Nicholas tried to calm his beating heart. “And do you have any idea what the cause is?”
“Not yet,” Cole replied casually, as if lives didn't depend on it.
“Report directly to me with any new information,” Nicholas said. “It's not specifically dragon business, so there is no reason to bother Alexander and Peter. But we should keep on top of it in case it starts to affect other shifters.”
“Of course,” Cole gave him an odd look. “It's not like you to care about other shifters, though.”
“Perhaps I'm trying to turn over a new leaf,” Nicholas said. “What does it matter, Cole? Just do it.”
“There's the grumpy brother I know so well,” Cole replied. “I will, don't worry. Now, get to the throne.”
“Do I have a queen?” Nicholas called over his shoulder. “If not, find me one, please.”
“I think Ariel is home,” Cole replied. In the absence or ill health of Yvette, the actual queen, they tried to always have one of the girls on the throne as well to represent the equal opportunity the dragons were known for. They made no distinction in terms of inheritance and rank between males and females. The only reason the princes lorded over the kingdom was because they were four brothers and no sisters. Their wives were equal to them in rank, and Ariel had been queen by default for a time until Peter married. “She's always fun to do throne duty with.”
“That's fine, Cole,” Nicholas said. But as he walked into his chambers, he wondered if he should be near his favorite sister-in-law at all. Could carapaces pass on their abilities to take magic through osmosis? Was he hurting Rosa simply by being near Ariel?
He decided to be cautious of it, which made Ariel raise an eyebrow when he didn't take her arm to enter the throne room.
“I'm trying something,” he said to her. “Do you mind?”
“What are you trying?” she asked. Ariel never judged, but she was curious at times. “How to look single while sitting on the throne with a queen?”
To that, he grinned.
“Everyone knows that you are in love with my brother.”
“Everyone does not know that,” she said to him. “Mostly because it's not true. Alexander and I have a marriage of convenience, and I am perfectly happy with that.”
“You must think I'm stupid,” he grinned, “to not see the way you two rejoice in each other’s arms.”
“This is going to be a long day,” she teased him. “Luckily, I like you. But you have been acting funny lately.”
“It's nothing,” he tried to assure her. His sister-in-law was smarter than that, but she said nothing to him. When Alexander returned that night, though, she brought it up.
“Nicholas is up to something,” she said, as they got ready for bed. In the public eye, they were regal, strong, and were often putting on a show for the public rather than talking honestly. No one saw them when all the walls were dropped and they were just themselves. They were usually quiet, honest, and tired.
“He is always up to something,” Alexander replied. “How would today be any different?”
“He said he was trying to look single while sitting on the throne.”
“He said that?” Alexander asked, confused.
“Not in so many words, but yes,” she replied, as she sunk onto the bed. “He's usually the king of affection.”
“He's just moody today, perhaps,” he said, sitting on the bed next to her. “I wouldn't worry about it.”
“Hmm,” she glanced over to him. She was always cautious about the fact that a band of carapaces had ruined his health for good. She knew that her singular energy alone could not do any lasting damage, but it didn't mean she didn't feel bad about it. “All right?”
“Long day,” he answered, shifting down on the pillows. “If you think he's up to something, you are welcome to investigate and report back to me.”
“Pht,” she replied. “What am I, one of your princes to report back to you?”
“No.” He wrapped an arm around her waist. “You are my queen.”
“Go to sleep, Alexander,” she replied, shifting down on the pillows as well. “You're clearly tired if you're being sappy.”
“I must be,” he answered, closing his eyes. She was perfectly happy to snuggle against him, though, letting sleep take her.
Outside their door, Nicholas paused. He had been heading to his room for the night, but his superior hearing perked up at their conversation. It tugged at his heart. They may take a night like this for granted, thinking that it was nothing special. But he would give nearly anything to have a night like that with Rosa.
He wished he could bring her here inside the palace walls. Just last week, though, two guards had died in an attack on the palace treasury, and a third one would likely never be seen again. He couldn't subject her to that; couldn't even stomach the idea of her being near such a threat.
Rosa was currently safe from everyone but herself, it appeared.
He spent half the night staring at his cell phone. They had each other’s numbers in their minds, but they never called or texted each other.
The cell phone was primitive technology on Umora, but it hooked up to the internet well enough. Nicholas had always smiled when the Earth girls were shocked by Wi-Fi here, as if it were difficult.
His hands were shaking, and he knew he shouldn't, but he typed in a few numbers and sent her a voice chat request. He was hoping that at least this way, it would be more anonymous than actually calling her.
She accepted within moments, and he hit the button for the camera to pop up. This was a huge risk, but he needed to know.
“Are you all right?” he asked, keeping his voice low when she answered. She was in her apartment, sitting on the very bed that they had spent most of their time on. His chest ached from missing her.
“I'm fine,” her voice came through a bit crackly. “You're calling me.”
“I know. I know I shouldn't,” he said, “but I needed to check on you.”
“Nicholas, really, I'm all right. It was a good day,” she said. “How was your day?”
“Fine, except you weren't in it, so terrible,” he answered. She smiled, her eyes connecting with him through the screen.
“This is so nice,” she said. “Like a normal couple.”
“Like a normal couple,” he answered. “Just talking on video chat.”
“Ha,” she shifted her position. “Show me your room.”
“My room?” he asked in surprise. “It's just a room.”
“If this is only going to happen once, I want to see every detail of your life,” she said. “Please, show me.”
“All right,” he got off the bed, angling the camera. For ten minutes, he took her on a discreet tour of his room, pointing out where he spent time doing various tasks. She giggled at some of his comments, or mentioned the things that she liked. It was so simple, yet so delightful. “I miss you so much, Rosa. But I should go.”
“I miss you, too,” she said, softly. “But I know you have to go.”
“For you to be safe,” he reminded her.
“Yes, safe,” she said. “I know.”
But her heart ached a little more when they hung up. What was safety without love?
Chapter 4
“What are you doing?” Alexander looked at Ariel, confused by the fire after a long day. She was standing up, her hands flying, which told Nicholas she was telling a story. She was so animated when she spoke, and he always thought his sister-in-law should be their spokesperson. That was, if she could keep the filth out of her mouth, which she usually couldn't.
“It's a musical about American history. But it's a rap musical with modern dance, rather than traditional styles.”
Alexander looked absolutely baffled by this. “Why?” he asked. “I've heard rap is not–”
“The world is changing,” Ariel said, flexing her leg up and then down, as if she were on stage. “Rehearsals are four days a week, and you are not going to deny me my career. I'm 27 yea
rs old, Alexander. I'm not going to be able to dance much longer. This is a lead role. I'm going to do it.”
“Can you even rap?” he asked, baffled. “Or sing, for that matter?”
“Excuse me,” Nicholas said, with a smile. “I have heard on good authority that doubting your wife's talents ends badly, always.”
“Does it now?” Alexander glared at his brother. “I'm not stopping you from doing anything, Ariel. Do you intend to stay on Earth?”
“Not if someone can take me back and forth,” she replied. “Essentially, you create the transportation, and I'll continue to smart ass my way through this kingdom.”
“That's frequent,” he said. “I can't do that.”
“I know that,” she shrugged. “But someone could. They are consecutive days, so–”
“I can do it,” Nicholas spoke up, suddenly seeing an opportunity
“What?” Alexander said. “Nicholas, that's so much work. We need you here.”
“Her magical vacuum doesn't bother me,” Nicholas said. “And it didn't bother you for ten years until the carapaces attacked. I could do it safely. I've taken over so many Earth accounts anyway, it might make sense. I could time it to take the girls as well.”
“What about your work here?” Alexander asked.
“It makes sense, though,” Nicholas said, “to just have one of us go. And it makes the most sense for me to be the one. Peter is king, you are his regent, and Cole is the last heir. I'm the one who is in limbo, so why not me? The girls can get to their classes, their appointments, and Ariel can rap her way through American history.”
“It does make sense,” Ariel said with a shrug. “Loosen the reigns a bit, Alexander. Nicholas has always done work, despite sneaking off to God knows where.” She winked at him, and he winked back.
“You will have to ask their husbands whether that's acceptable,” Alexander said, always old fashioned. “But I don't see a problem with it. If it's historical, Ariel, does that mean you might be wearing a decent amount of clothing in it?”
“Pht, you like it when I'm dressed like a stripper,” she replied.
Alexander was too dignified for a response, and Nicholas smiled, reminded of how these two were examples of opposites attracting.
“I will ask,” he said, as if it was a duty he was undertaking out of the goodness of his heart.
“Three humans – one of them a carapace – may be a bit much to transport at once,” Alexander reminded him. “At least try to take only two of them.”
“Of course,” Nicholas replied. “I'll be careful. My sisters are the most precious things in the world to me.”
“No one believes that,” Ariel said. “But I love you anyway. Thank you.”
“Of course, sister,” he said. “Let me know when you need to be there.”
“Tomorrow,” she said, and Alexander sputtered.
“Tomorrow? What were you going to do if we couldn't make it work?”
“Move back to Earth,” she said with a shrug. He cocked an eyebrow at her, but said nothing. Ariel was strong, and she didn't need to be with Alexander constantly.
Nicholas used to think that he was like that. But with each passing day since his last visit with Rosa, he felt the pounding need to be close to her. And now he had an excuse.
He had to do this carefully. As far as he knew, she was still in the same place. But if she was moved, this could be disastrous, especially if it was off Earth. Neither Peter nor Cole had any qualms with Nicholas taking their wives to Earth when they needed him to. Both girls might have once been uncomfortable with it, but now, they were a family. They had been through so much, and they trusted him.
He paced his room, his head spinning. His hand was trembling on his phone, but eventually, his heart overrode his head. He pressed the video chat button.
This time, it rang through, and her automatic voicemail picked up.
He hung up right away. He may be taking a risk in calling her, but he wasn't going to be so stupid as to leave evidence like that on his phone.
He waited four minutes and then tried again. This time, to his relief, she picked up.
“My love,” she said. “I am so glad to hear from you.”
“What's wrong?” he asked.
“Nothing, nothing,” she said. “I just…I'm glad that you called back. We shouldn't, though.”
“We shouldn't,” he agreed, “but here it is. I have news for you. Are you somewhere safe?”
“Yes,” she replied. “But be quick.”
“I'm going to come and see you much more often,” he replied. “I'll be on Earth at least four days a week. Are you in danger of being moved?”
“No,” she said. “Not for a while, anyway, I think. These things are hard to predict, though.”
“I know. Just maintain your normal routine,” he instructed her. “Make it easier for me. Go to work, go home, and I'll see you tomorrow”
“Not that I do anything anyway,” she answered. “That takes money.”
“I…” he wanted so badly to help. “Can I bring you anything? Please, something that can help.”
“Does Cole have any books on my family?” she asked, and he furrowed his brow in confusion.
“What? I mean, maybe. If it has to do with magic, Cole has the book.”
“Can you look and bring it to me?”
“If I can find it, yes of course,” he said. “But what do you need it for?”
“Just want to look up a few things,” she smiled. “And as you can imagine, it's not easy to google these things.”
“Of course. I'll bring you whatever I can.”
“I'll see you soon. I love you.”
“I love you, too,” he said, and they hung up.
He stared at the screen, his eyes focused on the call details. He went to delete it, although it felt like a piece of his heart was being ripped out.
It wasn't fair, he thought. Cole and Peter and Alexander had their loves by their side. They held hands without a second thought. They gave them kisses, and they didn't care who saw.
Of course, they made their choices. He knew that. Those girls were at more of a risk holding their hands than bungee jumping without a cord. But that didn't seem to stop them.
The next morning, Ariel and Enya gathered in the antechamber, backpacks on their back and munching on breakfast.
“So, you,” he said to Ariel, “need to go to rehearsal. And Enya needs to go…to the doctor?”
“To class,” Enya replied. “Which could be mistaken for a doctor’s appointment in how boring it is. But to the university.”
“Education is overrated,” Ariel said. “I never went to college.”
“But you trained as a dancer since you could walk,” Enya pointed out and Ariel shrugged.
“That is true. And I also won't be qualified to do anything but teach in a few years,” Ariel pointed out.
“And maybe be crown princess?” Nicholas pointed out, and she shrugged.
“But that's easy.”
“Is it, now?” he smirked. “Give me your hands, girls.”
“Cole normally holds me,” Enya said. “Because I'm small, and the landing is jarring.”
“Right,” Nicholas replied, putting an arm around her waist. She reminded him of Rosa, and it put a pang in chest. “Ariel, here.”
“I'm tall,” she said, as she took his other side. “But if you jar the landing and affect my first day of rehearsal, I will kill you.”
“Excellent,” he replied, and closed his eyes.
The magic swirled from his palms. Alexander was right; it was a bit difficult with two of them. But he had little trouble, and they were soon smoothly on Earth.
“How was that for a landing, Precious?” he teased Ariel, who shrugged.
“I've had better. Thanks, though. I'm going this way, and I'll be done at four.”
“You have my number?” he spun around to Enya, who seemed intent to head in the other direction.
“I do,” she re
plied. “Thank you.”
It wasn't long before he was alone on the sidewalk. He made sure both of them were out of eyesight before he bolted.
He hadn't lied to Alexander; he was taking over some Earth accounts. Most of it involved checking in on dragons who had chosen to move off Umora. He didn't have much to do today, and he cheated, using magic for every move. He had spent most of last night mapping out the open vortexes so he could travel as fast as possible. He knew that he was taking a risk, but he tried to be as careful as possible.
Before noon, he had checked off everything on his list. At last, he could do what he came here to do. He had found a vortex that was much closer to where Rosa was, and he used it now, pushing his magic to the limit. He knew he couldn't use anymore if he wanted to safety get back and transport the girls.
He found himself near the mall where she worked. He experienced a surge of happiness as he walked toward the mall. He felt like the world was perfect as he got to spend another few hours with Rosa. He had a plan to shop for a few new outfits – anything to help her commission. He could buy several things without drawing too much attention to himself. He had the book tucked under his arm and planned to leave it in the dressing room. Everything was perfectly planned out.
What he didn't plan for was the outside of the mall to be blocked by an ambulance. The lights were flashing, and he blinked, almost blinded as he stepped around it. He had always thought the way humans dealt with emergencies was a bit obnoxious. They panicked so much, running and just adding to the stress of the moment.
But then, they didn't have an instant healing touch at their fingertips. They had to take their patients somewhere far away, usually dodging traffic.
He was so distracted by these thoughts that it took him a moment to notice that the crowd was in Rosa's store.
His heart sunk, and he tried to push his way through the crowd. He was taller than most people, but not all, and quite a crowd had gathered.
He elbowed and ducked his way to the front. And to his horror, there was his Rosa, lying on the floor. She was awake, up on her elbows, her legs sprawled out under her. As the paramedics lifted her gently, he watched as her legs supported no weight. She looked terrified as she met his eyes. She held out her hand, and he went to her and took it without thinking.
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