Warrior Lover (Draconia Tales)

by Karilyn Bentley

  “He claimed a Draconi!”

  “He did not know. She did not have the common mark. How could he have known?”

  “Just because he didn’t realize he was breaking the law, does not change the fact that he broke it. He should still be punished.”

  “Then banish him from this Council. Replace him with another.”

  The room grew silent as all waited for Alviss to speak.

  “I wish for a stronger punishment. I say banish him from the land.”

  “That is not fair!” Viktor spat. “I should not have that kind of punishment when it was an honest mistake.”

  “True,” Oren said. “Banishment is too severe. Banish him from these chambers. Forbid him from another claim, but do not banish him from the land.”

  Again, all waited for Alviss.

  The elderly Draconi huffed. “Against my better judgment, I will do as you wish. Viktor, you are hereby banished from serving on the Council and will remain sequestered in your village, never allowed to replace Ayla with another claim. Do you still reject Enar as your son?”

  Viktor spat and glared at Alviss.

  “As you wish.” Alviss turned to the Watchers. “Return him to his home and ensure he stays there. And know this Viktor, you try to get Ayla back and I will kill you. You deserve to die for your despicable treatment of her. Go, depart from my sight.” He jerked his hand in a dismissive gesture.

  Surrounded by Watchers, Viktor left the room, but not before he got in one final snarl at Enar.

  Enar released the breath he’d been holding. He should want to see his father killed for abusing a Draconi female, or any female, but it was his father and he couldn’t help feeling a sigh of relief the man wasn’t sentenced to death. Although Enar still craved the chance to beat some sense into him. But even if he was given the chance, would the sense actually land in Viktor’s head?

  Doubtful.

  And what about him? Losing Lily, being banished from his village, what would he do?

  As if Alviss read his mind, the elderly Draconi spoke. “Enar. We have a seat open on the Council. As Thoren is now on the Council and you are his Watcher, you have first dibs for the seat. What say you?”

  Shock froze his tongue. Him? On the Council? The one thing he despised? His world had taken a metaphorical trip to the land of the wild beasts, so why not join the Council? Add to all the oddness called life? If he took Alviss up on the offer, he would be able to stay here, with Lily. Provided she would still have him.

  She would. He had to remain positive.

  If he took the position, he could change things, starting with the way claims were treated. Then move on to stomping out the Watcher rebellion.

  Not in his wildest imaginings would he have seen himself accepting this offer, deciding to sit on a Council he’d always hated.

  The Fates were twisted bitches.

  The whole thought of agreeing to the proposal, of embarking on a new life course...he’d rather face off against a rabid dragon.

  In this case he would be facing six dragons, who although not rabid, still managed to scare his balls into his intestines.

  Warriors did not allow hiding balls to keep them from doing things that needed done.

  “I accept.” Goddess help him.

  Wrinkles convulsed Alviss’s face as his lips turned. “Wonderful! Is there anything you’d like to see accomplished?”

  Where should he begin?

  For starters, once he left this chamber, he was getting his woman back. Not that he was going to mention that plan to the Council.

  For now, he was going to see if anything could be done about the women in the Claims’ House. Something he should have done many years ago, instead of hiding the abuse, enabling the abusers.

  “I don’t know if you can do anything about it, but Viktor’s treatment of my mother is commonplace.”

  “What?” Balthor spoke, eyes wide.

  “Watchers are not known for their kind treatment of their claims.”

  “Are you saying they abuse their women?” Alviss asked.

  “Yessir. And the women can’t leave either. Their necklaces keep them confined to the village.”

  “We need to do something. We cannot have abuse happening on our land.” Steam trickled from Balthor’s ears.

  “Why did you never say anything?”

  “I never realized anything could be done. I’ve never seen a necklace come off before a Watcher died.”

  “We still haven’t caught that bloody rogue Draconi and until we do, this situation will have to remain open. But we will do something about it. We can’t have that type of thing going on under our noses and let it lie there like rotten trash.”

  Enar nodded. “Thank you.”

  “Keep on the lookout for that Draconi. I want him captured. We have all our spies out looking for him, but he’s escaping us. Would you like to join them?”

  As Enar hesitated, Balthor spoke. “Let the male go home to his woman.”

  “Ah.” A grin split Alviss’s face. “I see. Go on now. But be on the lookout. We can’t have a male like Fasolt on the loose.”

  “Will do. Thank you. For my mother.”

  Alviss waved a hand. “It wasn’t enough, but it’s done. Get on with you.” He pointed to the door.

  “Yessir.” Enar nodded to the males and marched out the door. Grabbing the handles, he yanked the doors closed with a satisfying bang.

  Now he could focus on Lily. Specifically on winning her back. If only he knew how to convince her he belonged to her. What did he say to erase the memories of her time in his village? To convince her she was his?

  Hey, Lily, you’re mine, necklace or not. Come here now.

  That would go over like a dragon falling down a set of stairs.

  He could do this. Despite Viktor’s words, he was a Watcher, a warrior, and warriors didn’t give up without a fight. She was his.

  Each stride made to the Temple Courtyard reverberated with those words: Lily is mine, Lily is mine.

  By the time he pushed open the back gate, the mantra stuck in his head. She was his.

  And nothing would keep him from her.

  Chapter 24

  Lily paced around the foyer for the...what round was it now? Twenty, thirty? She’d lost count. After ascertaining she was physically unhurt, Aryana had marched out the door to confront Enar about making Lily cry. Several minutes later, twin beauties glided into the foyer, introduced themselves as Sofie and Vendela, took Lily to a room and gave her a change of clothing and a hankie for her eyes.

  No surprise they didn’t want her wearing the white transparent dress of a claim. Or ruining her borrowed dress with tears.

  But they’d left her alone and alone was not a state she wished to be in. Too many thoughts. Too many wishes. Too many plots for Enar’s destruction.

  Her new white linen dress with green and gold trim cinched around her waist and fell in waves to her feet. Her usual outfits consisted of trousers and a tunic, and the feel of the material floating around her legs felt odd. And the room constricted her movement. And did she mention the being alone issue?

  Since no one was around to stop her, she drifted down the hall until she came to the foyer and started pacing. Which was where she still remained. Pacing. It beat crying.

  Twenty steps to the wall of windows. Why had she allowed love to overrule her aloofness decree? If only she’d stuck with the plan, she wouldn’t be in this pacing predicament.

  Ten strides to the chairs clustered around the lit fireplace. Why hadn’t the High Priestess returned?

  Thirty steps to the opposite side. Why was she still here? To be fair, she knew the answer to that one: where else would she go?

  Most importantly, what did Aryana want her for? Was her dream where the High Priestess asked her to serve as the Temple Seer to come true?

  Lily shook her head and resumed pacing. At least she had been taken in by people who appeared to want her. So the High Priestess probably had an ulterior
motive for giving Lily a place to stay. So what? She’d been Enar’s pawn too.

  No longer. She belonged to no one but herself. From now on she made her own decisions.

  Good idea. So why was she still pacing? Back to the fireplace, where the fire burned a cheerful crackling. Could a Draconi breathe a fire to life when they weren’t in dragon form? Did their hands smoke like Ayla’s? The next time she saw someone, she’d ask.

  She did an about face and marched to the opposite wall. Where was everyone? Shouldn’t priestesses be running around? Were they fawning over Enar? Again?

  Her growl bounced off the wall in front of her and slapped her in the face. She might have entertained thoughts of Enar’s destruction, but she’d be a goat’s mother before she let another female flirt with him.

  He was hers.

  Wait a minute. What was she thinking? He wasn’t hers. After his lies and deceptions, did she still want him?

  It shocked her to realize the answer to that question was a resounding yes.

  Evening sunlight drifted through the open window bathing the foyer with the smell of cut grass and the sound of birdsong. Even the stone walls breathed peace.

  The foyer might bring peace, but Lily couldn’t bring herself to stop pacing long enough to see if her spirit could attain the condition.

  “Lily?”

  Lily turned, her skirt flaring around her ankles. “Keara?”

  “Lily!” With a squeal, Keara launched herself at Lily, grasping her in a bone-crushing hug. “I thought I’d never see you again. What are you doing here?”

  “Enar and I went our separate ways and I came back here. Why are you not with Thoren?”

  Keara held Lily at arm’s length, her eyes narrowed. “Thoren went to get Jamie. We’re adopting him today.”

  “Congratulations. I think.”

  “He’s not so bad. What happened with Enar? Come sit and tell me.”

  Once Lily started talking, she couldn’t stop, the words tumbling from her mouth like a flood. Keara held her hand the entire time, the little squeezes a silent show of support.

  “So here I am. I’m hoping Aryana meant what she said about teaching me to be their new Seer.”

  “Oh, Lily, I—”

  Pop! Whatever Keara planned on saying vanished at the appearance of two figures.

  Lily’s mouth fell open. What was Ayla doing here? And why did Aryana have smoke steaming from her ears, her face a message of vengeful anger? Lily stared at Enar’s mother as the woman looked around the high-ceilinged room with wide eyes and trembling lips. Color drained from Ayla’s already pale face and she swayed, stumbling into Aryana.

  Aryana grabbed the Ayla around the waist, while Lily and Keara surged toward the two. Ayla might be bitter—and who could blame her—but Lily knew she needed a friend at the moment, someone she didn’t fear. It wasn’t until she drew closer to the older woman, that Lily realized what was different in Ayla’s appearance.

  She didn’t wear her necklace.

  Lily smiled and threw her arms around Enar’s mother, taking some of her weight. “You’re free!”

  “Lily? What are you doing here?” Ayla returned the hug, hanging on like Lily was a rope in a stormy sea.

  “Who is this?” Keara asked.

  “This is Enar’s mother, Ayla,” Lily answered.

  “I need to get her to the infirmary.” Aryana spoke through gritted teeth. Despite her clenched jaw, her voice swirled like a wind storm, bouncing off the stone walls, slamming with vehemence into the air. “I transported us here so she could see the Temple. This room was designed to bring peace.”

  Lily didn’t need to read minds to see Aryana needed the peace offered by the foyer. Anger rolled off her like a tangible fist beating into Lily’s bones.

  “Keara, keep Lily with you. And tell Thoren I need to speak with him.” Aryana grasped Ayla’s hand. “Follow me and we’ll see to your arm.”

  “Is there something I can do to help?” Keara asked.

  “You’re needed for Jamie’s adoption ceremony. I’ll be back.”

  She strode down the hall, leading Ayla, the two disappearing from sight, the cloud of rage dispersing.

  “You are welcome to stay with Thoren and me, you know.”

  “I know. It’s just...I wish things could be different between Enar and me.”

  “Maybe you should give him a chance to explain himself.”

  “What’s to explain?”

  “Maybe he wanted to protect you from reality. You never know with men. They come up with some wild thoughts and then tell us we’re not logical.” Keara shook her head.

  Lily sniffed. Keara’s words rang true, but Enar still needed to do a lot of explaining. And apologizing.

  “Maybe.”

  “Why don’t you come to Jamie’s adoption ceremony? It’s a small gathering, just family.”

  “All right.”

  Lily followed Keara to the same chapel her friend was mated in several days ago. She met Thoren’s large family, his mother, three sisters, one brother and a nephew. Discovered Annaliese was Keara’s aunt and that she had left Ayla in the care of one of the other healing priestesses. Thoren’s father, Balthor, and Keara’s grandfather—who received the designation as the oldest person Lily had ever seen—popped into the room.

  “Sorry, work held us up.”

  As soon as they sat, Aryana began the ceremony. Lily dabbed at her eyes, which started to leak again. Stupid things. She’d never cried so much in her life as she had in the last hour. Too late now to go back and protect her heart. Even if she had the choice, would she go back and change things? Go back and ensure she never fell in love with Enar?

  It surprised her the answer was no. When she first met Enar, she knew loving him was her fate. Why else would she want to protect her heart, to never become like her parents, disillusioned by a love gone sour? As Aryana droned on about adoption and families, Lily mulled over her feelings. She should be paying attention to the words, but all she could think of was her life since meeting Enar.

  Life. By rescuing her, by saving her from death, he’d rewarded her with life. And love. Not to mention talented fingers in the bedroll. But if she’d only allowed him to touch her at night, she wouldn’t have experienced the ups and downs of life, of loving another. Protecting her heart wasn’t the answer. Learning to live with the one she loved was.

  But how did she go about doing that when he lied to her about his people? About his mother, his father? She refused to return to the Claims’ House. Wasn’t happening. Refused to wear his necklace. Refused to be lied to. He might not want her on her terms.

  In which case she needed to provide for herself, learning to use her Sight instead of fleeing from it. No time like the present to get started on her new life.

  If she had her mind made up, why were her eyes still watering?

  Must be all the incense in the room. Pining away was not on her to-do list.

  The ceremony ended before Lily finished dabbing her eyes. Quick and succinct. Or maybe it had been drawn out and wordy. Her thoughts consumed her to the point where reality disappeared.

  What a way to show support for her friend by tuning out the whole ceremony.

  “Lily?” Aryana touched her arm, Keara’s worried face peering from behind her shoulder.

  “I’m sorry. Lost in thought.”

  “It’s all right. Why don’t we get you to your room?”

  No, no, no. Not alone time in her room with nothing but her thoughts. “Why don’t you show me how to become a Seer?” She might as well get started on her new life. Plus keeping busy would give her time to figure out what to say to Enar the next time she saw him.

  Convincing him to want her topped her to-do list.

  Aryana exchanged a look with Keara. “All right. You can come with me and I’ll explain to you the role of a Seer.”

  “Thank you.” She swiped her cheeks with her now damp hankie. Why did her stupid eyes continue to leak? She was not pining. Was.
Not. Pining.

  Keara gave her a hug. “It will be all right. I’ll come find you later.”

  Lily squeezed Keara’s waist. “I’ll be fine. Don’t worry about me.”

  Keara gave her cheek a peck. “Enjoy your time with Ari. I won’t worry about you much.” She grinned and Lily answered the smile.

  Aryana walked out of the room and Lily followed, stepping into her new life.

  ****

  Enar strode down the corridor to the chapel where Sofie or Vendela—he could never tell the twins apart—told him Lily would be. Apparently Thoren was adopting Jamie.

  May the Goddess bless his friend. The male needed all the help he could get with that boy.

  Just like he needed all the celestial assistance he could get to win Lily back. Speaking of Lily.

  His woman walked behind Aryana, her eyes staring in a determined manner at the back of the High Priestess’s head.

  “Lily. May I have a word with you?”

  “You may not. She is now an acolyte and is going to training class.” Aryana crossed her arms and gave him a glare that rivaled one of his fiercest.

  “I don’t mind speaking with him.”

  His heart gave a leap at Lily’s words. So what if she spoke them through gritted teeth? One step down, many more to go.

  Ari whirled. “You don’t have to if you don’t want to.”

  “You have no idea how much I want to.”

  “Very well. When you are finished, someone will show you to your room. There are things I need to attend to if you do not wish to begin training tonight.”

  “Thank you.” Lily inclined her head.

  Ari marched up to Enar, eyes narrowed in a glare that would make a lesser male’s balls shrivel. “You make her cry again and I will personally burn you until you are nothing more than a large blister,” she hissed.

  Enar gulped and forced his feet to remain still instead of darting back several steps. “I don’t plan on it.”

  “Good. Keep it that way. I’ll see you later, Lily.” With those words, she vanished.

  White lines bracketed Lily’s lips as her hands twisted a piece of cloth. Was that a hankie? His chest ached to see her red-rimmed eyes, the blotches of color sprinkling her face. The knowledge his actions caused her tears. The only good thing coming from this was he finally realized the cause of his chest pains. Thoughts of losing Lily. What kind of a male was he to not realize that earlier?