A knock on my door made me jump, and I realized I’d fallen asleep with my face in a book. I quickly tamped down my unruly curls and went to open the door. “Yes?”
To my surprise, Varek stood on the other side. His long black hair was wet, as was his clothing, due to the soft rain outside. “May I come in?”
His unexpected politeness left me speechless, but I nodded and stood back. He swept into my room, his large masculine presence filling it completely.
“I wasn’t sure if you were going to return,” I said softly, surprised at how relieved I felt to have him here again.
“We made a deal, and despite what you think, I am a man of my word.”
“I’m pleased to hear it.”
He gave me a short nod. “I’ve been out searching for answers. I know your mates—and you, probably—don’t trust me, but I have nothing to do with the Unseen.”
I stepped closer to him, unable to stop myself. “I believe you. Do you know how their leader is using death magic?”
“I have my suspicions, but I’m not ready to share them yet. Not until I’m sure.”
I bit my lip and considered pressing the issue, but then decided not to push him. We were already in an awkward place with each other, and I didn’t want to make things worse. I needed him to become part of the team.
“All right,” I said. “In the morning, we’re going to begin training together. If we can't fight as a group, we're not going to be able to defeat the Unseen, and that includes you too. We can't always rely on the shades to give us an edge."
He arched a dark eyebrow. “I’m fine with that, but are your other mates?”
“They don’t get a choice in the matter.”
A wry grin split across his lush lips. “I like a woman who’s not afraid to boss her men around. Just as long as you realize that won’t work on me.”
“Won’t it?” I asked, with a challenge in my eyes.
“A king doesn’t take commands, he gives them.” He took my chin and kissed me hard, plundering my mouth with his tongue, until I was gasping with desire. Then he stepped back and headed to the door. “I’ll see you tomorrow for training.”
And just like that, he’d left me speechless again.
Training with all five of my mates began the next morning. As we stood out in the field, under a sky taunting us with the chance of rain, I sensed my bonded mates’ apprehension. Now that we were mated, I could feel some emotions from Erroh, Carth, and Zain. It would only grow stronger in time, but for now it was more of a tingle and a clear sense they weren’t all that happy about Varek being among us. I couldn’t feel emotions from Varek or Parin yet, but their crossed arms, scowls, and stiff body language said they weren’t best pleased either.
“I’m not sure how exactly you’d like me to train with the others,” Varek said, gesturing at my mates. “If I use my magic on them, they’ll die. That’s the nature of it.”
“Is there anything you can do that isn’t, well…deadly?” I asked.
“No. Is there anything you can do with life magic that isn’t healing?”
I sighed, but he had a fair point. “Fine, then you’ll focus on combat training and deflecting the others’ magic. Later, we can run the Gauntlet too.”
We split up into pairs, with plans to rotate throughout the day. I was especially keen to work on my fire magic, but Zain was still a beginner too. If we weren’t careful, we’d burn the palace down. I’d have to ask my fathers to join us tomorrow.
Instead, I practiced air against Parin and water against Zain. I’d grown up watching my dads using their powers, and even though I hadn’t had any magic of my own yet, I’d studied every movement they made. Maybe it was because of that subconscious training that I picked up magic easily once I actually gained it. I felt like I’d been using it my entire life, and had only now unlocked my full potential.
Or almost full, anyway. I wouldn’t be a dragon until I bonded with my other mates and gained their powers too.
Parin was next. I watched him spar with Varek, using his weapon of choice, a staff. He had been trained in combat, like we all had, but he was a diplomat, not a real fighter. Varek took him down easily, but as I watched, he reached out and shook Parin’s hand after the match. Maybe there was some hope for them yet.
Erroh stood beside me as we watched them start another match. “I notice you haven’t been pushing to go to the Earth Temple,” he said.
“No, I thought we could all use some time together first.” I turned toward him. “Plus, I needed to get used to the idea of Parin as my mate. Are you still upset he was chosen?”
“A little.” Erroh rubbed the back of his neck. “Is it strange that my brother will share your bed, as I do? Yes. But I’ve started to accept it. I can tell he cares about you, in his own rigid way. It could be much worse.”
I couldn’t help but laugh. “High praise there.”
He took my hand. “I want whatever makes you happy. If that’s my brother, then that’s fine. If that’s Varek… well, I’ll accept that too.”
I pressed a kiss to his lips. “Thank you.”
He grinned and stepped back, then created a tornado between us. “Now, back to work. See if you can dissolve this.”
We continued practicing every day for a week against each other, trying to hone our skills so we could go up against the Unseen again. Next time we would be better prepared. My fathers came out to the field and gave us tips too, and by the end of the week, I could use fire without being a hazard to myself and others.
During meals, Erroh, Carth, and Zain joked around like the friends they were. Varek and Parin were still separate from them, not joining in on the fun, except one time I caught them rolling their eyes in unison when the other three were being particularly ridiculous. Progress.
In the evenings, one of my bonded mates came to my bed. It was nice not sleeping alone anymore, and I began to wonder what it would be like to have multiple men in my bed too. Would that ever happen?
On the last night of the week, Parin cleared his throat and said, "Now that we are confident about working together and your parents are here to continue the investigations into the Unseen, I think it's an appropriate time to make our way to the Earth Temple.”
Carth nudged Zain with a huge grin. “I told you he’d bring it up first.”
Zain grumbled and pulled out a coin, slamming it on the table. “Fine.”
“You were betting on this?” I asked, my eyebrows jumping up.
“Just a bit of fun.” Carth shoved the coin in his pocket, his eyes dancing. “I bet he’d crack by the end of the week, unable to resist Sora any longer. Zain thought Sora would demand to go first.”
Parin looked away at that, as did Erroh. I wasn’t sure how to respond either. Yes, I wanted to bond with Parin. I’d always been attracted to him. Plus I wanted to gain my powers and unlock Parin’s true potential as a dragon. But I’d been waiting because I wasn’t sure how he felt about me and didn’t want to rush things.
Varek leaned forward with a grin and broke the awkward silence. “You made a bet and didn’t include me? For shame.”
The tension broke and Zain said, “Next time.”
“None of you should be making bets,” I said, rolling my eyes. “But yes, I do agree it’s time to go to the Earth Temple. The Unseen could attack again at any moment, and it’s best if we’re better prepared for them.”
I’d put off the next journey as long as I could. We'd hurt The Unseen with our attack, but as much as Reven’s spies searched, not another whisper was heard about the cultists. If Varek knew anything, he was keeping silent.
But bonding with Parin meant bonding with Varek next. I wasn’t sure I’d ever be ready for that.
Chapter Eighteen
The journey to the Earth Temple was the longest of them all. It was a good thing my mates had been practicing flying. My parents offered to take us to the temple, but we declined, saying it would be better for us to do this on our own, and they were nee
ded to defend the elementals against the Unseen.
This time, everyone came with me and Parin, except Varek, who said he still had business in the city. The dragons traded off flying to conserve their strength, and Parin held me stiffly the entire time. I tried to relax and enjoy being in his arms, but it didn’t work. I was too nervous he was only doing this because he had no other choice.
As we flew, Parin pointed out places of interest. As a diplomat to the Earth Realm, he knew much about its history, even things my parents had never told me. At least our flight wasn’t boring.
It took us three days to reach Frostmount, the tallest mountain in the Earth Realm, located far in the north. The air was freezing, especially up this high, but we’d all donned warmer clothes this morning in preparation. We glided over the snow-covered mountains until we saw Frostmount ahead of us, with the Earth Temple at the top.
Unlike the other temples, this one was not a building but more of a cave inside the mountain. It had been destroyed by my grandparents, led by The Black Dragon, much like they’d destroyed the Air Temple. Slade and the new High Priestess, Parin’s aunt Stina, recreated the temple with their earth magic many years ago. However, they couldn’t make up for the battle that had happened here—the one that cost Parin’s father his life.
High Priestess Stina met us just inside the cave entrance. She had the same rich, dark skin that Parin had, along with thick dark hair touched by gray and big brown eyes. She threw her arms around Parin and laughed.
“How lucky to have my own grandson chosen by the Earth God! Ah, and Sora, always good to see you. And you too, Erroh, I swear you look bigger than when I last saw you.” Stina gave another hug to Parin, then went to Erroh and patted his cheek. Her brother had been Parin’s father, which meant she wasn’t related to Erroh, though they had a good relationship. “I know you’re probably eager for the bonding, but I made your favorite meal.”
“I could never turn your beef stew down, Aunt Stina,” Parin said.
“Good. You can tell me all about how the Gods chose two brothers for Sora’s mates. I’ve never heard of such a thing before!”
The two brothers shared a look, before trudging forward. It was obvious they both had zero desire to discuss this topic. At least they were united on that front.
The Earth Temple had always been my favorite, and I tuned out their conversation to gaze around the great cave. The walls were unnaturally smooth due to earth magic, and embedded inside them were hundreds of glittering crystals. The flickering candlelight made them look like shimmering jewels, casting a rainbow of colors along the stone floor and the large jade green dragon statue we passed.
Stina spent the entire dinner digging for information, while her priests looked on with enjoyment. It was abundantly clear she was amused by the unconventional relationship that included both half-brothers. I humored her and explained that none of us really had much of a choice. The Gods chose for us, and she couldn’t argue with that.
When supper was over, Stina and her priests stood, and she spread her arms. “And now we shall take you to the bonding chamber.”
Erroh cleared his throat and looked away. “I think I’ll head to bed early. Good luck, and all that.”
Parin nodded to him with a pinched expression, and then we turned away and headed down a tunnel to the bonding chamber. Inside there were even more crystals, casting rainbows around the room like shadow. Otherwise the large room was pretty plain, with only a bed and some stone tables beside it.
“This room is beautiful.” I ran my hands along the wall. Warm energy caressed my skin as I felt the power within the crystals. “I’ve always loved the Earth Temple.”
“Me too.” Parin sat on the edge of the bed, his movements stiff. He looked like he would rather be anywhere else. “Sometimes I like to imagine my father here, and what it was like for him to grow up within these walls.”
Well, that made me feel like a total fool. I should've been more aware of how being here might affect Parin. His father died here, after all. A father he’d never even met.
Before I knew it, I'd crossed the room to put my hand on his arm. He studied it for several moments, then took my hand and pulled me down to sit beside him on the bed.
“How often did you visit here as a child?” I asked.
“About once a year. My mom always came to pay her respects and mourn my father, even after she married Erroh’s dad. She also wanted me to have a good relationship with my aunt. Mostly for Stina. I’m the only thing left of her brother, after all.”
“Does it bother you to be here?” I asked.
“Not at all.” He tilted his head up and studied the crystals. “At first, I was shocked when the Earth God chose me. I didn’t want such a position, not when it would take me away from my duties as a diplomat. Now I’ve decided it’s the perfect way to honor my father and his sacrifice, while continuing to foster diplomacy in the four Realms.”
“I’m sure he would be proud of you.”
“I hope so.”
When he looked at me with warmth in his eyes, I decided to try something. Scooting closer, I put my hand on his knee and leaned forward, pressing my lips to his. He stiffened before wrapping his arms around me, but his kiss was light and hesitant.
I pulled back, my cheeks burning up. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have done that.”
“No, don’t apologize. It’s what we came for after all.”
“Yes, but…” I sucked in a sharp breath. “I know you don’t see me that way, and that’s okay. We just have to get through this once, and we don’t have to do it again.”
Parin's face softened. "That's not what I want. Yes, I used to see you as something like a little sister, but more than that, I always saw you as completely off-limits. You were Erroh’s more than mine. It’s taken me some time to adjust my thinking.”
“I understand.”
“Are you all right with this? I never asked before, but I am ten years older than you, after all. Does it bother you?”
“No.” I ducked my head, unable to look at him. “I’ve always had something of a crush on you, even though I never dreamed being with you would be possible, for so many reasons. When you were chosen I was shocked, but excited too.”
“Truly? I was never sure if you saw me that way.”
I laughed. “I also wasn’t sure how you felt about me.”
“What a pair we are. Both of us wondering if the other wanted this or not.”
“To be fair, our lives have been chaotic since we found out. We’ve barely had time to sit down and really talk.”
“Then let’s talk.” He brushed the back of my knuckles with his thumb. "We don't have to do the bonding tonight. We can spend time getting to know one another. As equals."
“I’d like that.”
We talked for hours, long into the night. He asked me questions about my wants and dreams. We discussed our favorite foods, colors, and hobbies. I learned he’d previously been with a woman for three years in a serious relationship, but she disliked how often he had to travel for work. She left him two years ago for a man in the Silver Guard, and he’d been alone since. In fact, he’d sworn off relationships, having decided they weren’t for him, until the Earth God told him he had a different fate.
When I yawned, he looked at the pillows. "I will be a perfect gentleman if you'd like to settle in. I can sleep on the floor.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t realize how tired I was. It’s probably best if we get some sleep.”
He averted his eyes as I took off my traveling clothes and put on the silky gown I’d brought to sleep in. When I was settled under the soft brown blankets, I sat up and looked at him. He'd removed his clothes and stood in his linen shorts and my mouth fell open. I’d never seen Parin shirtless before, and the reflected light from the crystals made his dark skin gleam, highlighting his frame. He wasn’t as muscular as my other mates, but he was large and toned…and beautiful.
He was about to spread a blanket on the floor
when I said his name. "Parin," I said softly. "Come sleep here."
He looked back and forth for a moment, then dipped his head. "Thank you."
I pulled the blankets up to my chin and tried not to obviously stare at him as he slid under them beside me. The heat of his body spread under the covers, chasing away the heavy chill in the air. I used air magic to blow out many of the candles in the room, covering us in darkness, and then we both said goodnight.
I kept waiting for his breathing to shallow and even out, but it never did. He shifted from his back to his side, facing me, and caught me looking at him in the dim light. Too late for me to pretend to be asleep.
Scooting under the covers, I shifted closer to him. Parin lifted the blankets so I could move my head to his pillow. My body wasn't pressed against his, but brushed against him in several spots, sending shivers of anticipation through me.
Something had changed during our conversation. I began to see him as something different. Not Erroh’s brother. Not the older boy who always tried to keep me out of trouble. Not a forbidden crush.
A man. An attractive, virile man.
The tension had evaporated between us, and I pressed my lips to his again. This time they softened around mine, caressing and pressing, stealing my breath.
His large hand slid up my bare arm to my neck, changing the angle of the kiss. Parin's tongue slipped through the seam of my lips and I parted them, eager to see what he wanted to do with that tongue.
His tongue turned out to be my favorite feature of his. He kissed his way down my cheek, his hand still on my neck. Then he settled me back against the pillows as his lips and tongue made their way to my shoulders. He used his free hand to slide the flimsy strap of the nightgown down my shoulder. I pulled my arm out, but froze as his hand traced the collar of the gown. He pulled the other strap down, then tugged the material below my breasts.
Her Elemental Dragons: The Complete Series Page 75
