Kiss the Dragon (Maidens Book One) by Michelle Fox

low growl, mine high and keening. And then we were silent, the spring bubbling and frothing around us, all stirred up. Alec leaned his weight into me as I rested against him. We were one.
    Chapter Nine
    We flew back to Scotland, leaving at midnight to hide Alec’s dragon form from human eyes. It had been hard to leave the springs, but I knew it was time. I could feel the energy calling me and the voice stirring in my gut. The voice wasn’t talking, not yet, but it was more aware than it had been. We’d had a respite, nothing more. It was time to re-enter the real world and face whatever waited for us there.
    I hoped it was good news.
    Also, I missed my cupcake shop. My fingers itched to bake again. All this adventure had left me craving the orderly flow of a recipe. I especially wanted to make Alec some cupcakes.
    All the brothers were there to greet us when Alec landed on the turret. When he set me on the ground, the three men rushed to hug me. Niall with his shock of orange hair and crooked smile hugged me without abandon.
    “Nice to see you’re in one piece, lass” he said. “I’ve been minding your shop for you.”
    “You have?” I looked at him, surprised.
    “Aye. I needed something to keep me from losing my mind with worry.” His mouth turned down in a frown. “I’m afraid I havena the touch to make cupcakes though.”
    “Well, maybe you can make cookies for the shop,” I said, giving him a squeeze. “Because you certainly have the touch for those.”
    His eyes widened as he considered the idea, but he didn’t have a chance to say anything as Malcolm elbowed him out of the way. His dark eyes took me in, scanning me from head to toe. “You’re all right then, lass? I know Alec said you were, but I’d like to hear it with my own ears and see it for myself.”
    “Yes,” I said, touched by his concern. “It was a near thing, but we’re both okay. How are you?”
    He lifted a shoulder in a half shrug. “Better than I would be if you two hadn’t rescued me. Thank you for that.”
    “It was all my fault,” I said. “The least I could do was try to keep you from suffering a fate meant for me.”
    “I’ve been researching your sight,” he said. “I don’t think you can get rid of it, it’s part of you now, but I can help you control it. Box it into a corner, so to speak, and learn to use it instead of it using you.”
    “That sounds great,” I said feeling a bit giddy at the news. Even half free would be a huge improvement.
    “I’m working on a charm that will cloak you, too. Something to keep people from finding you.”
    “No one will bother ye again” said Niall.
    Malcolm started to say something else, but Gavin shoved him to the side and swept me up into a big bear hug, which, frankly, terrified me. I shrieked. Alec roared while Malcolm and Niall rushed to try and catch their brother, the one who always went too far. He spun away from them, an impish gleam in his eyes.
    “Shall I throw you over the edge?” he asked. “See how fast my brother can fly?”
    I shoved a knee into his stomach, driving the air from his lungs with a loud ‘oof.’ Fighting to breathe, he very gently set me down and stepped away, choking out, “I’ll take that as a no.”
    I glared at the big blond. “Someday your maiden is going to come, Gavin and you’re going to have to be a man, not an asshole.”
    He stumbled back, my words seeming to hit him like blows. I saw a raw vulnerability in his face and almost felt bad for what I’d said, but then my resolve stiffened. He needed to hear it. They all did.
    I looked at each of the brothers in turn. “Your spell worked, Malcolm. I’ve seen glimpses of its future. I am the first maiden but not the last. The others are coming, in their own time, on their own path. You will be free one day, all of you. The curse will be broken, but,” I raised a warning finger, “be sure you’re worthy of the maiden who comes for you.”  That last bit was more for Gavin