by Kenna Bardot
"Okay," I murmured, leaning down carefully to touch my lips to hers. My mouth softened when it teased her bottom lip with a soothing, brief kiss. As I pulled back, I smiled. "I trust you, even if I don’t trust him. We'll make it work."
She looked up at me, the bronze specks in her blue eyes sparkling. There was nothing but love shining in her eyes. And as long as we had that, we could conquer anything.
Twenty-Five
Mireyah
It relieved me that I healed Hydra. Most of her disturbed scales started to patch up and I knew she felt better, able to sleep when I had assumed she wouldn’t. But I’d woken up and known she should have felt better.
So I took her to see Jas, even though it was technically my day off. I laid Hydra on the white counter, remembering the way her blood spilled on the marble surface of Lathyn’s. Stark red against pure white. “What happened?" Jas asked, laying a hand on Hydra’s head.
“She injured herself yesterday." I reached out a hand, running my fingers along the scales where Hydra bled the day before. "I healed her myself, but she's been so tired I just wanted to be certain," I explained. Jas ran her hands all over Hydra's body, studying her intently as my dragon held my eyes with hers.
“I’m glad you were able to use your Majele so well, Mireyah. Very well done.” She shot me a quick smile before rushing to the cabinets at the back of the room.
"A friend helped me to see that the only thing standing in my way was myself." As I spoke, I glanced down at my hand and watched the blue tendrils of energy crawl up my arm. It came as easily as breathing, as easily as my Kald always had from the first moment I became a Goddess.
I immediately wanted to punch myself for being so foolish, for trying to protect my men from the reminder of Lathyn. Perhaps if I'd made them get more used to seeing his color in my magic, maybe they'd have been more comfortable seeing me with the man himself. Standing side by side and working together to achieve a common goal.
"Everything feels good," Jas said. "Whatever she did, you fixed it. Here and there I see that she still needs more healing. However, it’s nothing rest can't handle. I don’t recommend that you use any more Majele for the time being on her because too much can interfere with her body’s natural healing process. The more intense the healing, the longer recovery can take. Her body needs to cope with the trauma of being broken, then being patched up so quickly.”
I wrapped a hand around Hydra’s leg, guilt pulsing through me. “Did I do too much? Is that why it’s like she’s gone through a thousand sleepless nights?”
“You did what you had to do to make sure she was set to rights. Anything less and I would have had to fix her more and we would have gotten to this conversation, anyway. I think she should be able to rest more so I want you to make her drink this every night for at least the next week.” She handed me a tall bottle filled with a light green viscous liquid. “It’ll help her sleep deeply and would at least not involve your Majele, which you should try to avoid using on her except for very short and tiny doses until her energy reserves are up.”
I took the bottle from her, wrapping my hand around hers, then the bottle. It forced her to look at me. “How are you, Jas? I’ve been horrible, not coming around to check how you were doing, but you look like you haven’t been sleeping well.”
She sighed and rubbed a hand across her temples. “Sleep has been very difficult even with the use of potions. This building just feels so lonely with only me and Iva in it. Before, when Madi left to take a break, it was fine because I knew that she was coming back. It’s hell knowing she won't ever be back.”
I gave her a sad look. “I know. Leone was the first dragon that I saw, the first dragon I rode on my own. My Hydra also had a bit of a crush on him. It breaks my heart to know that he and Madi won’t ever be here when we visit.”
“Yes. Corban told me to take a break, just like Madi did before. But I can’t. What would I do during the break? I’ll just think of them both and that will not help with my mental health and I’ll just be right back where I started.”
I opened my mouth to offer support but was interrupted at the sound of the door opening behind me. Patrick walked in ahead of Elin. "So you are here. Someone reported you were back on site, though you’re not on track to return until tomorrow. Is she well?" His gaze was on Hydra, who lay quiet and still on the counter.
"She's perfectly fine. Whatever injuries she may have sustained yesterday, Mireyah healed her perfectly. All she needs is rest."
"Good. Mireyah will stay on the Reserve with her until she's back to normal," Elin said, and I gaped up at him.
"She can rest at home," I told him. "She isn't in danger there. She ran off and hurt herself walking. She loves my husbands, and they dote on her," I exaggerated. She loved most of them, because three out of five counted. "Accidents happen, Elin. You wouldn't keep me here under normal circumstances-"
"But these are not normal circumstances, Mireyah," he argued. "Hydra is too young to truly protect herself when she's well, but when she is recovering from an injury is not the time to tempt fate given that dragons are dying. I insist you stay here. Once she's recovered, then we can reassess the situation."
Patrick opened his mouth, and I saw the apology in his eyes, knew that whatever he would say, I would not be happy with him. “I know your Sires are perfectly equipped to protect you and Hydra but perhaps now is not the time to tempt the fates? You’re already here, so you might as well stay. You’ll also have access to Jas in case something goes wrong that even your Majele can’t fix.”
I opened my mouth to argue, contradict his words, but it was humbling to note that he was right. I had a moment of regret that I’d gone to the Reserve to have Hydra checked. But it was short-lived. Anything for Hydra.
“I don’t see why we need to convince her. As Head of security, my mandate is that she stay. And so she shall.”
“Elin….” Patrick trailed off when he threw an angry look at him. He shrugged and his expression turned sad.
I glared at Elin, but from the set to his jaw I knew it was a battle I wouldn't win.
"Fine," I snarled. "Someone will need to pass a message to my husbands. I won't have them coming to pick me up and being told, yet again, that I will not be going home with them. Let's see how you fare with that."
“Very well. I’m not saying that they can’t protect you, Mireyah. I would, however, want to be certain. It would be very unfortunate if I were wrong.” Elin smirked, but his eyes were amused with my insolence.
“You aren’t wrong, but I suppose you’d rather be a bully right now than have trust?” He shook his head but said nothing more and walked out the room.
I turned to glare at Patrick, who gave me the universally known gesture of male stupidity - arms lifted.
"Where would you like me to bring Hydra?" Patrick asked, lifting her off the table.
"I suppose outside would be best since she likes the sunshine whenever we’re at home. We'll find a comfortable spot and make the best of this."
✽✽✽
How was it I’d never been to any actual prison, but in the last seven years of my life, it felt like I’d been a prisoner? Being stuck in the Reserve was like being a prisoner to a duty that had my utmost loyalty, so it could have been worse. However, it didn’t mean that I was any less annoyed.
To make matters worse, my Sires weren’t pleased with the way things turned. Sure, they could visit me two to three at a time, but after we’d just come back from a time when I had been staying in the Reserve exclusively, it felt like we’d been robbed of our time together.
Maybe it would have helped if I’d had my training to distract me, but besides rereading the same books from before, I had nothing else to do but watch over my Hydra as she curled into her deep restorative slumber.
“I’m bored, Patrick. Aren’t you bored?”
He shrugged. “I’ve had more boring. Will it help mitigate your boredom if you called me Pat?" He gave me another smile and I had to
appreciate the effort he was trying to make to keep me amused.
I laughed and tapped a finger to my chin. "Patty, maybe?" The stocky God paled at my suggestion and guffawed. "Okay, probably not. I won't be able to keep a straight face saying that. If there was a name that didn't suit you, that would be it. Although, really, it's growing on me. I’m sure it’ll intrigue people who’ll think you have a different side." I hummed, and he shook his head. "Think about it."
"Hello, Mireyah." I saw Patrick straighten, and I turned around and came face to face with Gaige. I swallowed because it felt dire that he would visit. Perhaps I was being dropped from the Cadre program. I hadn’t been training for about a week.
It really made it clear just how worried I’d been to see Gaige that I didn’t notice the God who was with him. At least not until he spoke to me, "Hello, Mireyah." Lathyn gave me a slight bow with an amused glint in his eyes.
I narrowed my eyes at him and ignored him in favor of talking to Gaige instead. "Hello, Gaige. To what do I owe the pleasure?"
"Lathyn mentioned he had a history with you and since I had some time, I suggested that we visit." His white hair was slicked back, and he wore a perfectly fitted suit of light striped gray. It was so different from the dark black armored uniform the entire Cadre wore that I’d seen him in on previous occasions.
The look was a perfect complement to the easy and casual elegance that Lathyn exuded, making him as tight-assed as my Char, and damn if I didn't find him more interesting for that. Enough to ease my boredom, anyway. "We have a history. If the Core Gods had decided differently, he would have been my Sire."
"I did not know that the woman rumoured to finally tempt Lathyn Majele was in training to become part of my very own elite Dragon Guard force. How thrilling." He shot a smug smile at Lathyn, endearing him to me further.
"How wonderful to be the subject of rumours," I commented drily, and Lathyn waved a carefree hand. "I did undergo the trials to become Mireyah's Sire, but upon its conclusion with me still unmarried, I can see that perhaps marriage was not meant for me.” He winked at me, actually had the audacity to wink at me. "No offense meant, Mireyah."
"None taken." I frowned at him, but before I could say anything more, I turned to check on Hydra, who stirred from sleep. I walked toward her and ran a hand down the top of her head, allowing a very tiny wisp of blue to wrap around her. She gave me a soft coo and on shaky legs stood to rub up against me.
"I'm glad to see that she is doing better and better. I hope she is fully recovered sooner rather than later so you may continue your Unwanted training. A pair with such a connection as the two of you will no doubt flourish in my sect. Are you staying?" Gaige addressed Lathyn, who nodded.
"Very well. Until next time, Mireyah. I will see you in the Cadre. Stay safe." He gave me a shallow bow that I returned before bowing to Lathyn. While I would have much rather ignored him so he would eventually go away, I had to admit that I had Lathyn to thank for the way I accessed my Majele.
It did not mean, however, that I would treat him the way everyone else treated him, because no way was I pandering to Lathyn Majele. I rolled my eyes the moment I was satisfied that Hydra was settling back to sleep. "It must be nice to have so much power.”
He froze and looked up at me. "What?"
"The one thing they impressed upon me from the moment I woke up with a dragon burn on my wrist and another irrevocable change in my life was that the Dragon Guard were a closed off group of Gods and Goddesses. That the Reserve was off-limits to those who were not part of it." I counted to ten in my mind again, annoyed when it proved ineffectual to calm me down.
"I work with Gaige now and again on Unwanted matters. I mentioned I knew you and wanted to see how you were doing since I was there to see how horrible it looked when she was freshly injured. Gaige invited me to see you, and I grabbed the chance so I could ensure you were still in tune to your Majele powers when you didn't have intense panic to influence you. As you just showed, you are doing well.”
"Rather than affecting change, this is what you use your influence and power on? On getting preferential treatment wherever you go? You had the gall to insult me into becoming a better Majele, made me feel bad that I let my insecurities hold me back from being the best I could be when you're here using your influence on frivolous matters?" I gritted my teeth in my attempt to stop myself from shouting. Not because I didn't think he deserved it, but because I preferred for our conversation to be as private as possible.
"Do not presume to tell me what I use my powers and influence for." He stiffened and took a step back.
"Just go, please. I'd rather see my men and sadly I'm lucky if I even get a half hour with them in a public place." I turned away and gestured with the side of my head. Hydra’s feet scuffled against the grass in her dream. Perhaps a nightmare. All I knew was that she was in a different headspace.
There was a moment of silence and I felt him stare at my back. He sighed. "Just because you miss your Sires, that doesn’t give you the right to pick a fight with me. Know that I'm sorry you are denied the company of the men you love so much. Farewell."
When I heard him walk away, I slumped onto the bench, Hydra wrapping around me. "Patty?"
"Yes, Mireyah?" I waited, and he didn't complain that I’d just called him Patty. So I smiled because I knew he'd been listening. "Thanks, really."
"Anytime." I closed my eyes and allowed myself to take a few minutes to nap. I was just so fucking tired.
✽✽✽
“Char!” After the day I just had, especially compounded with worry over Gaige and trying to pick a fight with an irritating Majele, my Vide was like a breath of fresh air.
I stopped and just wrapped my arms around his neck. "Not that I’m complaining, but is it just you tonight?” I looked beyond him to see if I could spot any of the others.
“Just me.”
“Okay,” I murmured as I wrapped my arms around him and squeezed as hard as I could. And when I thought I was squeezing him hard enough, I squeezed some more. His hand came up to touch me, and I knew he felt it was something different
“I haven’t been by to visit so often and I just wanted to see you, Mireyah. Touch you without any interruptions. You don’t seem so well. Maybe it's time you came home?"
I sighed into his neck before taking a long sniff. Char was always so clean and so perfect. Sometimes, I thought he wasn't real when he left no traces behind him. But a part of me would always recognize him. Would always recognize all my men. Thirty minutes a day was not even close to enough time with them. "Trust me, Char, there's nothing I want more than anything. I'm going crazy in there. Then I see bloody Lathyn just strolling through like owns fucking Demiorgo and I go ballistic."
Char's hands gripped my upper arms and squeezed hard. "Wait. Lathyn Majele was inside the Reserve? And he came to see you?"
"Apparently he had a meeting with my new boss, Gaige. Then he said he came to check up on me and Hydra since I asked for his help to heal her, but it was an obnoxious way for him to do it." I sneered when I remembered and when I thought about the fact that I'd chased him off. Because damn him to the Unwanted Lands and back.
"Lathyn Majele’s arrogance knows no bounds, and he likes to display his clout. Probably making you regret that you chose the five young Gods as your Sires than the one who was most powerful." Char's face was blank, but I knew him well enough to know how the emotions churned underneath the unruffled surface.
“I said it to his face. That he used his powers for displays rather than actual change. The bastard.”
“And I shudder to think if he’d won you. If the Core Gods had not taken your wishes into consideration and given you to him instead. You’d have become another display of his power. The human who didn’t want him brought to heel. I worry he might try to get revenge for the blow you dealt to his reputation.” He rested his forehead against mine. “And he’s not even the worst of the ones who tried to take you from us.”
I didn’t
argue with the assessment, even though I didn’t agree. Lathyn was arrogant, but if he wanted a marriage for the sake of alliance or stature, he could have his choice of women. “No, he’s not. But I got what I wanted. Power or not.” I leaned forward to kiss him on the lips.
He grabbed me by the chin. “I’ll be on equal or better footing with him one day, Mireyah. You can be sure of that.”
"I have no regrets, Charolais. I consider Lathyn my friend, but if everything is just some ploy for him to make me regret breaking his heart during the Sire Trials, then I'll be more than glad to be rid of him. He doesn't deserve me, anyway." Hydra bumped her head against my calf and I looked down to share a smug female look with my dragon.
"And even we don't deserve you, Mireyah. But we take you anyway." He sighed and gave my arms one last squeeze before turning to sit on the couch that occupied an entire wall in the visitor's area. It was big enough we treated it as a bed.
It made me shudder to think of what could have possibly happened on it at some point in the past. "This Gaige who's your new boss. Vide, right?" Char had his brows furrowed, as though deep in thought.
"Yes. Or was, anyway. He's a Dracari now." I plopped on to the seat beside him and Hydra slowly climbed up beside me, as far away as possible from Char.
He nodded. "Yes, I see him in the Unwanted Lands frequently. You’re training for his force, yeah? It suits a Majele." He ran a hand down my hair. "But I don't like to think of the pain and discomfort you will suffer by going there."
I shot him a playful smile. "Sure. Especially since you won’t be the one to give it to me? Don't be jealous, Char, I still like your brand of pain and discomfort the best."
He smiled but shook his head. "I do it out of my love for your stubborn, disobedient ass, Mireyah. And because you like it."
