They looked at each other for what seemed like forever, but was likely just a few seconds. At last, Benton’s lips twisted into a small smile. “Welcome to the family, Prince Camden. The Directive aside, I hope that you and my son will be able to give us grandchildren.”
Sage’s shock was so strong that Camden nearly fell over, or would have had he not been seated already. As it was, he gaped at the older ice dragon, completely unable to reply.
Benton arched a brow at him. “Don’t look so surprised,” he said. “I know our attitude was somewhat drastic the last time we met, but it couldn’t be helped. I can’t promise I’ll ever like your people, but I will try to like you, because my son obviously does.”
“Father…” Sage’s voice was choked with emotion. “I… I don’t know what to say.”
“I think it would be best if you didn’t say anything,” Hanna piped up as she stood as well and hooked an arm through that of her father. “You’d probably just embarrass yourself and him.”
Camden couldn’t help it. He snickered, because it was so true. Sage had no trouble showing his emotions with Camden, but with everyone else, he came out as cold and aloof as his father. Maybe that was the reason why they didn’t seem to get along.
Benton just huffed. “Please, let’s not get emotional. This is—”
His words were cut off when Lekisha left Camden and Sage’s side to embrace him tightly. This time, his smile was far wider, reminding Camden of the way Sage smiled, only for him.
“He’s really a big softie,” Sage commented through their bond. “Who knew?”
“I probably should have,” Camden answered. “You and he are a lot alike.”
Sage snorted and wrapped an arm around Camden’s shoulders. As he watched the Zagers hug, Camden felt a knot of tension start to uncoil and a heavy burden lift off his heart. He knew better than to believe that he and Sage’s family would become BFFs overnight. But the first step had been made. Even if they’d be forced to leave soon, it was something, and it gave Camden real hope for the future, hope that one day, he and Sage would no longer have to bring up the word “concubine” in any conversation. He found renewed trust in this togetherness, in the trust they had earned from people who hadn’t originally believed in then. If nothing else, Camden’s family and Sage’s had changed their opinions now. It might not have seemed like much, but for Camden, it meant the world.
* * * *
Hareem glanced around the throne room, taking in the somber faces of those present. “So you believe this is part of a greater scheme, too?” he asked James Connors.
The benandanti nodded. “The vampires seemed frightened, maybe even desperate, when they attacked us. I truly think someone is after them, too. Otherwise they’d never have risked an open assault against the naga and the draechen.”
“How is your research going?” Hareem inquired. “Anything new?”
“For the moment, we’re working together to figure out a way to wake up the vampire,” Prince Talrasar answered. “I must say, Your Majesty, this power reminds me a little of Kael’s, but at the same time, it’s very different. I’ve never encountered anything quite like it.”
Hareem released a heavy sigh. It was hard to realize how ill prepared they were for this threat. But Hareem had gathered powerful allies by his side. Fae, draechen, and even benandanti were doing their best to figure out an answer to their current dilemma.
“Draechenburg is entering lockdown, but everyone in this room will stay here,” he said. “Rachen, I want you flying to every draechen outpost and making sure that our people are safe. I’ll have Lieutenant Sagenamadeen accompany you.”
“Understood,” his brother said.
“Prince Sareltae, I’d advise you to visit your family. They might have valuable input on this. Karein, you’ll accompany your mate. We don’t know who this person is, so until further notice, everyone needs to have backup.”
“And us?” Prince Kaelezrin asked.
Hareem was uncomfortable with giving the couple orders, but he’d seen their value in combat and he knew he needed them as allies. “For the moment, I’d rather you stayed here, in Draechenburg. I don’t want to spread our forces too thin and risk our capital.”
“This is really happening, isn’t it?” Talrasar’s voice was soft as he spoke, but his gaze held icy steel. “We’re on the brink of another war.”
Shadows haunted the fae prince’s gaze, and Hareem was reminded just what had happened during the last conflict in paranormal world. Still, there was no point in trying to lie. Talrasar didn’t even mean his question as a genuine inquiry. They all knew that the war had already started.
“It’s likely, yes,” he replied. “But this time, it won’t end with so much loss. We won’t let it.”
Even as he spoke, though, he had a feeling he was missing something. Hesitant, he reached out to his mate. “Sweeting, how are you feeling?” he asked. “Are you all right?”
For the first time in ages, Taryn answered his inquiry. “I’m fine, Emperor,” he replied. “You needn’t worry about me. Just take care of yourself.”
The words might have sounded cool, but Taryn’s genuine concern slipped through their connection before it was quickly squashed. Hareem felt the absence of that emotion like a physical blow, but he reined in the ache in his heart.
He wanted to bring Taryn here, with him, but that would just draw unnecessary attention to the werewolf. Taryn was far safer away from Hareem, because for the moment, to the outside world, he was just a discarded slave. Still, even knowing that, Hareem had to strengthen the protection on his mate.
“Rachen, your first destination has to be New York,” he told his brother, giving him a serious look. Rachen didn’t have to be told anything else. Like Karein, he was aware of how much Taryn meant for Hareem. “Take as many men as you think you need.”
“I will leave at once,” Rachen promised.
With all the arrangements in place, Hareem dismissed the meeting. Everyone started to leave the throne room, until only Karein and Sari stayed behind. “Are you still going through with your official mating?” Karein asked, his expression completely neutral.
Hareem didn’t even want to think about that. With everything that had happened, he hadn’t gotten the chance to propose to Elina. “Now is not the time,” he answered. “It depends on how this war progresses. Our people do need stability, but the fuss of an emperor’s wedding would just open us to attack again.”
“Well, that’s one good thing that came out of all this disaster,” Karein mumbled.
Sari shot his mate a reprimanding look. When he turned toward Hareem again, though, his expression grew gentle, almost soothing. “Just know that we’re here if you ever need someone to talk to,” he said softly.
Hareem didn’t know what to say to that. They were his family and obviously worried about him. Words of reassurance stuck in Hareem’s throat. He could say he was all right, but he’d obviously be lying. He’d never be all right again, not until he got his mate back, if it ever happened.
“Thank you,” he answered. “I’m not important right now. We have to focus on whoever is behind this mess.”
“Sometimes, you need to learn to be a little selfish,” Karein said in an echo of Rachen’s earlier words. “For your sake and your mate’s.”
Without waiting for an answer, Karein took Sari’s hand and pulled the young fae out of the throne room. Now alone, Hareem mused over his brother’s words. Selfish. He wished he could follow that advice, but he knew better. He’d tried it once, and it had opened Draechenburg to hostility from within. No, he needed to think in perspective. Before he could even dare to approach Taryn, he had to fix the huge mess they were in. Trying to reach out to Taryn would just thrust the werewolf into a war that could destroy him. No. For Taryn’s sake, and that of their child, Hareem had to carry this burden alone.
* * * *
Stanton Hanover scanned the report he’d been offered, carefully assessing the informati
on within. It offered details on the target of the operation, his location, and all the security in place to protect him. Judging by what the file said, this wouldn’t be an easy mission, but Stanton had faith that it was doable.
He looked up from the file and at his spy. “You are sure of all this?” he asked.
“Positive,” the other man answered. “I’ve been watching the mansion for weeks.”
“Well then, I can only congratulate you on a job well done. You were certainly thorough.”
His spy nodded briefly in acknowledgement of Stanton’s words. There was no need for more, since Stanton wasn’t the other man’s king, and they were both aware of the value of his services.
“So now what?” the spy inquired. “Are you going to attack the mansion?”
Stanton didn’t immediately reply. He didn’t owe anyone any explanations, especially not in this regard, although this particular spy wasn’t just anyone. In silence, he stole another look at the file and the picture of the dark-haired youth who smiled sadly to something no one else could see. It was almost regrettable that such a young, innocent life would have to pay for the crimes of others, but regardless of it, Stanton would not hesitate. He would make Emperor Hareematek endure the same agony Stanton himself had experienced. He would take the most important thing the draechen leader had and dangle it in front of him, until Hareematek fell to his knees and begged. And then, he’d finally get his son back.
His son. Stanton and Fallon might not be very close, but Stanton loved the younger vampire anyway. He’d sensed the moment Fallon’s mind had shut down, but he hadn’t lost hope. The naga blood Fallon had been given made him more resilient. Stanton just had to get the draechen to return his child to him. If in the process, he made them pay for all the suffering they’d caused, that was only a bonus.
“Taryn Lovington,” he murmured under his breath, rubbing his thumb over the photo. “You’re the key to the Draechenburg dungeons.”
Glancing at the spy, he nodded. “Yes. Make sure your people stay out of it, Raul. I don’t want any magical creatures involved.”
Raul Gomez grimaced. “I highly doubt that’s possible. The draechen are family now, and the High Priestess is very invested in their welfare.”
“She hasn’t figured you out yet,” Stanton pointed out. “Her abilities are likely not as great as she’d have everyone else believe.”
Raul’s expression darkened. “Don’t make the mistake of underestimating them, Stanton. The fact that I’m helping you has nothing to do with my lack of belief in her. It’s only a matter of time until they all figure things out, and I’ll be branded a traitor to Ivenia.”
Stanton rubbed his eyes tiredly. He didn’t want to think about that. In fact, the last thing he needed to worry about was the fact that Raul might be captured. “Raul, I can’t—”
Raul waved a hand, interrupting Stanton before he could finish the phrase. “Just don’t. I have no need for fake words of comfort. I can’t be your mate, and I understand that. So, at the very least, I’ll be your spy and support you through this difficult time. Let’s not stir things further, all right?”
It was unfair for Raul. The entire thing was so unfair that it made Stanton’s heart clench. Stanton couldn’t be the mate the fae needed, though. He had a duty as the leader of the vampires, especially now with the shadow of the greatest threat looming over them. Raul had already gotten involved in this too much. Just him being close to Stanton in any capacity was risky enough.
Stanton would have liked to forbid Raul to participate in any other operation, but the fae had proven to be an invaluable asset. He was the one who’d searched every possible species for an answer to their problem, until he’d finally learned about the potential of naga blood. It had been a huge risk, since Raul hadn’t known for sure what naga blood could do. A lot of it had been speculation, based on old records that no one even knew of anymore, and more recent events that had seemed very suspicious to them both.
Either way, the fact remained that Raul had come up with the solution to the vampires’ predicament. Stanton couldn’t afford to push him out of this. With a mental sigh, he said, “Keep me posted if you find out anything else. And be careful. If anything happens…”
Raul shrugged. “I’ll be fine. I’m a big boy. You don’t need to worry about me. Just focus on your son and on your people.”
That had been Stanton’s intention, so he didn’t answer in any way. He had a feeling that, if he did, he’d just make things even worse and more awkward between them. Sometimes, he truly wished he could have become the man Raul wanted and deserved, and those moments of weakness were getting more and more common.
“Don’t give me that look,” Raul said with a soft, sad smile. “Not all mate bonds work out. I get that. It’s all right.”
But it wasn’t, not really, and they both knew it. The urge to touch Raul exploded inside Stanton, and he got up from his desk. Raul just shook his head, perhaps guessing what Stanton had in mind. He said nothing, just turning on his heel and stalking out of the office.
Stanton could have stopped him. He was the most powerful vampire in the world, and the battles he fought on a regular basis could have terrified even the famous Dog-Catcher. However, he didn’t follow. He just watched his mate go, wondering when he’d get to see the fae again.
He didn’t know how long he remained like that, just staring at the door and the spot where the fae had disappeared. He was finally snapped out of his trance when one of his underlings entered the officer. “Majesty, if I may, we’ve received news from our front line sources. The shadow seems to have temporarily abandoned naga territory.”
Stanton didn’t know if that was good news or bad news. Did it mean that creature had gotten what he wanted, or had he given up for some obscure reason? It was a question Stanton couldn’t answer.
“Let me know if there are any other attacks on our land,” he told his underling. “Right now, we have another battle to fight.”
The younger vampire nodded, and as his underling abandoned the office, Stanton smiled coldly. The draechen wouldn’t even know what hit them. Before the emperor could realize his mistake, he’d have lost the most important man in his life. His secret and his mate, Taryn Lovington.
End of Book 4: Naga‘s Concubine
To be continued in
Book 5: Emperor’s Consort
WWW.SCARLETHYACINTH.WEBS.COM
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
A native Romanian, Scarlet was born in 1986 and grew up an avid fan of Karl May and Jules Verne, reading fantasy stories and adventure.
Later, when she was out of fantasy stories to read, she delved into her mother’s collection of books and, of course, stumbled onto romance.
As a writer though, Scarlet Hyacinth was born one sunny summer day, when a dear friend of hers—the same friend who introduced her to GLBT fiction—proposed they start writing a story of their own. As it turns out, the two friends never did finish that particular story, but Scarlet discovered she had a knack for writing and ended up starting to write individually. And so, between working on her dissertation, studying for exams, and reading yaoi manga, she started writing the Kaldor Saga. Along the way, Scarlet met a lot of wonderful people who supported her, and in the end, she found her story a home and, in the process, fulfilled a beautiful dream.
For all titles by Scarlet Hyacinth, please visit
http://www.bookstrand.com/scarlet-hyacinth
Siren Publishing, Inc.
www.SirenPublishing.com
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Naga's Concubine [Chronicles of the Shifter Directive 4] (Siren Publishing Epic Romance, ManLove) Page 24