by L M Lacee
R eighn growled out. “Lars!”
“Yes my Lord.” Lars answered as he entered his office to find Reighn seated in his visitors chair.
“We have a concern.” Reighn disliked the word problem and used it as little as possible. Lars’s heart squeezed, was someone hurt, in trouble. Who did he have to kill? These were his first thoughts as he walked pass Reighn and threw his papers onto the desk. His second thought was Reighn had found out about his contribution to mama Verity’s museum and was annoyed.
Reighn grunted. “No, it is not about the museum. I do not care who contributes. In fact it is good place for all the stuff you got from your parents and grandparents properties. Sage and I have already said we will split the cost with Dragon’s Gap. It is time culture gained a foot hold here, it was a good idea of Edith’s. What you do with your families possessions is your business, nice touch, though.”
Lars sighed quietly, he really did not want to fight his brother on that as Reighn said his birth families horde was his to do with as he wanted. And donating the bulk of it to the museum was one way he thought went along way to paying for their treason to dragon kind. Plus he knew if they had been alive they would have hated his decision. Which was petty he knew, but it did not stop him from feeling good about it. He grinned thinking about their screams of outrage they would have made if they had been alive. Shaking those thoughts away he asked. “So what is your concern about?”
“Want to tell me why Sharm should think you have been telling me tales when you have not and why have you not?”
So he had known he was there, crafty as a fox was brother Sharm. His dragon growled. We need to train more, if healer can find us! Lars agreed and answered Reighn. “Because our brother is an idiot and the tales were not mine to tell.”
Reighn went to speak, and Lars held his hand up. “You know my position, if I came running to you with everything I know or heard, you would go crazy. That is, after all, why you have me as your Prime correct?”
Reighn shrugged, damn it he was right as his dragon grumbled. Brother smart and slippery!
That is why we love and trust him.
His dragon smiled. This is true! “Lars, our brother may be an idiot but I cannot shake the feeling something is wrong. He was never such a butt head as he is now since bonding with Edith. Is what you know and not saying going to hurt him or his shadow? And before you answer, be aware I have threatened to take her from him if he does not start treating her right?”
Lars sighed again, his dragon looked at Reighn. Our Dragon Lord should know.
Maybe but what we heard did not threaten Edith, shadows do not always agree it was an argument nothing more.
This is true, but I like Edee and love our brother.
I as well my friend. Lars replied quietly. “I would have already told you if there was a concern to Edith or Sharm.” Reighn nodded knowing he had not given Lars enough credit. Lars told him. “All I can say is that what I overheard made me want to kick his ass but it seemed like it was nothing more than a disagreement. There were no threats made against either of them, nor was there a hint of it.”
“Of violence you mean?” Demanded Reighn with a frown.
Lars agreed. “That is what I mean. Reighn I would have never allowed that, ever.”
“Oh I know but seriously I am rethinking the ass whipping, I was going deliver to our brother.”
They both grinned as Lars told him. “Well if you get to doing it, call me.”
Reighn turned to leave. “You are not the only one. Storm has said he will help, and we all know what that means?”
Lars groaned loudly at the thought of Storm and Sharm having a fight. As youngsters they usually fought until blood was spilled or their Uncle Andre` pulled them apart. Lars did not think that regardless of their occupations it would be any different now.
“Well!” Reighn said. “On that cherry note I will leave, what are you doing this afternoon?”
Lars grunted. “What I do every Thursday afternoon hear petitions for increases in the treasury and settle disputes between families.”
Reighn nodded and looked at his brother as he asked. “Is it too much?”
Lars returned the honest look as he told him. “I think since the Axton treason attempt, things have settled down but I am probably not the one to be addressing these issues and Stanvis is not really willing. In fact probably not a good idea. He tends to get sword happy when they come into view.”
Reighn laughed he unfortunately felt the same way. “We will suspend all petitions and settlements of disputes until we find someone to take over, unless it is life and death.”
Lars face transformed from the habitual bland expression when discussing those particular duties, to a smiling young male. He stood so fast his chair almost tipped over. Reighn berated himself he should have seen how much stress Lars was under. He smiled as he heard the relief in Lars’s voice as he said. “Thank you! Yes, I am free!”
Reighn clapped him on the back as he moved closer. “You should have said. I am not a mind reader.”
Lars cocked an eyebrow up as he smirked. “Liar!”
“Well okay, I do not like to snoop, so you need to tell me these things.”
“You are right I should have. I hate to whine like a girl, though?”
Molly ran in, “Dada me need ride.” When she spotted Lars, she said. “Unca Lars me need ride.”
She threw herself into Reighn’s arms. “Who is with you Molly?” He asked hoping she was not running around the castle by herself. She told him. “Me Granma Grace.”
Frowning Reighn asked. “Where is she?”
“Me need ride dada.”
Jacks walked around the corner with Ava in her arms who squealed when she saw Reighn.
“Molly please don’t run away from me.” Jacks told her mildly.
Jacks was Stanvis’s shadow. They had been bonded only a little over two months. She was a nice calm female, tall slim and a full leopard with striped gold and black hair. Which on first meeting her, was disconcerting but fit her well. She was an accountant who wore glasses as she was near sighted. She always reminded Lars of an old fashioned school teacher because she appeared so proper. How she dealt with the irreverent Stanvis amused them all. She was a quiet individual which was also contrary to her shadow. She was schooling Molly in her lynx or her lynx in Molly, it was hard to say at times.
“Jacks how are you?” Reighn asked as he let Molly down and reached for Ava.
“Fine my Lord, Lars how are you?”
“I am fine, is Stanvis here?”
She smiled which transformed her rather severe looking face into a lovely female. Her whole body seemed to soften at the mention of her shadow. “Someone came to ask him for something. Molly, Ava and I thought we would come find someone to take the girls to their grandmothers. I would, but I have a meeting in town and Stanvis mentioned something about cars so who knows!”
Reighn said. “Thank you Jacks, unfortunately Grace is busy so the girls will remain here at the castle.” He did not want to tell them he felt as if there was a danger to them if they left the castle. Sometimes as Dragon Lord the sensations of danger came over him. It filtered through the air or ground. It was probably nothing, but he always heeded the warnings. Especially after the incident with the faerie Sela.
Lars so in tune to his brother said. “Well why don’t, Stan and I stay with the girls this afternoon. We can find something to do?”
Molly pouted. “Me go to Granma Graces.”
After her time with Edith she no longer yelled while inside. Which Reighn was thankful for now if he could only get Sage to follow suit. Life would be a whole lot quieter. More boring! Quipped his dragon.
Well, there is that! He laughingly replied.
Lars tipped his head to the side when he saw the first tears swimming in Molly’s eyes. “Well that is sad. Uncle Stan and I were thinking of seeing if the swimming pool in the conservatory is ready to be used.”
Molly whi
pped her head around to Reighn then Lars.
“Me wim?”
“Kittens like to swim.” Whispered Jacks to Reighn then she said in her normal voice. “Stan is having a pool installed at our home.”
Reighn nodded as he watched his daughter’s eyes open wide at the thought of swimming. “Dada me wim?” Molly pleaded, all thoughts of Grandma Grace gone.
“Of course, I did not know we had a pool.” He was sure there had never been one in the castle before. Lars grinned as Stanvis joined them wrapping an arm around his shadow. “After Jacks told me about cats swimming, we decided the girls needed one. Sage liked the idea also, we asked mama she said the conservatory or the annex off it would be good for a pool. We have a full adult pool and a, what they call a kiddie pool in there. It was finished two days ago and is filled with warm water just waiting to be used.”
“Well when I have finished my business with King Elijah, I will come and see for myself. Now my girls listen to your Uncles and be good.” He admonished each of them.
“Kay dada.” Molly said almost bouncing with joy, he kissed each of them and said his goodbyes to his brothers and Jacks.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN:
S harm flew for another few minutes after depositing his mother at her apartment. He did not go to his shadow. His dragon now in control soared the skies and thought hard, his human had not been himself for many days since the day of the party. Something was wrong, he had seen and felt something that clouded his human’s thinking. Something made him act different to their shadow. He flew high as he thought over the problem, which was complex. It was not dragon emotions that he had to deal with, it was those of his human and for those he needed a human or someone close to it. He circled down to the Faerie Grove and landed.
Queen Scarlett stood waiting with her guards and her light, as they watched the circling dragon. She said to Elijah, “I think Lord Sharm has come to ask for advice.”
Elijah grinned as he looked towards the sky. “I see that, you think it is about Edee?”
Scarlett laughed gently. “Oh most definitely.” She looked at her beloved and asked anxiously. “Has she been found?”
The shake of his head said it all. Scarlett felt her heart sink. Elijah took a step back. “I have more patrols to send out, also I am meeting with Lord Reighn. You can manage this I am sure. Emotional advice is your department. Mine is to scare and hunt.”
Scarlet inclined her head. “And you do it so well my love. Find Sela my dear, she is a danger to everyone now.”
He smiled and tipped his head kissing her palm before saying seriously. “I think she always was.”
He and his guards left as she stood waiting for the large dragon to land, Scarlett prayed. Please, Mother Earth, do not allow Sela to cause harm to anyone. Scarlett called to the dragon as he settled onto the earth. “What has happened dragon that you come to the Grove?”
The dragon refused to relinquish his control to Sharm, so remained in his dragon form, forcing the conversation to be conducted in mind voice. Scarlett smiled as she said. Ahh! I see it is you who wishes to speak to me dragon?
Yes! Said a deep dark voice.
What is the reason?
My human Sharm and our shadow are not bonding as they should.
I see. What can I do to help?
The dragon blinked his enormous eyes as he asked. Is it possible for my human half to be spelled?
Oh I am guessing you think faerie magic?
Yes!
Well for any other species I would say yes. For dragons, no dear one, it is impossible. All dragons whether human or not are immune to magic.
He said sadly. I see! I suppose I did not think that through, being of the Sun and Moon Goddesses magic. We cannot succumb to others magic, other than the Elementals.
This is true. I am sorry I am not even sure you will succumb to the Elementals magic. Dragons are very unique beings!
The dragon blinked again. That is interesting. May I ask, what if our shadow is be-spelled and this causes my Sharm to be affected? Is that possible?
Well, that is possible, I would have to talk to Edee to find out. Can you bring her here?
I do not know, they have argued. She is not at our home.
This is serious!
I think it is, very much so. My Sharm is not this male that talks as he has been. It is most confusing.
Queen Scarlet softly brushed his snout. I am sure it is dear one, what were you to do now?
Take our shadow for a flight. Our Dam suggested it, as we did not court.
I see! Scarlett thought fast. I have an idea where do dragons go to be alone. When they wish to court?
The caves at the top of the mountain, was his instant reply.
You know where these are?
I have heard. He did not want to admit he had flown over the area many times before their shadow had come into his life. In the hope that when they courted they would use the cave.
Can you guide my faeries there? Scarlett asked bringing his attention back to her.
For why?
Why dear dragon? To set up a rendezvous of romance for our dear ones.
The dragon thought for a moment. Is that considered courtship?
Yes exactly!
Our shadow had no courtship.
Well, it behoves you and us to give her one.
Agreed! He said excited, he would get to see the inside of the cave.
Scarlet said. Well go find the cave and then come back here and lead my helpers to arrange the cave.
Yes Queen Scarlett.
Once that is done, go and fly for an hour then when I call. Come for your shadow. Where is she now?
At Lady Junes.
Good, I will go to her there!
I thank you Queen Scarlett.
You are most welcome my dear. I enjoy Edee.
As do we!
The large dragon lifted slowly into the air and within the blink of an eye was gone. Scarlett turned to her guards.
“We are going to need Calla, Blossom and Leilani.” She clapped her hands. “Hurry! Hurry!”
They scattered as she walked back into the Grove quite pleased with herself. Romance was needed and faeries were very good at romance but first she had a possible be-spelled bear to deal with.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN:
S age greeted Queen Scarlet as she entered June’s apartment with her guards Sparrow and Loa. “Welcome.”
“Thank you Sage. I do hope you forgive our intrusion?”
“Hey guys nice to see you again.” Edith said to the three who entered. Both guards smiled and bowed to Edith as Scarlett smiled. “Edee we are glad to see you and you as well Sage and June.”
June said. “Of course, it is nice to see you. Can I get you anything?”
Scarlett refused. “No thank you, not at the moment.”
Sage asked as she led them into the apartment “What can we do for you Queen Scarlett?”
“I think we are past the stage of Queen and Dragon Lady do you not? I have already called you Sage.”
Edith said. “I do, titles annoy me.”
Sparrow the stern faced guard grinned as she asked. “Doesn’t everything?”
“Yep!” Edith grinned at her. “So when are you two free again? June and I want a rematch.”
“Speak for yourself. I need to save some money first.” Called June from the kitchen.
“For what?” Scarlett asked.
Loa said. “Poker my Queen, we played poker.”
Fascinated Scarlett asked. “What is this poker?”
Sage frowned. “A card game which should not have been taught to your guards.”
“Huh! That is what you know.” June grumbled as she walked back in with a tray of drinks. “They are sharks, don’t let that stiff guard faerie thing, they have going on fool you.”
The faeries in question grinned like the sharks June named them. Loa said. “We can teach you Queen Scarlett, if you would like?”
“I would like to learn this
game.”
Edith eyed the faerie Queen making sure her eyes stayed away from the frowning Sage’s as she said casually. “I could teach you strip poker. I think you would like that better, or Elijah would!”
Sage choked on her drink as she spluttered, “No absolutely not. I forbid it!”
“Too late.” June said as they all watched the Queen run through all the possibilities and implications of the word strip and a slow smile emerge on her ethereal face. “Oh I think I and my light would like that. Please teach me Edee.”
Edith grinned wider. “Well I can explain it to Sparrow, and she can explain it to you, as she teaches you the game.”
“I like that idea. Now my dear one we are here on urgent business.”
Worried Sage asked. “You are?”
“Yes Sage, I am concerned for Edee.”
“About what?” Edith asked with a frown?
“You and your Shadow.”
“Oh that, no problem. I will figure it out. We just need time that is all!”
Scarlett took her hand in hers and said. “Dear one, I am afraid no matter how much time you have, it will not be enough.”
Edith sucked in a breath as Sage and June gasped in shock. “What do you mean?” Edith asked and just stopped herself from yelling.
“You are under a spell my dear.”
Edith gaped and finally blurted out. “Say what now!”
June choked on her swallow of drink and wheezed. “You are friggin kidding me, right?”
Sage stood shocked, her drink held forgotten in her hand as she asked. “Scarlett, are you serious?”
“Yes Sage our Edith is be-spelled!”
“So who spelled her?” Reighn asked as he walked in from the balcony where he had landed only seconds ago.
“Hold on... Hold on… Wait now!” Edith said as they all quietened. She slowly walked towards the couch and sat. “What are you saying and speak plainly please, try to remember this is all new to me.”
Verity and Grace walked in. Verity’s face was white with anger and her voice held her dragon in its tones as she snarled. “Who...Who has had the audacity to do this to my daughter?”
Edith sat her face in her hands as Verity sat beside her with Grace on the other side, she too was angered as she asked. “Is this even possible?”