Evander (Stratham Shifters Book 4)

by Sarah J. Stone

  Peter said nothing for a long time, and Cole used that as an opportunity to speak.

  “Should you be going back to Earth with the threat of the carapaces?” Cole asked.

  “Do you think that I cannot protect him?” Peter raised his eyebrow, the confidence of the king showing through his words. He took offense to the fact that even his own family would question his ability to protect them.

  The thought made him pause. It was the first time in a long time he had thought as a king, and not just as a burden he had to bear.

  He realized that it was because of this potential journey that he was thinking this way.

  “I'll go,” Peter said. “But I can't promise that it will end the way you want it to.”

  “I think it will be good for you to meet her first,” Alexander said. “Thomas and Wilma have recently returned from the Other and perhaps having that in common will assist as well.”

  “You want to go now?” Peter asked, eyeing his brother. “You're exhausted, your day has taken its toll.”

  It was refreshing, to have someone looking after him for a change. Alexander gave him a half smile.

  “In the morning, then,” he said. “Enya?”

  “I can make arrangements for Earth,” she said. “He's a doctor, right? Perhaps he can manage what I need. I'm almost due for a return anyways.”

  “If that's alright with you,” Alexander eyed Cole, who nodded.

  “Of course,” Cole replied. “Godspeed though. Earth is boring.”

  “Says the dragon who recently tried to take it over,” Enya teased him, standing up. “I'll see you in the morning then.”

  “Good night,” Alexander said, as Cole escorted her out of the room. Leaving him alone with Peter, he waited for his brother to have the first word.

  “You really think this is the best way?”

  “Didn't we always say that when we were on the throne, we would try our best to be different, modern, and to change?”

  “That conversation seems a million years away,” Peter said.

  “You have been through so much since then.” Alexander pointed out. “Through a world or two.”

  “We were children of a different mind,” Peter sighed, getting up. “And I wish not to dwell on a past that was simple. I'll see you in the morning.”

  “Indeed,” Alexander said, watching him go. He briefly wondered whether he should call Dr. Donizetti, and warn him that he was coming. But he decided against it, wanting nothing more than sleep. Dr. Donizetti had always been in corporation with the crown, and he believed that they would have no problems.

  It was the hope he went with early the next morning, as the three of them gathered in the antechamber, just off the throne room. It was one of the easier transfer points and would send them back to the one vortex they knew was still open on Earth. The carapaces had closed many of them during the way a few months ago. As queen carapace, even one who was separated from her pack, Ariel had the authority to at least leave one open.

  “Right,” Alexander said, looking around at the space they had. He realized he wasn't quite familiar with how Cole transported Enya. Ariel was strong, he could just grab her and go. But Enya wasn't as strong as his wife, and his magic was rough at best. But again, Peter stepped up in a surprising way, taking a gentle hold of his sister in law without words.

  “Are we ready? Enya,” he switched to English, “is this alright?”

  “Fine,” she said. “And I've already figured out our route once we get there.”

  “Excellent,” Alexander said. “Then, let's go.”

  The magic, mostly from Peter this time, swirled around them. It wasn't any harder to get to Earth than it normally was, although Alexander hoped that the carapaces hadn't somehow gotten wind of this and were waiting on the other side.

  Everything was fine when they landed, though, the area around them quiet. It was early morning on Earth and the city was just waking up.

  There were the honks of cars and the buzz of early morning traffic, and Alexander was happy to find that they were alone where they landed.

  “We need to take the train an hour or two,” Enya said, as they got to their feet. “Is that alright?”

  “As long as you know where we are headed,” Alexander replied. “Peter and I are like lost sheep here.”

  “Pity the sheep who finds a dragon,” Enya grinned. “Should you call ahead?”

  “No,” Alexander answered. “Dr. Donizetti will be compliant.”

  “You have concerns,” Peter said, as they walked through the streets. “I can hear it in your voice, even if your words confuse me.”

  “I don't have any more concerns about Donizetti than when he first left,” Alexander said. “And even when he left, he did it so politely and kindly that I couldn't possibly think wrong of him. He has amassed quite the following though. I think he and his wife have gained four or five adoptive children in the past ten years. They have caused no trouble, mostly keeping to themselves, and making sure that they have not violated any of the rules.”

  Peter said nothing to that, looking around. Everything on Earth was so new to him, so different, something that he should have learned long ago.

  In the end, Enya's confidence in directions was correct. She knew how to buy the train tickets, and she felt safe, even in the early dawn hours, with her brothers in law at her back. Peter said nothing, even though it was clear he had a million questions on his mind. He looked out the window, his fingers drumming nervously on his knee, which was a habit he had always had. Enya was absorbed in her phone, happily texting her friends, and she almost missed their stop. Alexander was glad for the conversation again, lost in his own head about how he was going to approach this situation.

  “Here,” she said, practically pulling them off the train. They were in a suburban area, and Alexander thought it was nice that Dr. Donizetti had managed to blend in. But their journey, it appeared, was not done.

  Enya led them to a taxi, giving rapid instructions to the driver. They wound out of the suburban section, and headed down a side road where the houses got farther and farther apart.

  Eventually, they went through a long stretch without any houses, turning a dark corner. And then, they found themselves outside of a mansion. It was nothing compared to the palace, but it was far grander than a palace doctor could have afforded on Umora. There were multiple wings, wide windows, and a glass ceiling, which Alexander understood. Dragons preferred to see the sky at all times.

  “This is it,” Enya said, as she paid the driver. “Shall we?”

  “Nothing ventured, nothing gained,” Alexander said, and got out. It was time to hope that old friendships still remained strong. And if they did not, then at least he needed to trust that the Donizettis still recognized the monarchy. He didn't want it to turn violent, but if the Donizettis didn't give him what he needed, he would pull rank. He needed Peter to be king at any cost.

  Chapter 3

  Peter could hear the voices inside the household before they even knocked on the door. Dragons, even in human form, had superior hearing, for miles. It was likely that the Donizettis could hear them approaching, if they weren't so distracted. But inside, it seemed like there was chaos going on.

  “It's my turn in here. Get out!”

  “You've been here forever!”

  “We have more than one–”

  “Armand, just leave it, alright?”

  “I don't understand, we have more than one–”

  “Stop!”

  Alexander cocked an eyebrow at Peter with a slight smile as he knocked on the door. It sounded like a normal family household, except they knew it wasn't.

  Evelyn Donizetti, Armand's wife, answered the door. As far as Alexander was aware, she was a stay-at-home wife, with the dragons they were guiding into a new world. The few times they had met, she was calm, collected, and loving.

  The shock on her face this time, though, was unexpected.

  “My king,” she said, and dropp
ed to her knees right away. Enya was surprised at the reaction. She had seen people bow to them in the palace before, but never to this effect. It was almost as if there was magic pulling her down to the ground. “I didn't…expect…I didn't think…”

  “You've had some of your own return from the Other, haven't you?” Alexander asked.

  “My prince,” Evelyn said, “of course. But we didn't think…”

  “May we come in?” Alexander asked, carefully. He didn't want it to seem like they had no choice, but truthfully, they didn't.

  “Of course, of course,” Evelyn said, watching them almost nervously. “This is such a surprise. Can I ask the reason for your visit?”

  “We'll discuss that,” Alexander said. “This is Enya, Cole's wife.”

  “Princess,” Evelyn replied, still nervous. “It is wonderful to meet you. Have you come for a particular reason?”

  “You are hiding something,” Peter finally spoke up, in dragon. Evelyn whipped her head, her eyes wide. Peter was always the strong-silent type, and that could be frightening.

  “Have you come for Thomas?” she blurted out, a mother's fear in her eyes.

  “Ah,” Alexander glanced to Peter. “That is a different matter.”

  “Because he's better. He's trying. He's–”

  Thomas, like Cole, was not full dragon. He was half witch, half dragon, and like Cole, he had trouble with his temper, his impulses, and his transformations. When he lived on Umora, he was a deadly warrior. Now, Alexander caught sight of him thumbing through a backpack, as if he had not been a young warlord once. He wondered how they had made that transformation.

  “Evelyn?” Armand appeared in the doorway, the wrapper of a syringe in his hand. He had clearly just gotten in from work, his dress shirt unbuttoned and the tie gone. “My lords,” he bent his head. “What a surprise.”

  “Armand,” Alexander said, and Peter nodded his greeting. “Shall we have a chat?”

  “Of course,” Armand said. “If you don't mind, I just have one thing to finish up.”

  “Are we done?” A female voice came into the room then, in the form of a small, human female. She was wearing a cap on her head, and everything about her seemed fragile. From under her cap, there were large, green eyes, and they caught Peter by surprise. They were like a forest, vast and beautiful. She praised, staring at him, and it was if he was paralyzed.

  Peter had always thought that he only looked at strong, tall, dragon warrior women. But this girl caught him off guard

  “Yes, you're done for today,” Armand said. “But if you start to feel ill at school, can you call me?”

  “Yes,” Yvette said. “Thomas and I have a math test today, so I need to be there.”

  “Yvette,” Alexander spoke to her, in English. “Would you mind being included in our conversation?”

  “How do you know my name?” she turned, in shock.

  “Yvette,” Armand said, his voice flat. “This is Alexander and Peter, our royal family.”

  “Oh,” she paused. “It's nice to meet you.”

  “Do you remember me?” Enya spoke up. “We met in the hospital.”

  “Oh,” Yvette said, suddenly. “Yes, I do. You and your boyfriend. Cole?”

  “Yes, Cole, my husband. These are my brothers in law.”

  “Oh…Oh!” Yvette put two and two together, and Peter found amusement in her facial expression. She was pale and couldn't have weighed more than eighty pounds. But he saw a sparkle in her eyes, something that used to be. “I see. I had no idea when I spoke to you. I never would have offered…”

  “Well, turns out we need some help,” Enya said. “Can we talk?”

  “You want Yvette?” Armand realized, looking between the two of them. “No.”

  Alexander had not expected this reply. “Excuse me?”

  Armand bit his lip.

  “Shall we take this discussion to the dining room?”

  “Father?” Thomas suddenly joined them. Alexander was shocked at his appearance. He had died in battle, and then he had been strong, tall, and ready to fight. Now, he was thin, his eyes glazed. It was as if he was walking underwater. “What's going on?”

  “Thomas,” Peter spoke up. “Welcome back.”

  Thomas looked up and then raised an eyebrow. Alexander quickly remembered that he also had little respect for the monarchy. The only reason Thomas respected them at all was because Cole was like them.

  “Peter,” Thomas replied. “Kind of you to saunter in.”

  Yvette clearly had some grip on dragon lore, and she took a step back as Thomas slipped an arm around her shoulder. It was clear that there was some sort of relationship or expectation between the two of them.

  “Thomas,” Armand said. “Leave us.”

  “Why?” Thomas asked, defiantly. “I heard what you are saying. Yvette isn't going with you.”

  “Thomas,” Armand took one step towards him, and it seemed menacing, threatening. Thomas took a step back, and this surprised Alexander. “Leave us.”

  The former warrior did, and Alexander glanced to Peter.

  “Please,” Armand's voice returned to normal as he led them through the hallway to his dining room. “Shall we?”

  “Whoa,” Yvette took a step forward and wavered. Lightning quick, Peter was at her side almost instantly, grabbing her elbow and crouching his knees so he could support her. Yvette paused, her eyelids fluttering. But then she opened her eyes, waiving her hand. “I'm alright.”

  “What ails you?” Peter asked her, in dragon. Yvette smiled painfully at him, but her language skills were not strong enough to answer his question. Silently, she reached for his hand and put it upon her wrist, where her pulse beat. Except, Peter found that it didn't beat strongly or regularly. This girl's life force was tainted, her body surviving almost by chance.

  “Yvette, come with me,” Evelyn took her other arm, leading them to the dining room where they could sit down. Peter's gaze was on her the whole time, flickering between Yvette and Evelyn, as if he didn't trust her. “Here, sit.”

  “It has become clear to us,” Alexander started the conversation, “that dragons who have spent time in the Other have lost out on much of history. You must see it with the return of your own children. Peter has spent ten years there, and his English is non-existent. In order to be the strongest king and protect the kingdom from the Other, he needs help. And you, it seems, have the best help of all.”

  Yvette was following the conversation as much as she could. She and Evelyn were curled up on the far couch, watching with wide eyes.

  “Yvette is very ill,” Armand said. “She comes from a background where they could not provide her with proper medical support. By her being here, I can offer her constant treatment, better than her bouncing between jobs.”

  “There are others like her,” Alexander said. “But none as good, Enya says. Yvette, you will live in the palace, and you will be paid handsomely. In addition, Enya is also quite ill, and she receives medical treatment when needed that is top of the line.”

  “It's true,” Enya said. “I am much better since I've been with Cole. We come to Earth when need to, but the medical treatments on Umora are second to none.”

  “But I don't want…I mean, I…” Yvette tried to speak calmly, but she was clearly trying not to be afraid. Enya recognized it was fear of the princes, something that she had when she first went to Umora. She also realized that Armand and Evelyn seemed helpless to Alexander's protested. “What if I don't want to?”

  Armand seemed to be holding back many words, and he gripped his fist.

  “Perhaps she can visit–”

  “This is for the good of the palace,” Alexander said. “And King Peter has accepted this humbling assistance. Just because you have left the planet, Armand, does not mean you are not still under our rule.”

  “I understand that,” Armand said. “But the work I am doing with these children is good.”

  “Work?” Peter caught that word. “Why does Thoma
s look like a shadow of his former self? I looked not a day older when I returned from the Other, and yet he looks as if he's walking underwater.”

  “Because he's drugging him,” Alexander realized. He had seen the effects of drugs on Earth. His wife, Ariel, was no stranger to recreational drug usage. He wasn't a fan, but he had seen her indulge, and she often got the same glassy-eyed look. “Isn't that what you are doing? To keep him under control.”

  Armand turned pale at that, and looked to Evelyn. This is why they seemed to nervous.

  “Thomas had many issues when he lived the first time. You know that.”

  “He is a subject of mine,” Peter put in. “And you are keeping him under your control.”

  “Thomas is like a son to me,” Armand said, looking guilty. “Do not think I would ever do him harm. I never would do anyone harm, that is why I left.”

  Peter glanced to Alexander. “How do I know,” he said, “that the rest of your family – and even this girl – is not suffering the same fate?”

  “No,” Armand said. “I assure you, my king–”

  Peter stood up, deciding that the conversation was done.

  “Alexander,” he said. “Make the necessary arrangements. The girl will be coming with us.”

  He left the room as if he found the outside more interesting. Alexander felt uncomfortable at such an order, although he knew that it might come to this. Finally, he sighed.

  “Yes,” he said, although Peter had left. “Armand.”

  “No,” Yvette could see that she was expected to go. “No, please don't make me!”

  “Yvette,” Armand approached her, as Evelyn held her close. “Peter is my king. I have to obey him. I have to.”

  “I need to stay with you,” she said. “I need to stay with Thomas. Please.”

  “You have to go,” Armand said, holding out his hand. “I promise you, though, they are good people. And I'm sure,” he turned to glance at Alexander, “they will allow you to see us again.”

  “If it comes to that point,” Alexander said. “You will see her one last time, even if the job isn't done.”