Dragon Greed

by Kelly Armenta

  I sighed and turned to Kit. “Where are Gareth and Jace now?” I asked and he tilted his head and blinked several times.

  “Owen informs me they are… unavailable at the moment,” and his eyes slid away from mine. He suddenly looked like he was keeping something very important from me, causing my fingers to clench on the arms of my chair and my eyes to narrow as I looked at him. “Tell me,” I nearly growled.

  Kit shook his head and folded his arms over his chest. “It is for your own good,” he replied. “Gareth does not wish you to know, and I resent you putting me in this position,” he said with an angry pout that brought me up short.

  “I am sorry, Kit,” I told him. He nodded his head once but still refused to look at me. “Fine, then we’ll have to do this by ourselves. Can you get my Dad in here please?” I asked calmly.

  He flicked his eyes to me and snapped his fingers. Immediately my Father appeared, swayed slightly and glanced around with an angry look on his face. His hair looked tousled and his shirt was nearly unbuttoned. “What is the meaning of this?” he demanded and I bit the side of my cheek as I realized what he’d obviously been in the middle of when I’d yanked him here.

  “You might have warned me he was… with Mom!” I snapped at Kit, who shrugged and pointed my Father in Arrin and Bryce’s direction. Dad growled and ran his hand through his hair while he blinked his eyes back to normal.

  “Dad, meet Arrin Herion Bronze and Bryce Meldiron Gray. This is my Father Roark e’ Venth Silver,” I told them.

  “Lexi, are you mad?” he growled at me. “Where are Stela and Talon? You have to get these two out of here immediately. You shouldn’t even be here!”

  “Yeah I got that Dad, thanks,” I told him and rolled my eyes. “Arrin and Bryce are also Elfin and have pledged their fealty to me as Princess of the Seelie,” I informed him while he reached for a chair and limply lowered himself into it. “By the way, it wasn’t my idea,” I told him primly. “They came up with it all on their own. Although we aren’t certain how Tdem is going to feel about this,” I admitted. “I figured you might want to be here when I introduce them to the others.”

  Dad sucked air through his teeth and put his head in his hands, using the heel of his palms to rub his eyes. “I don’t think this is going to work.”

  “It will… it must. Or I’ll simply shrink them to the size of two five year olds and see how useful they are in that form,” I told him and he shook his head and looked just a little horrified at the prospect.

  “Shrink them to the size of a five year old?” Arrin asked. “You could do that?”

  “Their manhood only,” Amras offered. “And yes, she could.”

  Arrin sat up straight in his chair while Bryce glanced at me in alarm. “I’ve never actually done it, but they just like to threaten men with it to keep them from being complete idiots,” I told them.

  “No,” Amras replied, “I like to mention it because you enjoy me so well you made me larger, just for you.”

  “Not helping there, Amras,” I told him, while across the table Arrin and Bryce looked like kids in a candy shop all of the sudden. “Anyway, back to the subject at hand. Kit you need to make sure you divest Talon of all his weapons. The man keeps them everywhere and I don’t want to explain to Gareth and Jace why we tore up their conference room while they were out… doing whatever it is they are doing, which you won’t tell me,” I ended on a growl. “Are we ready to do this? If they misbehave you have my permission to turn them into… I don’t know… donkeys maybe?”

  “Lexi!” Dad nearly yelled at me. “You will show the proper respect for your men!”

  “Or what, Dad? It’s not like I chose this. You prefer I let more of my men die?” I breathed. He stiffened and looked at me in shock, and I realized he did not know. “Oh no Dad... I am so sorry,” I told him and reached for his arm. “The Blue… is dead.”

  “Gareth is dead?” he breathed in horror, and I sucked air into my lungs at the thought… just as I had last night.

  “No! Not Gareth, the other the one you created,” I told him softly and watched as his eyes filled with tears.

  “Was it Gareth?” he asked softly, his fingers reaching up to brush my cheek when my own tear slipped from my eye.

  “No…Valentine. Did Marcus not tell you? We were under attack here in the den last night when we returned. One of Valentine’s men ripped out the Blue’s throat, he likely allowed it because he was ordered not to fight back. I’m sure he was in thrall to Valentine.”

  Dad’s eyes dropped to the floor and he stared at it, unseeing for several moments. “It is one thing to die with honor… but this is not right,” he breathed and I nodded and stroked my hand through his hair. “Were you also attacked?” he asked and raised his eyes to my neck. My face paled and my fingers slid over the puncture wounds which were just beginning to heal.

  “No Dad I… I wasn’t,” I whispered softly and he looked confused.

  “What have you done child?” he breathed and stared up at me, his face becoming more distressed by the second. “What have you done?”

  “What she had to,” Amras told him, and he blinked and glanced between Kit and Amras in horror.

  “He will pay for what he did. I promise you Dad. He will pay with his very existence and I will see it done, as it has been promised to me.”

  Dad dropped his face into his hands and he shook with the force of his emotion. I rose to my feet and placed my hands on his shoulders while I glanced over his head at Amras, who was looking bleak. When he finally pulled himself together he muttered from between his fingers, “You said something about Marcus? Please tell me he was not hurt also.” I glanced at Kit and my eyes widened in surprise.

  “I had Owen send him back to the Sidhe just seconds after we arrived. The den was overrun by Vampires and he was distressed,” I told him. “Did he not find you? Owen should have sent him to you in the hall.”

  “He did not return,” my Dad told me and slowly raised his face from his hands to glance at me, while I looked at Kit and he snapped his fingers. Marcus appeared in Dragon form, his wings spread wide. Several of us cried out and Marcus shifted and tumbled across the table, his forward motion carrying him off the other side and onto the floor. Arrin and Bryce jumped from their chairs and reached to help him up while he winced and rubbed his elbow.

  His eyes swept the group and he smiled brightly at me, and nearly ran around the table. Lira and Roral growled softly and Amras stepped in front of him. “Are you well Marcus?” he demanded and Marcus grinned and nodded.

  “Yes thank you, Lord Amras,” he replied and edged around Amras, who watched him closely but let him go. Marcus went to his knees in front of me and wrapped his arms around my thighs. “Your Majesty,” he murmured while I stroked his cheek and he hummed for me. “Do not send me from you again,” he breathed against my body.

  “Marcus, I was worried about you,” I told him and gently lifted his face up to me. “I am sorry but I could not take the chance, and you looked so distressed,” I added.

  “Do not send me from you again,” he repeated. I ran my finger over his lip and allowed the sadness to claim me.

  “Marcus, I could not bear to see you dead. I will send you from me in a heartbeat if it means keeping you alive. We lost a Blue last night and… it could have been you.”

  He pulled back and stared up at me in horror. “Gareth?” he demanded and I shook my head.

  “No Marcus, I did not know him but he was just like you. Valentine killed him as a warning to me,” I breathed while his eyes widened.

  “A warning what he will do to Gareth… your sebenne,” he murmured softly. I looked at him, then glanced at my Dad who was nodding agreement. I did not know this word. I’d have to ask him later.

  “Who is this Gareth?” Arrin muttered. I ignored him and urged Marcus to get up. His hands got tangled in my dress as he started to rise, so I was forced to reach for it and hold it down lest I flash everyone in the room.

&nb
sp; “Mmmmm,” he murmured and went back to his knee then slid his fingers under the edge and over my bottom, while I gave him an exasperated look. “Sweet,” he whispered and I felt my face turn bright pink, glaring first at him and then at Kit.

  “Marcus, stand up before I get angry with you!” I told him, trying to be dignified while his cool fingers stroked my bottom. “Sweet Danu, your hands are cold!”

  “I am sorry, Your Majesty. The mountains of Colorado are quite cool this time of year.”

  I frowned down at him and demanded, “And what exactly were you doing in Colorado?”

  “It was the shortest route back to you,” he replied and smiled slyly, and I stared at him in wonder. He had escaped the Sidhe and was flying back to me… all by himself? He nodded and ran his fingers over the spot between my bottom and thigh. “I’m very glad you remembered me so quickly this time. It was a long night.”

  I sighed and squeezed his shoulder. “Get up Marcus, and meet your brother,” I told him. He slid his hand down the back of my thigh and carefully lifted himself back to his feet. He turned and moved behind me, then wrapped his arms about my shoulders and upper chest, resting his cheek against mine.

  “Hello,” he greeted Arrin and Bryce. “I am Marcus ‘ve Sca, and who might you be?” Arrin looked us over and introduced himself then turned to Bryce, who stepped forward and made his own introductions.

  “Bryce is your brother, Marcus, as Arrin is Roa’ and Dane’s.”

  “Why are they here?” Marcus asked, his voice sounding confused. “Have they done something to the others? Are they dead too?” he asked solemnly.

  “No Marcus, we thought we’d take a novel approach. They have sworn fealty to me just as Cursed and Amras have, as Elves not Dragons,” I told him, and he stilled against me and made an amused sound.

  “Interesting,” he replied. “And do we believe this will work? Neither elder seemed overly endowed with a sense of humor to me.”

  “I don’t know we were just about to introduce them. You can help,” I told him, and he laughed and kissed the top of my head.

  “You are so cute, my Queen,” he replied. “I suppose if I survived Belinda, I can survive this meeting,” then stepped back from me and crossed his arms over his chest. “Be sure you do not… aim wrong. I would hate to find myself on the floor writhing in agony because I was trying to assist,” he teased me. Across the table Bryce looked at him strangely.

  “You would put yourself in harm’s way for me?” he asked, his face looking wary and confused.

  “Sure… what is family for?” Marcus replied with a grin. “Besides, I have lived through it once. It wasn’t pleasant but I am still here. You aren’t planning to seriously injure them, are you?” Marcus asked me in a disapproving tone, but he gave me a wink.

  “No, I hadn’t planned on it. I don’t want to injure them. I don’t want anyone to be injured. I just need to restrain them long enough to explain matters. I am hoping they will see reason.”

  “Good luck with that,” Dad muttered, and I frowned at him while he finished buttoning his last button and stood up from his chair.

  “Kit?” I asked, and he snapped his fingers, and Talon and Stela were standing in front of me looking very angry.

  “Where is he?” Stela demanded in a voice that made my hair stand up on the back of my neck. Wow! Stela angry was a pretty scary thing, seductive and calm was more his norm. Beside him Talon glanced around and I watched as his eyes met Bryce’s across the room.

  “Stop! They have sworn fealty to me as Elves!” I yelled as Talon gathered himself to leap across the table. “And I say that you may not harm them,” I finished. Stela and Talon both turned to me with disbelieving looks on their faces.

  “They did what?” Talon yelled right back at me. I crossed my arms, but then dropped them suddenly when all eyes moved to the hemline of my very short dress. Well maybe I could use that as a distraction, I thought, and re-crossed my arms. And around me several minds hummed.

  “I said,” in a more normal voice, “they are half Elf and have sworn fealty to me as such. They will not be declaring, so you may not harm them, just as you may not harm Cursed or Amras. They are my loyal vassals and by accepting their pledge, I have promised to protect them. If you harm them willingly I will be forsworn and you will find yourself without a Queen.”

  “What care we if you are forsworn to the Elves?” Talon demanded, while Stela grimaced and alternated between glaring at Arrin and me.

  “You risk bringing both Courts down on our heads! The Dragons have ever been allies of the Elves. The Prince of Air and Darkness is sworn to her! For stars sake, the King is one of us!” Snapped Marcus from behind me.

  “I stand corrected,” I told Stela. “I should have said… I will find myself without my Gray and Bronze, as their wrath will fall upon you where it rightly belongs. Of course, assuming you do not kill them, either or both will take your place. This way no one gets harmed. They will not declare and you will not be killed in your sleep for having caused a Princess of the Seelie to shame her family.”

  Talon growled and flexed his hands angrily. “I told you that you could not interfere,” he warned me.

  “No, I believe you told me that I could not tell you to step aside and give up your place. I have not asked you to, nor will I. This was not my idea. I would have sent them away, perhaps to wait for my sisters, who they may find of interest in twenty years or so.”

  Stela glanced at my father and dipped his head. “Pardon,” he said to Dad and then to me, “Your Majesty, your sisters are not Gold.”

  “True but that doesn’t mean they won’t make fine mates,” I told him calmly while he stared down at me in agitation. “Who knows, maybe they would enjoy having a Dragoness all their own.”

  “I cannot guarantee I will not attack him,” Stela warned me, and I turned to look at Arrin, who looked equally agitated.

  “Fine, bare handed only, and no killing. And that goes especially for you and Roa’!” I hissed at Talon, who pulled his angry pink eyes off Bryce to glare at me. “Roa’ has no standing in my Court and has not sworn to me. He is nothing to me yet, and I will send him away if you even think to use him against Bryce. Do I make myself clear? Do I make myself clear to all four of you?” I demanded in an angry voice and watched as Bryce and Arrin went to a knee and bowed their heads. On this side of the table Talon and Stela held themselves tightly and glared at me. I glanced down at my bronze colored nail polish as if unconcerned, and remarked to no one in particular. “You know, I have plenty of other Drakes. Should you find yourself cold and alone at night, you might wish to remember this moment as the reason why.”

  Stela glanced at Talon and slipped to a knee as if he’d been struck in the back of the leg. “Forgive me, Your Majesty,” he replied. I lifted an eyebrow at Talon who stared back at me and flared his nostrils and looked mutinous. I narrowed my eyes and warned him softly, “I do not know why you so enjoy setting your will against mine. But I am starting to become annoyed with you and as I cannot harm you, perhaps Roa’ would be the better choice for reprimand. Kit?” I breathed and he snapped his fingers and Roa’ swayed slightly and was standing next to me. I reached out my hand and slammed my desire into him, and he crumpled like a brittle leaf and fell to the floor. Amras’ knife at Talon’s throat held him in place while he stared between Roa’ and me. “He is fine… this time. I gave him what you felt before experiencing Hell, and so few of its wonders. Please do not make me send him back there. He did not handle it at all well last time,” I reminded him.

  Talon muttered under his breath and slid to the floor, while Amras just managed to get his knife out of the way. “Your Majesty,” he choked out and stared down at the floor, and I wondered if the carpet might not spontaneously combust from the anger in his glare.

  “Kit, take them downstairs to the training floor. Let them work it out amongst themselves upon the mats. Make sure none of the Weres are harmed in the process, please. Marcus, go with them, wo
uld you?” I asked. Turning to my Dad, I gave him a hug, not really caring that I flashed the lot of them. “Thanks Dad. I am truly sorry about the poor timing. Tell Mom hi.” Then I glanced at Kit, who snapped his fingers and my Dad disappeared. I turned toward the door, then stopped and glanced over my shoulder. “Oh… and Kit?”

  “Yes Mistress?” he replied with a curious look.

  “Would you give Stela something to cover himself up with? While I find his body quite pleasing, you know how I feel about sharing,” I replied and watched as he chuckled while Stela glanced up at me with a grimace. “Bring me to them, if anyone needs healing.” Then I turned and Amras fell in behind me. Lira and Roral met me at the door and we crossed to the elevators. The bell dinged, the doors opened, and I found myself staring at Gareth, who reached for me, then dragged me in against his body. And once again, I flashed my men.

  Chapter 19

  “Lord Cael said a Gray and Bronze arrived and you disappeared with them to the conference room. And then it seems that Stela and Talon disappeared, followed closely by Roa’. Where are they?” he asked, as the rest of the men got into the elevator and it started down to the third level.

  “I just sent them off to the training room to work it out amongst themselves,” I told him and watched as he reached forward and promptly hit the button for the second floor. “Perhaps I should tell you that Bryce and Arrin did not declare.”

  “No?” he replied with a worried look.

  “No, they pledged fealty to me as Princess of the Seelie,” I told him calmly and his eyes widened, then narrowed thoughtfully. “I also sent Kit and Marcus along with them and told them bare handed fighting only. I’m sure Kit will call me if anyone needs to be healed.” He took a deep breath and pushed the ‘close’ door button when it opened on the second floor.

  “Perhaps letting them work it out amongst themselves might be a good idea,” he replied and placed his arm around my shoulder so that I rested against his body.

  “So….” I remarked casually, once again glancing at my bronze fingernails. “Have a busy morning? We missed you earlier. I could have used some help with the introductions.”