Dragon's Gap: Set Includes Stories 4-5 Plus Love's Impulse

by L M Lacee

  “I do not see how…”

  “Be quiet!” Ordered a voice that sounded like rustling leaves. Scarlett hissed. “Her sister Charlie is an assassin. I know you all know what that is. Her shadow is a Commander a killer of rogues. He is brother to the Dragon Lord who leads the whole dragon nation and is Harper’s adoptive brother.

  They will be on your doorstep when they learn what has happened. I and my Grove will not lift a finger to help you. So I suggest you answer me NOW!” They heard Scarlett’s agonized scream. Then in a voice devoid or expression she said. “You have taken much from me. My sister, now my niece. You killed them both with your fear and prejudice. I will wipe the whole of you from this plane of existence.”

  “Who is this female to have such protectors?” Asked that same male, who was not so calm now!

  They heard a thump and imagined Scarlett had allowed the male she held to fall, evidenced by someone asking. “Is he dead?” Then someone else saying. “No he did not land on his head.” They then heard the cultured tones of the High Queen.

  “The one who you speak of, is the seeker of truth. A ghost! An impossibility not seen before. She is a High Queen. Tell me Councilor Jasera, is that what you Councilor Kildane and Councillor Pearton and the other councilors are worried about? Is that why you sent her to the grey zone in the hopes she would be defeated. Because she is a Ghost or because she is a potential High Queen without pure blood?”

  “Yes.” Rasped out a male voice accompanied by a female and other male voices. There were a few rumblings of other voices whether in agreement or not it was hard to say without being there.

  “The High Queen’s voice dissolved into anger and disdain. “You stupid foolish people, you could not leave well enough alone. That sinister dangerous unpredictable female who you sent to her death had declined my request for her to take up the mantle of High Queen. She said she had a shadow and her sister who she loves beyond reason and a crazy friend who she also adores. She was happy with her Aunt and Uncle and most of all her new family.

  She would not jeopardize any of them, she loves them too much to risk their wrath. You fools if you had asked she would have told you of the promised she made to her shadow and her adopted brother before they would consent to her staying here. That she would never leave her home permanently again. They would never forgive her if she broke that promise she told me. You sent her to the grey zone to die!”

  Then they could hear screams and things falling. Then a male voice say. “My Light calm please.” They heard another sound it was like people choking. “My light do you really want to kill the Councilors?” It sounded like King Zale asking. The High Queen said in tones never heard before from a faerie. “Yes I really do. They took her, my light. A beautiful lovely sweet female and played on her guilt. Made her feel that she was unsafe and dangerously portrayed her as an abomination. She would have gone to save her shadow, her sister and family to save us. Especially if they made it seem like she had no choice. You have met her, she would die for those she loves.”

  “You had no right!” Screamed Scarlett. “She was mine, we loved her.” The noises increased until there was nothing. The phone fell from Charlie’s hand as she said. “I did not get to tell them she is here.” She cried.

  Reighn closed his phone. “I sent a message to Sparrow, she will tell them. She said they will come as soon the Queens finish killing everyone.”

  They looked at him he shrugged. “I have no idea if she meant it.” They could all tell he did not care.

  Frankie said. “Did they call me crazy? Because I was tested.”

  “Oh Frankie. I do love you.” said Charlie.

  Frankie smiled through her tears. “Oh good, I love you too, don’t let her die Charlie.”

  “I won’t sweet one.”

  Three faeries arrived. The lead male swaggered in, his whole demeanor was one of entitlement and suppressed glee. The other two were reserved and if Reighn had to guess he would say they were angry. They reminded him of soldiers on a mission that detested the duty they were forced to do. He bet they did everything they were meant to and not a thing more, to discharge their duty to the male they guarded.

  Reighn looked at the male fairy who was staying at the Grove. Harper disliked him intensely. He was the Faerie Ace had choked and humiliated when he had threatened Joy who he saw move to stand partially behind Charlie who positioned her further behind Storm. The movement did not go unnoticed by Axl. Reighn sighed, he would have to address that situation shortly or the Prince was going to end up dead. Frankie stiffened when she saw the male, she gave a nod to his two guards. Ace was not the only one to have problems with the male. Harper and Tarin had come to words and threats, mainly on Harper’s side on several occasions, only the prince’s guards had stopped Harper killing him. Reighn knew for a fact June had on several occasions smooth ruffled emotions as dragons and shifters alike had been close to hurting the Faerie Prince. He did have the knack, June told Reighn of upsetting people.

  Whether it was intentional or by stupidity, she had not been able to ascertain. He wished she was here now, she would know how to handle the male because he just knew the male was going to piss off the Battle brothers or Charlie. Which meant Storm or Goddess forbid, Sage, which also meant him.

  The prince looked around at the filled room and smirked. “Surely this does not require everyone. It is only a simple matter of poisoning.”

  Edith said. “Oh it really does and no you moron. It is not poisoning it is demon blood.”

  Reighn grimaced because he had just remembered Edith and if anyone was going to get pissed off it would be her. Prince Tarin ignored her altogether with a sniff of distain then he turned to where Harper was lying to be confronted by three Battle brothers.

  “We don’t have time for this.” Prince Tarin snarled. “If you want the female to live.”

  Queen Scarlett and King Elijah hurried in with their guards all blood splattered. Scarlett had a wild look in her eyes. Kai the High Queens brother said to Prince Tarin. “Leave if you want to live!” With one look at the male he left. Kai said “Remain.” To the Princes guards who bowed and stood by the opened door. Edith smiled and said to Sage. “I like him.”

  Frankie said. “He is the High Queens brother. Kai.”

  Edith frowned. “Oh another prince?”

  “Nope. He denounced his title.”

  Edith grinned. “Ooh! I really like him.”

  Scarlett rushed to Sharm and handed him a vial of orange fluid. He immediately filled a syringe and then plunged it straight into Harper’s heart which made most of the females gag at this unexpected action.

  “Dear Goddess! Some warning.” Said Sage as she rushed from the room, her hand over her mouth. Reighn looked after her. Edith asked. “You aren’t going to see if she is alright?”

  He shook his head. “No she yells at me. We have learnt to wait.”

  “I see.” She gave his arm a pat. “Wise dragon!”

  “We are getting there.”

  The Queen enfolded Charlie in a hug. “Niece I am so very sorry.”

  Charlie hugged her back. “I know, we all do we heard you on the phone.”

  Elijah smiled. “We are glad she will be well. We were worried.”

  Scarlett asked. “What phone?”

  Loa said. “Oh so sorry. I bumped my phone… it must have answered without me noticing.” Not one person there thought the guard had done so by accident. Elijah said with a raised brow. “You will have to be more careful in the future!”

  Loa bowed and answered. “I will endeavor to my King.” Reighn asked quietly of Elijah as he watched Harper’s eyes start to flicker. “Did they leave any alive?”

  Elijah turned darkened eyes to his. “One or two, the High Queen was distraught as was my Queen. There is a need for a new council.”

  Reighn nodded in understanding. “We are pleased we do not have to go to war.”

  Elijah nodded as well. “War tends to put a dampener on friendships.�
�

  “This is true.” Agreed Reighn. “Will there be repercussions?”

  Elijah shrugged. “Confinement to Groves for all Queens until further notice. Our High Queen and King have decided this is an opportune time to update and reorganize Faeriedom.”

  He smiled as Scarlett came with Charlie to where they stood. Scarlett told them. “She will be well by morning, well enough to give her shadow and Lord Reighn and the rest of you all heart palpitations for a while longer.” She cupped Charlie’s cheek. “They took her and sent her to that place on her own. I will never forgive them for that. She will never forgive me for that.”

  Charlie hugged her back and whispered. “I know. She loves… you there is nothing to forgive. You know Harper she was being noble. She was seeking something to fix when nothing was broken. I think she lost her good sense with fear. Fear she would hurt all of us.”

  Frankie agreed. “She hates it to be known but she will die for us all, and they would have taken advantage of that fact. Her problem is she loves too deeply but as problems go, it is one we can live with.”

  Scarlett smiled. “Well it is up to us to make sure she lives a long, long time.”

  Reighn heaved a deep sigh. “We thank you as well. We all would have missed her. It is hard to remember a time she was not in our lives.”

  “I can imagine.” said Scarlett. “She gave us one of her works. It is beautiful, beyond exquisite.”

  Reighn grinned. “So you are the ones she gave it too. I saw it and coveted it. I am glad it went to a good home, she is truly gifted.”

  “In more ways than one.” King Elijah agreed.

  Charlie said to Sharm. “You realize. I will have to listen to Harper bitch forever about that scar you left with that injection!”

  Sharm spread his hands. “It could not be helped, it is the nature of the antidote. But I have to say I am glad she will be annoyed with you and not me.” He grinned widely at Charlie’s frowning face. Frankie sighed. “Won’t matter if it was necessary. Believe me when I tell you that female can bitch. You should have heard her when I accidentally, and it was an accident no matter what she says, burnt my own hair off with her blow touch, she never lets me forget it.”

  “See!” Charlie said. “That was how long ago Frankie?”

  “Oh ages at least three or four months.”

  These females! Ace’s dragon said as he listened to the affection and fear lining their words. They love our shadow!

  Yes! .said Ace. They do! He sat up slowly, the pain was gone. His eyes naturally sought and found Harper, she was breathing easier, her color looked well, and he could feel her growing stronger.

  “Tell me about it!” Sage moaned as she walked back in from the bathroom. “I asked her once, just once if I could touch her thingy that she was working on and she threw the biggest tantrum...”

  Reighn interrupted her. “Because when she let you touch a sculpture the first time. You broke it Sage!”

  “It was an accident it slipped from my fingers and she still pouts.”

  “You touched her art?” Asked a horrified Edith.

  Sage hunched her shoulders a little in defense. “Well yeah, it was there, damn it!”

  “But her art!” Edith looked at her like she was an alien.

  “Hey sister! Enough, you keep your horrified looks to yourself!” Sage said as she pointed her finger at Edith who sniffed. “I would have banned you for life.”

  Reighn laughed as he told them. “She banned her for two weeks.”

  “So unfair.” Sage looked at Frankie.” How long were you banned for?”

  Frankie shrugged. “Still not allowed in.”

  “Wow she is mean!” said Kai.

  Verity scolded them. “Harper is perfectly fine. She is not mean. I never have any problems with her apart from Sundays… she will try to get out of them but she comes when she is home.”

  They all looked at her, she raised her eyebrows and asked. “Why do you look like that?”

  “She is scared of you. That’s why.” Frankie said.

  “Oh really!” Verity smiled. “Well I never.”

  “Not that scared, she still misses Sunday, if she can.” said Rene`. Ace shook his head. He slipped from the bed and picked his shadow up and with her in his arms he turned to see every eye now upon him. He simply said. “Thank you family. Thank you for my shadows life. For my life.”

  Verity said. “You are loved, both of you. Take your shadow to your home. Relax be together.”

  Ace nodded then looked at his brothers and told them what he should have said many years ago. “My brothers, my love for you grows daily.”

  All three inclined their heads, Ash said for them all in his quiet way. “For you we would raze the world.”

  And the faeries as well as all the others in the room realized how close the world had come to seeing the Battle brothers do what the brothers had been bred for. Rene` said. “If you or Harper need me, call.”

  “Thank you.” Ace bowed his head to Reighn.

  “My Lord!”

  “My brother, please be at peace.”

  Ace inclined his head again in thanks to Scarlett and Elijah and the other faeries. Then included them and everyone else in his warm look as he strode from the room.

  CHAPTER TWENTY TWO:

  H arper woke and felt like she had been stomped on repeatedly, she groaned as she rolled over.

  Ace rose from his chair where he had been keeping vigil since bringing her back to their home twenty four hours ago. He sat on the edge the bed. “Hello my love!”

  “Ace, I was dreaming I fought a demon to protect you!”

  Ace brushed her auburn hair from her face. “I wish I could say it was a dream.”

  Harper closed her eyes and whispered. “I see.”

  He gathered her in his arms and carried her to the chair he had just vacated. The stones started to sing, he could feel the castle hum beneath his feet. Ace smiled. “It is the first time since you came back that they have started to sing.”

  “I am sorry. So very sorry.” She told him and did something she had not done since she believed Charlie was dead she cried as the rain fell outside. Ace soothed her and let her cry as he watched the gentle fall of rain against the windows. When she had cried herself out he handed her a cloth and poured her coffee. As she wiped her face and then sipped her coffee she told him how she had fallen victim to stupidity.

  He listened to her tell how she believed the councilors when they told her she was still infected and that she had left demons in the grey zone. Hearing this she rushed to kill the Shades and Demons before they could kill Ace and Charlie and everyone else in retaliation.

  She laughed bitterly as she said. “Even saying that sounds stupid.” She shook her head and said, “When I was in the zone the demon was bigger and nastier than the previous times I fought Demons there. Ace he was huge and fast, so wickedly fast.” Faster than anything she had seen before. She told him how she fought but she was losing, she had only knives left every time she cut him down he regrew, bigger tougher, nastier she was losing hope until the ancients arrived. They destroyed the demon and brought her to the castle, to Ace.

  Ace told her how the Queens found out that some councilors had called the Demon using some long forgotten spells they had found. He told her the Queens had killed all but two councilors in their anger and grief.

  Harper could not find it in herself to feel sorry for them, they almost killed her which meant her Ace would have died. They rolled the dice and lost, too bad.

  He then went on to tell her how Sharm had run blood tests as no one could really understand how she would have not called him or Charlie. She frowned as she said. “It never occurred to me. That is wrong!” Ace agreed. “A hallucinogenic designed for humans was found in your blood. Apparently you had been ingesting it for days. They probably started giving it to you after we left. It made you easily susceptible to their plans.”

  “Huh! So I am not stupid.”

  �
��Far from it.” She rubbed her chest. He kissed her and then said. “You need to shower and I need to call everyone and let them know you are awake and well.”

  “I love you.” She told him. Ace stilled as he said. “That is the first time you have told me that.”

  “Are you sure?” She asked with a frown.

  “Why would I lie?” He asked the question Edith always asked all the time.

  Harper laughed. “Oww! Oh don’t make me laugh!”

  Ace kissed her neck. “I love you too my shadow. I was so scared I thought I would lose you.”

  She kissed him silent knowing how close they had both come to dying. “We survived and later when I can move without hurting I will show you in detail. I am an artist and this body of yours is a masterpiece I want to explore over and over.”

  She told him as his lips came down on hers in a kiss that flamed into passion far too quickly. He lifted his head and refocused “I will await that time now go shower.” He mocked growled, she grinned and gently moved off him making her way to the bathroom. He heard the shower turn on as Charlie answered her phone. He said. “She is awake and sore… “Son Of A Bitch! Why Is There A Scar On My Chest?”

  “I knew it! She is going to blame me.” Charlie whimpered as they heard Harper yell. “What did Charlie let them do to me?”

  Charlie hung up as Ace laughed and watched the sun come out from behind the clouds. Our life was never this amusing before. His dragon mused.

  It definitely is not boring! He replied.

  CHAPTER TWENTY THREE:

  A few days later Harper was up and walking around, Ace was with Rene` and Reighn trying to decide what to do with his future. June had been rescued by Fin, she was recovering from her adventures. Harper had the feeling she too would not be leaving home anytime soon.

  Scarlett was still confined to the Grove but as it happened she was happy, Harper and Charlie were going to become cousins. Scarlett was with child or a faerie baby. Harper stood still as she pondered what a baby faerie was called. Something to ask at the next Sunday family dinner.