by T. A. White
"Nice accommodations." Tate flicked the metal of the bars.
"I've had worse." Christopher didn't sit up, remaining reclining as he stared at the wood above.
Tate looked around and grimaced. Jost certainly didn't waste any money on making prisoners comfortable.
"Your lover and his human pet have already tried questioning me." Christopher's eyes were piercing as they met hers. "Have you come to try your hand? You'll find me no easier to break than they did."
Tate folded her arms. "Not really. Both of them are much more versed at this sort of thing than me."
"That's not what Nathan told me."
Tate allowed the reference to her past to slide. "Because Nathan always tells the truth."
His silence was answer enough.
"Tell me, Christopher. How long have you known Peter?"
She could see she'd caught his attention.
"He doesn't know anything," Christopher said.
He had some loyalty to the Silva man then. Or at least the appearance of it. Tate couldn't tell which was more likely.
"I don't think that's entirely true," Tate said.
He was silent for several seconds before he smirked. "Mind games don't suit you. You're far too straightforward for them."
Tate gave him an arch look. "You had what we used to call a gauntlet. It was a predecessor to mine. The genesis to what came after." Tate held the arm with the geometric tattoo on it up for him to see. "Who found it for you? Was it Peter?"
Her lips tilted in a knowing smile. "Tell me, was it your idea to take us past the Dunes of Revelation or was it his?"
His gaze shifted away. He was deep in thought.
Gotcha.
"Oh, Christopher, you're not the mastermind you think you are," Tate said pityingly. "I think my enemies have been using you. They've twisted your thoughts until you don't know what’s up or down. If I were you, I'd think long and hard about how much more of yourself you're willing to sacrifice to these people."
"Peter isn't who you think."
"Maybe not. Maybe I'm wrong and he got lucky finding an ancient cache." Tate shrugged. "It happens. Either way, I'm going to find him and ask him for myself. Then I'm going to find the rest of those who don't have the courtesy to stay dead and finish what I started the last time I was awake."
Christopher studied her.
"Get a good look," Tate said. "Because I'm not going to let anyone destroy my friends or Aurelia. That, you have my word on."
"I see you've remembered who you are."
Tate straightened and gave him a half-smile. He was cocky. That was alright. He'd see.
Her hand flashed out, the tips of her fingers shifting to dragon claws for a split second. His hammock collapsed to the damp floor, taking him with it.
"Enjoy the voyage. We'll talk again when we reach Aurelia," she said as she walked away.
"Yes, we will, Tate. I can assure you of that."
Danny glanced at the cell as she passed. "Are you sure it was wise to bait him?"
"No, but I have a feeling the time for playing it safe has passed," she said.
He dipped his head in a nod.
If Jax was to be believed, Tate was the Apportens Mortis, the most feared weapon of them all. It was time for her to start acting like it.
*
Tate watched as the magister who'd agreed to take Night's case paced the docks as their ship-to-shore boat approached. She had no idea why Lisa was there waiting, or why she looked like she was seconds away from coming out of her own skin.
"What does she want?" Tate muttered.
Dewdrop noticed the woman and gave her a onceover. She was dressed nicely, her hair tied back in a queue and her clothes formal. She looked like she was late to address the council of lords.
"Who is she?" he asked.
The person who is supposed to be handling my application, Night responded.
A long ah slipped from Dewdrop. He'd heard the story of how they'd gotten sent from Aurelia and knew the part Lisa had played. "I thought she'd be older. And taller."
It was good to be back in Aurelia, even if their problems weren't willing to wait until they'd actually set foot in the city to raise their ugly little heads.
"You're nearly a month late," Lisa called as their rowboat drifted to its mooring.
"There was a storm," Tate said, tossing her bag up. "Why does it matter anyway?"
Night was liquid grace as he bounded from the boat. He made the jump look effortless.
"Don't go anywhere," Lisa ordered. "You have a court appearance."
"What?" Tate asked, startled. "That's months away."
Lisa glared at her before grimacing. "It should have been. You have enemies. Someone you upset had it moved up."
Tate and Night shared a look. She had a feeling the Order had something to do with this.
I told you they would be angry when they found out they couldn't access the gate, he pointed out sourly.
Tate's shoulders hunched. "It's not my fault. I told you and them, the avatar on the other side might cut the connection now that the pocket realm was discovered."
"It doesn't matter whose fault it is or why the hearing has been moved up. I delayed as long as I could. Had you been here a month ago as planned, I would have had time to prepare my client. Instead, we need to head directly for the palace. The hearing takes place in a very short time."
Night's tail lashed in unhappiness. We've already lost then.
Lisa's lips curled up in a cut-throat smile. "Lucky for you, you're just window dressing. I've already prepared my arguments. They won't know what hit them."
*
Tate's leg jiggled as Dewdrop fidgeted where they sat outside the chamber where the closing arguments were taking place. Nerves had settled in them both the longer the proceedings had drawn out.
They'd already spoken on Night's behalf. Ryu had been questioned about Night's work for him; it seemed her bearcat was more involved with her lover’s clandestine activities than she'd ever suspected.
She eyed Dewdrop.
He raised his hand. "I didn't know all he was into. I swear."
"Uh huh." And Tate wouldn't find out weeks or months from now Dewdrop had a similar arrangement with her tricky dragon. Right.
The doors to the chamber opened.
Tate and Dewdrop stood, each holding their breath. She was already mentally preparing for disappointment. If they lost this, she'd figure out another way to make this happen. One setback would not mean their defeat
Mia, in her human form, prowled out of the chamber. She smirked at their astonishment.
"Night said you refused to help," Dewdrop blurted.
Their friend had refused to talk about the other bearcat for the entire trip home. He'd been moody and withdrawn, preferring his own company and spending hours in the ship's rigging. Jost had threatened to throw them all off the ship after the fourth time Night had swiped at a crewmember who strayed too close while doing their job.
"This secret isn't only mine to tell," Mia said. "I didn't want to offer hope if there was none."
Tala glided toward them. She wore the torque Tate had seen on the last Harridan, and she was shadowed by Gabriella and several other Silva.
"It's time you came out of the shadows, my friend. Especially with all that is going on in the empire," Tala said.
"How did you get here so fast?" Tate asked.
Mia's eyes gleamed. "I think you know the answer to that."
Dewdrop choked, his expression drawing down into a grimace as he realized flying had been involved.
Night and Lisa were the last to leave the chamber. The top of the bearcat's head reached the magistrate's waist. Lisa's face was flushed with victory, her eyes fierce and alight.
"Well?" Dewdrop asked.
"Your friend and the others are the fourth species to join the accords," she said with a happy grin. "The evidence was unarguable."
Tate stuck her hands in her pockets as a smile creased her f
ace. They'd won. Against all odds and reason. No one would ever be able to take that away from Night.
Her gaze lifted and caught on a pair of impossibly blue eyes. Ryu gave her a half-smirk as he strolled toward her.
He dropped a kiss on her lips before whispering against them, "Congratulations."
Dewdrop whistled and grinned at Tate when she looked at him, waggling his eyebrows. "I knew something was up between you two."
It wasn't hard to see, Night said acerbically.
Dewdrop scowled at their friend.
"What are they calling your kind?" Tate asked slyly. "Bearcat, right?"
It was the perfect name for their species.
"We have long been known as the Veles to our cousins," Mia said with a nod to Tala.
"But bearcat is so much more descriptive," Tate said.
Night huffed and shook his head. I am not leaving the name of my entire species to your whim. We will be the Veles.
Tate frowned. "You tried to suggest majestic predator of the night and they said no, didn't they?"
That's why he was being so difficult about the name bearcat.
He snarled as Mia and Tala's shoulders shook with suppressed laughter.
"You're close," Mia finally said.
Tate opened her mouth to ask what he'd suggested when the feeling in the hall changed. Guards in the livery of the Emperor poured into the space.
The Emperor stepped into the hallway. His green eyes moved over them, lingering on Night. "I am glad to have you as a citizen. I look forward to seeing what you can do."
Night huffed.
"Yes, we will make sure to continue paying you for the services you give us," he said with a twinkle to his eye. "Congratulations."
Dewdrop stammered a thank you as Tate found her eyes caught and held by the crown on his head.
So pretty. And sparkly.
Noticing where her eyes had wandered, several of his guards shifted so they were between her and it. She blinked at them in confusion.
The Emperor cleared his throat on a cough as he lifted a hand to hold it in place. "Yes, well, I hear the mediation went well. I'm looking forward to seeing what you and your household accomplish in the future." He cut a glance at Tala. “And are there other secrets the Silva are hiding that I should be aware of?”
Tala didn’t move, just regally stared him down, not answering.
“I thought as much,” he murmured, arching an eyebrow before his guards swept around him as they marched down the hall.
"I'm not sure I like the fact that I amuse the Emperor," she told Ryu with a frown.
"It is concerning."
*
A young girl stepped onto a glass lake, her reflection rippling across its surface. The starry night twinkled above her as three moons made their daily trek across the sky.
Her hair fell in a thick sheet down her back as she made her way to where a tall man waited, hands clasped behind his back.
"It's been centuries since you've visited," he said without turning.
"It's been nearly that long since the connections have been strong enough to risk," Ai said in a soft voice.
"Is that the excuse you tell yourself?"
She fell silent.
He tilted his head back to take in the stars. "Say what you came here to say."
"She's met Jaxon."
His smile held little of humor. "I know. I gave her the key and pointed her in his direction."
Her lips parted, surprise bleeding through despite the remoteness of her features. "You opened a path for her memories."
He hummed an assent.
"You know he didn't want them returned," she said.
"I stopped listening to his commands a long time ago." He finally turned to face her. "Besides, there is little choice now that the first and second are awake."
"What he foretold is coming to pass."
"Be warned older sister, my loyalties are not as they once were. My centuries guarding this place and watching and learning from those who've entered have changed me," he cautioned.
"Yet you let her live."
He nodded. Of the two, he seemed the closer to human, able to express emotion—or at least mimic it. "Not out of loyalty to him. Merely to see what might come of it."
"She's met Owl," Ai said in an abrupt change of subject.
He lifted an eyebrow. "That crazy facsimile of us?"
She nodded. "He told her the old ones are waking and to prepare for war."
A laugh barked out of him. "Then the world they created is finally coming to an end."
"I do not think I want that."
He sighed. "Is this all you came here to say?"
"She has already changed things,” Ai said. “She released the war machine," she said.
"I would have felt him moving through the world and my defenses would have reacted."
"She changed him, made it possible for him to swim through the world without destroying it. Isn't that worth something?"
"Perhaps. I will wait and see before choosing my side," he said.
A long time later, Ai's consciousness passed back into the underground of Aurelia. The meeting with her brother had not gone as planned. At least she knew the message had been passed to Tate. It was time to put into motion the rest of her plans.
Hopefully, it wasn't too late.
DISCOVER MORE BY T.A. WHITE
The Firebird Chronicles
Rules of Redemption – Book One
The Broken Lands Series
Pathfinder’s Way – Book One
Mist’s Edge – Book Two
Wayfarer’s Keep – Book Three
The Dragon-Ridden Chronicles
Dragon-Ridden – Book One
Of Bone and Ruin – Book Two
Destruction’s Ascent – Book Three
Shifting Seas - Novella
The Aileen Travers Series
Shadow’s Messenger – Book One
Midnight’s Emissary – Book Two
Moonlight’s Ambassador – Book Three
Dawn’s Envoy – Book Four
CONNECT WITH ME
Twitter: @tawhiteauthor
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Website: http://www.tawhiteauthor.com/
Blog: http://dragon-ridden.blogspot.com/
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Writing is my first love. Even before I could read or put coherent sentences down on paper, I would beg the older kids to team up with me for the purpose of crafting ghost stories to share with our friends. This first writing partnership came to a tragic end when my coauthor decided to quit a day later and I threw my cookies at her head. This led to my conclusion that I worked better alone. Today, I stick with solo writing, telling the stories that would otherwise keep me up at night.
Most days (and nights) are spent feeding my tea addiction while defending the computer keyboard from my feline companions, Loki and Odin.
