"Dragoness Prime,” he said, taking a deep breath. His eyes squeezed shut. "How is it you are here? We all believed you dead.”
"It was a lie, Prince Hanish. A terrible, despicable lie.”
JoJo came back into the room with the bottle and closed the door.
Maia looked from Hanish to JoJo and then down at the floor, unsure of how to start her tale of woe and betrayal.
"How did you come to learn of my death?” she finally said.
"The Prince of Tides told us he went to retrieve you from the birthing palace but that you had already died of exhaustion when he arrived.”
“The truth is, he did retrieve me from the birthing palace. But instead of allowing me to enjoy our success in leaving our home and join in the celebration of finding a new one, he told everyone I’d died. He removed my mental link when I was too exhausted to fight him. He told me it was for my protection and, in my state, I believed him. He brought me aboard the ship in secret and stowed me away in the nursery. No one knew I had arrived. They all thought he'd retrieved Waverley and found me dead. He spread that terrible rumor, and everyone believed it.”
"But why would he do such a thing?" Hanish asked. Maia relayed the story of what had happened to her. Hanish stroked his chin, taking in the shocking news. "This is very troubling.” He slid his finger over his wrist device and began to type out a message. "I am instructing Zephyr to modify our shields so no dragon outside our house can penetrate them. I do not want him coming here uninvited and trying to snatch you away.”
"He doesn't know I’m here.”
"Even if he is unable to track your wrist device, he will have tracked your escape pod. And there are only a few logical places for you to go on an alien world.”
"We should get her away from here," JoJo said.
"But where?" Hanish asked.
7
"I need you to come to the library right away," Hanish said through the mental link.
Zephyr pushed away from the dashboard of the computer and rose. He hurried up the stairs, through the living room, and headed down the hall to the library.
"What is it?" Zephyr asked, walking into the room.
He was overtaken by the most alluring scent he had ever smelled in all his life. When he scanned the room, he saw her sitting with the child in her arms, wearing an all pink tracksuit. She looked like an angel out of a painting. Zephyr blinked repeatedly, his heart seized up in his chest, and he felt as if he couldn't breathe. His dragon reared inside his mind flipping and clawing wildly at the backs of his eyes. Zephyr fell to his knees, gasping for breath. His eyes locked on those of the mysterious woman. Their gazes did not shift from each other for even a second.
She stood, her face resolute, and walked across the room toward him. She reached out to him and he took her hand. The contact sent a spark of recognition through his entire being, through every cell of his body, down to his core, and up into his brain.
"It's you,” he croaked.
"Zephyr, what are you doing on the floor? We have important business to attend to. You're embarrassing us yourself in front of the Dragoness Prime.”
"This reaction is normal,” she said in the softest voice. “And if I had not been through so much lately, I would be on the floor myself."
Finally, he caught his breath and stood. Their hands were still grasped together. They gazed into each other's eyes as she held the babe against her chest.
"I am Maia. The Dragoness Prime.”
Zephyr shook his head, unable to comprehend what was happening. His inner dragon fiercely and violently insisted she was his mate.
"I am Lieutenant Zephyr, Science Officer of the House of Storms. It is good to meet you."
"It is good to meet you too, Zephyr."
“What is going on here?" Hanish asked incredulously.
"You see, Prince Hanish — it seems Zephyr and I are mates,” Maia said.
Zephyr still couldn't bring himself to speak the words at the tip of his tongue. He was relieved when she said it for him.
"Mates? I had no idea the Dragoness Prime had a mate.”
"Neither did I, until this very moment. But I kept hope alive, and it kept me strong.”
"You have sacrificed so much for the greater good," Hanish said softly.
“It was a sacrifice I was willing to make. I was declared a Dragoness Prime at three years old. My DNA was never entered into the mating database. As the last female of a generation, my parents always knew my destiny would be to bear the young of each house. And I prepared for that all my life.
“I volunteered to bear the Princes’ dragonkin as soon as I came of age. I never questioned that decision. When the dragonkin were born, all any of us could do was escape. I thought that, after we left Dragonia, I would have a chance to finally seek my fated one. But the Prince of Tides had other plans.”
"What do you mean?" Zephyr asked.
"Maia seeks asylum from the House of Storms. She's been imprisoned by the Prince of Tides since the cataclysm. Just hours ago, she escaped with the help of her brother, who believed she was dead like the rest of this until she used a telepathic mental link.”
Deep anger throbbed at the base of Zephyr's brain. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. It was unthinkable that a Prince of Dragonia would sink to such a level.
"Then he has dishonored his house and himself more than words can express,” Zephyr said in a low voice.
"We need to get her away from here,” Hanish said.
"What do you propose?" Zephyr asked.
"I suggest we ask one of the other captains to take you both aboard his ship while you travel to distribute the particle bombs. But first we must decide who we can trust.”
"I would suggest the Prince of Stone. We had an interesting conversation at the meeting of princes. I believe he would be understanding and discrete.”
"Very well. I will contact him through a private mental link and inform him of our request. You and Maia should prepare yourselves to leave.”
"I am ready to go,” Maia said.
"Let me help you pack some clothing, food, and supplies for your journey,” JoJo said. “You’re a fair bit taller than me, but I’m sure I can find you some things that fit.”
JoJo led Maia away and Hanish went to his room to contact the Prince of Stone. Zephyr was left alone in the library. He and Maia had confirmed to each other and the others that they were mates, but they hadn’t bothered with the mating analysis. Though he wanted to believe it was true more than he’d ever wanted anything in his life, as a scientist, he needed concrete evidence.
Finally thinking clearly, he walked up the stairs to JoJo's room. He knocked gently at the door and was immediately invited inside. Maia and JoJo were pulling clothes out of JoJo's closet and inspecting each garment as they packed a bag.
“What is it?" JoJo asked.
Zephyr was at a loss for words. He didn't want Maia to think he didn't believe in their connection. But in a delicate situation like this one, definitive proof was more necessary than ever.
"I know we both feel a connection, and I would never question that instinct… But as a man of science…”
"You want to perform the mating analysis," Maia said, finishing his thoughts for him.
To Zephyr’s surprise, she seemed to completely understand his train of thought. She plucked a hair out of her head and crossed the room with such grace and presence that he was nearly struck dumb by her beauty. She handed him the hair and winked.
"I can't wait to hear the results."
"You don't mind?"
"You and I are both from the old world, Zephyr. We both understand our ways and our customs. I don't question your desire to perform the analysis for even an instant. In fact, I was just about to ask you to perform it myself.”
"Do you doubt our mating?" Zephyr asked, not believing the words coming out of his mouth as soon as he heard them in his own ears.
She laughed with a bright and cheerful sound, her eyes twinkling wit
h mysterious light.
"Of course not. Look at us wanting the same thing and doubting each other for it.”
"You're right. You're right.” He smiled slyly, his eyes darting away for a moment before settling back on her. “I will begin the analysis, and we will get our confirmation very soon.”
"I can't wait,” she said with a smile.
Zephyr turned to the door and gripped the handle. He hesitated, looking back at her. She had resumed packing, holding her daughter on one hip and caressing the garments with her other hand. She was stunning. As the sunlight broke through the clouds and streamed through the windows behind her, a golden glow shown around her head. In that moment, Zephyr felt as if he was observing the brightest goddess in the universe. Indeed, the Dragoness Prime had saved the race from extinction. She was a goddess among his people. His love for her was so great, he almost believed he didn't deserve her. Zephyr sighed and hurried into the hall and down the stairs to the laboratory.
"Azure, I would like you to perform a mating analysis between Lieutenant Zephyr of the House of Storms and Dragoness Prime, Maia of the House of Tides.”
"The Dragoness Prime is dead,” the AI said.
"No. She's not. I just met her, and my inner dragon insists she is my mate."
8
Zephyr and Maia boarded the pod sent from the House of Stone. They sat side by side as Maia held her child. Zephyr ran his fingers over the control dashboard and soon the pod was in flight. They flew through the air at speeds humans could not comprehend, to the ship of the House of Stone. The pod flew through the entrance hatch into the ship, and the door to their vessel slid open. Before them stood Prince Mortar, his eyes wide with wonder when he saw her. No one else had joined him in the receiving Zephyr and Maia. The look of surprise on Mortar’s face was difficult for her to absorb. She didn't know if she could deal with an entire crew of stunned and amazed stone dragons.
"I've prepared your rooms. We will keep your presence a secret for now if that is agreeable to you, Dragoness Prime," the Prince of Stone said as he led them down the hallway. "Hanish explained to me that you have been imprisoned by your Prince. I do not want you to feel that way aboard my ship, but Hanish did request we keep your presence a secret.”
"Let us proceed as planned for now,” Maia said. “There is wisdom in it. And I do not feel as if I am a prisoner on board your ship, Prince Mortar. But I do fear for the safety of my brother. He was supposed to join me in my escape and we were separated.”
"I can make some inquiries for you, my lady," the Prince said, sliding open a door in the hallway.
"This will be your chamber. I have outfitted it with everything you will need to take care of your child.”
"Is your son aboard the vessel?" Maia asked. She had only briefly been able to reconnect with her son Tor at the House of Storms. It had been a heavenly meeting. Mother and child seemed to know each other immediately and there was an instant intuitive bond. Even though JoJo was his mother by all rights, and she in no way would want to change that, Maia wanted so much to see all her children again.
The nursery is right through that door," the Prince of Stone informed her. “You can see him anytime.”
"Oh, thank you," Maia said, a tear sliding down her cheek.
"It is my understanding that you and Lieutenant Zephyr are mates," the Prince of Stone said, closing the door behind.
"We are running the mating analysis now," Zephyr said.
"But you both feel it?"
"We do," Maia stated.
“What a beautiful thing. I can't tell you how pleased I was when Hanish informed me that you were still alive. It is horrible what Current did to you. The Prince of your own house. It's unthinkable. But knowing that you are alive and well and here on Earth is happy news. It is a great day in the history of our race. And I am so happy for both of you that you have found each other."
After having spent so long in the company of the Prince of Tides and his sadistic need to possess her, hearing the Prince of the House of Stone tell her that he was happy for her to find love had her feeling she might burst into tears at that very moment. But she remembered that most dragons were good and loyal and fair. Not at all like Prince Current. His behavior was an anomaly. Not even the rigid elders of old Dragonia could compare to what he had done. It was so unthinkable and so out of character for her kind. Being among these honorable men was a great relief and a balm to her soul. She felt immediately at ease and at home with them.
"You have no idea how good it is to hear you say these words, Prince Mortar. I have been exposed to an evil mind for too long. It makes kind words all the more sweet to hear.”
"You should hear many more of them, my lady," said the Prince of Stone. “Now, I'm sure that you need to rest. Hanish told me of your daring escape earlier today. If you will come with me, Zephyr, I will show you to your room. Zephyr's presence will not be a secret to the men, if that is all right with you, my lady. We could use his help in the distribution of particle bombs.”
"Of course. I would not keep him from his work.”
"You are a brave and bright soul, and a blessing to our race, Maia." Prince Mortar took her hands, and they smiled at each other for a moment before he and Zephyr turned to leave. Zephyr looked back at her with one final glance. The expression on his face was so vulnerable and expectant, it nearly broke her heart with longing. She hoped that the mating analysis would be quick and that they could be together soon. She had already come so far since that morning. She had escaped her prison, had been reunited with her son Tor, met the man she believed to be her mate, and would soon see her son. It was a beautiful, bright today for Maia; a day she would remember for the rest of her life.
She placed her sleeping child in the crib and went to the control panel that opened the door into the adjoining nursery. She made sure the room was empty, so no one would be surprised to find the Dragoness Prime aboard their ship. When she found the room empty, she opened the door and entered. A sleeping baby lay in the crib, warm and secure under his blankets. Maia's heart burst with love and longing at the sight of the child. She covered her face with her hands and began to weep. She wanted more than anything to reach out and take the child in her arms. But she would not dare wake a sleeping baby. Instead, she stood and watched him sleep, her heart bursting with joy. Slowly, she leaned down and kissed the baby’s head, drinking in the scent of his skin.
"My beloved child. It is so good to see you again.”
Maia straightened and turned, not wanting to linger too long in the nursery and be discovered by the crew. With one final look at her child, she slipped through the door and closed it. Her son was sleeping in the crib, and Maia felt a wave of exhaustion wash over her. She was so tired. So very tired. But the Storms and the Stones had given her shelter and now she could finally rest after her travails.
She lay down on the bed provided for her, slipped off her shoes, and closed her eyes. Fatigue washed over her like a warm tide. She was wrapped in the arms of sweet surrender in just moments, drifting into the pleasure of dreams.
When she awoke, Maia was ravenous, and Waverley stirred in her crib.
Maia’s mental link chip had been removed, but Hanish had given her a new wrist device after disposing of her previous one. She used it to send a private message to Prince Mortar, letting him know that she was hungry. A moment later, there was a beep at her door. She checked the intercom and found that a service bot was sitting outside her room. She quickly opened the door and retrieved the tray. She took it to the table and put her daughter in the high chair. She gave Waverley the bottle of dragonkin formula to drink and Maia ate her meal. She had full access to the databases of the House of Storms and all the research they had acquired since arriving on Earth. Maia was intensely curious about humans. She wanted to learn everything she could about these creatures she had helped create.
She put some highly prized human entertainment on the holographic screen in her room and watched with delight as the film play
ed out before her. The humans had a great talent for drama and story, and it was a pleasure to partake in their creativity.
As she watched film after film, while enjoying the delicacies that Mortar had sent on the service bot, she played with Waverley and felt she was coming back to her old self for the first time since the cataclysm.
Before she had been captured by her own Prince and held prisoner aboard his ship, Maia had always felt the deep sense of duty to her people. Her playful and happy nature had been squashed during her captivity. As she watched the comedy movies and adventure films play across her screen, she felt her old sense of humor coming back to her. It was so sudden and so welcome that it rose like ecstatic excitement in her heart. She wished that Zephyr could be there to share it with her. She wondered what he was doing at that moment. She quickly typed a message to Zephyr, asking him if he would join her in her chamber. A few moments later, he replied, saying he would love to.
There was a beep at her door and she checked to see who it was. She looked through the intercom and found Zephyr standing on the other side of her door, looking anxious and handsome. She slid open the door for him, reveling in the scent of his body. Her inner dragoness purred with pleasure and his presence. Maia stepped out of the way and invited him inside.
"I am so glad you could join me. I haven't had much company in so long. I’d rather not be alone.”
"And I am glad to join you,” he said. “I see you are partaking in the human entertainment known as the film.”
"Yes. I find it quite enjoyable.”
They sat together in the comfortable chairs facing the screen while Waverley played with toys on the floor. She glanced at Zephyr. His hand was so close, and she had a deep impulse to reach out and take it. But she hesitated. The mating analysis was not complete, and they did not know for sure if they were truly fated. Her inner dragon roared at the very thought that Zephyr was not hers. The reaction of her beast was almost painful inside her mind. She grimaced at the growling and snapping of her dragoness, willing away the pain. She turned to Zephyr and smiled.
Zephyr: House of Storms: Dragon Guardians Book 8 Page 4
