“Oh, beautiful.” Sage’s voice was hoarse with emotion. “I’m the one who’s sorry. If I hadn’t lost my calm, perhaps we never would have had to go through all that.”
“You were defending me,” Camden argued, tears already threatening. This was happening. This was actually real. “But you’re right. Enough with playing the blame game. Just hold me, Sage. Hold me and kiss me.”
Their lips met, but they didn’t take things too far. Both of them were far too drained, both physically and emotionally. They’d had a rough day—a rough couple of weeks, really—and while sex would have been nice, now was not the time or the place for it.
“Sadly, you’re right,” Sage said as they pulled away. “The mind is willing but the body is weak, or something like that.” He released a low chuckle. “Overlords, I’m tired. I just want to go home.”
Home. Camden wondered where home would be from now on. It certainly wouldn’t be Patala. Camden didn’t think he could return there, not after all this. His parents had seemed open toward Sage before the meeting with Talbot, but it no longer seemed enough. Camden wanted a new life with his mate, one that would help him bury the shadows of his past in Sage’s love for him. Draechenburg then?
“We’ll try,” Sage suggested, “and if it doesn’t work out… Well, the world is a big place. We’ll find somewhere to call home. I promise you that.”
Camden beamed back and leaned against his mate’s shoulder. As long as he was with his mate, he was willing to try anything. He’d learned by now that, if they stood together, nothing could defeat them. This lesson had come at a harsh price, but Camden had been given another chance, and he would seize it with both hands.
* * * *
That evening
The moment Prince Arlen stepped through the gates of the Patalan palace, the entire royal family swamped him, begging for news with little to no regard for decorum. “What happened, Arlen?” Queen Anais asked.
Arlen offered his mother a tired smile. “It went well. I wasn’t actually there for the battle, but I received news from Prince Shtamakarein. Camden is fine, if a little weak. Lieutenant Sagenamadeen was injured, but he was healed by Prince Talrasar. The vampire behind the whole ploy has been taken prisoner.”
“Where are they now?” Zaire asked as he led his son into the palace. “Why didn’t you go get Camden?”
“I couldn’t,” Arlen replied. “They’ll be heading back to Draechenburg. If we want to take Camden home, we have to go there.”
“Well then, we’ll go,” Queen Anais replied, not seeming in the least bit bothered by the thought. “We’ll start packing at once.”
As he watched them make plans, Talbot felt like an intruder, a voyeur. The royal family had barely slept all throughout past weeks, and Talbot had been right there, by their side, worrying himself to death for the missing young naga. Whether they realized it or not, he cared about Camden as well. The thought of them leaving to Draechenburg to see Camden with him staying behind frightened him.
It was that fear that made him dare to speak out. As they headed toward the throne room, he cleared his throat. The royal family glimpsed his way, all of them wearing identical expressions of surprise. They’d obviously forgotten he was even there.
“With your permission, Your Majesties,” Talbot said, “I’d like to humbly request coming along to Draechenburg. I realize this is a lot to ask, but I truly feel the need to see Prince Camden with my own eyes.”
For a few moments, his sovereigns didn’t speak. They shared a look, obviously using their mind bond to communicate. Finally, the queen smiled at him. “Very well. You can come. But I want to give you a small warning. You know that we supported you in your endeavor to mate Camden. I’m not sure if that will be possible right now.”
Talbot swallowed around the sudden knot in his throat. “I know,” he replied. “I won’t insist on it if Prince Camden doesn’t wish it. I just want to make sure he’s truly all right.”
“You can prepare whatever luggage you have then,” King Nikhil said. “We’ll be leaving soon.”
Talbot bowed lowly, thanking the Isaiat for their generosity. They dismissed him, and Talbot headed directly toward his room. The relief he felt at the knowledge that they wouldn’t leave him behind was almost staggering.
He didn’t have too many things to pack, so the preparations lasted a grand total of five minutes. After that, he simply didn’t know what to do with himself. The walls of his quarters seemed to be closing in on him. It would likely take a while longer for the royal family to depart, especially since all of them would be going.
On impulse, Talbot shifted into his legged form and put on human clothes. He left his room and stopped the first guard he saw. “Could you please notify Their Majesties that I’m going to the surface for a breath of fresh air? I won’t be long.”
“Yes, my lord,” the man said, saluting. “At once.”
Talbot watched him slither away with a sigh. It was really very strange. He knew he probably shouldn’t be leaving Patala at this moment, but the queen’s words were weighing on him more than he’d have liked.
He left the palace and took one of the royal family’s limousines. A few guards accompanied him, as always, but Talbot paid them no heed. He was too lost in thought to even consider their presence.
“To the beach,” he commanded to the driver. “Be quick about it.”
The other naga complied. The limo abandoned the palace, quickly progressing through the Patalan streets. They entered the tunnels and finally reached the surface. In the distance, through the tinted windows, Talbot could catch a glimpse of the setting sun.
They reached the beach in record time. As soon as the car stopped, Talbot opened the door and stepped out of the vehicle. His guards made a move to follow, and Talbot allowed it. It was unlikely that the vampires would attack again, but it wouldn’t be safe for him to just wander around with no one watching his back.
He took off his shoes and started walking in the exact same direction they’d gone the last time they’d been here. Back then, Camden had been laughing and kissing the draechen, Sagenamadeen Zager. Talbot couldn’t understand it. He couldn’t understand what he’d done wrong.
Sure, he had left Patala, but duty had forced him back to Greece. He’d always wanted to return to Camden’s side. He’d only ever wanted what was best for Camden.
Truth be told, upon his departure, Talbot hadn’t been sure Camden was his mate. But without Camden, he’d felt the cold encroaching upon his consciousness. Camden was the only one who’d ever chased that away, who made Talbot feel.
Did that mean that Camden was his mate? Talbot didn’t know. His parents had once told him that he was supposed to recognize the person—or rather, the persons—for him on sight. But how did that feeling of recognition come? Was it like a lightning bolt of sudden knowledge or a warmer, slower progress toward the realization?
With a sigh, Talbot scanned the horizon. The waves of the oceans had swallowed the sun, and twilight had settled over the beach. He couldn’t linger here much longer. He couldn’t afford to let the royal family wait. But for some reason, he’d wanted to see the beach again. Why? To say good-bye to his dream of mating Camden? Perhaps. This had been the place where he and Camden had first kissed after all.
“You don’t have to give it up, you know,” a sudden voice said, somewhere to his right.
Talbot turned, half expecting one of the guards to have addressed him. No one was there, though. The naga soldiers were a little further back, giving him privacy while still watching over him.
With a frown, Talbot shook himself. He was hearing voices now. That was a clear sign that he had to get out of here. Watching the sunset like a pathetic weeping maiden wouldn’t bring Camden to his side.
“No, but you can still do it,” the voice came again, this time from his left.
Talbot gazed in that direction, and still, he saw nothing. “Who’s there?”
“A friend,” came the reply from b
ehind Talbot. He turned, expecting more nothing, but his guess was proven wrong. A cloaked figure stood in front of him, shrouded in pure darkness. Tendrils of shadows seemed to emanate from him. A cold chill swept over Talbot’s spine.
“Guards!” he called out.
The figure chuckled. “They can’t hear you. They can’t hear us unless I will it. Now, Mr. Stervos, would you like to hear my proposition? Do you want to know how you can get Camden?”
Talbot eyed the figure. He was no idiot. He could tell evil when he saw it. And yet, that part of him that was already succumbing to the chill made him nod. “All right. I’m listening.”
Chapter Thirteen
A few days later
The throne room was quiet, tension heavy in the air. Hareem studiously didn’t look at his guests, knowing that they disliked being here as much as he disliked their presence. It wasn’t that he hated chimeras in general or the Isaiat in particular. He’d long ago lost any sort of prejudice that might have originated from his upbringing. What bothered him was the unavoidable tension the naga royal family brought with them.
Still, he supposed that this was far better than the alternative, which essentially had them on the brink of war with the naga. Really, the vampires had done him a favor, at least from a political point of view. Personally, Hareem was still pissed about the fact that they’d dared to kidnap one of his lieutenants.
Distantly, he wondered what Sage and Camden planned now. Hareem would prefer it if they stayed here, but it would have to be their decision. He had no intention to get involved in it in any way beyond offering his silent support.
Of course, the Isaiat would never believe in his good intentions. Even now, they were eyeing him warily, as if they expected him to order their imprisonment any moment now. Hareem supposed he couldn’t really blame them, but still it irritated him. But then, these days, most things did, and it had very little to do with the naga or the vampires.
He was greatly relieved when, at last, a knock sounded at the door. “Enter,” he called out.
The soldier who came inside bowed so lowly Hareem wanted to roll his eyes. “We’ve just received news that several airplanes are approaching,” the draechen reported.
“It’s Camden,” Anais Isaiat gasped out. “It has to be him.”
Without even bothering to glance Hareem’s way, she fled the throne room, with her two mates and her older two children trailing after her. Lord Talbot Stervos, the one other naga who’d joined them on this visit—other than their guards, of course—also went with them. Hareem watched them go with a small frown. He was actually a little jealous of them. They had a beautiful family, and for better or for worse, they loved each other. Hareem, on the other hand, had only recently started to get along with one of his brothers and was just getting to know the second one. Not to mention that he’d been forced to imprison his parents and twin and to send away his own mate. Really, the Isaiat didn’t know how good they had it. Perhaps if they’d truly appreciated it, they never would have behaved the way they had with Camden’s mate. He wondered if he should have forbidden Talbot’s presence in Draechenburg. He’d been awfully tempted to do so, if only because the naga had no reason to be here.
But he had greater problems than that. His concerns now rotated around what Eanera Myrthylar had told him. She and King Selbrian had refrained from getting directly involved, at least for now, but they had revealed the vampires’ location to Hareem. At the same time, though, she had warned that the vampires weren’t the real danger and he needed to get to the bottom of things, to find out the real reason why they’d risked kidnapping Camden.
Truly, Hareem couldn’t figure out what could have pushed them into such an action. They’d pretty much stayed off the radar until now. Why would they risk drawing such attention onto themselves, especially when they’d known Ornoz would undoubtedly get involved?
He was still musing over this when the usher announced the arrival of his new guests, or rather, the return of his family. Resenting all the formality, Hareem beckoned them all to come in. Finally, his brothers stepped into the throne room, together with the entire Isaiat family, Talbot, Sage and his sister Hanna, Sari, and of course, Prince Talrasar and Prince Kaelezrin. The last person present was the vampire, who, according to what Hareem’s brothers reported, called himself Fallon.
They all bowed in front of Hareem, even the vampire, although he was forced into doing so by Karein. Hareem took advantage of the chance to scan the face of the vampire prisoner. He disliked having to fall back on his father’s habits of hunting down the ninth caste, but they’d challenged Ornoz, and he couldn’t let that slide. Not to mention that Fallon’s immunity to black dragon powers was worrisome.
Still, he’d promised himself, and the fae, that he wouldn’t use unnecessary violence. For the moment, he directed his attention to Sage and Camden. “Welcome home, Lieutenant Zager,” he told Sage. “I’ve taken the liberty of preparing new rooms for you and your mate in the guest wing of the palace. Will you be staying here and taking up your post in the Wyverns once again?”
“I believe so, Your Majesty,” Sage replied. “I’m greatly thankful that you’ve decided to grant me your trust once more.”
Camden’s sire twitched, obviously not appreciating what the exchange implied. Similarly, Talbot’s expression darkened. However, none of the naga said anything. Likely, they planned to address the matter in private, something which Hareem felt thankful for.
“As I understand it, you’ve been through a lot. If you’d rather, you can retreat to your rooms now.”
It was his way of politely dismissing the couple. Yes, Sage and Camden deserved to know why they’d been hurt, but it wasn’t them who Hareem had a problem with. He didn’t trust the naga family, let alone the noble they’d dragged along. Therefore, he was reluctant to have them here for this little interrogation.
Perhaps Sage realized this, because he bowed lowly. “Thank you, Your Majesty. Your generosity will be forever praised.”
Hareem acknowledged the formal words with a nod. Sage took Camden’s hand and started to lead him out. Thankfully, the Isaiat wanted to spend time with their son more than they needed to punish the person guilty of Camden’s kidnapping. “With your permission, Majesty,” Zaire said, “we’ll take our leave as well.”
“Perhaps I should stay,” Nikhil commented almost idly, his gaze on the vampire. “There are still some matters that need to be discussed.”
Hareem should have known that they wouldn’t let things go just like that. “Very well,” he replied simply.
As soon as all of the naga—with the exception of Nikhil—left, Hareem finally addressed the vampire. “Exactly what did you plan to achieve by kidnapping Prince Camden?” he asked without preamble.
The vampire didn’t even blink. Instead, he spat at Hareem’s feet, smirking darkly. “You’ll know soon enough, draechen. Oh, you’ll know.”
“Answer the question,” Rachen said coldly, squeezing Fallon’s arm.
The vampire winced, but said nothing. Hareem should have known that it wouldn’t be so easy. “Are your people planning something against us?”
“You wish.” Fallon chuckled. “All of you are nothing but a joke. You think you’ve won, but it’s not the vampires you need to fear.”
The words oddly echoed Eanera’s, something that awoke a new restlessness inside Hareem. He shared a look with his brothers. They wouldn’t get any information out of this man so easily, but they had to find out what he knew somehow.
Suppressing a sigh, Hareem ordered, “Karein, Rachen, take him to the dungeons. We’ll make him talk eventually.”
“Yes, Majesty.” Karein actually saluted, like he only did when others were present. Sari shot him a concerned look, obviously knowing that Karein didn’t like resorting to torture. Hareem would avoid it if he could. He still had a few tricks up his sleeve, courtesy of his friends, the benandanti.
The naga didn’t seem very happy about Hareem’s decision. “Y
ou’re just going to sweep this aside?” Nikhil frowned at Hareem. “He attacked my son. We deserve a say in what happens to him. It’s our right to bring him to justice.”
“He’s a draechen prisoner, and we are the authority in this matter,” Hareem replied. He was tired of the Isaiat putting up a front of rejecting a cooperation with the draechen when it suited them, and then starting to make demands. However justified they might have been in their position, Hareem wouldn’t allow it. “You will abide by Drachenburg rules, just like everyone else. Make no mistake, King Nikhil. I might have allowed you some freedom because I admit you have been wronged before, but my patience has its limits.”
Turning toward his brothers once more, Hareem said, “Go and bring me good news.”
As he spoke, he gave Karein a warning glance. He had every intention of addressing the matter himself, once he made sure the naga didn’t cause any problems. He trusted Karein would understand his plans.
Karein gave him a barely visible nod. With another bow, he and his twin started to drag Fallon away. Sari glanced toward Karein, obviously wanting to follow his mate but staying rooted to his spot regardless.
Once Rachen and Karein were gone, Prince Kaelezrin took a step forward. “If I may, Your Majesty, Talrasar and I would like a word with you alone.”
“Yes, of course.” Hareem wondered what they wanted to tell him that they hadn’t been able to communicate through long-distance regular channels. “King Nikhil, would there be anything else at this time?”
Nikhil just gave him a dark look. “One of these days, Emperor, someone will really fight back against you. Maybe then, you’ll learn not to be so arrogant.”
Before Hareem could reply to that, Nikhil turned on his heel and stalked out of the throne room. “That went well,” Kaelezrin commented once Nikhil was gone.
Hareem allowed himself a small smile. He was beginning to like the prince, maybe because he reminded Hareem so much of Karein. Besides, they were family. “I honestly didn’t expect it to go any better,” he admitted.
Naga's Concubine [Chronicles of the Shifter Directive 4] (Siren Publishing Epic Romance, ManLove) Page 19