Light of Dawn

by Angela Colsin

  I'm not in my clothes right now, and my phone's in my pants pocket, so give me some time to stop wandering around naked, and I'll give you a ring back.

  A beep sounded, and Ulric spoke, “Isadora, if you had time to change your voice message, then you had time to call me. I have some questions, so get back to your damned phone.”

  He ended the call and took a deep breath. Frustration was running high, and he wasn't sure he could keep fighting with himself this way. Pleasure Charlotte? This was definitely getting worse, and not only did he find himself fine with the idea of breaking his vows with the mortal, but wishing for it.

  Just the thought of pleasuring her, listening to her cries and satisfying whatever needs she had made his jeans particularly uncomfortable.

  But it wasn't only his vows that stood in the way, or even his immortality. Ulric wouldn't have a chance with Charlotte after how he'd treated her so far. Putting a knife to someone's throat was a wonderful way to introduce yourself after all, and that wasn't the only mistreatment he'd offered.

  Mortal fae must be able to transition, otherwise I wouldn't feel this guilty. Ulric stared at his phone, realizing he was actually considering placing a call to Dalris, the only person he knew who might have an answer and was currently available for questioning.

  Though Ulric didn't like resorting to asking the head of their family for anything, this situation was unique, so he made an exception.

  The phone only rang a few times before Dalris answered. “Ulric? Is this a prank call?”

  “No,” Ulric muttered. “It's not a prank.”

  “Really? I didn't think I'd hear from you again until your job was concluded, unless you just managed to wrap things up.”

  “It's not that either. I needed to ask you a question.”

  “Me? Why not Garrick or Victoria? Even Isaac.”

  Ulric sighed. “Because you're the oldest and have the best chance of knowing the answer.”

  Dalris grew silent, probably because he wasn't used to having Ulric ask him anything, finally inquiring, “Mission go awry?”

  “You could say that. So would you happen to know much about the fae? In particular, whether or not mortals can ever transition.”

  “Mortal fae? I can't say I've ever run into one.” Silence ensued the words before Dalris asked curiously, “Is the woman Isadora sent you to part fae?”

  “Yes, she is,” he muttered.

  “You don't sound very happy about it. Why does her lineage matter?”

  Sighing lowly, Ulric started his explanation with, “Because she's driving me crazy.”

  Chapter 11

  Try as she might, Charlotte still wasn't sure what to make of her travel companion.

  On the way back to the car, she made a pit stop at the vending machines for a candy bar using some change rattling in her jacket pockets, and considered the trip so far. Ulric seemed to be on the edge, and she couldn't discern a reason. Still, he wasn't even human, so who knew what was normal behavior for him to begin with?

  But Charlotte no longer believed he was just some jerk who only cared about money, and while she wasn't sure what else motivated him specifically, he did seem to have at least some honor.

  Not to mention, the more she thought of the way he'd confronted Mitchell, the harder it was not to smile despite her confusion. Surely the incident would cause drama for her to deal with later, but it was worth it if only for the look on Mitchell's face. I can't wait to tell Edith. She'll laugh herself sick.

  Charlotte was also in love with Rozdra. When she realized the animal was merely curious and not threatening her, seeing such a thing became a very pleasant surprise. Briefly, she wondered if other mythical creatures like unicorns and griffins also existed, and took to the wyvern like he was her cat.

  Coming to the lot where Ulric's car was parked, Charlotte stopped in noticing her temporary bodyguard was on the phone with his window cracked, allowing the words spoken to reach her ears.

  “Not knowing is driving me insane, Dalris,” he'd muttered. “I'm just not sure what to think of her.”

  Charlotte decided to stay out of sight for the time being, taking a position at the back of a van with a florist's logo painted on the door parked next to Ulric's car. Normally, she didn't like eavesdropping, but got the feeling he'd change the subject when he saw her, and wanted to see what she'd learn by listening in.

  Whatever was said on the other end must have been unpleasant because Ulric suddenly let a growl, retorting, “I won't leave Charlotte behind.”

  Though the declaration was reassuring, she wasn't quite sure what to make of how adamant he sounded, peering around the corner of the van when a silent pause followed the words. There, she saw Ulric's face in the rear view mirror, and he seemed to be listening carefully to whatever was being said on the other end.

  “Good point,” he finally spoke. Charlotte stepped back to hide again as he went on, “not that I didn't fuck things up when I first met her. Let's just say I haven't exactly been kind to Charlotte.”

  While she could agree, she wondered what he'd fucked up aside from alienating her trust. Who was he talking to, anyway? Dalris? As much as Charlotte wished she knew the answers, the next part of his one sided conversation was even more confusing.

  “You mean Charlotte's dual heritage?”

  My dual what?

  After a pause, he went on, “No, not yet. She isn't likely to believe it coming out of my mouth. At least, not easily. I think Isadora would do better telling her.”

  Telling me what?

  He grew quiet again, and Charlotte was so focused on waiting for more to be said that she didn't even notice the sound of a car door shutting. Only a moment later, the van she'd chosen to hide behind started up and began pulling away, forcing her to hurry out from behind it and into Ulric's view.

  Like clockwork, he saw her and said into his phone, “I have to go, she's back from her break, but I'll keep it in mind, Dalris. Sounds like the best idea.”

  Damn it, now I'll never know what he was talking about unless I confront him. Grumbling, Charlotte casually walked to the passenger's door and got inside.

  Rozdra was settled between the seats, looking particularly interested in a small, black bag Ulric tugged from the glove box and held over to her. The wyvern immediately pushed her muzzle inside the opening, pulling out some kind of meat to consume.

  “What are you feeding her?” Charlotte inquired.

  “The rest of a rabbit she caught and brought back to her carrier.”

  She stared at Ulric after that explanation, frowning. “Poor rabbit.”

  “Animal lover?”

  “Yes,” she answered, noticing that he seemed to be in a much better mood as he started the car. Maybe his recent conversation had done him some good, and she was dying to know what it was all about.

  “Even snakes?”

  “They don't bother me as long as they're not poisonous and don't bite.”

  Ulric smirked, then threw out, “Spiders?”

  “Spiders are not animals. They're evil, evil, creepy little things.”

  She spied him grinning over the comment, suspicious of the look before she tensed, exclaiming, “Don't tell me you've got a fucking pet tarantula in here or something!”

  Ulric cast her a look that suggested she was just being paranoid now. “No, and even if I did, Rozdra would kill it … and probably eat it,” he qualified in amusement.

  “Ew, shut up!” Charlotte cringed, looking down at Rozdra who was watching them with her head cocked like a bird's, letting a short chirp when Charlotte patted her. “You don't eat spiders, do you?”

  “She eats anything that moves if it's smaller.”

  “Are you saying the only reason she's not attacking us is because we're bigger?”

  “No, she's trained. But if she were wild, and older, she'd attack you.”

  “Why just me?”

  “I'd be viewed as kindred.”

  “Well aren't you special,” Charlot
te muttered teasingly as Rozdra affectionately nuzzled her hand. “She seems to like me enough.”

  “So I noticed.”

  Ulric sounded uncertain, prompting the question, “Does she usually not take to people well?”

  “Not always. She's obedient, but I figured she would've been upset because you're in her normal riding spot.”

  In contrast, Rozdra was currently batting at one of the strings on Charlotte's jacket with her foot, playfully trying to capture it before biting at it. Such a ferocious baby, she thought in amusement.

  But Ulric was probably right. If Rozdra would eventually become the size of a house, then she was probably a true beast at heart, and feeding her a rabbit she'd killed made it seem likely the wyvern had to be fed live food like a pet snake.

  Then again, Ulric might've simply wanted to make sure she learned how to hunt in order to care for herself when she was an adult—which drew up a very particular question that Charlotte asked without pause.

  “Ulric, if she'll get as big as a house, how will she hide from people?”

  “She won't be here when she's that age. My brother will take her back home first.”

  “Where's home?”

  “Another realm. Our kind come from a place called Ithelyon.”

  Though that sounded unreal, Charlotte was starting to get used to all of his improbable explanations, and wanted to learn more. Ulric also seemed to be in a better mood, so she tried again at acquiring information.

  “What about your House? You said it's a clan?”

  “Yes,” he started. “There are five Houses of draconians, one belonging to each of the Great Dragons who sired them. Mine is House Dra'Kai.”

  “Is Dra'Kai his name?”

  Ulric nodded. “He's the blue dragon. There's also a black, white, red, and green.”

  “And how big are they?”

  Ulric became quiet as if thinking of a good size comparison, and the longer she waited, the bigger she expected it to be.

  Finally, he answered, “They'd tower over your apartment building when standing on their hind legs, and rival it on all fours.”

  An animal that large definitely couldn't exist in this world without someone noticing, and Charlotte asked further, “If Rozdra breathes lightning, and you like being electrocuted, does Dra'Kai breathe it too?”

  “He does.”

  It was hard to imagine an animal so large releasing a torrent of electricity, which had to be a fierce sight to behold. But with all of the curiosities running through her head over these things, something more meaningless popped up which made her smile.

  “So if I had static and shocked you, would it hurt?”

  “No,” he chuckled, grinning once again.

  When Charlotte found herself staring at the handsome expression, she put all of her focus on Rozdra, petting the small beast. “It's so strange to learn about this stuff, but it's interesting. Can you tell me anything else?”

  “What would you want to know?”

  About your conversation. Again, she wondered what he meant by letting someone named Isadora inform her of her duel heritage, and even if it gave away the fact that she'd been eavesdropping, she had to ask.

  “What were you talking about on the phone?”

  Suddenly, his expression turned sour. “You were eavesdropping?”

  “You went through my bag,” she countered. “Besides, I heard my name, and I wanted to listen. So … who's Dalris?”

  Ulric groaned, shifting in his seat uncomfortably. “He's my older brother. I called him to ask a few questions I needed answers to.”

  Like whether or not you fucked up our first meeting? Knowing she was being nosy to begin with, Charlotte stuck to the part she was most curious about. “And Isadora? Why would she have to tell me about a duel heritage?”

  Annoyed, Ulric muttered, “You won't believe it coming from me.”

  “I've believed everything else.”

  “After some adjustment,” he pointed out.

  “Just spit it out already, Ulric, what were you talking about?”

  Charlotte just hoped she wouldn't regret asking, reminding herself curiosity killed the cat.

  Ulric wasn't too thrilled that Charlotte heard part of his conversation, wondering how well she'd handle the information she was now so curious about. Just like a fae. But regardless of her eavesdropping, he was grateful he'd called Dalris, who had some good advice.

  You do sound protective, and it's not unheard of that your draconic instincts could be trying to tell you something. That being the case, don't write it off. Treat Charlotte as you would your actual mate. If it comes to pass that she can become immortal, and you realize she's yours, any transgressions made now would stand in the way of a union later.

  Sadly, despite being nearly eight hundred years old, his brother didn't know for certain if a mortal fae could actually transition, meaning they must have been rare. But Dalris promised to look into the matter for Ulric to hopefully learn more.

  It was irritating to think that, all this time, Charlotte could be the one promised to him by fate, and he couldn't realize it because she was mortal. But maybe it was for the best when his job needed to be concluded before actually exploring the possibility.

  The only thing standing in the way was his vow of celibacy. Should he even try to act on his suspicions when he wasn't completely sure? Then again, he could resist any urges to get closer in a physical sense and treat her with the same respect, consideration, and admiration he would his mate until they had an answer.

  That way, his vow stayed intact, and she'd hopefully begin to feel differently about him.

  Now, Charlotte was waiting expectantly, and he finally gave an explanation.

  “Our kind can sense a person's race by getting a good look at them, Charlotte, and when I saw you in your apartment yesterday, I knew you weren't just a typical mortal.”

  Ulric tried to present the next part as gently as possible. “Isadora is a friend of mine, and I wanted her to tell you this because of her own heritage, but you're only partly human, Charlotte. The other part is fae.”

  Charlotte stared at him, questioning, “What's a fae? Like a fairy or something?”

  “Not specifically. Another reason I wanted Isadora to tell you is because she could answer questions more easily. I only know general things, not details.”

  While Ulric had met several fae in his life, and knew there were various types, he wasn't clear on all of the particulars. But he couldn't deny Charlotte what he did know, hoping the information would tide her over until he could ask Isadora.

  So he continued, “They're immortals that influence nature, and as far as I know, nature itself births them in some way, but I have no clue how. I also know they're impotent until they find a mate.”

  Charlotte looked particularly intrigued by the last part, asking, “What do you mean?”

  He shrugged, “Most immortal races eternally imprint on a mate, and I've been told the fae know they've found one when they experience physical desire for someone else.”

  Charlotte stared out of her window for several minutes in thought, and finally inquired, “How could I be part fae? Both of my parents were human, and their parents, and so on.”

  “I'm not sure, but some female along the line was. I can sense it in you as clearly as I can see you.”

  “Why a female?”

  “There are no male fae,” Ulric explained, wishing more and more that Isadora would call him back. “Don't ask me why, that's just how it is. But it means your mother is at least part fae, too. Does she like camping, or gardening?”

  Charlotte shook her head. “Mom died three years ago, and she didn't do much of those things. Still, I'm not specifically an outdoors lover myself.”

  “Maybe that trait doesn't show up in you because you're mortal,” he suggested. “But now that I think about it, your fae side could be why vampires are after you.”

  “How so?”

  “It could be something as simpl
e as your blood being a delicacy to them. They tend to hunt fae more frequently than other immortals anyway.”

  Charlotte grumbled as if either disappointed with his lack of knowledge, or simply having trouble adapting to the idea that she wasn't fully human. Her next statement proved it was both.

  “I wish you knew more. I just can't believe there's this whole supernatural world out there and now I'm finding out I'm possibly a part of it, but can't ask what that means.”

  “Not possibly,” he corrected. “You are, and it just means you're unique from other humans.”

  “What's the good in being unique if it makes you a target?” she grumbled. “You know, if that's why vampires are after me, and they'd killed me, I never would've even known it. Also, why did they never come after me before?”

  “That's a good question,” Ulric qualified, “and I have some ideas, but I want to wait before theorizing.”

  After mentioning that, he noticed her expression growing dejected as she leaned against her door. “Are you okay?”

  “I'm actually kind of sorry I asked,” she muttered. “Can we talk about something else? Or just listen to music for a while?”

  Seeing how downtrodden she was, Ulric felt the urge to offer comfort, and decided a little music would probably help a great deal. So he flipped the radio on, and let Charlotte shuffle through the tunes until she found something she liked.

  As it turned out, they had similar tastes in music, enjoying some hard rock for a while without talking about anything at all, and thankfully, it seemed to work. Charlotte was acting normal again in no time, even offered him half of a candy bar she'd gotten, claiming it was too sweet to eat the whole thing by herself.

  Ulric accepted, wondering if she was actually fine knowing about her fae side, or was running from the knowledge. Hopefully, she just needed time to adjust like she did in learning he wasn't human.

  All he could do was offer support in the meantime.

  But he still needed to talk to Isadora despite his brother's advice. Not knowing if there was potential for something to form between himself and Charlotte was still driving him crazy, and it was a long way to Tallahassee yet.