Evander (Stratham Shifters Book 4)

by Sarah J. Stone

  The majestic dragons regarded him wordlessly, and he used his mind to hear them.

  Please. She is dying.

  Alexander's yellow eyes looked right into his. If you return, you will be jailed. You cannot escape what you have done.

  Nicholas's thoughts penetrated his mind. She is human, brother. And she is almost gone. She may not survive the jump, yet alone long enough for us to heal her.

  “You must!” Cole practically screamed at them. “You must, please. Please.”

  Do you accept the price? Alexander regarded him.

  “Yes,” Cole said, and realized he had to do more than that. He sank to his knees, humbling himself. He had never done anything like that. He refused to bow to his father half the time. But this was different. This wasn't about pride or ego. This wasn't about him. “Please. I have no magic, though. You must take me, too.”

  The two dragons looked to each other, and for one terrifying, heart stopping moment, Cole wasn't sure they were going to help him.

  His childhood flashed before his eyes – playing in the meadow, laughing through the palace. They had been so innocent and young. And once, they had not been so different. When had it become them versus him?

  He then suddenly realized that he had made it so. He had chosen to distance himself. He had chosen to run.

  They had always been there for him and always tried to protect him.

  Hold on, little brother, he heard Nicholas say as Alexander approached the bed. Cole went to Nicholas, wrapping his arms around the dragon’s long neck.

  Alexander ducked his head, putting it against Enya's now still body. Her life force still beat, but just barely.

  Cole felt the familiar magic swirl around him, and he closed his eyes.

  Please. He didn't think he had ever prayed before. He wasn't exactly sure who he was praying to, but he needed to do something. He had never felt so helpless.

  He felt a jolt – a start – and then, the ground became solid again beneath them.

  He felt his own magic rush back and fill him. He was strong, and he was home.

  He opened his eyes, finding them in the royal palace.

  And to his horror, he saw his own guards marching towards him.

  “Nicholas.” His eyes flew to his brother, who had taken human form beside him. He saw such disappointment in his brother's eyes and such sadness. Nicholas had fought his own battles so many times, and yet he had always been there to protect Cole and to make sure he was safe. Now, Cole saw nothing but pain. “Please,” he pleaded. “Please will you protect her? Please.”

  “Brother,” Nicholas said. “Give yourself over to them now.”

  “Please!” Cole felt hot tears streaming down his face. “Brother, if you will do nothing else for me, please do this.”

  It was clearly tearing at Nicholas. But eventually, he placed a hand on Cole's shoulder.

  “It will be done,” he said, and Cole nearly broke down sobbing.

  The guards put handcuffs on his wrists, and looped their arms through his. Just a few months ago, these same guards had protected him as he walked through the streets. Now, they were stone faced, dragging him through the palace. They refused to look him in the eye and refused to speak. Once, they had been friends, allies in mischief and in life. Now, they were his undoing.

  Cole did not try to fight and did not attempt to struggle. He didn't want to do anything to endanger Enya. He needed her to live, even if it meant his life.

  Chapter 11

  Dragging Cole away meant Enya was left with several tall, menacing dragon lords. She was barely coherent, and her vision was blurry. She couldn't even make proper words, and she wasn't sure if they would understand her anyway.

  Her vision practically blacked out as they approached. She couldn't even scream, she could barely tremble.

  “Please,” she managed. “Please.”

  And then there was nothing but darkness.

  When Enya awoke, she had no idea where she was. Her thoughts didn't make any sense, nor did the fuzzy feelings in her head. She felt like she couldn't breathe, couldn't move, and couldn't do anything.

  And then everything rushed back into focus.

  She was in a room with a very high ceiling and marble columns along the wall. It was a room fit for a king.

  That was when she realized where she was.

  She was at the Royal Palace of the dragon lords. Cole had brought her here because she was dying, and he had risked his own life to do so.

  Slowly, she sat up, expecting her head to pound and her breathing to become short.

  But to her surprise, there was nothing that pained her or that even made her wince even temporarily.

  Her fingernails had full color, and her eyes were wide open. She felt like she had the most restful sleep of her entire life.

  Was this it? Was she cured? After all this time, after all this chaos, was it as simple as this?

  The doors opened, and she jumped in the air.

  In walked a tall, thin man, with reddish-brown hair, and she saw his yellow eyes flash. She knew that this was Cole's brother, Nicholas, whose dragon form had reddish-brown scales.

  She pushed herself back on the bed, and he smirked, putting his hand out.

  “It's alright,” he said in his heavily accented voice. “You won't come to harm under my hand.”

  She froze, and he didn't advance, seeing that she was frightened.

  “Do you understand?” he asked.

  “Yes,” she replied.

  “Good. My English is not–”

  “It's alright,” she said, picking at the blankets. “Maybe 10 years of learning, with two years of no practice?”

  He raised an eyebrow.

  “Yes.”

  “I'm a translator back on Earth,” she said. “So, it's my job to know those things.”

  “Oh,” he replied. “Is it a good job?”

  “I'm a student,” she replied. “So, probably. Is Cole–”

  He waived his hand.

  “How are you feeling?”

  She recognized the deflecting question right away and chose not to press on. Cole may love her, but she knew from his stories that Nicholas was the muscle, the strength, and the most vicious. Angering him was never a good idea.

  “Good,” she answered. “Am I cured?”

  “No,” he said. “But it's an improvement.”

  “Why am I not?” Had they not promised her that?

  Nicholas's face clouded, and she felt like something was horribly wrong.

  “Please can I see Cole?” she asked, and Nicholas sighed.

  “You are summoned before the King as soon as you can stand.”

  “The King?” she said. “Your father?”

  A darker cloud passed over his face, and her heart thudded.

  “Isn't the King your father?”

  “Our father is dead,” Nicholas said. “My brother, Alexander, is King.”

  Enya gripped the blanket, her jaw falling open.

  “What? When? But wouldn’t Cole have known?”

  “Cole's link to the magical world when he was on Earth was not strong enough to feel the sudden decline of power from the throne. When we came to you, we did not want to distract him.”

  “I'm sorry,” she said, and a moment passed between them. She knew that she had to be brave and strong right then. It wasn't just because she was a million miles away from Earth in the presence of dragons who could kill her. It was because her boyfriend had just lost his father, and he would need her to be his rock.

  Nicholas held his head high, although she could see that his eyes were full of emotion.

  “Will you come before the King now?”

  “Yes,” she said, finding her legs strong enough to support her, “I will. Do I need to...” She looked down at her clothing and was shocked to find that she was wearing a long, flowing, blue and white gown. “Never mind then.”

  “Come with me,” Nicholas said, and she followed him out of the room
>
  The rest of the palace was even more grand than the bedroom she was in. She had a feeling it had been standing for thousands of years.

  Everyone they passed in the hallway was staring at them, mostly with raised eyebrows and some whispers. Nicholas didn't even acknowledge them, and Enya kept her head down.

  The throne room made her gasp when she entered it. It was the most majestic of all, straight out of a movie. There was a raised throne, made of what looked like ivory, and marble columns with ridges carved into them. The ceilings must have been three stories high, painted with murals of dragon history.

  And on the throne, in human form, sat Alexander. To his right, to Enya's surprise, was what looked like a human woman. Tall with shocking red hair and pale skin, the woman had green eyes and perfectly arched eyebrows. This girl was from Earth. There was no doubt about that.

  “Bow,” Nicholas snapped, and Enya dropped to her knees, unsure of how long she was supposed to be down there.

  “Rise, “Alexander said, after a moment. “Bring her a chair.”

  “I'm alright,” Enya spoke out and he raised an eyebrow.

  “So be it. You may stand. Do you know why you are here?”

  “Cole brought me here?” she tried. Alexander's English was slightly better than Nicholas's, although not as good as Cole's. She couldn't tear her eyes from the human woman sitting on the throne beside him.

  “Yes,” Alexander said, accepting that. “But Cole forfeited his rights when he left here. My father's wish was that he be tried for his crimes.”

  She knew what he had done, and if she didn't, she could guess. He had alluded so many times to being so terrifying, to killing, and to maiming.

  And yet, somehow, that didn't change who he was. She simply saw him as a sweet, misunderstood creature – one she was in love with.

  “This does not surprise you?” Alexander asked, and she stood her ground.

  “This is your world,” she said. “But there is perhaps a side of Cole that you don't know.”

  “Tell me,” Alexander shifted in his seat. “What do you know about my brother that I may have over looked?”

  “That he's kind,” she said. “And considerate. He may seem like he has a tough exterior and that he's focused on power. But I can't tell you the amount of times that he's held my hair while I've thrown up, or made sure that I was alright. The day we left, he went to get my luggage, my things, and even got me breakfast. He put aside his plans for world domination when I had a raging fever, and wouldn't leave my side. He held my hand, he got me water, and he made me feel as good as he could get me with his limited magic. He's soft, he's gentle–”

  “And you're in love with him,” Alexander said, dryly.

  “Yes,” she said, in shock, her eyes darting to the redhead. “Surely, you can understand that.”

  The two of them exchanged looks, and the redhead smirked, but said nothing. Enya was now even more confused than before, but she knew better than to ask.

  “Can I see him?” she asked Alexander.

  Alexander looked behind her. “Nicholas, can you take her to the prison? Cole is not restricted on visitors. Let her have as long as she needs.”

  “What will happen to him?” she asked, a sudden feeling of dread filling her.

  “We have yet to decide,” Alexander replied. “That will be all.”

  “What do you mean, you have yet to decide?” Enya asked, but Alexander waived his hand, and it was clear the conversation was over.

  Nicholas took her gently by the elbow, and she jumped.

  “If you'll follow me,” he said, and Enya froze up.

  “What will happen to him?” she repeated, but Nicholas pulled her out of the throne room.

  “A word of advice,” he said. “You do not question the word of the King. If Alexander asked you to stand on your head, then you do it.”

  “Is that...” Enya tried to put the pieces together. “That is the Queen? His Queen? His wife?”

  “Ariel?” Nicholas raised an eyebrow. “Sort of.”

  “What do you mean, ‘sort of?’” she asked. “Are they engaged to be married?”

  “Ariel has been with my brother for the last 15 years, but it's complicated.”

  “Because she is human?” Enya asked.

  “She is stronger than a human,” Nicholas replied. “She is a carapace. A breed of human that can block magic.”

  “Why would you want to block magic?” Enya asked, confused.

  “Some dragons and other creatures enjoy being in their human forms and not feeling any sort of pull. Alexander is one of those people.”

  “Oh,” she replied. “But isn't being around someone like that dangerous?”

  “Yes,” Nicholas said. “But we don't choose what attracts us. However, don't make the mistake of assuming they are in love, because they are not, or so they claim. Neither of them believe in love, but they do believe in using each other for power. And they are happy with it.”

  “Do you believe in love?” Enya asked, but Nicholas' face turned dark as they rounded the corner.

  She found herself at the front of a huge, steel door. With one wave, magic flew from Nicholas’s hand causing the door to swing open.

  Inside, there were several rows of what she considered to be cells. One door was open, and the bars were revealed.

  Inside, sitting against the wall, was Cole.

  “Enya!” He scrambled to his feet, his arm out to touch her. She ran towards him, and their hands met. He put a hand to her face, and they hugged each other as best they could.

  “Are you hurt? Are you alright?”

  “I'm fine. I'm fine,” she said. “Are you alright?”

  “Can you leave us?” Cole looked up to Nicholas who sighed.

  “I guess there's not too much trouble you can get into where you are,” he said. “Just be careful.”

  When they were finally alone, Cole kissed her fully on the lips.

  “I missed you,” he said. “Oh God, I missed you so much.”

  “Cole,” she said. “I think they cured me.”

  He put a hand to her face, closing his eyes. She could feel the familiar warmth of magic in her cheeks, and the way it sent shivered down her spine.

  “You're much better,” he said. “But they didn't cure you. However, there's more magic in me than I can give right now, so it's a start.”

  “They didn't cure me?” she asked, in confusion. “I thought that they could.”

  “It may be that they don't want to do it just yet,” he said. “Perhaps to use it against me.”

  “Oh,” she replied. “That makes sense.”

  “Enya, don't worry,” he buried his hands in her hair, pulling her close. “Everything is going to be alright. I'm going to make sure that everything is alright.”

  “I know,” she said. “I know that you'll take care of me. No matter what.”

  He kissed her again, inhaling her scent and closing her eyes.

  He knew that she trusted him utterly and completely. He didn't want to scare her, but from inside the bars, he wasn't sure he could take care of her at all. He had to trust his brothers to do so. He had to trust that they weren't so mad that they would use an innocent life to get revenge.

  Chapter 12

  “What do you mean, they won't give you a trial?” Enya asked, confused. She was sitting outside of Cole's cell, their hands linked. He was sitting on the floor as well, and they were as close as they could possibly be with bars in between them.

  “If they gave me a trial,” Cole explained, “then there is no way in hell I can't be found guilty. I lashed out. I did terrible things, Enya. Things that I shouldn't have done. And I know they were wrong, but in the moment...”

  “We've all made mistakes,” she tried to reassure him. “We've all had moments we wish we could take back. But what's done is done. However, they can't keep you in here forever.”

  “Nor can they keep you here forever, either,” he said. “If they won't cure you,
they need to let me out of here. It's hindering my magic, and it’s probably on purpose. If we were free and clear, I could cure you, and we could live happily ever after.”

  She turned to him in surprise.

  “What?” she asked, in shock. They had never spoken about their future, at least not like this. But in this moment, Cole smiled at her.

  “That is, if you still want me, after all of this. And honestly, my love, I'd understand if you don't.”

  “Of course, I want you!” she cried. She wished desperately that the bars weren't there so she could embrace him. “Why would you think that I wouldn't?”

  He chuckled.

  “Look around, love. We aren't exactly in an ideal situation here.”

  “Oh, Cole,” she shook her head. “I've never been in an ideal situation. Honestly, this is the most stable my life has been in a long time.”

  He smirked. “Trust you to put a happy spin on it,” he replied. “Although I don't know when we will move on to the next stage.”

  “Maybe there's an angle I can work with your brothers,” she said, leaning her back against the wall beside his cell.

  “I heard about your appeal to Alexander about love,” he replied. “Alexander and Ariel are the most complicated, most ridiculous couple I've ever met, and yet the simplest. Nicholas told you how long they've been together, but they claim to not be in love and to not believe in love. They have mutual benefits in being with each other, and they get along very well. She doesn't judge him, and he loves how simple and easy being with her is. But heaven forbid they label it love.”

  “What about Nicholas?” she asked. “Maybe there's some secret love story there.”

  Cole furrowed his brow.

  “I don't know about Nicholas. He sneaks off a lot and comes back smelling pretty each time, so I suspect there is someone. But whoever it is, there's some sort of epic devotion and protection, because it's been the same way his entire life.”