Fated Fortunes

by Angela Colsin

  Growing up in a convent, Jada had heard the name several times, and even met the woman once with her class while visiting Litora Cathedral for the annual Goddess Festival. Arja was a highly respected figure who'd led the Udanian Clergy for more than a century now, and wasn't an enemy any sane person wanted.

  But despite her anger over what the Archon had done, Jada had to wonder about the things she'd told Morwin. First, Menlor hinted at something dangerous located within the ruin, and now she'd learned the Archon thought locating Rinora's temple would lead to the same thing.

  This had to mean the clergy, or at least those at the top, possessed information they hadn't shared with anyone else, perhaps not even the monarchy.

  But what was supposed to be hidden in Rinora's temple? What was so dangerous?

  Whatever it was, the best way to find out would be to track Menlor down for questioning—a difficult task.

  Still, they had to find a way out of the shrine before that would ever come to pass. So for now, Jada pushed all thoughts of the clergy aside in favor of considering Morwin's personal message to her.

  He did this for me. She'd never realized just how devoted her grandfather was, and knowing he wanted her to lead her own life and seize happiness hit home like nothing else could.

  Perhaps she needed to put down the books for a while and utilize the time she had locked away from the world's judgmental gaze just enjoying being in Dalris' company. No matter what problems lurked around the corner, in this shrine, they were free to be themselves—and after testing the waters with him, Jada was definitely ready for a swim.

  Still, now didn't quite seem like the right time to tell him everything if only because she didn't want Dalris thinking she was just taking advantage of their isolation. But the least she could do was admit her mistake on The Cutlass—and who knew, perhaps learning a sterility potion waited for them would motivate him to find an exit from the shrine more quickly.

  Jada grinned deviously at the thought, and stood to exit the residence.

  A few moments later, she emerged in the sanctum, though strangely, there wasn't a trace of her companion anywhere in sight.

  “Dalris?”

  Her voice echoed through the chamber, and was finally met with a plain, “Yeah?”

  Confused, Jada inquired, “Where are you?”

  “Over here,” he remarked, and the glowing light of her blade appeared, marking his position at a surprising location—apparently, there was an archway beneath the staircase leading up to the catwalk that she hadn't noticed before.

  Dalris emerged from beneath it, and though she wondered what he might've found as she walked down to meet him, she didn't immediately ask.

  Instead, the moment she reached him, Jada took his cheeks and tugged him down for a firm kiss.

  The surprised groan he let in response was too sexy for words, and he immediately latched his arms around her.

  Yet he broke contact sooner than expected to ask, “Have you been crying?”

  My eyes must be red. At the thought, she nodded. “I just finished Papa's tome, and he actually left a message for me at the very end.”

  Still holding her close, Dalris looked curious. “What did it say?”

  Jada answered by starting with the reason for Morwin's banishment, and why he'd sought the truth about Rinora's House from the start. The only thing she left out was his personal message about seizing happiness with her mate, and summarized, “I shouldn't be surprised Papa started researching because of my situation, but it's touching to know how much he loved me.”

  The warm smile Dalris gave her made it difficult to pay attention to his reply, but his comment was too promising to ignore.

  “I wish I could've met him myself, if for no other reason than to thank him for caring so much about you. But no matter what we uncover here, I'm going to ensure Dra'Kai's House erects a shrine in his honor.”

  Hearing this, Jada's heart leaped in excitement as she leaned up to kiss him again before exclaiming, “Papa would love that!”

  Dalris seemed pleased with her approval, lifting a hand to brush his knuckles across her cheek. “I'm glad. Still, you seem particularly affectionate right now. You didn't fall asleep reading and have another dream about us, did you?”

  His question sounded arrogantly hopeful, and she scoffed with a smile. “You'd know it if I had. But before I answer, what were you doing under the stairs?”

  She motioned at the archway, and he looked back, remarking, “Oh, I realized we hadn't thought to look here yet, and I actually found another door, but it's sealed with magic.”

  “Really?” Intrigued, Jada moved beneath the archway, realizing it was too dark to see clearly until Dalris brought her glowing blade into the space to reveal the door he'd mentioned.

  The surface was etched with several reliefs of wyverns and drakes, and most notably, at the center was a golden seal marked with a symbol Jada easily recognized.

  “I think that's the mark of a god,” Dalris mentioned. “Maybe the God of Magic?”

  “It is,” she confirmed, familiar with the symbols representing each deity of the pantheon due to her upbringing in a convent.

  But why was this symbol on the door? She hadn't uncovered any information suggesting the House of Rinora worshiped the God of Magic specifically, but perhaps there was another reason altogether.

  Either way, she took the handle to pull, then attempted to push, but it wouldn't budge.

  Nodding as if he'd been met with the same resistance, Dalris qualified, “I'm sensing magic coming from inside like what I sensed when we entered the shrine, too. I think it's another hold, and after what you read in Morwin's tome, I'm just hoping it's not holding anything dangerous.”

  She hated to admit he was right to be concerned, but that was a possibility. Still, considering whatever waited inside had been contained under a magical lock for thousands of years now, they wouldn't need to worry until entering the area—if they could figure out how to open the door. And another puzzle emerges.

  Sadly, she didn't have the willpower to solve any problems just then, too busy thinking about Dalris and wondering how he'd react to her confession to put much consideration into it.

  So when he suggested they might find an answer in one of the books, she agreed—and quickly changed the subject.

  “True, and I'll look into it later. But right now, there's something I really need to tell you, Dalris … .”

  CHAPTER 32

  Whatever Jada was about to say, her tone was so sheepish that it turned Dalris' attention away from the locked door entirely.

  “Is something wrong?” he inquired uncertainly.

  “Uh,” she drew out, “not quite?”

  “Not quite?”

  Grumbling, the elf thoughtfully paced by, exiting the archway beneath the stairs before coming back again. The entire while, she was trying to explain herself, but he still wasn't certain of her meaning.

  “I made a mistake on The Cutlass, or maybe not a mistake so much as a poor judgment call. But it would be a mistake if certain things happened between us.”

  “Wait, Jada,” he started, grasping her shoulder to make her stop pacing in the hopes of getting a clear answer. “What's this about?”

  Glancing off to the side, she returned simply, “Us.” Then, as if knowing that didn't tell him anything, she waved her hands, adding, “I'm just trying to say I wouldn't mind going for a swim now that we've tested the waters, but I left the proper gear on The Cutlass.”

  If her statements had confused him before, now he was completely lost. “Go for a swim with the proper gear? I don't … wait, you're talking about—Oh.”

  He paused upon realizing she was making a metaphor, and if he was following it clearly, she was admitting a desire for sex.

  Just to make sure he was right, he asked, “Proper gear? What gear did you have?”

  Still sheepish, she muttered, “When I stormed out of my room because I was angry, I left a sterility potion behind.
It was a stupid thing to do, but I was so mad I didn't care.”

  Dalris stared at her, his heart picking up its pace with a million questions coming to mind. But the first one out of his mouth was, “Why are you telling me this?”

  For some reason, her brows arched in surprise. Maybe she'd expected him to try talking her into making love without protection, or she thought the reason should be clear. But she didn't deny him an answer, and sounded so confident that he nearly growled.

  “Because if I had it, I'd use it. Right now.”

  His heart thumped with an instinctive step toward her, asking suggestively, “Oh really?”

  Her breath hitched as she slowly nodded. “I just hope you don't think I'm telling you this because we're locked away from the rest of the world where the consequences don't really matter.”

  Perhaps that was the reason for her earlier surprise—she'd hoped he wouldn't make a negative assumption. But the thought hadn't occurred to him, and he was even less inclined to believe such a thing when she added, “I just thought you should know because you were right all along.”

  “About what?”

  “You said I wouldn't be disappointed if I gave you a chance, and I'm not.”

  Dalris' pulse was now racing as he mindlessly placed his fingers beneath her chin and swept his thumb across her jaw, replying, “That's a promise I'll do my best to keep, las'ira, but I have to be certain. So tell me, would you truly want me if we had protection?”

  To answer him, she leaned up and gave him the sweetest kiss he'd ever received.

  Growling against her lips, he locked her body to his with both arms, possessively thrusting his tongue into her mouth—and almost thought he heard her heart pounding as loudly as his.

  At the same time, his cock grew as hard as it'd ever been when he recalled the items sitting in his pocket and the opportunity it would provide—and judging by Jada's answer, now was definitely the time to use them.

  Though Jada enjoyed their kiss more than she could say, it was also extremely frustrating.

  The way Dalris' big body felt against hers and the possessive growl he let against her mouth pushed her to her limits, making it imperative to pull away. But all she wanted was a few minutes more to enjoy it, proving her desire by digging her fingers into the back of his vest as their kiss drew on.

  Still, she realized there was something strange about his reaction to her confession—it was too … casual, prompting her to break their contact and rasp breathlessly, “Wait a minute, why aren't you more curious about where and when I got a sterility potion?”

  She looked up to see a curious smile on his face, and his answer was surprising.

  “Because I already know Karina gave it to you.”

  “What?” She shook her head. “How?”

  Releasing her, Dalris reached into his pants pocket and produced two vials, both filled with the same blue liquid as those Karina had given her.

  Sterility potions.

  Jada stared at them with wide eyes, listening as he explained, “Your sister gave me these after we visited Eversgate. She seemed to think they'd come in handy if we got close before learning the fate of Rinora's House, and also said she was going to give you two vials just to be safe.”

  Turning her wide eyes up at Dalris, Jada couldn't help thinking one thing—That beautiful bitch. But despite her approval of Karina's planning, she had to ask, “You had these the entire time and never offered them?”

  Knowingly, he pointed out, “You weren't ready. Otherwise, you would've offered your own potions.”

  That was true, but Jada couldn't ignore the fact that he'd considered her feelings so thoroughly, snatching yet another piece of her heart in plain sight.

  And this time, she was certain it was the last one.

  The thought stole her breath, and the only problem that came with loving Dalris Dra'Kai was worrying what it could ultimately mean.

  Still, those concerns were so far removed from her mind in that moment they seemed like a distant afterthought, and she didn't hesitate to pluck one of the vials from his palm with a distinct command.

  “Take it, Dalris.”

  Grinning, the draconian agreed with a plain, “Yes, ma'am,” and uncapped his vial.

  Simultaneously, they drank the contents, and in doing so, Jada did in fact feel as if she was seizing her own happiness. She now had the chance to strengthen her bond to Dalris without worrying over complications, and the details could be hammered out later.

  But her sense of determination was unexpectedly forgotten when, as an immediate reaction to the taste of the potion, the couple cringed with derisive scoffs.

  “Oh goddess!”

  “Well that killed the mood,” Dalris muttered.

  She could easily agree, shuddering in disgust. “I guess that's the secret. Here, drink a potion that tastes like bitter, old fish, and completely lose interest.” Still able to taste the concoction, she turned to walk away, adding, “I need a chaser.”

  “Same,” he concurred, falling into step behind her.

  Several moments later, the couple had poured two goblets of sweet wine from the pantry, though sadly, the aftertaste didn't fade after the first sip. But it was definitely improving, and in the meantime, Jada sat on the edge of the desk and gave Dalris a curious look where he stood nearby.

  Spying it, he inquired, “What?”

  “Why were you carrying that potion around in your pocket?”

  “Oh,” he drew out as if knowing it seemed strange, then grinned. “I was worried you'd go through my pack for something like a light sphere and accidentally find it, then assume I'd been making plans.”

  Hearing this, she smiled understandingly, knowing that several days ago, he would've been right to worry. But after her mistake on The Cutlass, she would've made certain to ask for an explanation before making any assumptions.

  Still, the comment proved how disagreeable she'd been, prompting her to admit, “I guess I've been hard to get along with, haven't I?”

  “I wouldn't say that,” he countered, walking over to stand just before her in adding, “and I know your reasons.”

  My reasons? Jada eyed him thoughtfully, knowing he understood the basics—there would be conflict between their people, and the chance of unstable offspring. But he didn't know the full truth, and now seemed like the best time to come clean.

  “Are you sure about that? Because there's a few things I haven't told you that you should probably know.”

  “Like what?”

  Lifting her goblet to finish off the contents, Jada set the golden cup aside and started, “First, because the convent always said how wrong it would be to have a draconian as a mate, I actually felt dirty whenever I thought about it.”

  She could tell he didn't like the sound of that when his lips thinned in a straight line. Yet he didn't comment, probably thinking the topic was too complex to discuss in that moment, and only asked, “What about now?”

  Jada couldn't stop a slow smirk from spreading across her lips. “Well, I feel dirty, just not in a bad way.”

  Finally, he grinned, a sexy look that almost distracted her too much to add, “It's actually liberating. We should be careful, but damn it all, I can make my own choices.”

  Chuckling, he asked playfully, “Looking to spite the clergy by sleeping with a draconian, are you?”

  “Okay, now you're just making it wrong,” she chided, then paused in consideration before admitting sheepishly, “and yeah, I've thought about it.”

  Dalris' head fell back with a laugh that had her grinning from ear to ear, her eyes sweeping over the column of his neck where they fixated on the talisman still hanging around it, suppressing his Wrath.

  The sight reminded her that she could finally alleviate that burden by allowing him to claim his mate, and with it came an idea she couldn't ignore, her grin growing devious.

  He wouldn't know what hit him.

  CHAPTER 33

  Dalris recalled how Jada interacte
d with the crew of The Cutlass, and longing for the day when she'd behave the same way with him. Now, she was doing exactly that, and gods, he adored her sense of humor.

  For that matter, he adored her.

  Such thoughts made it extremely difficult not to immediately take things further, but for as interested as he was in putting the sterility potion to use, he craved more of her laughter and teasing.

  So, in gazing back down at her, he fully intended to continue their conversation.

  But it seemed his mate had other ideas.

  Smirking deviously, she remarked, “You know, the Deaconess at my convent always said I was a handful.”

  He could only imagine, parting his lips to say so—just as Jada reached up and snatched the talisman from around his neck, then slipped off the table and out of reach.

  The movements were so quick he wasn't even certain what she'd done, his logic eroded by a sudden surge of desire to claim his mate.

  That's when it hit him. She took the talisman.

  “I guess I'm just bad all around,” Jada remarked playfully, moving to the center of the room.

  Now in Wrath, he growled and turned to face her, spying the talisman dangling from her fingers as she held it up, suggesting, “You don't need this anymore, right?”

  “Jada, unless you—”

  “Oops,” she remarked, tossing the item into the hearth while feigning sorrow in adding, “I dropped it.”

  Dalris stared at the fire, and momentarily, an unexpected wave of fear overcame him that had nothing to do with the worry of going too far. It was abundantly clear that Jada wanted him, a thought that almost made him forget his concerns altogether.

  Yet his control had vanished in the face of his Wrath, and he was much stronger than his mate under normal circumstances.

  But now? What if I hurt her?

  Some instinctive part of him scoffed at the thought—there was no way he could ever hurt his cherished mate. In turn, Jada didn't seem one bit intimidated if her next saucy suggestion was any indication.