by Alexis Davie
“You and your people are the only danger to her,” Nyle retorted, shoving Forrest back.
“What is going on?” Cassie yelled, holding Daisy close as though to protect her from the violence that was escalating.
Daisy pushed out of her mother’s arms, unable to keep the secret any longer. Her mother had a right to know. “They are both dragon shifters, and their clans hate one another. I’m caught in the middle because Forrest is my dad and Nyle is my soulmate.”
The entire room silenced, and all eyes were on Daisy. Nyle and Forrest were in shock, but Cassie looked genuinely concerned.
“What are you talking about? Maybe you need to lie down for a little bit,” Cassie spoke softly, putting a hand on her daughter’s back.
“I’m not crazy. It’s true, Mom,” Daisy insisted.
Cassie stared deeply into her daughter’s eyes, Cassie’s look of concern washed over her. “Daisy, dragons don’t exist. I think the stress is getting to you. You need to lie down and relax for a little bit.”
Daisy was ready to snap. “I’m not crazy. I’m not stressed out. I’m not making it up. Nyle, show her.”
“Daisy…” Nyle murmured.
He didn’t want to reveal his dragon form to humans. He had only shown Daisy because they were soulmates.
“Just show her,” Daisy persisted.
Nyle hesitated, but then let out a sigh. “All right.”
Closing his eyes, the bones in his face shifted. His jaw dropped, and his cheekbones raised to sharp, angular shapes. His nose morphed into a snout, smooth horns followed by smaller spines sprouted from his head, and his face covered in cream-colored scales.
Cassie stumbled back, her face carved into a look of sheer horror.
“See?” Daisy spoke. She then pointed to Forrest. “And he’s one too. I’m half dragon because of him.”
Her mother didn’t say a word. She blinked rapidly as if Nyle would suddenly appear normal. When the image wouldn’t go away, Cassie’s lungs let out a whimper and she collapsed to the floor, fainting from shock. Daisy kneeled next to her, tapping her shoulder to try and wake her.
Nyle shifted back to his human form.
“Like mother, like daughter,” he commented. Daisy had fainted when she had first seen Nyle as a dragon, too.
“Move out of my way,” Forrest hissed, shoving Nyle out of his path and going over to Cassie.
Before he could reach the woman, Nyle snatched Forrest’s arm. “How about you get the hell out of here? You aren’t wanted or needed.”
“How about you? You made the woman faint,” Forrest replied with annoyance in his voice.
“Isn’t it funny how I’ve been around them both longer than you ever have been?” Nyle asked with a wicked smile on his face.
Forrest snarled, “I should put you six-feet under right here and now.”
“I’d like to see you try,” Nyle challenged.
“Seriously?” Daisy questioned. The annoyance was apparent in her voice. “Can someone please help me carry her to bed?”
Nyle went to help Cassie, but Forrest put an arm up to block him and then paced over to them.
He kneeled next to Daisy and looked her in the eye. “You may not believe me, but I really love your mother. Not as a soulmate, but as something pure. I’m not going to hurt her. I promise. I’d like to stay here and care for her until she wakes up. Is that all right with you?”
“He’s just trying to get to you, Daisy,” Nyle spoke.
Daisy stared into her father’s eyes, her breath labored from the disbelief of being in such close proximity to a man she always wanted to meet.
Cassie’s eyes fluttered open. “What happened?”
“You fainted,” Daisy explained.
“Did I really just see what I thought I saw?”
“Yes, but don’t be scared,” said Daisy. “You’ll get used to the idea like I did.”
“I just think I need some time,” said Cassie as Forrest lifted her from the ground. “Daisy, why don’t you and Nyle go home.”
“Mom, I am not leaving you alone with him!”
“Daisy, please, I’ll be fine. He’s been here for hours and hasn’t hurt me. Please, can you let me have some time alone?”
Daisy nibbled her lip. “Fine, but if you don’t call me in a couple hours…”
“Then let the manhunt commence,” Forrest chuckled weakly. “You have my word that she’s safe with me.”
Daisy nodded then, and Forrest carried Cassie in the direction of her bedroom.
Forrest called back. “Daisy, don’t go quite yet. I’ll be down in just a moment. I would really like to speak with you alone before you leave.”
“Okay,” Daisy answered, wondering what he had to say.
Then, Forrest walked through the archway and headed up the stairs with Cassie.
Nyle walked over to Daisy. “What are you doing? You shouldn’t trust him. You don’t know him, and he’s an Elemental.”
“He’s also my dad,” Daisy added. “Also, I’m half Elemental, remember?”
Nyle sighed, running a hand through his hair, “I know that…”
“He’s not going to harm her, and she wants to be left alone. Besides, I know we need to get back to the palace soon. I don’t have a problem with him staying around to look after her. Maybe he will admit to her that he’s a dragon too.”
He seemed uneasy by the decision but nodded. “Okay. I’m going to have someone patrol the area to be on the safe side,” he said, taking his phone out of his pocket and delivering curt directions to someone on the other end.
“Maybe now she can come to the wedding,” Daisy said, trying to find a bright side.
“I don’t know about that,” Nyle murmured. “Humans have never been to the palace. It’s the law.”
“Well, I’ve been there,” Daisy challenged.
“You’re my mate, though. And besides, even if my clan doesn’t know yet, you’re half dragon.”
“She’s the mother of your mate,” Daisy persisted. “You’re going to be king, so you probably have some say in the law, right?”
Nyle’s expression shifted, apparently not having thought about it like that. He nodded. “I’ll see what I can do. Consider it your wedding gift from me,” he joked lightly.
Daisy smiled and nuzzled her face into his chest, letting out a deep breath. Her mind was still mulling over everything that had just occurred, and it was only going to get more complicated when her father talked to her.
She stayed pressed into Nyle’s chest until footsteps approached them. Daisy peeled back and looked to her father.
“How about we go into the backyard?” Forrest asked.
Daisy nodded and reluctantly stepped away from Nyle. Father and daughter walked through the kitchen and out the back door. The entire yard was overgrown. Cassie worked too many hours to keep up with something as frivolous as her yard. They walked over to a patio set and took their seats sitting across from one another.
“What is it you want to talk about?” Daisy asked, crossing her arms.
“Well, I have some confessions to make first,” Forrest stated. He rubbed the back of his neck, “I hope you know that there was a reason as to why I wasn’t around. Dating your mother was forbidden. I’m sure you’re well aware of how dragons feel about humans. However, I was rebellious, and your mother is gorgeous. There was something about her that drew me in. Not quite like a soulmate, but some a strange type of love. I was terrified of it. I tried to keep my distance from her, but she was persistent, and I was weak-willed. Of course, I wasn’t as careful as I should have been. When Cassie told me she was pregnant, I lost my mind. I was naïve and hadn’t even realized it was possible for dragons and humans to reproduce. Your fate would have been much different if I had stuck around. The Elementals and the Royals would have gone after you.
“I couldn’t have lived with myself if I allowed that to happen, so it was safest for both of you if I wasn’t around. While Cassie was pregnant, I came to the doctor's a
ppointments to see how you developed, to make sure the doctors didn’t see anything that would frighten them. Thankfully, you don’t have a dragon form, so you didn’t have an additional skeletal system or wings. You looked like the perfect little human baby on the monitors. It was a relief. You could have the normal life you deserved and could stay out of harm's way.”
Forrest released a deep breath before continuing. “And here is where the confession comes in… I’ve kept my distance, but I’ve always watched over you to make sure you were kept safe and no one caught on to your genetic differences. I know that sounds creepy, but it really was with the noblest intentions.” There was a pause, Forrest clasped his hands together and looked into her eye. “When you started seeing Nyle, I thought about interfering, but I didn’t want to act too soon and complicate things. Even though it sounds cruel, I was hoping he was just being his usual womanizing self with you, and that he would eventually leave you alone. Then, word came that Thalydias died, and I knew you were still with him. I connected the dots myself, and sweet girl, I beg you… do not go through with this wedding. You don’t realize who the Royals are and what you are getting yourself into.”
Daisy stared at him, trying to process all that he had just said to her. He had seriously been around her entire life, and she never knew? For her, it was a little hard to believe, but she learned long ago not to put anything past a dragon. She tried to force it from her mind, knowing it was beside the point.
“Why should I trust you over Nyle? I’ve been with him for nearly a year, and he’s never been anything but completely truthful with me. I don’t even know you.”
“I know it’s asking for a lot to ask for your trust, but I need you to heed my warning. I worry about you, Daisy. You are not safe in the Royal territory. I want you and your mother to join me at my home in Ohio.”
“What?” Daisy exclaimed. “I don’t get it. You stay away for over two decades saying that you can’t be seen with us because of our safety, and now you want us to move into Elemental territory? Do you know how ridiculous that sounds?”
“I was stupid for staying away, Daisy. I realize that now. Our people will be upset at first, but they will come to accept you and your mother. The safest place for you is far, far away from the Royals.”
“I’ve been at the palace for days, and no one has attacked me. In fact, if we’re keeping a tally, only one Royal has ever tried to hurt me, whereas two Elementals have,” Daisy challenged him. “Nyle is my soulmate. I love him, and I’m not going to abandon him.”
He frowned deeply. “I really didn’t want to have to tell you this…”
“Tell me what?”
“The Royals are cold-blooded murderers, Daisy. And I’m not talking about killing Elementals. They have killed people to get ahead in the human economy. Whether it was to silence competitors or to get ownership of large corporations, I don’t know. I’m sure Nyle treats you well right now, but when he gains that power, he will be just like his father and those before him. Do you really think if they’re willing to kill over a couple of bucks, that one of those female Royals wouldn’t kill to get a chance at the throne? Or even a man rooted in tradition, who would rather die than see a hybrid wear a crown.”
A shiver ran down her back, her mind immediately jumping to Mylora. She had tried to kill Daisy to get to Nyle. Forrest was right; nothing was stopping someone else from trying to kill her. She hadn’t known about the Royals killing humans to get ahead in business. What if Nyle started making orders like that? Surely he wouldn’t. He was too kind. Right? How was it that Forrest was already getting in her head?
He reached for her hand. “This is a lot to take in, but I want you to think it over, okay? Think long and hard about what you truly want for your life and the risks of all the options. I promise you that you’ll be safe with me. I’d give my life for you and your mother. Once my people know you’re my daughter, they won’t hesitate to do the same. Do you think the Royals would?”
Daisy had no response, having no idea what the Royals would do. She knew that the guards were supposed to protect her, but he had her questioning if they would. What if they all wanted her dead but were just playing nice until an opportunity presented itself?
“Okay, I’ll think about it, but I’m not making any promises,” Daisy told him.
“That’s all I ask,” Forrest said, a smiling pulling at his lips.
8
Nyle sat at the head of the long counsel table with Daisy and the staff handling the arrangements for the wedding and crowning ceremony. Most of the details completely bored him, and he wasn’t quite sure why they were running them by him when he didn’t have much of a say with the ceremony being so rooted in tradition. They sat there for hours, Demian and the others listing things to him while he nodded in approval.
Daisy was especially quiet. When someone ask for her feedback, it took multiple tries to grab her attention. A lot had happened the past few days, so Nyle didn’t take her silence as not caring, but instead assumed her mind was elsewhere. Ever since visiting her mother, Daisy had been quieter and almost distant. If something was bothering her, he wanted her to talk to him about it.
When the meeting was finally over, Nyle stayed at the table, watching Daisy. Everyone else filtered out of the room, but she was completely immersed in her thoughts. It didn’t even seem like she noticed that everyone else had left, her gaze fixated on a painting on the wall. He waited patiently, just studying her as she remained in her own world. After a few minutes, her eyes finally fell on him. It surprised her to find him looking at her. Daisy’s gaze drifted to where the others had been sitting, and her eyes widened when she noticed the empty chairs.
“So, what’s on your mind?” Nyle finally spoke, watching as she looked around in confusion.
“What?” she asked, looking back to him. “Nothing,” she lied.
Nyle thought about pressing some more, wanting to know why she was so distracted, but he decided against it. He didn’t want to force her to talk when she wasn’t ready.
“All right. Let’s get going,” he said, standing from his chair.
They walked side-by-side down the hall. He noticed how she didn’t take his hand or put an arm around him. Not that she had to, but they had been inseparable since they met. Nyle wondered how long it would take her to notice. Would she even pay attention to where they were walking? He decided to test it. They walked down several corridors until they reached the door to the courtyard. He walked along the stone path, heading into the garden. She loved gardens; surely it would grab her attention
Nyle looked about to the rose bushes and beds of tulips just blossoming. Daisy would love the spot once it was in full bloom.
“Nyle?” Daisy finally spoke.
“Yes?” he replied with a slight smirk, figuring her question would be wondering what they were doing in the garden.
“Did your family start all of the companies they own?” she asked.
Nyle was utterly bewildered by the seemingly random question. Why was she thinking about his family’s businesses?
“Not all of them, but most. We’ve purchased companies. Also, some were taken over from within.”
“What do you mean taken over?” she asked.
“As in Royals were working there, climbed their way up through promotions, and then bought or inherited the companies once they made their way to the top.”
“Inherited how?”
Nyle’s face scrunched, not entirely sure what she was insinuating. “Why does it matter?”
“Did they earn them honestly?”
He stopped in his tracks and turned to face her. “I don’t know, but I suppose not. Business isn’t always conducted honestly. I don’t know the details about every company, but I do know that under-the-table transactions, and even bribes, have taken place.”
“So, no one was ever hurt?” she asked, her tone becoming urgent.
Suddenly, it all connected in Nyle’s mind. Her father must have filled her head
with nonsense about the Royals. He didn’t think she would have been so trusting of him considering she just met him for the first time.
“What did he tell you?” he asked bluntly, no need to clarify who he was referring to.
Daisy’s eyes fell to the ground. She was nervous, and it made his heart ache. That man better not have convinced Daisy to fear him by telling her lies.
“He told me that Royals have killed people to get control of large corporations. That the Royals are cold-blooded murderers when it comes to humans… None of that’s true, is it?” she asked, her eyes finally lifting to meet his.
Nyle’s heart thudded in his chest. He knew he couldn’t lie to her, but he didn’t want to scare her either. Stepping into her slowly, he put his arms around her.
“He told you a half-truth… Yes, Royals have killed humans before for business and political reasons, but that was centuries ago. We haven’t had anyone killed, other than Elementals in battles, since then. The world was a different place back then. I promise you, none of that has happened in my lifetime. If you’re worried about it going on in the future, then put that out of your mind. You’ll be my queen, Daisy. We will set the rules.”
Her body relaxed. “I’m sorry. I know I probably look stupid for letting him get in my head like that.”
Nyle shook his head, cupping her cheek. “Don’t be sorry. Your father knew exactly what he was doing. He was aware that you’ve been waiting all your life to meet him and that he could use that longing to get you to trust him. Your only fault is having too much compassion.”
“I told myself I wasn’t going to let him get to me, and somehow he weaseled into my head anyways. You know, he basically said he just hoped you were just using me.”
He put an arm around her shoulders and continued their walk through the garden. “It’s nice that your father has such high goals for you,” Nyle said sarcastically.
“I can’t believe my mom was so comfortable with him. She always tried to hide her bitterness toward him from me, but I knew she was mad about him abandoning her with a kid to raise on her own. Anytime she couldn’t pay a bill, or she couldn’t afford to buy me something, or one of those father-daughter events would come up, I would hear her on the phone venting to one of her friends about it.” Daisy shook her head. “And he claims to love her. He described it as not a soulmate bond, but a ‘strange love.’ Said he couldn’t shake her and gave into temptation.”