Legion: Alpha Dragon Shifter Romance (Dragon Rules Series Book 1) by Tia Didmon (books to read for self improvement .txt) 📕

“Was your birthday magical? I don’t mean birthday cake and presents. I mean lights flickering and shit blowing up kind of magical.”

Mara’s chest squeezed. “What made you say that? How did you know?”

Papers rustled as if she were folding a map. “Shit, mom had it wrong. I’m on my way home. I will be there tomorrow night. Stay indoors and don’t trust anyone except, Natalie.” The line went dead.

Mara dropped the phone. “She knew. This whole time, Alana knew.” The tears rolled down her face as Legion pulled her against his body.

Mara smiled at Legion as he opened the door that led outside. She appreciated his attempt to lift her spirits and admitted the smell of fresh rain enhanced the beautiful ambiance. “It is lovely here. I can understand why you built a cabin here.”

Legion pointed to the gigantic mountain in the distance. “We own property that covers a good portion of the mountain. Over a hundred dragons sleep in those caverns.”

Mara squinted. “A hundred?’

“There are caverns like this all over the world. A few remain awake and guard the rest as they sleep in each location.”

“You are guarding Colorado?”

“Technically, my location is the United States. We have another unit in Canada, one in Europe and one in Russia. Our original home is Scotland, but as the druid magic was disbursed abroad in order to protect it, the caves there are empty.”

Mara looked around. “It’s incredible you have a species hidden throughout the world and no one knows about it.”

Legion kissed her hand and led her down a rock pathway. “Being able to erase human memories has had its perks. Still, your history has come up with some inventive ways to glorify us.”

Mara winked at him. “I had white sheets with pink dragons on them as a child.”

Legion laughed. “I have never seen a pink dragon. That would be a miracle.”

Mara stopped. “The transmutation spell you told me about. If I learned it, would I turn into a pink dragon?”

“As transmutation is a spell, not a shift into one’s born form, you can turn into any creature or color you can imagine.”

Mara tapped her chin. “A pink dragon. That has possibilities.”

Legion pulled her under his arm. “It a complex spell. It will take many years to learn, but if you wish to hone your skills, why don’t we start with something simpler.”

“Like what?”

He kissed her forehead. “In order to restore the temple, we need to find the druids that were at that camp.”

Mara looked up at him. “There were more than six girls at that camp. How do we figure out which ones we need to restore the temple?”

Legion ran a finger along her cheek. The low hum of his magic caressing hers, made it seem like his fingers were singing to her. “All the druids need protection. While the six will restore the temple far more are required to protect it.”

Her eyes narrowed. “Why do I have the feeling you know how to find them?”

“I can’t find them, but you can.”

“How.”

“Use your magic. Until now, you have waited for a vision. You have not attempted to induce one. Try to enter the temple. See if she allows your entry at your will, instead of hers.”

“I still find it weird you are referring to the temple as a she, but I will try.” She closed her eyes. “Nothing is happening.”

“You must think of the temple. Picture every detail you remember in your mind. Reach out to her. Ask permission to enter.”

Mara pictured the drawbridge along with the blue light that emanated from it. She thought about the hallway, and the alter with old leather-bound books. It took her a moment to realize she was there. The picture in her mind was now her reality. Her outline was hazy, her translucent body hovered above the dusty stone ground. How do I find the druids?

The room changed as if it shifted beneath her feet. Mara heard Legion call her name, but it was distant. Muffled. She drifted in the room, stopping before the bones that lay at the base of the table. She tried to touch them, but her hand passed through. The blue haze around the window cleared to reveal a rolling hill. No construction marred the landscape, and the sky had a different hue.

She went to the table when she noticed the six cups had engraved images on them. Legion, can you hear me?

I am here. What do you see?

A table. There are six cups. Each has a symbol on it.

What do they look like? Describe each symbol.

She went to the first one, scrutinizing it before moving to the next. Her fingers hovered over the familiar symbol that brought her pain. She was about to move on when she felt a jolt of power, pulling her back to the present. She gasped when she opened her eyes. The wave of exhaustion hit her within seconds. “Holy shit.”

Legion held her steady. “Your magic is new. Think of it as a new muscle, one you need to strengthen and hone. It takes time to run a marathon.”

“I only got to see three symbols. I want to go back, but I don’t think I can.”

Legion nodded. “I am surprised you lasted as long as you did. Tell me what symbols you saw.”

“The first had two hands and a gate between them.”

‘The gatekeeper. We knew we needed her.” Legion said,

“The other was a singular gigantic eye.”

“The seer. That’s you. What else?”

“The other one looked like a fox with one eye. I didn’t have time to see the other symbols.”

Legion huffed. “The seeker.”

“Alana.”

Legion rubbed his chin. “Maybe. You could enter the temple with your magic. I assume the other druids will be able to also, but it will take those six to enable a gate to our plane.”

“Our plane?”

“Our layer of existence. The temple resides in another, and until the six of you open that gate, it will stay there.”

Mara pursed her lips. “What do we do