by Ophelia Bell
It was time for the Assembly to begin.
Breath of Fate: 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.”
“My mate and I are eager to conceive a child soon,” Racha said.
Kris turned to the sound of his sister’s voice. She held her fragment up, the jade wedge glowing with her magic.
“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 what 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?”
Kris forced his face to remain placid, though he grimaced inwardly. Erika had just challenged one of their most contentious laws without overtly stating her objection to it. He glanced at Geva and then Rowan, both of whom wore pleased smirks. Rowan shifted her gaze to him. The red blaze of p
ower in her eyes sank through his defenses in much the same way as the Council’s power did.
Then she turned toward Numa and the power increased tenfold. Kris sensed magic converging on the entire pavilion, drawn to the arousal induced by Rowan’s magic. She hadn’t even breathed and everyone’s pulse rates had increased.
The Council itself grew utterly still and silent. Whether their silence was in response to Erika’s question or Rowan turning up the power, Kris couldn’t be sure. They’d never lashed out before, however, so he had no reason to fear any kind of wrath from them. Reasonable to a fault would be the best description he had for the six.
Numa’s calming green aura pressed outward, enveloping the Pavilion in a hazy bubble.
“Your petition is heard, Erika, daughter of Gabriel, bonded servant of Jorian.” The normally resonant voice held a faint quaver that was reflected in the agitation of the other Council members.
If Kris didn’t know better, he might believe the six of them were actually anxious to hear Rowan’s petition. In spite of Numa’s breath surrounding them all, Rowan’s power persisted, overlapping and entwining with the magic that held the bubble in place. Kris’s groin ached with the effects of it, while at the same time Numa’s power gave him the strongest sense of euphoria. It was all he could do to avoid touching himself. He conjured forth a memory of when he was younger and that action would only result in discomfort. After the assembly was done, he would deal with his need. Not in the middle of it. The combined arousal and conflicting frustration permeated the area from the others as well. Issa’s eyes were wide, her hands clasped across her belly, the wedge of the Verdanith still held tightly in her fingers.
“What is it, my love?” he asked.
“The twins sense the energy. They are hungry.”
“Just a few more minutes and we will be done.”
Issa nodded slightly and gave him a small, worried smile, but stood tall and still.
Rowan spoke, her voice as strong and sure as Erika’s, but holding the otherworldly vibration that only dragons could produce. “According to dragon law, I am Unbound. I was born outside your sanction and am therefore not bound by your laws unless you force me to be, as you have forced countless other dragons over the centuries. I am here to petition a change to that law, and also to honor my parents’ union and request that you honor it, too. You may have heard of my parents, Bren and Warik. It is their power I carry, which I can use to help our race if you choose. In honoring them, you will also honor my union with the dragon Rafe. I petition you to use the Verdanith to find others like me, not to persecute, but to legitimize, for they were born from love between two dragons, something only your Catalysts have been honored with publicly. An honor which I have no doubt they would happily share.”
The briefest glance Kris shared with her was enough acknowledgment of understanding, as though she sensed the need to move things along for the sake of his mate. He hoped the Council would make their decision quickly.
“Your petition is heard, Red Princess, daughter of Bren and Warik. The Keepers have made their petitions. Are there any petitions pertaining to the assembly that others wish to make?”
Kris shifted his gaze around at the outer circle of observers, which included most of the humans along with the four other dragons. Geva and Rafe remained silent, their heads held high. Aurin and Aurik shared a furtive glance but didn’t speak. Their predicament was no secret, but this was not the time for them to state their own petition to the Council.
“Very well,” Numa said. “Catalyst, proceed.”
Kris nodded and gestured toward the six who stood in a circle around him. They approached in order once again, each one handing their respective fragments to him. The first piece pulsed with gentle heat in his hand and an involuntary surge of his own energy flowed into it before he could stop it. The stone was enchanted with the same energy as the altar beneath the Queen’s chamber of the temple visited so many months ago. If he wasn’t careful, this object would bleed him entirely dry of power. He carefully restrained his power from it as he accepted each successive piece. The first two wedges snapped together like opposing poles of two magnets. One by one, each fragment fit together with its brothers.
Roka was the last to step forward. He held his piece out to Kris, the nearly completed circle of the Verdanith physically beginning to pull Kris toward its last missing piece.
In a split second, there were gasps around the circle. Issa’s voice rose faintly in his mind, “Kris…”
“Issa!” Kris yelled, seeing his mate sway from the corner of his vision, but he couldn’t release the object. He seemed fastened to the center of the Pavilion, the Verdanith adhered to his hands.
Roka moved in a blur. Releasing the final jade wedge, he lunged to the side around Kris. The Verdanith seemed to suck the last remaining piece from the air with a snap into the void left for it. Blinding white light bloomed in Kris’s hands, the power of the artifact growing exponentially, the pull of it forcing his hands downward into the center of the Pavilion’s floor. He released it and stepped back in one swift movement.
The Verdanith slammed into the floor, its impact shaking the entire mountain and causing everyone but the Council to waver, holding their hands out to steady themselves against each other.
The pattern in the floor of the Pavilion lit with a series of colored lights that quickly faded to black, but Kris was done with the ceremony. He needed to see to his mate. He turned to find Issa cradled against Roka’s chest, one arm dangling limply. Aurik stood at Roka’s shoulder, his sister and their mates close behind. The four of them and Roka had been standing the closest to Issa. The others moved closer, gathering around with concerned looks.
“Give her to me,” Kris said. “She needs my energy. The babies, too.”
“We can help,” Roka said. “My breath might be able to help.”
Kris met his friend’s concerned gaze with one of defeat. “I wish you could, brother. Only an Udara can help now, until the Verdanith is charged.” He turned and walked toward the edge of the Pavilion. The charging of the Verdanith would have to happen without him. He didn’t dare hope they could complete the task before it was too late for his mate and children.
Issa’s pulse fluttered weakly beneath his fingertips. “Hold on, my love. I will keep you safe, or die trying.”
“Wait.”
The voice vibrated through the air close to his shoulder, sending a current of wind through his hair. His skin tingled from the slight caress of Aurum’s breath, his ears still vibrating with ecstasy in response to the simple address. He’d never heard the immortal Gold speak before, and the fact of that one small word surprised him so much he paused to look up at her, amazed that he could find hope in only a single syllable.
She didn’t address him next, however, but the pair who stood behind him. “Are these your mates, my children?”
Aurin and Aurik’s worried looks transformed to identical defensive scowls, both dragons bodily moving to protect their mates.
Aurum puffed out an exasperated breath. “Fools, I wish to help the Catalyst. Did you know you were mated to not one but two Udara? I sensed them when they stepped foot on the mountain but couldn’t be sure who they were until they moved this close. You keep them well primed, I see.”
The Twins shared a surprised look. Aurik said, “We knew they were special. But the truth is, they chose us. I don’t think Aurin and I ever really had a choice.”
“It is the way with Udara. And it is Fate that brought them here. You must let them help.”
Dimitri and Thea both moved forward over the objections of the Twins. “Damn right we’ll help,” Thea said. “Show me the way.”
Kris buried his bafflement at their insistence and continued out of the Pavilion, leading them down the path.
Breath of Fate: Chapter 6
“The two of you must stay,” Aurum said. Th
e Twins paused a step before exiting the Pavilion and looked back, identical expressions of confusion on their faces.
Rowan was mesmerized by the synchronicity of their movements and their features. They might be the most beautiful dragons she’d ever seen, and their anguish over seeing their mates leave left her heart in a state of intense longing. She looked back at Rafe and Trevor, who stood side by side watching events unfold. They met her gaze and she went to them, gripping the hands they extended in each of hers, the simple touch conveying the depth of their feelings as much as their eyes did.
“What happens now?” Rowan whispered.
“We follow Aurum’s lead,” Rafe said. “The Verdanith will need to be charged to full power. Only dragons can accomplish that.”
The huge golden dragon bowed her head toward Rafe, indicating she had heard. “Yes, child. We will need all of you to join us in the Mother’s Glade, but your human mates will need to remain behind. It is a place where only dragons may go.”
“What are we supposed to do, just sit on our asses and wait?” Erika asked.
“On the contrary. Your assistance is needed along with the Udara who have followed Kris. The pair of them are ideal sources of energy for Issa, but they can’t provide a constant flow. When they pause to rest, Kris will need other sources. Your presence here is quite fortuitous. The six of you should follow Kris while the Court—and our new guests—join us in the Glade. When the Verdanith is at full power, you will know it, but the hours flow differently where we are going, so it may take some time.” The dragon’s glimmering eyes rested on Rowan and Rafe, her long tongue darting out in a distinctly eager lick of the air between them.