Queens of Wings & Storms

by Angela Sanders et al.

  He sighed, walking away briefly before returning with a wooden stool and sat down outside of the prison. He said nothing, just gave me his normal inquisitive stare, crossing his arms over his chest and leaning back.

  “Why are you here, Drake? To stare at me? To torture me?” I growled, tired of the game of chicken we were playing. Being near Drake was making me anxious and miss Xander. I knew it was a foolish notion, he wasn’t coming. Would never be coming. He didn’t want to see me.

  Perfect black eyebrows rose in question, “Aleria, I am here because Xander wants answers and Father will not let him anywhere near you right now.” His matter of fact tone had me bristling in surprise.

  “This is just a trick to get me to talk.” I muttered, burying my head back in my bent knees. Fresh tears sprung to my eyes, but I refused to let them fall.

  Drake made an exasperated sound, “No trick, little sister.” He held up his hands. “Why did you do this?” He asked, his tone taking on a low tone.

  “You wouldn’t understand.”

  He just sighed, throwing his arms up. “I am going to guess that they were threatening Sariah.”

  My head snapped towards him as he said the words. “What do you know of it?” I said through clenched teeth.

  The damned dragon just rubbed at his chin as he contemplated what he was going to say, “I am also going to guess that you have no idea what you were actually handing over to your wretched father and uncle. Am I right, Aleria? I usually am, you know.” His white teeth gleamed as he smiled at me, a wicked mirth in his eyes.

  “How…” I sputtered, “Did you know about my uncle?”

  “We found out two days ago that your family is involved in the Brotherhood. If you had bothered to tell us of your predicament, we would have been able to assist you, but instead you had to do things on your own and muck everything up.” He waved his hand and sighed in frustration. “Now Xander is worried out of his mind, furious that his mate betrayed his family and confused with trying to figure out who to be loyal to.”

  “Damn it, Drake! None of you understand!” I screamed, rising to my feet. “They will kill her and the only thing that I could do was exactly what I did.” My face was hot with fury, my hands clenched at my sides. This dragon had no idea of the life that I had been raised in, no idea of the monsters that lived in my house. I was doing this to protect my sister.

  “Then make me understand, Aleria.” He said, his tone softer this time. “Make Xander understand.” His blue eyes blazed into me as he uttered the words.

  “My family is pure evil,” I spat. “They are founding members of the so-called Brotherhood for a Pure Society.” The name caused a shiver to run down my spine. “I never understood why they hated the Dragonkyn so much. All they,” I pinned him with my gaze, “All you ever did was help our society. You were just trying to survive by coming here. What is so wrong with that?” I said in a broken plea.

  He nodded urging me to continue, “Sariah has always been sick, and it has always fallen to me to take care of her. My mother is too busy prancing around the house hosting parties or getting too drunk to care and my father and uncle are so involved in the Brotherhood they never notice anything.” I turned away, closing my eyes as the memories haunted me.

  “When I turned eighteen, I tried to go to college. I was surprised they even let me go.” A bitter laugh echoed in the cell. “Within six weeks Sariah had gotten so sick she was in the hospital. Her doctor reached out to me because he hadn’t been able to get a hold of my worthless parents to make a decision on treatment. I had to drop out and come home.”

  The tears of anger fell down my face and I quickly swept them away. “I was the one that made sure the house staff was paid and taken care of, I made sure food was ordered, menus prepared, schedules were done. Yet, they insisted that I didn’t do my part to pull my weight around the house.”

  Drake just sat in silent contemplation as he regarded me, waiting for me to finish. His jaw was set in a firm line as he barely contained his fury at my mention of Sariah’s treatment. “My filthy uncle and father demanded that I infiltrate your house,” I uttered softly, dropping my gaze to the floor, embarrassment overwhelming me.

  “And how were you supposed to do this?” He asked cautiously.

  “By seducing one of you. They didn’t care which. One, both, it didn’t matter as long as I could get what they desired. I was nothing more than a pawn in their ruthless game.” My voice began to shake.

  A low, menacing growl sounded from his throat, setting me on edge as I lifted my eyes to his. “The moment that I laid my eyes on Xander, I knew was a goner. I didn’t know what I was going to do. I had to protect Sariah, but I couldn’t betray him. Then my uncle messaged me and said he would harm Sariah if I didn’t get the box and the key and place it in the designated area as instructed for their contact to obtain.”

  I paused, swallowing the lump that formed in my throat. “Drake, they are going to kill her. I made some calls and did what I could to try and get her out, but I need to make sure she is safe. She is innocent in all of this. Please, whatever happens to me, can you please make sure that she is taken care of?”

  “Aleria, if you had just come to us and talked to your mate you would have realized that we were already planning to get you and Sariah both away from your awful family.” He exhaled deeply. “Sariah is safe and sound in one of my secure medical facilities as we speak. We extracted her yesterday. She is malnourished and dehydrated, but otherwise fine.”

  There was a hidden emotion in his words. Desperation. The way that he spoke Sariah’s name, with such intensity, his eyes sparkling and his hands clenched into fists. Something else had happened between Drake and Sariah that I couldn’t quite put my finger on.

  Sobs began pouring out of me and I collapsed to the floor. Relief washed over me at Drake’s words. Sariah was safe. Drake would be treating her now, they would care for her as I knew their honor would demand.

  Composing myself for a moment, I looked up at him through my wet eyelashes. “The key is hidden inside the black and white vase beneath the chariot painting in the hall outside Xander’s rooms.”

  Drake’s eyes widened and his mouth hung open as he blinked at me in shock, “You weren’t planning on giving them the key? Then what was in the box, why even place it there?”

  “To buy time. I had to play their game, make them think that they were getting the key. It also gave an opportunity for you to try and identify the traitor in your midst.”

  He closed his eyes as a multitude of expressions crossed over his face. More than once he grimaced as if in pain before his face went blank once again. “Shit. I need to go and talk to my father immediately.” He scrubbed his hands over his face before they tangled through his dark hair.

  “I had to have the box in the garden by 6am. Keep an eye out for your traitor. Keep my capture quiet if you hope to catch them.” I hoped that they would be able to get the person responsible to the betrayal. Even if I would be punished, I would make sure that the true evil ones would be held responsible and pay along with me.

  He nodded, brow furrowed as he rose to his feet. “Xander heard you little sister.” His eyes, so like my mate’s, bore into me, causing my heart rate to accelerate.

  “How?” I responded.

  He tapped his temple, a soft smirk tilting his lips. “Twin bond, comes in handy in these situations.” He tilted his chin towards the paper bag, forgotten in the middle of the cell. “Eat now, we will be back for you as soon as we can.” Drake stalked towards the stairs.

  He muttered something under his breath, which sounded suspiciously like, “Yes, for maker’s sake, I’ll tell her,” before turning back to me. “My idiot brother says that he is proud of his mate.”

  Shock washed over me as he shut the door behind him.

  Chapter 19

  Xander

  Gasping for air, I broke the connection I had with Drake and slammed back into my own body. Aleria’s words were still ringing
in my ears. Of course, my fierce little mate would have come up with a plan to not actually hand over the key. She still didn’t even know what it did, yet she stashed it away to keep it hidden from her traitorous uncle.

  Fists forming at my sides, I thought of the ways that I was going to enjoy his suffering. Dragonkyn justice would be swift and firm when it came to those that betrayed our people, and the Brotherhood was enemy number one. With the intelligence that Aleria had now provided us, we could start dismantling their evil organization piece by piece.

  Quickly mounting the stairs, I retrieved the key from the vase Aleria said it would be hidden inside and went off in search of my father and Klaas.

  Finding them talking in low whispers in father’s study, I didn’t bother knocking before I threw open the door, slamming the key upon the table before them. Anger and determination driving me, I would prove my mate worthy in their eyes.

  “Here is your proof. It wasn’t in the damn box the whole time. Aleria hid it, trying to spring a trap that would allow for time to rescue her sister and for us to catch a traitor in our house.” My lip curled in a scowl as I looked from my father to Klaas. Their foreheads rose in surprise as they stared at the key.

  “And how did you obtain this information, I wonder?” Father said, his mouth tilted in just a hint of a smirk.

  “He didn’t go near the dungeons, Pateros. I did.” Drake sauntered in, a smile on his smug face as he pulled out a chair, flipped it around and straddled it.

  “Of course, you did.” Klaas muttered. “Stupid damn twin connection.” He growled, narrowing his gaze at me. I responded with a smirk and a nonchalant shrug of my shoulders. Drake and I had played many pranks on the captain in our youth using the connection and it irked him to no end.

  “What is this about a traitor in our midst?” Father stroked his beard, his eyes blazing with inner fire as smoke swirled out of his nose. Our king had a harsh stance on traitors, which did not come about very often, but they were dealt with quickly and fiercely.

  “Someone should be trying to retrieve that box in the early hours of the morning,” Drake commented, “Did you remove the box, Klaas?”

  The captain snorted as he gave Drake a withering look, “Why on earth would I leave the box outside? That is just irresponsible. Do you think me a fool, young prince?”

  “Well, that makes it a bit more difficult to try and capture the traitor.” I mused, approaching the wet bar. Pulling out several glasses, I poured each of us a small amount of scotch to help ease the night. It was four in the morning, while we didn’t require much sleep, the stress of the evening was grating on us all. I nodded my head at Drake, who took a glass from my hand and passed one to my father and then another to Klaas before accepting one for himself. All three inclined their heads to me in appreciation as they sipped the amber liquid.

  “Do you suggest we put the box back?” Klaas said, sarcasm dripping from his tone. The captain did not usually show this much emotion, opting for the stoic, soldiery demeanor, but this evening had brought out his true nature.

  “Precisely.” Drake smirked.

  Klaas growled low in his throat, his eyes turning a deep shade of purple as the pupils elongated, his dragon close to the surface. “You black dragons are impossible.” He mumbled, retrieving the box from a shelf in the back of the room and slamming the door behind him.

  “Are we done with believing Aleria a traitor?” I asked. My eyes drifted around the room from my father to Drake. I knew Drake believed her innocence, but I didn’t know what my father was thinking about her actions. He was a fair and a just man, always listening to all of the sides of the story before making a determination.

  Clear blue eyes regarded me with just a hint of pity, his mouth set in a harsh line. “Alexandros, Drakon, I need to hear the entire story that she has shared with you about her family, her upbringing and this cockamamy plan she came up with.” He sat down heavily in his chair, resting his chin on a closed fist as Drake shared with him the story that she told him while held in the dungeon.

  “Son,” He addressed me. “I know that she is your mate and your feelings are biased. What is your dragon telling you?” Leaning forward slightly, he eyed me with rapt attention.

  Exhaling deeply, I thought carefully on his question before answering. “When her initial betrayal was exposed, my dragon was angry beyond measure. I knew she was hiding something, I thought that it was because of her family being involved in the Brotherhood.” I ran my fingers through my hair as I paced the floor in front of the desk.

  “While I flew, I went over her actions. She is scared Pateros, and with good reason. Aleria was sent here against her will to seduce and infiltrate our family to steal from us and they threatened the one thing in this world that she cares about the most to do it.” My voice rose as anger flooded me. “We shouldn’t be angry at her for defending herself and her sister, we should be punishing her so called family for putting her in this position.”

  My chest heaved and I knew my eyes were glowing with the force of my emotions. “Instead of betraying us,” I paused, my throat thick, “Of betraying me, she came up with a brilliant plan to save her sister and catch our traitor, all while not handing over the one thing that could kill us. She doesn’t even know what the key is, Pateros.”

  My father nodded in response, the smirk on his face telling me he agreed with my assessment and was going to rule in my favor. “I see your fierce little mate has surprised us all, Alexandros.” Pausing, deep in thought, he looked out the window as his eyes clouded with memories. “Your mother would love her fire and the passion with which you defend her.”

  Jaw clenched, I fought to control myself as the thought that Aleria and my mother would never meet flooded me. His words soothed my soul. He knew her better than anyone; if he told me she would love my mate, then she would. There were many things that I missed about my mother: her rich laughter, warm smile and comforting touch. I know that my mate would have loved her in return and I regretted that they would never get the opportunity.

  Looking up, I realized that my father was now standing in front of me as he laid a hand gently on my shoulder. “Son, your mother would be so proud of you both. You have become fine men, honorable and brave. We would expect nothing less from your mate.” He pulled me into his arms, holding me tightly as I squeezed my eyes shut tightly and fisted my hand against his back.

  “Thank you, Dad,” I said in a broken whisper.

  He released me, but held my biceps in a firm grip, his eyes becoming fierce again. “We are going to catch this traitorous bastard and teach him the meaning of Dragonkyn justice.” His palms slapped me. I nodded in agreement. “Now, son, go get your mate.”

  Not thinking twice, I rushed out the door and bolted down the stairs to the dungeon.

  I tore the door open and whirled down the steps, cursing the terrible conditions that my mate had been left in even if it was only for a couple of hours. The safe with the keys sat at the front of the room, secured with a biometric lock only accessible with one of the family or Klaas’ signature. I quickly pressed my hand to the pad and wrenched the keys from the box.

  “Drake, I told you, I have to stay here in order for you to catch the traitor. What are you doing getting the keys?” Her voice was weak and defeated. She didn’t even look up, just assumed that it was Drake down here visiting her again.

  “I am disappointed in you, little mate.” I sauntered over to the cell, placing the key in the lock and sliding the door open with an echoing slide. My eyes were smoldering as I looked her over from head to toe. Her pale form was huddled against the wall, knees drawn up to her chest with her cheek pressed against them, her auburn hair fell like a curtain over her face.

  “Xander,” Aleria breathed my name, climbing to her feet, leaning heavily on the wall as tears pooled in her eyes. “I-” A shudder ran through her body, “I’m so sorry, please forgive me. When I met you I knew that I could never betray you, I- “

  I cut her off, ea
ting up the distance between us in two large strides, taking her face between my hands and slamming my lips over hers. My tongue demanded entrance into her mouth, dominating her, pouring all of my emotions into her as I aligned my body with hers, her breasts pressed against my chest, her hips against mine as her legs lifted and wrapped around my waist. I groaned as I rocked into her softly.

  “I love you, my fierce little mate,” I breathed against her lips, thumbs stroking the soft skin of her cheeks.

  “I love you too, my fiery dragon mate.” She smiled back at me, light in her eyes.

  Epilogue

  Aleria

  Two Months Later

  Strong arms clenched around me as I shifted and tried to wiggle out from underneath his hold. “Xander, I need to get up.” I groaned, trying in vain to break his iron hold around my body.

  “No, I’m not letting you go.” He murmured sleepily, nuzzling his nose into my hair and shifting his hips to press his firm erection into my backside.

  “Don’t even start that, you know I am spending the day with Sariah going over wedding plans.” My protests were feeble as his teeth began to nibble on the delicate skin of my neck.

  “Drake can entertain her until then.” He growled as he licked a trail along my collarbone.

  “What is going on between those two? They argue constantly, I’ve never seen Drake so frustrated.” My brow furrowed in confusion. Sariah and Drake had spent a lot of time together since she had been rescued from my parent’s clutches. Drake had found an innovative treatment for her immune disease and Sariah was healthier than she had ever been before. There was something between the two of them, a fire, but Sariah was only sixteen years old so nothing could come of it, right?

  Xander chuckled, his chest rumbling against my back as he drew me closer into him. “Don’t think on it, little mate.”