Georgios staggered like he’d just been stabbed.
She must have seen that she’d hit her target, because she continued, “When Remy told me he’d given you a draught to make you sleep, I didn’t understand the circumstances, but I immediately disagreed with his actions. How couldn’t I? It’s a betrayal. However, if you act like a willful child, there is little else that can be done. And is there anything more willful than ignoring the fates’ call? Your leman is out there, stirring. She’s waiting for you, and the waiting isn’t pretty,” she chided, all without raising her voice. “Until Remy came along, I didn’t understand what was happening to me, and even now, I don’t really get it. For months, I’ve been on edge, and in my world, that’s a dangerous line. Vampires are brutal creatures, we strive to exert control in all things. The urge for more blood, the strange dreams, the hunger and the loss of self-control… it’s a nightmare for us. Perhaps it is for you, but you’re not a Vampire. You don’t feed from a living creature who you could maim every time you bite.
“So, I ask you, Georgios, what are you doing with your time away from her? Causing petty strife among people you don’t even care about.” She shook her head and under her breath, whispered, “Fool.”
Georgios’s nostrils flared. “You speak too soon, Mia. You know not of our ways.”
“I’m a quick learner,” she retorted. “I don’t have to know anything to know basic psychology. Your guilt trip isn’t getting you anywhere. It’s only going to cause more crap to fall on your head. So grow a pair, go and claim your leman, and get on with your life. If you want to figure out a way to punish your dad, be happy. That’s the best way to do anything.”
At her words, color streaked through Georgios’s eyes, letting the whole world know—well, save for Mia who didn’t recognize the sign—that he was on the brink of shifting. He shot Remy a glance. “May I leave?”
He heaved a breath and got to his feet. “Are you going to listen?” When he remained stubbornly silent, Remy growled. “If you cause more strife between the other factions, and news falls in the Queen’s ears, I will have to punish you. You do know that?”
Georgios, nostrils still flared wide and his control at risk, just asked again, “May I leave?”
“Eirik will tail you. He will ensure you stay away from the Goblins and Elven folk. Do you understand me, Georgios?” When no answer was forthcoming, he hissed out a breath. “Do you think I want to punish you?” he roared. Then, when more silence fell, Georgios just avoided his gaze, softly stated, “Get out of my sight.”
Sorrowful described his mood over the subsequent nights. His only joy was his mate’s presence in his cavern. But even she was quiet. As though she shared his hurt at Georgios’s behavior too, and mayhap she did. Mayhap she felt this acute pain as he did. Their bond was a strong one, and her legs showed no sign of the mark having truly formed—an indication of just how deep their ties ran.
Why shouldn’t she feel his pain?
Were the tides turned, he knew he’d feel the same for her. Knew, for example, that even though she hadn’t whispered a word on it, something had happened back in her youth, something that had brought the distress to her face when she’d talked of self-control and of maiming a creature every time she fed. It didn’t take a genius to figure out that she’d taken someone’s life in that way, and he hurt for her just as surely as she did for him.
After two nights of moping around, of barking more at Alexa than he’d done in centuries when she dared to disturb him at the cave, that morning, he decided ’twas time.
Gathering the pieces of his mating tear drop from the jacket he’d discarded nights afore, he placed the shards in a pouch and trudged over to the chaise longue where Mia had taken up residence.
The couch was long and wide, larger than some beds—even he could sleep on it comfortably. When he’d shown her their sleeping quarters, she’d refused to get between the silken sheets of the grandiose bed, however. Stating that she was going nowhere near it until she was in full working order, and they could share it together.
Why she thought that was a requirement for lying in a bed, he didn’t know, but he’d decided not to argue. Her sleeping on the chaise meant he could sleep on his treasure pile, so they’d both been relatively content for the interim. After all, she was his greatest treasure, so sleeping in his other form had made him feel like he was guarding her too. The beast did like to feel useful.
She was snoozing, as was her wont through the daylight hours. She’d find, once the mate bond was fixed into place, her hours of wakening would be extended. Not overly, she’d never be free to roam the world at midday. But a few hours before the setting sun would see her out and about with little to no irritation.
That wouldn’t be for a long time, however, and Dragons lived nocturnally anyway, so her sleeping schedule, as with every other leman, never presented a problem for any Dragon Shifter.
Still, having awoken and grown tired of being in the doldrums, he was ready and raring to go.
His scale was close to perfect. He could fly longer distances once more. It was a shame she couldn’t sit on a saddle, but such was life. He wanted this next chore done with, and he needed her there—saddle or no—to accomplish that.
After seeing she was still deeply asleep, he bathed in the hot springs in both forms. As his beast first, letting his temper burn off under the water by blowing fire that was immediately quenched. More bubbles than usual breached the surface, and when he arose as a man, he was stunned to see Mia, sitting on the floor, watching his display.
“How did you get there?” he demanded, ever hopeful. “Can you—?”
She shook her head before he could finish the question. Then, she surprised him by raising her arms, then kissing each bicep before stating, “I dragged myself over to see what you were doing. God, you were making a lot of noise.”
Sheepishly, he ducked his head. “A thousand pardons, leman. It was never my intention to wake you.”
“I didn’t ask for an apology,” she teased. “I was just wondering what you were up to. If I thought Dragons farted, I’d say you just dropped a few major ones.”
For a second, he was speechless. Then, out of his control, laughter roared free. She sat there, smirking at him, loaded with self-satisfaction at amusing him.
He shook his head at her and growled out, “Dragons do not fart. I was breathing fire into the water.”
“That got you far,” she told him cheerfully. “Don’t know if you’re aware of it, Remy, but you can’t set fire to water.”
“Less of the insolence, leman,” he retorted with a snort. “I was simply playing.”
“The water was bubbling like crazy.”
“It was boiling. The fire is quenched immediately but it still causes the hot springs to overheat.”
She cocked a brow. “Does that mean I can’t bathe yet?”
“It might be too hot still,” he said apologetically.
She shrugged. “Good thing I don’t stink, then.” Eying him like he was something bizarre in need of further study, she murmured, “You seem brighter tonight.”
“There is no point in wasting any more energy on that fool of a friend of mine.”
“He really hurt you, didn’t he?”
“I don’t want to punish him, but I have no choice if he causes more trouble with the other factions.”
“You don’t have to explain it to me, Remy. I’m a leader too, remember. Sometimes, even though it hurts, you have to think of the collective over the individual. Even if that individual is a really close friend.”
At her understanding, his shoulders slumped. “I wish he wasn’t so damned stubborn.”
“Takes one to know one,” she pointed out softly. When he glared at her, she simply said, “Obstinacy is part and parcel of ruling. We’d get nowhere if we didn’t stick to our guns.”
“You seem intent on insulting me this morning, then smoothing over troubled waters with compliments.”
“Eve
r heard of the phrase ‘you catch more flies with honey than vinegar?’”
He stared at her, utterly perplexed. “Ought I know it?”
“You do now,” she retorted. “Anyway, what’s tonight’s game plan?”
“There is no game to plan,” he replied, a confused frown on his brow. “What made you think we would be playing a game?”
She huffed out a breath. “Talk about taking me literally. I meant, what are we doing tonight? Or are we still waiting on Alexa for more news?”
The House business he’d been dealing with had been passed on to him via Alexa, while Eirik had been left to his nauseating chore of watching over Georgios.
“I have one more task for us to complete, before we can return to your realm.”
She perked up at that. “Truly?”
He nodded. “Aye, but our return depends upon when you are fully mobile once more.”
“Explain,” she demanded, folding her arms across her chest and staring at him mulishly.
“Each leman must be presented at court.”
“You want me to meet with your Queen?” Her eyes flared wide with concern.
“Aye. But you must be fully mobile to do so. Which is why, when your legs start to work once more, we must return here.”
“Okay, but why?”
“You have to curtsey. You saw how Alexa greeted you?” At her nod, he continued, “That is a requisite for being presented at court. And, to be presented, you must wear your ceremonial garb.”
“Ceremonial garb?” she parroted. “What the hell is that?”
“It’s a dress you must wear when we go to court,” he explained.
“And we’re going to pick that up tonight?”
He grimaced. “Kind of.”
“Why does that sound ominous?”
“Well, we must enter Goblin territory to do so. Only they can piece together the garb.”
“Don’t you think that’s weird? I figured you’d all rely on yourselves for shit like that.”
“Nay, do you not remember? We used the Goblin potion on Georgios.”
“That’s true. I forgot about that.”
“We’re interdependent,” he explained. “It’s better that than warfare among us.”
“So, Goblins make potions and apparently design clothes. What do the Elven and Dragons do?”
“Dragons are the guardians of rare books and tomes. Each House has a specialty.”
Her eyes widened. “What’s our specialty?”
He preened at her unprompted use of the word ‘our.’ “Healing. We have one of the largest collections of all the Houses and are one of the most important, as a result. My collection is just one part of the whole. Every den, of every family, within the House shields tomes for the good of the House.”
“That’s so cool.”
Her childlike wonder made him smile. “I’m glad you think so, dearling.”
“What do the Elven provide to this interdependent relationship?” she asked, her eyes drifting over the parts of his naked form that weren’t covered by the water. It was, he had to admit, terribly difficult not to preen at her evident interest in his nudity.
“Usually charms and such. They are more ancient than we are, so they are guardians of that history too. They are the keepers of ancient relics.”
“This is too awesome,” she confessed. “Can we see the ancient relics?”
He shook his head. “They keep them under lock and key. However, they loan them out to the Queen’s household and the Goblin court on a rotation.”
“Like a museum installation?”
He nodded. He wasn’t sure what an installation was, but he did know of this term, ‘museum.’
“If we’re flying tonight, does that mean your scale is almost good to go?”
“Aye, it does. So, once your ceremonial dress is underway, and I speak once more with Alexa, we can return to your realm.”
She clapped her hands. “That’s awesome.” Then, a thought struck her. “What happens if I get use of my legs back on Christmas Day?”
His grimace must have said it all. “I’m sorry, sweetling. It would be grossly disrespectful to Her Majesty not to attend her once the mate bond is fixed.”
“Would she know?” she started to wheedle.
He shot her a chiding look. “Think you I would deny you pleasure if it were not necessary? The instant the mark appears, you are one of hers. She senses us all.” He shivered. “It is a disquieting ability she has.”
“How the hell does she sense you?”
“Some kind of Accord between the Goblins, Elven, and Dragons aids her. It keeps us in check. We are the most destructive of the three races of this realm. We must be accounted for.”
“That’s why Georgios’ behavior is such a big deal, isn’t it?”
He nodded. “I fear if he doesn’t sort himself out soon, he’ll be afore the Queen before he can say ‘rebellion.’ She knows of his antics, but for the moment, she doesn’t call him out on it. I fear her patience will wane long before he ceases to behave like a nuisance.”
Her countenance grew somber. “He’ll change his mind. Surely the call of his leman will only increase.”
He pondered her a second then nodded. “Aye, I pray you’re right. I sensed your stirring was growing deeper. I’m certain he shall too.” He huffed out a breath. “Now, the water is ready for you, dearling. If you would like to cleanse yourself, we can start for the Goblin village across the range as soon as you’re ready.”
“Oh, Christ. My legs aren’t working yet. That means you have to dangle me in your claws, doesn’t it?” She grimaced. “Get any sneezes out of the way now.”
He rolled his eyes. “Yes, dearling. Anything you say.”
Eight
With a fear of heights, was it nauseating to be dragged across a strange realm at an elevation that, she felt sure, would make an astronaut’s stomach rebel?
Yes.
But what was worse was the embarrassment over having to be carried about like an oversized baby. Somehow, that outweighed the terror once they arrived, and made her long for the moment she could return home.
Even if it did mean soaring toward the atmosphere once more.
The only comfort came from the fact that the Goblins weren’t unaccustomed to seeing it.
Though a new leman hadn’t been brought to this realm for centuries, apparently, Goblins had long memories.
Remy was on the receiving end of congratulatory nods, and a few even trundled over to speak with him.
They didn’t speak English.
And they were small.
Like, crazy small.
They were the size of small lapdogs. She’d seen bigger Yorkshire Terriers than the Goblins, and boy, were they ugly.
Their faces were flat, and their features looked like they’d been slammed into a brick wall at birth to make everything squashed.
Their skin was green tinged, where human folk were pink. In places, it was also translucent. On the chest area, the flesh seemed to glow it was so see-through, and the faint pulsing of their hearts was nauseatingly visible.
They wore no clothes save for a loincloth on what she figured out were the male Goblins, and the females had a kind of sleeveless sheath that covered all their important bits. Not that it seemed like they had any breasts to cover. They looked to be as flat as the rest of them.
Aside from their outfits, that was the only way to tell the difference between gender. Unless they spoke. The males had gruff, deep voices. The females were high pitched.
When Remy landed at the township, they’d been bombarded by the creatures. They’d swarmed around his ankles, bleating something or other at him. He’d laughed, so she had to figure he knew their language as well as knowing the people too.
There was no animosity here, and Mia realized, and that was something that definitely needed protecting. Whether Remy’s old friend liked her for it or not, she would do what she could to stop Georgios from causing strife between th
e factions because the friendly tones to the conversation between the unusual creatures and her mate were worth conserving. Even if she had to clip Georgios around the head a few dozen times to achieve it.
The township was small, befitting the Goblins’ stature. Though it was perched on a cliff face, the streets were cobbled with shiny stones. And the high street, all low—to about her hip in height—was long and curvy.
The houses were like something from A Christmas Carol if Scrooge had lived in Montana back in the day. The Goblins seemed to inhabit tiny little log cabins, but the frontage belonged on a chocolate box. Mullioned windows sparkled in the moonlight. Curlicues and ornate wrought iron decorated the doors as well as the eaves of the roofs.
It was actually very charming, she had to admit. But, she had no idea what kind of fashion designer would be able to tend to her.
She’d heard of slimming down to fit into the wedding dress, but the wedding dress designer’s house?
Nuhuh.
Her lips curled at the thought, and Remy must have spotted it for he asked, “What brings that luminous smile to your lips, dearling?”
“Nothing,” she dismissed, curling up a little to anoint his cheek with a kiss. She was cuddled into his arms like a swaddled babe, and though it ought to have been mortifying, it was perfect for seeing overhead and looking at every aspect of the Goblin township she was in.
More than that, every step he took, he somehow managed not to jostle her. But he jostled himself, which had his scent strengthening and clouding the air around her. Which, in truth, made the whole exercise a rather delicious venture.
Once she came to see that the Goblins didn’t give a damn that a Dragon was carrying her, that they didn’t particularly give a damn about her period, were only interested in talking to her mate, she could relax and just watch the world go by all while being swaddled in Remy’s arms.
She’d never been a passive woman. Had never needed a man to do anything for her, and yet, here she was, utterly dependent on Remy to meander the various paths that were requisite in this realm. What had he said? That the Mother was clever? She couldn’t disagree. The only thing that surprised her was herself. She’d thought she’d be losing patience by now, but thus far, there’d been enough to keep her mind occupied, and whenever she did feel like snapping, Remy would either shift to avoid her temper—as though he knew when she was close to the edge—or he’d strip and head to the bath.
Coven: (A Steamy Dragon Shifter/Vampire Romance) (Dragon Bound Book 1) Page 9