by Lucy Lyons
The entry to the place dragons called “between” was brutally sharp and heartlessly cold, and he felt Astrid shiver. But it was only a microsecond. As long as she didn’t try to breath, as long as she didn’t move, she’d be okay. He prayed for that.
Tem so needed her to be okay.
Tem!
She was beginning to panic. And he had no time to steady her. The next thing he had to do required his utmost concentration or they were all dead.
He focused on a single place, the broken spires and crumbled walls of the one safe place on Earth for Tem. If there was any real magic for dragons it was this, the ability to always center on and find this spot.
Home.
The next fall jarred all of them as they fell into the atmosphere. Dawn streaked pinks and golds at the horizon as the sun rose up from below a tall mountain range. It took him a few minutes to get his bearings, but soon he knew exactly where he was.
Here? thrummed Calvin. You sure that is wise? With these two in tow? She won’t like it.
Where are we? hummed Evan.
You’ll see, Tem offered unhelpfully. He was exhausted and didn’t have it in him to offer explanations.
Tem found the ruins that served as his homing beacon and circled around them. He sensed Astrid’s curiosity, but also her unease. And he didn’t blame her. Where they were going, a human hadn’t set foot for two thousand years.
Who is that? thrummed another, more strident voice.
It is I, Tem. May I enter?
There was a long pause as if the recipient of his message was considering his request.
You may enter.
He braked and descended to a large courtyard. Like the surrounding battlements, the ground was broken. Weeds grew between crumbling flagstones as if no one lived there.
That was wrong.
As Astrid, Evan and Calvin descended from Tem’s back, a cloaked woman emerged from the shadows. She approached slowly as if contemplating every second she lived and walked the Earth. Eventually she stopped in front of Tem.
“Shift,” she ordered. She regarded Tem coldly as if he was an inconvenience, but he was used to that.
Tem shifted to his human body and she looked him up and down.
“The years have not been kind,” she said simply.
“Hello,” said Astrid with annoyance. “And who are you?”
“Did you have to bring your pet?” the woman said caustically.
“Yes, I did. This is Astrid. And Astrid, this is her majesty Rhea Gentrix, Queen of the Dragons—and my Aunt.”
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Astrid
Rhea Gentrix lowered her hood and looked over the unlikely crew that had landed in her courtyard. She was beautiful, in human terms, with bright green eyes and straight reddish brown hair that flowed around her shoulders. But her gaze was calculating, without warmth or compassion and it added a hardness to her demeanor that was unwelcoming. Astrid now understood the complaints of some humans: that dragons didn’t have hearts.
“Captain,” she purred, holding her hands out to Calvin. “Have you come to back to our service?”
Calvin bent his head. “I serve at your pleasure.”
“Excellent,” said Rhea. “When you’ve rested from your ordeal, come and speak to me.”
“Yes, your majesty.”
She eyed Evan with suspicion.
“And who are you?”
“Evan Waters, ma’am.”
“And how did you come into this company?”
“I was in the same prison as Tem and Calvin.”
Rhea sniffed as if trying to catch a scent and frowned.
“A hybrid,” she said with disapproval. “Can you even shift?”
“I didn’t even know I had dragon heritage until I was arrested.”
“This,” she said imperiously, “is what comes of sloppy breeding.” She spoke these last words with a pointed gaze at Tem, who kept an impassive face.
“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 fus
s 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 punishment 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 th
at 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.