Dragon Envy

by Kelly Armenta

  Cursed came to me next and brushed his soft muscular body against me. I stroked his back and cupped his chin in my palm as he blinked up at me. “Do not look sad, night has been good to me,” I told him. “I do not fear the night, Cursed, and you will not lose me to it.” I bent down and kissed the top of his head and he blinked and went to stand behind me, even with Owen. Amras came next and I knelt on the cool marble and wrapped my arms around his neck, inhaling the scent of him into my lungs. “I do not wish to cry,” I whispered as I held him tightly and struggled to keep my fear of losing him under control.

  “Arwenamin amin mela lle.” My Lady, I love you, he whispered and pulled himself away from me while I swallowed and tried to breathe. I squeezed my eyes tightly shut, wondering at the pain in my heart. Love wasn’t supposed to feel this way.

  “Get up child,” Mi told me softly. I rose in one smooth motion and turned to my Dragons. I stepped past Amras and Cursed and held out my hands to Gareth and Jace. Their heads moved toward me and they made soothing noises in their throats. No please, I thought… I cannot bear it.

  “You must” Gareth grumbled and I nodded and took a deep breath.

  “Lexi,” Jace spoke to me, his deep voice vibrating my arm where it rested against his head. “Remember who you are and what you represent.” I pulled more air into my lungs and straightened my shoulders.

  “Thank you,” I told him. He blinked his large green eyes and moved back from me as Dane swung his black head toward me.

  “Danu guide ye,” he rumbled as I turned, ignoring the King who stood watching me closely. I would have preferred not having his audience at this moment, but had little choice in the matter. He was here, and he was coming in with us.

  “A moment,” Tdem commanded and I turned to him slowly, keeping my emotions in check.

  “Yes?” I asked and watched as he smiled, then shifted into a huge black beast that resembled a Dragon but with distinct differences. Nolls was closest to him and he looked as if he was having a hard time not passing out from fear. I glanced between the two of them and motioned Nolls forward. He came gratefully and moved to stand near Roral at the front. My eyes tracked him as he moved out of range and then focused on the differences between Tdem and my others. Most notable was that he only had one set of horns, which looked similar to those of a bull. In the place of a symmetrical spine down his back, he had what looked like sail fins attached to huge spikes, and his skin appeared as smooth leather which gleamed, reflecting the light. His wings were powerful and I wondered if he knew how to use them. Under his chin were three protrusions, resembling a long beard. His forearms looked human in shape and were very muscular. He wasn’t much smaller than Dane and was black as night. Gareth and Jace turned to glance at him while Dane hissed and whipped his tail in agitation. Owen had said worse, now I suspected he might be right. “Interesting,” I murmured and wondered if this was his normal shift or if he had created it just for us.

  “Ask me nicely and I might tell you.” He replied in a deep rumbling voice that vibrated the floor beneath my feet. I smiled tightly and watched as he took his place next to Dane, the two of them eyeing each other in a manner that was somewhat disturbing.

  “I’m ready,” I told Lira and Roral who stood nearest the doors, gripping my flute tightly. Each reached for a handle and pulled his door open easily, though they stood at least fifteen feet high and must have weighed several hundred pounds each. The sounds of the Great Hall spilled out over us, music and voices crashing against my skin like waves. I held my ground and nodded to Owen and Kit who got our not so little procession moving. Mi skipped in ahead of us and moved easily through the crowd, disappearing in a matter of seconds. I took a deep breath and stepped through the doors while heads turned and the voices stilled.

  Roral and the others moved before us, clearing a path down the hall as we made our way to the dais opposite the doors. The room was huge, its length about three times the width, and packed with beautiful Fey of every Seelie race. Whispers and mutters followed us down the carpeted aisle and gasps of wonder and outrage whispered past my ears. I assumed that King Tdem had entered behind us and that some of them might have recognized him.

  Minds pressed in on mine, prodding my shield and slipping in between crevices. One, a male of significant power, circled my funnel and pressed tentatively against it while his clever mental fingers searched for the doorway. I sucked air into my lungs as my men erupted in howls and screams of outrage. The pressure increased and I nearly stumbled from the force, then felt a back draft of air and glanced over my shoulder to see Jace and Gareth had raised their wings, their eyes searching the crowd. I stopped in the middle of the floor, closed my eyes and focused on the pressure. In my mind I could see a fine thread and followed it to its source, turning my head to do so. When I opened my eyes I was staring into two-tone blue eyes, the outer ring a pale cornflower while the inner was closer to baby blue. The man was large, well made and painfully beautiful with long pale hair. Judging by the haughty demeanor and fine Elfin features, I couldn’t help thinking… Royalty and that I was probably seeing my first Duke or perhaps a Marquees. His eyes widened as I stared back at him and thought ‘you do not want to do that.’ Then swept past him while he looked somewhat startled and I felt his mind slide away from mine. I believe I’d managed to surprise him.

  Given the way today was going, I was guessing that would cause me problems later.

  I had not expected to find the throne occupied. Mi having told me I would not be granted an immediate audience, had left me with the distinct impression that I would be arriving but waiting around until the Queen decided I had waited long enough. Then, and only then, would I be granted the opportunity to meet and plead my case with the Queen. However, it seemed that Mi may have been mistaken, or perhaps our being detained in the halls had eaten away the waiting period. Or it could be that she had only said it to keep me from being so nervous I did something I shouldn’t be doing. Something like dragging the King of the UnSeelie along with me as the newest addition to my entourage? Whatever the case, it seemed clear that the lot of us we were heading directly toward the dais and an immediate introduction. Quite possibly a good thing. Who knew what manner of other trouble I might find, given just another hour or so alone in the Sidhe corridors.

  The Queen, my Grandmother appeared to be waiting for me on the dais, seated on a huge throne that looked… like a carved Dragon wrought in gold. My eyes widened as I stared at the thing and couldn’t help thinking… it looked like me! Behind her two large men, one fair and pale, the other dark as night, stood with folded arms. Both men had matching pale green eyes that watched attentively as our group slowly approached. The pale guard stood closest to a naked and… excited form which I assumed had to be my Grandfather. I licked my lip nervously and moved my gaze away, doing my best not to think about how he got there all those years ago.

  Shaking myself mentally, I forced my eyes to the woman seated on the throne and felt my heart race at the first real sight of my Grandmother, the Queen of Air and Light. Beautiful, was the first word that came to mind. Beautiful and… welcome. Her lips lifted barely at my thought. I felt myself flush and answered her with a small smile of my own as we reached the base of the seven stairs that led up to her chair. To her right, my Mother sat on a much smaller seat and behind her my Father stood, his arms resting on the back of her chair while his eyes seemed to glow with approval. At my Mother’s feet Mi sat calmly watching me. I smiled at my parents and dipped my head in respect then glanced back to the Queen, who was observing me from large golden eyes, nearly the same shade as mine.

  The Queen was dressed not as I expected, but more conservatively, though it was clear that her form was lovely. Her gown was long and flowing and covered her from well up her chest to the bottoms of her dainty feet. The dress was pale, shimmery blend of many colors and seemed to move with the light. Her hair was a golden halo that surrounded her face and flowed down to her hips. I had her eyes, not just in the color
, but the shape and tilt, while my Mother had her lips and chin. Upon my Grandmother’s brow sat a platinum crown which glowed like pure light. Her lips were pink and lush, her body tall and willowy with small high breasts and a tiny waist. She seemed to envision all that the Court of Light might ever aspire to be.

  Cursed moved closer to me and I placed my free hand on his back, gracefully placed one foot below the other, gently grasped the sides of my dress, dipped my head and curtseyed low. Around me, my men paid similar homage in varying degrees of submission and respect.

  “Rise child,” the Queen told me. Her voice was musical and nearly as beautiful as she.

  I stood and lifted my eyes to her, waiting to be given permission to speak. She smiled again. “Greetings Lexi, daughter of Shaylee and most precious Grandchild of mine.”

  I dipped my head and replied, “Well met, Your Royal Majesty.”

  She seemed pleased with my response and her eyes moved to those around me. “Who have you brought with you today? Introduce them to us,” she urged.

  “Ma’am?” I remarked and turned first to Cursed and then the others, who each shifted as I spoke their names. The last person I introduced was the King and his shift caused more shocked gasps, the Queen merely lifting an eyebrow and neither smiled nor frowned.

  “King Tdem, it is… interesting to find you amongst my Granddaughter’s… attendants,” she told him in a deadly sweet voice. She might as well have replaced the word attendants with ‘lovers’ as that was clearly what was implied.

  Tdem’s eyes narrowed but he forced a smile and replied, “To win a Queen one must take chances. I trust the child will be worth the effort,” he replied and I nearly swallowed my tongue at his words.

  “To claim the right of ascension is a risk indeed. Should your efforts to satisfy my Granddaughter not be sufficient, you will be expelled from her favor and banished from her Court.”

  I glanced at the Queen in surprise while mutters spread out across the floor. Interesting that none of my men had bothered to inform me of that small tidbit. I had the sudden urge to rub my hands together and yell ‘ah ha!’ My look brought an answering smile to her lips. And I was suddenly very thankful that she seemed to like me.

  “Be careful, that you do not misstep. A fall from favor could well endanger your Court should you wish to retaliate and anger the Dragons who are, of course, allies of the Seelie.”

  I found myself holding my breath as I stared at no one, simply letting the words she had just spoken sink into my consciousness. I was almost afraid to look at Tdem but my eyes found their way to his face and widened at the smug smile he was wearing. Apparently his ability to please me wasn’t one of his concerns. I felt a shiver run up my spine while I dragged my eyes away from him and turned back to the Queen. I only hoped my face didn’t look as ghastly as I was feeling at the moment.

  Tdem responded with, “An event which is not likely to occur. As I do not plan to lose my sole Prince and heir, whom I might add, has already pledged his fealty to her.”

  The Queen nodded, then turned to eye me with speculation as she replied, “You have brought before us a Demon, a Minor-God, a Prince, my Earl, two Elders, a Miracle of Science, and the Lord of Air and Darkness. “Quite impressive child,” she remarked, then allowed a pleased look to cross her face as she turned to my mother. “You have done well, Shaylee. I am pleased.” Around the room there were sighs and I felt a huge weight lifted from my shoulders.

  “Come sit,” she offered, indicating the vacant smaller chair set on her other side. I glanced around me at my men and back up to her. “Bring one, child…”she advised. Nearly all of them stepped back except Amras, Tdem, and Dane. Tdem and Dane were farthest from me. I wasn’t certain if they held their ground because they didn’t need to move or if they simply weren’t team players. Although in Tdem’s case it wasn’t hard to guess which it was. The movement of my men left a space between themselves and Amras, who was suddenly standing nearest me. He glanced at me, his large violet eyes carefully neutral as he offered his arm. I placed my fingers on him, bent slightly to lift my skirts and we navigated the steps. The Queen’s eyes narrowed and beside me Amras paled, but handed me into my seat then moved to stand at my back, placing his hands upon the top of my chair. I settled my flute in my lap and took a deep breath while Amras fingers brushed the skin at my nape. I sensed he needed the contact and leaned back to be closer to him.

  “Interesting choice,” my Grandmother told me. “My Earl does not occupy a place in your Court yet you allow him to attend you?”

  “Yes, Ma’am,” I replied carefully, having been schooled on the proper form of address by my men. Apparently a member of the family addressed the sovereign the first time as ‘your royal majesty and thereafter by the term, ma’am. While everyone else got to address her only and ever as Your Majesty. I appeared to have gotten it correct as she didn’t even blink, so I continued with, “Lord Amras… pleases me.” I did not know her well enough to determine if my admission would annoy or placate her, but felt the need for her to understand how important he was to me. In spite of her use of the phrase ‘your court’ which nearly caused me to stop breathing. My eyes dropped as she smiled tightly.

  “Hmmm, are you aware that the Earl has disobeyed his Queen in leaving the Sidhe without permission?”

  I hesitated then dipped my head. “So I was informed just recently,” I replied.

  “That is something,” she muttered as if to herself. “Lord Amras, come here,” she commanded. I sat up so straight I felt my spine might crack, while he moved from behind me and went to both knees before her. He bowed his head and simply knelt there, looking much like a martyr just before having his head lopped off. The thought got me a frown from the Queen and I bit the inside of my cheek and quashed my thoughts.

  “What shall I do with you?” she asked quietly. Her musical voice being completely at odds with the severity of the subject under debate. “You openly defy me by leaving the Sidhe, and then proceed to add insult by making free with the daughter of the Princess to whom you are engaged. My daughter! My granddaughter!” she breathed, her voice no longer light, nor musical. “What do you have to say for yourself?”

  “My Queen,” he replied in a quiet but steady voice. “I love her.” Around the room a shocked murmur built as if the court could not believe they had heard him correctly. While the Queen hissed air through her teeth in annoyance and leaned back upon her throne, her long delicate fingers gripping the arms and her eyes flashing dangerously.

  “Lady Linwe,” the Queen called and a fair-haired woman stepped forward followed by an equally fair-haired man. Both were beautiful and I easily saw Amras’ features in the woman’s eyes and the man’s body shape and facial structure.

  “Your Majesty,” the woman spoke in a reserved voice, while the man behind her placed his hands upon her shoulders in support.

  “Your son has brought dishonor upon your family. I cannot allow my subjects to disregard my will. What say you?” she asked, her words draining the blood from the woman’s face.

  “Amras has ever been a loyal subject, My Queen. I fear it was the Princess’ call that overcame his good sense. He did disobey, but she herself claims he pleases her, and I am certain he has not dishonored us in his service to her.” The woman spoke this calmly, as she stared not at the Queen but me. Her eyes were a darker shade than Amras’ and though her face was composed and her voice steady, in her eyes was the love of a mother sick from fear for a child in mortal danger.

  The Queen did not respond for several minutes and then she spoke to me. “Is this true, Lexi? Has his service been honorable?”

  I glanced at Amras’ mother and smiled, while my eyes swam with tears at the heartache she tried so hard to conceal, and the hope she had that I would not fail her and thereby condemn her son. “Ma’am, I do not know how to tell you of his service, but may I show you?” My comment brought her forward in her seat and a slight frown to her eyes. “He has saved my life more than once, h
e has saved nearly all of us,” I told her softly, my eyes resting on his bent head.

  “Show me,” she commanded and I closed my eyes and dropped my shield. I reached for the memory of the day we battled the black fuzzy creatures, starting from the moment Kit had flown off to find Spot and ending with Amras’ horribly charred hands as he fell away from the wall, taking us both to the sand. I skipped ahead to the night we’d been attacked and Jace had been injured, showing her how Amras had assisted Cursed in teaching me to siphon off the pain with my healing and to use my shields more effectively. Then to the day I’d returned from Hell with Kit, and how it had been Amras’ courage and skill that had assisted me in building the shield around the funnel in me, a thing that could easily have torn us all apart. I fast forwarded again to last night… how I had gone to Amras for solace. I did not hold back, but showed them how well he had loved me. There was no shame in sharing with them the memory of my feelings and my fear at losing him. I hesitated for a second, taking a deep breath and opened my eyes as I turned to glance at Lord Tdem. His eyes met mine and I blinked, then moved forward to this morning and the dream I’d had. Letting them see that it was Amras’ hand reaching for me. And he and Cursed’s power calling me back from the nightmare where the Nixies held me under water, and would surely have killed me. I led them through awakening to find Cursed and Amras slumped next to me, forcing them to see how he had held me back from Cursed, risking himself to keep me from harm. I ended with the look in his eyes and the sweet trusting smile he had graced me with as I reached to heal him of the damage I had done to his chest while under the spell of the poison within me.

  I raised my shield and glanced at Lady Linwe, who had tears running down her cheeks, a look of such pride upon her beautiful face. Behind her Amras’ father looked stunned. I turned my head back to the Queen, who was now glancing at Amras with a look that made her face… radiant. “Would that all subjects could serve their sovereigns so well,” she whispered and raised her eyes to me. “Danu works in mysterious ways,” she offered softly. “Lord Amras, you are released from your engagement to the Princess Shaylee. And while you have disobeyed your Queen, I cannot think but that it was at the urging of the Goddess that you left us to go to Lexi’s side, for surely she had greater need of you than this Court. As it was the Goddess herself that created the very flute she called you forth with. Therefore it is my will, that you be released from your oath of Fealty to me, for the crime of having disobeyed your Queen,” she informed him, and around the room soft gasps were heard.