where it was propped underneath his head to his rippled abdomen, the corner of his smile turning up even more at the sound of the shower coming on and Lillie moving around in the bathroom. Growling puckishly, the dragon sprang up from the bed and tore to the bath just as the Prophet was stepping into the hot, steamy spray.

“Perhaps we can hasten along the getting ready part, or slow it down, depending on your mood.” Kyle purred in a richly accented brogue as he slipped in behind her and drew his arm around her waist. “Let me wash your back. The arrangements aren’t until later, after all…” And he dipped his head down to taste her neck, gently nipping at the thin skin there. Letting out a covetous exhale, he left a lingering kiss against her shoulder blade and reached past her to seize the soap. Rich, lathery hands came down to rub the tension from her thin shoulders and her lithe arms. Her back to his front, he couldn’t help but lean down to nuzzle her cheek; white frothy bubbles speckling his rigid chest.

[Lillie Galleau]

Baby,
Take me on a journey.
I've been thinking lately,
I could use a little time alone with you.
Crazy,
Let's do something, maybe.
Please don't take your time,
You got me,
Right where you want me.

[/i]



Lillie had started a bit at the thunder of footfalls behind her, but as that darkly enticing voice sounded, she immediately relaxed. With a purr of her own, she leaned back into him, a knowing smile sliding onto her lips. Given a certain part of his anatomy doing a happy dance against her backside, she didn’t think that ‘fast’ would be in the cards for them, at the moment.

And, about forty five minutes later, when they’d used up all traces of hot water and she felt as if her legs had been replaced by Jell-O molds, Lillie knew for a fact that she’d never be able to go near that claw footed tub without sighing in bliss ever again.

After making sure that she remembered how to put her dress on, she made short work of the sketch her brain demanded that she finish. After making sure that Kyle was busy getting ready himself and doing a few random errands she’d thought of on the spot- maybe that last one about checking how much sugar they had in the house was a bit suspicious…naaah…- she let the compulsion take over; her pencil flying over the smooth sketchbook that had appeared with her dress. With a clarity that was startling, she saw the picture come to its finality; the vine-covered alter, the shadowy figure in the background, the cemetery and the gowned form lying still, facing the audience, her mouth opened in a silent scream…

When she was done, she practically shoved the picture at the bottom of her little stack, jumping up with the urge to get as far away from it as possible. Not EVERYTHING she’d seen had come to pass, right? That one was just a guilty metaphor.

The lie felt leaden on her mind, but she shoved it to the back. She had a date with a dragon, and no random dreams were going to muck that one up!

AYAYAYAYA! Lillian, Warrior Princess would make sure of that!

It was by the same way that she’d gotten to the plantation that she found herself standing in the alleyway of The Pit. God, she had a new appreciation for the art of flying! With a laugh as her feet touched the ground, she patiently waited for the shifter to regain his human form, before throwing herself at his chest.

“That was amazing! Almost…almost better than sex!” She paused, frowned, then laughed again. “Okay, maybe better than sex with anyone but you, but…holy guac, that was so much fun! Forget a taxi; we’re FLYING back home! Wow!”

Laughing, she curled her arm around his waist and nudged him forward, her cane tapping in front of her as she made her way to the front entrance of The Pit. Instantly upon seeing her face, the bouncers made a clear path- though, whether it was for her disability or whatever expression was on Kyle’s face- and they were ushered into the…wow, was it actually QUIET in there tonight? Surprise and confusion etched themselves onto her face as she stopped a few feet inside.

Where was the music? The pounding of feet and happy catcalls from drunks in the corner? It was actually…somber in there! Without screaming metal bands or dance-sex tunes blasting from the speakers! Did someone die?

“LILLIE!” Well, there was her answer. Practically torn from Kyle’s side, the prophet found herself being squeezed to death by the ecstatic bar owner. “Oh my God, he wasn’t lying when he said he’d find you! I CAN’T BELIEVE NOBODY CALLED ME TO TELL ME YOU WERE OKAY!”

She flailed a bit. “Ilani…can’t breathe…”

“Oh baby, are you okay? Where the hell have you BEEN? What happened to you? I swear, I will FUCKING KILL the person who took you away!”

“Still can’t breathe…aack…Laniii!”

Suddenly, those crushing arms were gone and she took in a deep breath of cool air. Wow, who would’ve known that she’d be so missed? The sounds of familiar voices whirled around her, overwhelming at first. She heard Ilani, her brothers- there went another bout of insane hugging…her bones! Her SPLEEN!- Tyson, a few other friends she knew from the art circuit; all of them gathered around, happy to see her. Had Kyle done this…or had they all shown up after Ilani blabbed about their date?

Oh heck, either way, she felt like crying AND running away at the same time. But first, the sniffling. Definitely sniffling.

Throwing her arms around her eldest brother’s neck, she held on tight, murmuring apologies while he did the same. Pat held her gently, as if afraid that she would break, and the rest of her brothers gathered around her. She felt as if her heart were about to spontaneously explode, and it was all because of one person.

While her brothers began to fight with Ilani over who would get to kill whoever had stolen her away from them, she inched back, somehow knowing that Kyle would be near the bar, searching for that coveted bottle. Once she found him, she slid an arm around his waist and rested her head on his shoulder, placing a kiss on the side of his neck.

“Thank you,” She said softly, resting her cheek against his. “Next time, we find somewhere without my extended family, though, okay? I know a great restaurant down by the docks that has the best gumbo in town.”

Pat’s voice boomed from behind her. “Hey, isn’t that the creepy guy from Lil’s house?!”

She sighed. “And it doesn’t have that. Please don’t eat my brother, Kyle…he means well.”
---

((Aack, I hope this works! HAD to get it out before I went to class...MWAHAHA))

[/center]

[Kyle Aodhagán †]

Time, is going by, so much faster than I,
And I'm starting to regret not spending all of it with you.
Now I'm, wondering why, I've kept this bottled inside,
So I'm starting to regret not telling all of this to you.
So if I haven't yet, I've gotta let you know...

Kyle was relieved that Lillie wasn’t disgusted by his insatiable hunger for her. In fact, she mirrored it like a calm sea on an early autumn morning.
They took the time to savor one another, rubbing down aches under the warm spray and massaging the inner throbbing until the water ran cold and the fragile skin of her fingertips and toes was soft and wrinkly.

After, with much reluctance to loose her from his arms, the dragon left his female to do, well, feminine things while he stood before the closet to pick out his attire.
The ancient shifter dressed, and then stood in front of his reflection with a frown.
No. The usual stretched black tee-shirt, black jeans and shit kickers didn’t look right somehow.
Choosing something more subdued, Kyle settled for a crisp sky blue button-down folded up at the forearms and a pair of blue jeans, with his shitkickers. With a clean shave and a soapy fragrance on his tawny skin, -this- seemed more appropriate.

Thankful that Lillie was distracted; sketching furiously on a sketchpad that had been brought along with some personal effects, Kyle took the opportunity to step into the movable panel in his walk-in to strap on an arsenal. Two modified Berettas were tucked into his hip. A few extra clips were hidden on him, as well as a couple of blades; just in case.
When the dragon was done gearing up he caught up with his female just as she was tossing her sketchpad away. Before he could acquire as to the dream she had mentioned earlier, thus the depiction she’d just drawn, he was distracted by her lithe form in that yellow sundress. Heat exploded from him. “Lillie…you look…breathtaking.” He breathed huskily. And she did. She verily glowed with a radiance that rivaled the sun; even that blazing orb bowing down to be warmed by her as it dropped into the horizon.

The dragon received her in his arms as if they’d parted not minutes, but months ago and then they were off to the Pit where friends and family awaited.

Method of travel was no question. As far as the shifter was concerned there was no safer way to get from A to B than in the air. Of course it helped that so not to shred his nice cotton button-down he had to remove it, holding Lil’ against his chest as he sprouted large leathery wings and took to the sky.

The Pit was quiet, but humming with energy. Kyle smiled as he pulled his shirt back on while Lillie gushed about the ride -and- his sexual veracity. Oh yeah. Talk about a dragon sized ego.
The shifter was prepared but none to happy as once inside, she was whisked from his arms and into those of her loved ones.
He watched in quiet amazement as friends and family took turning hugging, kissing, and grilling her on where she’d been.

Instead of acting like a damn possessive shadow, which was exactly how he felt, Kyle slid onto a stool at the bar and nodded to the tender.
As if it had been waiting for his, that familiar bottle of Tequila with a bloated worm floating around at the bottom stared at him from the mirrored shelf opposite the counter. The shifter ordered a shot and asked the man to leave the damn thing, downing the first little glass of amber liquid with a satisfied wince as he reminisced about the last time he’d imbibed the stuff.
It seemed ages before Lillie’s arm came around him and that familiar, quixotic aroma wrapped around him as well. It was captivating; even more so than the potent liquor.

Kyle closed his eyes and smiled, bringing an arm up to tug Lillie’s hand over his chest. It thundered, like always.

At the sound of her brother’s reproachful tone, the dragon’s blissful grin turned into a scowl as his body stiffened.
“Useless words drip like honey from your tongue just as they did on the eve you swore to save your sister.”
Kyle responded gruffly, implying in his own way that the brother’s words and vows meant nothing to the shifter. He hadn’t expected that the Prophet’s human siblings would be able to find her, but hearing displeasure about his presence, -especially- when he had been the one to bring her home to them lit a fire in his that was futile to ignore.

He drew in a deep inhale and stilled himself, hoping that Pat didn’t egg him further. Lillie would not forgive him if it came to blows, but he was a dragon, not a mouse.
Turning in his female’s arms, he let his hand dip down to rest possessively on her tail bone. His face was tight, but azure eyes beseeching. As if she was the only one in the room he could see.
He tilted the liquor bottle and swirled it around so she could hear the sloshing, a remarkably boyish grin touching his lips as a brow arched up in challenge. “Lillian. It’s your favorite brand of battery acid. I have limes and spicy sauce. Have some?”

[Lillie Galleau]

It was so strange; that feeling of emptiness that gripped her every time she left the dragon’s side. With a sigh of complete relief, she curled her fingers against the softness of his shirt, leaning into him slightly. Not even her brothers had this kind of effect on her, she thought, absently toying with the collar of his shirt while she looped her casted arm around his neck. They’d always protected her and looked out for her…but it was just different when around Kyle. While she listened to Tommy try to flirt with Ilani, and the twins start fighting in the background, she couldn’t help but wonder about the almost instinctive contentment that rang through her whenever he was near. It was almost as if he were another part of her soul, fitting together like some kind of whispy jigsaw puzzle.

She bit back a laugh at the thought and mentally shook her head at herself. There she went again, going back to her hopeless romantic self. It wasn’t like she and Kyle were soul mates, or anything as foolish as that! And it wasn’t like she was in love with the man.

Her fingers froze in mid-collar adjustment as something deep inside of her reeled up and roared a denial. Oh no, she was definitely not in love with the kind, compassionate, sexy, honorable, gentle dragon…he was going to leave her! He was going to go fight a powerful witch and probably die, so he could be with his wife!

As the thoughts flared up in her mind, that strange fire in her chest proceeded to kick the crud out of all of them. Oh great, she’d fallen in love with the dragon…and so much so, that her heart was ready to wage war with her brain.

Whoof, she needed a vacation. Or a head shrinker.

Practically feeling her brother go wash-board tense, Lillie rolled her eyes dramatically, gave Kyle a slightly reproachful frown, then turned to face the angry cop. Leaning back against the dragon, she nudged his knees apart with her hip so that she could fit between them. When she’d called Pat and the others, she’d told them most of what happened; she’d been kidnapped by a crazy person, held hostage because the man thought that her ‘employer,’ Rachel Beaumont, would pay a huge ransom for her, and that Kyle saved her with help from some detectives on the NOPD. She hated lying to her family and was grateful for the phone hiding the distressed frowns she knew she wore, but if Pat and the rest ever knew about Corbin or her dreams…their worlds were already tough enough; they didn’t need added stress.

Not to mention that Pat would make it his life’s work to kill Corbin, thus getting himself killed. Thank God that Ilani had contacts on the police force and no qualms against forging documents to back up her story. As far as Pat and the others knew, the NOPD homicide squad had put off some of their more pressing cases, to help Kyle- a securities expert, or so she’d fibbed- hunt her down.

She knew that her brother was eternally grateful to the dragon for saving her; it was probably why all she got was a ticked off grunt when she leaned back against her lover, instead of the full out freak fest. The eldest Galleau was notorious for his protectiveness, and he’d been known to shoot at possible shooters…but Lillie knew that he would do nothing of the sort to Kyle. If anything, her brother was probably angry that he didn’t find her himself. As the head of the family, Pat had always thought of himself as everyone’s protector, and the fact that Kyle had not only saved her, but whisked her away to be healed…

It probably ate him alive. But still, that was no excuse for being so rude.

With a stern look on her face as she turned in the direction of his voice, the artist proceeded to shake her cane in his direction. “You know exactly who he is, Patrick Galleau,” She said in her best ‘angry matron’ voice. “So don’t even go there, or I’ll tell everyone about you and that nice secretary from work.”

From the laughter that picked up behind them, her other brothers had moved in to corral their kin. She heard Tommy pipe up wickedly with a ‘Pat’s got laid! ARMAGEDDEON IS HERE!’ followed by a smack and a whine, and she laughed. When Kyle’s voice rumbled in her ear again, she immediately turned back toward him.

“Tequila?” She repeated with another laugh, reaching out toward the sound of the bottle. Memories of their first meeting rolled through her mind, and she leaned forward to place a soft kiss on his cheek. “Doesn’t this bring back memories.”

She caught Pat’s grumble in the background, before Ilani started in on him- she loved her friend…only Lani would think to distract a man with comments like ‘I can’t believe you’re actually skinnier than me, eat nachos or die’- and rolled her eyes again.

“You trying to get me drunk so you can have your wicked way with me?” She grinned, holding out her hand for a lemon peel. “Well, you’re in for it now, buster; I think I can get through four whole shots without my tongue melting. Bet you can’t top that.”

And from behind them, her brother began to sing something about ‘Lillie has a boyfriend, I’m gonna be an uncle,’ from behind them. Something strange shivered through her, making her pause, but once the others started in with the ‘Lillie and Kyle, sitting in a tree,’ she promptly forgot about it.

[Kyle Aodhagán †]

You're never gonna be alone from this moment on
If you ever feel like letting go, I won't let you fall
You're never gonna be alone, I'll hold you 'til the hurt is gone

Kyle didn’t miss the frown that flitted across her lips just before turning her gaze on Pat. He inhaled sharply and held it as she fit herself between his knees, his deft hands instinctually going around her hips. He didn’t want to turn blood against blood. The fault here lied with him, for not knowing when to keep his lips sealed shut. Oh, if he would have just leaned over and kissed her instead of throwing acid daggers with his tongue, the tension would be naught.

But Lillie was resilient, using her stern, but beguiling tone and that familiar sense of humor to lull the beast to sleep. Laughter erupted behind them and Kyle’s fingers tightened against her waist, a smile replacing a furrowed brow and guilt laden eyes.
She turned in his arms and his smile grew, pulling her into him as best their position allowed. Her pale eyes shone impishly when her hand came around the bottle, and when she leaned in to ghost her mouth across his cheek, Kyle growled low in his throat and tilted his head down to nuzzle her neck.

God he wanted to be alone with her.

If it weren’t for the look of relief in Lani’s eyes or the brilliant smile that was permanently painted on Lillie’s countenance, he would have taken hold of her and whisked them back to their personal Eden. Her family would think him the true captor and their beloved Prophet a victim with that neurotic condition when the prey feels affection for her subjugator.
“I hardly believe that I need to ply you with drink to have my wicked way…” He answered hoarsely and grinned impishly watching her face with light amusement.

Of course the dragon didn’t miss a heart beat when it came to his female. A playful song rang out behind them and suddenly the blithe expression twisted into one of lament. It was gone in a moment, but had already stilled Kyle’s heart with concern.
“Or, if you aren’t up for the drink we can distract our tongues in other ways.” The shifter told her huskily, leaning in to capture her lips before her fingers found the citrus.

The kiss was slow and deliberate. A soul deep demonstration of utter devotion. The bottle found its way back to the countertop as Kyle’s hand found her chin and the other arm snaked around her hips, pulling her in again.
He -needed- to get her alone.

The only place the shifter could think of to have some privacy was completely unexpected. When he broke the embrace, Kyle gently slid off the stool and drew her with him, one hand affectionately at the small of her back as they walked slowly toward the dance floor.
When they reached the circle of gyrating bodies, the couple’s mere aura seemed to cause them to part. A breach appeared in the sea of dancers, and Kyle took her hand, gently pulling her towards the center.

When the bodies had closed back around them, despite the thumping metal that drifted out of the speakers, the dragon brought her body against his, finding some rhythm to rock in time with.
His lips came down to whisper against her ear, hearing nothing but her heart beat, feeling but her limbs curled around his.
“What has pulled your thoughts away from the celebration?” Kyle inquired easily, his hands traveled across her skin as he swayed to the music. “Open heart and share. Is it the nightmare from last eve that worries you still?”

[Lillie Galleau]

I wanna be there when you wake up,
Be more than just your friend.
Baby there's no mistakin',
You're the love I wanna be in, ah yeah.

[/i]




With a noise that sounded strangely like a feline purr, Lillie leaned into the kiss, smiling against his lips. If there was one thing that she loved- there was that word again…but oh well- about this man, it was his ability to kiss all her worries away. That little hum of premonition was probably just indigestion, anyway. Kyle didn’t seemed to mind the fact that, as she healed, she’d turned into a mini-lawn mower, practically devouring every morsel he brought her. It was a wonder how she wasn’t as big as his house by now.

But the way he kissed her, held her…it was almost as if he cared for her. She knew for a fact that he did, in some way, because he’d practically faced off with a monster to save her, not to mention housing her in his home, where she had a feeling none had treaded for a long time since his settlement…but it surprised her, nonetheless. Even though she’d been held in his arms for three weeks straight, fed on a steady diet of fondness and kindness, she still expected him to run away. Dreaded it, even.

Then again, she was probably being too much of a worry wart, as usual. From what the poor man had been through in the past, he probably didn’t know how else to act! A surge of determination sprang through her, and she felt herself deepen the kiss, running her tongue along the seam of his lips, until he parted them for her.

His past had been horrific…but his future wouldn’t be. She would see to that…and Heaven help anyone who mucked with those plans, she thought with a strange sense of possessiveness.

There were catcalls and howls of ‘you’d better marry her now, buddy!’ from behind her, and she groaned, rolling her eyes when he pulled away. “Hey Kyle, you want to adopt some fully grown men? The live all around the state, but they’re housetrained and only annoy you during family gatherings…” She laughed, as Ilani informed her that one of her brothers had gotten up on the bar to ‘pose’ for the dragon, making all kinds of silly muscleman gestures. Given the amount of catcalls, pounding boots and laughter-laden threats from Ilani, the others had followed suit, and her brothers were suitably distracted.

Well, everyone other than Pat, probably. But her big brother knew when to give her some privacy…and given the intense aura that Kyle was giving off, he probably knew that this was one of those times.

She tossed her cane at the bartender when she felt herself being pulled away, and kept herself close to the dragon’s back. She really had to pass on the information to others; whenever going to a crowded bar, bring the biggest, supposedly-meanest guy one could find. Heck if she got her feet tramped on with Kyle around!

“Yay, dancing!” With a happy laugh, she danced a few steps as they made their way to the dance floor, doing a makeshift boogie. A few dancers practically dived to get away from her kicking feet, but she didn’t notice, the music dulling her other senses.

Murmuring something unintelligible, she nuzzled the side of his neck before resting her cheek to his. The song currently playing had been cut off abruptly, much to the dancers’ anger. She smiled, knowing the source of the sudden silence, and fought to stop from laughing as a soothingly romantic song began to play. Ah, Lani, she thought with a snort. Always the matchmaker.

She sighed as his voice swirled around her mind, smile fading slightly as he reminded her of her previous unease. Resting her cheek on his shoulder, she tipped her head back so he could hear her.
“I knew you’d notice,” She said ruefully, curling her fingers into the muscles of his shoulder. “I never could school my face to save my life. Yeah, it was partly the dream. Something that Tommy said…it made me think of it,”

She didn’t mention the rest of it, how she’d gotten a trill of premonition when her brother had declared himself a future uncle. Her poor dragon was dealing with too much already, and heck if she was going to make any fuss over gas, for crying out loud.

“It was just…so vivid. The city was on fire and everyone was running, screaming. Then I saw a child running into a cemetery and followed her. When I got to the middle, there was a…woman, lying on an alter, cut up and screaming, and a man covered in blood stood over her.” A humorless laugh escaped her. “Gets a girl into the celebratory mood, doesn’t it?”



[/center]

[Kyle Aodhagán †]

And now, as long as I can, I'm holding on with both hands,
'Cause forever I believe that there's nothing I could need but you.
So if I haven't yet, I've gotta let you know

Kyle didn’t even notice the change in music. As long as Lillie was in his arms, his body moved of its own accord, the rhythm to which he shifted the pounding within her chest.
Dear gods it was like without her near him he wouldn’t be able to breathe. How long had had been contentedly empty, and now, without his female at arms length his heart refused to beat. To say he worshiped her already was an understatement. Since finding the Prophet, he felt that a part of him that had always been missing was suddenly returned. It was utterly overwhelming and absolutely magnificent.

Her head came down on his shoulder and seeking hands found a home amidst her curves. Light fingertips danced across her bare biceps, drawing lazy circles over arm before lifting to feather across her collar bone and then her swan-like neck. Like the song her body was a wonderland; each delicate place his fingers touched sent currents of electricity through them.

Though content in one another’s arms, Kyle was troubled by the tremor of cold that emitted from Lillie when she considered his question. Merely thinking back on it disturbed the human enough that her body temperature actually dropped and he could taste it sharp and pungent on the back of his tongue.
The shifter stopped in the swaying to pull back so he could look his female full in the face, cobalt eyes searching her frantic face as she described the dream.

“Are all of your dreams, premonitions, Lillie?” He wondered out loud, the account of her reverie stirring something deeply ominous in him. He could see the vision so clearly, as if her voice had drawn a tangible picture for him.
He saw himself standing over the sheet covered form and suddenly -he- was the one covered in blood. Terrified, he looked for Lillie, but saw only the graveyard that she had described.

Oh God no…

The crimson stain on the sheet began to spread out, spilling out onto the ground where it became a stream at his feet. His head moved back in forth in wordless denial, his eyes growing moist as he reached for the swathe.

Unable to help himself Kyle tugged it off, a profoundly heart-breaking moan escaping his lips. Lillie looked up at him; still, pale, her eyes wide but empty, and her mouth partially open in a soundless scream.
Her belly, where the babe had been, was ripped open; the wound a gaping hole that the last of her essence seemed to trickle out of.

A white hot spear of panic pierced Kyle’s heart and suddenly, he was surrounded by life and sound, not the deafeningly quiet darkness of the cemetery.
The shifter’s hand lifted to her cheek and he could only stare for a moment; a raw and excruciating pain surging through him.

“Perhaps if it is a forewarning we will be able to stop it.” Kyle told her compassionately, pushing past the incomprehensible pain in his chest in order to support his woman. “It may seem a curse when it pains you to see such images, but if we can use that horrific detail to prevent unfortunate things, it becomes a miracle, does it not?”

[Lillie Galleau]

Sometimes it's not easy
Sometimes love can scare you half to death
But I'll give it my best
Yeah we'll find a way to make it
Who says we've got to do it their way
Baby what do you say?

[/i]




With a grumble that she did her best to muffle against his shoulder, Lillie nodded. “Not everything that I dream comes to pass…but all of the ones that I feel the need to paint seem to. Unfortunately, the cemetery and the woman on the alter came with the compulsion,”

She bit her tongue to keep from telling him everything. Oh yeah, she could definitely change her luck and lie with a straight face! She could channel 007, that lady from Alias, Austin Powers…okay, so maybe not the last one, but she could definitely do it. Kyle just didn’t need to know that she’d seen herself brutalized in such a way; he just didn’t. The poor man had enough on his plate.

Not to mention that certain abdomen slashes, the sounds of a baby crying…no, no, definitely metaphors. Everything she dreamt couldn’t be taken so literally, right? No! Definitely not.

Her stomach did a little tipsy dance and she felt herself get a bit green around the gills. If her dreams were mostly known to come true- she’d just said so herself- and she’d dreamt about babies and bad men with blood covered arms…oh boy. Perhaps she could magically transport herself to the nearest CVS with her mind.

With an inward groan, she shook her head slightly, trying to dislodge the worry. However, feeling the body pressed up against her go rigid, she couldn’t help but tilt her head up; wishing for the umpteenth time that she could see his face. It seemed almost as if he could…as if he knew what she was worried about; what she had seen. But how was that possible? She’d said ‘cut up,’ hadn’t mentioned seeing herself in the dream. How could he possibly know, unless he was just thinking of the poor ‘woman’ she’d described. Yes, that was probably it; he was blaming himself for her death via the evil witch.

And here she’d thought that three weeks would be enough to drag him out of such ways of thinking. Guess that meant she would have to stay around him longer, so her sunny disposition could sink in.

After giving him an emphatic nod, she tilted her face to press her lips against the rough pads of his fingers. “Exactly. I’m being given these dreams for a reason, and it has to be to prevent them from happening. Just once, though, I’d like to have a happy dream…one with unicorns and rainbows, and sexy dragon shifters in a suit of armor. Guess you’re gonna have to help me out with that last one.”

She didn’t want the darkness of reality to kill the mood; not after everything that they’d been through. What she’d seen would not come to pass…it just couldn’t. She tossed that speck of humor in there like a rebellious teen plastering make up on her face; there would be nothing to ruin her date tonight, if she could help it!

…And she wasn’t the only one, or so she realized a second later. From somewhere behind her, she heard Tommy’s voice once again. “Love is in the aaaair…lalalala. Love is in the aaaair…”

With a laugh, she just shook her head, turning around to swat at the space behind her. Connecting with what she hoped was her brother’s shoulder- and given the dramatic yelp, she confirmed it was- she turned back to Kyle and let her hand drift up, until she could trace his lips with her fingers.

“Don’t worry about anything, baby, it’ll be okay,” She said, tapping her finger against the frown she felt. “We’re on a date, remember? It is illegal to bring bad dreams into a date. So c’mon, handsome; dance with me, or I’ll let my brother attempt to beat on you.”

As the music around them picked up into something faster, she caught his hand and twirled herself, just as she had the first time they’d met. Hopping and twirling, she shoved the thoughts to the back of her mind…though she couldn’t shake the feeling that something life changing was about to happen.

“C’mon, Kyle, shake that fine bootie! If you dance with me, I’ll give you your post-date reward when we get back home.”


[/center]

[Kyle Aodhagán †]

You're never gonna be alone from this moment on
If you ever feel like letting go, I won't let you fall
When all hope is gone, I know that you can carry on
We're gonna see the world out, I'll hold you 'til the hurt is gone

Oh, you've gotta live every single day
Like it's the only one, what if tomorrow never comes?
Don't let it slip away, could be our only one
You know it's only just begun, every single day
Maybe our only one, what if tomorrow never comes?
Tomorrow never comes

Kyle tried not to be devoured by the dread which had begun to suffocate him; darkening his spirits like a soul shadow. He struggled to believe that the prophetic vision Lillie had seen were that of a stranger fallen victim to the otherworld war; but verily, flashes of his life played out in his mind, reminding him where he’d seen that apparition before.

She had been taken from him. Swollen in belly with the miracle of the convergence of their devotion, by the time the shifter had gotten back to their home, it was too late.

For centuries he had replayed those reveries, over and over…a constant reminder of his failure. What terrified him now was that the remembrances he was living now wore Lillie’s face where his mate’s had once been.

What madness was this?!

Kyle refused to condemn his Lillie to the same fate; even if it only took place in his mind’s eye.

The feel of her velvet lips against the pads of his fingers brought the shifter out of his daydream. Through those rough tips he absorbed the emotion that flowed out in her whisper. Kyle took the hand that was lingering against his frown and brought it to his own mouth, returning the gesture that had warmed him against the arctic memories.
“It will be alright.” He assured her, in that dark, rich brogue. The frown had turned into a smile at the thought of playing the female’s knight in armor when she mentioned the extraordinary ‘rewards’.
“Together we will undercover the truth behind these hazy divinations and then we will ensure your dreaming tree bears no fruit.”

Kyle twirled his female, letting loose a rumble of laughter as together they made fools of themselves on the dance floor. Somehow, the unlikely pair found a rhythm with which to cling to; bouncing and gyrating against one another until they were both panting.
When the human was adequately winded, and even the dragon felt an ache in his toes, he tugged her toward the bar and dutifully handed her a shot of Battery Acid and a lemon slice.

A cordial nod to the brother Pat who had been watching the pair with a hawk’s eyes was extended before Kyle another tumbler was filled and thrust in his direction.
The dragon filled one more, returning the bottle to the bar with a pound before lifting the amber liquid in his glass.
“Here is to reunions, forging our own paths, and a dull ache in our heads come morning.” He growled with a roguish half smile before putting the glass to his parted lips and throwing it back into his throat.

Kyle ached to be in his woman’s arms so bad it was a monotonous twinge in his chest, but the warmth of her happiness was enough of an embrace to sustain him for the moment. If it meant making that happiness swell, he would walk over broken glass or bend to Pat’s moods; whatever came first.

The tequila gave him a nice fuzzy calm as it settled temperately in his belly and in his head. He waited until Lillie had finished her own shot before pulling her into the cradle of his body. “I would very much like to hear about these rewards you have promised me. If I am to wear armor and act as a hero, perhaps in our story -you- could be the playful nymph that shuns clothing as well as inhibitions…”
The dragon’s brows rose in captivation and a smile quirked up the corners of his mouth. It had been said loud enough to touch the ears of those around them, more pointedly the eldest sibling. He was, after all a -male- with a dragon sized ego.

[Lillie Galleau]

And Kyle had said that he couldn’t dance. How else could the normally stiff-as-a-board man swing her around the dance floor until her dogs started barking like crazy? With a happy laugh as she was caught against his chest for the umpteenth time, she moved with him to the sound of the gyrating beat, teasingly keeping her backside against his crotch, an evil expression sliding onto her face at the telling growl from above.

Truthfully, she was surprised at the sudden change in the dragon’s demeanor. Walking into The Pit, she had to remember how cold he’d seemed when they’d first met; how stiff, formal and unpleasant he was. He’d followed her onto the dance floor and had given her, her first drinks, sure, but even then, she’d known that she was playing with fire. He was like some kind of wild animal; move the wrong way and he’d be at her throat in a heartbeat.

Now, however…now was a different story, wasn’t it? Whatever heat and animosity he’d had seemed to disappear; to include everyone but herself in its sincerity. She felt like she were standing in the eye of some momentous storm, protected and savored by the dragon who created it. It made a warmth slide through her body that had nothing to do with the craving for his touch that constantly plagued her.

She was in love with Kyle Aodhagan; the big, haunted, grumpy in the morning, had no idea how to use a toaster oven, flying warrior and dragon-shifter. Heck, if she really wanted to be truthful with herself, she’d started falling on that first night, when she’d come to the bar to sell a painting and ended up bitch slapping the stranger next to her.

A girl had to appreciate Fate. The lady really knew how to make up for Her past indiscretions.

Despite the strangled noise she heard coming from her brother’s direction, Lillie proceeded to toss back the shot, make her traditional gagging sounds, then pop the lemon into her mouth for a good suck. After a minute, when her mouth stopped burning, she pulled the slice out and leaned forward to pound her glass onto the table, just as he did.
“I will get that orgasm sound down pat some day,” She said with a little cough, referring to the original time he’d taught her to drink tequila.

At his toast, she held up her empty glass and shook her head when she heard the bottle approaching. Instead, she turned after a moment, knowing that the shifter had already downed his shot, and leaned into him again until she was only inches away. With an impish grin, she let her tongue snake out and trace the seam of his lips, tasting the liquor on them.

“Here, here, Sir Dragon,” She murmured against his mouth. “Though, not about the aching head, part. Remember; you’re the sober driver tonight.”

Whatever she might have said was promptly choked off, when he proceeded to inform her of his latest wish. With a half laugh, half gagging sound, she whapped him on the arm before resting against him again. “You just said that to rile Pat, didn’t you? You are SO bad, Kyle! But…” Leaning closer, she continued close to his ear. “I wouldn’t bet on the nymph thing; they’re kind of flighty. How about an Amazon? I can definitely do a half naked Amazon.”

“Okay, that’s enough of that,” Her brother’s voice growled from behind her, and with a yelp, Lillie found herself yanked backwards out of Kyle’s arms. Squawking in indignation, she jerked her arm out of his hold. Before she could hit him with some choice insults, however, she heard the dull slap of his hand against the side of his leg, indicating that he wanted the floor. Out of pure habit, she let him have it.

And hoped that Kyle’s more protective side wasn’t about to freak out at the sudden movement, or the loud smacking sound. He wouldn’t roast her brother, would he?

His voice half angry and half gruff, Pat stood facing Kyle, his arms crossed over his chest. Lillie stood a bit behind him, and the other brothers- minus Tommy, who was currently making friendlies with some college girls- were watching warily, as if waiting to jump in and drag their elder brother off. “Look, I wanted to say this all night, but I couldn’t seem to get you alone long enough. I wanted to…thank you. For finding Lillie.”

The Prophet in question blinked in surprise, obviously not expecting those words to come from her brother’s mouth. Ignoring her, Pat went on. “I’ve looked out for her for most of my life; me and our brothers. The fact that you were the one to find her and take care of her…I owe you. We ALL owe you.” A stern expression on his face, he held out his hand for the shifter to shake. “Thank you for bringing Lillie home,”

Ah man, she’d never heard her stodgy older brother sound so humble. A little sniffle escaped her before she could hold it back, and slowly, she started to inch toward him. Before she could get too far, however, what was said next proceeded her to throw a punch at his shoulder.
“Now, why don’t you tell me what your intentions are toward my sister? If you knock her up, you’re gonna have to marry her, you know.”

[Kyle Aodhagán †]

Just One more moment, that's all that's needed.
Like wounded soldiers in need of healing.
Time to be honest, this time I'm bleeding
Please don't dwell on it, cause I didn't mean it

When Lillie’s tongue glided over his lips, the dragon parted them eagerly, eternally starving for a taste of his female. It was unusual for the ancient shifter to be so consumed with need or want, as he had for an eternity pushed down all those seemingly destructive sentiments in favor of retribution and defense against all the things that went bump in the night, but since meeting this extraordinary human, Kyle couldn’t remember ever feeling so…alive or hungry.
And that was a mistake, he knew; feeling so profoundly for the human. It was detrimental for both of them, actually all parties involved; from the psychic, to her very human brothers, even the whole of New Orleans if his attentions were diverted from the imminent conflict between this world and the Other.

But he could not fathom separating from the Prophet in either body or heart. To do so would unquestionably steal the breath from him; to snuff the very light of life that lived within. It was no ordinary love he felt for the human. It was soul deep; a visceral connection that held his spirit to hers like an unbreakable tether. As if their bond had been predestined by the heavens at the start of time…
Kyle sighed deeply, thinking that his compulsive devotion would be the death of him.

The magical sound of her laughter and the playful slap effectively distracted him from the storm that was spiraling like a hurricane within him, and he inhaled sharply, his body instinctually tightening as images of Lillie as a dominant Amazon clung to his mind.
Her sweet breath against his earlobe sent shudders through the shifter, and he drew her closer, pressing his arousal against her hip.

And just as Kyle was lowering his face into the crook of her shoulder, the female was hastily snatched out of his arms. A growl was loosed from his throat and immediately the fangs pushed out from his upper and lower gums.
The shifter sprang off his barstool; muscled tightly coiled and ready to strike. His expression was lethal and fists clenched at his sides, even though it had been her blood that had stolen her from his embrace.

And then words of gratitude began to spill from the human’s lips, and the dragon forced the fire that had commenced to crawl up his throat back down; a thin wisp of smoke escaped his nostril.
His eyes flickered in astonishment at first, and he nodded slowly, aware that to say such things to his sister’s male companion was probably as hard as it was for -him- to admit feelings for the woman in question.

“I would offer the same gratitude.” Kyle began, stoic as always, even when expressing sentiment. “If you had not been the brother you were, she would not possess the strength of spirit that kept her alive during her abduction.”

But Pat’s latter words threw the dragon back into that common squall of turmoil. He was not familiar with the term ‘knocked up’ and so he took it to mean striking her in some way.
Lips curled back in barely suppressed anger, he narrowed his swirling azure gaze.
“I intend to protect her.” He said brusquely, the breath sawing over his scarcely concealed fangs. “I intend to honor her.” His gaze slid to Lillie and it softened; pain splitting open his chest as he ached to say the words that were perched on his tongue.

‘To love her’

But those words remained unsaid as he growled again, taking a step toward the male with a sudden look as if he were a lion desperate to escape a barred cage. “I would never lay angry fists upon your sister Patrick, even if doing so would grant me her hand.”
And that very thought leveled him as if the weight of the moon had dropped upon his shoulders. But verily, it felt as if he already had her hand. Why did his heart suddenly hurt so badly?

If possible, the dragon grew tenser and felt the pressure of the room bare down until it smothered him. Abruptly, he grasped the bottle of tequila by the neck and stormed towards the exit, pausing for only a moment to address the silent Prophet.

“Apologies. I must get some air…”

[Lillie Galleau]

For a second there, Lillie was really tempted to let the dragon eat her brother, if he felt the need. It was just like Pat to ruin a good evening out on the town with his not-so-subtle insults and overprotective manner. When it came from Kyle, it was enough to send her tummy flipping…but having lived under her brother’s watchful eye for so long, all she could feel was annoyance. She loved her family, she really did, but a girl just had to have some semblance of independence, didn’t she?

With a very unladylike curse, she proceeded to slam the edge of her cane down on the elder Galleau’s foot after some careful prodding, letting loose a justified sniff at the yowl that followed. Snatching her arm out of her brother’s hold, she grimaced when she heard Kyle’s parting words.

“You see what you just did, you big moron?” She said with a frustrated grumble. “Pat, he saved my life and I’m in…volved with him. Accept it and get over it! Are you five years old? Do you WANT me to never speak to you again?”

When a growl was her only answer, Lillie turned about face with a huff and immediately started to maneuver toward the exit. Shrugging off helping hands, she stomped into the crowd of people drawn in by the grinding music. God, she really did hope that Kyle had left out the front door and hadn’t headed back to the plantation. A prick of fear entered her chest as she pushed her way through dancers and giggling college kids looking for a good night of fun. What if he’d been so insulted that he’d up and left without her? What if this was it; this was that moment she’d dreaded, when he’d turn back into that cold, collected warrior she’d first met and start putting distance between them?

She was going to kill Pat! Kill him dead…after making sure she didn’t break his toe. Especially after that second howl of pain, which probably meant that Ilani was adding in her two scents with a toe-stomp of her own.

Obviously, the dragon hadn’t understood her stupid brother’s little taunt and had gotten very insulted by it. Being that he was from a much more…structured time, it made sense and she practically cringed in embarrassment, knowing that she’d have to apologize for her kin. But his comment about his not hurting her, even when asking for her hand? Did he mean ‘hand in marriage?’ Something started to flutter in her belly and she put a protective hand over it as she waited for the bouncer to escort her outside. It was so strange; that feeling of rightness that washed over her as she pictured herself bound to the shifter in such ways. She should be terrified; her, a woman who had never been in a true relationship in her life. She should be hanging onto her independence tooth and nail, denying his hold on her heart, her life…

But she couldn’t. He was just too important to her…had wormed his way into her life so easily, she had to wonder where he’d been for so long. With a shake of her head, she shouldered her way through the crowd, taking in a lung full of the cool night air. Her stomach was still doing some kind of weird wormy dance, and she grimaced, rubbing it in small circles while she threw out her senses in search of her Kyle.

Not that she really needed to, as her feet seemed to know exactly where to walk. Her cane tapping rhythmically on the concrete and the sounds of traffic, stomping feet and loud music swirling around her, she made her way over to where the man stood.

“Kyle?” She said tentatively, not wanting to interrupt him if he really did need alone time. Gah, she hoped she wasn’t sounding clingy. “I apologize for my brother…it’s a family secret that he was dropped on his head at birth, so he’s a bit retarded. What he said…he didn’t mean it, and everyone in there knows that you wouldn’t hurt me. I know that you wouldn’t hurt me, and Pat’s just a moron. I’m so sorry you had to listen to him.”