“They better pay us so much money that we can retire comfortably for the rest of our lives,” Elena growled, tugging the blue blankets up to their necks.
“To be fair, at least we still have lives,” Garek pointed out. “Pretty sure some of those soldiers won’t be returning.”
“Are you trying to guilt trip me, Garek?” Elena arched an eyebrow, examining him with playful suspicion.
“Not at all. Trying to make you feel better. We’re not on the front lines. We’re not being marched at swordpoint to go and needlessly waste our lives. We’re still allowed to operate… in the shadows,” he said, apparently disgusted with himself that he’d committed to a pun, “And Nicole doesn’t have to do anything, either.”
“I feel like they expect her to,” Elena said doubtfully, thinking that Nicole would be quite the target if she was ever to fly with the exiles and unicirim into battle. A bright gold dragon did tend to stick out among a sea of greens, browns, blues, blacks and whites. Garek himself was a beautiful, creamy white unicirim, though she was definitely uncomfortable with the idea of flying in any shape or form. He’d shown off to her his unicirim form, with a long, wavy white man, a speckle of gray around his muzzle, long eyelashes over dark eyes, more gray splotches just above each hoof.
She loved the way he looked, honestly, though it was hard to remember sometimes that he could transform. She’d never seen him transform when she hung out with him as a child. He never told her what he was, either. Maybe he didn’t know. He was an orphan, after all, and as far as she knew, the power didn’t manifest until later years, like magic was supposed to do.
“When this is all over,” Elena said cautiously, because she and Garek hadn’t exactly made any solid future plans with each other, and she didn’t know what to label their current position as, “do you plan to retire from all this? Keep with the thieving jobs? Travel the worlds? I mean, since you discovered that Sylas wasn’t the person you thought he was. And you seemed convinced you couldn’t go back to the Smuggler’s Den.”
Garek screwed his face up in apparent concentration, though Elena wasn’t sure if she’d accidentally insulted him. “I don’t know,” he replied. “I’ve not thought that far ahead. I just wanted to get this business out the way, survive abusing my magic for a solid month, then wait and see what happens next. Assuming there’s no complications, and we don’t get caught and burned alive or anything.”
“Nice,” Elena muttered. “I’m trying not to think about the bad outcomes too much...”
“Should always be prepared for any outcome,” Garek said with a lazy smile, before deciding in that moment to spread languid kisses over her cheek, jawline, then lips. “You got something in mind?”
“Mmm...” Elena’s eyelids fluttered shut, before she said, “Well… I know I probably shouldn’t leave Nicole behind. I had this whole idea I wanted to go and live in some cabin in the mountains somewhere. I still have it… I’m just not sure where you and Nicole come into it, because I realize… I wouldn’t mind involving either of you in future plans.”
“Is that so?” He drew back, and his eyes became immeasurably soft. The expression caused Elena’s insides to flip over somewhat, because she wasn’t used to such tenderness in another person’s gaze that wasn’t immediate family. “I wouldn’t mind… potential future plans with you either.” He breathed the words against her mouth, and his hot breath dug into her, warming her soul.
This was why she could endure the hellish nights with the soldiers and her magic. Because she had something to return to in the early hours of the morning. Something to support her when it grew too tough, to kiss her asleep or suck her into a whirlwind of pleasure, of bodies entwined together.
“Yeah, well, don’t get used to the idea,” she said, feeling a sudden impulse to backtrack on her words, because they sounded a little too intimate for her comfort. Instead, she lightly punched him on the shoulder, half wanting to hide herself because emotional spillage wasn’t really her thing. “Just maybe I’ll need another shadow witch around to make life easier. And I bet Nicole will complain a lot if we leave her hanging.”
“Sure. That’s why...” Garek didn’t bother correcting her, and smiled in that way that sent her insides fluttering. Her body’s reactions were really quite annoying. However, she didn’t really know how to process her feelings. And honestly, with everything going on, she didn’t want to focus too much on things she struggled with understanding anyway.
The cuddling grew more aggressive, and the light kisses turned heavy, mouths hungry for one another, hands seeking bare flesh, nails leaving fiery scratches along the skin.
The mood varied on what type of session it turned out to be, but right now, Elena decided she wanted, hard, hot, and the chance to surrender. To let Garek take her in any way he desired, to be at his mercy and revel in the thrill of it.
While they still had some energy, they committed to one another. Their rapid, hungry kisses passed hot, shallow breaths between their lips, or pressed the air onto their necks or just behind their ears. Elena didn’t want slow or sensual. She wanted rough, hard, to dive into it with furious passion, until neither of them could move, and they forgot the rest of the world around them.
Clothes vanished fast, tossed to random corners, and they wrestled each other on the bed, bodies slick together, becoming lost in pleasure.
Elena managed the upper hand, though Garek seemed quite happy to give it to her, when she straddled him on top after sliding a condom a little too eagerly onto his erection, and leaned down so that they were chest to chest, her hands pinning his wrists. Her hair trickled over his skin as she kissed his nipples, enjoying the hiss of pleasure that escaped his throat from the stimulation.
She bit down lightly, and he let out a huff of arousal from his lips, and she felt his heartbeat hammering fast, as if the organ was threatening to hit a way out of his chest. She liked how sensitive he was with the stimulation, how he squirmed under her touch, and thought she might just get addicted to the sensation. Heat pooled between her legs, and he began to buck impatiently, trying to seek a way inside her.
Grinning, she gave one last suck of his nipple, letting it pop out of her mouth, before she slid her hands up to his chest, and raised herself to let the tip of his erection brush at her entrance. She swayed teasingly, until hilting herself upon him with a gasp. His eyes widened at the sudden feeling, and his hands clamped around her hips as she began to rock back and forth upon him, seeking out her own pleasure. It took a moment to find the perfect angle, but when she did, she focused on hitting that sweet spot within. Their moans and cries mingled together, and she could have sworn the temperature of the room increased around them as heat simmered through her body. Her thighs ached from the effort, and her chest ached from the fast movements she committed to.
When Garek began rising his own hips in time to assist with that perfect angle, she was a goner. With a shuddering cry, the tightness in her stomach expanded into a full orgasm. She lost control of her body, unable to support it, and he took the opportunity to flip their positions, grinning as he hovered above her, before chasing out his own orgasm.
This was how she’d survive the grueling use of her magic. Sharing moments like this with him. Sometimes just lying wrapped up in his arms, other times forcing the rest of the world out of their minds.
The more they connected, the more she knew: she’d get addicted to him. Addicted like she had been as a child, always wanting to be in his presence, to sink her teeth into magic, to experience the warmth of their Bond.
With his release, he flopped by her side. Maybe he’d try again in a moment. Maybe they’d both sink into an exhausted sleep, knowing in a few hours’ time, they’d be up again to escort more soldiers.
But for now, they only had each other to worry about.
* * *
It didn’t feel like she got much sleep, either way. With the soldiers, her life boiled into rinse and repeat. More soldiers escorted away in the darkness. Mor
e nights passing, blurring into one another. Until at one point, Yvonne informed her that it was less than three thousand left to go.
Three more days of personal torture. Those last set of hours blended into one another, and the soldiers gathering at the coasts were put under strict rules with severe punishment if they did anything that might potentially alert the dragons to their whereabouts. Elena was vaguely aware that the royals intended to create a diversion to draw away the larger part of the dragon armies, but she also knew that the dragons had spies within Bastion, and they’d likely notice an army gradually disappearing, if not understanding exactly where they were disappearing to.
On the final day, Nicole came through the portal, and Elena almost choked a cry of surprise when the golden, glimmering scales emerged, along with a small group of witches.
That was so fun, Nicole said, stretching out her wings, even as Elena blanketed Nicole in safety. I’ve never used a waystone before.
Jesus Christ, Nicole was getting big, Elena thought to herself. Nicole’s size wasn’t that far off an adult dragon now, and she could likely carry a dozen or so people on her back.
You are… wow.
Big, right? Nicole sounded proud of herself. I even managed short flights the day before. My wings need to be a little larger, though.
Garek whistled high in their minds as he collected the witches and Nicole, taking them under his magic. As a father, I’m very conflicted by my child being twenty times my size.
Must be all the protein you’re feeding her, Elena thought wryly, grinning when Nicole echoed with laughter in their minds. As far as Elena knew, dragons didn’t really laugh, but she’d picked up that habit from the humans, and loved it.
Cute.
Why are you here, though? Garek asked, suddenly suspicious. I thought you would be staying away from danger.
I wanted to come, Nicole responded serenely. And I got my point across. I don’t think any of the humans wants to cross me, though it’s a shame I can’t communicate to them like I do to you two.
Why? Elena folded her arms, still keeping an eye in case another group of humans transported, wondering if any of the royals or witches were throwing a fit because Nicole had chosen to come.
I think I might be needed, Nicole replied simply. And I might need you.
Okay. This was probably some dragon intuition going on… but again, Elena felt that strange tug in her gut, She’d thought it had vanished after meeting Garek, but apparently it still lingered there.
Maybe they did need Nicole after all. Or maybe they didn’t.
With Nicole here, it felt like their mission had fresh life breathed into it. Elena was really here. She was really helping to disguise an entire army as they prepared to invade River’s End and reclaim it for the humans and unicirim and werewolves of Albalon.
Except it was also reclaiming it for the exile dragons, too. Man, this shit was complicated.
“We have people waiting on the other side of the waystone as well,” Yvonne informed them, “but if things go wrong, we’re only using this way back for our most important members. The generals, the royals, and the strongest witches we have. The rest… we have an escape route planned with the exiles, similar to what we did when we evacuated the city beforehand. But I think the dragons will be more prepared for it than last time. They’ve introduced a kind of mineral within the city that counteracts Helen’s powers.”
“And Helen’s the… the Wanderer?”
“Yes.” Yvonne nodded. “Possibly our strongest weapon, but she’ll only be able to affect those outside River’s End now. So we’re hoping to bait them. We have one more priority, too. And this may be another mission for you two.”
“Another mission?” Elena shivered at Yvonne’s intense stare, because for once, it wasn’t layered over with harshness, but softness, and belief. Like she believed Elena was capable of this, and Garek as well.
“We want to try and secure the next generation of dragons that haven’t hatched yet. With Nicole… her receptiveness to us… it becomes clearer and clearer to me that fighting the war and winning it is not the end game. It’s changing the future generations that follow afterwards. Otherwise… we’re probably just going to have a similar invasion from the dragons some decades down the line. Passing the baton of Albalon between our species until there’s nothing but dust and ash.”
Elena blinked at this eloquent description. Looking at Yvonne, however, and how invested she was in Albalon felt strange. Because she knew Yvonne was a Zorin water witch, and as far as she knew, the swamp-laden region didn’t care for politics of other countries. And no one would be insane enough to invade the place, as the jungles, swamps, animals and insects, and even the air would kill people. No amount of vaccinations existed to survive a place like that unless you were born into it, or naturally resistant.
“Forgive me for saying this, Yvonne, but… how come you’re so invested in Albalon? You’re Zorin. And you’re risking your life, everything for another country to succeed. Why?”
At this, the water witch cracked a dark, mirthless smile. “I don’t care about Albalon. But I do at least care about my friends. I came here because of Renne.”
“The crown prince? Is he the one you love, then?” Elena raised her eyebrows, genuinely curious, but of course, Nicole and Garek were in earshot. The soldiers, however, trailed behind, uncomfortable in the embrace of the shadows.
“He’s just a friend,” Yvonne said.
“I highly doubt that,” Garek snorted. “That’s a very special friend you got if you’re prepared to commit to an entire war for them. In my experience of life, people aren’t that altruistic.”
Yvonne glared at him, before raising her hands up into the air. “He’s just a friend,” she repeated. Her jaw was set in anger, but after a moment of Garek doing nothing but just stare and wait for her to speak, she finally let out a huff of resignation. “It’s not him. It was…” she hesitated, seeing Elena drift closer, clearly eager to listen. “I’ve not even told Helen yet, and I like her more than you two.”
“Precisely why you should tell us,” Garek said blithely. “Why do we care?”
“I’m not sure of the logic there…” Yvonne shook her head. “If you must know, I was interested in Tara.”
Elena’s eyes rose upwards. “Wait. Tara. As in… princess Tara.”
“Yes.”
“Princess Tara, with the…” Elena gestured helplessly in front of her chest, making a slightly inappropriate squeezing motion.
“Yes,” Yvonne said.
“But she’s a…”
“I know.”
Elena fell silent again, processing. Garek, meanwhile, just smiled.
“I didn’t realize you were a gay,” Elena finally finished, which prompted a silent snort from Garek, and a glare from the water witch as they trumped down a coastal slope, heading for the shoreline.
“I’m not,” Yvonne said. “Or not like you’re thinking. I can be… attracted to male and female anatomy. But regardless, it doesn’t really matter. As you’re aware, she’s Bonded.”
“Does she know you… like her?” Elena’s eyes were still wide, as if she’d heard the juiciest piece of news ever. “Have you told her? How long…?”
“She’s aware,” Yvonne said dryly. “And she’s not interested in the same sex. I’m cautious just to keep the secret of her Bond.”
“But… you’re still infatuated by her, aren’t you?”
At this, Yvonne’s lips twitched sadly. “It doesn’t matter. I’ll get over it in time.”
“It’d be easier if you didn’t associate with the royals so much, though,” Garek said dubiously.
“Perhaps. But like I said; I’m also Renne’s friend, and loyal to him.” Yvonne steeled her gaze, and just like that, the conversation was over. Elena mulled over the confession, thinking briefly of the lengths people went to for those that they loved. Even if those people they helped would never fully understand it or maybe even want to.
/> Like her mother. A strange chill swept through Elena at that thought, along with a pang of guilt. Shit – her mother did care for her. And she’d been angry, never quite convinced her mother had done what she did to actually help Elena, though she pretended to accept it.
She just didn’t believe it.
Finishing escorting the last of the army from Bastion, Elena, Garek and Nicole were joined by Helen, her husband Callum, Yvonne, and Tara and Janus. Three out of the four royals – Renne and Maya were going to lead the war effort, being the most proficient fighting duo in the entire army.
“We’re the ones who will secure the next generation,” Tara said. Elena overtly studied Yvonne’s face as Tara spoke, but saw nothing in the water witch’s expression that betrayed her feelings. She was clearly good at hiding them. “We will find the brooding grounds – Callum and Helen already know where some of the eggs are, since that was where they found Nicole.” Tara appeared slightly apologetic when she announced this.
No hard feelings, Nicole thought, and Garek expressed Nicole’s sentiment out loud.
Tara smiled and her fingers briefly brushed Yvonne’s shoulder in a friendly gesture. Only then, Elena thought she saw something flicker in Yvonne’s face, but just as quickly, it had vanished.
Garek cleared his throat. “Why not use the Wanderer within the city? I heard about the evacuation. She helped evacuate thousands, didn’t she?” He then glanced at Helen. “You have a lot of power.”
“I can’t do it again,” Helen said simply, smiling in a mysterious way. “They have prepared the city to resist my influence. I’m more effective elsewhere.”
Garek nodded, and Elena thought she felt an external influence pushing at her emotions, probing and testing. It reminded her of when she had first dashed past the woman, how she’d picked up Elena’s emotions, sensing something different in her surroundings, and the shock it sent through Elena at that revelation. How far they’d all progressed since then. She hardly believed her new position now.
Captured By The Royals Page 15
