by JF Jenkins
"I didn't have any more pity for him after he had his guard kidnap me from my apartment. He told me I would be his queen, the head of the Elite, and I would have everything I could have ever dreamed of. All I had to do was agree to be his."
They all sat in silence for a while. Gwen didn't know what to think.
"I take it you agreed?" she asked.
"Not because of greed. I didn't have a choice any more than you did. The thing you must understand about Lynx, especially, is that he has a silver tongue. He can make anything sound wonderful, and he can talk you into anything. I'm not proud of being with him, but if I had said no...."
She didn't need to finish the thought. Gwen didn't know much about the Great Inero Lord. But with how everyone described him, she wouldn't have put it past him to do whatever he could to get his way. The little bits and pieces of the mating ritual Jason had described to her also gave her shivers. If they'd have hurt her for trying to get away, she didn't want to imagine what they would have done to Navi.
In a rare display of emotion, Chris reached out and put a hand on Navi's arm, letting it settle there. His eyes held nothing but admiration for the woman. It was then Gwen realized that he was in love with her. Did she love him back, though?
"How can you stand it?" Gwen asked quietly. "Letting him do whatever he wants to you."
"It's common here," Navi explained. "Most aren't forceful, but they know what to say. They know how to persuade. It's kind of like a magic spell. I think he means it when he says he thinks he loves me. I don't love him, but I still acted like an idiot and—"
"Don't blame yourself. It's not your fault he's manipulating you."
"True, and now I have to wait until he gets tired of me. As soon as he finds someone else to enjoy, I'm free."
"And that's why I'm lucky," Gwen said at last. Jason hadn't tried lying to her or manipulating her.
"Yes, that's why."
"He is a good guy. Jason, I mean."
"Yes, he is. I'm hoping the best for you two. Even if you don't find yourselves head over heels for one another, I'm confident he'll figure out how to protect you when the year is up."
"What do you mean?" she said, her eyes widening.
Navi raised an eyebrow and said, "In a year, if you two haven't consummated your marriage, you'll be given to another, and he will be forced to choose another bride. He didn't tell you this?"
"No."
"Interesting, I'm sure it's because he didn't want you to stress out about it. You've got a lot of time to plan. A lot is going to change soon. Hopefully for the better."
"I don't understand." Gwen frowned. She didn't know why he wouldn't be honest with her about that. She could have helped him find a way around it. Unless he was hoping it would be a nonissue by then.
Navi put a hand over Chris's. "The Great Inero Lord has plans. My gut is telling me nothing will be the same by the fall."
"For better or worse?"
"If the Great Lord has his way, it'll be for worse."
"So then why will things be changing for the better soon?"
Navi smirked, "Because I don't think he's going to have his way for a change. Not if I can help it."
Chapter Eighteen
Matt hated lying to his brother. He felt nauseated to the point of pain. He promised his father that he wouldn't tell a soul. Besides, he didn't believe anyone would understand, especially not Jason. Not yet, at least. There was still too much that needed to be done before they could unite the nation for the cause. Matt didn't understand everything either, but that would change tonight. His father had promised him answers.
Sneaking out of the room was much easier than Matt anticipated. As he quietly made his way through the suite, he heard Jason talking on his phone. Matt slipped out the door easily. The halls were empty. It was the middle of the night and almost everyone was either sleeping or trying to. Matt would suffer in the morning for being out late, but some things were more important than rest.
Outside the housing complex, everything was peaceful and still. Crickets were singing, and a few fireflies glowed in the distance. He conjured up a small flame in the palm of his hand to use as a guide as he walked along the path leading to the Grand Hall.
At first, Matt worried the doors would be locked and he would have to break in. They were unlocked. Was the building always open like this? He walked in and turned off his magic since all of the lights were on inside. He couldn't help but wonder what was going on. Despite the lack of cover, he felt the need to tiptoe through the hallway anyway—if only to not disturb the quiet surrounding him.
He was told to go to the Great Hall where Lynx held the meetings. The grand room was pitch black aside from one small flame that his father held in his hands. The flame Matt created before returned once more, and he used it to see his way down the stairs.
"Father?" Matt called quietly, not wanting to startle the man by joining him unannounced.
"I'm here," Lynx said, raising his hands to his face. The fire illuminated it, and Matt saw him smiling. He couldn't remember the last time he'd seen a genuine smile on his face. They were starting to become few and far between.
"Are you sure this is okay?" Matt asked. He stopped a foot away from Lynx and raised an eyebrow. The last thing he wanted was for either of them to get into trouble. There was more than enough of that going around these days for his people. They didn't need more.
Lynx nodded, making a motion for Matt to sit down on the floor. Matt did so, his body shaking. Then his father joined him.
"Yes, we are fine so long as we don't leave a mess," his father explained. "The buildings for the council are always open for use, outside of the library of course, but only the Great Lords may enter there. We are trusting of our kin."
Funny he would say that given how much hatred he held for the Oceina tribe. Matt didn't question him on the matter though. It wasn't his place to doubt, only to obey. He stared at his father, his eyes unblinking.
In the light of the fire, his father appeared so much younger than he actually was. His eyes were filled with an intense determination, and his jaw was tight. A few strands of his chin-length black hair fell in front of his face, and for a moment Matt didn't recognize him. He looked almost sinister. He only knew his father to be a gentle, caring man. He shuddered.
"Is something the matter?" Lynx asked.
"It's cold," Matt said. The room was cold in the dark. They needed to refocus on business. "What are we doing here?"
"I need your help to summon the prophet. My magic is not strong enough," he explained.
"I don't know how," Matt said, hoping this would get him out of the task. He should have known better than to make such an assumption.
"I will teach you."
Slowly, Lynx lowered his hands, placing his fire over a small pile of wood between them. It took him a moment, but he was able to get a strong flame going.
Matt took in a sharp breath then looked around him. The massive room felt eerie when it was empty. Even if no one was there, he could still feel thousands of eyes on him as if the ghosts of the past Dragon Lords still lived there.
"Why are we here? Why couldn't you just call?"
Lynx smiled. "I cannot summon the prophet outside. This is the only indoor space large enough to perform the spell and hide it from view. I cannot simply call because anyone could listen in," he said then raised his hands high.
Matt watched him.
"Do as I do," Lynx said.
Matt raised his hands, hating the exposed feeling it gave him. Then his father began to chant—words he'd never heard before. Matt couldn't quite make out what they were, so instead, he closed his eyes and focused on the prophet. He'd met the boy a handful of times but hadn't spoken with him much. Maybe he would finally be let in on this big secret.
Deep inside of him, power began to grow. He felt it inside his stomach first. The anxiousness he felt was so overwhelming it made him nauseous. The beating of his heart quickened to a painful pace. Energy
built up to the point where he felt like he might explode if he didn't get up and move to relieve it. Then his hands became hot. He realized why when he opened his eyes. Flames shot out from his hands and onto the wood. The fire grew, nearly engulfing them. Matt was afraid, but not of the fire. He was afraid of the strength of his own magic.
"My lord?" A young voice entered the room, echoing throughout.
For a brief moment, Matt panicked, thinking someone had walked in and interrupted their spell. Then he noticed the face of a boy forming in the fire.
"I'm here," Lynx said, breathless.
"I'm glad you were able to contact me. I was worried."
"You have nothing to worry over. Tell me what troubles you so."
Matt blinked in awe. The boy looked about him as if he were afraid. Then his eyes settled on Matt.
"The Touched. Half, but still Touched all the same."
Matt nodded at the boy. "Yes, my brother and I."
"He is not here?"
"No," Lynx said. "He's not ready to understand what is going on. Jason is logical. He needs facts and evidence. He is not a man of faith like Matthias."
"He will have his evidence when it is time for them to receive the greatest foresight possible. A message from God himself that only they are to receive."
Matt's jaw dropped. "What's going on?"
The boy ignored him. "The Oceina Lord is aware of your plans. He is a danger to your true glory. You must eliminate him as soon as possible. When he falls, the Oceina Empire will as well."
"Yes, I am prepared, just as you've advised me. My army has combined with the Terran, our weapons infused with their magic. Once the Oceina Lord is fallen, we will be able to strike hard and fast. They will not be our weakness any longer," Lynx said.
"God will smile upon your battle. Your true land will be reclaimed. Your true power fulfilled. From your blood the Great Dragon will be born in the city once known as Oceina, and peace will reign. Their arrogance will be their downfall."
The pounding of Matt's heart was beginning to overwhelm him. "Father, I think..."
"Lord, let him rest," the boy said, speaking on his behalf. "I only have one last thing I need to share with you tonight. There are spies in your nation. The Oceina Lord is looking for his proof. Do not let him receive it. Eliminate him before it can arrive. With him, the suspicion will die."
The fire from Matt's palms disappeared and he grunted loudly. He gagged as the nausea caught up with him, and he felt too weak to keep it at bay. Sweat dripped from his forehead.
"Are you all right?" Lynx asked, finally noticing the physical stress the spell had caused.
Matt nodded, hunching forward and panting. "I'll be alright, but I think you owe me a more thorough explanation."
"Yes, I do owe you that much. I would prefer to give more details to you when we are in a safer location, however."
"An outline is fine."
"You already know that the Oceina are ungodly in their lifestyle. They and the Aero do not rule over the humans as according to God's original will." Matt nodded, and his father continued. "In the Holy Book, the original translation, it says that the Great Dragon will come from the Oceina city. He will be born of Inero blood. This is something all of the original Dragon Lords knew, but the other tribes have conveniently forgotten now that centuries have passed. Then again, the other tribes do not study the Holy Book anymore, a mistake which will be their downfall. It is displeasing to our Heavenly Father."
The room resonated in silence for a moment while his father let Matt process what was said. The Great Dragon—the one, true, answer to everything— would be born of Inero blood? Matt couldn't help but beam with pride. More often than not, the Inero were thought the least of the four tribes because of their smaller size and inability to fly. To be chosen to bring the Great Dragon was a huge honor.
"I'm glad you are pleased. The Oceina land was originally supposed to be our own. The first Lord over the Inero, Ry, saw it first on the day of creation and wanted it for himself. The other Great Lords knew this because he made sure to vocalize his request. The Terran, being the first to choose, respected this desire. He chose the rocky terrain to amplify his power. The Aero, next to choose, also were respectful of the Lord's wishes and wished for the wind and sky. The Oceina Lord, however, decided to take the land for himself as it was more fitting for his water magic."
That wasn't the story Matt was familiar with, but he trusted his father to tell him the truth. In school, he had been taught that all four lords had equally chosen their land. The decision had been mutual.
"The battle we are preparing for has been a long time coming. Oceina City is supposed to be ours to rule. Order must be restored to the world between our kind and the humans. It is my calling to do so."
"I understand now," Matt said, and for the most part he did. No one could fight the destiny God had put upon him. Many tried, but in the end, things would happen as they were meant to. It angered him that the Oceina would try to hinder his people from fulfilling their life's calling. There was still a lot he wanted to know but it would have to wait.
His body less weak now, Matt stood. Everything would feel normal again by the morning. Making a rising motion with his hands, he suggested his father do the same.
"Thank you for telling me. I'm honored you trust me so much. You do not need to explain anymore here. We can talk again at home. I know it was a great risk for you to even do this to begin with," Matt said.
Lynx put a hand on Matt's shoulder. "You're a good man. You will be rewarded for all you have done for our cause."
They walked back to the complex together, neither one saying a word. When Matt returned to his room, his brother was awake and watching the television in the den.
"Where'd you go?" Jason asked, his eyebrows perking up.
"Out for a run. I thought it might help me feel more tired since it is daytime back home. I can never get used to the time change," Matt said. He hated lying to him, especially right after promising to be more honest, but he didn't want to betray his father's trust either. In the end, he needed to be loyal to the needs of his nation. Nobody else was ready to know about this.
His brother bought the story. He nodded, returning his attention to the TV. "Get some sleep."
"You as well," Matthias managed. Guilt tugged at his heart, making it hard for him to speak. He retreated to his room and took a shower. He knew he should have called to check on Kat, but he was far too tired to think of anything else beyond his father's revelations. If the smell of his own sweat hadn't been so overwhelming, he would have simply gone straight to bed.
Chapter Nineteen
Kat didn't receive a phone call from Matt until right before bed. She had crawled under the covers, turned off the light, and had done her best to be strong and not worry about him. She knew he could take care of himself. She knew that he loved her. He wasn't good at expressing it, but she could feel it in her heart. What bothered her was that she hadn't heard from him once since his arrival. The only reason she knew he was still alive was because sometimes she could hear him thinking. She didn't dare interrupt him. All of these thoughts were about the meetings, and she knew better than to butt in while he worked. When the phone rang, she felt her heart relax.
"Matt!"
"You weren't sleeping were you? I was going to call earlier, but it was such a busy day. I needed to rest."
"I wasn't sleeping. I promise. Even if I was, I wouldn't mind," she said, just happy to hear his voice—his real voice and not simply whatever random thoughts happened to pass her way.
Silence filled the air for a while. The only sound she could hear was her own breathing, and occasionally his. Finally, he said, "I miss you."
Every doubt Kat had disappeared with those three words. His tone was light and sincere. For the first time since they were wed, he reminded her of the guy she'd met years ago.
"I miss you too," she said.
"You're doing okay though, right? Navi and Gwen are tre
ating you well?"
Kat rolled her eyes and snorted. "Yes, when they have time for me, they're nice."
"What do you mean when they have time for you?"
"They gave the impression that they'd rather be doing other things than talking with me," Kat said, waving a hand even if he couldn't see it. "It doesn't matter. I've made other friends, and they treat me well."
"I'm sorry."
"You don't need to apologize. I like Gwen and Navi, I do. We just don't have much in common without you guys around. It happens." That's what she told herself. It helped the rejection hurt less. Even if she did have other friends now, Gwen was her sister-in-law. Shouldn't they get along?
"Who have you made friends with?"
"Lenora."
"...oh."
She frowned. "Is something wrong?"
"No, I like Lenora. She's nice. I can see why father is still hung up on her, but you didn't hear that from me." He paused. "I just know things are complicated between her and Navi because of it. I don't want you to get caught up in the middle of their drama. I'm guessing you're spending time with Tiffy and Ariana as well then?"
"I just met Tiffy and Ariana today, actually. They're super nice to me. It's good because they're closer to my age. Lenora is wonderful, but she's kind of old."
"More like a second mom than a friend right?" He laughed. She loved hearing his laugh, especially when it sounded sincere. Before he left, every other time he'd done it he had sounded stiff and forced.
She sighed. "Yeah, and I like that. I like having a real mom."
"We could visit yours if you—"
"No, I don't want to go home. I'm fine leaving all of that behind. My parents wanted me to be an Elite. I am one now. I doubt they're missing me much." The last thing she wanted to see was her family. Sure, they had their few good moments, but the bad ones were more often. Now she had a new family, and they were everything she'd always dreamed of having.
"Right, I forgot about that. If my father was using me for his own personal gain, I wouldn't want to have anything to do with him either. This is good, then. I mean, that you're getting close to Lenora. She is a good mother. She's been nothing but amazing to me and she doesn't have to be. It's selfless and admirable."