by Juniper Hart
When it was her turn, Nyle mouthed each sound to her, helping her pronounce the strange, ancient words. His thumb rubbed her knuckles to encourage her. She was doing great. Once the vow was complete, he motioned for her to take a sip of the wine. It was to symbolize sharing and trust in one another, as well as consume the blessing the priest had given them. Nyle wasn’t religious, but the traditional ceremony was so beautiful that it proved to be very powerful and emotional.
The priest spoke again, and Nyle continued to whisper the translation to bride. “With no reason to dispute this spiritual union, by the power vested in me, gifted to me by King Thalydias, I pronounce you husband and wife.”
Nyle handed the wine to the priest and pulled Daisy into him by the waist. He kissed her on the mouth, dipping her back slightly as he did. Her arms wrapped around his shoulders, kissing him back with all the passion she felt from deep within her being. He couldn’t believe he was holding his wife in his arms. The crowd cheered and clapped.
Nyle grinned ear-to-ear as he finally forced himself away from her mesmerizing lips.
“See? They are happy for us,” he told her.
Daisy looked to the crowd with shock. He couldn’t imagine the relief she must have felt to see that his people were accepting her. Soon to be their people.
It was time for the crowing ceremony. Nyle couldn’t wait for it to be over so that he could hold and kiss Daisy to his heart’s delight.
Suddenly, a deafening crash grabbed everyone’s attention. Nyle instinctively brought Daisy into his side and put his arm over her head as wooden beams and pieces of the ceiling fell around them. He looked up to see more than a dozen Elemental dragons diving through the roof, bringing down the entire ceiling. Screams filled the room, while the Royals began shifting into their dragon forms, ready to fight the invaders.
Nyle’s blood boiled. How in the hell had they gotten to the palace? A strong security force was in place. How had that many Elementals manage to slither past them? Most of all, he couldn’t believe such a breach was made on their wedding day.
For a moment, Nyle was frozen, torn between personally keeping Daisy safe and fighting the Elementals. His eyes landed on Erasina, and he made his way over to her with Daisy.
“You keep her safe,” he instructed his sister.
Erasina nodded and took hold of Daisy.
“Be careful, Nyle,” Daisy begged him, her face masked with worry.
He nodded at her and then turned, tossing his crown to the side and hastily shifted. As soon as he was in his dragon form, he took to the air.
The Elementals must have a death wish, he thought. How dare they attack the palace!
It was unlikely that any of them would walk away from it. They were overwhelmingly outnumbered. Nyle tackled one dragon to the ground, letting out an explosion of fire with his breath. The blue dragon screeched in pain and writhed under Nyle’s grasp. He chomped down on its neck, crushing its windpipe.
When he turned to target another, Nyle was suddenly forced from the air, crashing to the ground with a heavy weight over him. He stared into the navy-blue dragon’s eyes. His eyes narrowed, recognizing that same shade of silver from Daisy’s eyes. Forrest.
Nyle brought his back legs up and kicked Forrest off him with one mighty push. As soon as Nyle got to his feet, Forrest lunged at him again. He narrowly dodged the attack.
The two dragons circled one another, eyes narrowed and locked, lips pulled back in snarls. Forrest claimed to be a loving father, and yet he crashed his daughter’s wedding. Even if he didn’t approve of the union, it didn’t give him the right to ruin her day. However, it was becoming clear to Nyle that this wasn’t about what was best for Daisy, but rather ownership of her. Forrest simply didn’t want her marrying a Royal—and especially didn’t want her to marry the King of the Royals. Nyle assumed that Forrest couldn’t take that kind of blow to his ego. Also, Forrest was likely worried about the Elemental leaders finding out that Daisy—the soon-to-be queen of the Royals—was his hybrid daughter.
Forrest launched at Nyle again, sending them crashing into the pews that had been set up for the wedding. He could feel the splintering wood scraping against his scales, trying to penetrate his flesh. Nyle managed to land on top of him and breathed fire at him. At the exact same time, Forrest opened his mouth and let out a blast of water. The water shot into Nyle’s throat, choking him, and putting out his flame. He stumbled backwards, struggling to clear his throat. Forrest stalked toward him slowly, letting a huff out of his nose. Nyle tried to breathe out fire, but Forrest had put out his flame entirely.
Just as panic began to rattle Nyle, a flash of red shot between the two dragons.
“Stop this!” Daisy screamed.
Anxiety gripped at Nyle’s chest. Why had Erasina let her go? She was right in the middle of it, and her fragile body could be crushed effortlessly. Daisy paced backward to Nyle, her back bumping into his chest. Her eyes were on her father.
“Why are you doing this? I don’t want you in my life! You’ve never done anything for my benefit. Don’t pretend like you finally care about me. You’ve turned my mom against me, you’ve damaged my new home, you and your goons have hurt people, and on my wedding day. You said you wanted to be a father, but this isn’t what fathers do.”
Forrest growled at Daisy, but she didn’t even tremble.
“If you’re hellbent on killing him just because he’s my soulmate, then go ahead and kill me too. He’s my husband, my king, and my everything. I don’t want to live without him. Go ahead, kill us both,” she screamed.
Nyle was blown away by her bravery and dedication. He was the luckiest man alive to have a mate like her. Daisy was standing up for him, and their kingdom—acting like a true queen.
Her father’s eyes narrowed even deeper, moving into a predator-like stance. Daisy hugged herself to Nyle’s large form, but never once turned her face away from her father. When she didn’t back down, Forrest paused. Did he have it in him to kill his own daughter? Nyle really wasn’t sure. Then, before Forrest could make a move, three Royal dragons ambushed him and pinned him to the ground. Forrest snarled and hissed, but he was outnumbered. Already, his men were binding Forrest in chains, using chamaline pokers to force him to obey.
Nyle rapidly shifted out of his dragon form, and didn’t think twice about his nakedness. He held Daisy in a protective manner, showering her face with kisses.
“That was the bravest thing I have ever seen anyone do,” he breathed to her. “I can’t believe you did that. I beg of you, never put yourself in danger like that ever again. I can’t lose you.”
“I had to,” Daisy pressed, her lip quivering. “I was so afraid when I saw you couldn’t conjure fire. Erasina had moved to help you, but I ran over before she could shift.”
Another commotion grabbed their attention. In the corner of the room, he witnessed a couple of his guards wrangling another Royal dragon. His brow creased. What was going on over there? Just as the question crossed his mind, the dragon was completely incapacitated and shifted back into her human form.
Even from across the room, Nyle could see who it was: Mylora.
Nyle snatched his ceremonial robe from the floor and put it on, holding it closed around his hips before marching over.
“How did this happen?” he asked the guards. “How did she escape?”
A guard spoke. “She was found with a group of Elementals outside of the palace with many of our guards. Nobody expected the attack.”
“How?” he asked. “Mylora was in prison!”
“She was released a few days ago. Direct orders arrived that Mylora was to be released since there was no longer a risk of the kingdom discovering your bond with the hybrid.”
“Who?” Nyle demanded. “Who gave these orders?”
The guard look terrified. “The orders came from the ruling family. Since you weren’t king yet, we took orders from everyone in your family until you were officially crowned.”
Someone in
the ruling family? It had to have been Maylei. How could she?
Nyle’s nostrils flared, and he pointed a finger at the guard. “You pass it along to the other guards that no prisoner, no matter their crime, is to be released without my or Daisy’s expressed permission. Do you understand me?”
“Yes, Your Highness,” the guard responded.
Nyle kneeled down, careful to keep his robe closed, and looked at Mylora. “You and Forrest were working together this whole time, weren’t you?” he growled.
Her heavily bruised face scrunched together. “What are you talking about?”
“I think you cut a deal with Forrest. After I turned down a marriage to you, you went directly to the Elementals. You figured Daisy’s father couldn’t deal with the embarrassment of his hybrid daughter marrying the son of the enemy. The Elementals helped you when Daisy and I first got together, and I could never figure out why. Now I know. Not only were you responsible for kidnapping my mate last year, but you’re also responsible for her father’s return and this direct attack to the castle. That’s treason!”
A sickly grin spread over her lips. “Good luck trying to prove it.”
“Here’s the great thing about being a king—I don’t have to prove shit,” Nyle said, mirroring her wicked grin.
Mylora’s face fell completely flat.
“You don’t think anything through, do you?” he chuckled. Nyle stood straight. “Get her out of my sight until I decide what to do with her.”
The guards lifted her to her feet and dragged her away. As Nyle took several calming breaths, a familiar body slipped under his arm. He kissed the top of her head.
“I’m so sorry our day was ruined,” he sighed.
“It’s not your fault. My father caused this,” Daisy frowned.
“My family is not innocent. I need to find Maylei,” Nyle added bitterly.
“What are you going to do with them?” she asked, her big doe eyes peering up at him.
“Maylei will be banished. As for your dad, you can decide,” he told her.
Daisy’s face pulled into an uncomfortable look, clearly not wanting to decide the fate of her dad. He was about to tell her he would help her make the decision, when her face brightened.
“I have an idea,” she said with a knowing look.
14
One Week Later
Daisy held Nyle’s hand as the SUV rolled through the green fields of Ohio. They sat in the middle row with one guard driving, another in the passenger seat, and two more in the very backseat with Forrest. She hoped she had made the right call. Nyle was very weary and hesitant when she first explained it to him, but he agreed to try it.
Forrest had gone against laws in his own clan by forming a private militia and attacking the Royal palace. The Elemental leaders would not condone his actions. The only question was how they would take to the news that she was a hybrid. Though, with the help of Evryn’s elixir, she wouldn’t be for long.
She was extremely hurt by her father’s betrayal. Even though she had never met him when she was younger, he had once told her that he looked out of her. When Daisy realized it was a lie, she was heartbroken, but then figured she had lived her whole life without him already. If she held onto her anger, she was punishing herself more than him.
Daisy was also upset that Forrest had made her doubt Nyle. Even though Nyle’s family had been involved in corrupt political actions over hundreds of years to benefit the clan, Forrest had greatly exaggerated and even lied about Nyle’s family. There were no good or bad guys when it came to the Royals and the Elementals. They both had done terrible things in the past, and the only thing they could do was make sure none of the mistakes were repeated. Nyle and Daisy decided that their reign would be one of honesty and integrity.
Her phone buzzed in her pocket, and she took it out, glancing to see her mother calling. Rolling her eyes, she silenced the call and put it away.
“How long are you going to ignore her?” Nyle asked.
“At least long enough to deal with Forrest,” Daisy sighed. “I don’t want her figuring it out and begging me to bring him back.”
“I’m sure if you explain what he’s done, she won’t ever want to see Forrest again,” Nyle tried to assure her.
“One can hope. I think she really loved him,” Daisy frowned.
She had never witnessed her mother follow someone so blindly as she had with Forrest.
“It will all work itself out,” Daisy said.
The SUV came to a stop, and Daisy looked out the window. Were they at the right place? The Elementals preferred a simple lifestyle—to live off the land so to speak—but she had still imagined the leaders living somewhere grand. Instead, they were parked outside of a collection of log cabins. Daisy glanced to Nyle, and he gave a shrug, moving out of the SUV before offering a hand to help her out.
The guards all piled out, while two of them held onto Forrest to keep him from running off. Together, they all headed over to the largest cabin, positioned in the center of the first row of cabins. Before they could even reach the door, a large group of Elementals emerged from the cabins and hustled over to them. All but the two holding Forrest put their hands up in surrender.
“We aren’t here to cause any trouble. We just want to return a prisoner and speak with Riveryn,” Nyle announced, mentioning the leader of the Elementals.
A tall man appearing to be in his mid-forties with braided hair, a full beard, and green tribal markings stepped forward.
“What are you doing with one of my men?” he asked, his arms crossed over his chest.
Daisy assumed that was Riveryn. He was dressed in a t-shirt and casual khaki shorts, looking nothing at all like a leader. However, they were all dressed like that. It was much more relaxed than Nyle’s kingdom.
“Could we speak somewhere a little more private?” Nyle asked.
Riveryn contemplated, and then motioned to the side to some of the men standing around him before glancing back to the Royals.
“Follow me,” he stated, stepping into the large cabin.
They followed him in, several Elemental guards close behind. Daisy figured they were only allowing their visit because the Elementals knew they could easily overpower the small group. It had been a strategy Nyle and Daisy had planned, knowing if they had shown up with a large group, it would turn into an all-out battle.
The inside of the cabin was extremely minimalistic. The floors were dirt, and the only wall seemed to separate the rest of the house from the bathroom. The only furniture in the cabin was bed pallets, a table, and a few shelves filled with books, and various objects. Riveryn and his men sat on the floor with their legs crossed, and the Royals followed suit.
“You may speak,” Riveryn stated to Nyle.
Nyle looked to his wife.
Daisy cleared her throat and made eye contact with Riveryn. “This may sound very strange, but Forrest is my father. I hadn’t known about him being a dragon until last year when I met my soulmate, Nylyrias. I met Forrest for the first time when he showed up to mother’s house recently. To keep a long story short, he attacked us with sixteen other Elemental dragons. We have reason to believe that he was colluding with a Royal dragon named Mylora, who had kidnapped me months ago with the help of two Elemental dragons.”
Riveryn’s eyes indicated he was processing the information Daisy had given him.
After a few moments of complete silence, he spoke, “Why are you bringing him here instead of simply killing him?”
“Well, because I’m hoping this can be the first of many acts to reconcile our differences. In a very literal way, the Elementals are my family just as much as the Royals. I would like to see peace bridge between us and all of the animosity that has built up over the centuries die off.”
Riveryn studied her closely. “I can tell you mean well, but clearly you are very naïve if you think returning a criminal will bring any kind of peace.”
She shook her head, “I don’t think that.”
/> Daisy nudged Nyle’s side, who reluctantly produced a scroll from his breast pocket. Daisy took it and stood, walking over to hand it to Riveryn.
He stared up at her in bewilderment, not used to an enemy being bold enough to approach him so casually.
“What is this?” he asked, taking the paper from her.
“It’s an agreement to return Pennsylvania to the Elementals. We will also pay for the destruction caused to our homes from your people.”
Riveryn looked at Daisy inquisitively, but did not speak.
“I know this can’t undo all that has been done over the years, but hopefully it is a step in the right direction,” said Daisy.
Riveryn’s eyes flickered to Nyle, raising a brow at him. “Is she serious?”
Nyle shrugged. “Yes.”
The Elemental leader then unrolled the scroll and skimmed through it, his face growing with surprise.
“I’ll be damned,” he muttered. After the initial shock had worn off, he shook his head and looked to Nyle. “Are you certain of this?”
“Stop looking to me. She’s our queen, and you can speak to her about it.”
“A human-Elemental hybrid is your queen?” he questioned, looking at Daisy skeptically.
“Hopefully soon I’ll be a full Elemental,” Daisy explained.
Her words made his eyebrows draw together.
She continued, “I don’t understand it, but supposedly, one of our elders found an elixir to help the dragon DNA that resides in a hybrid, attach to the human DNA to help them transition to being a full dragon. Sounds like science fiction to me too, but it’s worth a shot.”
“An elixir that turns hybrids into full dragons,” he reiterated, as though just to see how it felt in his own mouth. “That’s quite the interesting concept.”
Daisy’s lips curled into a smile. “I’m glad you think so.”
Riveryn looked back down to the scroll, taking everything in before standing. “I’m not saying that this will work, or if it somehow does, that it will stick. However, I’m willing to consider it. I need to talk it over with our council before coming to a decision.”
