by Bianca D'Arc
“Since you’re going to be my daughter, they will be your uncles. Part of your new family, sweetheart.” He reached down and stroked her head as her eyes widened. “Say hello to your Uncle Collin and Uncle Trey.”
“Hi, uncas,” she said shyly.
Everyone smiled at her cute phrasing. She was still so young. She didn’t speak perfectly yet, but that would come with time and patience.
Collin and Trey welcomed her warmly, crouching down to her level and letting her decide if she wanted to be touched or not. Lera was impressed with how they handled the youngster. She also felt the little tendrils of magic they gave her in greeting. She soaked them up, preening under their warm welcome.
“When you’re big enough we can all fly to visit the rest of the family,” Collin promised the gryphlet.
“More uncas look like you?” she asked him, seemingly fascinated by the idea that the twins were identical.
“More uncles,” Trey confirmed. “But they don’t look exactly like us. Close, but not exact. And you have aunties too. Some of our brothers are married.”
She seemed to consider that for a moment, then brushed it off without asking more.
“We’ve cleared the path from here to the royal chambers,” Collin reported.
“What do you say?” Hugh turned to Lera. “Time to make a move?”
“Sounds good,” Lera agreed.
The move to her chambers was accomplished with a minimum of fuss. The two dragons were left in the hallway, close by the door, standing guard while Mace and the twins performed a second search of the suite of rooms set aside for Lera’s personal use. Hugh stayed by her side, as did Miss. Now that they’d declared themselves a family, it seemed like the gryphlet wanted the reassurance of being near her new mama and papa. Lera didn’t mind. She needed the reassurance of Hugh and Miss as well.
Hugh settled the two females on a long, plush couch in the outer room while his brothers arranged the table and chairs they’d had moved into the large chamber. While Mace and the twins watched over her, Hugh took a little tour of the suite, sending a few pointed comments directly to her mind when he found the sunken bathtub in the marble bathing chamber and the four-poster bed in her bedroom.
Lera did her best not to blush.
When the door to the hallway opened, Lera was at first surprised. Then she saw who it was the dragons had admitted.
“Drake,” she greeted the handsome blond bard-turned-knight. “And Lady Krysta. Welcome.”
k1;“Milady, it is good to see you looking so well,” he replied gallantly. “We come bearing gifts,” Krysta announced, walking in beside him. She hefted a large wicker basket looped over one arm. Her mate held an even bigger one, along with a cloth bag slung over his shoulder that clinked as he walked. Lera could see the outlines of wine bottles inside it as he moved farther into the room.
They laid their burdens on the table, exchanging greetings with the twins and Mace, who helped them unpack the feast they’d brought. Lera went over, Miss accompanying her, and helped. She found they’d even brought some raw chicken tidbits for the gryphlet. Lera placed the small dish next to hers and Hugh’s, snagging a chair for Miss to perch on. This night—and for as long as she was small enough to fit—she would eat with them at the table. She was a member of the family now. She would be treated as any other daughter would. There would be a formal ceremony later, but in their hearts, they had already completed the bond. Miss was theirs and they were hers.
Hugh nodded his approval when he joined them. The others sat as soon as she and Hugh did, followed by the princes and then the others. For her part, Lera didn’t care to stand on ceremony, especially not here, in her personal chambers, but it was kind of nice that the others showed their respect in this small way. After all, these people were loyal to Draconia first. To have their respect meant something to the ruler of another land.
The meal was one of the nicest she had ever shared. They kept the conversation light for the most part, for which she was grateful. Too much had happened that day. She needed time to take it all in. Just an hour to eat without having to deal with anything too weighty.
When the last crumb had been consumed and they were all enjoying a final glass of the excellent wine Drake had brought, the discussion turned to more serious matters once again. Lera didn’t mind. She’d had her moment to recharge. She was ready to face the awful truth of traitors in her court once again.
“Our Jinn contacts turned up nothing, I’m sorry to say,” Drake reported as the conversation evolved. “We stopped in at the temple to see what progress had been made. Father Gregor will be sending a Brother Hubert to you after dinner, milady, to give a full report, but when we were there about three hours ago, Liam was working with an elder named Edon. Although they hadn’t come up with anything definitive yet, they said they were making good progress.”
“Any word from the emissary or Hyadror?” she asked.
“They returned to the temple late in the day with four gryphon recruits. They are getting things started with the new gryphons and choosing four priest volunteers to work with them. When they are finished there, I was asked to tell you that the emissary and Hyadror will come here for the night. He will assist with guarding you and the emissary sent word she wanted to meet with a few special gryphons who live in the palace, if that is agreeable to you.”
“That’s right. You said there were a few like Miss who lived here,” Hugh said, turning to her.
“I’m surprised they haven’t shown up already, but they are a little shy.”
Talk flowed around her for a bit while the men sorted out the guard schedule. One of the dragons would be outside her door at all times throughout the night. The suite was large enough that the knights and their lady could bed down in the outer chamber. The bedchamber had only one entrance, through the outer chamber where they were now, and no windows, having b kowsd deen designed for safety and placed on the interior of the palace structure.
A bell sounded inside the chamber a little while later and the warriors tensed immediately—meaning everyone in the room except her, and maybe Miss, though she seemed startled by the unfamiliar sound.
“It’s just the door chime,” Lera said, touching Hugh’s forearm. “Like in the temple,” she said in a lower voice, for his ears alone.
“It’s probably Brother Hubert,” Drake said, rising to go to the door. Mace rose at his side and joined him, just in case.
But it wasn’t a human at the door at all. Instead, it was two small gryphons. Two small gryphons that looked a lot like Miss. One was a speckled brown and the other had a more reddish coloration. Lera smiled, rising from her seat. Hugh accompanied her and she knew he worried for her safety.
“Don’t worry. I personally tested these children with the eternal flame when they came to me, and they are in and out of the temple all the time. Come, let me introduce you.”
Lera moved confidently forward with Hugh at her side and Miss trailing cautiously behind.
“I was wondering where you two had gone. I’m sorry I was away so long.” Lera crouched down to give the two juvenile gryphons hugs as they came up to her. Like Miss, they had cat faces. The only parts of the raptor that showed in their bodies were the wings. When she pulled back from the reassuring hugs, Lera turned to introduce them to Hugh.
“I want you to meet Prince Hugh of Draconia, who is my mate.” She looked around, but Miss had gone into hiding for the moment, no doubt shy of meeting others like herself. She’d come out once she realized these two were friendly. Or so Lera hoped.
“My name iss Pruelle,” said the spotted female. She was a few months older than the male but only a little larger. “Lera helped me pick it. It meanss ssteadfasst in the old tongue.”
“And I’m Gerald,” the reddish-brown male added. “The man who ssaved my life iss called Gerald, sso I honored him by taking hiss name. He visitss me every week.”
Hugh crouched to be more on their level. “I’m Hugh. It’s a pleasure to me
et you both. And I know someone else who would like to meet you.” He looked around theatrically. “Ah, there she is. She’s just a little younger than both of you, I would imagine. This is Miss.” He held out one arm and the shy striped kitten peeped around the couch, then ran to his side.
“Hi, Misss,” Gerald said eagerly.
“Hi,” she answered in a shy tone, ducking her head.
“I like your sstripess,” said Pruelle.
“Pretty sspotss,” Miss answered with a little more strength in her voice, daring to look at the other gryphon. “Bofe like me,” she went on in an unguarded moment when she realized the two small gryphons were shaped like she was.
“Yess,” Gerald answered very seriously.
Lera knew their cat faces had been the source of great difficulty in these young gryphons’ lives. She decided to steer the conversation away from such things for the moment. There would be time later to examine the sad parts of their backgrounds with each other.
“Have you two met the emissary yet?” Lera asked the palace gryphons.
Both youngsters nodded. “Sshe ssent uss to you,” Pruelle answered.
“Sshe iss on her way here now, but had to sstop to check a few thingss firsst, sshe ssaid,” Gerald added.
“Sshe iss wonderful,” Pruelle gushed.
“She was born of the sacred fire in front of my very eyes. She is very special,” Lera agreed.
The bell rang again and this time the door opened to show the emissary, waiting in the hall. The arched doorway was big enough for her to fit through, but with so many people and so much furniture already in the room, there was little space for her inside.
The dragons blocked the hallway on either side while the emissary sat upright in the open doorway. The three small gryphons scampered over to her and rubbed their faces lovingly on her forelegs while she fussed over them for a moment.
Lera had known Pru and Gerald longer than she’d known Miss and she’d never seen either one so open and loving with an adult gryphon. Not even Hyadror, who was something of a grandfather to the two little ones and a part-time teacher to the older cat-faced gryphons who lived in the palace.
“It’s good to see you again, emissary. I’m sorry there’s not much room in here for you to maneuver.”
“Do not fret, milady. Your safety must come first for the moment and you are safest here. I came to tell you of my progress today. Things are going well, I’m pleased to report.”
“That is indeed good news, emissary.”
“Please, call me Jalinar,” the emissary invited, surprising Lera. Gryphons were usually much more formal until they’d known someone a long time. Then again, Jalinar was an altogether different kind of gryphon.
“It would be my honor, Jalinar. And I would be honored if you would call me Lera.”
The giant cat bowed her head in acknowledgment. “Thank you, Lera.” The little ones scampered around her feet and the big gryphon indulged them, but Lera got the impression there was more on her mind.
“Will you stay here in the palace tonight, Jalinar?” Lera asked. “I think the children would benefit from your presence in their nest, now that they have met you.” She wanted so much for the children who had known such rejection from their kind to be around a fierce adult who looked like they did and could act as a very positive role model. It was clear Jalinar had a big heart that reached out to the babies in a motherly way these little ones had probably never experienced.
“I will nest with them tonight,” Jalinar decided.
“Pru, Gerald, why don’t you show Miss your nest and tidy up a bit for when Jalinar joins you?” The children looked at Lera and she could see their excitement in the twitching of their little tails.
Pru and Gerald shared the tower nest with the older cat-faced gryphons and there was plenty of room for Miss and Jalinar up there. With so many of them all in one place, Lera knew Miss would be safe. One of Lera’s biggest fears was that the child would be harmed just by being around Lera while the threat remained so strong.
“We’ll sshow Misss and make room,” Gerald promised eagerly.
Miss ran over to Lera for a quick hug and then to Hugh.
“Rest well, sweetheart. We’ll see you in the morning.” Hugh cuddled the baby for a moment, then released her and stood. “And if you want to talk to me in the night, do it this way.” Hugh shared the thought with Lera and the child. “You can k#82r and stoo always reach out to me with your mind. Anytime. Anyplace. Do you understand?”
“Yes, Hoo. Wuv you.”
“We love you too, sweetheart,” Hugh assured her as she walked back to the other gryphons near the door.
“Misss, you can sshare my favorite comforter. It’ss really ssoft,” Pru promised the smaller girl as they walked out the door. Lera was glad to see that Miss was positioned protectively between the two slightly larger children.
Sir Mace discretely followed behind the three small gryphons.
“I’ll just make sure they get where they’re going safely,” he explained with a small grin as he left the room a few paces behind the four-footed trio.
“When word reached the temple that you had arrested Ylianthror, Hyadror raced out with his fighting wing to take Ylianthror’s mate, Xerata, into custody. She went quietly and is now being held in a cell beneath the palace, separate from her mate. I visited her before I came up here and she showed no remorse for having allowed her newborn to be kicked out into the rain. In fact, she disowned the baby with vile words I will not repeat.” Jalinar’s tone showed her heavy distaste. “I believe she is probably involved in the plotting of her mate. I also believe she should be subjected to questioning by the flame, along with her mate.”
“I will need time to prepare for the ceremony,” Lera said, feeling her heart drop. She’d held some small hope that Miss’s mother would at least regret losing her child. No such luck.
“It will drain you, Lera,” Jalinar reminded her. “Ambassador Liam and the elders may be able to locate your cousin. I believe you should give them a chance to do their work first before you take the chance of depleting yourself by questioning the gryphons. They will keep in the dungeon for now.”
“How badly will questioning them deplete milady’s energy?” Hugh wanted to know. “Is it something I can assist with? Can’t my energy replace hers?”
“It could, but then you both would be at half-strength, my prince,” Jalinar said respectfully. “With the current level of threat, I do not think it wise to let either of you take that kind of chance.”
Hugh nodded, his expression grim. “You have a very good point, emissary.”
“Jalinar, please,” she said in a friendly tone.
“And I am Hugh. Thank you, Jalinar. We dragons don’t tend to be as formal as most gryphons we’ve met.” He flashed her one of his charming smiles and Lera found herself amused. Her Hugh could charm any female, it seemed. It didn’t matter what her species.
“I suppose then we’ll hope the ambassador and the priests can come up with something on Sendra. If they can’t find her direction in a couple of days, we’ll question the gryphons under flame.” Suddenly, Lera was exhausted. It had been a long day and even though it wasn’t that late, she wanted to sleep in her own bed and forget the craziness of her life for a little while.
With Hugh beside her, of course. That would be new, but oh-so-welcome. He made her feel safe. And loved. She reached for his hand as her shoulders began to slump the tiniest bit.
“I see you are fatigued.” Jalinar spoke quietly. “Fear not for the little ones. I will watch over them for you tonight.”
“You are a treasure, Jalinar,” Hugh replied for th keplwillem both. “We cannot thank you enough.”
“I will leave you for now. If you need me, simply send out your magic. I will know.” She bowed her head and retreated through the open door. Jenet the dragon shut it behind her, using her very flexible tail.
When Lera turned back to the table, she noted that Krysta, Drake and the tw
ins had begun clearing the dinner things.
“I’m sorry. I just feel so tired all of a sudden,” Lera said as Hugh put his arm around her waist and guided her toward the double doors that led to her bedchamber.
“Don’t worry,” Krysta replied with a grin. “You’ve had a busy couple of days. We’ll camp out here for tonight and keep watch. You rest easy. You’re safe for tonight. Just pop your head out the door if you need anything. One of us will be awake and on watch all night.”
“Thank you for your vigilance. And indulgence.” Lera smiled at the small group as Hugh opened her bedroom doors. He went inside to check things before he’d allow her in, even though the room had already been checked and rechecked earlier.
When he came back to her, still standing in the doorway, he took her breath away by picking her up and carrying her across the threshold. It was a tradition in her land for newly married couples, but from what she had heard, Draconians had no such custom.
“Where did you hear about carrying a bride across the threshold?” she teased as he kicked the door shut behind them. He didn’t let her go, only lifting her higher in his arms as he walked toward the four-poster bed.
“Am I doing it right?” he asked, instead of answering her question.
“Any righter and I’d swoon.”
He laughed as she stroked the dark hair at the base of his neck. She had her arms looped around his shoulders as he walked her across the room to the bed.
“We don’t want you swooning. Not yet, anyway.” The devilish twinkle in his eye made his naughty meaning clear.
As far as she was concerned, it had been too long since she had been in his arms. He had become necessary to her continued existence. Having him at her side all day had brought comfort like she had never known before. Having him in her bed at night was even more important. They were a couple now, their union blessed by the Lady. Neither of them would be complete without the other from now on. And rather than frighten her, that thought brought such total joy to her mind and heart that she knew it was utterly right. He was her life mate. Her lover. Her husband.