Then Iris had been flustered and bashful, apologizing as she greeted me and invited me to stay for dinner. Later, she’d pulled me aside and asked if I’d had any luck finding Tiani. I’d watched her bright face dim as I told her that we hadn’t been able to find a single trace of her.
And now she was right here.
I almost laughed. The goddamn irony. I’d had my best trackers after her, Luke and Rett, even Fallon and the Vixens. Months of searching, and I find her sneaking into Winfyre.
Why can’t anything ever be simple?
“Good, good,” Tiani said, sounding distracted. “So, you’ll understand—”
I cut her off. “No, I don’t understand. Iris is a Northbane, a part of Winfyre.” Protectiveness surged through me. What was Tiani’s game? Yes, Iris had been here only a few months, but I couldn’t imagine the territory without her. No one could. Least of all, Kal. “Why do you want to run? Orion? And where have you been? I’ve had shifters looking for you everywhere.”
“For me? Why?” Tiani asked, surprised. “I’m not Northbane.”
“I’m aware,” I snapped. “For Iris. Do you have any idea how worried she’s been? Hell, I was worried. I thought you were dead, and now I catch you—” I broke off as she gave me a small, amused smile. “Where have you been? And why do you want to get Iris out of here?”
Something isn’t adding up.
Tiani sighed and shook her head, clearly trying to play the martyr. “It’s a long story.”
“Really?” I asked. “So, how’d you get away from Lind?” Something flickered in Tiani’s eyes, and I bent down to catch her gaze. "Yeah, I know about that. I know about a hell of a lot more than you even realize, Miss Elkhadi. So, start talking.”
A muscle worked in her jaw as Tiani clamped it down. “Then you know it’s complicated.”
Okay, she was pretty good. “Hmph. Yeah, complicated seems to be your specialty. Look at the damn situation we’re in now. You are coming with me,” I said and swung her against me. A rush of heat prickled under my skin in those few moments. Anger and something else, something even more dangerous, perhaps. I had to force my gaze away from her to keep myself calm. “Might wanna close your eyes and hold on.”
“What?” she asked. “And how exactly am I supposed to hold—”
Her words were lost in a gasp as we traversed a hundred miles in the blink of an eye.
“One more time,” Kal said, and I scowled. “Humor me. So, Iris’s best friend, the woman we’ve been trying to find for months, is under arrest.” I nodded. “More or less for sneaking into Winfyre and finding out about your shifter form. After you decided to take a midnight jaunt to some remote lake north of Veda and expose your secret shifter identity…” Kal rubbed his forehead. “Then you hopped her to this secret barracks and woke me up. Did I miss anything?”
“I may have been a little rough with her,” I grumbled.
“Oh, sure, throw some misplaced aggression into the mix.” My friend sighed and stared up at the ceiling as he stopped in the center of the room. “This ain’t good, but it could be worse.”
There was a wry calm to Kal’s voice that was throwing me. I’d figured he’d snort and stamp like he was the dragon. I’d been prepared for a fight, not bewildered affection and resignation. There’d been few times over the last few years where I’d felt younger and dumber than he was, but, at this moment, I did.
“I didn’t have a choice, Kallen,” I gritted out as my temper began to fray again.
He said nothing, only nodded and came over to sit down at the table with me. We were at a small outpost beyond the Geshalt Grass, in the middle of Winfyre. At this time of night, it was unmanned and quiet, with a holding cell and no prying eyes.
I’d let Kal and Beylore know to meet me here. Unsurprisingly, he’d been the first one here. Lor probably didn’t want to get out of bed.
On cue, she appeared in the doorway and shot me a sour glare. “Why do you have to pull this shit in the middle of the night, Alex? Always.” Then she spotted Kal, and her spine stiffened, eyes flicking between us. “Wait, I know that look. What did you do?”
“Nothing,” I growled. “Well, Tiani Elkhadi snuck into Winfyre and may have seen me.” Lor shook her head, thrown. “You know, with scales and wings. By Tirin Lake.”
Lor stood there for a second, motionless and silent. Then she came over and sat down across from us, still saying nothing. With a snap of her fingers, she summoned herself a cup of tea and a bottle of whiskey, the latter of which she poured into the former. Then she shoved the bottle across the table at Kal.
It didn’t escape my notice that she hadn’t asked me if I wanted anything or given me a sip.
“Go on,” she finally said.
Tersely, I explained the whole story and summed it up with, “Look, I get this is bad—”
“It’s…is it?” Lor sat back, and I saw her fall into the mantle of the name she’d chosen as a Riftborn. Beylore, aloof, intelligent, and yet sparkling at the same time. “Maybe not. It was prudent six years ago, yes. But we all knew it couldn’t be kept a secret forever.”
"What about all the people who entrusted us to keep them safe?" I asked and gestured out the window. "Bears, tigers, and wolves are one thing. Dragons are another."
“Winfyre has always been respectful of your secret,” Kal said with a shrug. “And you.”
“Doesn’t answer my question,” I said and fidgeted in my seat, wishing fruitlessly to be anywhere but in this mess. “You think people would be okay with it? I don’t.”
“Exactly,” Lor said and frowned at me. “That’s always been a problem.”
“It has?” I looked at Kal, who was carefully avoiding my gaze. “Oh, now what?”
“Well,” Lor continued. “In a way, Alex, you’ve been able to avoid having to deal with that particular aspect of shifting or even being a Riftborn—seeing if people will accept you as you are.”
“I don’t care about that—” I began.
“You literally just asked us if you thought people would be okay with it,” Lor snapped, pushing her hair out of her eyes and giving me a tired, exasperated look. “Don’t lie to me, br—” She caught herself, and her shoulder slumped. “Xander, I don’t know. We won’t know until people do know. And it is too late for this heavy of a topic, even for me.”
Unsure of what to say, I drew back and flicked my eyes to Kal, who had wiped his face of any expression. But something told me he’d wondered the same thing. Silence fell until Lor stopped glaring at me and narrowed her eyes at the door beyond, then nodded at it.
“What about Tiani?” When I gave Lor a blank look, she went on, “Was she okay with the dragon? Or no? Is that where this is coming from?” I shrugged. “Well, how did she react?”
“Uh,” I hedged. “Odd. Not scared, maybe shocked or something?” A dull weight hit my gut. “Probably hasn’t hit her yet. Although she did promise to keep it a secret in exchange for Iris.”
“What?” Kal asked and bristled. “What the hell does that mean?”
"Apparently, the reason Tiani is here is to take off into the night with Iris to keep the two of them safe," I said. “She snuck in to retrieve Iris."
Kal scowled so fiercely at the door, the muscles in his neck stood out. “Iris stays here.” His growl was low and possessive, his gray eyes as dark as thunderheads. “With me. Did you tell her that?” I shook my head. “Does she know that Iris is my mate?”
“Not yet,” I said, and Kal scowled at me.
“No one would dream of taking her away from her mate, Kallen,” Lor said and rested her face in her hand. “Ugh.” A yawn escaped her. “It’s too damned late to be figuring this out.”
“I think I should call Yana,” I said, needing someone on my side.
“Ha,” Kal burst out. “At this hour? You want to lose some choice appendages?”
“Can’t you claim Tiani and figure the rest out tomorrow?” Lor asked, almost at random.
I gaped at Lor, wh
o twinkled at me sleepily, and Kal creaked forward in his seat. “Now,” he murmured, “there’s an idea. Claim her for protection, punishment, and the predator’s price. A temporary fix to buy us some time.” He paused. “Like Rett and Laia.”
“Or Tristan and Sierra,” Lor added.
“Or me and Iris.” Now Kal looked diabolical and damn pleased with himself. Almost like he’d been waiting to get me back even though everything had worked out perfectly in all those cases, especially his. “Come on, Xander, think of how prudent this is for Winfyre. Do it for those noble, Northbane reasons.”
Only a best friend could be a bastard to that degree and capture the cadence of my voice at the same time. I wanted to laugh and punch him.
Settling on neither, I shook my head and muttered, “Go straight to hell.”
“Xander, I think you might not have a choice,” Lor said and gave me a searching look.
“No.” The word was rushed, and now they were both giving me a knowing look. “No.”
Fifteen minutes later, the three of us were trooping into the holding cell, and I still wasn’t sure what I was going to do. As we entered, Tiani whipped her head up and regarded each of us coolly. Now unbound from the inhibitor bands, she was resting comfortably as Niles Orlov finished tending to her injuries. Niles had been the third person I’d called and had been both healing her and keeping an eye on her. Plus, I could count on his discretion.
Niles rose and nodded at Tiani, who gave him a weak smile before fixing her attention on the floor. He came over to me, and we exchanged some brief words in an undertone. Her injuries weren’t threatening, and she needed rest and food, but he also thought I should bring her by the infirmary for a more thorough checkup. Nodding, I clapped him on the shoulder in thanks, and he ducked out, eager to get home and to bed. Sleep. That sounded amazing.
I closed the door behind him and turned to meet Tiani’s piercing gaze. Her eyes were pale green in the light, and the firelight brought out the gold in her skin. Then I caught myself with a stern reminder that this woman was more trouble than she was worth.
“Judge, jury, and executioner?” Tiani asked, all false bravado and nervous sarcasm.
“More like the people pulled out of bed to clean up his mess,” Lor muttered as she threw herself into a seat and yawned.
“You know, Iris speaks highly of you,” Kal cut in before I could, sitting down next to Lor and leaning forward to look at Tiani. Though his size was intimidating, the guarded frostiness of his old demeanor had mellowed since Iris. Lor and I glanced at each other, both hiding smiles. “I’ve been looking forward to meeting you, Tiani.”
“And you are?” Tiani asked.
“Kallen Deacon,” he said, and Tiani drew back, biting her lip. “You’ve heard of me? Yeah, Northbane Alpha, Ice Bear of the North, Dread of the North…” He paused. “And Iris Lisay’s mate.”
It took a second for those words to sink in as Tiani stared at him, then let out something between a wheeze and a laugh. Her eyes roved over Kal with appraisal and trepidation, but her features softened. Few people could challenge Kal’s steadfastness, especially when it came to Iris.
“Iris has been worried to death about you,” Kal continued. “Havin’ nightmares. Wanna cut the crap and tell us what the hell is goin’ on so my poor mate can get a decent night’s rest?”
Tiani’s head drooped, and I saw some of the fight go out of her shoulders.
“Come on, Tiani,” Kal said after a few moments. “You might not know it, but you’re among friends.” Over his head, I caught Lor’s impressed look and felt something in me relax. “You’re safe.”
I had to hand it to Kal. Sometimes I forgot he had this level of finesse matched with a finely-honed patience, one that came with years of being an eldest sibling and reluctant leader. He didn’t often utilize it with Rett, Tristan, or Luke, perhaps thinking they should be above it, but it was critical in moments like these.
I couldn’t have done half as well, that was for sure.
“Tiani?” Kal pressed again.
She stirred. “Hm, sure. It involves Iris’s brother, you see…”
Kal tilted his head at her. “Her dead brother?” Tiani gave a small start and looked up. “That was a trick question, wasn’t it? Either way, let’s keep that between us.”
Damn, that was a bit cold, Kal said to me silently. But a good tactic. Whatever this girl has been through, we’re going to have to earn her trust. I honestly wouldn’t have expected her to ask somethin’ like that—unless she’s got real reason to be afraid.
You think Lind and the Bloodfang are to blame? I asked. Or Orion?
Maybe. She’s spooked, though. You’re right—we can’t have her runnin’, Kal replied. Maybe Iris can get through to her and get her to settle down.
Not now, though, I replied. I have an idea. That is, if you think Iris will forgive me and also be up for it.
“You know, it’s not polite to speak telepathically about someone when they’re in the damn room,” Tiani bit out, causing Kal and me to jump, while Lor laughed. Now Tiani regarded Lor, and it made me think of two cats facing off, their tails twitching. “And who are you?”
“Beylore of the Riftborn Coven,” Lor said easily, and Tiani paled. “Don’t worry, I’m too tired to get up to my usual tricks.” She wiggled her fingers. “Although the longer we sit here and watch you stew, the more I wake up, and the less patient I get.”
“You wouldn’t,” Tiani croaked, and now I saw real fear in her eyes. “That’s a violation.”
“To keep Winfyre safe,” Lor said in a silky voice, “I think you’ll find we’d do about anything.”
“It’s true,” Kal said, his voice a bit grim.
“And I think you’d better start talking,” I concluded, tired of these games and the way she dodged questions. I caught Tiani’s gaze, which hardened as mutual anger pulsed in the air between us. I was surprised sparks didn’t spit out from our glares alone. “If you want to see your friend or the light of day again.”
My threat was idle, but she didn’t need to know that.
Tiani’s mouth went tight as I paused for several uncomfortable seconds.
“Your call,” I finally said, the edge of my mouth turning up in a cold grin.
Chapter Five
Tiani
This goddamn dragon.
Damn him. Damn Xander Bane and his tall, drag-you-in-and-pin-you-down sexiness. A sexiness I’d sensed in the woods and been too out of my head to appreciate. Not that it mattered, since the guy clearly had me on his shit list. When I found out who he was, I couldn’t blame him.
Now I was pissed again.
It was so infuriating to sit here, watching Bane regard me like he was on top of a mountain and too handsome for any poor mortal woman. Like his words and gaze together were some kind of gift. God, he took himself too seriously, didn't he?
More than that, though, he was right. It was my call.
Yet at the same time, it wasn’t. I was pinned between a dragon and a hard place. I shouldn’t have said anything about Iris or Lind or even my name. I should’ve figured something else out. I’d blabbed way too much earlier, giving Bane all kinds of ammunition. The duress of the day and the shock of his being a dragon shifter had gotten to me. I’d realized that as the big healer fixed me up and had been cursing myself since.
Bane had also carefully calculated whom to bring in. Both of his allies were here to size me up and leave me with zero recourse. Another Northbane Alpha and a Riftborn.
And the Alpha was my best friend’s mate. Not only was he strong, dangerous, and capable, Bane’s reputable enforcer and right-hand man, but he was also in love with Iris. It really did figure that Iris would have this massive, brutish ice bear fall head over heels for her. No one could resist that doe-eyed honey blonde and her big heart. I’d seen the softness and faraway gaze of his dark gray eyes when Deacon spoke of her. He had it bad. At least this meant Iris was safe and happy.
But where does
that leave me?
In that room, for the first time in months of being on my own, a crush of loneliness came over me. It was like nothing else, sucking the breath from my lungs and cracking through my bones.
No, wait, it was the same gut-punch of emotions I'd experienced the first time I ever got kicked out of a foster home. Standing on the sidewalk with my faded pink backpack, watching dinner go on inside and the social worker shuffle through papers. I could still taste the bitter mix of gasoline, rain, and cold fast food.
Once again, I was on the outside, looking in.
These people were a family, one Iris was now part of.
And I was a dangerous stranger.
Bracing myself, I gripped my knees and admitted that I sort of knew it might come down to a moment like this. That maybe if I told them everything, they’d let me go. It was pretty clear that Bane didn’t consider me a refugee or someone in trouble, even if Kal did.
No, to Bane, I was trouble.
I almost smiled. Well, he’s not completely wrong.
If one good thing had come out of my sneaking into Winfyre, though, it was that I’d learned that the Northbane didn’t underestimate Orion. It was an elephant-sized weight off my shoulders. This territory wouldn’t be easy picking, and Bane was smart as hell.
If anyone could stop Orion, it would be him.
It really did make me wonder about the damn Greyclaws, though. Those wolves had nothing on the three people in this room. How could a fool like Norson be trusted to be in charge?
Settling back, I glanced at Beylore, who cocked her head at me. I had no idea what kind of Riftborn she was, but if I didn’t start talking…well, there was no telling what she could do. The Coven was a serious powerhouse of Riftborn power, and if she was the Head of it…
Damn, Bane had caught me.
I can’t lie.
Either Bane or Kal could probably call bullshit on me, but Beylore would know.
I would have to give them as many details as I could without implicating Iris and, by extension, myself. I couldn’t be rotting away in Winfyre when Orion came looking. If she was here, that was one thing; Kallen and these people could keep her safe.
Dragon's Oath (Northbane Shifters Book 5) Page 4
