Aris: A Paranormal Shifter Romance (Stratham Dragons Book 1)

by Sarah J. Stone

  “And you both fought in the old king's army?”

  “We did,” Cole said, glaring out at the confused crowd. They were trying to figure out what Cole's story had to do with Thomas' crimes. As supporters of King Peter, they just wanted Thomas to pay for what he did.

  “And Dr. Donizetti,” Peter said. “You have treated my brother Cole in the past.”

  “I have,” Dr. Donizetti answered.

  “And in your medical opinion, what difficulty has these events and this state done to him?”

  Dr. Donizetti cleared his throat. “Descendants of two races often have trouble finding a place to fit in. They are sometimes abused for their abilities, and that can leave them with lasting damage, physically and emotionally.”

  “But as you see, Cole has fit in just fine here, despite the crimes he had committed,” Peter said.

  “I am reformed!” Cole grinned. “Thanks to my beautiful wife.”

  On the other side of the throne, Enya blushed.

  “Yes, of course,” Dr. Donizetti replied. “There is little damage that is done that cannot be undone, with love, kindness, and the right treatments.”

  “So, you believe,” Peter stated, “that one who has committed such crimes can in fact not re-offend?”

  “Of course,” Dr. Donizetti said.

  “Thomas must pay for his crimes!” came a cry for the audience, but Peter waived his hands.

  “Of course, he must pay,” he said. “An eye for an eye.”

  Yvette felt her heart dip. Was Peter going to give him a death sentence, after all that?

  “Unless…” Peter said. “There is a cause, Thomas, that you are crucial to? A cause where you must save lives, rather than take them? Cole is forgiven for his crimes in lieu of giving his life to care for his wife, who needs his magic.”

  “Thomas has been instrumental in my household, and in my surgery,” Armand blurted out, realizing what was happening. “More than once, patients have arrived half dead, beyond my skill. He has managed to save them with his magic.”

  “Ah,” Peter said. “So a good heart beats beneath those crimes. That is interesting.”

  The crowd roared, and Yvette closed her eyes, hoping, praying.

  “So long as Thomas is saving lives, he may be pardoned,” Peter said, at long last. “But the moment his behavior is different, the sentence will come forth.” He stood up, coming down the steps to look Thomas in the eye. The younger dragon seemed too shocked to speak. He had expected death; he had prepared for death. But instead, he was being shown mercy. “If I find ever again any acts of heresy, any acts of defiance against my rule, I will not hesitate. Is that clear?”

  “Yes, my king,” Thomas said, meeting Peter's gaze. Peter held Thomas' eye another moment, speaking words into his very heart. He lowered his voice, so it was barely audible beyond the two of them.

  “If you had been standing here during my father's rule, he would not have saved you,” Peter said. “Think on that next time you consider who to serve.”

  And with that, he ascended the steps, going to sit on the throne. Before he did though, he caught Yvette's eye, smiling slightly.

  She met his gaze with tears.

  “Thank you,” she mouthed, and he dipped his head. Thomas was led out to the roaring crowd, and Yvette bowed her head.

  A second chance. Everyone deserved a second chance. Thomas had his, and now she could move forward with hers; her heart light.

  CHAPTER 14

  She was surprised when he said yes to an Earth wedding. She had thought that she would expected to be on Umora for the marriage, but it turns out the coronation would be enough for the people. She knew she should be excited to be queen, and she was. But she was far more excited to marry Peter and be his wife. Without him, there would be nothing. Marrying Peter meant so much more than just being his lovely wife. She would be healthier, she would have a new life, and she would never have to struggle or think of money again. Like Enya, she would visit Earth on occasion, and her parents would be none the wiser. She would have to pretend that she had a normal life, but it was a small price to pay for the life she was receiving.

  She had chosen a vintage lace dress with long sleeves that covered her to her finger tips and a form-fitting skirt that ended out in a long train. She felt like a princess as Enya finished buttoning her gown.

  “Was your wedding dress lace?” Yvette asked.

  “Yes,” she replied. “A bit simpler than this. But then, I knew I was going to be married to a prince, not a king.”

  “It's not about that,” Yvette said, with a wide grin on her face. “It's about being his wife.”

  “Sure,” Enya teased her. “Whatever you say. I'd say you're all buttoned up, and you look gorgeous. Should I get Armand?”

  “Yes, I think I'm ready,” Yvette said.

  Her father had never been a strong presence in her life, and she had asked Armand to walk her down the aisle. Although things had been tense, Armand had been much closer to a father to her than her actual father.

  Enya headed out the door and Yvette took one last look at herself in the mirror. She had never expected that she'd be walking down the aisle so soon, but she wouldn't trade it for the world.

  “You look beautiful,” said Armand, as he entered the room. He was dressed in a tuxedo, and he looked handsome and put together as always. His eyes were tinted yellow, and it was a stark reminder that she was marrying into dragons. “And Peter is waiting for me.”

  “I wasn't going to ask,” she said. “Although I didn't know what I would do if you said that he wasn't there.”

  “Come on,” Armand put his arm out. “Let's not keep everyone waiting.”

  They had chosen to get married in a church in her hometown. It wasn't the grandest, but it looked like everyone she invited had shown up. She was worried that some of her old friends wouldn't turn up because she had been bouncing around so much. But everyone was in the church, beaming at her as the music began to play.

  Peter was at the end of the aisle, his brothers standing behind him in identical suits. They all had their hands clasped together, looking like triplets at the right angle.

  She knew she should be smiling at her guests, but she couldn't take her eyes off of him. He was her rock, her stronghold, as she was his.

  Once she was at the front of the aisle, Armand handed her over. She placed her hands in Peter's, and he lifted her veil, giving her a kiss on the cheek. The congregation sat down, and she smiled at him.

  They both turned to the priest to indicate that they were ready. The priest cleared his throat, and looked down at the book and read the vows. They had heard the words in rehearsal, but now it seemed different. This was real.

  She squeezed his hands, and he smiled at her. His eyes looked slightly yellow, eager to transform. There had been so many wedding preparations that he hadn't gotten the chance. As soon as the wedding was over, they were leaving Earth to head to the coronation at Umora, where he could have the relief of Dragon form for a while.

  “Into this union, Yvette and Peter now come to be joined. If any of you can show just cause why they may not be lawfully wed, speak now, or else forever hold your peace.”

  No one said anything, although Yvette was sure that many people could say something. Her old friends had been shocked that she was getting married so soon to someone who wasn't Thomas. The dragons had all the reasons in the world to protest, because she was going to be their new queen. But to her relief, no one said anything.

  “Yvette.” The priest turned to her, and she gave a little gasp. She hadn't realized that she would be the one doing her vows first. They hadn't memorized their vows because they had thought that they would be too nervous. She was glad that the priest was going to be feeding her the words, because the only thing she could do was stare at Peter's face.

  “Will you have this man to be your husband, to live together with him in the covenant of marriage? Will you love him, comfort him, honor and keep him, in sickness
and in health, and, forsaking all others, be faithful unto him as long as you both shall live?”

  “I do,” she managed, her voice barely audible. There was a very good chance that he would outlive her, but she knew that she would be faithful until the end of her life.

  “Peter, will you have this woman to be your wife, to live together with her in the covenant of marriage? Will you love her, comfort her, honor and keep her, in sickness and in health, and, forsaking all others, be faithful unto her as long as you both shall live?”

  “I will,” he said. He had already helped her through much already. In her mind, he had already upheld all of those vows. Hearing him agree to them, in front of everyone, though, sent shivers down her spine. This was the man who would be by her side forever, or as long as forever lasted. She didn't know about the future, what their rule would bring. But she was confident that together they would do the best they could.

  “Yvette and Peter, having witnessed your vows of love to one another, it is my joy to present you to all gathered here as husband and wife. Peter, you may kiss the bride.”

  He dipped her down to kiss her, and the congregation exploded in applause as he brought her back up, and walked her down the aisle, he whispered in ear.

  “Are you ready to be queen?”

  “Now that I'm your wife, I'm ready for anything,” she smiled at him. Their plans were to go to their reception and then sneak away, landing in Umora before midnight. Tomorrow at dawn, the coronation would begin, sealing her life here. And she couldn't wait.

  CHAPTER 15

  “So, did you have to do this?” Yvette asked Ariel, as they stood in the antechamber of the large church. She knew that the one in her hometown was not that impressive. But the church on Umora was like nothing she had ever seen before. She was surprised that they had a church at all really. Of course, they worshipped different gods. The dragon gods all had wings and were majestic and grand. It made sense to her, of course. They weren't that different when she thought about. Two societies who did the best they can, and had faith in a higher power.

  She was nervous about the coronation, if she was honest with herself, because she hadn't put as much focus into it as she had put into her wedding. Peter had given her the script, and they had walked through it once before they left. But she didn't have to say as much, although more focus would be on her. He promised that he would be there to guide her and protect her, and she knew that he would. But she still felt very unprepared as she stood in the antechamber, waiting.

  “No,” Ariel said. “Because I am not an anointed queen. When you marry a king or in this kingdom, when you are the highest-ranking female, you become a queen by default. But when you are an anointed queen, that means you are blessed by the gods and therefore chosen to rule. So, in the speech, they will refer to you as a queen, but it's almost like using the same word for different things.”

  “But you had power.”

  “I did,” Ariel said. “By default, because there was no one else. But now there is.”

  “And are you sure you don't mind?”

  She smiled at her sister in law.

  “I never wanted to be queen to begin with. Yes, I liked the privileges and the power, but Alexander didn't even tell me I was queen for so many years, it doesn't matter. Besides, I wouldn't have wanted to go through all this hoopla.”

  Yvette smiled. When she first met Ariel, she found her abrasive and harsh. But now, she knew it was just her way, and she appreciated her strength. “Shall we?”

  “Sounds like everyone is out there,” Ariel cocked an ear. “You look good.”

  Yvette blushed and followed her sister in law to the grand doors. It was so much like yesterday. Yesterday, she married Peter. Today, she was marrying his world.

  “I'll see you in there, then,” Ariel said, with a grin. She slipped inside to take her place at the front.

  Yvette heard the music start and looked around the empty hallway. This was it. She was alone, and she was about to be crowned.

  The big doors opened, and everyone rose, just the same as at her wedding. She gulped and kept her focus on Peter. As with their wedding, he was at the front of the aisle. But this time, he was sitting on the throne, grand and majestic. The one beside him was meant for her.

  Yvette approached slowly, trying to keep her hands from trembling. She moved slowly in time with the music until she reached the front. There, the bishop of the church was waiting for her. On either side, the princes and princesses and nobles of the world were there, currently uncrowned. It was a new rule, and they would put on their royal regalia at the appropriate time in the ceremony.

  Peter had warned her that he couldn't speak to her during the ceremony until the appointed time. She had to be presented to the people as the queen first.

  Yvette reached the front and turned around to face the people. The bishop cleared his throat, looking out at the crowd.

  “Sirs, I here present unto you: Queen Yvette, your undoubted queen. Wherefore all you who are come this day to do your homage and service, are you willing to do the same?”

  “God save Queen Yvette!” came the cry back. She tried not to jump as they spoke in unison. Their voices echoed off the grand church walls, the marble pillars doing nothing to stop it. The ceiling seemed impossibly high and the church very large. She felt chilly, and tried not to shiver.

  “Madam, is your Majesty willing to take the Oath?”

  Yvette cleared her throat. “I am willing.”

  The bishop turned to her, his voice solemn.

  “Will you solemnly promise and swear to govern the peoples of Umora, their subservient shifters, and of your possessions and other territories to any of them belonging or pertaining, according to their respective laws and customs?”

  Yvette swallowed deeply. “I solemnly promise to do so.”

  “Will you to your power cause law and justice, in mercy, to be executed in all your judgments?”

  “I will,” she heard a little tremble in her voice, and she was glad the line was only two words. She glanced at Alexander out of the corner of her eye, and he smiled, giving her courage. They were her brothers now, and they would support her.

  Peter took her hand, and they rose. Everyone began to clap and cheer, calling out one last time.

  “So, my dear,” he said, as he took in the clapping and cheering. “You are the anointed queen. What do you think?”

  “Haven't really had much time to think,” she teased him. They had to wait, officially, until the crowd quieted down for them to get off the platform and descend back through the church. After this was when they were finally going to take a honeymoon. It wasn't going to be long, for they had a country to rule. But Yvette was still trying to wrap her head around the fact that she had the rest of her life with Peter. She didn't have to leave; she didn't have to go back; she never had to be without his smile or his touch.

  Finally, the crowd quieted down, and the new king and queen descended the platform His arm was straight out in front of him, and hers was on top of his. They walked slowly, and everyone bowed or curtsied as they went by. Some reached out gently to touch her, their eyes shining.

  “But so far?” Peter asked.

  “It's not the life I expected,” she admitted. “But it is where I belong.”

  She smiled at her as they exited the church. He wasn't sure how to navigate this world, even when he lived the first time. But with her as his queen and his wife, he was confident he would be just fine.

  Saved by Alpha Bear Preview

  (Shadow Claw Book 1)

  SARAH J. STONE

  CHAPTER 1

  “Luke, the elders have a point. At least hear them out.”

  The door banged in the lieutenant’s face and he sighed. He walked towards the common room, wondering how he could convince his alpha that he needed a woman in his life to stabilize him.

  “Kevin!”

  Ted waved at him from the counter where he was wolfing down his meal. Kevin made a fa
ce at his pink hair, and sat down next to him. “Who dared you to do that?” he said.

  “Jenny did.” Ted bared his teeth in a smile. “And now she has no choice but to go out with me on a date. So,” he said, swallowing his stew, “what did Luke say?”

  Kevin leaned over to grab a piece of bread from the basket, and broke into it with his teeth. “He told me to go do something to myself which is not anatomically possible.”

  Ted frowned, “The elders should just stop climbing all over him. He’ll find a mate soon enough.”

  “He hasn’t touched a woman in a year. Not even a packmate. He will go crazy.”

  Ted sobered at his friend’s words and then his eyes lit up, “Why not send him to town? One of those local bars. He might be attracted to somebody there.”

  Kevin shook his head and wiped the crumbs off his face. “You know we can’t mate with humans.”

  Ted glanced at the wall clock and put his bowl in the kitchen sink. “Sex and mating are two different things. He’ll relieve himself and then the elders will be able to relax. We all will.” He winked at Kevin. “I’ve got to go. I’m late for my patrol.”