Change, he told himself.
But nothing happened. He tried again, repeating the mantra and trying others, like “Shift,” “Now,” “Come on, you dolt.”
“I don’t know why I can’t do it—maybe I’m too young,” Rohan moaned when he’d surrendered, letting his arms drop.
“Or maybe you’re thinking of the wrong animal,” said Lilliana. “Maybe you’re not a wolf.”
“Well, I have their eyes. Sort of.”
“Yes, but you’re not quite like them. You’re built differently from our fathers and the rest of the pack.” Rohan was more lithe, and though it made sense given his youth, Lilliana was convinced that he would never have the broad shoulders or thick limbs of their fathers; his sort of strength would be more sleek.
Rohan slumped down to the floor and sat on his tunic. “I suppose,” he said. “So what now?”
“Let me try,” said Lilliana, her face resolute.
She stood up and turned away from Rohan, pulling off her dress to reveal a linen slip underneath. If she tore it, she’d find a way to fashion it into something she could wear underneath her dress.
Closing her eyes, she pictured a drake like her grandfather’s déor, great wings spanning the length of the room. Though she was no more convinced that she was in fact a dragon than that Rohan was a wolf, it was the only option she could think of.
She found her head leaning back, face pointed at the ceiling as her centre of gravity seemed to change. Something within her expanded, and she heard an odd noise like a sort of crackling. A moment later her eyes popped open again and the room had changed. Shadows bounced off its walls, dancing in a sort of orange firelight.
But there were no torches. There was no fire.
Rohan let out a deep gasp as he beheld his sister, turning towards him, changed into a creature the likes he’d never seen or heard of.
* * *
Dragon Queen 6
Castle Dundurn
Gwynne arrived in the courtyard breathless, to find Cynric waiting for her. The flyer looked much the same as the first time they’d met, dressed like a soldier in a cloak, a sword at his side.
“Lady Gwynne,” he said, bowing to her.
“Cynric,” she said, grabbing his arm and pulling him to a nearby bench. “I haven’t heard from you in so long…”
“Lady Bree and I have sort of lost touch,” he said. “She’s accompanied your alphas outside the castle’s walls, I hear.”
Gwynne recalled the apparent chemistry between the flyer and the female dire wolf shifter in Trekilling.
“Yes,” she said, “I’m afraid that she’s required elsewhere. But tell me, what news have you heard from your men?”
Cynric’s yellow eyes settled on her own. “I must start by telling you how sorry I am to have heard the news of your children,” he said. “You must be terribly concerned.”
“Yes, I am. It’s just about all I think about. Well, other than how to get them back,” said Gwynne. “And of course I think of their fathers. I miss them violently.”
“Of course. Well, I hope I’m bringing you something along the lines of good news. I’ve assembled quite a host—an army of thousands. It seems that there are very few loyal to Lord Drake now, and with his disappearance it’s become all the more easy to bring his former soldiers into the fold.”
“That’s great to hear,” said Gwynne, allowing herself a brief smile before continuing. “But even millions can’t help us if we don’t know where he is.”
“I have men out now, scouting the land, looking for signs,” the flyer said. “We’ve found nothing so far—it seems that the Lord Drake is being prudent. But we will continue to hunt until we find him, I assure you.”
“Thank you, Cynric.”
“There is one thing, though: we could use the help of the wolves’ noses. Our eyes are sharp, but their noses are far superior. I think the time has come at last for our forces to come together.”
“I’m so glad you said those words,” said Gwynne, standing. “I’m sorry; I can’t stay still any longer. Can we go to the wolves now? I’d like to find Lord Lachlan. Hallam, one of our men, knows where he is.”
“Yes, of course. It would be my pleasure to accompany you.”
At that moment Hallam emerged from the castle, his visit with Ygrena over. He immediately made his way to Gwynne and the flyer. “I believe you know who Cynric is,” said the cwen. “He’s going to help us to find the children.”
“You have our gratitude,” said Hallam.
“We need to bring him to Lachlan,” said Gwynne as she walked over to a nearby hook and retrieved a cloak. “We’ll leave in a few minutes.”
“But, my Lady—we? Lord Lachlan is a few days’ walk away. I would not advise you to fly, as you’ll be seen from below.”
“I can walk halfway across the planet if it means getting my children back, Hallam,” Gwynne said.
“Of course you can. I didn’t mean…”
“We need to leave at once. Please get some food and supplies from the kitchen and we’ll head out.”
“Yes, my Lady.”
“Cynric, wait here for a moment, would you?” asked Gwynne.
“Of course.”
The cwen ran back into the castle and made her way down several corridors to her mother’s chamber. She knocked gently and Freya opened the door, her veil pulled back from her face.
“I’m leaving, mother,” Gwynne said.
“I suspected that you would,” said Freya. “I know you. You can’t stay still for a second.” She smiled at her daughter admiringly.
“You’re right about that. Listen—would you please look after Ygrena? And if any news comes in whatsoever, send wolves out to find us.”
“Of course, sweet girl,” said Freya, hugging her daughter close. “Now go, and good luck to you. Be careful out there. Don’t be ruled by passion.”
“I’ll do my best,” Gwynne said before turning on her heels and running, with each step placing distance between herself and the mother she’d missed for so many years.
* * *
Dragon Queen 7
The hike to Lachlan’s camp was to take one and a half days, and Gwynne was almost grateful to have the time outside. Her love of nature meant that the trees and scents which engulfed her were a soothing force, in spite of the torture of knowing that her children would be out of her reach for an undetermined amount of time.
As they walked she spoke often to Cynric about the army.
“The flyers are generally good people,” he told her. “There’s always been a perception that we’re cruel, but soldiers in an army can seem that way; they are hired killers, after all. And more and more, it’s a reluctant army. But you will see when you meet them that they want what you do: freedom for our people, and a lasting peace with the humans.”
“I believe you,” said Gwynne. Cynric had always seemed so sincere, so real. He reminded her in some ways of Lachlan, which in turn reminded her how she missed her mates. “I don’t know how Rauth will react to any of this,” she admitted. “He’s not the most open-minded alpha dire wolf in the world.”
Cynric laughed. “There’s no such thing as an open-minded alpha dire wolf,” he said. “You may as well talk about sober drunks. Or happy executioners. A dire wolf’s fate is to control, and it’s difficult to do that while accepting advice from others.”
“Yet Lachlan listens well,” said Gwynne as she advanced through the woods.
“Lord Lachlan sounds…exceptional,” said Cynric. “A good leader listens.”
“Yes, I agree. In fact, I think that the two of them combined make the perfect leader. I just wish they’d see it.”
“Flyers don’t fight for supremacy as wolves do. We don’t exactly have alphas. But in the case of your mates, it would be difficult to concede authority, as each of them instinctively wants it for himself. It’s nature’s way. Which makes it all but impossible to share the burden.”
Gwynne nodded, silently accepti
ng that he was right.
“It’s getting dark,” she said. Hallam was behind her. “Shall I set up camp, my Lady?” he asked.
“Yes, thanks. I can grab some wood for a fire.”
“I’m afraid I didn’t bring any flint, my Lady. We left in such a hurry…” said Hallam.
“Oh, I think we’ll be all right,” said Cynric, winking at Gwynne, who had already begun looking for dry wood. She’d all but forgotten that she could set objects alight with her body.
The three slept under the stars, a large fire raging between them. Gwynne’s eyes stayed open longer than the men’s did as she pictured her two children. Common sense dictated that they must feel frightened, abandoned, but she knew them. They were problem-solvers and, like her, they would at this moment be contemplating their escape.
She could only hope to get to them before they attempted anything that might get them killed.
* * *
Dragon Queen 8
It was on the morning of the third day that Gwynne, Cynric and Hallam found themselves walking into Lachlan’s camp.
Dire wolves and men wandered between tents in the tree-covered area as broad boughs swept overhead in an arched ceiling of swaying green. The camp, though active, was calm. This meant, Gwynne knew, that the children and Lord Drake had not been located yet.
“Where is Lord Lachlan?” she asked the first man she saw.
“He’s gone down for a bathe at a watering hole just north of here, my Lady,” he said. “Would you like me to guide you to him?”
“No, that’s fine,” said Gwynne, knowing that she could find him easily enough. “Please get these men some food and water, though.” She gestured to her weary co-travellers. “Cynric, I’ll be back soon. Hallam—make sure no one gives him trouble. There will be wolves about who aren’t accustomed to seeing a flyer in their midst; at least not a friendly one.”
“Yes, my Lady,” both men replied.
Gwynne began to walk north, the sun hitting her in golden flashes as she moved between the trees. She too was tired, but her desire to see Lachlan trumped any hunger or need of sleep. He was her food and her comfort, and would nourish her for now.
His scent was all around her, on the trees and in the air, and followed his path. As much as a drake shifter had a specific smell, a dire wolf alpha had his own; particularly one who’d been sweating. She knew that Lachlan had in all likelihood been out patrolling that morning, tracking her father. And for that she was grateful.
After several minutes she heard the trickle of water, which grew into a sort of gentle roar as she drew nearer. In the distance as she stepped out of the thick woods, she saw a crystal pond fed by a waterfall that shot down a small cliff, much like one near Dundurn’s grounds back home.
At first Lachlan’s whereabouts weren’t clear, but as she approached, Gwynne saw a head pop up from under the water. His dire wolf, soaking wet, was romping through the pond almost playfully.
It was rare to see him in this form when he wasn’t in battle, but in all likelihood he was using the time to let his aggression out. Internally he was angry, Gwynne knew. And helpless, which was worse. As much as she wanted her children back, Lachlan saw it as his duty to find them as soon as possible, and each moment of failure must seem like torture to him.
“You’re not going to be able to hug me like that,” she yelled out over the noise of the cascade.
The wolf turned his wet muzzle towards her and immediately began to swim in her direction, shifting at the last second so that Lachlan’s massive arms swam the final strokes before he stood and emerged, naked, from the shimmering pond.
As he had done so many times he silently embraced her, his dripping body of no concern to either of them, and Gwynne felt her fingers dig into his muscled back, tense and taut, betraying his stress and worry.
She pulled away after a moment.
“No word?”
“Not yet. But I have a feeling, Gwynne, that he’s around here. I can’t say why.”
“I trust you. I know you. And that’s enough.” Gwynne looked around. “So Rauth is far off?”
“He is, and I imagine that he’s as frustrated as I am.”
“At least. He blames us, I think. For all of it.”
“He blames himself.” Lachlan turned and looked towards the waterfall. “I blame myself, too. I’ve failed you, and I’ve failed our children and our whole clan.”
“Lachlan,” Gwynne said, laying a hand on his arm. “There is no blame in all of this, or at least there shouldn’t be. We have to focus on getting them back. Remember what we’ve produced. They’re special, our twins. They’re not so helpless as all that.”
Lachlan smiled at her, his light eyes filled with warmth. “How are you the one who is reassuring me? You’re the dragon mother, the one who should be filled with rage and panic, and here you are, calmly telling me not to worry.”
“Oh, hell. I’m worried. I’m angry. I’d like to kill that bastard for what he’s done,” said Gwynne. “But I’m focused. Something in me is calm and collected, and convinced, somehow, that they’re all right. I don’t know how to explain it—it’s like I can feel them.”
“I know what you mean,” said her mate. “I felt you this morning, you know. Your presence. I suppose I wasn’t so surprised to see you.”
“But you’re happy, I hope,” said Gwynne.
“Happy? My God,” he said, picking her up as he so often did, as though she weighed nothing. He spun her around and landed her in the water, clothing and all. “I was starving for you. There’s no food or drink on earth that makes up for your absence.”
“Or yours,” she said, reaching a hand around his neck and pulling his face to hers. “Kiss me,” she said. “Please.”
Lachlan did as she commanded as he eased her backwards and she stepped further into the depths of the cool water, which made its way into the fibers of her clothing until she was completely soaked.
“We should get you out of these wet things,” he growled, reading her mind. “Think how refreshing the water will be on your bare flesh.”
“Water isn’t the only thing I’d like against my flesh,” said Gwynne as her mate pulled the now heavy garment over her head.
She looked down to see that he was hard, his cock head poking out from the water’s surface, swollen, hungry as she was. A more beautiful sight she’d never seen.
As he pulled her to him, his lips meeting hers, tongue seeking her own, she felt him harden against her belly, his length pressed to her under the surface of the pond. So she wasn’t the only one with needs, she thought. Their children were still missing. But something in her wanted to unleash her rage on his body, to take out her anger on his flesh. They needed, somehow, to commune in their pain.
Lachlan guided her backwards, the two of them now swimming towards the waterfall. Gwynne recalled the one near Dundurn with its secret room, and wondered if this place was similar.
As her mate pulled her with him, smiling and ducking his head under the cascade, she knew that it was. He was taking her to a hidden chamber.
She passed through the water and came out into a beautiful little room, lit by the sun’s rays passing through the waterfall. It was merely a cave; a ceiling, walls and a floor. But it was pristine, pure, perfect.
“We searched for Drake’s hiding place behind every waterfall we came across,” said Lachlan quietly as he helped Gwynne to climb onto the stone floor. “This is where I come to calm myself.”
She stood, staring at him, taking in his entire form now. His broad shoulders, tanned from days under the sun. His muscled thighs and arms, and that torso, which she’d often straddled.
“I’ve never gotten over you,” she murmured.
“Gotten over? Why would you do that?” he asked. “I’d rather you got under me.”
“I mean the fact that I’m with you in the first place. That you found me. That I get to partake of…this…” she said, a finger sliding down the middle of his chest, allowing it
to slip over his hard abdominal muscles. “You’re so much like a creature someone designed.”
“It’s possible that I am,” he said. “That I was designed to bring you pleasure. And what a thing to be assigned such a task.”
The next hour was spent in forgetting the worries which weighed them down.
Their woes, they knew, would re-enter their minds and hearts soon enough.
* * *
Dragon Queen 9
“We should head back. Cynric needs to meet you, and we must figure out what our next move is,” said Gwynne after they’d swum back to the shore. She assembled her clothes when she’d climbed out of the cold water. Her dress, which had been drying on a nearby slab of stone, was hot from the sun’s rays.
“Yes, of course we should get to it,” said Lachlan. As his cwen turned away from him to dress, he took her by the hand and turned her to face him. His light eyes seemed in an instant to pierce her heart, melting away the ice which was beginning to form a protective layer. “Gwynne, thank you. For this. I don’t know what will happen over the next days and weeks, but I’ve missed you.”
“I’ve missed you too, Lachlan,” she said, turning and proceeding towards the camp, forcing herself to regain focus. This was not a time to bask in Lachlan’s adoration, much as she valued it.
A nagging emotion ate at her insides, something like guilt for having enjoyed herself for the brief moments that she had shared with the gorgeous alpha. A woman whose children are missing should not allow herself the pleasures of the flesh. But without them, she reminded herself, she’d felt as though she would explode.
When the two arrived at the camp the wolf shifters were milling about, awaiting orders. Gwynne and Lachlan found Cynric awaiting their unscheduled meeting, having been fed and offered a chance to clean up.
Sought by the Alphas Complete Boxed Set: A Paranormal Romance Serial Page 30
