by H. C. Brown
Her stomach cramped. Clearly, with a damaged wing, the Nightdragon had lost maneuverability, and his ability to hover. She held her breath as the black dragon soared and rolled his massive body, lashing out at the brown dragon with lethal talons. The pair clashed together. Flames shot from the Nightdragon’s nose, scorching his opponent’s skin in a stench of burning flesh. In retaliation, the brown dragon clamped its massive maw around the Nightdragon’s neck. She gulped the tainted air. The angry roar from Lumos made her blood run cold. The Nightdragon drove his sharp talons into the brown dragon’s chest, slicing deep. Blood fell in a torrent of crimson rain, staining the rooftops.
Below the balcony, the crowd in the square began to chant, “Lumos, Lumos.”
Tears stung her eyes and in desperation, she reached out her mind. “I love you, Lumos.”
Locked in a death grip, the two dragons spun once, twice, then fell toward the gully, tumbling like leaves in a storm. A mighty crash shook the city followed by a mushroom cloud of dust and debris.
Silence.
The crowd stopped chanting and stood facing the mountain, their faces splattered with blood. She sobbed, unable to control the flow of tears. As long minutes passed, she slumped to her knees. “Please, Cymbeline, I beg you—save Lumos.”
“There… Look.” A single voice rose from the crowd.
Grief-stricken, she staggered to her feet. Through a blur of tears, she stared toward the mountains. A shadow of a dragon loomed in the smoke, backlit by the red glow of the sinking sun. With a triumphant roar, the Nightdragon speared into the daylight. The crowd went wild and she raised her fist in victory. “Yes!”
“I can take it from here. You fought well, dragon.” Lumos burst forth into the fading sunlight and stretched out his wings. In Fae form, he drifted toward the crowd, feet first, with arms outstretched against his wings. Magyck given freely by the crowd hummed into his body, replenishing both him and his dragon. His attention went to the balcony, taking in Thalia’s tear-stained cheeks and radiant smile. He wanted to go to her, claim her, and ride the wave of delight of her moonfire. The mating heat combined with the overpowering love of his sweet butterfly was indeed an intoxicating mix.
He pushed down his need and continued his descent into the crowd. As custom dictated, he must address his people first. His father would greet him to give him the sacred seal and present him with a gold armband, denoting his new position as King of the Dragonfae. The gods would increase his powers ten-fold. Indeed, already the warm, exhilarating glow of Cymbeline’s magyck caressed his aching body. He swore, berating himself for not explaining this procedure to Thalia. He reached out, seeking their bond, only to come up against a solid barrier. He frowned.
Gods, she blocks her mind from me. What has happened?
Folding his wings, he landed in a sea of Faeries. All offered congratulations and the chant broke out in earnest. The crowd parted and Lumos saw the beaming face of his father. The king descended the palace steps and raised his hands for quiet. He met his father with a bow. “Father, I have won the challenge, and stand before my king to receive my reward.”
Luka slipped off his armband, and with a boyish grin, presented the decorative band to him. “The band of office.” He turned to receive a gold seal from a guard, which he handed to him. “The Royal Seal. All hail Lumos King of the Dragonfae.”
He opened his mouth to speak to his father, but the next second Lucinda jumped into his arms. Only reflex action drew his arms around her. Her small hands went around his neck and her wet lips clamped down on his own. The crowd closed in around them, trapping them together. A ripple of anger, tinged with disgust, hit him. How dare Lucinda touch him? He had made his position quite clear to the Faerie and she knew full well he belonged to Thalia. What game was this? He pulled his head back and glared at her in disgust.
“What do you think you are doing?” He glanced up at the balcony to see Thalia’s shocked expression and the tears glistening on his love’s cheeks. His heart clenched at the sight of his true mate turning away from him. I must get to her and explain.
“I am celebrating your victory.” Lucinda gave him a pout. “Come now, Lumos, you cannot possibly intend to breed with that Nomag. Now you have had your fun with the little witch, come back to me. Make a blood-born your mate.” She pressed harder against him rubbing her breasts across his chest. “Let Thalia leave, she does not belong here.”
Using a supreme effort not to break her arms, he prized the Faerie’s fingers from his neck, and set her away from him and narrowed his gaze. “What have you done?”
“Done? Whatever do you mean?”
“You planned this … this embrace to upset Thalia, I am sure of it?” Lumos ground his teeth. “Do you think I would ever want you again? I belong to Thalia, and even if she died, I would rather follow her through the veil by my own hand, than take you as my mate. You are vicious, and self-centered. I know you betrayed me to the Magus and I suggest you leave this realm, never to return.” He turned away and pushed through the crowd.
Thalia swiped at the tears streaming down her cheeks. What Lucinda had said was true, after all. Instead of flying straight to her side, Lumos had dropped into the crowd to greet Lucinda. She had witnessed Lumos kiss the Faerie and now the pain in her heart was too much to bear. Swaying with distress, she bent to pick up Brew. “We have to leave this place, and if anyone tries to stop us, I will kill them.” Throwing open the door, she brushed past the guard. “I am going down to Lumos.”
“My queen.” The guard inclined his head.
My queen? The man has lost his wits. She ran along the corridor, down the steps, and through the hall to the courtyard. The palace appeared empty. It would seem all had gathered in the city square to welcome Lumos. She slipped through the stable doors and ran between the stalls, searching for Albert. She started at the sight of Axim leading a pure white stallion from a stall.
“Well, hello, Thalia.” Axim gave her a wide grin. “Are you trying to get away from the noise, too?”
She caught sight of Albert and edged her way toward his stall. “Yes, I am not used to all this madness. I am going for a ride to get away for a while.”
“Then allow me to saddle him for you.” Axim waved a hand and Albert stood ready to depart. “Do you plan to ride in that gown?”
With a sigh, she glanced down at the beautiful gossamer gown. “There was no time to change.”
“May I?” Axim grinned. “Oh yes … my dragon skin suits you very well.” He turned and lifted her onto Albert’s back. “May I suggest a ride to Draconia? Pyro sent a message. He has arrived with the men you wish to punish. I will send word to Lumos to collect you there.”
The white dragon-skin tunic and pants clung to her, warm and soft against her flesh. I should be wearing the Nightdragon’s skin. A lump formed in her throat. She swallowed hard and tried to focus on what Axim was saying. She met his amused gaze and her face grew hot. Goddess, he had the same expressive eyes as Lumos, the same black, silken hair. Tears threatened and she blinked them away. “I do not wish to see Lumos.”
“Well, then, perhaps we should forgo the Gate and go directly to my palace.” Axim drew a circle of light. “This will take us directly to my stables.”
She squeezed her knees and urged Albert through the circle. They stepped into a bright stable. Whitewashed walls presented a stark contrast to the dim interior of the one at Drakka. Biting back the pain of losing Lumos, she turned to Axim.
“Lumos has told me a little about you. I know you are king of Draconia. Do you have a mate?”
“No, the gods have not blessed me yet.” Axim gave his horse to a groom and turned to lift her down from Albert. “Does that cat go everywhere with you?”
Forcing a smile, she dropped Brew to the ground. “Aye, he does, but, for now, he will be happy to stay in the stable with Albert.”
“Then come, and I will show you my palace.”
With a heavy heart, she followed Axim from the stables, and out
into the late afternoon sunlight. Before her in magnificent glory stood a palace made entirely of white crystal. Transfixed by the beauty of the building, she gaped in wonder.
“It is impressive, do not you think?” Axim touched her arm. “It has the most beautiful gardens and I have a waterfall in the central courtyard.” He turned and looked down at her with compassion. “You have been crying. Tell me what Lumos has done to make you so sad.”
Meeting Axim’s gaze, she cleared her throat. How could she tell him that Lumos had broken her heart, lied to her, used her?—the Fae was his brother.
She forced a smile. “Oh … it is nothing. I made a dreadful mistake, is all.”
“A mistake?” Axim led her up a flight of stairs. “What kind of mistake?”
She moved up the steps and out into a wide passageway. She caught her breath at the beauty. Flowers of every type and color spilled from window boxes surrounding a circular room. A wide balcony overlooked the ocean, blue and sparkling against a clear sky. Axim gave her a warm smile and indicated for her to sit on a large sofa covered in dragon skin. The Fae moved toward a table and paused, watching her intently before pouring two goblets of wine from a crystal decanter. She decided to tell him the truth. “Lumos has forsaken me for Lucinda.”
“Lucinda?” Axim handed her a goblet and sat down beside her. “I doubt he can change the goddess’s mind. Indeed, why would he want to? He loves you, Thalia. You are his chosen mate.”
Anger grew inside her like a black monster and her hair tingled with magyck. “Then perhaps Cymbeline needs to inform Lumos of that fact. He holds no love for me. Not five minutes ago, I saw him kiss Lucinda, and he knew I watched from the balcony at his insistence. Before that happened, the stupid Faerie came and told me Lumos wished me to leave Drakka. Lucinda insisted he would go straight to her after the challenge—and he did.” She took a long drink of wine. “Lucinda said Lumos used me and my magyck to get back to Drakka.” With a snort, she pushed to her feet. “Males are all the same—they use, and abuse.”
“By the gods, you are beautiful when you are angry.” Axim raised his glass to her. “I must say you have the most delightful wings.”
“Wings?” She stared over her shoulder. “I have wings?”
“Look for yourself.” Axim waved a hand and a tall mirror appeared. “Do you doubt you belong to Lumos now?”
She gawked at the mirror with surprise. “You must have very powerful magyck to produce a mirror from thin air.”
“As king, the goddess enhances our powers. Lumos will be the same now.” Axim waved a hand and a plate of fruit and cheese appeared on the table. “We are completely self-sufficient. Now, do gaze upon your wings, my dear, then I insist you eat something. I can tell you are famished.”
Gold surrounded her from the tips of her wings to the feathery tails. She took in every detail, every vein. Her wings were gold replicas of Lumos’s right down to the crescent moon, although the black moon on hers depicted the color of the Nightdragon. With a thought, she folded them and watched them vanish into her back, only to bring them out again. Lumos had told the truth—using wings had become as easy as blinking. She folded them again and sat beside Axim on the sofa.
“I am sure Lumos has a good explanation for kissing Lucinda.” Axim frowned. “To be perfectly honest, once a Dragonfae is bonded, kissing another female would be like kissing a dead fish—most unpleasant. Lumos has bonded with you or he would not have warned me off.” He chuckled. “We are very close and yet he would kill me in an instant for daring to speak to you. My guess is this little charade is Lucinda’s doing.” He sipped his drink. “I would imagine Lumos will be here shortly, beating his chest and threatening to spill my blood across Draconia.”
* * * *
Lumos moved beside his father and they walked through the crowd to the palace steps. “You were correct. The Magus had a hand in plotting my downfall.”
“Aye, but he only stepped into Drakka for a few minutes. As soon as he noticed my guards, he vanished back through the Gate. A simple spell will keep him from entering Drakka for a while.” Luka smiled. “Have no fear—I will remain here while you attend to your mate. I must confess your mother is anxious to make our home at the Summer Palace. However, she insists working with Thalia is the only way to solve the problem of the Magus’s potion. I would have sent her to Thalia today, but with the Magus in Drakka, I could not risk letting her out of my sight. We have both agreed to stay our departure until an antidote for the Magus’s potion is discovered.”
“That could take years.” Lumos shook his head. “The minds of the dragons I fought had turned to the dark side. I fear for those who followed the Magus to Fullmount to seek more of the bastard’s potion.”
“They are safe for the time being.” Lukas placed a hand on his shoulder and squeezed. “While the Magus had his attention on you and Thalia, Axim and his men recovered all but one of the poisoned Dragonfae males from Fullmount. They were all compelled by the potion and so will remain in a deep sleep until we can solve this problem.” He slapped Lumos on the back. “All is well. Go to your mate.”
He took the stairs to his chamber at a run. On the air, he caught Thalia’s scent. His mate had passed this way not long ago. A strange fear curled in his belly and he reached out again for his sweet butterfly, but again a strong barrier met his mind. A wave of panic echoed through him from the Nightdragon. A thundering pulse rang in his ears. Instinct told him Thalia had fled the palace. Gods, his sweet mate had witnessed Lucinda’s kiss and he feared the trust he had spent so long cultivating in Thalia had shattered to dust. Chest heaving, he stopped before the open door to his chambers, and addressed the guard. “Has the queen left my chambers?”
“Aye, my king, the queen informed me, she was going to see you. She took the cat with her.”
Damn. Lumos ran back through the palace. People had started to mill into the Great Hall for the weeklong celebrations. With a gasp of despair, he opened his wings, and flew down the stairs. “Dragon, where is our mate?”
“I cannot mindspeak with her. She refuses to lower her barrier.”
He flew out into the courtyard and headed toward the stables. Could she leave him? Where would she go? Gods, what am I to do? Thalia would not leave without Albert. He folded his wings and marched into the stables. Fear of losing her tore at his heart. Panic gripped him as he glanced along the row of horses, seeking Albert’s intelligent head.
“Dragon, contact Brew. He is with her. We must hope the cat can give us some information.”
Without warning, the dragon’s anger hit him like a sledgehammer. His legs grew weak. He reached the stable door and grasped the wall for purchase. The Nightdragon shimmered on the surface, trying to break through. “Calm yourself. What did the cat say?”
“Our mate is with Axim—she wears his dragon skin.”
Clutching at his chest, he fought for breath. No blow could hurt more than this betrayal. He drew a circle of light to Draconia. With a roar of fury, he stepped directly into Axim’s solar.
Chapter Six
Thalia placed the goblet of wine on the table. She clenched her hands in her lap to stop them shaking. The Dragonfae male beside her had an air of danger about him. A bad boy, without doubt. How could she have been so reckless as to leave with him? The air on the other side of the room shimmered and tendrils of crackling magyck announced the arrival of Lumos. His green gaze drifted over her for a few intense seconds, then fixed with menace on Axim. Blue magyck crackled off him, sending sparks flying from his massive body. His presence filled the room with an unspoken challenge. He radiated male dominance, yet his unique scent called to her. You are magnificent. Her heart swelled and her pussy wept at the sight of him.
She swallowed hard. Lady’s blood, Lumos’s eyes had turned black with rage and his body shook. Her mate had directed his entire focus on Axim. She opened her mouth to say something, but the anger on Lumos’s face stopped the words falling from her lips. Beside her, Axim leaped to his f
eet.
“Hold, Lumos.” Axim moved away from the sofa, his hands held up as if quieting a raging stallion. “This is not what it seems.”
“You dare to take my queen and insult me by dressing her in your dragon skin? What game is this, Axim?” Lumos moved forward menacingly. “If you intend to fight me for her, trust me, you will lose everything.”
“Thalia came here by her own free will, wounded by your attention to Lucinda.” Axim moved away from her. “What true mate kisses another in front of the entire population of Drakka? You have caused her great distress, and I merely offered sanctuary so she may gather herself. I have no designs on your mate. My dragon skin was given for the purpose of traveling—nothing more.” Axim balled his hands into fists, and rested them on his waist. “It is you who should offer an explanation, nay get down on your knees and beg your mate’s forgiveness—do you have a reason for treating your mate in such an abominable fashion?”
Thalia trembled. Lumos’s nose poured great plumes of smoke. Her mate’s lips drew back to display his sharp fangs. He gave a long, deep growl, and with eyes flashing dangerously, stalked toward his brother.
“I do not have to explain anything to you, Axim.” Lumos ground his teeth and the sound echoed in the room. “You kidnapped my mate and will pay the consequences.”
“Did the challenge addle your brains, Lumos, or is this show of bravado for Thalia’s benefit? Might I remind you, Brother, you are in my realm.” Axim smiled thinly. “Do you honestly believe I will not fight to protect what is mine by divine right?” He met Lumos’s gaze. “I am King of Draconia.”
“I know what you are and exactly how you regard females. My mate will never be another notch in your belt, Axim.” Lumos waved his hand toward her. “I find it hard to believe Thalia would abandon me and block our bond for a simple misguided kiss. This sounds like you had a hand in this travesty. What lies did you tell to persuade her to come here with you?”