Sired: A Dark Reverse Harem Romance (Ascension Book 3)

by Kenna Bardot

  I nodded, letting him take my hand to go to bed. I still didn't feel like I'd be able to sleep, but the lines around his eyes had me following anyway. If it helped him sleep, then I'd pretend for his sake.

  ✽✽✽

  “Hi, Mireyah!” Patrick waved at me the moment I stepped out of the Express station. I jogged up to him with Hydra at my heels.

  “Hello, Patrick. Is there something I’m forgetting? I feel like it’s pretty scary that you’re here to pick me up when there’s a new baby. Have you seen him?” Hydra let out a huff at my words and I could feel the annoyance that a new baby was taking the attention from her. “You’re still beautiful, darling. My favorite.”

  “Yes, Mireyah, I’ve seen Gwynna’s new baby. Illyrio is so pleased. So fucking pleased. But to answer your question, Haisley asked that I take you to Gaige since he’s asked to meet you today, and she wasn’t sure if she could come and do it herself.” Hydra pawed at Patrick, a frantic motion that seemed so at odds with how calm she’d been when we’d first arrived.

  I saw several guards suddenly burst from the building next to the station. One of them stopped when she spotted Patrick. She called out to him, “Emergency!” His eyes widened as he nodded. “Sorry, Mireyah. Just wait here.”

  I wondered what had happened and why there was such a tangible buzz in the air in the Reserve. I walked towards the North side of the Reserve, spotting Haisley running from the Eastern side. I waved at her and she stopped, walking over to me slowly. Tears stained her cheeks. “What happened, Haisley?”

  "Madi and Leone are dead," she whispered. "They found them in the Southern fields," she added and the words reverberated in my head as I tried to reconcile the words with what they meant.

  “They’re dead?” I remembered the feeling of Leone’s scales under my hand - the texture and the cold, the soothing and gentle presence that was him even when I’d been so scared that I would lose my Hydra. “How could they be dead?”

  "We don’t know. Dragons don't just die like this," Haisley said, her features twisting in confusion. “We can’t really determine yet if there was any foul play but two dragons in less than a year, it’s probably going to be.” She rubbed a hand across her face.

  “But who would hurt a dragon?" Or Madi with the way she’d welcomed me, no judgment about having five Sires.

  "Killing a dragon is pointless and horrific so it’s hard to imagine who it could be." She was right. I didn't know a single person who could wish any dragon ill. But there was one thing I did know.

  Both the dragons from my Sire Trial were dead. I didn't dare voice the coincidence, didn't want to come off as arrogant or paranoid, but unease slithered up my spine. It had to be merely a coincidence, since I'd had almost no connection to the Dragon Guard at the time of Kimba's death.

  “Mireyah, I have to go back to the Southern Fields to check, but you should go to the East, most of the Dragon Guard will be there.”

  They blocked the entrance to the Springen Express, and I wondered if we would have to remain on the Reserve for the time being. It didn't seem feasible to lock all of us in for safety, but I knew the Dragon Guard would stop at nothing to protect their charges. Hydra rubbed up against my leg, and I leaned down to haul her into my arms even though she was quickly getting far too big for me to handle in that way.

  I tried to relax the part of me that tensed with the feeling of someone wishing us harm, someone using the dragons as a personal vendetta against me, but I didn't know anyone who hated me enough to kill innocent creatures when I couldn't see a single benefit to it.

  For now, I tried to focus on the fact that a woman I'd begun to consider a friend was gone. We'd know more information soon enough, I imagined, and then we could start putting the pieces together about what had happened to both Madi and Leone and Kimba and Trellis. I wanted to take the time necessary to grieve for that loss before I moved forward to the stressful phase.

  Following Haisley’s advice, I walked towards the Dining Hall. Haisley had been right - most of the Guard was there. But the panic was tangible and the fear but all I could think about was the fact that he’d flown me over the Reserve. That my first taste of aerial freedom had been when I’d been flying atop him.

  "Mireyah?" Elin stepped up, interrupting my thoughts. I nodded to show him I was paying attention. "It is my understanding that you live off the reservoir with your Sires?"

  "Yes, that's right," I answered.

  He nodded. "We'd like to recommend you exercise extreme caution for the foreseeable future. With everything going on, Hydra is very vulnerable. We'll try to keep an eye out for the two of you as well, but just be alert and make smart choices," he said, but there was no condescension in his voice. Only worry.

  Because dragons were dying.

  I wouldn't let mine be next.

  ✽✽✽

  “Mireyah?” I looked up to see Patrick with another Dragon Guard, likely from security as he wore the exact same uniform that he did.

  “Hi, Patrick. I’d ask where you rushed off to, but I’ve heard.” Pain swirled inside me as I remembered why things had been in limbo the entire day. The Reserve was dark and depressed following the discovery of Madi and Leone.

  He rubbed a hand over his face, exchanging a sad look with the other guard. It seemed unreal that Leone was dead, the gentle dragon, who I was pretty sure my Hydra had a bit of crush on. And with him, his handler Madi. The time I'd spent with them, though very little thus far, had been meaningful. I had lost my only real connection to the first moment I found out dragons existed.

  That moment, which I didn’t know until now, had set me on the course I found myself in. Captured a part of my soul that didn’t complete until Kimba had wrapped her tongue around my wrist and completed me.

  Now, that connection was gone, I felt like that part of my soul would never feel the same again.

  “It’s been a hard day. Elin asked that we guard you from now on. He’s asking that we take you back and forth from your home since you were determined to stay outside the Reserve.”

  “Oh, he asked you, did he?” I raised an eyebrow. “Somehow, I missed the memo where he asked me my opinion on this matter.”

  “He said he spoke to you earlier.”

  “He did, yes. I’m not mad at you Patrick, nor your friend…” I trailed off and he flushed.

  “Right, this is Julian. We’ll be taking shifts watching you since as much as I would want to, I can’t do it the entire day if needed.”

  “Nice to meet you, Julian.” I smiled in an effort to relieve the tension and only managed a slight grimace. “Tell me, Patrick, what did you ever do to Elin that he’d saddle you with me?”

  “Apparently, I let you through at the square and to Kimba. So he jokingly says that it’s my fault you’re here anyway.” He laughed but then stopped and gave me a wide stare. “Not that there’s anything wrong with you.”

  I laughed and shook my head. Hydra let out a huff as if to say ‘men.’

  “Thanks. I don’t think that there’s anything wrong with you.” Beside him, Julian laughed as I stood up. “I suppose it’s time to go home. I’d prefer it if you walk me to the Express and from there to my station. Let’s see what happens from there.”

  The Express station was just as heavily-guarded as I was and getting into it involved a check to ensure we were safe and alone. The Springen nodded when I walked up with the two. When we arrived at the station closest to my home, Julian turned to me. "Lead the way, please, we'll walk you home."

  I felt the panic thud in my chest - if my men saw me being escorted home by two tall, heavily-armored and armed males, they might react before asking questions.

  I looked around and spotted Ryle. Miraculously, he hadn't noticed I'd arrived though I couldn't really blame him - he probably didn't expect that I was part of a party. I pointed to him and whispered, "My husband is here to pick me up. Julian, please, he can protect me well enough."

  The guards looked towards him and for a br
ief moment I thought that they would argue before Patrick spoke up, "A Karfi is acceptable as a guard but please be careful, Mireyah. And consider staying within the premises for the foreseeable future so we can guard you."

  The feeling in my chest tightened as I shook my head. I didn't want to be a prisoner again and as much as I was my own Goddess with the Dragon Guard in a way I'd never been my own person since my Collection Day, I did not think I could survive without my men for too long. "And how long would that last? I trust that I would be kept safe outside. Please."

  They hesitated but I knew that they could not keep me so with Hydra still on my shoulders, I walked forward and called for Ryle. "Ryle! I didn't see you there."

  "Mireyah!" The moment I reached him, Hydra jumped from her perch and he caught her easily with one arm before allowing her to perch on his own shoulders that were broader and definitely more comfortable than mine. "Friends of yours?" He gestured with his chin behind me and a swift look behind me confirmed that my two guards were still there.

  Watching me without any thought that others might see. I sighed out and wrapped an arm around his. "Yes, Dragon Guard. Let's go home, shall we?"

  He shot me a long long before nodding. "Okay."

  As it normally was, walking with Ryle wasn't spent with a lot of conversation but I allowed myself to find comfort in his company. Allowing myself to be overcome with grief and fear would not do. I had to be strong, not just for myself but for Hydra, my men, everything I was fighting for.

  "Something's wrong," Ryle declared halfway to our house and I forced a smile on my face. "What? No."

  "I really wasn't asking a question, Mireyah," he sighed my name out and I, indeed, felt sorry that I was keeping things from him but I just shrugged. "Can we talk about this later please?”

  "We will because the Dragon Guard are a very secretive group of Gods and Goddesses and my only regular contact has been with you. To see two more in an Express station that isn't in one of the more popular or populated areas of Demiorgo means something is wrong." A look up at his face revealed that his jaw was clenched.

  I nodded. And for the first time in so long, I dreaded going home.

  Twenty

  Mireyah

  The sound of the door closing behind us cracked through the air like a frozen lake shattering. Arms crossed over his chest, Ryle stood just inside it. "Now."

  Char moved forward and stared between the two of us. "Something’s wrong." He looked at Tate who nodded, giving Hydra a last greeting snuggle before setting her to the floor.

  "Tell us." Hollis' voice was gentle, and it was a good move for him to take the lead. How could I deny his genuine worry?

  "One of the Dragon Guard and her dragon were….” My breath hitched as I struggled to say the words. Feeling my struggle, Tate came up behind me and wrapped me in his arms. I leaned back to take the support he offered, allowing his love to roll over me. “The Dragon Guard found them dead today." A tear rolled down my cheek. It was the first time I'd allowed it to happen since I'd heard the news.

  Hollis took my hands in his and brought them to his face even as Tate’s arms around me tightened.

  I saw the moment realization dawned on Ryle’s face, "And is that why there were two other Dragon Guard with you? Were they making sure you were being kept safe?"

  "Yes."

  Char walked forward and with a gentle finger below my chin, tipped my head up so I would look into those white eyes, terrible in their blankness. "If they're guarding you that means they think something is horribly wrong. Dragons don't just suddenly die out of the blue."

  "If something happens to your dragon, you don't escape unscathed," Shep said, his voice deepening as he fought for control of his worry and the temper that spiked. A bolt of lightning flashed across the sky outside the window.

  Another tear trickled down my cheek as I nuzzled into Tate’s arms. "No, I don’t. With our bond, if Hydra is harmed, so am I. They don’t think it was an accident, so they’re taking precautions.”

  Char's thumb ran across my cheek to wipe the tear off. "Be careful, Mireyah. No being alone or taking unnecessary risks."

  With a sigh, I moved out of Tate’s arms and went to Ryle. He held Hydra cradled in his arms, her mewling sounds echoing through the moment of silence as the men all processed the potential danger to our lives. Her heart was breaking just as much as mine was. While our bond with each other was unique, Dragon Guards had an all-encompassing bond with one another through the stone gifted to them by Zeevar. We felt the loss of Madi and Leone, and we felt it echoed through all the others too.

  She nuzzled into me. As I stroked a hand down her back, I knew I would do anything, sacrifice anything to keep her safe and sound. "They want me to stay at the Reserve until they have resolved the threat," I suggested softly, knowing they wouldn’t be too pleased with the suggestion.

  “How well would they be able to do that?” Shep, voice pitched angrily, asked as he paced back and forth.

  “They’re more careful this time around. Everything is more heavily guarded and everyone’s movements are being tracked. In fact, I had to convince them to let me go home without them escorting me even when I saw you.” I gazed into Hydra’s eyes and in them the fear that was a niggling sensation inside me. I hefted her closer, ignoring the way my arms strained at the effort of carrying her at her age and size.

  “But what about our Bond?” Tate’s voice was soft, but the look in his eyes made up for it. Dark and intense with emotion. “Being so far from us for too long will weaken you, affect all of us.”

  “I suppose you could visit me in the Reserve. I could ask. But I’m willing to make a sacrifice. I just want to be sure that you can work with me on this compromise.” Another tear, this time in mourning of what would be the loss of my time with my men.

  Char nodded and ran a finger down my cheek. He rested a hand on Hydra’s head, and for the first time she didn’t react adversely to his touch or presence. “If that’s what you want, Mireyah, we’ll support you. Whatever it takes to keep you safe, we’ll do. We always do.”

  ✽✽✽

  I woke up feeling no better than I’d felt when I’d eventually fallen asleep. The defeat and the pain touched my consciousness the moment I left the twilight world of sleep. I took a shower, put on my uniform on autopilot, desperate for the day to move forward and hoping any activity could drown out the pain.

  “How are you feeling?” Hollis, freshly showered, emerged from the other bathroom just as I moved to go downstairs.

  “Will you come down with me, please?” Silently, he closed the door behind him and took my hands as we walked down. In the kitchen, the rest of my men sat around quietly, drinking coffee or eating breakfast. Hydra ate her own breakfast in the corner, and I knew one of my men had tended to her.

  My throat constricted from the pain of yearning for something right in front of me. “I’m so glad you’re all still here.”

  As one, all their heads turned towards me, Hollis’ grip on my hand tightening. It brought me the strength that I knew I would need. “I’ve decided to stay in the Reserve for a while.”

  I knew my decision hurt them, made them unhappy, but it made my heart swell in love for them when they all nodded. One by one, they came up to me. A hug, a kiss, a softly spoken declaration of love. But even such gentleness could cause a wound in the soul.

  “Okay. I’ll see you when you visit me, I suppose?” I tried to smile but got no smiles in response. It was too much to expect, really. Even I knew that.

  Shep took my hand. “I’ll walk you to the Station. Keep you safe.”

  I nodded with teary eyes, and we set off together. I didn’t look back. It was too painful to see the house, knowing it could be a long time before I could consider it home again.

  ✽✽✽

  Perhaps we wanted to spend as much time together as possible because Shep and I walked to the station slowly. Once there, I spotted Patrick immediately. "Hi," I said with a smile that instantl
y faded into a frown at the harsh look on his face. "Sorry, am I late?"

  "Yes, by a couple minutes. I was worried," he said it very matter-of-factly, but I felt guilt spear through me. The fact was, we'd all suffered a loss, so it was understandable that they would be so concerned with my welfare.

  I met his eyes. "I found it difficult to sleep last night and had a rough morning waking up."

  He nodded, understanding, before looking down to check on Hydra. "It seems everything is well. Now, we can take you from here."

  "Sure. But wait a moment, please." I turned to Shep, who watched our exchange silently, which I knew was difficult for my jealous man. I wrapped my arms around his neck and in response, he grabbed me by the hips.

  "I love you. And Char and Ryle and Tate and Hollis." I rubbed my hands on his cheeks, memorizing how they felt for the days when I didn’t have them in such easy reach.

  “We love you too, Mireyah.”

  “I’ll come home as soon as it’s safe,” I whispered, leaning my forehead against his chest. His chin rested on the top of my head and the breath left his body.

  He wrapped his arms around me and squeezed hard. I hated that I had to cause him any additional distress, but as I looked down at Hydra, I knew I couldn’t take any chances.

  "Mireyah? We have to go. This place is too public," Patrick interrupted, but he averted his gaze to give us a semblance of privacy.

  "I'm just saying goodbye to my husband, Patrick. I've decided to stay at the Reserve for my safety." Relief crossed over his face before he nodded and turned to Shep.

  "You may take the Express to the Reserve, we will clear this with the Springens so you are given access. As you are not a member of the Dragon Guard, you will be immediately sent to the visitor's lounge. From there, your wife will be called, and she will be the one to go to you." Shep nodded, but his eyes were still on mine.