Tirah gasped. Zales’s dragon light was breathtakingly sharp and felt like little knives dancing over her skin, except they didn’t draw blood. She glanced around at the others.
Both Mihel and her mother shifted uncomfortably, though neither uttered a word. A moment later, a bright-white light flowed from Zales and into Saber. Please let it work, please.
When he was done, Zales sat down heavily on the bed beside Saber.
“Did it work? Now what do we do?” Tirah stood beside the bed, staring worriedly down at the male she loved with her whole heart and soul.
“We wait,” Zales said, sounding weak, and not a hundred percent convinced it would work.
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Skye
Skye took to the night sky with anger pulsing through her. How dare Cass tell her what to do. He may be her father, but he knew nothing about her. And for him to tell her she couldn’t go see her uncle Saber? Yeah, not going to happen. As she flew, wings pumping hard in her fury, Skye worried over her uncle. If what that female, Tirah, said was true, then he was dying.
The very idea made Skye want to rail at the gods above. She couldn’t lose him. She loved him with her whole being. He’d been there for her a lot more than her own father had ever been.
Then she thought about Tirah and wasn’t sure she liked how the female had cried over him. She claimed to love him, but what did that mean? Did Saber love her back?
Panic and then more anger consumed her. Uncle Saber was hers. She planned to mate with him when she was old enough.
Skye knew Saber loved her. He let her hug him and he cuddled her all the time, when he was around, while never letting any other female close. She wasn’t stupid, she’d heard the males in the village tease him and tell him he needed to find a female, have sex, but he’d only growl at them.
But Skye had seen how he acted around all the unmated females. He wasn’t interested, and if any of them tried to capture his interest, he’d quickly rebuff them. All except her. She was the only female he tolerated.
Yeah, but that doesn’t mean he love-loves you. You are just his niece’s child, dummy. He has to love you.
Skye let out a growl and shot a weak plume of flame from her mouth, then wanted to scream at how pathetic even her dragonfire was. Ugh. She couldn’t wait to grow up and finally become a woman.
Then she decided it didn’t matter what Cass said. She was going to see her uncle. No one was going to stop her.
Skye circled around and began to fly in earnest toward her uncle’s lair, weaving in and around the large giant spires of the Death Ridge Mountains.
She was getting close to the mountain with a waterfall where Saber had his home, when her night vision picked up movement on the ground.
Her anger surged. Only her uncle lived in this area, so there shouldn’t be anyone snooping around. Skye went into a dive, determined to take care of the threat, with no regard for the fact that she’d never been in a real battle of any sort before. Because really, why should that matter? All Young started training to fight and learning to protect themselves as soon as they reached the age of three, and Skye excelled at fighting.
As she drew close to the ground, she started to slow, studying the figure hunting around a little distance from Uncle Saber’s ground entrance. Skye pulled up when she was close enough to make out some features and circled around. It was a male, and he appeared to be in either his late teens or early twenties, and so far, he hadn’t noticed her. Then she recognized his uniform.
He was a soldier. The enemy.
Skye knew she should go tell someone right away, but curiosity drew her closer. She’d just study him a little more, then when she had more information, she’d let … maybe Uncle Zales know, maybe Cass.
Used to large, burly warriors, this scruffy, dark-haired male fascinated her. He was the complete opposite of what she’d always thought a warrior would look like. He was painfully thin, and the way he’d been slinking around as if searching for something, made her think he was used to slipping in and out of places undetected.
Anger gone, but still leery and curious, Skye landed. Then as the male spun toward her, Skye wanted to kick herself for her stupidity.
In all her anger and anxiety over her uncle and her dad, she’d forgotten to activate her cloak of invisibility. Satan’s balls! Then she grinned inwardly, knowing her language would piss her father off.
The male stared at her in surprise, and she noticed he had steaks of light blue in his hair. A touch of awe lit his blue eyes, before he masked his features and tensed up as if preparing for attack.
Skye didn’t move, just stared right back at him. He was strangely handsome in a completely unassuming way. She drew in a deep breath. He even smelled good, which surprised her.
When he didn’t pull any weapons, she shifted into her human-form. She wanted to grin when his eyes widened with surprise once again but kept her face impassive. “Who are you? What are you doing lurking around out here?”
The Ilyium male took in his surroundings uneasily, before turning his gaze back on her. “I was just looking for someone.”
Skye narrowed his eyes on him. “Who?”
He shrugged. “He’s not someone you’d know.”
“How do you now I wouldn’t know him?” Skye asked.
“You just wouldn’t. He’s not one of your kind.”
Skye frowned. “Well, then you are looking in the wrong place, because there is no one, other than you and me, out here.”
He didn’t say anything, and Skye wondered what he was really looking for? The entrance to Saber’s lair maybe? But what would he do if he found it? Skye knew it was warded, so he’d only be repelled, and even if he wasn’t, there was no way he’d make it through.
And really, as thin as he was, what could he do? He couldn’t be a warrior, but maybe he was a spy? Yeah, that seemed more likely. Yet, she couldn’t help thinking he seemed harmless. Maybe that was the idea? After all, she’d never met a spy before. “You should leave and go back to where you came from. There is nothing of interest out here.”
“Then why are you out here?” he asked, and though he was the enemy, she kind of liked the sound of his voice.
Skye shrugged. “I was out flying. I saw you and decided to find out what you were doing so far from civilization.”
He didn’t say anything and after a moment longer, he turned and began to walk away.
Skye watched him, even more curious than before. Then she shifted back into her dragon and took to the sky once again. It was time to go see her uncle, whether Cass liked it or not.
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Relief
Tirah’s heart pounded with dread that just because she wanted this, Saber would still die. One long, tense minute ticked by, then another, and she was beginning to lose hope, when Saber finally gasped and his eyes flew open.
“Saber.” Never more relieved in her life about anything, Tirah wiped the moisture from her face.
“Tirah?” Saber blinked in surprise. “What are you doing here?”
“It’s me. What do you mean, what am I doing here?” She threw herself at him. “I was so scared I’d lost you.” Slowly an arm crept around her and Saber held her close.
“But, you—” Saber scanned the room and his eyes widened at her brother and mother, then grew cold when he spotted Cass. He struggled to sit up. “Shit.” His arms tightened around Tirah protectively. “Cass, I know I promised you—”
“Settle down. If I wanted to kill her, I would have,” Cass snarled.
Saber stared at Cass a long moment, then as if satisfied, lay back in the bed. Then his eyes narrowed on Zales. “What did you do?”
At a loud shout out in the hall, they all looked toward the door. A moment later, Skye flew into the room and pulled up sharply at the sight of everyone. Her worried gaze paused on Ashara and Mihel for a brief moment, before landing on Saber. Her features tightened with anger at the arm Saber had around Tirah.
�
�Skye?” Saber let Tirah go and held his arms out to the girl.
Tirah moved away as Skye threw herself at Saber.
“I heard you were dying. You can’t die on me,” Skye cried and Tirah heard her sniff back tears while Saber rubbed her back.
He held the young female with such tenderness that Tirah began to wonder who she was to Saber. She knew the female was too young to be a lover, but did he have a Young and failed to mention it to her?
Saber looked up and met Tirah’s gaze. The love in his eyes took her aback, then he reached out and caught her arm, drawing her close as he released Skye. “Tirah, I want you to meet Cass’s daughter, my niece.”
“Oh …” Tirah glanced at Cass to see him flush with guilt, then sadness lit his eyes. She remembered Cass and Skye’s heated exchange, along with what the other men had said. It was obvious Skye was a handful. She didn’t envy Cass. Then he confused her when he flicked an angry glance over at Ashara. What is that about?
A sniffle drew Tirah’s gaze back to see Skye pull away from Saber. The teen shot Tirah a disdainful look, then crossed her arms over her chest and glared at Cass, as if daring him to say anything about her disobeying him. Cass glared right back at her, then looked away and didn’t say a word.
“Come here.” Saber pulled Tirah back into his side and wrapped his arm around her. “Skye, I’d like you to meet Tirah.”
Anger flashed in Skye’s eyes. “Whatever!” Then she rushed from the room.
“Skye?” There was shock in Saber’s voice, and Tirah snuggled close to him.
“We already met.” Tirah felt bad for the girl. It was clear she had a crush on Saber, and who could blame her for that?
Then Cass helped Zales to his feet and shot another angry glance at Ashara and Mihel. “Come on, let’s give them some privacy.”
Tirah reached out and touched Zales’s arm. “Thank you. Are you going to be all right?” She owed him a huge debt.
Zales nodded. “Yes, I just need to sleep for a bit.”
“Zales?” Saber growled.
“He just saved your life, be nice,” Tirah said, swatting Saber playfully on the chest.
At the doorway, Zales looked back at her. “Now it’s your turn.”
“Right.” Tirah swallowed.
Saber scowled as Ashara and Mihel followed Zales and Cass out of the room, but he didn’t say anything. Finally, he looked at her. “Your turn for what?”
“I’ll talk to you both later, okay, Mom, Mihel?” Tirah called to her mother and brother.
“Yes, dear,” Ashara said as she left the room.
“What is he doing here?” Saber asked as soon as they were alone.
Tirah frowned. “He? You mean Mihel?”
Saber gave a little growl.
Tirah shook her head. “He’s my brother. Zales had him and my mother brought here, isn’t that okay?”
“Your brother?”
Tirah nodded and stared down at her hands. “I’m sorry I left you. It destroyed me to do it. The whole reason I came back to Tartaria was because Mihel missed our yearly meeting. He left me a message in Vermillion saying Father was dead and to meet him at the cabin. I had to make sure he and Mother were all right.”
Saber didn’t say anything, so she looked up and met his gaze. Although a multitude of emotions crossed his face, his anger was gone. “He’s not your boyfriend?”
Tirah gaped at him. “You thought Mihel was my boyfriend? Oh, yuck.”
Saber smiled. “You should have told me you needed to meet him. I’d have taken you.”
Tirah shook her head. “No. You would have threatened to kill him. I couldn’t take any chances.”
“You’re probably right,” he admitted with a rueful expression on his handsome face.
“You don’t mind that they are here?” she asked.
“Of course not. They’re your family.”
Tirah bit her lip nervously. “Even though Mihel, if he returns to base, will likely become commander?”
“What?” Saber asked.
“Mihel is next in line, now that Casin is dead, and thank you for that by the way.” She paused and tried not to think of what her brother tried to do to her, but it was a losing battle.
“You’re not upset that I killed him?” Saber asked.
“Casin has always been so hateful, so mean. What he tried to do to me, what brother does that?” She shuddered, feeling dirty.
“He’s the one who told you that you were fat?”
Tirah nodded and Saber snarled. “I wish I could kill him all over again.”
Tirah loved how protective he was and snuggled up close. “You saved my and Mihel’s lives. I just …” She left the rest of what she was thinking unsaid, but she knew Saber understood.
“He was your brother,” Saber said.
“Yes. He was always so mean. I think he must’ve been very unhappy, and maybe jealous? I don’t know, I’m still trying to wrap my head around everything he did—and tried to do. But yeah, Casin was my brother and I only ever wanted him to like me …”
Saber was silent as he held her lovingly while tears trickled down her face.
Then she wiped them away and looked up at him, letting her own love shine in her eyes. “Anyway, thank you for coming for me after I left you.”
Saber kissed her forehead. “I had to,” he said, then scowled as if he were thinking hard about something.
“What is it?” she asked.
“Just wondering what repercussions his death will have. Maybe Mihel will be the start of some positive changes. He seems like a decent guy,” Saber suggested.
“A minute ago, you were ready to kill him,” she teased.
Saber snorted. “That’s when I thought he was your boyfriend or lover.”
Tirah laughed. “He is a good guy, one of the best that I know, but if any changes he makes are too sudden or extreme, the rest of the Ilyium will rebel and kill him for it.”
“He will have to be careful.” Saber nuzzled her hair.
As relief flooded her, she sighed. “I was so scared for you.”
Saber frowned. “I never expected you to return to me.”
“I had to,” Tirah said, using his own words. Then she pulled away and bit her lip. “I … you called me your mate, do you still want—” she started to say and stopped, uncertain.
“Do I still want what?” Saber asked.
“Well, me,” she said in a very quiet voice, gaze lowered as she waited for him to tell her no.
Chapter Forty
Covert Stalker
Skye paced Saber’s living area, the image of her uncle with his arm around Tirah taunting her. She wasn’t surprised. Tirah was gorgeous, while she was nothing. A fourteen-year-old youth with a flat chest. Furious and devastated, Skye fought back her tears. That made her angry as well, for she never cried. Even when she’d broken her wing, she hadn’t cried, and though it healed up right away, the pain had been beyond imaginable. Feeling like she just lost the only person who ever loved her, Skye swiped angrily at the tear that managed to escape and swore.
Then her father walked in with Uncle Zales, followed by the two strangers she’d seen in the bedroom, both of whom has similar features to the soldier she’d met earlier.
“Skye,” her father said.
“Leave me alone, Cass.”
“I’m your father, Skye. I want to talk to you,” Cass said as she walked away from him.
“Yeah, and I don’t want to talk to you,” she replied, as she headed for the tunnel.
“Where are you going?”
Skye hesitated and glanced back at him. “Home, I guess. Where else would I go?”
“Wait, Skye,” Cass called, but too pissed and upset to listen to him reprimand her, she hurried through the tunnel and waterfall until she was outside. Then she drew in a deep breath and let it out.
Skye looked up and saw the stars twinkling high above, as if mocking her. With a growl, she tore her gaze away, trying not to remember how many t
imes she and Saber used to lie back and count them while making up stories about each one.
Then she looked toward the south and wondered where the male she’d spoken to earlier had gone. Was he still snooping around or was he on his way home? She had meant to tell one of her uncles but had kind of forgotten in the mess that was her life. Besides, she didn’t know who those strangers were, and hadn’t wanted to say anything in front of them.
Not wanting to think about Saber and what he might be doing with Tirah, Skye continued to stare to the south. There wasn’t anything she could do about her broken heart right now, and she really didn’t feel like going home.
Whether it was her father, or those who were supposed to be watching out for her, Skye knew she’d get in shit for night-flying on her own. Besides, it isn’t like she was going to be able to go home, crawl into bed, and sleep.
“May as well make the most of it,” she decided and drawing on her power, shifted into her dragon. If the guy was still sneaking around, then she’d think about telling someone, but first she’d go see what he was up to.
Without wasting another moment, she took to the sky, circled twice, and started to fly south. This time she activated her invisibility.
It wasn’t long before she spotted the male from earlier, but she’d expected him to be walking. Instead, he was riding a … a horse? There weren’t many of the exotic creatures on Tartaria, and the ones that were, had been imported from Earth.
Then she wondered where he’d hidden it. She hadn’t caught the scent of a horse, though, not familiar with the animals and as intent on the male as she’d been, she must’ve just missed it.
Skye flew lower, even more curious now. She kept her eye on him, seeing why he might like riding the horse. It was definitely faster than walking. Not that she’d know much about that either. Being able to shift into a dragon meant she didn’t have to walk very far, ever. Well, thank the gods above for that. It was the least she could be offered in this shitty life.
Saberthorn (A Paranormal/Fantasy Dragonshifter Romance): Dragonkind ~ 52 Realms Page 18