by LJ Andrews
“What a way to behave,” Frenrir muttered, clicking his tongue. “Nothing in your temperament has changed or matured.”
“You lying miscreant,” Raffi bellowed. “You did not even have the warrior seal, and you dishonor every warrior who has given a life for the service of the crown.”
“Raffi, what’s going on?” Jade demanded. “Frenrir, what are you doing here?”
Frenrir smiled innocently at Jade, though he had a remarkable way of keeping me in his eyesight at the same time. “Your Highness, I am to look over the mage. So, naturally, I would be where he will be.”
“He thinks he can defend the royal bloodlines better than a warrior. You say you were honored by Thane himself!” Raffi growled, slashing his hand over Sapphire’s shoulder for one more grasp at Frenrir.
“All true,” Frenrir said pompously.
“Lies.” Dash growled in the back of his throat. “Gregor and Thane didn’t even know you existed.”
I didn’t know most of the names. Gregor, I thought was Eisha’s mate who’d died. Raffi spoke of a warrior named Thane sometimes. He had his sword, though, I didn’t quite understand the regard. Where were these powerful warriors now when we needed them most?
Frenrir sneered, eyes wild. “Your pardon? My father was—”
“Enough,” Jade interrupted. “Konrad, did you know he’d be here?”
Sapphire narrowed his black eyes. “It was only brought to my attention before you arrived. He is to play the part of a reform. Even if I’ve made it clear I have a handle on the situation.” Sapphire grunted when Raffi tried to shake him loose. “Raffi, I demand you not touch him. It will only cause trouble for us all.”
I’d never seen Sapphire demand something of a lesser wyvern, and at times, I forgot he too was one of five royals. Raffi glared at Sapphire but nodded his head.
Slowly, Sapphire lowered his arm, and Frenrir smirked as though he’d won some great victory.
“Great, what else are you going to do? Sleep in my room?” I asked
“Actually, that would make my job much—”
“No,” Sapphire said. I could have kissed the man. “That would be completely suspicious to the others in the house. You can take the room adjacent to Teagan’s, but each reform is provided a private room.”
Frenrir seemed disappointed, but when Sapphire towered over him, there was a palpable intimidation. The spy nodded with a bow. “As you wish, my lord.”
“And you will stop saying degrading things to our warriors,” Sapphire went on. “We have been safe and protected thanks to Raffi and Dash. It is a noble position.”
Frenrir chuckled darkly, his annoying voice rose to a nasally pitch. “I meant no disrespect. The temper of Raffi is one I’m rather accustomed to. I suppose that is why he nearly lost his head against the lindworms.”
Raffi charged again, but I slammed my hand down on the table. Frustration was a strong enough emotion to spur the powerful energy coursing through my system day after day. The wood grains on the countertop released their own aura, and I was getting faster at linking to earth energy. At my touch, the counter flashed a golden barrier between the two dragons, enough they both stumbled back. Raffi cursed me but Frenrir gasped for air.
“You attacked me.” Frenrir glowered in my direction, his palm splayed over his chest.
“I protected you, but if you’d like, I’ll stand back and let Raffi do as he pleases.”
“You would do me a great honor,” Raffi said, cracking his knuckles like a damn street fighter.
Frenrir had a way of creating a perfect frown over his protruding chin. “I am not the enemy. I am only here to assure the council of your good nature. If you keep me safe, then I shall have nothing negative to say.”
“Then do as Sapphire says and have some respect for your royals,” I said.
Frenrir seemed as though he desperately wanted to say something more but bit his tongue.
“All right,” Sapphire said. “This is what we must do for a time. We are hiding nothing from the council. Teagan is honorable. So, if you’re here, Frenrir, then you shall make yourself useful. We are seeking word on the High Priestess mage. We must know where her loyalties lie so we can have a full understanding of our allies. Have you or the council had any sightings of where the mages may have gone?”
Frenrir straightened his shirt and shook his head. “Not a word. We thought the mages lost to the wyvern race completely. Those with a bond have not even felt the slightest stirring—he is the first sign we’ve had. Then, of course, the High Priest—”
“Bron is not the High Priest,” Jade whispered. “He’s a murderer and traitor. Teagan has the blades, Teagan is the High Priest, and you’ll do well to respect that position.”
Frenrir bowed his head in agreement to his queen. “Forgive me. Old habits. Like you, my queen, this mage is young.” He looked to me. “Are you ready to assume all the title of the High Priest mage holds?”
“Well, I’m pretty sure you know about as much as I do regarding what the title means, so don’t act like you’re ready to tell me my responsibilities. We both know you don’t have the slightest idea either.” Raffi and Dash chuckled and I thought Sapphire might have smiled too, but he turned away. I narrowed my gaze. “I’m ready to keep the royal bloodlines safe. I’m ready to find out where I came from and learn who I can trust. That’s all I can tell you.”
“Fine.” Frenrir sighed. “I shall make my leave and report on the first day to the council. I will be upstairs if needed.”
“You won’t be,” Dash said under his breath.
“The first door on the left, that’s the room you may use,” Sapphire said. “Don’t bother the other reform magis.”
Frenrir bowed to both royals and stepped out of the kitchen—not before grabbing a piece of crisp bacon.
Jade stomped to Sapphire’s side and huffed. “What is the council doing? When has there ever been a representative sent to keep track of royals?”
“Representative? More like a turncoat,” Raffi snarled, taking his own fair share of the bacon. “Look, our royal was cooking for the beast.”
“I wasn’t cooking for him. It was one of the hobgoblins who just arrived. I hurried and sent him to his room when Frenrir seemed ready to shift simply to have a bite,” Sapphire said. “To answer your questions, Jade, no. To my knowledge, the council has never put such watch on the royals. When King Lux ruled, the council was there as a formality, or for particularly difficult decisions. Now, it seems as though they’d rather keep the throne for themselves.”
“So, what do we do?” I asked. I didn’t like this, not one bit.
Sapphire sighed and rubbed the bridge of his nose. “We stay alert, and we keep what we can amongst ourselves. Share only obvious information with Frenrir. What I’m certain of is the council is not keen to the mage. I suspect finding the High Priestess will be the last of their worries. We also go along with what they want.”
“How do you expect we play both sides?” Jade asked. “We can’t conceal and do everything the council asks.”
“We must,” Sapphire said. “I believe that your crown, our way of life, and frankly, Teagan’s life depend on it.”
Dash snorted. “They wouldn’t harm a mage.”
Sapphire raised a brow. “You’re certain? The council does not forgive easily, and the mage is still to blame for the death of our people as much as King Nag. Teagan, I must insist you be vigilant in honing your abilities. We shall help where we can. But I believe finding the help of fellow mages is more important than ever.”
I closed my eyes, leaning forward on my palms over the table. “Yes, but there’s just one problem.”
“What’s that?” Sapphire and Jade asked in unison.
I glanced at the four wyverns. “We don’t know which mages we can trust.”
The wyvern council wanted me destroyed, and quite possibly the strongest mages in existence wouldn’t rest until I joined darkness or died. The daunting truth crushed upon m
y shoulders. How was I—or any of us—ever going to get out of this alive?
Chapter 4
Frenrir didn’t look like a reform. He was lanky with long fingers and nails that pointed a bit. His skin wasn’t taut like Raffi or Dash, and his eyes had an odd, yellowish glow.
“So, it’s true. About the seal?”
I jumped back into the shower nook. Through the steam in the bathroom his pointed, narrow face and glowing eyes stared back at me.
“What are you doing in here?” I ripped a towel from the hook on the wall and hurried to wrap it around my waist. Each morning before the sun came up, I showered. I didn’t want questions about Jade’s seal. True, Mitch always thought I slept in, but I took my time to aggravate him.
A shiver ran down my spine. I didn’t care if he was a dragon—sneaking in while someone showered crossed a line.
Frenrir perched on the edge of the counter and smiled. “I am to watch you, yes?”
“Not while I’m in the shower, pervert.”
“I don’t catch your meaning,” he said with such innocence I almost laughed.
“It’s not . . . socially acceptable to watch people in the shower. Especially if they don’t know you’re there.” I stepped to the sink.
Frenrir kept his knowing gaze on my back, and I wished he would slither back to the cave he’d come from. “I was not watching. A curtain was in front of you.”
“Still, don’t make it a habit, Fren. You might find out guys don’t appreciate it—and especially the girls. Sapphire will rip your head off.” I shoved my toothbrush in my mouth, hoping Frenrir would get the hint we were done speaking.
“I have no interest in watching anyone else but you.”
I pointed the frothy tip of the brush at him and lifted my brow. “Right there, that sort of talk—knock it off.”
Frenrir sighed, and I sort of enjoyed seeing him get frustrated. “I must ride on that pungent vehicle with you today. I shall never understand why the royals chose to live among humans and lesser magis. Moving about is so much easier with wings. Humans were once our servants, you know.”
“Yeah, what about the other magis? They’re powerful, too.”
“Insignificant. They were simply lords over their own kind. We ruled overall. It could be so again.”
“Why not just live among them and let them live their lives? I understand that sort of domination is what King Nag wants.”
“No,” Frenrir snapped. “Nag wants nothing but wyvern races on this earth. He doesn’t see the importance of living with all matters of energy. The humans, though lesser and not as valiant, have an energy which only adds to our strength. Magis creatures have purpose, they have balance in the earth. They kill our enemies, they tend to the forests, they keep the seas. Without both humans and magis there would be an imbalance and our power would be lesser eventually.”
“Still, keeping humans as servants doesn’t seem all that fair.” I knew he had a difficult time hearing me through my brushing, but I wasn’t going to stop on his account.
“So you say. I imagine because you were raised among lessers is the reason for your opinion.”
Wiping excess toothpaste from my chin, I glared at Frenrir. “And you have your opinion because you’ve never taken the time to understand anyone else apart from the elders. You don’t even understand the royals, nor what they’ve sacrificed to keep their elemental stones safe.”
“You’ve seen the jade stone?” Frenrir asked with excitement.
“Nope.” I tugged a gray T-shirt over my head.
“Interesting. I’ve always wondered where the stones were hidden, you know.”
“Who knows? Would you like to hold my hand while I leave the bathroom, or am I allowed to stay a few feet away from you?” I shoved past him with a knock from my shoulder.
“You have a sharp tongue, mage. I have no doubt you must be a relation of the dark High Priest—”
I wheeled on him. My finger nearly jabbed him in the eye. “Don’t pretend you know anything about me or where I come from.”
Frenrir lifted a brow. “You do not accept the traitor could be your father.”
My lips pressed into two tiny lines, and the pulsing rage built in the hinge of my jaw. “Just . . . stay the hell back. You know nothing.”
In the backyard, Mitch chatted up Frenrir the same way he’d acquainted with me the first day I arrived.
Frenrir did little to try to hide his arrogance toward a fae, and spoke as though he were a refined gentleman from the Gilded Age rather than a criminal needing extra guidance in life. If anyone would give away the truth, it would be Frenrir.
The day was strangely warm. Snow glistened, but I couldn’t stay in the stifling house any longer. I held a bit of sympathy for Jade and the other dragons. According to them, their blood was on boil constantly. The winter air needed to stay winter, and not have a sudden hot spot.
Outside, Jade closed her eyes, a whisper of a smile on her lips as she absorbed the cool sunlight. Behind us Raffi and Dash tossed chopped wood into a pile, glares homed in on Frenrir.
“Mitch!” A mousy girl (from her swampy eyes, I guessed might be some type of water nyk) called from the back door. “Sapphire needs you.”
Mitch followed with a grumble. The girl waved at Jade, but when I turned around again, she tucked her head and hurried back inside.
I snorted a laugh. “Is my face that scary?”
Jade leaned her head on my shoulder, then tilted her chin, so her lips were mere inches from mine. I was undone and she knew it.
“I sense intimidation from her, not fear. You know you have a reputation, Teagan Ward.”
“Something I try very hard to keep up.”
“Well, your rebellious spirit sort of appeals to me,” she whispered against my ear. Sparks of heat prickled down my neck.
Frenrir cleared his throat, drawing Jade away from me—begrudgingly.
“You think it wise for a mage and wyvern royal to get so close?”
“Hush, Frenrir,” Jade demanded. “You speak so loudly—anyone could hear you.”
He only shrugged. “Forgive me, my queen. I simply speak in earnest. The bond is meant to keep you safe, as well as your mage. Nothing more.”
“Yeah, you’re late to that, Fren. We’ve already heard all the warnings from everyone else,” I said, curling my fingers in Jade’s grip. “And just like them, you’re going to have to get used to it.”
Frenrir rolled his eyes, and for a moment, I thought a little steam burst from his nostrils. “It’s all very unorthodox, that’s all I’m saying. There’s a reason the wyvern race reigns in strength.”
“You think my love for Jade will be our undoing,” I said dryly. “Hate to tell you, those bonds you speak of didn’t stop a war.”
Frenrir frowned. “Our attachments are made to continue the lineage of valor and power. Keep the wyvern blood within wyverns. Not for . . . romance.”
Jade groaned, kissed me longer than normal, then glared at Frenrir as she stood. “I’m to meet with Eisha. I will see you later.”
When she left, Frenrir said matter-of-factly, “I believe I’ve offended the young queen.”
“You think? Listen, Jade is queen for a reason, right? Maybe you should stop telling her what to do and how to be. It’ll take you far in her good graces.”
“She is young and has not formally ascended the throne,” he argued.
“Yeah, well how is she ever going to show you and the elders how powerful she can be if you never give her the chance?” I retorted. “You know Jade was the one who predicted something dangerous was coming, right? If she hadn’t put everyone on edge, Bron and the lindworms might have killed Sapphire and her. Then where would the elders be? Two royals lost.”
A miracle of miracles occurred when Frenrir bowed his head in submission. “Perhaps you’re right. I will make a greater effort in keeping my opinions to myself. At least the ones that hold little value. But I must make it clear, the elders will never accept the
bond you’re building with her.”
“Yeah, well, until they’ve felt what I do, until they have her seal etched into their skin, they can take their acceptance and—”
“Please.” Frenrir held up a hand. “I don’t need more vulgar human language. I’m merely warning you, in good faith. Be careful, mage. You are already in the elders’ sights. I’d urge you not to push back.”
“How did you lose him?” Jade asked, as she leaned against my chest. We sprawled out on a tuft of grass beneath the blue midnight sky. The stars were crisp like trapped pearls in a sea of black—the night was cold and clear but, most of all, peaceful.
“He’s sleeping now.” I dropped my cheek to her forehead.
“I doubt he ever sleeps.”
“I don’t know, he sort of stopped following me after dinner. Having a tail is going to be exhausting. I kept checking behind me the whole way here, certain he was following me.”
“What do you think? Is he going to convince the elders to tear us apart?”
“He didn’t like it and made it clear it wasn’t accepted for us to be so close, but when did we decide we’re going to let anyone tell us how to be?”
Jade smiled, and I could see the bright gleam of her white teeth in the moonlight before I tugged her a little closer and closed my eyes, enjoying the stillness of the night.
“Do you hear that?” Jade asked after a long pause.
Instantly the hairs on the back of my neck stood on end. It wasn’t what I heard; it was what I didn’t hear. The surrounding forest was silent, as though all life had fallen asleep. Not even a bristle of leaves from the wind. No mistake, not even the wind.
Leveraging into a crouch, I protectively placed my arm in front of Jade. “I don’t hear anything.”
“I hear the trees,” she whispered. The energy of the trees connected to Jade as it did me, but it would seem I was cut out of the conversation. “Something angry is out there. A warning, a sort of strange power, yet, oddly familiar.”
Jade cocked her head slightly, her emerald eyes staring into the forest, searching for whatever had spurred her senses, but the forest remained still and silent.
