"What are you all doing?" Hanish demanded.
“We found her," Penelope said with a flourish.
"This is the Prince of Tides’ mate," Flora finished for her.
The twins stood on either side of Evangeline, motioning toward her as if they were displaying a prized donkey. All Maia could do was maintain hope that this was the answer they had all been waiting for.
19
"Prince Current," Zephyr said through his wrist device. “We will surrender the Dragoness Prime if you bring the child down here."
"You will send her up to me,” Current demanded
"This is our only offer. Maia needs to know that her child is all right. You bring her down, personally, and we will surrender Maia.”
"This is a trick."
"You either want her or you don't. She's willing to go with you.”
"I will go with you if you come here and show me Waverley is unharmed,” Maia said.
"I can show her to you over holoscreen.”
"I need to see her in person."
"Very well then. I will be down shortly.”
"What's going on?" Evangeline asked, cupping the mug of hot chocolate between her hands. The woman looked absolutely shaken. Zephyr couldn't believe that Flora, Penelope, and Maia had gone to find her without informing anyone. He never would have approved. But he realized that the women were stronger and more resourceful than any of them had imagined.
"He's your soulmate," Flora said.
"He’s the one who's been attacking you?"
"Yeah," Penelope said. “But we're sure you’ll like him.”
"Are you going to force me to go with this madman?" Evangeline began shaking.
"No,” Flora said. “We just want him to get a whiff of you."
"Literally,” Penelope added.
"We think that'll fix his head.” Flora pointed at her temple.
"Definitely.” Penelope nodded.
The compound had stopped shaking from the attacks, and the assembled dragons waited patiently for Prince Current to arrive. Kian and Raiden were outside, prepared to escort Current into the house.
There was a sharp knock at the door and then Kian stepped through. The next person to come through the door was a man Zephyr recognized from the meeting of Princes. Prince Current held Waverley loosely on his hip. Maia jumped to her feet and ran to her child, gathering her in her arms.
"You've seen the child is all right. Now come.”
"You must meet a special guest before we go," Maia said, stepping aside so he could see and smell Evangeline.
His eyes flicked over the human and his mouth dropped open. The previously stalwart and commanding woman blushed and batted her eyelashes upon seeing the handsome prince.
"Prince Current of the House of Tides," Maia said. “May I introduce you to your fated mate, Evangeline Andrews.”
"It can't be," he said, stumbling forward and holding himself up with the back of a chair.
Evangeline cleared her throat and reached out to shake his hand. The Prince of Tides offered the wrong hand for a human handshake, so the two were instead holding hands. She blushed even harder, and he sat down in the chair to stare at her.
"Get him a cup of hot chocolate," Penelope said.
"Your name is Evangeline?" he asked.
"Yes. And you're a dragon prince?"
"Not anymore," Prince Mortar said, walking through the back door. “The Princes have made a decision: we will allow you to live and to court your fated mate, but you must step down from leadership of the House of Tides. Your men no longer want to follow you, and the other houses will not accept this type of behavior from one of our own. We have you surrounded. Surrender or die.”
"Who will lead the House of Tides?" he asked.
"The awakened dragons have voted, the unanimous decision was that the new leader of the House of Tides should be Maia, Dragoness Prime, and Duchess of the House of Tides.”
"The Princess of Tides?" Maia said, placing her hand on her heart. “I hadn't expected this."
"You are the next in line," Prince Mortar said. “And the greatest hero of our race.”
“What shall I do?" she asked, looking confused.
"You could start by finding a home for your house," Hanish suggested.
"Yes… a home for our house. The place by the sea. Where all my children can play in the tide," she said.
"Do you accept, Current?" Mortar asked.
"I accept," Current said, still staring lovingly into Evangeline's eyes. "Will you be my mate?"
Evangeline's mouth dropped, and she blinked several times from shock. Cato slapped him on the back and chuckled. “You've got a lot to learn about human mating customs. Lucky for you, I've got plenty of data for you to brush up on your dating etiquette."
"Could you find my mate next?" Mortar asked.
"We can," Penelope said, typing away at her computer.
“And my brother?" Maia asked. “Where is he?”
"I put him in a prison cell. But now that you are the leader of the house, you can free him yourself."
"Will set you up in a nice one-bedroom apartment in the nearest town," Raiden suggested. “It'll be perfect for you."
"And you can learn all about human courtship rituals," Zephyr said. “So that you don't scare the life out of your mate with your forwardness.”
"I would like that,” Current said, not taking his eyes from Evangeline.
"If you need gold," Maia said, “I can send it to you. But, as Prince Mortar said, you must step down peacefully and move on with your life."
"I will. I'll do anything to get a chance to be with my mate."
Penelope and Flora looked at each other and smirked, nodding once in agreement as if they had some kind of twin mental telepathy.
"We knew it would fix him," Penelope said.
"You weren't so sure about it, Penelope," Flora said.
"I was too," Penelope objected.
"What matters is that it did. And we are all safe together now and on the same team once again," Maia said.
“That solves one problem," Zephyr said. “But according to the latest news feeds, the humans are on the brink of their own war."
“We should let them know that we are here to help this world,” Hanish said.
"Who should address the humans?" Zephyr asked. Everyone in the kitchen turned to looked at him. "I am not the one to do this.”
"All you have to do is speak from your heart," Maia said.
"From my heart?" Zephyr said, leaning against the kitchen island. "I think I can do that."
"I have the mating analysis results for Zephyr Storm and Maia Tide," Azure said through the mental link. Maia and Zephyr looked at each other.
"What is it?" he asked her.
"The results are positive. You are fated mates."
Maia threw herself into Zephyr's arms, and he held her soft body against his. It was the most satisfying moment of his life. His darling, his sweetheart, was truly his, and now they could be together without a shred of doubt.
"Schedule a press conference for the morning." Zephyr said. "By then I will know exactly what to say."
20
Zephyr and Maia took Waverley in the shuttle up to House of Tides’ ship. They waited as the airlocks opened and closed around them. When door to the shuttle swished open, she was greeted by her crew. The faces of the men of her house beamed with excitement and adoration.
"Princess," they said, bowing before her.
Maia looked around at their bowed heads in appreciation of their love for her. She reached out and touched her first Lieutenant on the shoulder.
He stood and placed his hand on his heart. "We had no idea you were still alive. Current told us the House of Storms had kidnapped Waverley, so we followed him in the attack. Please forgive us.”
"There is nothing to forgive, my friends. I hold no resentment to any of you.” She looked around. “Where is my brother?”
"He is in the brig," said a big warri
or.
Maia breezed down the hall to the ship’s prison. The door swished open and she stepped inside. She found her brother locked in a cell behind soundproof glass. He stood, his eyes locking with hers. He mouthed her name and placed his hand against the glass. He wore a tortured expression and tears glistened in his eyes. Maia held Waverley close, her daughter’s familiar weight a great comfort to her. Her brother glanced down at the baby and his eyes quivered, releasing the tears to stream down his face. He mouthed the words, “I'm so sorry.” His head cast downward, he covered his face with his hand.
"Release him," Maia said.
"Yes, Princess," her first Lieutenant said.
He slid his finger over the control panel and the door to the brig whooshed open. Her brother gasped and hurried out, falling to his knees before her. Maia reached down and took his hand, lifting him up to stand. She wrapped her arm around his waist and hugged him close.
"Dear brother."
"How can you forgive me, Maia? I have done an unforgivable thing.”
"I could hate you for what you’ve done. But I know it was done out of love.”
"He said he would kill you both."
"Your greatest sin is fear, my brother. I only wish to help you have more courage and more belief in the power of you own heart. If I wish to teach you that, I cannot punish you for what you've done."
"Oh Maia," he said, lifting her hand to kiss the backs of her knuckles. "You are truly a great princess; wise and strong. We are lucky to have you as the leader of our house. And who is this?" He looked at Zephyr.
"This man is my mate. Science Officer Zephyr of the House of Storms. Tonight, I am taking control of this ship. Brother, I would like you to retire to your rooms for quiet contemplation. Heed closely my words to you today: fortify your heart with strength. I believe you will one day become a brave and powerful man," she said, placing her hand on his shoulder and looking into his eyes.
"Thank you, Maia. I won't disappoint you.”
"I know you won't,” she said, nodding at him. He took a deep breath and kissed her cheek before striding out the door.
"The brig isn't the most appropriate place for our claiming day celebration, is it, my beloved mate?" she said, turning to Zephyr and cupping his face in her hand.
"I think your chambers may be a better place for that.” He kissed her hand.
They strode down the hall to her new rooms. The captain’s quarters had been prepared for her. She placed her babe in a crib in the adjacent nursery and fortified the doors. Maia knew there was no reason to fear anyone or anything anymore. But for now, she wanted to take every precaution for her child. Maia and Zephyr slipped from the nursery, into their private chambers.
Zephyr took her hand in both of his and lifted it to his mouth, kissing her knuckles one by one. His eyes pressed closed as he drank in the scent and the feeling of her. Her whole body relaxed as the sensual pleasure of her lover’s kiss tingled against her skin. She stepped into his arms and wrapped hers around his neck, gazing into his eyes.
"The great Dragoness Prime, and now Princess of the House of Tides. Goddess among the Dragonians. Tonight you will become mine, now and forever.” He tilted her face up to his, pressing his lips gentle but firm to her mouth. Maia let out a shuddering breath, squeezing her eyes closed as the emotion welled inside her. They had been through so much, overcome so much, and now they could finally be together.
"My beloved," she breathed.
He lifted her, cradling her in his arms, and carried her across the room. He laid her on the big, soft captain’s bed. As he pressed his hardness between her legs, they kissed slow and passionate, the stress of the day evident in their tempered passions. All the strain just made it that much sweeter to be together now. He slid his hand up her leg and under her dress.
Caressing her thigh as he pulled it up around his waist, he slid his erection over her damp core. Their kisses were slow and insistent, and Maia came quickly to the brink of release. She was so overcome with gratitude that the tears of joy slid down her face in appreciation for her beautiful lover.
"My Princess," he whispered as he kissed her, slipping her out of her clothes.
His tongue slid over her body. The slow, smooth, sensuality of his movements pulled her into a hypnotic trance. He kissed her abdomen and the mound of her sex as his hands gently grasped her breasts. His tongue flicked her sex and pressed through the outer folds and over her pleasure bud. He lapped at her body, languid and loving, as the flat of his tongue wriggled over her desire.
She took a long, deep, breath absorbing the well of passion that he plumbed inside her. He brought the abundance of her love closer to the surface with each kiss. She gasped and groaned as her climax began to unfold.
"My beloved," she whispered, threading her hands through his hair.
His tongue increased in vibration as his wet fingers slid inside and pressed against her inner desire. All at once she came, like a flood of warm oil spreading over her body. Her mouth dropped open as the pulsing pleasure beat to the rhythm of her heart. Her eyes widened as she watched the glistening light dance on the ceiling above her.
Zephyr kissed her mouth, the taste of her sex salty and sweet on his tongue. He pressed his erection against her wetness and slid over her body. He kissed her breasts and nibbled on their peaks. She embraced him, sliding her hands over his strong back. She wrapped her legs around his waist. His weight and his size sheltered her. The pressure of his body made her feel so safe.
Zephyr tilted his hips and pressed the head of his cock against her entrance. She leaned up and kissed his mouth, open and passionate, their tongues pressing hard against each other. She gripped the back of his hair tightly as she prepared herself to feel his thick length in her core.
"Yes," she said into his open mouth as he slipped inside her.
The ridges of his sex brushed against her inner walls, glided in on the warm oil of her love. As he sank to the base of himself, into her desperate embrace, she lay back and reveled in the feeling of wholeness he gave her.
She cupped his face and they gazed into each other's eyes. The spark of love and desire radiated between them. Zephyr began to move in a slow and powerful rhythm, taking her passion higher and higher with each thrust of his hips.
Beautiful and magnificent, the tides of her passion grew and swelled like the waves of the sea. He rolled inside her, gaining speed and power with each tilt of his hip. He moved her like a storm moves the sea. He slid his tongue over her neck, whispering softly into her ear as they grew closer to climax together. The waves of love were growing higher as the storm blew the sea into a frenzy.
"You are mine," Zephyr growled into her ear.
She came like a tsunami, rushing toward the unsuspecting shore. Zephyr’s sharp teeth brushed over her neck as he growled, his desire vibrating over her skin. She leaned into his neck, her own sharp fangs descending in her mouth. The light of her dragon was bright in her eyes.
Together, they bit. Zephyr released his seed deep into the depths of her and they held each other in that throbbing, timeless moment. The storm and the sea met, building power beyond measure, beyond anything the earth had ever seen. The power of her tidal wave broke over them both, and it felt as if the room itself shuddered.
Then, they were dancing on the wind and rain and rising sea, swirling together on the waves that crested and broke and crested again. Thunder and lightning flashed across the stormy sky. Maia and Zephyr were the storm, they were the sea, they were the power of life and death and rebirth. They looked at each other in the space between time, without words, without symbols, and knew each other to the very core.
As Maia’s teeth slid from Zephyr, and Zephyr's teeth slid from her, they let out a deep breath and parted. She rolled onto her back. Her body still throbbed with the knowledge of Zephyr. He had gone to the deepest depths of her being and she had become new. Stronger and more powerful then she had been before.
The mating of two dragons fated by love,
across time and space, had never happened before on this planet. She giggled as she leaned up on her elbow and turned to him, resting against his chest. He stroked her hair and kissed her forehead.
"So much beauty, so much power," she said with a sigh.
"Now we must rest, my beloved. For tomorrow, we will bring an end to all wars and witness the dawning of a new day for the people of Earth.”
21
Zephyr stood on a podium before the microphones and reporters gathered around to hear him. For the first time in his life, he knew exactly how to speak from his heart.
"People of Earth. Long ago, the dragons of Dragonia escaped the death of our star. We searched across the galaxy to find a new home and finally found Earth. When we encountered the primitive creatures living here at the time, we knew they had great promise. So, we seeded this world with the souls of our ancestors, hoping that someday Dragon Souls would be born among you.
“We slept for a million years, reawakening just a few years ago. We found that the human race had evolved into the glorious and beautiful beings that you are today. But unfortunately, we found that our beloved children had been infected by our ancient enemy.
“The vampires had somehow made it here to feast on the blood of humanity. They corrupted your society with greed, hatred, and suspicion. We tried to reason with the vampires, to ask them to change their dietary habits, but they refused. They gain their power from drinking the blood of intelligent beings and by taking their food by force. So, they would not compromise.
“These last several months of confusion and murder and disappearances have been the result of the vampires’ retaliation against the dragons. When we saw the acceleration of their destruction, we redoubled our efforts on finding a vaccination that would prevent vampires from feeding on humans.
“We were ultimately successful in this. As a byproduct of the distribution of the vaccine, the animals on this planet are now also immune. If a vampire drinks the blood of a human or animal, they will die. I have been informed that the vampires have taken stores of blood, have boarded their ancient ship, and have left Earth forever.
Zephyr: House of Storms: Dragon Guardians Book 8 Page 10
