Dragon's First Rule (Dragons of Midnight Book 1)

by Silver Milan

  “I will return,” he said. Then he stepped forward suddenly and gripped her roughly by the shoulders. His voice hardened: “I will return. I have a few loose ends to tie up in my kingdom, and then I’ll be back.”

  She nodded. “I believe you.” Do I?

  “I have to let you go now,” Jett said. “If I kiss you again, I’m afraid I won’t be able to stop myself. These lions are getting antsy. Do you smell it? If I delay any longer, who knows, maybe they’ll transform and try to forcefully drive me off.”

  She glanced over her shoulders at the pride members who had gathered to watch them go.

  “I don’t think they would do that,” she said. “But if they did, I’d fight by your side. No one harms my dragon.”

  He laughed, a boisterous, booming sound that seemed sourced from the very essence of his being, springing up from the depths of what made him who he was.

  She frowned. “Why are you laughing? You think it’s funny I would protect you? You think I couldn’t do it? You’d be wrong.”

  “I know you could,” Jett said. “It’s just, well, you bring me such joy. Everything about you. I was laughing because you assumed these lions would cause me harm. That’s essentially impossible.”

  “Oh really?” Ariel said. “You’re collared. Don’t forget that. Your powers are limited.”

  He nodded. “You’re right. It’s possible one of them would get lucky. Still, I have half a mind to hold my ground here and let them come. I’d fight for you, Ariel. If these lions didn’t mean so much to you, I’d probably do just that.” He sighed. “You know what we’re doing, don’t you?”

  “Delaying the inevitable,” Ariel said.

  Jett kissed her one last time, fervently.

  Ariel arched her back, standing on her tiptoes. She started lifting her hands to wrap around his head, not wanting him to go, but he abruptly ripped away. It felt like her heart was being torn from her chest.

  She reached out and grabbed his hand, wishing she could hold onto him forever. He stepped back, but her grip lingered on his, forming a lifeline that stretched precariously as he continued to retreat.

  “I want you to promise me you’ll be careful when you go out into the woods,” Jett said. “Watch your back. And make sure you’re always escorted.”

  She nodded. “Okay, I promise.” She knew the pride was still worried there might be Orions somewhere out there. “I’ll be careful.”

  “You have my sat-phone number,” Jett said. “Or at least, Cliff does. If anything goes wrong…”

  “I know, call you,” Ariel said.

  Her hand finally dropped from his, severing the lifeline; her arm flopped lifelessly to her side.

  She watched him back away. There was sadness in his eyes, yet also hope. Finally he turned around and continued on his way. At first his steps seemed staggered, as if he was forcing himself to take each one, but then he steadied, walking with the graceful, kingly ease she had come to know so well.

  She was unable to control the low caterwaul in her throat as he continued his retreat. She had lied to him earlier about her mind not comprehending his departure. She comprehended it very well. And before he was gone, she started weeping softly.

  Jett paused in the woods. Ariel felt a glimmer of hope. Maybe he would come back for her and battle the lions after all. While the pride had become like family to her, Jett was more than family. Much more. She was ready to fight at his side.

  But he didn’t come back. Instead he quickened his pace and in moments was gone.

  22

  In all the long years Jett had lived, that was definitely one of the harder farewells he had ever endured. Talk about heart-wrenching. The fervency of his last kiss had fed upon the fear and desperation he’d sensed in her own. It was strange to feel that way, because he was sure he was coming back. Four days. He planned to be away from her for a maximum of four days. But even that seemed too much to bear, as if something might happen within that time span to see them driven apart forever. He was well aware that the vampire, and the Orions, could very well still be out there.

  He personally instructed Flame and Brazen to continue their watch on the outer perimeter of the camp, and then made his way back toward Midnight.

  He walked all that day and night, and arrived at the mountain stronghold early the next morning. After a two hour nap, he devoured a cow from his stock, and went to his room to gather the few belongings he wished to take with him. He had no plans to visit The Hooded Dale before he left: soaring among the peaks of the mountains no longer made him feel free.

  Being with Ariel did.

  Besides, what was the point of unleashing his dragon one last time? It would be just another bittersweet farewell. He was sick to death of goodbyes. Better if he left that part of him good and buried rather than tease himself. He would be staying with Ariel in the world of men. His dragon had no place there.

  Speaking of goodbyes, he had another far more difficult goodbye to contend with.

  He summoned his most loyal friends and advisers to his throne room, along with the remainder of his White Swords, and he cleared out the remaining courtiers and sycophants.

  He gazed upon these men and women who had stood with him through thick and thin. Men and women he would never see again.

  A hard choice. But I must act quickly, before I change my mind. Before I forget her touch and what it means to me.

  But he knew he would never forget. And that was the crux of the matter. That was why he had to go through with this.

  Those curious faces were so calm, relaxed. They had no idea what was coming. Oh sure, he had no doubt there were whisperings about the “shifter slave” he had captured, but they wouldn’t expect what he was about to say and do. How could they? He would upturn not only his world, but theirs.

  He decided he would make his speech mercifully quick.

  “I have broken the Dragon’s First Rule,” Jett said. “I have lain with a non-dragon. She is a lioness shifter. I must be banished, of course. I will gather my things and leave this very night, never to return. I will continue to wear this collar, as prescribed by our laws, until my last breath. I hereby abdicate my throne to my brother. To my sister Gwendoline, I give my estate and all my personal lands. I leave my kingdom in good hands.”

  The listeners acted appropriately shocked, with open-mouthed gasps passing through the ranks. Even his brother Gabriel put on a display of surprise, and urged Jett to change his mind, though Jett could see the gleam of avarice in his eye: Gabriel seemed eager to make his temporary rule permanent.

  There were some who joined their voices to Gabriel’s and attempted to persuade their former king to stay, while others decried the transgression, saying abdication and banishment were the only honorable actions left. Jett could already see the machinations going on in their eyes, as they calculated how this change in rulership would affect them, and how they could best profit from it.

  Ah, the petty politics of royalty, present even among his closest friends and advisers. He would miss that the least.

  Eventually Jett extricated himself from them, saying: “I have made up my mind. Farewell, good people. I will miss you.”

  Oddly, this final goodbye hadn’t been as difficult as he had thought it would be. Perhaps he had hardened himself to the emotional pain, considering how tough the farewell with Ariel had been. Or perhaps he truly no longer cared for the throne any longer. He decided that was the more likely factor.

  Afterward, he convened a hasty meeting of the Council of Seven, and repeated what he had told his advisers and friends. The surprise and dismay among the members was obvious—they clearly preferred him to his brother. But they agreed that after what he had done, he had no recourse but to step down.

  “You will be missed,” Yvonne said. The witch queen seemed uncharacteristically emotional.

  “Tell us about this lion shifter of yours,” Tritus said.

  “I think we know everything we need to,” Raquel said, her vampiric ca
nines protruding long as always. “Jett’s actions speak louder than words.”

  That afternoon he was in the bedroom of his mansion, gathering his most meaningful belongings into a small backpack, when he heard a knock at the door.

  He turned around to find Gwendoline waiting at the entrance. She was dressed in a white evening gown, with a diaphanous veil covering her face.

  “You’re looking exquisite as always, sister,” Jett said. “Let me guess, you’ve come to change my mind.”

  She lifted the veil. “If compulsion worked on you, I’d be using it.”

  He smiled. “Then it’s a good thing it doesn’t.”

  “It’s not too late, you know,” Gwendoline said. “Your brother is ready to return the throne. We’ll have Dan wipe your admission to breaking the First Rule from the records.” When he didn’t answer, she asked: “This lioness of yours, she’s with the Blue Hurricane or Starry Oak?”

  “It doesn’t matter,” Jett replied suspiciously. He didn’t want her tracking down the woman.

  “You can’t live out there with those savages,” Gwendoline said.

  He smiled sadly. “You don’t know them. They’re good people… you’d be surprised. We dragons have been dismissive of other shifters for too long, considering them all beneath us. You really should get Gabriel to look into changing the laws regarding intermarriage. It’ll take some convincing, but eventually the other dragons on the Council of Seven will come around. We need to worry less about diluting our precious bloodlines.”

  “Good people or no, it’s still too dangerous,” Gwendoline protested. “The lions understand this, even if you don’t. They’ll put themselves in danger if they harbor you. When it becomes known a dragon is living out in the open away from his people, exposed, those who hunt us will make plans to take you. Orions. Vampires. They will come in force. And Dan tells me you already had our security forces scanning the hidden camera feeds for signs of hunters; so even you already believe they might be out there, waiting.”

  Dan wouldn’t have betrayed that he had assigned Flame and Brazen to watch the Blue Hurricane pride, as Jett had ordered the computer system to observe utter secrecy regarding the White Swords. Gabriel knew, of course. Jett had promised to send the two back to him shortly.

  “You forget,” Jett said. “I’m one of the most powerful dragons who ever lived. The Orions would need an army to take me.”

  “Except those powers are restricted by the collar you wear,” Gwendoline said.

  “I will have my strength,” Jett said. “And my dragon skin.”

  “Will it be enough?” Gwendoline said. “What if the hunters have a powerful witch?”

  “You need to stop worrying,” Jett said. “This is what I want. It’s what I’ve always wanted, I’ve come to realize. I’m going, dear sister, and there’s nothing you can say or do to stop me. The Council of Seven has already agreed: I must be banished.”

  “You could overrule the Council in this if you wished,” Gwendoline said. “They could not stop you from holding onto your throne if you desired it.”

  “Yes, but it would be wrong,” Jett said. “The law…”

  His sister crossed her arms. “But you just said the law was unnecessary. You could be the one to spearhead the repeal of the First Rule.” When he didn’t answer, she shook her head. “You’re only doing this because you want to be with her. Your using our law as a flimsy excuse, but I can see right through you.”

  “You always were hard to deceive,” Jett said.

  “Hmph!” Gwendoline said. “You know your father won’t approve. Gabriel was only ever to rule in your absence, or when you Slept.”

  “As I told you before, my father has no sway here,” Jett said. “Besides, Gabriel is a good king. He has always ruled well when I was gone. I would not leave the kingdom in his hands if I didn’t feel otherwise.”

  “Yes, but greed rules him,” Gwendoline said. “Didn’t you see his eyes when you made your announcement?”

  “Greed rules most dragons,” Jett said.

  “But not you.”

  He didn’t answer.

  “You won't be able to stay away for long,” Gwendoline pressed. “Governing is in your blood. As is your concern for your people. What about your duty? You would shirk it for a woman? Someone who isn't even one of us?

  Jett sighed. "Gwendoline, this decision was hard enough to make. But I'm done. My rule is over."

  "We'll see."

  “Yes, we will,” Jett said.

  “And the White Swords?” Gwendoline said. “Your most loyal, handpicked warriors? You would abandon them?”

  "They will serve the new king, now,” Jett said.

  “But their loyalty is to you,” Gwendoline said. “Gabriel will disband them and choose his own men.”

  “If he does, that’s his choice,” Jett said. “And his loss.” Gwendoline knew the thought of his White Swords breaking up would hurt him, which was why she’d brought it up. “Either way, Gabriel will find some use for their talents, I’m sure.”

  “You do realize you’ll have an uphill battle to fight with the lions,” Gwendoline said. “They won’t want you in their pride, for the reasons I mentioned. And I doubt they’ll be thrilled about having someone as dominant as you with them. Any Alpha would bristle at the thought.”

  “They will have me,” Jett said. “And if not, I’ll take my woman elsewhere.”

  “I still can’t believe you’re really doing this,” Gwendoline said. “Giving up your throne. Your lands. This house and all of your belongings. Your treasure.”

  “They’re just things.” He turned his back on her and continued packing. She is my treasure now.

  “At least tell me one thing, and I’ll let you go without any further argument,” his sister said.

  “What?” he said.

  “Is she worth it?” Gwendoline asked.

  Jett paused, then turned around to meet her eyes. Her expression was solemn.

  “More than anything in the world,” he said. “We’ll start our own kingdom. She’ll be my queen.”

  His sister spontaneously hugged him. “Then go, brother. Follow your heart. As I should have done years ago.”

  Jett embraced her in return, wondering what secrets his sister hid.

  He waited until he was sure his voice wouldn’t break, and then said: “Of all my family, all my friends, I’ll miss you perhaps the most dearly.”

  “And I you, brother,” she said.

  They were still hugging so he couldn’t see her face, but from the tremble in her voice he could tell she wept.

  23

  Jett traveled without issue through Starry Oak territory. He’d sent a text first to the Alpha, Finn, as a courtesy, using the updated number Finn had shared with him, and the lions of that pride steered clear of him.

  He met Flame and Brazen along the way to Blue Hurricane—he had already sent a text recalling them that morning.

  When Flame saw him, he seemed concerned. “I thought you would be bringing other White Swords to replace us, Sire.”

  “Just Jett, now,” Jett replied. “And there will be no more White Swords with me. I am banished, no longer king. I broke our First Rule. I no longer hold any authority over you. You must return to Midnight. You serve Gabriel now.”

  Flame seemed puzzled. “But the First Rule does not apply to you. You are King.”

  “It applies to us all.”

  “Then I resign,” Flame said. “So that I may continue my service to you.”

  Jett shook his head. “No, my loyal friend. Your place is with the dragons. I’ll already have enough trouble getting the lions to accept me alone. But if you or Brazen come with me, I guarantee you they won’t take me.”

  Brazen spoke then. “You would give up everything for her?”

  “I would.”

  “She means that much to you?” Brazen asked.

  Jett merely nodded.

  “Then I wish you well,” Brazen told him.

&nb
sp; “Are you certain you don’t want us to join you?” Flame said. “We could help you fight these Orions when the time comes.”

  “No,” Jett said slowly. “I want you back at Midnight. If the Orions show, I’ll handle them with Blue Hurricane.”

  “And the vampire witch?” Flame said.

  “Again, if she shows, I’ll handle her,” Jett said.

  Flame nodded. He knew how powerful Jett was, and had no reason to doubt him. Jett almost believed he could take on such a witch while collared himself. Almost.

  “Good luck to you in your new life, Sire,” Flame said.

  Jett shook his head. “I told you, just Jett.”

  “You will always be my king,” Flame told him.

  Jett smiled at his friend. “Thank you. I won’t forget your loyalty.”

  Jett departed without any further delay. He kept up a good pace, moving faster than he would have if he had company, and reached the Blue Hurricane camp after only a day.

  It was late evening when he arrived, and the lions on guard duty let him pass without any problems, as Jett had texted Cliff in advance of his arrival. The pride had also seen his approach from afar, no doubt, either via their own hidden cameras, or their scouts, and had likely already informed the Alpha.

  Jett thought it was a very good sign that Cliff was letting him in. That could only mean the Alpha had softened his stance regarding Jett staying with the pride. At least Jett hoped so.

  The camp itself was quiet, with no sign of any lions outside the cabins. It was a hot day, so it made sense that everyone would be indoors sheltering from the heat. Or maybe lounging in the shade somewhere in the forest nearby.

  He made a beeline for the Alpha’s log house. He gazed longingly at Ariel’s cabin as he passed, but propriety demanded that he speak with Cliff first. In his head, he repeated all the arguments he had come up with, arguments he hoped would sway Cliff to his way of thinking and convince the Alpha to let him stay.