Breath of Fire (Rena Drake)

by Liliana Hart

  He cornered me late one night as I made use of the gym I’d found on the second floor of the chateau. Olaf had offered to spar with me, and I’d been more than happy to take my recent frustrations out on him. Olaf had had no idea what he’d gotten himself into.

  My fury was great, and it was the first time I’d gotten to see what I was really capable of since Julian and I had mated. I was a lot stronger. I dodged Olaf’s blows with time to spare, and my speed kept him off center and confused. The power behind my punches was debilitating, and Olaf was bloody and sweating by the end of it. When my foot hit him with a roundhouse kick to the ribs, mirroring the move I’d used on him the day I’d broken out of the chateau, it didn’t feel like I was hitting cement. The sound of breaking ribs was like music to my ears, and Olaf toppled like a redwood in the forest.

  “Impressive,” Julian called out from the other side of the room.

  I’d been so focused on my fight that I hadn’t even noticed when he’d entered the gym. He was careful not to touch me as he came closer, and his shields were locked tight, just as mine were.

  “That will be all, Olaf. Go and let your body heal.”

  Olaf bowed low to Julian and shot me a look that promised retribution. I was looking forward to it.

  I moved across the room to put space between us and wiped my face with a towel.

  “The increase in your power calls to me, Rena. We are not meant to be apart,” Julian said once Olaf was gone.

  I turned backed to him and noticed the erection that strained painfully against his zipper. I raised a brow as I met the heat of his gaze. “Get on with it, Julian. You’ve made your bed. I’m not in the mood to be fucked with.”

  A growl rumbled low in his throat and his eyes rimmed red with fire. “You don’t want to challenge me, lifemate. Your power is not great enough to defeat me. I could take you easily and make you want me. Don’t underestimate my control.”

  “I know you’re the alpha in this relationship. You don’t have to prove it. But I’ll be damned if I’ll submit to you. Yes, you can make me want you, but if you take me against my will there will be no end to the depths of my hatred for you. You’ve gotten what you wanted from me. Be happy with that and move on.”

  He growled again, and I could see the fine tremors that ran through his body where his beast wanted to break free and claim me. It was a testament to his power that he was able to hold back. I’d never known a Drakán who could control himself once his beast started to break free.

  “The clans will begin gathering in three days’ time,” Julian rasped, every word measured and even. “Some of the Ancients are already forming hunting parties, hoping to track the Destroyer’s scent. If they can bring it back to me I should be able to tell what Realm he and his army are hiding in.”

  My curiosity got the best of me. “How would you know which Realm he traveled to?” There were once eight Realms in our universe, but the number lessened by one after the Drakán Realm was destroyed. And then it lessened again after the gods obliterated Atlantis for destroying the Drakán Realm. I knew very little about the six remaining Realms other than what they were and what creatures resided there. It was another bit of history that disappeared when our archives were stolen.

  “I’ll know because I’ve travelled through the portals that take us from one world to the next. The scent of each Realm is unmistakable. Just as the Earth Realm smells of fresh meat, the Realm of the Gods smells of freshly fallen snow. The Realm of the Fae smells of trees. Oceana smells of sea salt, and the Shadow Realm smells of brimstone. Only the Realm of the Dead has no smell.”

  “I’d like to know about the other Realms,” I said. “Eunice told me the Drakán Realm hasn’t been the only one to suffer at the gods’ hands.”

  “Maybe if you decide to accept me back into your good graces I’ll tell you about them someday. And despite what you thought when you came to my lands, I’m not the only creature in this world who has the ability to travel. It’ll take all of our magic to defeat the Destroyer and save this world.” He put his hands in his pockets and quirked his lips. “We’re running out of places we can be banished to.”

  “Did you just make a joke?” I asked incredulously.

  “Apparently not a good one.” He took a step forward, and I took one back before I could stop myself. He kept coming toward me until we stood facing each other, barely any space between us.

  “You might have a right to your anger, Rena. You know as well as I do that the want between us was there long before I thought of what our combined union would do for our power. But my desire will not go away. And neither will yours. The power that we’ve created with the mating fire is the best thing for our people. There’s no need to make us suffer needlessly.”

  He leaned closer so his lips just barely touched my ear. I shivered, and my dragon called to him. She’d been lonely.

  “You’ve missed me, Rena. You may think you hate me, but your body knows the truth.”

  I pushed him back and retreated several steps. I didn’t care if it made me look like a coward or not. Just the touch of him burned across my skin.

  “Dammit, Julian. Stop toying with me and just tell me what you want from me. I know you’ve spent the last three days deciding how you can use me to your advantage. Give me instructions and stop torturing my beast with your lust. It’s cruel to keep doing so.”

  “You’re the one punishing us both,” he said. “But you’re right. We don’t have time for this now. I need you to go with Xana to Switzerland and begin greeting the clans as they arrive. You’ll have a few days to settle in. It is your home as it is mine, and Xana will keep you safe.”

  “Will I be in danger?”

  “You’re going to have to act as queen. Just as I will act as king. The strongest of the clans will not be receptive at first. Our very lives will be tested. And you must not show them weakness. We are lifemates, and your anger at me will divide the clans even more than they already are, so have a care.”

  “So you’re saying I have to fake it?”

  “It’ll be a new concept for you. I hope you’re a good actress.”

  “Wow, two jokes in one day. I’m mated to a clown.”

  “If you ask nicely I’ll let you juggle my balls.”

  He kissed me hard and left me standing there with my mouth open wide in shock.

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Switzerland was filled with pure misery and endless snow.

  Once Xana and I left Belgium, an overwhelming emptiness settled in the pit of my stomach. It got worse with every mile that separated me and Julian—to the point that I spent a great deal of the flight either hanging over the toilet or wishing I was dead. Sometimes both. Gods, I hated flying. Julian owed me big time.

  All in all, this little trip was a good test for me, because I knew in my heart that distance between the two of us was the only answer. I would eventually have to leave him and go back home. I had no other choice. I couldn’t abandon my people if anything happened to my father, and though they might reluctantly agree to be temporarily tied to Julian’s clan, they would never agree to belong to him permanently. There would be a rebellion that would make Armageddon seem like a day in the park.

  In addition to the nausea, I found I suffered from an amazing amount of guilt. Noah had left several messages on my phone since I’d mated with Julian. I hadn’t had the courage to call him back. What was I supposed to say? Your vision was right, Noah. Another man and I fucked like rabbits. Are you still available for dinner?

  I figured it was best just to let whatever attraction had been between us die a slow death. Despite what Noah thought about our destinies being entwined, I didn’t really have room for any more alpha males on my relationship plate.

  I arrived in Switzerland much like I’d arrived in Belgium. My clothes were a wreck, my hair hung down in my face, my skin was pale and clammy, and a big-ass Bellator was dogging my every step. I just thanked the gods that no one was there yet to witness my arri
val.

  By my third day there, surrounded by nothing more than snow and guards, I thought for sure I would either lose my mind or go on a destructive rampage through the nearest town just for a little excitement. The trepidation I’d felt at greeting the clans had turned to worry and uncertainty. No one had arrived, and I honestly wasn’t sure if they were going to. Not even my own clan had shown, even after I’d called home and given the order as their new Archos to attend the Drakán Summit.

  But one by one, as the sun settled over the mountains on the third night and a hard snow began to fall, the Drakán began arriving at the castle on top of Mount Drummondsey.

  Mount Drummondsey was built like a resort town, except there were no humans who lived or worked there. It sat empty and unused most of the year. The main castle sat at the apex of the mountain, and as you traveled farther down the hill, small bungalows dotted the rough terrain. It was shielded by magic, and only dragons could see the haven through the clouds that rolled low over the mountains. The mountain was filled with wild game, so the hunting was plentiful and everyone’s bellies stayed full.

  The castle was six stories of grey stone, turrets and towers. Private terraces and wood-burning fireplaces accompanied every room. It was lush and beautiful, and impossible to enjoy with all the hostility behind its walls.

  Drakán came from all over the Earth Realm for two solid days, until every room in the castle and all of the bungalows were bursting at the seams. Julian had made it clear that it was too dangerous for human mates and children to attend the summit, and had forbidden them from even entering the country.

  Most of the Drakán I welcomed didn’t particularly want to be there, and they were more than happy to let me know the fact by causing as much mischief as possible. Arguments and fights broke out constantly between enemy clans, and I spent most of my time settling petty disputes.

  “I saw it first!” A female Drakán roared as she held on for dear life to a tapestry that dated back to the days of William the Conqueror, clearly intent on adding the item to her hoard. She was dressed in a well-cut pantsuit of winter white, and her blonde hair was pulled back in an elegant chignon. She spoke in her native Russian tongue.

  “You lie,” said another female in a lyrical hiss. Her auburn hair and Ancient green eyes were electric with anger. “I had it in me hands when you came and snatched it away.”

  I remembered what Julian said about acting like a queen and not backing down. I couldn’t fight them like I would if I were acting as Enforcer. My power to control the mind only went so far. I didn’t have anything to back it up with other than finding another dragon to set them on fire. A queen would definitely have other tricks up her sleeve.

  I drew on Julian’s power for reassurance and cast it out at the two women. The magic weighed heavy on them until they had no choice but to drop to their knees in submission. I took the tapestry out of the blonde’s hands and hung it back on the wall.

  Both women looked at me with fire flaming from their eyes, and I could feel their beasts writhing in anger inside them. I sensed the Russian’s powers and dismissed her. She was a weakling. She’d didn’t even have the ability to call her dragon form. But I kept an eye on the red-haired Ancient. Her beast was close to the surface, and if she shifted before I got her under control I’d lose the upper hand.

  Her magic swelled, tasting mine as I’d tasted hers, and she smirked as she was obviously unimpressed with what she’d found. I pulled hard on the thread that bound Julian and me, and our combined magic kept her beast contained. The smirk disappeared as she lost control of her magic. An invisible force pushed her head down low so she had no option but to bow before me. The Russian whimpered, but I ignored her fear.

  I opened my senses further and absorbed the Ancient’s anger and magic, until she was snuffed out like a candle. She lay prone on the floor, and her body quivered with aftershocks.

  “This is my home, and the things in it belong to me,” I told them, hoping Julian really meant it when he’d said what was his was now mine. “You will abide by my rules, or I will leave you as you are—weak and helpless—no better than human beggars. Have I made myself clear?”

  Both women bowed as low as they could, their bellies touching the ground, and cried out their promises to obey. I released Julian’s magic and my bindings on them dissolved. I walked away, and my hands didn’t start shaking until I was behind the walls of my own room. Every step I took to secure Julian’s position as king and my place beside him left us more open to challenges from other Drakán. I hoped to the gods we would be strong enough to defeat them all.

  While I was playing hostess to the world’s most horrible houseguests, Julian and the other Archos, minus my father, were closeted away in a private room discussing the terms of his plan to defeat the Destroyer.

  I knew the exact moment when Julian told them he expected all the clans to unite and recognize him as king until the Destroyer could be defeated—the mountain trembled and the castle walls shook with their anger. Each Archos roared out a resounding denial at his proposal, but Julian wasn’t worried about their lack of cooperation. He told me things would work out, and he’d been right.

  It wasn’t long after dinner was over when the Russian Archos, Milos, disappeared from his room. There was no trace of him. One moment he was dining with his sister, and the next he vanished into thin air, leaving a hysterical Drakán behind who screamed her way through the castle. The feel of fear in the castle was oppressive as I ran quickly to find Julian and hear what had happened.

  The remaining two Archos were already gathered in Julian’s study by the time I got there. I didn’t bother to knock as I walked through the shields Julian had erected around the room. I was technically Archos for my own clan, and had every right to be there. I didn’t think about it as I walked into the room, but I instinctively made my way to Julian and stood at his side.

  He put his arm possessively around my waist and pulled me close. “Rena, may I introduce to you Cale of the Éire and Andres of the Rumanus.”

  I nodded politely, but didn’t speak. I wasn’t sure of the dynamic Julian wanted to present. The two men looked at me dismissively.

  Julian’s voice hardened as he admonished the men for their rudeness. “Rena is my true lifemate. We are the first to share the blue mating fire since the time of the Banishment. You will treat her with the same respect that you would give me.”

  “It cannot be,” Andres said. “We would have heard of such a phenomenon.”

  “You will be witness to it at the mating ceremony tonight,” Julian said.

  They looked at me this time with curiosity and something like wonder, but they both took a moment to bow low before me in proper respect before Julian let the other shoe drop.

  “She is also the daughter of Alasdair. And she is the Archos for her clan until Alasdair is returned or his death confirmed.”

  Dragon fire whooshed beneath the skin of Cale, and smoke curled from his nostrils. Andres wasn’t as quick to catch on, so it took a moment before his rage matched Cale’s.

  “You son of a bitch,” Cale said. “You knew this would happen.”

  “I knew you would eventually see things my way,” Julian agreed. “But do not accuse me of masterminding Milos’ disappearance. The Destroyer has taken care of that all on his own. Circumstances have fallen into place and given me a powerful lifemate who holds her own clan. We are already united. There is no choice but for you to do the same. You cannot defeat the both of us.”

  Julian’s words weren’t negotiable, and the other two Archos’ fear and hatred of him was obvious. I opened my senses and read their thoughts. They both believed that Julian was the Destroyer, and they were only going to give in to his wishes to keep from facing the same fate as Milos.

  Cale nodded stiffly. “I will go speak with my people.”

  “As will I,” said Andres. “You give us no choice, Archos.”

  They both bowed and left the room.

  I didn’t
have time to panic as events teetered on the edge of chaos just before sliding neatly into place. What I did have time to panic over was the formal ceremony Eunice had decided to hold in my and Julian’s honor, declaring us to the entire Drakán nation as true lifemates.

  The mating fire was briefly mentioned in the Ancient texts that the five warriors had created so their people would know the history of the Drakán Realm. Since Calista’s mother had stolen all of our clan’s texts and handed them over to the enemy, I was quite ignorant about our history, as were my clansmen who weren’t Ancients. Calista and Alasdair had never found it necessary to record the time before the scrolls were stolen. The new archives began from the moment Alasdair took over as Archos.

  As soon as Eunice had arrived at Mount Drummondsey, she’d started poring over the Ancient scrolls of Julian’s clan. According to Eunice, once two Drakán had experienced the mating fire, a ceremony was supposed to occur so we could show our appreciation to the gods for giving us our soulmates and the opportunity to continue our race. I personally wanted to tell the gods to go to hell, but Eunice insisted that we follow through with the ritual. She reminded me it was never a good idea to piss off the gods.

  “Relax, my dear,” Eunice said. “This is just a formality. You and Julian have already been bound in every way that counts.”

  “Don’t remind me.” I hadn’t touched Julian in almost a week. Between the sexual frustration and the undercurrents of violence that pulsed through the castle, my nerves were stretched as tautly as they could go.

  “This ceremony holds more than one purpose. It not only shows the clan what you and Julian have become, but it’s also an event that will give them a united purpose. A true lifemate is something we all dream of.”

  “Right. A united clan. I’m just the sacrificial lamb.”

  Eunice took my hand and led me into the large ballroom where the ceremony was to take place. To say the atmosphere was cold in the room would be an understatement.