by Eric Vall
I quickly made my way to Valerra’s room and raised my hand to knock, but before my knuckles even touched the wood, a blood curdling growl emanated from behind the door.
“Oh, knock it off, Valerra,” I rolled my eyes as I reached for the handle, “it’s just me.”
I swung open the door and stepped inside, and my eyes were immediately drawn to the bed.
Valerra was surprisingly in her human form, and I figured she was naked as usual, but I could barely tell with all the shit heaped on the bed. It was like she had hoarded every blanket, pillow, and bolt of fabric in all of Hatra, and now it was all piled on and around the massive mattress. The crimson dragon’s golden eyes peeked out from what appeared to be a shredded pillow case, and another growl echoed from the mountain of cloth.
“Yeah,” I snorted, “that’s not exactly intimidating, oh Queen of the Pillow Fort.”
“Shut up,” Valerra snapped, and the mound of material shifted as she popped her head out. Her crimson hair was a tangled mess around her head, but my eyes immediately dropped to her bare and perky breasts.
“Good morning to you, too,” I muttered distractedly.
“What do you want, Evan?”
I blinked and tore my gaze away from her pink nipples, and then I remembered the tray.
“I brought you breakfast,” I said as I held up the platter of bloody meat. “I ran into this kid downstairs who was going to do it, but he was so young, and I didn’t think it was fair for him to die before he could even grow a mustache, so I decided to spare him your wrath.”
“I wouldn’t have killed him,” Valerra sniffed.
I raised an eyebrow in response.
“Alright, I probably wouldn’t have killed him. Most likely.”
“That’s what I thought,” I snorted. “I told everyone to give you some space, but Ruslan and Julia are determined to meet their grandegg.”
“Their what?” Valerra frowned.
“Their grandchild in the egg,” I clarified. “You know, our offspring?”
Another growl rumbled in Valerra’s chest, and she curled protectively around her nest of fabric.
“Yeah, yeah, I heard you the first time,” I sighed before I held the tray up and waved it in the air. “Do you want your breakfast or not?”
“Bring it here,” my stubborn mate demanded.
“What?” I cocked an eyebrow at the haughty dragon. “You got polio?”
“Excuse me?” Valerra snarled and bared her fangs. “What did you call me?”
“I mean do your legs not work?” I explained and slowly approached the bed.
“My legs work just fine,” Valerra sneered, and she extracted her arms from the mountain of fabric and held her hands out to me, “but why should I use them when I can have my mate at my beck and call?”
“Because,” I said as Valerra snatched the tray of bloody meat from my hands, “I won’t be here for a while. That’s another reason why I came by. I’m leaving today for the campaign, so I wanted to say goodbye to you and Junior.”
“Junior?” Valerra mumbled as she stripped the flesh off what looked like a sheep’s leg.
“Well, offspring sounds kinda ridiculous,” I shrugged, “and egg gets a little old. So, I decided on Junior.”
“We are not calling our child that,” Valerra deadpanned.
“No?” I chuckled. “What about ‘our little omelet?’”
“Evan!”
“Alright, alright,” I laughed and held up my hands, “I’ll think of something else.”
Valerra huffed and scowled as she turned back to her remaining cuts of raw meat.
“May I say goodbye to our egg not named Junior?” I asked as I gestured to the mound of blankets beside her.
The crimson dragon narrowed her eyes at me but finally nodded her head once. Then she reached out and flipped several pillows and what looked like some ripped sheets out of the way, and underneath laid the wooden “crib” I’d had made for this exact purpose.
Two eggs sat among the mountain of silk and fabric, and a pleased growl rumbled through my chest. Valerra’s sister’s crimson egg was still a little larger, but “Junior” looked like he was catching up. The morning sunlight sparkled off his black, gold, and purple scales, and the egg looked like a precious gem as rainbows scattered off its surface.
I reached out slowly so as not to alarm Valerra, and then I rested my palm against the egg’s surface. The shell felt warm to the touch, and I could have sworn I felt the faintest of heartbeats.
“Hey there, my little omelet,” I whispered, and I laughed when Valerra snarled in warning beside me. “Don’t listen to your mother, I just wanted to come by and say I love you. I’ll be gone for a little while, but your mother will be here to watch over you. Your grandparents too, if your mom will ever let them in.”
“We’ll see,” Valerra grumbled beside me as she gnawed on a mutton bone.
I ignored her and trailed my fingers over the egg. “I know it might be some time before you hatch, but I’m excited to meet you. Daddy has to take care of some things first, but I promise, I will make the world safe for you by the time you arrive.”
It might have been my imagination, but I swore the egg warmed up a degree beneath my palm, like my child was trying to show me some love back. I grinned as my heart swelled with emotion, and then I pulled away from “Junior” and turned back to Valerra.
“Stay safe, alright?” I told her seriously.
“I’m not a hatchling, Evan.” Valerra rolled her golden eyes and tossed her empty plate onto the floor.
“I know,” I said, “but you’re my mate, and I worry. So, take care of yourself and Junior, and please don’t eat any of my citizens. The people of Hatra would sooner die than hurt you, and that goes double for my parents. I know they can be overwhelming, but they love our egg, and by extension you. You have a family here, Valerra, even if you don’t want to admit it.”
“Tsk.” The crimson dragon clicked her tongue and averted her gaze, but I saw that her expression softened, and a faint blush rose to her cheeks.
I smirked in victory before I leaned forward, cupped Valerra’s chin, and forced her to face me. Then I slanted my mouth over hers, and our tongues battled for dominance for a long moment. I won in the end, when I pushed my mate down amongst her nest and pinned her wrists above her head, but Valerra didn’t seem to mind as she arched against me.
“Perfect,” I murmured as I pulled away and stared down at her disheveled appearance. “This is just how I want to remember you. Naked and writhing for my cock.”
Valerra’s dazed and lustful expression faded in an instant, and it was replaced by her usual annoyed scowl.
“Go away,” she snarled. “I’m tired of looking at your face.”
“Sure, sure,” I chuckled as I stood to my feet and stepped away from the bed. “I’ll miss you, too.”
“I’ll miss you like a thorn in my side,” Valerra sneered.
“Goodbye, Valerra,” I laughed as I made my way to the door. “Behave yourself while I’m gone.”
“No promises,” she scoffed as I stepped out into the hall, but just before I closed the door, I heard her whisper one last thing. “Goodbye, Evan. Stay … safe.”
I smiled at the reluctant farewell, and then I made my way down the hall and out of the palace.
The moment I stepped out into the morning sunshine, an orange blur shot through my peripherals, and I turned to see a messenger fox sitting on the ground beside me. Then it opened its mouth and spoke with my father’s voice.
“Your campaign caravan is waiting at the city gates,” Ruslan informed me. “Your mother also wanted you to know we have some breakfast here for you.”
This last sentence held a slightly contrite tone, and I realized the young wolf Demi-Human I’d relieved of Valerra’s tray had reported our encounter to my father. The fox was probably slightly chagrined, but I knew he’d be trying to woo Valerra again before I even made it to the Crimson Canyons.
I shook my head and chuckled, and then I summoned my own silver dragon to reply. A moment later, the magic messenger shot off into the sky, and I knew my family would be expecting me by the time I arrived at the gates.
So, I cast one last glance over my shoulder at the reconstructed Lunar Palace. The rising sun sparkled brightly off its golden dome, and the magnificent structure looked like a painting as it was framed by the pink dawn sky. A feeling of satisfaction and warmth spread through my chest as I studied my handiwork, and I realized that this place was my home, more than Earth had ever been. I brought this ruined city back to life, just like I did this palace, and because of me we would see a new age of prosperity.
I would make sure of it.
So, I let my eyes linger on the Lunar Palace for just a moment longer, and then I hefted my pack higher up on my back before I turned and made my way through the streets of Hatra.
Twenty minutes later, I arrived at the gates of the city, and I balked at the sight before me.
“Holy shit,” I muttered as my eyes trailed over the half a dozen covered wagons, a dozen horses, and the crowd of citizens waiting to see us off.
“There you are!” Ruslan exclaimed as he extracted himself from the throng of people. My father’s red fur shone in the early morning light, and his ears flicked back and forth as he jogged toward me. “We’ve been waiting for you!”
“Sorry,” I raised my eyebrows, “I had to save a young wolf from being eaten by my mate.”
Ruslan grinned sheepishly and shrugged his shoulders. “Well, I didn’t think it good manners to let your mate starve. I’m sure the boy would have been fine.”
“I’m sure,” I echoed sarcastically, “but in the future, please refrain from sending strangers to her room. I’ve spoken to her, and she should be more friendly toward you and Julia, but she’ll still be wary of random humans.”
“She’ll let us see our grandegg?” Ruslan gasped, and his green eyes sparkled with excitement.
“She should,” I hedged, “but send a message beforehand, and bringing another platter of meat wouldn’t hurt. Just don’t make any sudden movements and don’t touch Junior without her permission.”
“Junior?” my father echoed, and I swore a tear came to his eyes. “I have a grandson?”
“That’s just what I’m calling the egg for now,” I chuckled. “I’m not sure if it’s a boy or a girl yet and don’t let Valerra hear you call it that. Or ‘little omelet.’ She hates those names.”
Ruslan nodded absently, but I didn’t think he heard anything after I said “Junior.”
“Right, so is everything ready to go?” I asked as I faced the line of wagons.
“Huh?” Ruslan blinked out of his stupor and shook his head. “Oh, yes. Everything has been packed and readied per Alyona’s instructions.”
“Great,” I replied, but then I frowned. “I know Alyona said we’d need supplies on this campaign … but I didn’t realize she meant a whole caravan. What is in those wagons? We can’t possibly need that much food. And where did we even get the horses?”
“It’s not all food,” Nike laughed as he suddenly appeared at my side. “Most of the wagons are filled with gifts. And the horses were donated by some of Hatra’s new citizens.”
“Gifts?” I echoed. “For who?”
“For the nobles, of course.” Nike grinned. “This is a political campaign, after all. How else will you sway people to your side?”
“Uh, with the truth?” I suggested. “That without King Rodion, the Breach will continue to stretch across the continent until the entire world is overrun by demons and all is lost?”
“Yeah,” Nike laughed and clapped me on the shoulder, “that isn’t going to work. Most of these families have egos larger than the Breach itself. So, we’ll have to woo them with shiny trinkets while we pander to their sense of self-importance.”
“Sounds like fun,” I muttered.
“Don’t worry, brother,” Nike smirked, “with the princess and I by your side, we’ll navigate these murky political waters with ease. You just focus on what you do best.”
“Which is?” I asked with a cocked brow.
“Destroying any enemy who stands in our way, of course,” the Lord of Light chuckled.
“Now that I can do,” I laughed with him, but before I could say another word, a chorus of my name rose into the air.
“Lord Evan!”
“Good morning, Lord Evan!”
“We’re so happy you finally made it!”
Nike, Ruslan, and I turned toward the caravan, but I barely even had time to brace myself before three blurs of green slammed into my chest.
“Ooof!” I coughed as I staggered back a step. “Good morning to you, too, ladies.”
The dryad sisters nuzzled against me and jostled for a better position in my arms, but then someone delicately cleared their throat, and I looked up to find Alyona, Laika, and Ravi smirking at me in amusement.
“They’ve been waiting for you since before the sun rose,” Alyona informed me with a smile. “They were about to launch a search and rescue party for you.”
“Yes, we were so worried!” Polina cried out as she pulled away and pouted up at me. “We thought you weren’t coming!”
“Of course he’s coming,” Trina rolled her eyes at her sister, “this is his and Milady’s campaign! We can’t leave without him.”
“Oh, right.” Polina blinked.
“Well, I’m here now,” I laughed, “sorry I was delayed. Is everyone ready?”
“No,” Julia replied as she stepped out from behind Alyona and extended a plate of eggs, bread, bacon, and fruit toward me. “You haven’t eaten your breakfast yet. You can’t leave on an empty stomach.”
“Yes, Mother,” I teased as I took the plate from her, but then I leaned around the dryad sisters to plant a kiss on Julia’s cheek. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” She nodded. “Now, how is my grandegg?”
“Not you, too,” I groaned as I started to shovel my breakfast into my mouth. “I already told Ruslan he needs to tone it down.”
“I heard,” Julia pursed her lips and narrowed her eyes, “but I am not your father. I have self-control.”
“Uh-huh, sure,” I snickered around a mouthful of bread. I quickly polished off the rest of the plate before I handed it back to Julia, and then I turned to the rest of my campaign team. “Okay, are we all set now?”
“Yes, my lord.” Laika nodded, and her gray tail wagged eagerly behind her. “We await your orders.”
“Great,” I sighed, and then I turned to my parents with a smile. “Well, I guess this is it.”
“Take care of yourself, son,” Ruslan said as he pulled me into a strong hug. When he pulled away, the beginning of tears sparkled in his green eyes, but he quickly cleared his throat and stepped back. “I know you will do Hatra, and Rahma, proud.”
“That’s the plan,” I assured him, and then Julia leaned forward and kissed my cheek gently.
“Do not worry about us,” she murmured in my ear. “We will protect the city, Valerra, and our grandegg with our lives. You just focus on swaying the nobles back to the king’s side.”
“Should be a piece of cake.” I smirked, but then I sobered a little as I looked from Julia to Ruslan. “Thank you for your trust in me, though. I won’t let you down.”
“We know,” my parents replied in unison, and they even wore matching grins.
My throat was growing a little tight, so I stepped away and faced my women and Nike.
“Alright,” I clapped my hands together, “let’s get this show on the road.”
Everyone seemed a little puzzled by my turn of phrase, but then the dryad sisters started giggling, squealing, and bouncing up and down, so they got the general gist.
As we made our way toward the wagons, my women fell in step around me, and Alyona reached out and took my hand with a smile.
“Are you ready?” I asked as I brought her hand up and kissed her knuc
kles.
“With you by my side, I am prepared for anything,” the princess replied with a determined nod.
“That’s what I like to hear.” I grinned.
“I can’t wait to see what the rest of Rahma looks like,” Ravi sighed as she skipped a few paces ahead of us.
“Didn’t you used to travel a lot?” Polina inquired with a tilt of her green head. “I thought you didn’t even have a home.”
“Sister!” Trina hissed in admonishment.
“It’s okay,” Ravi chuckled before she turned to Polina. “I did travel a lot with my tribe, but we were confined to the desert on the other side of the canyons. Hatra was the first place I’ve been to that wasn’t completely covered in sand.”
“Wow,” Polina breathed with wide emerald eyes.
“We’ve been to lots of places,” Marina boasted from beside her sister. “With the Blue Tree Guild, we traveled all over!”
“Really?” Ravi asked as she leaned toward the dryad with an eager expression. “Like where? The world is so much bigger than I ever thought, and I can’t wait to learn about it all.”
The dryads looked at each other and grinned excitedly.
“I think we’re going to be the bestest of friends,” Polina announced as she looped her arm through the phoenix’s, and then the sisters started chattering about all the different places they’d been to on their adventures.
“Uh-oh,” Laika muttered from my other side, “I believe we have experienced the last quiet moment we will have on this campaign.”
“It’s alright,” I laughed as the dryads broke off with Ravi to mount one of the wagons toward the middle of the caravan. “They’re just excited. I am too, if I’m being completely honest. I’m like Ravi. I haven’t seen much of this world beyond Hatra and the desert. What are the people like in the far reaches of the country? What are their cultures like?”
“The people of Rahma and the surrounding nations are as varied as the stars in the heavens,” Alyona replied with a wistful smile, but then her brow creased with worry. “I just hope they’ll be receptive to us. Until my father arrived, I didn’t realize how much the people had come to hate us.”
