by Jan Dockter
“Excuse me,” said Evan heatedly.
“Step back, boy,” warned Calvin. “She is our Queen and has the right to judge as she sees things. This is not the human world, where everyone is equal before the law.”
“Yes,” hissed Rhea. “This is most decidedly not the human world.” She then turned to Astrid who shivered under her gaze. The Queen of the dragons inspected her coldly as if the human were some sort of commodity to be weighed and measured. Astrid got the impression that she was prey to be taken out with a swift swipe of a dagger-like claw.
Rhea walked toward Astrid, and Tem protectively threw his arm around her.
“I tell you, Aunt, Astrid is here under my protection.”
Rhea Gentrix’s green eyes glittered.
“Is she now? No human has walked this ground, but you bring one now. What makes her so important?”
“She rescued us. Released our bindings so we could escape.”
If Astrid had thought that the Queen would show appreciation, she was disappointed.
“Your problems with the humans are your own, Templeton Rawlins, and puts all of draconry at risk from persecution from humans.”
“But they are doing that already,” burst out Astrid.
“Astrid,” hissed Tem urgently. “Don’t speak.”
“No, Tem,” said Rhea slowly and deliberately. “Let the human speak.”
“Astrid, not another word,” warned Tem.
“No, Astrid. Tell me what you want to say.” Rhea’s voice rolled out seductively and Astrid felt she had to say something.
“Your majesty,” said Astrid. “Tem was arrested under false pretenses.”
“Astrid!” said Tem.
“Silence,” ordered Rhea. “So you are saying, child, that Tem is innocent of the human charges against him?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“And that humans deliberately overlooked the evidence of his innocence.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Stop this,” said Tem.
“No!” While Rhea spoke this word in a normal tone of voice, the psychic force of it made each one of them step back. “You bring this human here, to my court, and you expect me not to pass judgment on her?”
“Astrid is not all humans, Rhea. She did, in fact, help us to escape the human prison.”
“And why were you in there in the first place, eh?” said Rhea heatedly. “Did you not ignore my instructions to report here?”
“Are you judging me too, Rhea?”
“Yes!” she boomed. “How dare you disobey me? I am your Queen.”
Astrid stared at Tem, her heart beating double time. Despite her extensive education on dragons, she didn’t understand everything that was going on here. But she gathered that Tem was in serious trouble.
Tem and Rhea stared at each other and Astrid felt the storm in his heart. He had no love for this dragon woman, in fact he felt considerable rancor toward her. A mass of emotions rolled through Astrid from Tem, ranging from disgust to anger. He was close to erupting on the last.
Please, urged Astrid, don’t.
You don’t know what she expects of me, he replied.
No. I don’t. But you brought us here for a reason.
She heard his inward sigh. Yes, I did.
Tem dropped to one knee and bent his head. Astrid felt how he hated this, to submit to this woman. There were deep resentments in his heart toward her. But he was reining that in for what he felt was good purpose.
“Then judge me, Rhea. Leave Astrid out of this quarrel between us.”
Rhea’s face softened then, and she walked to Tem and put her hands on his head.
“You’ve come home and that is what is important. As for the human, she will be our guest until we return her to her home. But mind that she breaks no rule of this house.”
Rhea turned abruptly and walked swiftly away to the portico that surrounded the courtyard and into the shadows of doorway.
“Well,” snorted Calvin. “That’s just lovely.”
“What is all the fuss about?” asked a clearly confused Evan.
“Old business, boy,” said Calvin. “And new. Tem, how are you going to explain what happened to Rhea?”
“What happened?” asked Astrid.
“I won’t explain anything. Clearly this is beyond the scope of even Rhea’s authority.”
Astrid balled her hands at her side, growing annoyed that Tem was keeping her out of the conversation.
“What is going on?” she asked pointedly.
“She isn’t going to permit it,” replied Calvin. “And frankly, I agree with her. What were you thinking?”
“That is none of your business,” replied Tem.
“What is this ‘sloppy breeding’ business about?” said Evan. His face was drawn in consternation.
“My mother is concerned,” said a new feminine voice from behind them, “that the strength of dragons is diluted by the introduction of human DNA into our lines.” A young woman glided from the shadows of the portico.
“Reanne,” said Tem holding out his hands.
“My Lord,” said Reanne taking them. “Long has it been seen since I’ve seen you last.”
Astrid’s eyes narrowed. She found she did not like this woman touching Tem.
“My lady, it is good to see you again.”
Tem’s bright smile at meeting this Reanne chick really annoyed Astrid. She bit her lip to keep from speaking. Astrid had no claim on Tem and it was obvious these two knew each other from years before she was even born. Besides, even Astrid had to admit that Reanne was stunningly beautiful. An obviously younger version of her mother, her expression was far more relaxed and warm than the dragon Queen’s.
“I am aware of your mother’s views,” said Tem.
“But your guests are not. It was a risk, Tem, that you brought them here.”
“It was the safest place I could think of,” he said simply.
“Yes, the persecution against dragons across the world grows. If my mother could shelter all dragons here, she would. But our Queen does not suffer the intrusions of humans well, Tem, and you know this.”
“It is their world, Reanne, not ours.”
“Yes. There are seven billion of them and at best a few hundred thousand of us.”
“Not counting the hybrids,” said Calvin.
Reanne turned her gaze to Evan and a soft smile played across her lips. “Yes, not counting the hybrids. I’m afraid Mr. Waters, that you are betwixt and between these two worlds now.”
“That’s not a problem. If I can get home, I’ll be fine. Where I come from being part dragon is not a crime.”
Reanne shook her head sadly. “Things have changed since you were imprisoned, Mr. Waters. A new President got new laws passed and things are nearly as dire for dragons as in the United Kingdom. And I’m afraid your case made you notorious in America.”
“Let’s discuss these things later, Reanne,” said Tem. “Calvin is in need of food, and Astrid and Evan need to rest from the shock of our travels.”
Reanne nodded.
“You are right, Lord Tem. There are rooms prepared for each of you and I’ll have food sent to them. Please follow me.”
Reanne walked toward the portico and Tem followed.
Calvin fell in step behind them, but then stopped and swayed. Quickly, both Evan and Astrid moved forward to steady him.
“Let me help,” said Evan and he pulled Calvin’s arm around him.
Reanne and Tem stopped in their tracks upon hearing these words.
“Are you okay, Captain?” asked Reanne.
“He nearly starved himself to death in the prison,” said Tem.
“That was foolish of you, Captain,” scolded Reanne.
“You were not there,” croaked Calvin.
“Well, you are here now. Can you walk?”
“I’ll walk just fine. Evan will help me.”
“Just don’t let my mother know what you did. She is not above administering p
unishment these days, and that is the last thing you need.”
“And just what is our Queen above these days?” said Tem sourly.
“Very little,” said Reanne. “Which is why it was dangerous for you to come here.”
CHAPTER TWELVE
Tem
“He truly did not know he was half dragon?” asked Reanne as she lit the lamps in his room.
Tem was focused on Astrid’s distress as she settled into another wing that served as guest quarters. He did not hear Reanne’s question at first.
“What?”
“Oh, Tem. That little human has you wrapped around her finger, doesn’t she?”
Tem groaned. “It is more than that.”
Reanne stopped what she was doing and regarded the dragon.
“How?” she asked.
“I thought it was a myth.” His voice sounded tortured even to him.
“What myth?”
“Bonding.”
Reanne sucked in a breath and this confirmed Tem’s worse fears.
“How do you know?”
“How do I not? I can’t bear the thought of being apart from her. Even now I just want to go to her room. I can’t bear the thought of her being near another male.”
“Well, that’s just lust. It’s normal for males and I imagine that being in that place you’ve been denied, and that’s fueled the lust.”
He shook his head.
“No, Reanne, you don’t understand. I hear her thoughts.”
“What?” said Reanne, now truly shocked.
“Yes, and what’s more, she can hear mine.”
“And do you feel what she feels?”
“Yes,” he said almost as a whisper.
“Oh, by the Gods, this is a disaster!”
Tem sank to the bench by the bed.
“You think so?” he said acidly.
“My mother will have a fit. There will be no protecting the girl from her.”
“Don’t you think I know that?”
“Does the girl understand?”
“She’s enamored, but no, she does not know the consequences of this.”
“Oh, by the triune Goddess. Tem, tell me you haven’t completed the bonding.”
“No. There was no time.”
“Well, that’s one good thing. It gives us an opportunity.”
“To what?”
“I’ll take her away, perhaps to America. I’ll take Evan too. Perhaps—”
“YOU WILL NOT TOUCH HER!”
The force of his response shocked Tem, but he was standing now, towering over Reanne and shouting at her. He was one microsecond away from shifting into dragon form.
Reanne backed away.
“Tem, keep your voice down. I might understand this, at least part of it, but mother will not. And it will be your Astrid’s death.”
“Even if I do not complete the bonding?”
“She would be safer if you did. If she was claimed as property—”
“Astrid is most definitely not that.”
“Yes, but by our law, that is all she can be. You know this. Why am I explaining this to you?”
Tem put his face in his hands. “I never expected any of this. I’m five hundred years old, for heaven’s sake, have known hundreds of women, and then, then this tender shoot, a breath of wind crosses my path, and I lose it altogether. I must be getting senile.”
Reanne scoffed. “Hardly. You are not a tenth of the way there.”
“Well, I won’t live that long now, will I?”
“Is that really your main concern?” asked Reanne gently.
“No. It is the thought that she’d die at all that kills me.”
“Ah, so. Then there is one thing you must do.”
“What is that?”
She sighed. “You know.”
Tem indeed did know and a part of him wanted Astrid very much. But to carry through with the bonding? To join their souls for all time?
“Why?”
“So my mother doesn’t kill her.”
“What that make a difference if Rhea kills me?”
“It is a gamble either way,” said Reanne. “And I cannot tell which one carries the greatest odds you’d come out of this alive. But I cannot help but think along the lines that you do. What is between you and the human goes beyond the laws of men and dragons… there is a deep purpose here.”
Reanne stepped within inches of Tem. “And maybe that’s a better purpose than what my mother has in mind for you anyway.” She bent and kissed him on the cheek.
“Out of all the dragon males, your passion runs the hottest. It is why my mother wants you to father the next generation. But your heart was made to love only one, and I think you have found her.”
Reanne quietly and gracefully exited the room, leaving Tem alone with his thoughts.
And in his thoughts was Astrid, a beautiful young woman that had no idea what was in store for her. She was now a fugitive from her own people, in the middle of nest of dragons that would kill her upon their Queen’s command.
It was an unholy mess.
What is between you and the human goes beyond the laws of men and dragons… there is a deep purpose here.
Tem couldn’t imagine what that would be and Reanne’s words did not comfort him. But what he did know that, since the first time had Astrid touched him, his heart beat in time with hers.
And as he thought about this his mood plummeted to dark depths that he never imagined existed. Even during his most hopeless moment in prison, he had never felt this lost or helpless. It just wasn’t in his nature.
And then he realized it was in Astrid’s. He was feeling her emotions and he couldn’t bear it.
Before he realized he was doing it, he was striding the halls of Rhea’s palace to Astrid’s door. He ran past beautiful frescoes and ancient sculpture, down the marble faced walls and floors, to the wing where Astrid was housed. He stood there at the polished teakwood door, unsure of what to do. His head told him to turn and go back to his own room, but every other part of him wanted, no needed, to be with Astrid.
The door tore open and there stood Astrid with tears streaming down her face.
“Tem,” she said shakily, “I was going to look for you.”
“And how would you have found me, eh?” he said with a smile. Tem felt great relief just at seeing her. “There are four hundred rooms in this palace.”
“Four hundred?” Her eyes grew wide.
“Yes, not counting the kitchen, the dining room, the throne room and the pool.”
“Pool?”
“Well, actually it is an underground cavern that is fed with hot springs. I’ll take you there sometime.”
Tem felt her mood tumble again, and she turned and fled into her room.
“Astrid,” said Tem. He followed and shut the door behind him.
“What am I doing here, Tem? Your Queen hates me and each time she stares at me I get the feeling she wants me dead.”
“Oh, fuck,” said Tem. He stood inches from her now, though she had her back to him. He wrapped his arms around her waist and leaned his forehead to her neck.
“She won’t hurt you. I won’t allow it.”
“But what she was thinking— Tem, she expects you, and Reanne, oh—” she made little noises in her throat.
“That’s an old plan, and one I rejected a long time ago, Astrid. And it’s thoroughly imposs—Wait. You heard Rhea Gentrix’s thoughts?”
“Sure, Tem, like I can hear yours, and Calvin’s, and Evan’s, though his are a little harder to catch. Reanne’s for some reason I can’t, or maybe, I just didn’t know she was there until she showed up—”
“Wait. Stop,” said Tem. This was impossible. How could she hear Rhea’s thoughts, or anyone else’s besides Tem’s? He had never heard of anything like this before.
Red hair. Green eyes. Impossibly stubborn.
Dragon.
Tem kissed the back of her neck and she sighed. But he wasn’t being romantic.
Human. She tasted so human. Her passions ran as hot as her blood.
Astrid leaned her head back against Tem’s shoulder.
“I feel much better now you are here.”
Tem leaned into her and started a rocking motion, almost as if they were dancing. “Hmmm,” he hummed. “Beautiful Astrid, lovely Astrid, with the pretty red hair. How can it be that I met you?”
“I think,” she whispered, “I was looking for you.”
“Me?”
“Oh, not you, Tem Rawlins, specifically. But you, the essence of you. The dragon Lord. My grandmother was from Ireland and she’d tell me stories of dragons and how our ancestors served the dragon Lords. She told me how our family, at least the women, was graced with the ability to read the dragons’ minds so we could better help them. We were the seneschals between the dragons and humans, the gatekeepers, and we mediated their relationship. Some called us ambassadors, my grandmother said, others called us traitors to our race. Of course, I thought she was a dotty old woman, until tonight, that is.”
Tem had not heard anything like this story before and he figured that Rhea Gentry had some explaining to do.
“So, what happened?”
“A dragon Lord and a human woman fell in love, and neither dragons or humans liked that very much. The was a great battle between the dragon Lord’s followers and the dragon Queen…”
Astrid sucked in a breath. “That was Rhea Gentrix, was it?”
“Rhea has always been our Queen,” he said gently.
“She killed that dragon Lord,” said Astrid with a pained voice. “Oh, my God, Tem. Oh, my God. Get away from me! Go away! Don’t let her see you here with me!”
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Astrid
Astrid was beside herself in fright. The last thing she wanted was Tem harmed on her account. She struggled against him, trying to find a way to break free and put distance between them.
But Tem didn’t let go of her. Instead he pulled her closer to him so that the globes of her bottom rested against his hips. Her frantic attempts to get away resulted in her shimmying against his body. But he held her fast and Astrid became very aware of not just the dragon’s heat against her back, but his arousal as well.