by Ophelia Bell
Kris turned to look at the pretty young Red again, wondering how two such prominent dragons could have managed to breed, under the Council’s nose. Several generations of mostly pure breeding was a lot of time to build up power. How powerful was she? She appeared confident, though bemused at the entire situation. She was flanked by Geva and a Shadow Kris hadn’t met. The pair were imposing guards for an Unbound. Erika and another human stood at the outside on either side of the trio of dragons.
“They love her, don’t they?” he observed.
“So do I.”
“You were with her?” He gave his father a critical stare.
Darius shrugged. “She needed what little energy Zak and I could give. We were more than happy to oblige.”
“I’d wager you gave her more than energy… how many secrets did you tell?”
“Enough.”
Kris laughed to himself, his chest full of mirth and love for the man beside him. His father…whom he’d known for his entire life, but never truly known due to the ridiculous laws their race had endured forever.
Things would change, if the presence of the beautiful Red with the determined expression really meant what he thought it did—that the Council had less control over the course of events than they believed. The Court, including his own sister, their Queen, had been keeping secrets from him for months. He had to believe Rowan was the biggest one. He regretted that the rest of the Court couldn’t tell him everything, sequestered as he was on this mountain.
Her aura hit him first, his cock instantly pulsing and swelling beneath his sarong.
Reds were like that, and this was energy he could take back to Issa if he managed to control himself well enough. The hard-on would have to wait.
“Sweet Mother, she’s even more powerful than when I met her,” Darius said.
She ascended the steps and stood before Racha before Kris could say another word.
“My Queen,” the Red said. “I am your servant and pledge my loyalty to you. Every ounce of my love and power is yours to command.”
“Your love?” Racha asked. “Who do you claim as your lover, if you pledge your love? Pledging that requires a strong commitment.”
Kris sensed a shift in Rowan’s energy but she kept her expression placid. He wondered if their little exchange had been rehearsed considering they had all arrived together. Her greeting definitely sounded too formal to come from one so young, and the question Racha had asked was too leading to be spontaneous.
“These men beside me. My personal commitment is to them, through the marks they bear. My sovereign loyalty goes to you and our race.”
She gestured toward the Shadow and the man on the other side of him, a human.
Racha’s eyebrows raised, her face still a mask, but Kris sensed the rising excitement in his sister.
“You have marked another dragon as your mate. This is a grave transgression.”
The Red didn’t flinch and Kris wondered if she could already sense Racha’s acceptance of her. The Queen had no choice in her dialog. The Council were all still there, watching from their ethereal thrones around the pavilion. The others wouldn’t be made aware until the Council chose, but Kris and his sister always knew when they were present.
“You are a purebred like me. You and your brother.” Rowan’s red eyes settled on Kris for a split second and that small bit of glowing magic darted straight to his soul. “We want the same things. The freedom to mate and breed with whom we choose.”
Racha’s voice sounded brittle when she answered. “You are Unbound, are you not? Your parents broke our laws. Why should I accept your mates along with you?”
The bitterness surprised Kris, even in light of the stress both he and his sister had been under trying to negotiate with the Council to approve assembly of the Verdanith. Once Issa’s pregnancy and the nature of their children became apparent, there had been no more resistance, but getting there had been an ordeal. Of the entire Court, only Racha knew about Issa’s pregnancy. Dragons were rarely susceptible to envy, so Kris believed it was merely the idea that Rowan had been so easily conceived by her parents, while Corey and Racha had followed all the laws and were still childless. His and Issa’s own good fortune likely didn’t help.
“My parents’ transgressions are not at issue. All of that happened a generation ago. I only care about what happens now and in the future. My men are mine. If you hurt them, I’m pretty sure I can rain down fire on the rest of you. I haven’t tried it yet, but I’m not shy.”
Kris stepped forward. “Threats aren’t necessary, Princess.”
Rowan blinked in surprise at the title he’d just given her. He knew well enough it was a demeaning term in this modern world he’d grown up in but remained apart from. In truth, he’d meant it twofold. She was by birthright a member of the Court, being the daughter of their last Queen. If her brother hadn’t misbehaved, Geva would have been the highest ranking member of the Court. As it was, Geva stood second to a dragon who had broken their laws out of love, not boredom. None of those details had been lost on the Council. Now this lovely, illegitimate Red had decided to show her face and assert her dazzling power.
Rowan’s existence, however, had gone unnoticed by the Council until this moment. Kris’s mind buzzed with the Council’s background chatter. He had to suppress an urge to rejoice when those immortal bastards began scrambling for purchase over their apparently failed plans.
He wasn’t privy to all their secrets, only glimmers here and there. He’d gleaned enough to understand they’d had an ongoing agenda to orchestrate very specific breeding among the race, though to what purpose he wasn’t sure. Darius’s theory made perfect sense. His and Issa’s mating and conception of the Twins, and now Rowan’s presence, indicated that the breeding of incredibly powerful dragons could easily occur without the Council’s influence. Their restriction on pure breeding must only be so they could maintain control over who bred pure or not.
This particular dragon was entirely unexpected, yet the Council seemed as excited at her presence as they were when they’d learned of the Twins. Before Kris told the Council that Issa was pregnant, they hadn’t been happy he’d chosen his own mate without their input, and had been on the verge of forcing him and Issa apart. After that, they had been filled with almost desperate regret every time he’d requested their help to sustain her.
“And why not?” Rowan replied. “I lost almost my entire family as a result of our laws. I deserve a little bit of retribution.”
Racha sighed and stepped toward Rowan. “Forgive me, Rowan. I didn’t mean to threaten you or your mates. We all have a lot resting on this assembly so tensions are understandably high. Please, cousin, let’s make peace and move forward, alright?”
She took Rowan’s hand and led her to the edge of the circle etched into the floor of the pavilion, where the inlaid stones depicted a pattern of six serpentine figures entwined. As she moved, the others began to gather in a circle around the Pavilion. They finally settled under Darius and Zak’s gentle command. When they were finally all silent, Kris spoke.
“Welcome, all. Humans, forgive me for not wasting time with a heartfelt introduction. We are here for business. Court, do you have the Verdanith fragments?”
Several figures moved, converging together, then came forward one by one until they stood equidistant from each other around the circle. The keepers, then. And they weren’t all dragons, either. Most were unsurprising. Racha stepped forward first, moving several feet from her spot beside him and turning to face Kris with her fragment held gently in her hands. Kol followed, stepping forward to stand at a spot a few degrees to Racha’s left. Rowan stepped forward next, with the large jade wedge held in her palm. “This was my mother’s. It is my right to present it, is it not?”
Kris glanced back at Geva and suppressed a smile in response to the smirk that graced the wayward Red’s expression. Pushing his sister in the faces of the Council was a bold move and one that would definitely catch their attentio
n.
Roka shifted his tall bulk smoothly around the circle, carrying the fragment he’d been presented upon acknowledgment of his Court status after their ascension. The pale green wedge looked tiny in his hands compared to the females.
The fifth was Erika. For the first time since Kris had known her she looked nervous.
“I guess I belonged to you guys all along,” she said with a tiny shrug.
Kris rested a palm on her shoulder. “You will never belong to anyone you don’t choose.”
“Where is the sixth?” Erika asked.
Kris nearly grimaced at the question. Like a fool, he had forgotten to bring the fragment the Council had enlisted him to protect, not expecting the assembly to occur so soon.
“I have it.” Issa’s reedy voice carried above the other chatter and everyone grew instantly silent.
Kris turned and the others stilled as they watched Issa step carefully down the path that led from her small temple. He swallowed hard, the desperation of their ordeal rising again. She shouldn’t be out of bed, but if she’d chosen to do this, he wouldn’t make a fool of her by stopping her.
She was radiant in the sunlight beyond the cover of the Pavilion, her hair flowing in a shimmering dark violet cascade over bare shoulders. Her full bosom and huge belly swelled beneath a simple lavender colored gown, so gauzy and ethereal it could have been made from clouds. The others gasped at the vision, surprised voices murmuring around him. All Kris could still see were the harsh angles and hollows of her face, evidence of the toll the pregnancy had taken.
Issa stepped into the circle, taking her place in the last spot around the center. The heavy stone she gripped in her palm glowed with the energy she’d given it.
“Why did you come? You could have sent an Unbound to carry it,” Kris asked.
“I should be here,” Issa said. Her cheeks were flushed pink from even the slight exertion of the short walk from their quarters to the Pavilion. He longed to go to her, but sensed the Council’s awareness now that the Court was in place.
“I am fine, my love.” Issa’s thought pressed into his mind, strong and sure in sharp contrast to her voice a moment earlier. He held her gaze, again amazed by her strength, but terrified at the same time of how quickly that strength seemed to fade each day. She nodded her head slightly and fixed her eyes on the edge of the Pavilion past his shoulder. The Council’s power grew incrementally stronger around them. Kris rotated in a slow circle, watching each of the shimmering veils of color grow more substantial and form into the huge shapes of their immortal forebears.
It was time for the Assembly to begin.
Chapter 5
“Welcome children.” Numa’s voice resonated through the Pavilion, the immortal green dragon’s words sinking into Kris’s skin like the warmth of a summer breeze.
The other dragons and their mates all let out tiny exhalations of pleasure in response. The Council’s voices had that effect, as though their intention was to prime their audience for sex. Again, Kris regretted that his own nature prevented him from carrying their power to his mate. If their words alone held that much power, he could only imagine how much a single infusion of their Nirvana would hold.
“I am Numa, speaker for the Council. We are gathered to officially hear your petition to reassemble the Verdanith, one of our most valued and powerful artifacts. This is not a decision we take lightly, due to the power this object will possess when it is restored to its full power. Each of my brothers and sisters carry equal weight in the decisions we make, but you will address your concerns to me. First, each Keeper of a piece of the Verdanith must re-state their reasons for requesting the Verdanith be reassembled.”
Kris turned to the sound of Racha’s voice. She held her fragment up, the jade wedge glowing with her magic.
“My mate and I are eager to conceive a child soon. When this generation was sent to hibernate, the New World we live in was in its infancy. We need more offspring to fill our ranks to ensure our treasures are well guarded and that we maintain our status among the humans who have grown ever more powerful over the centuries. My father knew a more robust dragon population would be paramount, and in his last written missive to me, asked that I promise to maintain our legacy.”
With grave formality Numa said, “Your petition is heard, Queen Racha, daughter of Irisa and Aris.” She turned her head just a fraction to aim her gaze at Kol next.
As Racha had done, the large Shadow lifted his wedge of the Verdanith up and spoke. “Hallie and I desire many children and sooner rather than later. With our current laws, we have too short a time to enjoy a family. There are too few dragons to balance the wealth that humans have accumulated and to ensure that our treasures are secure.”
Again, Numa replied, “Your petition is heard, Shadow Kol, son of Astrid.”
Kris rotated slightly, his eyes coming to rest on Issa who held Numa’s gaze proudly. His heart swelled at the sight of her in profile. Wetness seeped into his eyes and he took a deep breath, holding back emotion that threatened to break out. Her voice was strong and sure when she spoke.
“As you are aware, Kris and I are already expecting our first children. The Twins are strong and growing stronger with every bit of power they consume, but what we have to give is not enough. My petition is for the power to sustain them until they are born and come of age. The Verdanith will supply that power.”
After Numa acknowledged Issa, it was Roka’s turn to face Numa. His shoulders tensed, the Verdanith fragment held so tightly in his grip, Kris feared it might crack.
“Esteemed Council,” Roka began with a nod of his head. “While I share the desires of those who petitioned before me, my petition is not for the aid to fertility the Verdanith can provide. My mates and I have agreed that until dragon law is changed, we will not conceive a child. I have seen many sunrises over the months since I was awakened by the sunrise of my heart, Camille. But I have missed thousands of sunrises during my lifetime already. My petition is to allow our children to see a sunrise for each day they are alive, and to be able to share in their glory. Assembly of the Verdanith would enable sufficient oversight by yourselves to support multiple generations sharing the world.”
The Council’s silent deliberation buzzed in Kris’s mind for a second. He was as surprised as they were with Roka’s bold petition, going against what had earlier been a unanimous Court petition to assemble the Verdanith strictly for fertility purposes. He closed his eyes, hoping to gather enough of an impression of their reaction to decide whether it was positive or negative, but it sounded conflicted. Numa’s response was as much a surprise as Roka’s request.
“Your petition is unexpected, Roka, son of Ronin. Why have you jeopardized the Court’s petition as a whole to state your case?”
“Is it not Dragon Law to hear each petition and consider them on their own merits as well as together? I still wish for the Verdanith to be assembled, but only to facilitate a necessary shift in our antiquated system of laws. Humanity and modern cultural changes have accelerated to a blinding speed relative to our lifetimes. We can only grow stronger by maintaining closer familial ties over the generations. Preserving our genetics through hibernation should be a much lower priority relative to maintaining our competitive edge over the richest humans.”
More irritating deliberation followed. Finally Numa said, “You are very much the product of your parents, both loyal and law abiding dragons in spite of their opinionated natures. Your petition is heard, Roka, son of Ronin and Ryoko.”
Kris raised his eyebrow at the acknowledgment of Roka’s human mother. The mere mention of the legendary female samurai indicated that the Council had more than heard his petition. They were impressed. Kris only hoped he could live up to his own mother’s name.
There were only two petitions left. Kris braced himself for the unknown. He’d heard Erika and Geva’s original petition but suspected Erika might follow Roka’s example and share their true reason for requesting the assembly. He had no idea w
hat the newcomer, Rowan, might request.
Erika nodded, wisps of her chestnut hair drifting across her cheeks in some unseen breeze. Her eyes were bright with excitement as she held up the glowing stone. In a loud, clear voice she spoke.
“When I was a child, I dreamed that my father would discover that your race’s existence was not a myth, but a fact. He died before he could prove it, and so I picked up where he left off, following his research like a map to buried treasure. I didn’t find his personal journals until after we completed the ritual. It wasn’t until I read them that I learned how close the ties were between my family and your race. From his research and the research my team has done, I understand why you split the Verdanith six generations and more than three thousand years ago. The race had too much power over humans and some dragons abused that power. The dragon whose fragment my family kept for generations gave up his life to ensure that power was no longer abused. Splitting the Verdanith effectively hobbled the race, and allowed the six of you to assert greater control. But even with it split, you still didn’t have the control I believe you wished to have.”
Erika paused for breath and turned, meeting the gazes of each member of the Council in turn before beginning again. “Do you even know how many were born outside your sanction? Dragon children you had no knowledge of until today. Do you know how many dragons live out their lives with no offspring whatsoever? The dragon who was once the keeper of this fragment I hold had no progeny to pass it on to and so it was lost, passed down through the generations of his bonded humans. Your laws didn’t protect him or offer him an alternative that would protect his legacy. We can’t change the mistakes of the past—I believe Fate dictated the events that brought me to you—but we can ensure a stronger future for the race with the Verdanith at full strength. I petition for assembly of the Verdanith to ensure that future generations, including the children I wish to bear with my mate, are free to take advantage of the Verdanith’s power when in need. Even if those future generations are born without your sanction. Slavery was abolished among humans in the western world more than two centuries ago. It is against our laws now. Don’t you think it’s time your race caught up?”