3013_ALLEGIANCE

by Laurie Roma

  “What?” Eden asked suspiciously. “That whole area is so dry and barren that it is utterly depressing. Why did you go there?”

  Ignoring the question, Amari said, “There is a valley that harbors life in the mountains. Few could make it far on foot, and it is partially hidden from view by sky, but it is a small paradise for any who find it.”

  “What in hellfire is a piece of paradise doing out there in desolate nowhere?”

  “I do not know. That is something I am leaving in your hands.”

  Not only by choice but necessity.

  The valley had flourished despite its harsh surroundings, but she hadn’t detected a trace of the magic that had to have helped create it. That was strange enough to spark her interest, but it wasn’t her puzzle to unravel. She’d sensed that much to be sure.

  It would be for Eden to figure out, though, the how and why of it all was still unclear.

  Amari had her own mysteries to solve, but so far, the answers she sought remained as elusive and distant as the stars in the night sky. When they were finally within her grasp, she hoped she’d finally have something worth holding on to.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  Flying over the top of the castle, Amari instinctively scanned below to ensure all was well. There was a landing area suitable for their large dragon forms on the roof, with an entrance that was hidden from view under a rock ceiling so only those who knew it was there would be able to find it. It was how she usually entered the castle, but she circled lower, aiming for the spacious terrace only a few floors above ground level.

  Before she touched down, she mentally checked on Rhys and found him circling in front of one of the four fireplaces in the great hall. Just to mess with him, she lit the fireplace on the opposite side of the hall and heard his growl of annoyance in her mind as he stalked toward the roaring flames. He circled once, twice, then curled up on the stone floor in front of the fireplace, obviously unamused by her jest. In response, he sent her the mental equivalent of ‘fuck off’ as he huffed out an irritated breath.

  Apparently, someone was in a mood and needed a nap.

  As an apology, Amari created a large cushion underneath him and tempered the flames in the hearth to a comfortable level. She sensed Rhys relax, and closing his eyes, he immediately went to sleep. A nap would have been nice, but she knew Eden would just continue to plague her if she didn’t join her posthaste.

  Shifting in midair, she landed lightly on two feet by the time she reached the ground. Clothing herself came naturally whenever she shifted forms, so she didn’t have to think about it. She went with her usual black pants and matching vest in the leather-like material that allowed fluidity of movement even as it protected her like armor. Not that the added protection was needed, but she could appreciate the purpose and style.

  A glassy pond was located in the center of the terrace that was fed by a fountain made of rock and stone. Four matching stone benches were placed like directional points of a compass around the pool, and flowers bursting with color lined the paved walkways that curved around artfully shaped plots of tender green grass.

  A massive, rectangular bed of vegetables was off to the right, while the other side was lined with delicate fruit trees near the wide staircase that led down to the ground level. It was a luxurious garden that would never spoil or fade, beautiful in appearance and splendid in function.

  And a complete waste of space that was of no use to the sisters.

  Amari sensed rather than saw movement coming from near the trees as she started down the path toward the castle. Eden’s firebird friend, Nym, was resting on the solid perch they had created for him since his large body was too heavy to fit on the branches. Nym was from a benevolent race of beings called the Nuraya. Not much was known of the race beyond they were friendly and complex creatures who loved to build elaborate structures with wood and stone.

  Not long ago, Amari’s family had moved the race from their home world to a new, suitable planet. The star that heated their former world had been dying, and the race would not have survived when their sun exploded. Moving an entire species wasn’t a decision any of them took lightly, but the Nuraya were important and had to be saved.

  When Amari and Eden had left, their mother and fathers had stayed with the Nuraya, making sure they would survive on their new world. Nym had become good friends with Eden, and he’d made the choice to travel with her instead of staying on his new world. He could communicate telepathically with Eden, but he had not deigned to speak to Amari yet.

  Nym was a regal black bird with red streaks along his body and red, orange and white wings and tail. His piercing eyes locked on her and he bowed his head in greeting, then turned back to watch the world beyond the castle walls like the sharp-eyed, feathered sentry he was.

  Normally, the entrance to the throne room was blocked off by a small gate, that when closed, blended into the rest of the castle walls, so no one even knew it was there. Now, the entryway stood open in welcome, and Amari strode in to see her sister sitting on one of the thrones.

  Eden’s eyes were closed, and it looked like she was sleeping, but her exaggerated snoring sounds were obviously fake. If that was her not-so-subtle way of saying Amari had taken too long to return, it was lacking in execution. As she crossed the chamber, she briefly considered giving her sister a swift kick to wipe that contented expression off her face, though, she ultimately rejected the notion.

  It just seemed far too predictable.

  Though their personalities were as different as night and day, Amari and Eden were almost physically identical. Many thought the sisters were twins, however, there were more than two hundred years between them in age. Their race had been gifted with appealing features, but their bronzed skin was a shade or two darker than most Dragon Warriors.

  Amari left her long, black hair cascading down her back in wild abandon, while Eden had secured hers in a long braid. Their coloring and the black swirls in their glowing gold eyes were the only indicators that their mother had once been Tarin, the larger amount of black in Amari’s eyes signifying she was the firstborn.

  Their brothers, Aragon and Tyrus, had been born around half a century ago, making them the youngest of the siblings. The twins barely had a swirl in their gold eyes, but Eden often claimed they carried the black marks on their souls instead. There might have been some truth to that considering how much trouble those two caused, but no matter the distance between them, the four of them had a bond that was strong and true.

  That did not mean Amari didn’t want to kick their asses occasionally.

  She took a seat next to Eden, then grimaced at the feel of the cold, hard metal. The two black thrones were up on a small dais at the far end of the large room, and they were surrounded by black stone walls with the opening to the terrace in front of them.

  It was a stark, gloomy chamber that didn’t appeal at all.

  Eden’s eyes opened, and she winced when she got a good look at Amari. “Wow, you look like crap.”

  “Such glowing praise.”

  Perhaps she should have kicked her sister, after all.

  The same dark gold tattoos that covered Amari’s torso and arms shimmered on her sister’s skin, and Eden wore a similar black vest and pants, only hers changed to a deep burnished copper color whenever she moved. They both favored black boots that rose to just below their knees, though, Eden had added metal buckles that ran the length of hers. She said it was a fashion statement, whatever that meant. It was safe to say that Eden carried a blade in one of her boots as Amari did, but it was more out of habit rather than actual need.

  Amari also wore a dagger strapped to her right thigh, held in place by loops she had created specifically for that particular weapon. The dagger had been a gift from the Regos and Tors for a human holiday they had all recently celebrated at Alexis’ urging. It was made of a very rare, bronze-hued metal found within the heart of the mountains on Tartarus. Natural spirals of glittering black minerals were shot through it, an
d she liked knowing those minerals were what the humans put into their vessels to make them more powerful.

  An intricate black dragon spiraled around the hilt, making it the perfect piece for her. She loved it even more because it had been made with thought and care from people that knew she collected weapons, among other things. To show her appreciation, she wore it whenever she was in her natural form in case she ran into one of them.

  Eden wore an intricate arm cuff made of the same material. The cuff had also been a gift, and the small dragon spiraled around the muscular bicep of her left arm. It almost looked as if it was a living, breathing creature that had curled there to guard her back.

  “Actually, that is a magnificent idea.”

  “I have many magnificent ideas. Which are you referring to?”

  “My arm cuff.” Eden glanced down at it. “With a little blood magic...” With a frown, she looked up and met Amari’s gaze again. “And you have already thought of that. I find that extremely annoying.”

  “Of course, you do. Are you aggravated that I linked my dagger to me, so it will return when I call, or are you annoyed because you did not think to do the same for your gift?”

  “Both.”

  “Apparently, you have forgotten that I have done the same with all of my blades.”

  Eden’s brow raised. “And you might recall that I have not used blood magic as often as you over the years.” Her lips curved. “I am but a youngling, while you are...ancient.”

  “A youngling at two hundred?” Amari scoffed. “I can only hope you will grow out of all of your aggravating traits once you reach true maturity.”

  “Says the one turning four hundred and fifty-one cycles in a few risings,” Eden shot back as she pulled the cuff off of her arm and stared down at it with a frown. “I cannot believe I did not think of this sooner.”

  “If you are spelling the cuff, do I really need to be here for this?”

  “Quiet, old one. We still have things to discuss after I am finished.”

  Eden didn’t bother rolling her eyes at Amari’s muttered curses, then she pricked the pad of her thumb with one of her fangs and did what she should have days ago. She held her thumb against the cuff, her eyes focused with concentration. There was a long minute of silence as she bound the object to her using blood magic. It was something all Dragon Warriors were capable of, but it took an intense focus that was different than wielding their other magic, so few had learned.

  When Eden was finished, she held the cuff up. It expanded, stretching on its own. The elongated dragon slithered until it wound itself back in place around her upper arm, the head facing toward her back as if it were guarding her. “Done.”

  “Now my life is complete.”

  “I wonder...is your foul mood due to an aging crisis?” Eden grinned in response to Amari’s irritated growl. “It was a simple query.”

  Trying to ignore her sister, Amari shifted on the chair again as she tried to find a comfortable position. Formal areas might look nice, but they were so bloody uncomfortable. “Why in the universe did you want to meet in this room?”

  Eden shrugged. “Since we have not been here since the making, I thought we should check it out. However, my ass is beginning to disagree.”

  Suddenly, both chairs were curved at the back, along with a malleable material at the seat that was as soft as a cloud. An overstuffed footrest appeared in front of each throne, and they crossed their ankles as their feet rested on the cushions.

  Eden let out a contented sigh as her glowing eyes lit with a hint of mischief. “I felt the need for you to share my pain before I changed anything in this room. As you always say, it is the only way we truly learn from our mistakes.”

  “Hmm,” was Amari’s only response.

  She glanced toward the stark walls and gave into the impulse to change a few things herself. Carvings of dragons, stars, and planets instantly engraved themselves into the smooth walls. She moved the pieces around until she was satisfied with their placement, then raised them so they stood out from the wall instead of sinking into the stone.

  “Frosty,” Eden praised, then glanced up at the ceiling and created a gold and crystal chandelier in the center that glittered like starlight. “Now, this room is not so...”

  “Depressing? It is much better, but we still have no use for a throne room.”

  “Rooms are like clothing, they are good to have around when needed.”

  “That makes no sense, whatsoever.”

  “It does to me. And you are the one who created all of that business out on the terrace, so I do not want another one of your lectures.”

  Amari had felt compelled to create that space, but she didn’t want to explain that to her sister. “Even though we will not be staying here long, the terrace and the rest of the castle are for whoever lives here when we leave. The garden will continue to provide for them, and they will not have to bother us.”

  “It was very thoughtful of you.”

  “Oh, gods. Stop,” Amari groaned.

  “It has warmed my heart to witness you open yours to the people here.”

  “Cease your prattle, youngling.”

  Eden laughed. “About the castle...do you have someone in mind to take over in our absence?”

  “If we are going to be visiting, we need to like whoever is living here. Else, I may be forced to kill them.” Amari paused before blurting out, “I think it should be Darius.”

  “Hmm, our nephew would be a good choice. We should keep it in the family, and...well, there is something sad about him, aye?”

  “He seems unsettled.”

  Born of a female held in their fathers’ harem, Darius Rego was older than his brothers. Still, he had never held the circumstances of his birth against Malik, nor had he challenged to become lord of Rego Palace. Amari thought there was loyalty in that, and in the way Darius protected Malik and the rest of their brothers. He also held a quiet nobility that made him a good leader, if only he wanted to lead.

  “I feel sadness from him,” Eden insisted. “It is not always strong, but it is there.”

  Amari clasped her hands, setting them on her stomach. “I think the journey to the Ministry of Nations meeting will be good for him. The Tarin are used to living in a constant state of vigilance, training for battle, so he and the other warriors might be having a difficult time adjusting.”

  “Well, they must get with the times.”

  “What in hellfire does that mean? You have been spending far too much time with Alexis. I can barely understand you half the time.”

  “I have learned a great deal of slang from Alexis, since she was human, though, I learned that particular phrase from Lazio. You know, he likes words from the human language, as do I. We bond over slang,” Eden added with a chuckle. “And who was it that taught me the veritable and varied uses of ‘fuck?’”

  Amari had to concede to that. “I do enjoy that word.”

  “It would be nice to actually participate in the activity. I suppose we have to wait.” Eden let out a heavy sigh. “It would be nice to know where our mates are, but I presume our lives would never be that simple.”

  “Do not bother asking for information. I would tell you if I knew anything more.”

  “I wish your ability to read energy was slightly more specific.”

  “No more than I,” Amari said dryly.

  Enough small talk, Eden thought as she reached out and connected with Malik Rego through their blood bond. “I am bringing her over soon. Are you almost ready?” She felt him jerk in surprise, then he let out an irritated growl that made her want to smile. Because she was very fond of her nephew-of-sorts, she added, “Oh, and hello.”

  “Hellfire, you know I hate it when you do that. Only my consort should be inside my head. It freaks me out when you just jump in,” the Tarin male growled.

  “Freaking you out is one of my small pleasures in life.”

  “I know,” Malik grumbled. “We were delayed. The others took care o
f the preparations, and we’re heading to the clearing now. Did you know that Amari sent a group of females asking for sanctuary to the palace? They arrived extremely freaked out, and it took us longer to get them settled in because she just transported them over and didn’t come with.”

  “Oh.” That made Eden frown.

  “Yeah. Does Amari know we’re having a party for her?”

  “It would not be a surprise if she did.”

  He let out a mental groan. “Great. She’s going to kill us all.”

  “All will be well,” she assured before breaking the connection. Then, she realized she might have been a little hasty with her assessment as she shot a furtive glance toward her sister. Fortunately, she didn’t see anger, but the tired expression on Amari’s face concerned Eden more than her sister’s rage would have. Well, that wasn’t completely truth. She had perfected her transporting skills by fleeing Amari’s rage a long time ago.

  “It is not your transporting skills I question. And did you truly think you could hide it from me?” Amari accused darkly.

  “I have no idea what you mean.” Eden blinked, trying to look innocent, but she knew she failed miserably. She held her hands up in a conciliatory gesture. “Do not hit me.”

  “I really should, or I could just shove you into a volcano.”

  Eden wasn’t at all bothered by the threat. She did have those transporting skills, after all. “You do enjoy getting rid of bodies that way, but there is no need for violence. I do not understand why you are so irritated.”

  “You have arranged a birthday celebration for me when you knew that I would not want it.”

  “I did—so.”

  “This sort of betrayal deserves the harshest punishment that I can devise.”

  “Betrayal? A party is a betrayal? Even for you, that is a stretch.” Smiling cheerfully, Eden stood up and held out her hands, wiggling her fingers in invitation. “I vow this will not hurt. It will be fun.” When Amari remained silent, Eden huffed out a breath. “Quit being such a hardass. I just knew you were going to be difficult. This is what you get for prying into private discussions.”