32. Chapter 32
Sienna rubbed the back of her neck, trying to relieve the knots of tension that had taken up residence with no known departure date.
She had been working nonstop on clan business and trying to get Mia to respond to her with no luck.
John had also been working with Megan and occasionally Jonas as they tried to find something in the storybooks and research that would help bring back the sentries.
Which meant Sienna’s morning started first thing with Megan, Ryan, Jonas, and John going over research again.
Megan looked at the piles of papers and books on the desk before sighing. “I can’t find anything that talks about a ritual or what you need to say to bring out the sentries.”
Jonas frowned. “I’ve also done online searches as well and haven’t come up with any reference either.”
Sienna watched John’s expression, frustration evident in his tight eyes. She wanted to tell him and everyone else that they would figure this out.
Before anyone could speak, Tessa burst into the office waving a piece of paper. “We’ve got a new picture from Lily,” she announced, her face pale.
“Let’s see it,” Megan said.
Tessa set it down on top of the stack of papers.
The drawing showed two men, one with red wings and one with purple.
Lily had drawn hearts on both of their chests, but the thing that set Sienna’s nerves dancing was that she had also drawn the sentry symbol floating above each of their heads and then had drawn dozens of symbols in the air around them.
“That’s got to be Eric and Adam,” Megan said, confirming her suspicions.
“Yes. Which means they’re going to be sentries, right?” Tessa asked.
Sienna stayed quiet, staring at the paper, begging it to tell her what to do. And then something clicked.
“What is it, Sienna? What do you see?” John asked.
Her heart thumped. “I think I know what we need to do.”
“What?” Megan and Tessa asked at the same time.
“We aren’t going to find a ritual because I’m not the one who is supposed to choose the dragon sentries.”
“But you’re the one with dragon song,” Ryan said.
“Exactly! We’ve been looking at this the wrong way. Veronica is the one who has to do it.” She turned to John. “Like when I rested my hand above your heart the other day and she communicated to your dragon. Why else would Lily draw hearts?”
John nodded. “I think you’re on to something.”
“I think so too. Let’s get Adam and Eric.”
“You want to try this now?” Megan asked.
Sienna stood. “Yes.”
Tessa walked toward the door. “They’re in the front room on a business call. Let me see if they’re done.”
Sienna blew out a breath, trying to slow her pounding heart. “Okay. I think we should go outside for this.”
They walked outside and a couple minutes later, Tessa brought Adam and Eric. They got them quickly up to speed.
“Before we do this, are you both okay with being sentries?” Sienna asked.
Adam and Eric looked at each other and then their wives before nodding.
Sienna walked closer. “I think you both should unfurl your wings.” They pulled off their shirts, and moments later Eric’s ruby-red wings appeared, followed by Adam’s deep purple ones. Sienna rested her hands on the center of their chests and closed her eyes.
“Okay, Veronica. Let’s do this.”
Sienna waited. And waited some more before opening her eyes. “Do either of you feel anything?”
“No,” Adam said, and Eric shook his head.
“Veronica?”
I can’t talk to their dragons like I did with Grumpy. They’re just out of reach.
She stepped back to let everyone know what was going on. “Veronica said your dragons won’t talk to her.” Before they could walk away, she held up her hands. “Wait. I don’t want to give up yet.” She blew out a breath. “Veronica, what do you think might help?”
It feels like they don’t trust me. Maybe if they had someone to coax them out.
Sienna repeated what Veronica said.
“Any ideas?” she asked the group.
“Would they trust Megan and me?” Tessa asked.
“Possibly.”
John stepped forward. “What about the girls?”
Sienna’s breathing sped up. “I think you’re right. They can hear Veronica, which makes me think that they might have a better chance of getting through to your dragons. Are you okay with having them try?”
The couples looked at each other again and then agreed to have the girls help. Tessa and Megan went inside to get them. A few minutes later, Megan carried Bella and Lily held Tessa’s hand as they came back outside.
“Hello, my sweet nieces. Veronica is trying to talk to your daddies’ dragons, but they’re a bit shy. Do you think you can help?”
Bella clapped her hands, and Lily nodded before holding her arms out to Tessa. “I need to be up there.”
Tessa grabbed her and set her on her hip.
Hi, girls! Let’s talk to some dragons, Veronica said.
Without being directed, Lily reached out and placed her hand on Adam’s heart before resting her other hand on Sienna’s. “Your turn, Bella.”
Megan helped her place her hand on Eric’s heart and rest the other alongside Lily’s on Sienna’s chest.
Okay, girls. Let’s do this.
Both girls smiled up at their daddies, and Sienna gasped as warmth filled her chest.
That’s it, Veronica crooned. Tell the sentries it’s time to come out.
“Sentry come out,” Lily said.
“Senty come ot,” Bella singsonged.
The air filled with static-like energy that ran along Sienna’s skin.
Someone gasped as Eric’s and Adam’s wings started to glow.
A bright white light appeared at the top of their right wings and then disappeared as the glow faded away.
Except where the bright light had been, now the sentry mark appeared.
Yippee! Veronica chirped.
The girls started to clap. Thank goodness they were standing together in a tight group or Sienna’s knees would have given out. From the looks on Tessa’s, Megan’s, and her brothers’ faces, they felt the same. Of course the girls were tickled and giggled along with Veronica.
Ryan and Jonas stood outside their little group, gaping at the scene. When she turned to John, he was staring right at her. He nodded and just that little acknowledgment meant more than she could say. She took a step back, and it seemed to finally break the spell.
The girls held their hands out to their daddies and climbed into their arms.
“How do you both feel?” Megan asked.
Sienna’s brothers looked at each other. “The same?” Eric said and Adam nodded.
“Well, that new wing tattoo says something is up,” Tessa said.
The brothers examined each other’s wings since they couldn’t easily see their own. Eric moved Bella to his hip so that he could lift his other hand and touched the mark on Adam’s wing. “It’s raised on the skin like a brand.”
“Does Mia’s research talk about what sort of powers sentries have?” Adam asked.
Megan shook her head. “Not really.”
“Maybe it’ll take a while for you to get powers,” Ryan said.
“Or maybe they won’t have any powers without their dragons,” John added.
Sienna’s stomach dropped. They had figured out how to bring out the dragon sentries only to have them not gain any powers? Hadn’t Mia said the sentries would play a part in breaking the curse?
Adam frowned. “How are we supposed to protect our clan without the powers the symbol represents?”
“Let’s hope that your powers appear and you don’t have to wait for your full dragons,” Sienna said.
“And if not, it means we’re still vulnerable until then.” Eric scowled.
And it meant that Sienna needed to figure out now more than ever how to break this curse. She felt John’s determined gaze on her and knew he was in agreement.
John stared out over the valley and vowed to finally bring an end to all this pain—his grandmother had cut a slow and hateful path of destruction through the magical world even beyond her death.
He’d tried for centuries to fix the hate his family had wrought, but he couldn’t do it alone.
And now he was enmeshed in a clan that he felt guilty for involving in his plan.
He should have known it wasn’t as simple as that.
Instead the Simonsons were destined to be a part of bringing down the Templars and the curse.
Sienna was so strong. After a millennium of absence, her spunky dragon and two adorable and powerful nieces brought the sentries back. That had to mean that they were close to restoring all magic.
Footsteps sounded behind him, and he turned, not surprised to see Sienna walking across the lawn. She stepped up to his side and looked out over the valley with him.
“Has everyone settled down from the earlier excitement?” John asked.
“Somewhat. Adam and Eric have gone back to work, requesting that we stop staring at them like science experiments. Although Tessa and Megan are still keeping a close eye on them. The girls are fine. Laughing and smiling like they know a secret, but as long as they’re safe and happy, that’s what matters. ”
John looked at her profile. “What about your safety and happiness?”
“I want my family and clan to be whole again.”
“And thanks to you, we’re one step closer to that,” he said, stopping himself from reaching for her.
She shook her head. “One step forward and two steps back. I feel like I’m failing them.”
To hell with not touching her—he rested his hands on her arms and turned her to him. “How can you say that? You figured out how to release the sentries. Right now they don’t appear to have powers, but I can’t imagine they'll stay that way forever. This is a sign, Sienna.”
She looked up at him with shiny eyes. “Since when did you become the optimist?”
“The more time I spend with you. Before you came outside, I was thinking about how strong you are. How you’ve faced each obstacle thrown at you.”
A tear escaped and rolled down her cheek. “I don’t feel very strong right now.”
He pulled her into his arms and rested his chin on the top of her head.
“You’re frustrated and I get that. We’re close.
This will all be over soon.” The bittersweet words soured his stomach.
Yes, they were close to breaking the curse, but that meant his life would be over.
He squeezed her a little tighter, inhaling her citrus scent to memorize it.
He loosened his grip, and she stepped back, blinking up at him with her big brown eyes. Eyes that took him in. He hoped she couldn’t read anything in his expression.
“I know we said that we would talk about whatever this is between us after the curse is gone, but is it okay to want another kiss to tide me over?” she whispered before biting her bottom lip.
Her words sliced him open, and he closed his eyes for a moment to gather every emotion and lock it away.
John opened his eyes before leaning down and taking her lips.
Small sips and then a couple deeper kisses that traveled through him like a shock wave before he rested his forehead on hers.
They stood like that for a few moments before she finally stepped back and smiled at him. “Thank you.”
He nodded since the words he wanted to say were trapped in his throat, burning his chest. He couldn’t lose his way. The goal was finally in his reach. And once done, knowing that Sienna and her family and clan were okay would console him at the end.