by Laurie Roma
Letting her go about her business, Jaden tried to do what she asked.
And he enjoyed every second of it.
* * *
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Jaden woke feeling more rested than he’d ever felt before.
He heard the sounds of his warriors training outside, and reminded himself to turn down the volume so the noise wouldn’t overwhelm him. When he opened his eyes, he found Katra sitting cross-legged next to him. Smiling at her, he reached out to stroke a hand over her thigh. “What are you doing?”
“Good rising, mate. How do you feel?”
“Good.” In fact, he felt excellent. He was stretching as he did every morning before he realized there was no need. Feeling a wave of apprehension from her, he sat up. She bit her lower lip, and he reached up to soothe it with his thumb. “What is it, Katra?”
“I was just hoping that you felt okay after…”
“My lady, I feel fine. Truly. Did the conversion work?”
“It did.” Katra smiled weakly.
“But?”
Sighing, she said, “I think maybe you should see for yourself.”
At her gentle urging, he got up and strode naked to the mirror that was fixed on the far wall. When he stood in front of it, his jaw dropped open. Staring back at him was a reflection he barely recognized. His eyes were no longer pure black, but a swirling liquid mercury that shifted from black and silver. With the addition of his new dark silver tattoos, he looked like a Dragon Warrior.
His discovery didn’t bother him like he thought it would, because he finally looked look what he truly was…Katra’s mate. He saw her walk up behind him and felt her gentle touch on his skin as she trailed her fingertips lightly over the markings on his neck and arms.
“You are not upset.”
Turning to her, he pulled her into his arms. “No, I’m not.”
He knew she could feel his emotions and allowed the love he felt for her to flow freely through their bond. He leaned down to kiss her, growling when her mouth opened to his seeking tongue. Jerking back in surprise, his hands flew to his mouth to feel the fangs that he now had.
“This…is a surprise.”
“Oops?”
His laugh was tinged with nerves. “Fangs are definitely something I could have used a warning about, but…I’ll get used to them.”
At lease, he hoped he would.
“You will,” she promised, wrapping her arms around his waist. “I know we have a great deal of planning to do, but I was hoping we could enjoy a few hours alone together this afternoon.”
Looking out the window, he saw by the position of the sun that it was already afternoon, but he didn’t see any issue with agreeing to her request. Especially, since it was what he wanted as well. “What do you have in mind?”
“I was hoping we could go flying. I would like for you to be able to embrace your dragon spirit.”
His eyes widened. “I…have a dragon spirit?”
“Aye, you do.”
His grin was infectious. “Then I think flying would be the perfect way to spend the afternoon.”
They made their way down to the great hall, both of them dressed in matching black vests and pants. Jaden held back his laughter as jaws dropped when his people got a good look at him.
“At least they’re more shocked than I was,” he told Katra, making her laugh.
When they reached the courtyard, Jaden guided Katra over to the training field off to the left. He wasn’t surprised to see Katra’s brothers standing on the side with their arms braced over their chests as they watched his warriors train. The twins turned as one, both of them nodding in satisfaction when they saw him.
Reaching out, Killian gripped Jaden’s forearm with his hand. “Honor to your mating, brother.”
He received the same greeting from Ryker, then both brothers leaned down to kiss Katra’s cheek. Jaden felt Katra’s love for her brothers through their bond, and he realized how glad he was that they had come to visit. Gaining their acceptance of him filled him with joy, and hearing them call him brother touched his heart. Despite his newfound fondness for them, he was instantly suspicious when he saw the wicked gleam enter Killian’s glowing eyes.
“Now, I believe it is customary in Tartarus for a male interested in taking a female as their consort to prove they are worthy on the battlefield.”
“We are already mated, Killian,” Katra said dryly. “And I am already his consort.”
“But we have not gotten to see if he can fight,” Ryker reminded her. “He will still have to appease us.”
“I’d be happy to accommodate you,” Jaden said, thrilling the brothers.
“But not now. We are going flying,” Katra informed them. “Why not make your princely selves useful and train our warriors while we are away.”
Killian stroked his chin with his forefinger and thumb. “Aye, we could do that, but we demand satisfaction upon your return.”
“Done,” Jaden said.
“I wouldn’t mind a bit of exercise, if you feel up to it while you wait, Prince Killian, Prince Ryker,” Lord Rego said as he, Calum, Ryodan and Isak joined them.
“Ah, some sport! Sounds good to me,” Ryker announced, slapping Rego on the back, hard enough to make the other man stagger.
Rego straightened, then he gasped when he got a good look at Jaden. “Your eyes! And your arms…”
“Don’t be jealous, Rego. I’m sure you will find a strong female willing to claim you someday, too.” Jaden winked at Katra.
Katra reached over and closed Calum’s jaw for him. Shaking out of his stupor, he bowed to her slightly. “Forgive me, Princess Katra. I was just caught off guard for a moment.”
“Princess?”
“Aye,” Killian boomed out. “You may be Lady Tor, but you are and always will be a royal princess of the house of Tesera. We have informed your people of this and that they should treat you accordingly.”
“Killian!” Katra whined.
“You will be given your due, sister,” Ryker admonished.
“Does that make you a prince, my lord?” Isak asked, his eyes sparkling with amusement.
Jaden scowled, making Killian, Ryker and Katra laugh.
“It does,” Ryker stated. “That is what happens when you mate a princess, although you are still lower ranking than us, and always will be.”
Ryker laughed when Jaden cursed at him. Taking the heat off him, Rego said, “I’m going to have to return to my palace soon, where I’m still only a lowly lord. We have the New Year festival coming up and preparations have to be made. I’ll remain here for a few more days so we can discuss our plans.”
Jaden nodded. “That works. We can—”
“Lord Tor! Your men said we could train with them, if that’s okay with you.” Commander Matt Malloy ran over, then stopped as if he’d hit a brick wall. He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, then opened his eyes again. “I should’ve been ready for this, but the eyes…stars, they’re still a little freaky.”
“Commander, I thought you of all people would be used to Dragon Warriors by now,” Katra joked.
“I am, or at least I thought I was. Princess,” Malloy added hastily when Killian growled at him. “Shit. Sorry. I meant, I’m sorry, princess.”
“Brother, stop scaring my friend,” Katra demanded.
Killian sighed heavily. “You never let me have any fun.”
She laughed. “Go train with the warriors. That should be fun enough for you. Jaden and I will return in a few hours, then we can speak of our plans for war. Right now, we are going flying.”
“Flying?” Ryodan wheezed out.
“Aye,” she said cheerfully. “As dragons. We shall return.”
Amused by the astonishment on his warriors’ faces, Jaden grinned at them, then held out his hand to Katra. “Shall we?”
Taking his hand, they walked out the front gates together. When they were alone outside the walls of the palace, Katra took in the beauty before her. “Our
land is very beautiful.”
“It is. Do you see that?” Even though it was daylight out, he pointed to the three moons that were visible in the sky. “Once a year all the moons are on the same side of the night sky. It is what tells us that a new year has come.”
“Which is why Rego is hosting a festival?”
“Yes, and I think it’ll be a good opportunity to scope out his palace for traitors.”
“I noticed something when we were back in the palace,” Katra said. “When you pushed your energy into me…”
Jaden came to a sudden halt, gripping her arms. “Are you hurt? Did something go wrong?”
“Nay,” she assured him. “I believe whatever you did has enhanced my ability to sense other people’s emotions. I have always been good at it, but it was as if I knew what everyone was feeling back there. Could that be?”
“I’ve always been able to sense people’s energy,” Jaden explained. “It’s something that all Tarins have to a degree, but my ability has always been better than most. You must have gotten my ability when I merged with you.”
She smiled at him. “Then we both received gifts.”
“Speaking of, wouldn’t this be easier if we did it off the tower or something?”
“Nay…this way it is a shorter fall.”
He paled slightly. “Good thinking.”
Laughing, she bumped her shoulder against him. “That was a joke, mate. You will not fall. I would not let that happen, especially in front of so many of your warriors.”
Jaden shot her a confused look then glanced up to see the high wall guarding the palace was packed full of warriors looking down at them and watching. He scowled, but Katra just laughed and tugged him along with her as she continued walking.
“I thought we could fly out over the water,” Katra said, looking out towards the ocean.
Jaden looked out over the water and smiled. There had been a few occasions when he’d been out on a boat, but the thought of flying through the sky was exhilarating. Normally, he would never say it to anyone, but Katra knew exactly what he was feeling so he freely admitted, “I’m a little nervous about this.”
“You will do wonderful, mate. Embrace your dragon spirit and see the gift you have been given.”
“What do I do?”
Katra leaned in and pressed her lips lightly on his. “Your dragon spirit is now part of your soul. It is a part of who and what you are. Do you feel the magic humming beneath your skin? Your dragon spirit feeds your magic. Call to it. Call it forth and embrace the change.”
Jaden tried to figure out how to do what she’d asked, but he couldn’t seem to figure out how to tap into the magic he felt running through his veins now. Perhaps he was too literal, but thinking about changing into a dragon just seemed so fantastical to him that he couldn’t get his mind to understand how to accomplish it. Frustration ate at him, but he felt Katra soothe him through their bond.
She pulled away and took a few steps back. “I am going to change first. This way you can feel what I do when it happens.”
Jaden watched as Katra shifted into her dragon form. One second, Katra was standing in front of him, the next, her large silver dragon stood before him. He felt the change rush through her, noted what she felt when it happened. Experiencing it through her gave him exactly what he needed to make his own change.
“Nay, mate. Not my dragon. I am the dragon.”
Finally understanding what she was telling him, he nodded. The last time he’d seen her dragon, she had been pissed at him. Taking this opportunity, he approached her, wanting to see her up close. Katra in dragon form was huge. Her iridescent scales shimmered in the sunlight, highlighting all her beautiful colors, from silver to dark-gray.
She towered over him, but he wasn’t afraid. Her large wings fluttered softly, stirring the wind so it blew against him, like a sweet, gentle kiss. Lowering her head so he could look into her eyes, he smiled seeing Katra’s silver eyes shining back at him with love.
“You are amazing, mate,” he whispered. Reaching out, his hand paused before he touched her. “Can I?”
“Aye, please do.”
He touched her head gently, then moved around her, running his hand over her scales. Feeling her shiver beneath his touch, he smiled when he sensed her pleasure. “I’m surprised you can feel that.”
“My scales are hard, impenetrable armor, but feeling you touch me is like you are touching my soul.”
Wanting to share the experience with her fully, Jaden moved back and prepared himself for his own change. He could sense Katra encouraging him to call forth his dragon spirit, and focused himself on the energy he could feel rising up. Trying not to think of it as a separate being, he willed the change upon him.
Gritting his teeth against the pain, he forced himself to relax. His dragon spirit was created out of love, and knowing that helped him give in. The shift was like nothing he’d ever imagined. Pure white light surrounded him as he felt the magic inside of him explode. He let it consume him, become one with him, so that he had no doubt that he was the dragon spirit.
For a moment, he was suspended, one with an ancient power so old it was like seeing the beginning of time. His mind was flooded with the knowledge of the ages, giving him access to anything and everything at once. It would have been completely overpowering, but he felt his mind expand, allowing all to seep into him in one fluid stream. The precious magic was something so perfect it was humbling to feel, and yet it also filled him with such strength he felt invincible.
It was like becoming pure energy.
Jaden had always appreciated his land and his people, but now he felt as if were touching the very heartbeat of Tartarus. He hadn’t understood that the conversion wouldn’t take anything away from him…it only sought to give him more.
He was no longer just a Tarin lord.
Jaden Tor was now a Dragon Warrior, the true mate of Katra Tesera, and the guardian of Tartarus—defender of all.
Katra watched her mate transform for the first time and was overwhelmed with the pride and love she felt for him. When the shift was complete, Jaden’s dragon form was absolutely amazing. When they used their magic, an individual’s dragon became the color that most aptly represented them. Jaden’s dragon was big and black, his scales shimmering a dark metallic silver, with the addition of blood red spikes on his tail and the tips of his enormous wings. His dragon matched the color of his eyes, a perfect merging of the two of them together, accented with the colors of his crest.
Jaden’s large head swiveled, and he looked over at his mate. “We are not just warriors…we are guardians.”
“Aye, we are.”
A resounding cheer came from the distance, and they turned back to the palace to see all the warriors on the wall shouting their approval. Jaden glanced back at Katra. If a dragon could grin, he would have.
“Come, mate. Join me in the sky. Let us give them something to really cheer about.”
They launched into the air together, their large wings flapping to gain speed. Jaden looked back at his palace, at the people under his protection, and opened his mouth to let out a stream of fire.
The display thrilled the Tarins, and their answering roar echoed across the land.
* * * *
“Mate, you have to stop growling at Rego’s warriors.”
Jaden turned to glare at another warrior that he thought was admiring Katra too closely. “These males shouldn’t be looking at you with lust in their eyes.”
They were attending the New Year’s celebration at Rego’s palace, and Jaden didn’t like the crowd that had gathered in the great hall.
A few days ago, after he and Katra had flown out over the ocean, they had taken a break on a small island that she had created to make love. When they returned to the palace, they’d met with Katra’s brothers, the Alliance officers, Rego and Jaden’s warriors to come up with a plan for the upcoming battle that would occur when they took down Lomar Palace.
But that could
n’t happen until they found the traitor.
Jaden and Rego had argued over whether or not to tell their other allies about what was going on, but Jaden had been adamant about keeping the information they had contained. It wasn’t that he didn’t trust the other lords, but if Rego had a traitor in his group, then others could as well. Although it angered him, Jaden had faced the idea that one of his own people could be in league with Korsek.
To put his mind at ease, Katra had suggested that he introduce her to all the people in his palace. Together—along with the aid of Killian and Ryker—they had cleared all his people, reaffirming his faith in them.
Now, they were at Rego’s palace to do the same thing.
Katra was dressed in another gown of her own creation. This time, it was a red dress with a layer of sheer black material over it. The low-cut bodice showed the generous swell of her breasts, which had Jaden scowling since they left Tor Palace.
Jaden was wearing his usual black body armor, but Katra had made a little adjustment to all the clothing the warriors that lived in Tor Palace wore. Although their body armor was still black, each chest covering now had a dragon design on the front. It was black, so it remained subtle, but it also helped them identify the Tor warriors from Rego’s. In the crowd that had gathered for the festival, it was a useful device to decipher who was who with a quick glance.
They had just arrived at Rego Palace with a contingent of warriors, the Alliance officers and her brothers. The rest of the warriors had stayed home to protect Kylie, Teya and the other females that hadn’t been allowed to attend. So far, no one had stood out for them, but they remained hopeful that they would catch anyone who was tied to Korsek. The only problem was, it seemed like there were a lot of Tarins that had something to hide.
Secrets and lies seemed to be a staple at Rego’s palace.
Malloy and Calum had come over to speak with them, and Katra pulled her attention away from where she’d been watching her brothers. Killian and Ryker were surrounded by a group of females, but she could tell they had no interest for any of them. “My brothers need a mate.”